Stinky's Bait Shack

This wasn't my first time here, every time we're in the Panhandle I make it a point to stop by and enjoy their crawfish potpie which is to die for. My wife says their other fare is excellent as well but, I just can't get past their crawfish potpie. The service is friendly and attentive, and the venue is clean and inviting.
You just can't beat Stinky's for their food and ambience.

Not bad, its a great place to sit while you wait for your table at stinkies restaurant, probably the whole reason it’s here. We all got the Pyrat Punch, pretty good tastes like a piña colada with cranberry.

Stinky's is a Santa Rosa Beach staple. It's usually busy, so be prepared to wait, but they do have a "bait shop" where you can grab a beer or cocktail and wait for your table and grab some souvenirs. One of the best seafood restaurants in the area. Good cocktails and wine selection. The staff is always friendly and fun. I've never been disappointed and I highly recommend you stop in on your next visit.

To start, we really like this place. We've had two very memorable meals here. Yesterday the food again was good and the server, Valerie, was great. The rest, not so much!

Came for lunch. Asked to sit outside and were told it would be an extra wait. No problem. Happy to wait for a quiet table and fresh air.

So, they finally call us, then show us to a table inside. "Sorry, we forgot you wanted outside. But this table has a view of the lake."
It's also right next to a table of 15 people, including 6 or 7 really loud kids.

When a table outside did open up, Valerie checked with the desk and told us we could move out there as soon as the busser finished clearing that table. Over the next 15 minutes we watched the busser meticulously clean one table - not the one outside. Our food came before he ever got to that one.

I ordered the amberjack fresh catch. According to the menu, it comes with "sidewinder fries, shaved cabbage, red onion, and a roasted tomato tartar." For dietary reasons, I ordered it without the bun.

I got a piece of fish, some dry cabbage, and three raw onion rings. No tartar and no sidewinders. When I asked about the fries: "We forgot."

Valerie to the rescue again. Fries, fresh and hot, immediately.

We'll come back, because we do like the place, but this experience took some of the shine off.

My tip: Ask for Valerie.

What a fun place! The fish tacos were fabulous and the service was on point. We planned this lunch weeks in advance due to the reviews and were not disappointed. T shirt and Bait shop and bar are next door and had fantastic shirts. We got some gifts.

Fresh, fast, yummy, and not super crowded when we went. Their prices were very reasonable for the area, VERY reasonable! The bartenders, and staff were GREAT!!!! Fun place to hang out & cool off with a nice cold drink.

The older lady with the blond hair (not Lori the manager) is nasty. We live on 30a and every time we come in we have tried different ways to relate to her…it didn’t work. We have also heard from other people that they have had the same experience. We love everyone else.

Been several times now to Stinkys. The taste of Stinkys is my go to order which is a variety of different flavors. Once you get seated, the service is quick for 30A and all the food is fresh. We look forward to coming back.

Was just in Santa Rosa for the week getting married, and Stinkys was a daily (multiple times a day) stop for myself and the entirety of my friends and family. Every morning was good coffee and a breakfast sandwich, and then every pre lunch, lunch, pre dinner, dinner, and post dinner stop, was for Stink Juice and a variety of other delicious frozen drinks.

Mary was a highlight of our trip and was as ready and excited to serve us bright and early at 7am for coffee and breakfast, as she was at 7pm for our 40th stink juice of the day. (For legal reasons that’s a joke)

I have to say for the sake of just getting married there, that I will be back to Santa Rosa to visit. But my first stop will not be our wedding spot, it will be Stinkys.

We heard good things about this place so we decided to try it for dinner one evening while camping in nearby Miramar Beach. Pretty cool place with a nice atmosphere. Although I enjoyed my food, they did bring me out fried catfish when I had ordered fried Red Snapper. The waiter had them put in a new order immediately but said to just keep the catfish. I tried a few bites of it while waiting on the snapper. Both of them were great! The ceviche and stew we ordered for appetizers and they were excellent. My father-in-law said the shrimp and grits were some of the best he’s ever had. 👍🏻