The service was very slow at first. we waited at the front door and then once we were seated we waited about 10 minutes before a waiter came to our table. Thankfully his service and the food made up for it. I got the crab stuffed shrimp and it was very good. The people next to us ordered snapper and it came as a whole fish.. It looked delicious and they gobbled it up! I'll come back.
(4)
K L.
Execellent service and food, We saw the glowing reviews on Yelp and decided to check it out. I would have never stopped there based on the outside appearance since its so simple. Kind of drab interior however the food and service quckly make up for it. We and steak and pork chops - both were awesome. Daily early bird specials until 630 pm also, Glad I found a new place in this area next time I visit!
This place is a must! The service is amazing and everyone is super friendly. Ask for the backstory on the owners. The grilled shrimp and scallops appetizer is amazing and the grilled grouper is off the charts!
(5)
Stacey B.
Family dinner while on vacation. What a pleasant surprise! Definitely a time where you can't judge a book by the cover. We had fantastic and friendly service. We had a variety of things from the menu from fresh fish to beef panang. We have a party of eight that all ordered different menu items and each was delicious!
(5)
Nikki S.
This was a very good little place! The outside is a little deceiving but the food is very good! I ordered the baked stuffed mahi mahi with a side of their rice and it was delicious. The salad I relieved before my meal was a little small but still good. I was with a group of 9 people and everyone liked their food. I also recommend the key lime pie for dessert!
(4)
Brenda K.
After reading other reviews we decided to try for ourselves. The food and service was awesome. We will definitely go to Sealand restaurant next time we come. On vacation to fort Walton . I had the paella and my husband had seafood pasta, absolutely delicious on both counts. Bk from Memphis
(5)
Ashlyn S.
Food was very good and service was excellent, but the portions are very small for what you are paying. Would go more often but my family left hungry after we spent $117
(3)
Amy K.
The food was really delicious; (had Trigger fish for the first time). The service was wonderful (ask for Sue); the atmosphere was laid back and friendly. Will go back every time I'm in Ft. Walton.
(5)
Don W.
This restaurant is a hidden gem in the Ft Walden Beach area. Not often do you find food quality and service in a restaurant. The food is fresh and wait staff knowledgeable in helping pick that awesome meal for the novice at heart. I highly recommend this restaurant as it operates with heart.
(5)
Jim S.
Ignore the outside appearance and cheesy interior decor. The food is great. Service can be suspect but ended up fine. Salad is basic. I got their special whole snapper catch of the day and it was awesome. The chef is from Vietnam and wife from Thailand so they know how to cook seafood. Stock with local fish. My wife got Pad Thai and enjoyed it. Authentic flavors but not as spicy. Ask for more heat if you are used to spicier Thai food. Overall a great meal.
Interesting there were so many great reviews about this place. The inside looked worse than outside to begin with. At the beginning service was quick and friendly, actually nobody was rude during our experience. However, to get to the point, we waited 30 minutes for a brownie and 2 cappuccinos. We only came for dessert not dinner. They did not have the capability to make decaf espresso so the waiter offered to use decaf drip coffee and some lovely foamed milk- being from the west coast I cringed but decided that would be fine. Our coffees arrived, all 20 oz of them...90% decaf drip and some warm milk on top minus the froth hence the word CAPPUCCINO. Annoyed I tried to look past it, until we got our bill which was a $10 charge for the coffee (it was not a cap) that we did not drink. When I gave the waiter our card I explained to him that he didn't use espresso and we weren't grealty fond of our drinks and perhaps he could charge for what they were, a drip coffee. He spoke with the manager who apparently said sorry this is the way it is. The brownie was less than mediocore. If you're going to offer a coffee drink like a cappucino, spend 20 minutes on utube or wherever and figure out how to make one! As for the brownie I had a Duncan Hines box I should have just gone home and spent the 20 minutes to make it...Most of my fury could have been mitigated if the "manager" would have come to the table and discussed the situation and had a reasonable solution besides doing nothing at all. CUSTOMER SERVICE and a bad review go a long way, hopefully one day you will figure it out.
