Canopy Road Cafe

April 9, 2023

Restaurant Roundup: New on the Scene

By Michelle Farnham
April 9, 2023

SOUTH WALTON – The South Walton dining scene, dubbed “America’s Next Great Culinary Destination,” has seen tremendous growth over the past year. Never before have visitors and locals alike had so many options to wine and dine here along the Emerald Coast. Let’s take a look at some of the new kids on the block.

Hunter’s Chicken & Burgers

Longtime fans of the former Baytowne Wharf eatery Hartell’s Diner will be happy to see it re-imagined as Hunter’s Chicken & Burgers. Home to the famous Krispy Krunchy Chicken (exclusive to this area), this diner recently opened its doors at The Market Shops at the South entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

Hunter’s bills itself as “A modern take on old-fashioned diners,” with all the classics: onion rings, shoestring fries (with or without gravy), hand-pressed burgers, fried chicken, and even seafood. The kids menu offers mac and cheese, mini corn dogs, and grilled cheese, too. Grab a salad, soda, beer, or wine, and don’t forget take-out options for those beach picnics! Barn Boxes with bone-in chicken are to-go only, available as an 8-piece or 16-piece.

Hunter’s Chicken & Burgers is located at 9375 Emerald Coast Parkway W, Miramar Beach. Reach them at 850-654-9453 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HuntersDiner/. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Grace Pizza and Shakes 30A

With two locations in Texas, Grace Pizza and Shakes recently expanded to the 30A market, offering coal-fired pizzas and over-the-top milkshakes.

Whether you’re looking to dine-in or get your meal to go, Grace offers a selection of starters (spinach dip, meatballs or the famous “Illegal Cheese Bread,” to name a few), 12-inch pizzas, salads, hot sandwiches and draft beer.

Create your own pizza or pick one of 14 specialty combinations, like the spicy Heat Wave with its selection of zesty Italian meats and local hot honey, the La Grande Vita with Wagyu meatballs and ricotta cheese, or the gluten-free Ashlyn’s Art on cauliflower crust and roasted vegetables.

For something sweet, the What’s Shakin’ menu includes such monster treats as the 30A Cake Explosion milkshake (served with a slice of cake and a sparkler) or Kane’s Cookie Shake, topped with an entire cookie sandwich. Classic vanilla and chocolate shakes are available, too.

Grace Pizza and Shakes 30A is at 38 Clayton Lane in the Grayton Beach area of Santa Rosa Beach. Visit them online at gracepizzaandshakes.com or call 850-399-4051.

Canopy Road Cafe

New to the 30Avenue complex in Inlet Beach, Canopy Road Cafe added another brunch spot to the East End.

In additional to seasonal specials, Canopy’s menu includes healthy eats and morning toasts, like the Italian Avocado Toast; house favorites include country fried steak and eggs; Benedicts served with potatoes or grits; handhelds and sandwiches like the breakfast quesadilla; and entire menus of pancakes, waffles, French toast and omelets.

Breakfast skillets are fried up with your choice of ingredients, like the Roger with its corned beef hash and grilled peppers; or an 8-ounce black Angus burger, including the Black N’ Bleu Burger, served blackened with caramelized onions, grilled mushrooms and bacon.

Open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week, visit them at 12805 U.S. Highway 98E, Inlet Beach, or order online at www.canopyroadcafe.com. Phone is 850-909-0104.

Outcast Seafood

Outcast Seafood and its motley crew opened its doors near the outlet mall last year, serving up seafood at market price. A second location, Outcast Bar & Grill, just opened in Santa Rosa Beach.

“The Outcast” meal is your choice of shrimp (head on or head off) or snow crab legs prepared in their signature seafood boil spice blend – either “Hot” or “Not.” You can add sausage, corn, portobellos or a potato to make the seafood boil of your dreams – bibs and gloves recommended!

The “Others” menu includes such treats as catfish bites, double Old Bay wings or their signature slow-cooked red beans and rice. Sip on beers, wine or soft drinks, and don’t miss the happy hour food and beverage deals from 1 to 4 p.m. daily.

Outcast Seafood’s flagship location is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner at 10859 Emerald Coast Parkway, Suite 404, in Miramar Beach (phone 850-424-7214), with a second location, Outcast Bar & Grill, at 4942 US Highway 98W in Santa Rosa Beach. Visit them online at www.outcastseafood.com.

September 12, 2022

NEW RESTAURANT: Canopy Road Café joins the 30-A scene

Blog, Home Page Blog

Breakfast/lunch spot opens in 30Avenue

INLET BEACH – Canopy Road Café’s new 30-A restaurant, located at 12805 US-98, promises to shake up the old breakfast routines of locals and tourists alike. This isn’t your grandmother’s bacon-and-eggs breakfast joint.

