Inlet Beach
Inlet Beach is the quite beach of the east end of 30A. There are a number of up and coming dining options such as Roselie Dining and Seafood Bar and Cuvee 30a.
amici 30A Italian Kitchen
amici 30A Italian Kitchen
12805 US Hwy. 98, Suite R101, Inlet Beach
850-909-0555
www.amici30a.com
Welcoming friends to the table
If ever there was a true family restaurant, amici 30A Italian Kitchen is just that place. The eatery
invites its patrons to settle in for good conversation, delicious food, and an authentic family
atmosphere that is nothing short of truly welcoming. Owners George and Amy Corchis own and
operate the restaurant, along with their four children. Although amici has only made its home in
the 30A area since 2016, its longevity is assured by the continued patronage of dedicated locals
and area visitors.
With so many dining options in South Walton, what sets amici apart from the rest?
“I think that we’ve established ourselves first and foremost as a local eatery,” Amy Corchis
explained. “That was the premise behind it. After all, amici means ‘friends’ in Italian. We
wanted a place for our local friends to come together over food, to share their days and their
memories together.
“We are a close family, and we wanted our place to feel welcoming to families and groups, so
we created the restaurant to have large communal tables to allow for families to come and dine
together. You don’t see this much of anywhere else in the area.”
The atmosphere of amici itself is cozy and inviting, with a relaxing bar, an open-air patio, and
the intimacy and warmth provided by weathered brick and reclaimed wood accents. Whether
meeting friends for a cocktail, family for dinner, or a special someone for wine and conversation,
amici provides the backdrop for any scenario, and does so expertly. The philosophy of the
restaurant is one of community.
Friends, family, and full bellies
If the place invites you to join, then the food convinces you to stay. With a menu so full of
sumptuous offerings, patrons agree that the restaurant lives up to its motto of “Friends, family,
and full bellies.” From salads to pastas, to pizza pies and traditional Italian desserts, amici’s
menu truly has something for everyone – even offering vegetarian and gluten-free choices.
Many of the menu items are named for members of the Corchis family, and Amy Corchis jokes
that there is a long-running competition between the kids as to whose dish is most popular.
“Right now, Lily’s Chicken Piccata is one of our top sellers. That dish has led the group for a
while,” Amy said. She stays true to her own namesake, ordering Amy’s Chopped Salad almost
daily, made with mixed lettuce, basil, red onion, cucumber, celery, mint, fennel, baby heirloom
tomatoes, garbanzo beans, salami, provolone, parmigiana, and a homemade vinaigrette.
Other savory menu choices include several small plate options, like meatballs, burrata, a toasted
ravioli mozzarella cheese stick, and arancini, a traditional Sicilian rice ball served on San
Marzano tomato sauce with shaved parmigiana.
A selection of handcrafted sandwiches are served on brick oven-baked baguette, including a
chicken parm, chicken pesto, meatball, farmer’s market (a vegetarian option), and “The Burger,”
made with 8 ounces of ground angus chuck and served with hand-cut fries.
A ‘create your own pasta’ portion of the menu is tempting, allowing the patron to choose from
four pastas (including the fettucine, which is made in house), six sauces (such as Alfredo
Florentine and a vodka cream sauce), and six proteins (Italian sausage, meatballs, chicken, black
grouper, shrimp, and scallops), to create their own new favorite dish. Amici also offers a special
for each day of the week, including the locally-loved Sunday Gravy.
Perhaps the most-celebrated items on the menu are amici’s Signature Neapolitan Pizza Pies, each
made with carefully selected fresh ingredients and designed to be shared. Favorite pizza options
include the Blanca (extra virgin olive oil, shredded mozzarella, fresh ricotta, onion, rosemary and
calabrese chilies), the Salciccia (San Marzano tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella, imported
Italian sausage, Cipollini onions, and wild mushrooms), and the Mac ‘N’ Cheese (extra virgin
olive oil, cheddar cheese, curly pasta, oregano, salt, pepper and Goldfish cracker crumble). The
option also stands to create your own pizza, with any three toppings included. Each pizza can be
made gluten-free, too.
amici 30a is located at 12805 US Highway 98E, Suite R101 in Inlet Beach, part of 30Avenue, and is
open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Lunch is served from 11 to 4, and dinner from 4 to 11, with
happy hour specials each day from 3 to 6. To-go ordering is available on the website
www.amici30a.com, or by calling 850-909-0555.
Barbacoa Mexican Grill
Located at 30Avenue
850-238-2486
Website
Freshii
Located at 30Avenue
850-213-2313
http://www.freshii.com
Great American Cookies
Located at 30Avenue
850-909-0405
Website
Shades Bar and Grill
10952 E County Hwy 30A
Rosemary Beach, FL 32461
850-231-9410
www.Shades30a.com
Step into the shade for the big game
The sun on 30A can get hot. Sometimes you just need to step into the shade, Shades Bar &
Grill, that is. If sports fans haven’t found this iconic 30A destination yet, it’s simply a matter of
time. Shades has been serving up fresh, casual food and sports since 1994. If you want to
watch “the game” – whatever it is – and have a bite and a beverage to boot, then this Inlet
Beach spot is the place to go.