(1)
Alexa M.
You would never think so from outside but the food here is great. All our courses were excellent. Ordered potstickers as appetizer, fried oysters as entree, side salad (included) and tiramisu as dessert. All great. Service was EXCELLENT. They need a makeover in the restaurant but food & service are great.
(4)
T W.
Excellent ! Super menu, great prime rib, perfectly cooked. The roast pork in wine gravy is best flavor. We sat outside, great fall weather. Early bird special till 6pm. Closed Monday's
(5)
Leslie M.
Amazing! We had catch of the day. Simply amazing. We had the bread pudding with rum sauce, which is divine. For an appetizer we had the Creole Shrimp which was very good. I would highly suggest this place. Its away from the tourist area of Destin but just across the bridge. Well worth it!!!!
(5)
Kevin C.
AMAZING! I have eaten all over the world. I love seafood. And this place is on the top of my list. Never disappointed. The Chef takes pride in every dish! And that's what we pay for. The price is on point. I would pay more for each dish and feel satisfied. Bottom line if you want seafood go here. I hear the steak and prime rid is on point. I've never had it because the seafood hits the mark. The service is great. If you are in destin or fort walton beach this is where you need to eat.
(5)
Lindsay K.
Fresh seafood, not frozen. The fish market is right next door and they change specials based on what comes into the market that day that looks good. I would say the food was very fresh, but not exactly the most flavorful thing I have ever eaten. The crab cakes were good, not great. The salad was good, not great. The bread was good, not great. The fish of the day (grouper) was good, not great. I did love the crabmeat stuffing on top of the fish. My husband LOVED the seafood pasta with alfredo (he's a sucker for alfredo). One thing I LOVED was the baked potato ALL THE WAY (everything on it). It was almost like a twice baked potato with all the toppings mixed into every bite, it was DELICIOUS! The decor is a little odd, a mixture of Asian/Italian. Yelp says they are open until 11pm, but actually they may close earlier so it is best to call. They don't have a closing time posted and when I called, the lady on the phone told me "oh we will serve for probably another hour or so" (that was at 8:30).
(4)
Ben L.
I chose this restaurant for me and my co-workers as it was one of the few open on sunday that seemed good. The high ratings on yelp gave me hope. A hope that was dashed on the rocks. We started by ordering steak, pasta, and fish of the day (triggerfish) I ordered a ceaser salad. Thirty minutes drag by, and I recieve my cesar salad. No joke; 30 minutes to get a salad. 10 minutes later my co-workers receive their salads. Caesar is apparently 10 minutes less prep time than a garden salad! We then proceeded to wait one more entire hour for the entree. We sat there for nearly an hour, listening to bad music, getting more and more angry, until finally our entrees arrived. The food? Pretty good, nothing spectacular. Not as good as what I got from stewby's shanty for 8 bucks. Definitely not worth the wait! The waiter never made any mention of the ungodly amount of time our lunch order was taking. I have not left a $0 tip in a long time... but they earned it, both by the complete neglect of our wasted time, and by failing to make any acknowledgement of the fact that 5 men had been sitting at a table looking incredibly bored for about an hour with nothing to eat. Not to mention I am now fired from choosing the places that we eat from lunch. I so enjoy greasy fast food burgers! WOW! Avoid at all costs, people.
(2)
Diane W.
The decor is funky but as others have said the food is outstanding. Loved the trigger fish both grilled and topped with crab meat, artichokes and capers. Perfectly steamed broccoli on the side. Absolutely delicious. Home made balsamic salad dressing perked up an otherwise blah salad. Service was great too with very attentive servers. No room for dessert. Lose the dead plants on the porch and clean up the exterior and more folks would come in for the delicious food.
(4)
Josh W.
This is the best hidden jem in the area. The menu is large, but every single item was spectacular. Will be back again.
(5)
Scott R.