From whimsical dishes like Fat Elvis pancakes (in case you were wondering: peanut butter and banana pancakes filled with chopped bacon and topped with a peanut butter drizzle), to customized skillets with every ingredient under the Emerald Coast sun – Canopy Road Café has you covered.

Children will love Canopy Road Café because they aren’t treated as an afterthought. When they see that plate of Cookies and Cream French Toast headed their way, the expression on their faces is priceless. And when they take a picture of it and send it to their friends, you’ll know you picked the right breakfast spot.

But Canopy Road Café isn’t all sprinkles and whipped cream – there is something for the entire family. From five different “benedict” dishes to handhelds, omelets and house favorites, every breakfast base is covered.

And if the lunch hour has arrived, you can dig into an Angus burger, fries and wash it all down with a cold beer before heading back to work or the beach.

Many of the items served come from the Sunshine State.

Canopy Road Café is the creation of Brad Buckenheimer and David Raney, college buddies who worked at a Tallahassee diner but knew they eventually wanted to start their own business.

Now, Canopy Road Café is taking off with eight locations sprinkled throughout the state and more on the way.

“We love what we do, and we love making people happy,” said Brad. “Smiles and sighs are our goal – smiles because breakfast was fun and sighs because they were satisfied.”

Brad and Dave are Florida boys who honor their roots – all of the meat and produce served at the restaurant come from the Sunshine State.

“We use local art in the restaurants, local vendors and cater to locals first,” Dave said. “Local diners will find that it doesn’t take long for our staff to learn their names and what they like. We hire local people and treat them well to keep turnover at the minimum.”

Open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, Canopy Road Café is located at 12805 US-98, Inlet Beach, within the 30Avenue complex. Find them online at www.canopyroadcafe.com.

November 4, 2021

The party continues into the holidays at 30Avenue!

Blog, Home Page Blog, Uncategorized

By Michelle Farnham
Nov. 4, 2021

INLET BEACH – Situated on the east end of Scenic Highway 30A is 30Avenue, an outdoor lifestyle center that exemplifies the South Walton experience. Though the summer “season” may have come to a close, the complex’s selection of restaurants, retail shops, professional offices, and event space continue to make 30Avenue a center for family fun.

New to the complex is Little’s Lunches & Kitchen, offering chef-crafted meals, market-style food and jarred products. 30Avenue Marketing Coordinator Stephanie Madden said the kitchen is available for pickup or pre-order.

“They will also stock vacation homes,” Madden said, adding, “On the third Friday and Saturday they are hosting kid-friendly interactive culinary adventures with Chef Glen. Your junior chef will design a fun and culinary masterpiece.”

Coming down the pike is the much-anticipated Canopy Road Cafe, slated to open in the spring of 2022. With locations near Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Tampa, this tribute to the American diner serves made-from-scratch breakfasts and lunches, including giant pancakes and a half-pound burger.

The 30Avenue complex is located on the east end of 30A. Submitted photo

Get into the seasonal spirit with a lineup of live entertainment slated for the next month.

“We are gearing up for a fun holiday season!” Madden said. “We will have live music Nov. 18 to 27 (with the exception of Thanksgiving Day).”

Musicians will also set the backdrop for Black Friday shopping Nov. 26, with live music 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Additionally, the 30A Olive Oil store will host a holiday open house Nov. 17, including in-store discounts and a free gift with purchase (while supplies last). Enjoy floral arranging with Beach Blooms at 10 a.m., and wine-tasting and lite bites from 3 to 8 p.m.

MYST 30A – the Modern Yoga STyle fitness center – is offering the entire store buy one, get one 50% off on Sunday, Nov. 21, to jump start holiday shopping.

Additionally Ohana Institute, the private school that anchors the north end of the 30Avenue complex, will be hosting their holiday tree, wreath and garland sale on the Ohana Green. Available Monday to Friday, 3 to 6 p.m.; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekends, proceeds benefit the debate class trip to Model United Nations.

Other culinary options in the complex include 30A Burger, amici 30A Italian Kitchen, amigos 30A Mexican Kitchen, Barbacoa Mexican Grill, Cuvee 30A, Decadent, Goatfeathers at 30Avenue, Great American Cookies, and Marble Slab Creamery.

30Avenue is located at 12805 US Highway 98 East, Rosemary Beach, FL 32461. Visit them online at www.thirtyavenue.com for more information.