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3 Great Alabama Beach Vacation Restaurants

August 19, 2020 | Uncategorized

Disclosure: We were provided with food at each of these Alabama beach vacation restaurants, however all opinions are my own.

Alabama Beach Vacation Restaurants

We have been to Orange Beach/Gulf Shores several times over the years, all the way back to when I was in about 4th or 5th grade. In that time, restaurants have come and go, so I always love trying ones that are “new to me.” Today I am going to tell you about three new favorite Alabama beach vacation restaurants that we will be going back to again!

Picnic Beach

Picnic Beach is right off the “main drag” in Gulf Shores not far from the water. At this restaurant, you order at the counter and your food is brought to your table. They had indoor and outdoor dining, and everything was spread out with ample room between tables.

Alabama Beach Vacation Restaurants

If you are into Instagramable spots, this place had a few! Check out the one below!

Alabama Beach Vacation Restaurants

We ordered a giant plate that feeds multiple people. Ribs, wings, and pork complete with 3 sides and buns for the pork. For our sides we got sweet potato mash, mac and cheese, and vegetables. It was A LOT of food but so yummy.

Alabama Beach Vacation Restaurants

For dessert we split an acai bowl. It was very refreshing! They also have smoothies.

Here is Instagram spot #2!

It was a great meal in a great location with indoor and outdoor seating. Service was great, and food came out fast. We would definitely come back here!

Alabama Beach Vacation Restaurants

Sunliner Diner

Sunliner Diner is very close to Picnic Beach, also right on the “main drag” of Gulf Shores. If you know me at all, you know I LOVE a good themed restaurant and this one did not disappoint. In true 50’s fashion, they had THE BEST milkshakes. But let me back up. The interior was adorable, the menus were made to look like newspapers, and breakfast can be ordered all day.

We started with tuna dip and cheese fries (you can see the “newspaper menu) under the plates. The fries were amazing and there were plenty to share.

Alabama Beach Vacation Restaurants

Bobby loves breakfast, so he ordered breakfast for dinner and it looked awesome. He gave it two thumbs up. I ordered a hamburger which also hit the spot, but we were also trying to save room for dessert!

A cookies and cream milkshake is the way to my heart, and this one was unbelievable. I would easily come here just for the desserts alone!

Alabama Beach Vacation Restaurants

Bobby’s was chocolate on top of chocolate on top of chocolate. We had a hard time finishing them (and yes there was a big waffle piece in all of them!)

Emma Kate’s was kind of a “surprise” shake. We told them she wanted vanilla and they said they would take care of the rest. Her little face when they brought it out was so cute. She was floored (and so was I!)

Alabama Beach Vacation Restaurants

We will most definitely be back here, you don’t want to miss it!

The Gulf

The Gulf is right before you get to the big bridge going in to Florida. It is an outdoor restaurant with a great water view. It was so relaxing! They had strings of lights, couches, picnic tables, and music. The kids ran in the grass and sand and played barefoot while we just enjoyed the food and the view.

At this restaurant you order at a counter. They had markings on the floor so everyone in the line stayed 6′ apart. We also wore our masks until we were seated at our picnic table. Food is brought out to you, and it was delicious!

Alabama Beach Vacation Restaurants

Not to mention the beautiful drinks. This is called the Surf’s Up and was so refreshing. If you like mojitos, you are going to love it here. We had an orange mojito (there were a couple of other flavors as well) and it was the best one I have ever had.

Alabama Beach Vacation Restaurants

Speaking of best ever, the guacamole was also amazing. Bobby had some tuba dip, while Emma Kate had chicken fingers. Another high praise? Bobby ordered crab legs and said they were some of the best he has ever had, and the boy has had a LOT of crab legs in his day. (For a funny video check out my IG highlights from the trip).

We have already told friends and family we can’t wait to take them here (all three really!) and I was so pumped to find some new restaurants for when we go to the beach. A huge thanks to them for hosting us, it really was a highlight of our trip!

Related: Why you should book The Beach Club through Spectrum

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I am Heather Montgomery, a 30 something southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 10-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
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A huge thank you to @disneystyle for gifting me an A huge thank you to @disneystyle for gifting me and Emma Kate this fun box of goodies to get in a Halloween spooky vibe !! 🎃 ✨

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@disneycruiseline is great for just that because they truly have something for everyone, from babies, kids, to adults. The cruise we just went on included beach time, pool time, an obstacle course, lots of eating, basketball, foosball, ping-pong, movie, watching, scavenger hunt finding, pirates (the nice kind!), ice cream, and so much more. ✨🫶🏻 

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We absolutely love Orange Beach, it’s one of our We absolutely love Orange Beach, it’s one of our favorite places to visit and feels like home. 🫶🏻

There are so many great businesses with employees that make you feel like family. Here are a few we visited over fall break. Be sure to save this for your next visit to the beach! Have you been to any of these places? 🍊 

@coastalorangebeach: Not only a beautiful restaurant right on the gulf with amazing food, drinks, and servers, but also a really great store with amazing merch! We found some great stuff. If you go to the restaurant, ask for J-Mac to be your server and make sure to get a bushwhacker with a peanut butter floater! 😋 

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@theorangebeachstore : I’ve passed this store 100 times but this was my first time inside and now I’m mad that I have been missing out all this time. They have a beautiful selection of really nice souvenirs from great brand names you already know and love. Great quality clothing and other things like blankets, cup, hats, and candles. I shopped forever! 

@fbyachtclub_ : The Flora Bama Yacht club is also right on the state line on the bay side and has fun live music, a really nice menu including crab claws, hummus, chicken pasta, and key lime pie. Service was great and we loved the live music. 

Thank y’all for having us! ✨
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I picked up the NEW Butterball Smoked Turkey Sausage at @Foodlion and added it to my favorite red beans and rice — lean, smoky, and less sodium! 🍽️ 

The best part? This recipe makes plenty of leftovers, so no cooking tomorrow 🙌. 
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Comment “BUTTERBALL” to receive a link to shop these products at your local Food Lion. *Check your message request folder if you don’t follow my account in order to receive the link.

Bobby’s Red Beans and Rice: 

INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 - 1 cup celery, about 3-4 ribs
• 1 Sweet Onion
• 1 Green Bell Pepper
• 2-4 cloves Garlic
• Seasoning, Tony’s, chili powder, pepper, bay leaf
• 1 tsp paprika
• 45 oz kidney beans
• 28 oz beef sausage, 2 packs
• 2 packs of Butterball Smoked Turkey Sausage
• 2 cup Beef broth
• Buttered Rice

PREPARATION STEPS
1. Chop/mince veggies (suggest food processor)

2. Warm butter on medium heat in pot then add veggies (about 10 minutes)

3. Add beans (slightly drain) and sausage (about 7 minutes)

4. Add garlic and seasoning and simmer about 10 minutes. 

5.) Serve over warm buttered rice

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One of our favorite stops was Reeds at West Town Mall, where I spotted the new Victorinox Air Pro — a watch that’s Swiss-made with incredible craftsmanship, a stainless steel case, shock + water resistance, and even the ability to track 3 time zones at once. 🙌 It’s modern, timeless, and such a meaningful find for the men in my life.

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