Decided to try this place based on the good Yelp reviews, and we were not disappointed. Delicious crab n corn chowder, good ceasar, stuffed shrimp was excellent. Our waitress was personable, helpful, charming and efficient.
(4)
Deb F.
Four of us ate here on Christmas Eve after church service. One had vegetarian; portabella mushroom for an app and pasta in garlic wine sauce for entree' w/side if asparagus The other 3 had sausage and shrimp for app and grouper and yellow fin tuna for entree' bred pudding, ice cream with chocolate sauce and bread pudding for desserts. Everyone rates their meals as excellent and the service is above average. Two of us were there for the first time and two were their for their 5th time and said they have had good food every visit. As a whole food plans based eater, I would go back!
(5)
Melissa K.
Great place and ambiance. Had the almond crusted mahi mahi which was great. Husbands tuna steak was excellent as well. Our kids had pasta dishes and they loves them. Also had crab claws for appetizer and they were the best this trip.
(4)
Frank C.
Arrived to a 3/4 full restaurant but still took 30 mins to be sat...bus boy brought us water... 10 mins later waitress finally comes around. We verify that chicken marsala can be prepared unbreaded due to gluten intolerance after about 20 mins our salads show up lol. 40 minutes later entrees and guess what! Breaded chicken of course. Promptly sent back and per the chef he will only now cook a steak or plain grilled chicken so my daughter picks chicken. At no time does a manager come to check on the problem and best of all they charge us the same price for plain ole grilled chicken. Bottom line is its overpriced for small portions and lackluster service!
I'm not quick to give five stars but this place takes the cake. I came with a group of 8 very hungry guys and none of us left disappointed. The trigger fish was fantastic, the tuna was amazing, and the steak was mind blowing. Our waitress , sue, was funny and very attentive, the food could have been sub par but we would come back just for her. As with any good food the prices were a bit high but it was most definitely worth it. The appetizers were on point the food was amazing, the coffee and desert was perfect. This is without a doubt a must go for anybody looking for good food in a great atmosphere.
(5)
Neil G.
Great meal and great service. Ate here last year when we were in vacation and did not disappoint again.
(5)
Tripp J.
Children are not welcome here. They have two signs near the entrance that show a crying child with a large red X over him. We took our three kids and left.
(1)
Alan L.
The food was good but the decor is bad. I thought it was priced a bit high for the portions received but the finished product was very good.
(4)
Chris H.
Very, very disappointed. We ordered appetizers and entrees. My crab dinner was pathetic, I felt like someone ran to Walmart to pick up frozen crab, heated it and threw it on my plate. The ribeye special my son ordered was a laugh and a half, my wife said her mahi-mahi was "ok" at best. My daughters shrimp was a normal plate that you would order from basic chain seafood place. That said, my four year old said his chicken fingers were yummy. All in all I will never stop there again which is their loss because we are here for a month and we like to eat seafood!!
(1)
D K.
This restaurant is fantastic!! Great food, great atmosphere, and great owners and staff! My husband and I have been coming here for years and have never had a bad dish! The owners and staff always make you feel welcome. They will also bring you out some extra things to try at times on the house.
(5)
Stan H.
The seven of us visited this place and all had a great meal. We had appetizers of shrimp and scallops, onion rings, and fried mozzarella sticks. Entrees included fish of the day (trigger fish), Mahi-Mahi, prime rid, filet mignon, and red curry. The food was all delicious and the service was excellent.
(5)
K S.
Some of the best food in the area. We have been twice this week. Early bird deals are great. Prime rib was fine, not as juicy as I like but fine. Crab cakes are fair. Shrimp and grits were very good. Fish of the day was trigger fish and I got it grilled. Absolutely perfect. Simple, fresh and exactly what I've been looking for all over the coast for three years. For the early bird it is $12.99 with salad and a side so it's also significantly cheaper than fish elsewhere. Calamari is fine but there is so much else to try I wouldn't get it. Bacon wrapped scallops were good but be warned there were only three in the order. Firecrackers were great. Angel crab was a favorite with the BF. Fried baby lobster was good but a bit plain. Their house salad dressing is really good and bread comes with a warm olive oil to dip in. The downsides: The service could be better but nothing terrible. They need to rip down the ridiculous fabric and decor. The wine list is nothing exciting - this is a big one, they need a better beverage menu all around. Number one point to take away - get the grilled fish. Order before 6:30 for early bird items.
