Mall Dining: Will Shop for Food

Shopping, especially shopping at the many unique and vast retail centers on the Emerald Coast can be exhausting and hunger inducing. A full day of browsing boutiques and scouting shops can build a huge appetite.

Fortunately, dining options, just as the shopping options, are almost endless. Whether you choose to grab a quick snack on site at the food court and scattered kiosks in the mall, or take a leisurely meal at any of the anchor restaurants, or just want a quiet repast away from the maddening crowds, you can find a cornucopia of dining adventures within a few steps of your chosen shopping venue.

Panama City and Santa Rosa malls are traditional enclosed shopping centers featuring the ubiquitous food courts that offer everything from gourmet cookies and pretzels, to Asian and Mexican cuisine, or sub sandwiches and burgers. These quick meals on the go offer power shoppers the boost of energy needed to shop ‘til they drop.

Anchor restaurants located on site at all the shopping centers, featuring full-service menus, table clothes, stainless flatware and real dishes, provide shoppers a quiet oasis to regroup and re-energize. There are also a plethora of off-site locations, well within walking distance or a short hop in the car, for those who just want to unwind and review the day.

Walking malls ,such as Uptown Station, Destin Commons and Silver Sands Outlet Stores, sprinkle in dining options throughout the venue, almost as if they had planned a progressive dinner party, where each course of a meal is provided at a different location. You can order an appetizer here, salads or entrée here, and dessert and an after-dinner coffee there.

Malls

Santa Rosa Mall
300 Mary Esther Blvd.
Mary Esther/Fort Walton Beach
100+ stores, 9 restaurants on-site

Opened in 1976, Santa Rosa Mall is anchored by Sears, JC Penney, Dillard's, and Belk. The 730,000-square foot mall also features a carousel, an arcade, and miniature train rides for the kids to enjoy. A 10-screen Carmike theater and an indoor go-kart track share a parking lot with the mall.

Food Court

• Crackers - Mediterranean cuisine, salads, wraps, sandwiches
• Great Steak and Potato - steak sandwiches, specialty baked potatoes and salads
• Chick-fil-A - sandwiches, wraps and salads
• Ming Tree -Chinese
• The Pretzel Twister - seasoned pretzels
• Sarku Japan - steak, chicken and shrimp teriyaki
• Sbarro Italian Eatery - pizza, pasta, salads

 Restaurant - on site

• Coffee Beanery (near Center Court) - gourmet flavored coffees, lattes, and frappalattes
• Emerald Coast Coffee - kiosk near Food Court

Restaurants - off site

• Logan's Roadhouse - steak
• Starbucks - coffee
• Barnhill's - home-style buffet
• El Paso - Mexican
• Longhorns - steaks
• TGI Fridays - steaks, chicken, pasta, and salads
• East River Smokehouse - barbeque

Panama City Mall
2150 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Panama City
95+ stores, 13 restaurants on-site

JCPenney, Sears and Dillard's anchor Panama City Mall. The 606,000 square foot shopping center opened in 1976 and was most recently renovated in 2004. A four-screen theater is located inside the mall just off the food court. Visitors can enjoy a good meal, a movie and then shop the remainder of the day.

 Food Court 

• Backyard Grill - hamburgers and chicken sandwiches
• Chick-fil-A - chicken sandwiches, salads and wraps
• Great American Steakout - sub sandwiches
• Sarku Japan - Japanese
• Taco Casa - Mexican
• Tropical Smoothie - smoothies, sandwiches, wraps, and salads
• Coffee Beanery - coffees and lattes

Restaurants - on site 

• Great American Cookie Co. - bakery
• Hershey Ice Cream - ice cream
• Candy Courtyard - confections 
• Mulligan's Sports Bar and Grill - burgers and wings 
• Pretzel Twister - kiosk near center court
• Starbucks

Restaurants - off site

• New York Pizza, at the Mall Shoppes - Italian
• Cold Stone Creamery - ice cream  
• Moe's Southwest Grill, at the Mall Shoppes - Tex-Mex 
• Red Lobster at the Mall Shoppes - seafood 
• Quiznos, at the Mall Shoppes  - sub sandwiches, salads, and soup

Shopping Centers

Destin Commons
4300 Legendary Drive
Destin
80+ stores, 10 restaurants on-site

Located near some of the most beautiful beaches in the U.S., the Destin Commons is unique in many different ways. Designed as an outdoor walking mall, the shopping center best resembles an upscale town center. At the heart of the mall is a children's play area, complete with a kid-sized "sandcastle" and a "pop-up" dancing water fountain. The Commons also provides guests with valet parking, trolley stops, and miniature train rides. Future plans for the facility include more retail stores and restaurants, and a resort hotel.

Belk and a 50,000 square foot, two-story Bass Pro World Wide Sportsman retail store, and a 14-screen Rave theater (featuring stadium seating), anchor the shopping center.

