Great Destin Restaurants (Not Seafood)

Looking for a restaurant that’s not all about seafood in Destin? Well, you are in the right place because we have 5 great ones for you right here!

Pazzo Italiano

Pazzo Italiano is a locally owned and operated Italian restaurant. Chef Alfonso di Bonito is from Napoli, Italy, and has won several local awards. Pazzo Italiano specializes in real authentic Italian flavor. The food they serve to how they greet their customers is as authentic as it gets. Customer reviews rave about the feel of being family the moment you walk through the door.

Their menu includes wood-fired pizzas, calzones, classic pasta, and much more. Here are a few offerings from their dinner menu:

Pizza

Ortolano – Tomato sauce, mozzarella. fire-roasted vegetables, basil, shaved parmesan.

Bianca  – (Specialita del Pizzaiolo) Mozzarella. mushrooms, prosciutto di Parma. shoved pormigiono reggiono drizzled with truffle oil no sauce.

Pasta

Spaghetti Carbonara – rich imported pancetta, onion, and cream finished with an egg yolk and parmesan cheese.

Pappardelle Dello Chef – Egg pasta with Italian sausage, porcini mushroom, and creamy smoked Gouda cheese sauce drizzled with truffle oil.

Main Courses

Saltimbocca – Pan seared veal or chicken topped with prosciutto di Parma, fresh mozzarella finished with a porcini mushroom sauce.

Picatta – Sauteed veal or chicken finished in a tangy lemon butter sauce and capers, served over angel hair pasta.

Pazzo Italiano is open for lunch and dinner. Click here to see their menus. Pazzo is a family-friendly restaurant and offers a kids’ menu.

Opening Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday – Closed

Website: https://www.pazzodestin.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pazzoitalianodestin

Phone: (850) 974-5484

34904 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Suite 114, Destin, FL

Moe’s Original BBQ  (at Buck’s Smokehouse)

Some people throughout the East Coast may recognize this name. Moe’s Original is consistently associated with great barbeque.  They are located where Buck’s Smokehouse was originally, hence the addition to the name. Moe’s Original BBQ smokes their meats daily. Customers can dine in or “Haul it Home”. If they choose to dine in there is the choice of seating indoors or on the patio. Menu items include:

Smoked Half Chicken (Platter)

Hot, smoked, half chicken, complemented by our house-made sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, creamy Alabama style white BBQ sauce, and pickles

Smoked Chicken (Sandwich)

Hot, smoked chicken, pulled from the bone, served as a combination of

White and dark meat on a toasted bun with our house-made sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, cool and crisp marinated slaw, creamy Alabama style white BBQ sauce, and pickles

Pulled Pork (Sandwich)

Slow smoked pork shoulder, dressed in a tangy sop sauce, served on a toasted bun, our house-made sweet and tangy BBQ sauce and pickles

Smoked Turkey (Sandwich)

Hot, smoked, all-white meat turkey breast, sliced then served on a toasted bun, with our house-made sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, cool and crisp marinated slaw, creamy Alabama style white BBQ sauce, and pickles

Click here for Moe’s Original BBQ at Buck’s Smokehouse full menu, including kids’ menu and catering packages. They are open for lunch and dinner.

Opening Hours:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday – Sunday: 11 a.m – 8 p.m.

Website:  https://www.moesoriginalbbq.com/destin

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/moesbbqdestin

Phone:  (850) 837-3600

303 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL

Mi Gente Mexican Restaurant & Cantina + Supermarket

If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food, this is the place. Mi Gente Mexican Restaurant & Cantina + Supermarket opened in July 2020 right as the pandemic was really revving up. As the name suggests, it’s a lot more than just a restaurant. Mi Gente is a 10,000 square foot business with a restaurant, meat market, grocery store, and cantina.

As for their restaurant, their menu offers all of the Mexican standards a person would ever hope for. Their slogan for their business is “My head says gym, but my heart says tacos.”

Tacos

Tortillas – corn or flour

Meat – Carne Asada, Al Pastor, Barbacoa, Birra, Pollo Asado, Carnitas, and many others that aren’t on your usual Mexican restaurant menu.

Burritos

Burrito Grande, Vegetarian, all meat, California Burrito and more.

Mi Gente Mexican Restaurant & Cantina + Supermarket’s menu also offers tortas, platters, and much more. Oh and don’t miss the salsa bar!

Click here to visit their Facebook page to see a menu.

Open 7 days a week 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taqueriamigentedestin/?ref=page_internal

Phone: (850) 842-2992

733 Harbor Blvd., Destin, FL

Island Wing Company

Island Wing Company is a small wing franchise with only 10 other Florida, Virginia, and Alabama locations. They bake, steam, and grill their food. Wings, fries, and flatbreads are baked, veggie steamed and burgers grilled. It’ll be a nice welcome for your stomach after fast food and heavily fried seafood.