(4)
Mike B.
Great dinner where the while family cleaned their plates. I highly recommend this place especially with the early bird specials. Great value for great food. Did I mention clean plates all the way around?
(5)
Mike V.
Excellent service,and outstanding food. They have a big menu with items that will please anyone. They have great early bird specials!
(5)
Michele J.
The early bird special (4:30-6:30p) of trigger fish, salad, baked potato and bread was delicious and affordable!
(4)
Jim W.
Get to Sealand before 6 for the early bird specials. Alot cheaper menu prices including the prime rib. Dont look at the outside or you wont go in. A no frills kind of place but offers good fresh food. Cant go wrong here.
(4)
Steve B.
Extensive menu...EVERYTHING is awesome.
(5)
Traci L.
What an awesome restaurant! My son said it perfectly..you shouldnt judge a book by its cover and thats exactly the same as this restaurant. It looks small and old fashioned but inside..wow! The food was awesome! We had the thai sausage for an appetizer which was a little spicy but sooo good, and then I had the Catch of the Day and my husband had the Prime Rib both on the early bird menu. My fish was awesome and so was the baked potato, my husband said the prime rib was delicious and for the price well worth it. My son had the kids popcorn shrimp which oh golly there was a lot and it was so good and my daughter had the chicken tenders which were so moist and delicious I couldnt help but sneak a bite or 2. We ordered the brownie and the creme brulee to go and they were soo good as a snack later on in the evening at our hotel. The food, the atmosphere, it was an awesome restaurant and we will definitely be back!
(5)
O K.
I almost gave 4 stars but my fiance was like "It was good. Real good!" and after our experience last night, well, he's right. Last night was no good and tonight was GRRRRREAT! So, we walked in and I thought uh oh, I am under dressed. But it's okay. You can dress up or go in jeans. There are white table cloths but they have a vinyl cover so it's cool. Oh my god, the service is EXCELLENT! The other night our waiter was super stoned at the crappy restaurant and well, Sealand knows how to hire service help. Professional in every way. On the ball with refills and time to clear plates. The food: Minh is the owner chef and he is Asian. There are a lot of those influences in the food. I had the bacon wrapped scallop and shrimp appetizer which was served with a coconut curry sauce. YUM! I also had calamari. I think it was perfectly breaded and actually i dipped it on the scallop/shrimp sauce. The fiance had mussels and clams first. The bread with them was great. Light and airy with a side of olive oil with some garlic and spices in it. He also got the amberjack special. It has a hollandaise sauce, crawfish and andouille sausage on it. Pretty tasty! This is a must if you are in Fort Walton or Destin.
(5)
Mike W.
Excellent! Don't let the outside fool you. Very good food and service. Very reasonable prices.
(5)
Mike S.
Awesome food, best seafood around. A little bit pricey but it defiantly pays off. Service is extraordinary and very attentive. Owner and his wife are usually there and even cooking the meals. The wife came and greeted us after the dinner which really set the night. We'll defiantly will be returning to this restaurant the next time we're in fort Walton
(5)
Bailey G.
John Paul was our waiter and he was very polite and attentive. The food was excellent and the desserts were almost too beautiful to eat (but we did). Very happy we stumbled across this little gem.
(5)
B M.
