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Wood-fired gratin and garlic herb oysters - DOWN ISLAND GULF SEAFOOD RESTAURANT, Santa Rosa Beach, FL

DOWN ISLAND GULF SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

4.8 (179)
$31 to $50
Seafood
2780 US-98, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459-5325

Make a reservation

A photo of DOWN ISLAND GULF SEAFOOD RESTAURANT restaurant

DOWN ISLAND GULF SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

4.8
$31 to $50
Seafood
Santa Rosa Beach

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Down Island is a chef-owned and family-operated restaurant! It is the brainchild of Chef Brannon Janca, co-founder of Stinky’s Fish Camp, combining Janca's passion for modern-casual dining and Gulf South cuisine to create a fun, creative and inviting atmosphere for all. Our menu highlights fresh Gulf fish, oysters, shrimp and crab and we have plentiful raw bar selections, including our specialty wood-fired oysters prepared in our Italian brick pizza oven. Most of our menu items are prepared from scratch daily, including pasta, desserts, buns, sauces, and more! One of our owners, Stefani, is also a registered dietitian, so Down Island is one of the most accommodating restaurants in our area for any special diet or allergy. Kids and families are welcome, as well, and we have a fabulous kids menu with Rubik's cubes to entertain the little ones. We have a full bar with local beers, specialty cocktails and an extensive wine program. Join us every Sunday for brunch from 10 am to 3 pm!

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Oyster Bar, Creole / Cajun / Southern
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu 11:00 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    Guests can reserve our upstairs dining room, Ocean's Loft, or the entire restaurant privately for events. Upstairs Capacity: 40 guests seated; 45 guests standing Downstairs Capacity: 60 guests seated; 80 guests standing
  • Private party contact
    Lindsay Hedglin/Stefani Pall: (850) 777-3385
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Rosa Beach
  • Cross street
    We are located 1/4 mile east of County Hwy 393 on the north side of Hwy 98.
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Thanksgiving Dinner 2026 at Down Island!

    1 - 7 people

    Multiple dates available
    Trying not to cook or clean this year for Thanksgiving? Come enjoy Down Island’s 5th annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 26th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm! Our fabulous three-course Thanksgiving feast features all of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes and of course a few Down Island favorites! As always, we will also be offering an adult turkey plate, kids turkey plate, and an a la carte menu for those craving a non-traditional Thanksgiving. Prices are $58 for a three-course meal, $42 for an adult turkey plate, and $21 for a kids turkey plate (12 and under). Please visit our website or OpenTable.com to make your reservation today! For parties of 8 or more, please call the restaurant to make your reservation at 850-777-3385. Walk-ins are available while supplies last. From our family to yours, we hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving and holiday season!
    Thanksgiving Dinner 2026 at Down Island! Photo
  • Jingle All The Slay: A Murder Mystery Dinner

    $95.00 per person

    Prepaid

    1 - 20 people

    Dec 17, 2026 only
    5:00 PM
    Jingle All The Slay: A Christmas Murder Mystery Dinner The most wonderful time of the year just got a little more deadly! The elves have gathered for their annual Christmas Eve send-off bash, celebrating Santa's big ride around the world. There's festive cheer, holiday mischief, and plenty of reasons to celebrate... until Ol' Saint Nick becomes Christmas Past! Now it's up to you, Detective Gunn, and a partridge in a pear tree to unravel this holiday whodunit. Who's been naughty? Who's been nice? And who has Santa's blood on their hands? Join us at Down Island for a hilariously twisted, two-hour interactive murder mystery experience filled with outrageous characters, unexpected turns, holiday humor, and plenty of Christmas chaos. Enjoy a specially themed, elevated dinner buffet curated by Chef Tommy Wachter while the mystery unfolds, plus a little extra holiday surprise included with every ticket. Come ready to eat, drink, sleuth, and celebrate—because this Christmas party is one you won't forget! **YOUR $95 TICKET INCLUDES:** - A live, two-hour Christmas murder mystery performance - A specially themed, elevated dinner buffet at Down Island - Soft drinks (plus a naughty holiday surprise!) - Gratuity and applicable taxes A full cash bar will be available throughout the evening for guests wishing to purchase alcoholic beverages separately. EVENT DETAILS Thursday, December 17, 2026 Doors open at 5:00 PM Show begins promptly at 6:00 PM Down Island Gulf Seafood Restauarant HOLIDAY ATTIRE ENCOURAGED! Break out your favorite Christmas sweaters, festive accessories, elf-inspired looks, ugly Christmas sweaters, or your most delightfully mischievous holiday attire. Dress to impress—or to deceive! Space is limited for this special ticketed event. Gather your favorite people, sharpen your detective skills, and join us for a Christmas celebration where the only thing more mysterious than the murder is who's been naughty this year! Learn more about the ICMT Murder Mystery Company here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bfn4RQEdY/?mibextid=wwXIfr
  • The Chef’s Bar (Seats up to 5)

