By Scott Miller
Football season is now in full swing. Whether you’re strictly an SEC fan or College Football fan across the board, an NFL diehard or an armchair quarterback / Fantasy Football guru…
There’s no better place to watch the action then here along The Emerald Coast. Some of the best sports bars and restaurants anywhere are right here in our own back yard. They’re ready to welcome us in, serve up some really great food, cold beer and delicious specialty drinks, and make every game feel like a championship. Here are a few of my favorites. So, grab your crew, claim your spot and get in on the action—I’ll see you there!
AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar
Go big on game day at AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar, home to the one and only Jumbotron on the Destin Harbor. Watch your favorite football teams on the big, big screen while taking in the energy and beauty of the harbor, enjoying fabulous food and sipping a game-day drink.
For more than 40 years, AJ’s has been serving fresh Gulf Coast oysters and cool libations. What began as a popular local hangout for fresh oysters and cold beer—shucked from the deck behind a small trailer on the harbor—has grown into one of Destin’s most iconic hot spots with four locations along the Emerald Coast. Add daily specials, mouthwatering drinks, live music throughout the month and exciting water activities in the Destin area, and AJ’s has everything you need for a winning football season.
850-837-1913
facebook.com/AJsSeafoodAndOysterBar
116 Harbor Blvd. | Destin
JoJo’s Coffee and Goodness
Start your football Saturday with a tailgate takeout stop at JoJo’s Coffee and Goodness. Owner and operator Angela “JoJo” Stevenson serves up a daily dose of “goodness” with freshly roasted coffee, hearty breakfast favorites and sweet treats to fuel your game-day plans.
Breakfast burritos are rolled and ready daily, with andouille, bacon, chorizo or veggie options. Try a piece of quiche, kolache-hash brown casserole or a made-to-order breakfast sandwich on a croissant or bagel with two eggs and cheese. Add JoJo’s homemade smoked jalapeño beef bologna, bacon, house-smoked barbecue or ham.
Bring something sweet to your gathering with cinnamon rolls; cranberry orange, chocolate caramel or cheddar thyme scones; strawberry coffee cake; cranberry orange muffins; red velvet cookies; brownies with espresso ganache; or caramelitas. Cinnamon rolls and kolaches are top sellers, so stop in early! Featured muffins, coffee cake or pound cake pair perfectly with a maple cinnamon latte or caramel macchiato — a little fall flavor before kickoff.
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
(850) 737-6194
facebook.com/JoJosCoffeeAndGoodness
4652 Highway 20 E., Niceville
LJ Schooners Dockside Restaurant
Suds, Songs, Sunsets and Sports! Gather your team for a meal before kickoff and enjoy waterfront views, oysters and a varied menu.
Named after “LJ Schooner” — short for Lazy Jack — a cherished four-legged icon on the Bluewater Bay Marina docks, the open-air oyster bar and restaurant offers views of the water, marina and spectacular sunsets any time of year. Dinner specials include dishes such as blackened mahi and grilled shrimp with hollandaise, served over cheese grits. Come for a bite and enjoy a relaxed waterfront setting as part of your game-day plans.
Oyster Bar Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 3-10 p.m. • Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m. to midnight • Sun. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Lunch Served 1 p.m.
Restaurant Hours: Mon.-Tues. Closed • Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. • Sun. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Sun. Brunch 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Lunch Served 1 p.m.
(850) 897-6400
bluewaterbaymarina.com/schooners
290 Yacht Club Dr., Unit 200
Niceville in Bluewater Bay