Followed YELP recommendation since we are from out of town. Our server Phyllis was the best. Very attentive and professional. Ask for her...you won't be disappointed. Ordered fried oyster appetizer. It was served with 5 oysters. An odd count for sharing and a bit pricy for $9.95. They were good not great. Next came the tossed salad with house vinaigrette. This dressing was superb so I would recommend you give it a try. Salad was good, nothing fancy and the cherry tomatoes tasted less fresh then I would have liked but overall a good salad. I ordered the grilled in lemon butter Grouper at $19.95. Good portion and oh so flavorful. It was delicious. My wife had the baked Salmon. It was moist and tender. We had asparagus that was done perfectly as was the steamed broccoli. We had two glasses of the house Chardonnay which was quite good. We finished up with a slice of Key Lime pie which was nice and the bread pudding in rum sauce which was heavenly. All in all a very good meal and Phyllis added a nice touch with her attention to service and elegant personality. I will return.
(4)
Leslie D.
We just got back from a WONDERFUL dinner here tonight! This is our second year back to this area and we cancelled our existing reservation on Open Table in lieu of something local, and close to the condo. Do not let the unassuming building and decor fool you. I decided on this place because of other Yelp reviews. In fact, this is my very first review on this website. It was phenomonal. The hot bread with garlic oil was scrumptious, and the fresh fish was not only economical, but perfectly prepared. We had the fresh Cobia, and I had it simply grilled and my husband had the preparation with crabmeat, artichoke hearts, and capers. Both were excellent. Get the spiced rice as a side - it is awesome. Portions are normal; not too much, but not skimpy and prices reflect that accordingly. The fish was so fresh and just melted in your mouth. We will definitely come back. We had a bottle of Louis Martini wine, which where we come from would be about $50, but it was only $34.00 a bottle. In fact, all their bottle prices were completely fair. We went on a Sunday and while they have $12.99 specials for early birds, we didn't partake in that, since we ordered the specials. It was crowded, so locals know this is a good place. The creme brulee was great too, and even my daughters children's pasta (just angel hair with marinara) was excellent. They have crayons and coloring for the kids to keep them busy. Our server Ryan was polite, pleasant, but never rushing, yet, attentive. Totally authentic and again, do not let this unassuming place fool you, the food is fabulous. You will not be sorry. We loved this local place!
(5)
Floyd W.
I had the new York strip steak there. It had so much grissal in it that I made a compliant to the waiter. I ask either for a replacement or a different type steak. The waiter went to talk to the chef and said that the chef refused to cook me another steak of any kind. I ended up having only my salad and then leaving, never to go back! I was polite at all times, they were unreasonable!
(1)
Lee G.
Scott can't be more wrong. Local favorite. The early bird menu is great and includes prime rib! The fish is fresh and the meals are prepared with care. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Bill R.
This is a small restaurant with an Asian tilt (Vietnamese chef, Thai contributor) serves a very diverse menu. The prime rib was good and came with a salad (I chose balsamic/ vinegar) and choice of sides. The napkins were white linen and service constant and without flaw. The house wine was so-so. I believe this restaurant is under new management. There was no loud music, very muted.
(4)
Angela Y.
I loved it. Got off a long flight and found this place by accident. I had the Grilled Fresh Fish and it was done perfectly. The salad and bread were also fresh and tasty. I had a Tiramisu to go but haven't tried it. It does look pretty good though. Sue was my waitress and made me feel comfortable when I was dining by myself.
(5)
Carter B.
I love this but place, I have been coming here for about a decade. Noi is a great hostess! Tonight for dinner I had Noi's favorite, which is grouper, soft shell crab, grilled shrimp, butter sauce.bit was great. We always get the spicy sausage, and a few apps, Susie is the best, she always remembers your name and what salad dressing we want. Service is great Food is great, a little bit of everything for everyone and always consistent! This is a great place... Sunday's are my favorite
(5)
Stuart A.
Let me stress that the food here is AMAZING!!! I had the AJ special (whitefish covered in andouille sausage and crawfish), and my wife had the prime rib; both were incredible. However, the service was incredibly slow; so slow, in fact, that we thought about walking out several times. The waitress kept apologizing, but it was a tough wait with a hungry two year old; that's the only reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 (or even a 6 if I could). This place is worth a visit, but if it takes more than 30 minutes to get an appetizer on your table, you're in for a long night.