    1 - 7 people

    Multiple dates available
    There’s a special kind of magic that happens when you’re inches away from the fire. At Down Island, the kitchen is our stage, and we’ve just saved the best seats in the house for you! We are excited to introduce our Chef’s Bar experience, reservation-only bar seating located in our raw bar dining room. Set against a backdrop of vibrant New Orleans jazz art and the steady glow of our signature Italian wood-fired oven, the Chef’s Bar is where technique meets the table. By booking this experience, you aren't just dining; you're witnessing the craft behind our "Chef-Driven" Gulf South cuisine. During dinner, watch our team command the flames to char Miso Sake Oysters, plate our tower of Dairy Free Tuna Nachos, and put the finishing touches on our seasonal specials, all from your perch at our beautiful bar in the raw bar dining room! During brunch, you can relax as you watch behind-the-scenes as Chef Liza preps all of our house made biscuits, burger buns, pasta, and award-winning desserts! Because we want to keep this interaction personal, we have exactly 5 bar seats available per seating. To ensure you get the full "extra" experience, these seats are now available exclusively by reservation. What to expect at the Bar: Guaranteed Seating: No waiting for a stool, your spot in front of the action is held just for you. The Best View: Direct oversight of the wood-fired oven and every dish coming out of the kitchen. The Vibes: A perfect blend of Santa Rosa Beach casual and high-end culinary theater. The Dining: Full menu availability (brunch menu on Sundays 10-3, dinner menu every evening). Secure Your Spot Ready to see how we do a locally-owned Gulf seafood restaurant differently? Don't leave it to chance. These five seats fill up fast, so head to our website to book your Chef’s Bar Experience today!
    The Chef’s Bar (Seats up to 5) Photo

Private dining

Offers

  • Happy Hour Food & Drink Specials

    1 - 7 people

    Multiple dates available
    Tue - Sat - 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
    Join us every Tuesday-Saturday from 3-5 pm for our fabulous happy hour! Our drink specials include well mixed drinks for $5, classic martinis for $7, boilermakers for $8, $1 off all beer, $2 off wines by the glass, and $2 off 8 oz wine carafes! Our happy hour food specials include beef debris tots, fried catfish fingers, gochujang fried chicken bites, classic pimento cheese with chips, smoked & crispy fried chicken wings, and fried pickles! Our full dinner menu starts at 5 pm.

    Happy Hour Food & Drink Specials Photo
  • BOGO Bottles of Bubbly every Sunday Brunch!

    1 - 7 people

    Multiple dates available
    Sun - 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    Elevate your Sundays by experiencing Down Island's exceptional Gulf South brunch! From 10 am to 3 pm every Sunday, guests can enjoy "Buy One, Get One Free" (BOGO) bottles of sparkling wine. That's essentially 2 bottles or 12 glasses of bubbly for a $25 value or less! And if you don't finish your second bottle at brunch-- no worries! We are happy to package it up for you to take home (while complying with local beverage laws).

    BOGO Bottles of Bubbly every Sunday Brunch! Photo

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at DOWN ISLAND GULF SEAFOOD RESTAURANT.

4.8

4.8
(179)
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Northwest Florida

    Innovative

  • Northwest Florida

    Seafood

  • Destin

    Best Overall

  • Destin

    Best Food

  • Destin

    Best Service

  • Destin

    Best Value

  • Destin

    Kid-friendly

  • Destin

    Neighborhood gem

  • Destin

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Destin

    Seafood

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Down Island Gulf Seafood Restaurant is a seafood lover's paradise, celebrated for its "fantastic" food and "wonderful" service. Guests rave about the "incredible" grilled oysters, "perfect" crab legs, and a delightful atmosphere. With a variety of standout dishes and friendly staff, it's a must-visit spot on 30A.
179 Reviews
  1. robert Gold

    New York City17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous new brussel sprout salad is on the menu. Our red fish was great. The service could not have been better.

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  2. Lisa

    Louisville27 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We love Down Island but this experience was a little off. Barbeque shrimp was good but lacked much worchestshire flavor which we were hoping for. My fish of the day was really good, I ordered it blackened but it lack blackened flavor. My husband’s dish was really good, Crab Encrusted Grouper. Are my taste buds just off? No! The cocktails were amazing! One of the best Manhattans I e ever had! The biggest disappointment was the crème brûlée! The beignets that came with it were dense and cold. The dish was warm, more than just warm on top from the brûlée. It was a pistachio dish but had no pistachio flavor. We will be back, it is a great place! I think it was just an off night.

