Striking out on our own during our vacation along the Emerald Coast of Florida, we found a place in Destin that we decided to try for lunch - Pompano Joe's. Even though it looked a little "touristy", it still looked promising. So, we gave it a shot.
Pompano Joe's is part of the group of restaurants that are part of the Southern Restaurant Group. CEO John Comer is the grandson of Henry Cobb, Jr., one of the founders of the Destin Development Company that began in 1979 when Cobb and his business partner Robert Bonezzi bought a nightclub/restaurant in the area. They soon bought a restaurant called The Back Porch and later opened more restaurants including Pompano Joe's which opened their doors in 1995. Cobb and Bonezzi parted ways soon thereafter and Cobb started the Cobb Investment Company which became the Southern Restaurant Group in 1998. In addition to The Back Porch and Pompano Joe's, the restaurant group also oversees Louisiana Lagniappe (click here to see the entry on Lousiana Lagniappe), Fisherman's Wharf (both in Destin), and Cafe Grazie in Orange Beach, AL. A couple three years ago, the group opened a second Pompano Joe's over in Panama City.
It was around 2 p.m. when we got into Pompano Joe's. The bar area was the first place that we entered. It was a standing bar only, from what I could tell. The bar area emptied out onto a deck area with the broad white sandy beaches down a few steps.
The main dining area of Pompano Joe's had a very Caribbean feeling to the place. Brightly colored chairs, sea art and a broad view of the ocean through windows with pastel colored panes were the highlight of the dining room.
We had a chance to sit on the deck outside the dining room - a narrow deck that featured a number of four-seat tables covered by brightly colored umbrellas that appeared to be even more dazzling under the hot Florida sun. We were given menus and not long afterward our server Emilie showed up to greet us. Cindy ordered a mai tai and I ordered a Grayton Beer Company Pale Ale.
Most of the menu at Pompano Joe's is, of course, seafood oriented. Executive chef Roberto Hernandez, a 17 year veteran of the restaurant, also features a number of seafood dishes and appetizers with a Caribbean flair. But we were there for peel and eat shrimp and oysters on the half shell. We ordered up a dozen oysters on the half shell to start out.
The view from the deck was absolutely fabulous. We could have very easily just sat there gazing out across the white sand beach onto the emerald colored water with the azur blue water of the Gulf of Mexico on the horizon. A nice breeze was coming in off the ocean and the large umbrella shaded us nicely from the son. I really love the ocean.
The oysters came out and they were big, meaty bivalves from the Louisiana coast. The weren't gritty nor fishy in taste at all. I mixed up some fresh ground horseradish with some Tabasco sauce and the taste was just outstanding. I could have eaten many more, but I wanted to get some peel and eat shrimp. When Emilie came back to check on us, I ordered up a dozen of the peel and eat shrimp along with a lemonade and vodka. The Grayton Beach Pale Ale was just all right - like the other beers from the small brewery that I had when we were there.
The shrimp were served in glass bowl on top of chopped ice. They, too, were large crustaceans from the Louisiana coast. I told Cindy that maybe we needed to go to Louisiana the next time we come south for a vacation given that most of the shrimp and oysters we had while we were in Florida were from there. The shrimp were as equally excellent in taste as the oysters on the half shell.
We considered getting another dozen of the peel and eat shrimp, but decided to have drinks instead and just gaze out at the ocean in front of us. Cindy got another mai tai and I got another lemonade and vodka. It was a great afternoon along the Emerald Coast.
For the seafood we had, Pompano Joe's hit the spot. We didn't try anything else on the menu, but I could tell from the descriptions on the menu that the food had to be pretty good. Well, you're not in business for nearly 20 years in a place like Destin if your food sucks. Our experience at Pompano Joe's was very pleasant, relaxing and they had excellent oysters and shrimp. It was a wonderful afternoon to be on vacation.
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