(4)
Patrick L.
Great service. I had the Fried Seafood Dinner. Everything was tasty with the exception of the fried oyster. Very good otherwise. My partner had the linguini with clams. He said it was very good although the sauce could have been thicker. I would recommend to a friend.
(4)
Jocelyn L.
Our server was so friendly and hard working. Honestly, I would come back here simply for the bread and the oil- it's the best I've ever had. We enjoyed the early special ($14.95) for your choice of meat, salad, bread and side. I had a strip steak that melted in my mouth. This is a place to return to on every trip to this area!
(5)
Jere L.
Make the trip to find this great hidden gem along the emerald coast. The service was prompt and thorough. If you have never tried fried soft shell crab, I did here for the first time and I'm kinda upset that I waited so late in life it's great. The menu has something for all tastes to enjoy you won't be disappointed. Thanks Bruce and the kitchen staff for taking care of my family on or last night in the Destin area.
(5)
Jiyoon S.
Great wine list, food and service. Definitely a gem we discovered. Thank you Derick for great service!
(5)
ChauPha N.
Visited this place while I was on vacay and thanks to help, we visited this place while they were doing their early bird specials. For the price of 14.95 you get to pick from ribeyes to fish of the day( which is always seem to be trigger fish). 3 out of 4 people at our table picked rib eyes while I picked the fish of the day. The rib eyes also comes with either a baked potatoes or fresh veggies. For my fish I picked the baked potatoes. Oh and for appetizers we picked the scallops and shrimp dish. It was shrimp and scallops on top of a curry sauce. It was little but really good. No complaints. Lol Okay so for entrees, everyone was happy with their rib eyes. I was disappointed with my fish. It didn't have much flavor and was little. I'll get something else next time I'm in town. So for the entrees, nothing spectacular. The only dishes that stood out was the appetizers and desserts. For desserts we got the tiramisu and creme brulee. The tiramisu was really good! And the creame brulee was also good and I really liked the fruits on the sides. Overall i would come back again to try other dishes and get the tiramisu again! Yum! :)
(5)
Paul R.
Good food but sub-par experience. We went with our children one evening, and had to wait for 30+min. I don't typically take issue with a wait in a popular restaurant, but don't agree with creating a line when there were multiple empty tables available within view of the cramped waiting area. Drinks, appetizers, the food and the check were all spaced out through almost three hours with almost no appearance of the wait staff. Rather than asking about desert, our waitress popped in to ask if we wanted a box, before disappearing for almost a half an hour. The check took another 10min. Once again - a wait is understandable but stretching dinner out into almost three hours with two children under three makes for a stressful and uncomfortable meal. The layout of the restaurant makes it tough to get around. There was a group of pharmaceutical reps meeting in the "meeting room" which was a section of the restaurant cut off by hanging drapes. This cut off access to the bathrooms, forcing you to utilize the same hallway as the wait staff. The waiting area is minimal at best, surrounded by racks of wine bottles. Not great with a destructive 2.5 year old :-) All in all, this would have been a one-star rating if it hadn't been for the excellent food. If sub-par service isn't an issue, the meals make it worth the trip. As far as our little family - we have no plans to return unless it's without the kids and we have a reservation!
(3)
Ethan C.
So we were searching for a nice restaurant and we found this. We looked at the reviews and it sounded good. We went here knowing it did not look good but please before you judge GO IN. It looks really good. The food was delicious but this is not a restaurant for babies or toddlers. Also the food might be more expensive than other restaurants. But besides that it is perfect for a nice dinner at.
(5)
Renee R.