Some of the items from Island Wings Company in Destin are:

Wings

Wings – Traditional, Jumbo Boneless, and Veggie Nuggets.

Sauces – Choose from over 25 sauces ranging in heat from mild to scorpion!

Dips – Homemade Buttermilk Ranch, Bleu Cheese Wasabi Ranch,  Jalapeño Ranch, Chipotle Ranch Magic Jerk Sauce, Honey Mustard

Appetizers

Baked and Battered Green Beans – Garden-picked green beans surrounded by a crunchy batter and baked to crispy perfection. Dip them in our homemade buttermilk ranch or wasabi ranch and taste the greatness.

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Nachos – Another Island original. Our zesty three cheese blend generously “Lei’d” on top of a pile of warm tortilla chips. Finished with the perfect marriage of flavors in jalapeño slices, shredded lettuce, our signature Pineapple Coconut Rum Slaw, and smoky diced BBQ chicken.

Flatbread

BBQ Chicken & Bacon – A thin and crispy crust topped with our Sweet Hawaiian BBQ sauce, Colby-Jack cheese, diced grilled chicken, bacon bits, and caramelized onions. Sweet, smoky, savory, and delicious all in one!

The Guinness – This one’s going down in the record books! We start with our Sweet & Peppery Polynesian sauce base on top of a thin and crispy crust. Then we top it with diced red and green peppers, diced onions, mozzarella cheese, and plenty of thinly sliced Guinness beer brats. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy, and ridiculously good!

To see the full menu, click here.

Island Wings Co. offers dine-in and “Grab and Go Family Meals”.  They also offer a Kids’ menu,  Gluten Sensitive menu as well as a catering menu. 

Open Hours:

Sunday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 11 a. m. – 11 p.m.

Website: https://www.islandwing.com/locations/destin-fl/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/islandwingcompanydestin

Phone: (850) 837-2999

981 US Hwy 98E #13, Destin

Our last pick is probably one of the most popular spots in Destin.

McGuire’s Irish Pub of Destin

As we stated, McGuire’s consistently rated at the very top for favorite restaurants in Destin. When we say very top, we mean VERY top. It beats out all the top seafood houses. They have thousands of reviews with almost a 5-star rating. Safe to say this is a must-try.

Being an “Irish Pub” one might think that Fish and Chips should be ordered or the Shepherd’s Pie…Please don’t be fooled into that. McGuire’s is so much more! Here are some of the biggest hits from their menu:

Appetizers

Irish Boxtys– An old Irish favorite, “Boxty on the griddle, boxty in the pan; if you can’t make boxty, you’ll never get a man”. Garlic Mashed Potatoes hand-rolled in Herbed Bread Crumbs and Flash Fried. Served with Salsa, Guacamole Dip and a Horseradish Sour Cream Sauce

Reuben Eggroll –Homemade Irish Egg Rolls with Corned Beef, Sauerkraut, and Swiss Cheese. Served with Thousand Island Dressing for dipping. A McGuire’s original

Steaks and Chops

Jameson Pork Chops – Grilled French Loin Pork Chops with an Irish Whiskey Glaze served with homemade Granny Smith Applesauce.

16 oz. Hickory Smoked Prime Rib of Beef – Heavily fat marbled and slow smoked in our outdoor SmokeHouse for a very strong smoked flavor!

Note: ANY steak you have here, will be the best steak in Destin.

Soups

Crocked Onion Soup – Strong Onion Reduction Broth loaded with chopped sautéed Onions, topped with Toasted French Bread and covered with Oven Browned Swiss Cheese.

Senate Bean Soup – Same recipe was served in the U.S. Senate for 18¢ in 1977. We’ve been selling this wonderful Homemade Soup at this price since 1977. The Senate cafeteria has raised their price to $6.00, but we all know Washington can’t control costs.

McGuire’s has several different menus – Click here to see the Brunch, Lunch, Lunch Specials, Dinner, Night Owls, and Kids’.

People love the service, food, and atmosphere at McGuire’s. They offer indoor seating and an upstairs deck that overlooks the Harbor that seats up to 150 more guests. There is something for everybody at McGuire’s.

McGuire’s is open 7 days a week 11 a.m – 2 a.m.

Website: http://www.mcguiresirishpub.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McGuires-Irish-Pub-of-Destin-173297613292

Phone: (850) 650-0000

33 US-98 E., Destin, FL

There are so many amazing restaurants that serve a lot more than just seafood in Destin. Next time you are in town, these 5 restaurants should be on your radar.

If you do give them a try, please let us know! We’d love to hear about your experience and see pictures as well!.