The next best thing to reeling in a big one is having someone cook it for you. You can do just that at these restaurants along Alabama’s coast. Bring in your fresh catch and they’ll handle the rest — and throw in some sides and hushpuppies, too.
Zeke’s Restaurant and Landing, Orange Beach
At Zeke’s Landing and Marina, you can spend the day on the water, and end it with your fresh catch prepared by a chef. Zeke’s offers a variety of fishing charters (deep-sea, offshore and inshore, around the bay) and cruises as well as a waterfront restaurant right on the dock. No matter what type of fish you reel in, you can order it grilled, blackened or fried. It’s served family-style with fries and coleslaw.
Mikee’s Seafood, Gulf Shores
Open since 1987, this family-friendly restaurant has an extensive seafood menu—everything from baked oysters to catfish po’boys to crab-stuffed shrimp. But it’s hard to beat eating a fish that you caught yourself—which is why Mikee’s offers that option, prepared two ways and served with hushpuppies, corn fritters, potatoes and a vegetable side dish.
Doc’s Seafood Shack, Orange Beach
As Doc’s menu says: “U-catch-em, u-clean-em, we-cook-em.” Choose from fried, grilled or blackened and your trophy will come served with coleslaw and fries or new potatoes. But be sure to leave some room for “the best fried shrimp in the entire civilized world” and the “world’s best seafood gumbo.”
Tacky Jack’s, multiple locations
For many vacationers, a meal at Tacky Jack’s is always on the itinerary. Originally opened in Orange Beach in the 1970s, the no-frills, come-as-you-are restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner but it’s best known for seafood. Its popularity led to two more waterfront locations: Fort Morgan (overlooking Mobile Bay) and Gulf Shores (on the Intracoastal Waterway). Whichever spot you choose, you can bring in your fresh catch and the kitchen will prepare it fried, grilled or blackened and serve it with fries and hushpuppies.