***Changing my review from 2 stars to 1. Please see my update below.** We arrived at the restaurant at about 6:20. When we walked in the door the hostess looked at us and started re-arranging a stack of menus. She then asked us to wait. By the time we were finally seated and the waiter came over it was a minute or two after 6:30. We asked for the early bird menu (which ended at 6:30) and the waiter said he would ask the manager. He came back and said that the manager said no. We insisted that we had arrived before 6:30. He went to ask again. This time the manager came to the table. She was not very nice. We explained that we at the restaurant before 6:30 but that the hostess made us wait. She basically just kept repeating that the specials ended at 6:30. So much for customer service. The waiter later informed us that the hostess is the owner's daughter!!! Now it is starting to make more sense. We opted to stay and order from the regular dinner menu. The food was okay. I could have had the same pasta at Olive Garden and would not have taken as long. Myother had the prime rib. She usually had the prime rib from the early bird menu. She said it was thinner and not worth the price. This, added with the attitude of the manager, I will not be returning. The waiters were nice and seemed sympathetic. Unfortunately it did not make it worth the price of the meal. If you are in the area you should opt for The Original Waterfront Crab Shack. The food is good and the view is spectacular. ***UPDATED*** Let me first start by stating that I lived in the area for most of my life and return to visit my mother who has lived in the area since 1975. Secondly, my mother has been a customer of Sealand since it opened and dined there at least once a week. That all changed because of my Yelp review. Last weekend she arrived with a client from her business. (She was sure to arrive well before 6:30 this time!) At that time she was approached by the owner/manager who demanded to know who "Renee" was. She was unprofessional in her approach of my mother. At first my mother stated that she did not know as to not make a scene in front of her client. Later my mother confessed that I was her daughter and had been upset with my last visit. When asked where I lived my mother explained that I was visiting and lived in Fort Lauderdale. At that time the owner/manager said she did not have to care about my review but that I was no longer welcome there. She also stated I made her angry with my review. As I said, my mother was with a business client and, although the owner/manager was unprofessional, my mother wanted to maintain her professionalism. The client even mentioned to my mother that the owner/manager was rude and aggressive when approaching my mother about the Yelp review. Throughout that evening the chef, who is the husband of the manager/owner, came out and both were pointing over at my mother making her feel uncomfortable. This chef actually worked at another restaurant, Pandora's on Okaloosa Island. He is using similar recipes. Why go to a business that frequently berates the customers and bans them for writing an honest review. Pandora's has a better atmosphere and the SAME food. The only redeeming quality I can say about this place is that the wait staff are sympathetic and attentive. At least someone there has some sort of respect for the customer...even if the owner/manager does not. And on a side note to the owner/manager...since I hope you are reading my update...I have a lot of friends that still live in the area. I will be sure to forward them all a link to my review. Anyone else reading this review keep in mind you can get a better meal with a more welcoming atmosphere at Pandora's. The have the same specials as Sealand on Sunday and Wednesday.
(1)
Odalis R.
The service was great. We enjoyed the appetizer although a little small - bacon wrapped scallops and shrimp in a Thai curry sauce. My entree was delicious, grouper with artichokes and capers. Hubby got the early bird special, some grilled fish we didn't recognize and he was very disappointed. My son got the grilled amberjack (local fish) and he thoroughly enjoyed it. I've never seen home finish a meal so fast. :)
(4)
Marty W.
This was the tastiest food ever ! Job well done staff ! The hostess was a hoot made us feel very welcome . Feed a family of 4 without drinks for around 100 dollars. I thought it was well worth it
(4)
Jenni T.
My husband and I ate at Sealand last night for our anniversary, the food was amazing and our server Bobbi was awesome! We will definitely be returning!!
(5)
Jess J.