Televised baseball games at Shades are a tradition for many 30A guests. This year, soccer is
added to the mix, as management will also televise all the World Cup games, attracting a big
crowd. In fact, with 17 HD TVs, a projector and DirecTV premium packages including NHL
Center Ice, NFL Sunday Ticket, UFC, NCAAFB ESPN Gameplan, NCAABB, ESPN Full Court,
MLB Extra Innings, Versus, and Fox Soccer Channel, Shades can accommodate just about any
sports fan.
Those crowds will enjoy the fun in a space that has recently been remodeled this off season.
The exterior was painted a bright, fresh white, new signage was added, and for those looking for
a little more “shade,” a new roof system has been added over the outdoor seating. “It’s a louver
system that can provide some shade or open up so you can see the sky,” said Steven Sapp,
Shades Group director of operations.
It’s Shades’ huge televisions that keep the sports fun front and center, and Florida coastal
breezes and comfy chairs often persuade guests to sit a little longer than they originally
planned.
Sapp began with the company as a Shades bartender, and so he turned his managerial skills to
his old post and evolved the bar program a bit in the off season. He actually reduced the
number of draft beers on tap to better manage inventory and keep the beer fresh and flowing for
customers.
“Every 30 to 60 days, we highlight a new spirit at the bar through tasting or cocktail features,” he
added. There are affordable happy hour features, monthly beer tastings, and nights for beer and
wine specials, so the focus is on welcoming guests to return often.
The food menu also got refreshed. The kitchen has added weekly features to the mix, targeting
their strong regular base that might want more variety. Comfort food – from pork chops and
mashed potatoes to steak salads with blue cheese crumbles – are specials that last for a week
until a new list is debuted on Monday. Shades standards such as Chicken Nachos, wings, fried
seafood, and decadent desserts are all still available as well, so those who crave it can still get
their hot wings high.
In contrast to many other “sports bars” throughout the country, Shades is a bright, airy space
that welcomes families and sports fans alike, and it does it all in true 30A, laidback style. Sapp
agrees: “It’s really a great place to be.”
Shades Bar & Grill can be found at 10952 E. County Hwy. 30A in Inlet Beach. The restaurant
serves guests daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Visit them online at www.shades30a.com.
Shaka Sushi in Inlet Beach
13625 US Hwy. 98 East, Suite 5
Inlet Beach, FL 32461
(850) 909-0030
https://shaka30a.com/
Where Asian cuisine meets the beach
By Pam Windsor
INLET BEACH – Shaka Sushi and Noodle Bar is one of the newest restaurants in South Walton, but has certainly made a name for itself since opening last April. Located just east of 30A, Shaka is owned by the Last Call Restaurant Group which also runs other well-known area favorites like Shades Bar & Grill, Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar, and Southside Slice. Adding a sushi restaurant to the mix offered the group an opportunity to offer another type of fare to area diners.
Co-owner John Freer says Shaka’s versatile menu offers an array of exciting and unique dishes created by longtime Sushi Chef James Sargent.
“We have sushi, amazing noodles, and a variety of other items that are really, really good,” said Freer. “On the sushi roll side, a couple of our most popular are the Maverick Roll and the Inlet Beach Roll.”
The Maverick Roll has tuna, bacon, Asian aioli, cream cheese, tempura, and green onions, while the Inlet Beach Roll has shrimp, cream cheese, tempura, and Asian aioli.
The menu features a wide variety of small bites, entrees, and more. Guests ordering one of Shaka’s Poke Bowls can choose between fresh tuna, octopus, yellowtail, shrimp, or salmon.
Shaka also offers different types of saki (a Japanese alcoholic beverage that can be served hot or cold), wine, and beer to go along with each entree.
“We have a vast selection of different types of saki,” Freer explained. “We have a really amazing list of saki cocktails, and we also have wine and beer, with suggestions for pairing each with different items on the menu.”
Some of those saki cocktails are enticing by the names alone. There is Lemongrass Lemonade, Mighty Mango, Shaka Sangria, Inlet Lychee, and Time for Tea.
Shaka Sushi and Noodle Bar is housed in a development in Inlet Beach that includes a number of other businesses. The restaurant was specifically designed to offer a warm, welcoming, spacious feel. Guests have the option of sitting inside the restaurant or eating outside in a large open courtyard area. The goal was to make sure there was plenty of room available.
“There’s a uniqueness of the space,” said Freer. “The courtyard has an additional 44 seats, so it’s very likely guests will always be able to get a seat.”
For anyone unable to dine in the restaurant, Shaka offers a delivery service within a certain area. Take-out is also available. Check the website for more information.
Shaka Sushi & Noodle Bar is at 13625 U.S. Hwy. 98 East, Suite 5, Inlet Beach. Reach them by phone at 850-909-0030 or online at www.shaka30a.com. The restaurant is open for dinner seven days a week, from 4 to 10 p.m. and does not accept reservations.