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  3. Marissa

    Richmond1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was INCREDIBLE! The seasoning on the crab legs truly made them some of the best we’ve ever had. Service and staff were great!

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  4. Bryan

    Naples11 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 28, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Pretty good food.. little on the expensive side two of us. It cost us around $150. One appetizer and two main courses

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  5. Tim Gold

    Orlando15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 27, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We brought guests from Maryland here for seafood. That can be dangerous as the standard is high. Our entire party had a great time from the Fall themed cocktails, to the raw oysters, the wood fired oysters, salad, main courses and of course the pineapple upside down cake. Our waitress (Jennifer) was great as was the entire staff. It was a great evening.

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  6. Kady

    Nashville4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 25, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful every time I dine!! LOVE the food and staff!!

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  7. John

    Chicago5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 24, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Everything we ate was fantastic. The octopus appetizer was excellent and we had their fish special (redfish, blackened) and everything exceeded our expectations. Jason was our server and he did a great job and had excellent advise. We are already planning when we can return. Great job.

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  8. Tim Gold

    Orlando15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 6, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Tonight at Down Island was German Night. They had a three course German Menu that was excellent, filling and different from the regular menu. There were some special Fall cocktails on the menu that were especially good. The food and service never disappoints. Excellent experience all around.

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  9. Abby Gold

    Nashville3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on October 4, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The description through OpenTable of chef’s table is misleading. Where I am from if you’re at the chef’s table, you interact with the chefs. you have the option of ordering a chef created menu. This is not at all the case, you’re kind of looking at a janky work area. The food is overpriced for what it actually is.

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  10. Ann

    Chicago2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 3, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Being a local, we appreciate local restaurants and try to patronize them. The food was excellent. It was a little slow but well worth it. The drinks are overpriced for what you get but I think that’s everywhere on this 38 around here love the owner and she greeted us at our table personally and it’s like they appreciate the locals

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Oyster Bar, Creole / Cajun / Southern
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu 11:00 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    Guests can reserve our upstairs dining room, Ocean's Loft, or the entire restaurant privately for events. Upstairs Capacity: 40 guests seated; 45 guests standing Downstairs Capacity: 60 guests seated; 80 guests standing
  • Private party contact
    Lindsay Hedglin/Stefani Pall: (850) 777-3385
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Rosa Beach
  • Cross street
    We are located 1/4 mile east of County Hwy 393 on the north side of Hwy 98.
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Guests commonly describe portions as plentiful, reviewers note large brunch servings, generous biscuits, and overall plates that leave parties comfortably full.

Down Island feels fun, creative and inviting, a modern-casual, family-friendly spot with a local, upbeat vibe; live music and busy nights can make the dining room lively and occasionally loud.

Casual dress, think comfortable, everyday wear; nothing formal is expected when dining at Down Island.

Yes, Down Island is notably accommodating for special diets and allergies: an owner is a registered dietitian, and guests report the kitchen happily modifies dishes for allergies.

Yes, Down Island highlights being very accommodating for special diets and allergies, led in part by owner Stefani, a registered dietitian, who helps the restaurant handle dietary needs.

Sunday is the best day, Down Island’s Sunday brunch (10 am to 3 pm) is a guest favorite, with reviewers praising the beignets, Benedicts and large brunch portions.

Down Island welcomes private gatherings, private parties are offered, and the team has produced custom celebratory menus and seafood presentations for special events.

Yes, Down Island is a solid pick for a special evening, with several reviewers celebrating anniversaries, enjoying the Chef Table experience, and praising attentive service and a strong wine and cocktail program.

Yes, Down Island offers patio seating that guests enjoy, with several parties describing pleasant meals on the patio and outside tables for family dinners.

Yes, Down Island hosts a regular Sunday brunch (10:00 am–3:00 pm), and guests also report a popular happy hour window in the late afternoon with discounted drinks and small-plate offerings.

Yes, Down Island welcomes kids and families, with a dedicated kids menu (plus Rubik's cubes to keep little ones entertained) and family-friendly patio seating noted by guests.

Yes, Down Island has a full bar featuring local beers, specialty cocktails and an extensive wine program, and guests praise drinks like the Bloody Marys and margaritas.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Northwest Florida
  4. Destin
  5. Santa Rosa Beach

Make a reservation

A photo of DOWN ISLAND GULF SEAFOOD RESTAURANT restaurant

DOWN ISLAND GULF SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

4.8
$31 to $50
Seafood
Santa Rosa Beach

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.
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