Bayou on the Beach Cafe

Bayou on the Beach has been serving the PCB area with authentic Cajun cuisine and fresh seafood for nearly two decades.  Dave and Donna Buxton, both from Lafayette Louisiana, opened the Bayou on the “Curve” of Thomas Drive in January of 1999.  Armed with Donna’s handwritten cookbook loaded with traditional Cajun recipes, they amassed a huge following of daily regulars.  Dave was always present at the bar from open to close, and made sure to greet and thank every individual that walked through the doors.  Donna was the smiling face in the kitchen window, often the lone cook in the off season when tourism came to a screeching halt.  Bringing up two sons and three nephews in the restaurant business, the Bayou quickly became a haven for the younger generation of Buxtons and Koles to develop their culinary and managerial skills.  Since the Buxton’s retirement in 2010, the torch was passed to their son Jordan and his wife Maria to take over the Bayou.  While staying true to Dave and Donna’s blueprint, Jordan and Maria have added their own amazing additions to the menu and atmosphere.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

While seafood is what the majority of tourists seek dining out in Panama City Beach, genuine Cajun cuisine is the beating heart of the Bayou.  In place of sandwiches you will find po’boys, a Louisiana staple served on a split top French loaf, historically loaded with shredded roast beef or fried seafood.  Another wonderful dish you might have trouble finding anywhere else but the Bayou is the crawfish ettoufee [ay-too-fay], a rice bowl smothered in a blonde roux, covered with crawfish.  What really put the Bayou on the map is their daily lunch specials, running Tuesday through Friday during lunch hours, the most popular being Wednesday’s smothered beef tips.  If you are unfamiliar with Cajun cuisine, try a Bayou Sampler and get a taste of chicken & sausage gumbo, seafood gumbo, red beans & rice, as well as jambalaya.

Mud Bugs & Music

Nothing says Cajun like a huge mess of boiled crawfish. During crawfish season, The Bayou serves up Cajun boiled mud bugs every Thursday evening piled high on oyster trays with potatoes and corn.  The crawfish are delivered live the day of the cook off and Jordan spends the rest of the evening outside boiling the shellfish in a huge propane cooker, always donning his signature white bandana. The weekly event is accompanied with live music by the Blue Ribbon Healers, a local bluegrass band with sounds inspired by New Orleans Jazz.  The Bayou has a full service bar carrying Louisiana brewed Abita beers, which pair well with the spicy river dwellers.

Local Favorites

Like many restaurants, Bayou on the Beach has a few signature items that stand out and have become local favorites over the years. “Who Dat Shrimp” hand breaded popcorn shrimp tossed in a signature Cajun sauce quickly became one of the most popular appetizers among their patrons.  On the dinner menu, Royal Reds have always had a special place in the hearts of their regulars.  These massive lobster-like shrimp are steamed and served whole with clarified butter and go great with a side of Gouda grits and hush-puppies.  The Bayou is also known for their many variations of oysters on the half shell.  While the raw and baked oysters have always been a popular choice, the char-grilled oysters have really taken off over the past few years.  The oysters are shucked fresh to order and placed on the broiler, cooked with a blend of garlic butter, parmesan cheese, and Bayou seasoning.

Yall Come See

Come see the Bayou crew Tuesday through Saturday on 1115 Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL 32408.  Doors open at 11am with seasonal night hours.  If you miss the Buxton’s at the restaurant, you can spot them every year in the Mardi Gras parade tossing out beads on the big Bayou on the Beach float.  As the Bayou sails towards it’s 20th year of business, Maria and Jordan are grateful for their loyal customers and the tourists that support them.  Many of the faces you see at the bar today are the same faces that were chatting with Dave nearly twenty years ago.  As the Buxton family continues to serve Bay County at Bayou on the Beach and Finn’s Island Style Grub, the next generation will soon be helping in the kitchen, keeping up with family tradition.

For more information visit www.bayouonthebeachcafe.com

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