What should I order at Great Southern Cafe?
Great Southern Cafe
Grits À Ya Ya
Mentioned multiple times as a must-try dish, praised for its bold, unique, and flavorful taste. Many reviews highlight it as impeccable, outrageously delicious, and a dish that someone at the table should always order and share.
Calamari
Recommended as a great appetizer with excellent taste, especially when paired with the spicy oyster sauce provided on the table, which enhances its flavor.
Seafood Celebration
Highly recommended for those who want a variety of seafood; praised for its delicious and fresh assortment including grilled mahi-mahi, blackened shrimp, fried oysters, hushpuppies, and sides.
Key Lime Pie
Described as a showstopper dessert with creamy, tart, perfectly sweet flavors and a graham cracker crust, standing out as the best key lime pie compared to others along the coast.
Blackened Shrimp
Highlighted as an amazing main dish with bold flavors, often paired with sides like sweet potato fries or grits.
Raw Oysters
Praised for their freshness and quality, even delighting picky oyster eaters, making them a favored appetizer.
Blue Crab Claws
Mentioned as an amazing appetizer with mouthwatering, flavorful qualities.
Beignets
Highly rated dessert or appetizer with a perfect taste and presentation, receiving a 100/10 rating from one reviewer.
Wings
Described as the best wings in Florida by one reviewer, making them a standout dish not to be missed.
Black-eyed Pea Hummus
Recommended as one of the best appetizers, noted for its unique and delicious flavor.
Soul Rolls
Highly praised appetizer, considered among the best starters on the menu.
Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich
Mentioned as a tasty and filling main dish option, recommended by the server.
Cafe Benedict
Recommended breakfast dish noted for its great presentation and delicious taste.
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM to 9:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8 AM to 9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM to 9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM to 9:30 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM to 9:30 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM to 9:30 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM to 9:30 PM |
About Great Southern Cafe
Southern specialties come with a twist at this warm spot that gives classic recipes a modern spin.
Amenities & services
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Onsite services
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
- Serves local specialty
Popular for
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Happy hour drinks
- Happy hour food
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Small plates
- Vegan options
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
- Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Lively
- Trendy
Crowd
- College students
- Groups
- Tourists
Planning
- Usually a wait
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Parking
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Paid parking lot
- Usually somewhat difficult to find a space
Pets
- Dogs allowed
- Dogs allowed outside
Frequently asked questions
What is Great Southern Cafe known for?
It is best known for Grits a Ya Ya and other seafood-and-grits plates, especially shrimp and grits and grouper over cheese grits with gravy. Reviewers also repeatedly mention oysters and key lime pie, which makes it a strong pick for Southern seafood in Santa Rosa Beach.
What dishes are most recommended at Great Southern Cafe?
The most recommended items are Grits a Ya Ya, shrimp and grits, grouper Yaya, and the raw oysters. Reviewers also call out the fried okra, beignets, sweet potato fries, and the Great Southern Dip as standouts for flavor and portion size.
What is the atmosphere like at Great Southern Cafe?
The vibe is casual, cozy, lively, and a little trendy, with outdoor seating and bar seating available. Reviews describe it as relaxed but busy, with attentive service, which works well for groups, tourists, and solo diners looking for a sit-down meal.
Is Great Southern Cafe good value, and what is the price range?
The price range is $20 to $30, and reviewers often describe the food as reasonably priced or typical 30A prices. Portions are noted as generous, with comments about filling plates like the Great Southern Dip and hearty breakfast dishes.
What should I know about wait times at Great Southern Cafe?
Expect a wait, especially at peak times, since the restaurant is marked as usually having a wait. One review mentioned a 30 to 40 minute wait on a Sunday around 5:30 p.m., so arriving earlier or outside busy meal periods may help.
Is parking available at Great Southern Cafe?
Yes. Free parking lot, Free street parking, Paid parking lot, Usually somewhat difficult to find a space is available.
Does Great Southern Cafe have vegetarian options?
Yes, Great Southern Cafe offers vegan options.
Is Great Southern Cafe kid-friendly?
Yes, Great Southern Cafe is good for kids.
Restaurants like Great Southern Cafe in Santa Rosa Beach
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