Restaurants - on site 

• Johnny Rockets - Old-fashioned hamburger malt shop 
• Zoë's Kitchen - Greek cuisine, sandwiches, stuffed pitas and salads 
• Sushi Siam - Japanese and Thai cuisine, and sushi 
• Panera Bread Company - sandwiches and soups 
• Starbucks - gourmet coffees and pastries 
• Hard Rock Café - steaks, chicken, pasta, seafood 
• Dave's Dogs - Center Plaza kiosk, gourmet hot dogs 
• Candymaker - confectioner 
• Cold Stone Creamery - ice cream 
• Tropical Smoothie - sandwiches, wraps, quesadillas 

Restaurants - off site

•  Bonefish Grill, Paradise Key at Kelly Plantation - seafood 
• Jasmine Thai, Paradise Key at Kelly Plantation - Thai cuisine 
• T.G.I. Friday's, near Paradise Key at Kelly Plantation - steaks, chicken, pasta, and salads 
• Johnny O'Quigleys, at Paradise Isle - sandwiches, burgers, ribs, chicken and steaks 
• Sarah K's, at Paradise Isle - gourmet to go 
• Olive Garden, at Paradise Isle - Italian cuisine 
• Cracker Barrel Country Store, at Paradise Isle - breakfast, home-style  
• O'Charley's, at Crystal Beach Plaza - steak, chicken and seafood 
• Chili's Grill and Bar, at Crystal Beach Plaza - Tex-Mex cuisine 
• Outback, at Crystal Beach Plaza - steak, chicken, seafood, ribs 
• New Dragon Chinese Restaurant, at Crystal Beach Plaza - Chinese cuisine

Silver Sands Factory Stores
10562 Emerald Coast Parkway (Hwy 98)
Sandestin
100+ stores, 8 restaurants on-site

Within less than a mile of the Gulf, this sprawling designer outlet was built in five phases, with the first opening in 1992. Since that time, each phase has added more shopping choices including Off Saks Fifth Avenue, Liz Claiborne, Polo and Perry Ellis, Nautica, Osh Kosh and Carter Kids, Nike and Fossil.

Harry and David, Gail Pittman, and Crabtree and Evelyn, are just a few of the specialty stores shoppers will find nowhere else on the Emerald Coast.

Today, Silver Sands Factory Stores is now recognized as the largest designer outlet in the nation with more than 100 stores encompassing nearly 500,000 square feet of retail space.

Restaurants - on site 

• Ciao Bella - pasta, pizza, salads and sandwiches 
• Starbucks - gourmet coffees and pastry 
• Mrs. Fields - cookie/bakery 
• Rocky Mt. Chocolate Factory - confectioner 
• San Gelato Café - Italian panini, frozen confections, coffee 
• Carrabba's Italian Grill 
• Panera Bread - sandwiches, soups and bakery 
• Cheeseburger in Paradise

Restaurants - off site

• McAlisters - deli sandwiches, soups and salads 
• Buster's Oyster Bar and Grill - seafood 
• IHOP - breakfast 
• Waffle House - breakfast 
• (Vin'tij) Wine Market, Bar and Bistro - wine café, pizzettes, salads, sandwiches, steaks, seafood, and sushi

Grand Boulevard
500-700 Grand Blvd., off Highway 98
Destin
16 stores, 8 restaurants on-site

Destin's newest destination shopping venue, Grand Boulvard offers retail stores, fine art, and dining, including Orvis Company, Fusion Art Glass Gallery, and Southern Waters Outfitters. The Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin and the Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin are within easy walking distance.

A truly unique shopping experience, Grand Boulevard Town Center, is a beautifully landscaped walking mall, featuring a central Grand Park with benches, and a dancing water fountain. Community events are planned here throughout the year.

Restaurants - on site

• Cantina Laredo Gourmet Mexican Food 
• Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 
• Johnny Rockets 
• Kilwin's Chocolate, Fudge & Ice Cream 
• Mitchell's Fish Market 
• Moe's Southwest Grill 
• P.F. Chang China Bistro 
• Tommy Bahama's Tropical Cafe

Uptown Station
99 Eglin Parkway
Fort Walton Beach
45 stores, 4 restaurants on-site

Sitting near the heart of Fort Walton Beach, and just a few miles from downtown, Uptown Station features an eclectic array of stores, restaurants and office space. The shopping center focuses on the family, offering free outdoor movies and other kid-friendly events during the warmer spring and summer months.

Restaurants - on site 

• Lenny's - sub sandwiches 
• Tokyo Express - Japanese cuisine 
• Buffalo Wild Wings - wings, sandwiches, wraps and salads 
• Starbucks

Restaurants - off site

• Asian King Buffet - Chinese cuisine
• Baskin-Robbins - ice cream  
• Buffalo's Reef - wings, salads, ribs, burgers, wraps and sandwiches 
• Bellissimo Pasta and Pizza - Italian cuisine

Pier Park
Front Beach Road at Pier Park Drive
Panama City Beach
87 stores, 23 restaurants

Opened in early 2008, Pier Park is the region's premier open-air recreation experience, offering more than 1 million square feet of shopping, entertainment, attractions, dining and nightlife. Anchored by Dillard, JCPenney and Target, Pier Park also offers a multi-screen, stadium seating, theatre. Located in the heart of Panama City Beach, Pier Park is close to the beach and resort accommodations, and is an official stop on the city's trolley service.

On-site Restaurants and specialty food stores

• Back Porch Seafood and Oyster House 
• Bootleg Barbeque 
• Buffalo Wild Wings (BW3)
• Candy Maker 
• Five Guys Famous Hamburgers & Fries
• Great American Cookie Co. / Pretzel Maker
• Guglielmo's Italian Grill 
• Guy Harvey's Grill 
• Hana Japan 
• Hofbrau Beer Garden 
• Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville 
• Kilwin's Chocolates & Ice Cream 
• Longhorn Steakhouse 
• Marble Slab Creamery 
• Olive Garden 
• Panera Bread
• Popcorn Kingdom
• Red Brick Pizza 
• Red Robin 
• Reggae J's Island Grill
• Smoothie King 
• Starbucks Coffee Company 
• Tootsies Orchid Lounge