98 Bar-b-que (Miramar Beach, FL)

I always try to find a barbecue place near where I am staying. Gotta at least try barbecue from anywhere and everywhere. I Googled "bbq restaurants near me" while in Miramar Beach Florida. 98 Bar-b-que was one of the highest rated and was about twenty minutes down the road.

This place is a sit-down and order restaurant. Unlike some restaurants that have counter order and then you sit. I was able to just place my order and pay at the 'hostess' counter.

I got the Combo Platter which is a choice of two-meats and two sides. I knew I wanted to try the brisket but for the second option I asked the waitress/hostess what meat she preferred (Haha...that sounds funny). She said she preferred the pulled pork so that's what I got along with creamed cord nuggets and fried okra.

I rushed the food back to our place and shared the bounty with three other adults.

We all agreed that the pulled pork was the best and then the creamed corn nuggets. The brisket was a little drier than I prefer. There was not a moist option. The Texas toast was not the typical version but I guess the thickness of the slices could be construed as Texas toast.

FINAL VERDICT: They have a lot of other options to try so if I'm ever back in the area, I'll probably visit again when I have more time to sit, relax and enjoy the offerings.

The Surf Hut (Destin-Miramar Beach, Florida)

Tried Surf Hut (Destin/Miramar Beach location) based upon a recommendation from a family member. Obviously we were vacationing during the off season and the weather was like forty degrees the evening we went, so the restaurant wasn't very full except for quite a few old people aka snowbirds. So without further adieu, I'll just get right into the review.

1. Fried Calamari - This was some of the best we've had. It wasn't too gummy or chewy like some places. It was tender and nicely flavored.
2. Fried Crab Claws - I'm not a fan of crab at a restaurant as it's typically overpriced for what you get but my brother-in-law wanted to try. They were pricey as expected but my brother-in-law said they tasted pretty good.
3. Grilled Flounder - We all thought the flounder was really good. We thought it was very tender and liked it better than the mahi mahi.
4. Grilled Mahi Mahi - We all thought the mahi mahi was good. It wasn't as tender as the flounder and a tad dry.
5. BBQ Pork Ribs and Shrimp Kabob - Ribs and shrimp were fairly tasty. The ribs were a little too slathered in barbecue sauce but were tender. The sauce was a tad too peppery for me but others liked it. The shrimp was just like any other shrimp I've had. The buttery sauce was too light and flavorless to know it was there. If the server hadn't mentioned the different kinds when I ordered, I wouldn't even know there was a 'buttery' sauce on them.
6. Shrimp and Grits - The grits almost looked like mashed potatoes but were good. The shrimp was liked by all and the cheese sauce was good too.
7. Key Lime Pie - This pie was the only real disappointment of the meal. It seemed to me like more of a pumpkin pie consistency and the crust wasn't as 'crusty' as preferred. The flavor wasn't really that bad but I feel like this pie could have been found in the clearance bin and purchased from the Winn Dixie down the road.

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FINAL VERDICT: The appetizers we ordered were good. I wouldn't order the Ribs and Shrimp Kabob again but the other entrees were well liked. That being said, if you are in the area, I would suggest trying this place.