BEST FOOD I've had in this area, hands down. Yes I'm a food snob and also from NYC so trust when I tell you I know good food and good service! This place is rather small and hidden, nothing special on the outside, a bit dated on the inside, offers some outdoor seating as well, but by god the food and service are outstanding, no doubt about it!!! I saw some people walk in and walk out because the place didn't look like what they expected it to look or perhaps they were discouraged because the clientele was a bit older, too bad for them though, missed out on some tasty food. Check the pictures I put up with this review! Ok let's start: We asked to be seated outside because it was a nice day! Great idea! Food - we ate the following: 1. stuffed portobello for appetizer (really good although I was skeptical at first) 2. Linguini with clams in white wine sauce - really good and with plenty of sauce for bread dipping. 3. Spaghetti meatballs - wow! The sauce is authentic marinara, made in house. None of that fake ragu bs you're used to getting in chain restaurants! 4. Chicken Parm with a side of broccoli - another amazing dish. All food came with salad (awesome balsamic dressing) and bread with dipping oil. The server, Sue, was great, friendly and real, no BS type of woman. The chef is Vietnamese, from NY nonetheless :) but you'd swear he is a battle- hardened Italian from Nonna's village in Sicily! Trust me, go eat here!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Keith E.
By far THE best secret restaurant in Ft Walton. The outside is very deceiving to the absolutely fantastic food served inside. Everything is fresh and locally harvested. From the real Orchids on each table to fresh seafood nothing missed. Appetizers were fried mushrooms and probably the best we have had anywhere. The early bird special were all good portioned and 5 star. My 12 yr son said he loved it because the bathrooms were so clean and smelled really good. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a great meal for not a lot of money!
(5)
Katie K.
Great food, great drinks, and fantastic service. Can't go wrong here! The staff is so personable and makes you feel like family!
(5)
Michelle L.
Never judge a book by its cover!!! This place is nothing to drive by but inside is a treasure. The service and food are impeccable, very generous and accommodating. We got everything from steaks to the seafood pasta and the fire cracker app!! Delicious!!! You gotta try this place.
(5)
Felicity H.
Sealand has always been a consistently good place to eat. Great service, they treat you like you are guests in their home!
Love this little place! The food was amazing and the staff was awesome! At first the outside didn't look all that good but the food and staff made up for it. Also the owner came to greet us and made her own special sauce which was amazingly good.
(5)
E R.
You ever wonder if you are getting the fish you order? Well we were shocked when they had trigger fish - it was out of season but we ordered anyway. It was uncooked and pink. We sent it back they nuked it and made it worse, finally I looked closely and there was no way it was trigger. I am a local and it is wrong to try and fool our tourist!
My new favorite seafood restaurant in Florida! Thanks to Yelp, my friends and I came for our last dinner in the Destin/Ft. Walton area. And man, what a hidden gem this place is. Pan fried whole red snapper Stuffed Portobello- crawfish cream sauce Papaya salad- light & a good palate cleanser (not on the menu) Orange ginger creme brulee Oil for bread (with garlic, scallions, chili pepper)-so good & flavorful! (we actually brought a bottle to bring back home) Everything was super scrumptious. One fantastic dish after another came out... Our dinner table was covered in food. The chef and his wife Noi were both so nice. Noi talked to us for a while (not many other Asians eat at her restaurant). Thank you Noi & Chef Minh for a wonderful evening and delicious eating!
(5)
Tom W.
Excellent food. Great service. Exactly what we were looking for when visiting Fort Walton Beach.
(5)
Michael L.
Appearances can certainly be deceiving. In this no-frills, non-descript type of building with the roofing literally labeled with the words "Seafood Steak Pasta", we literally found a treasure trove of food-gasmic pleasure. I really didn't have any expectations despite the high overall yelp rating, and when we were greeted with an expansive menu, my expecations actually dipped because most restaurants can't truly execute well too many items. But we were here, and we were going to give it a good shot. Bring on the bread....with their house-seasoned oil (garlic, scallions, chili pepper). It's kind of ridiculous, but this was seriously the best oil I've ever used with any kind of bread, anywhere. It will not overwhelm you with flavor per se, but if you're attentive to what's going on, all three ingredients take their turns to shine through the olive oil. We liked this so much that the chef's wife gave us a jar to take home (their hospitality and generosity can result in a separate five-star rating in and of themselves). When we found ourselves food-gasming over their simple house-seasoned oil for their bread, I had an inkling that we may be in for a great night. But I still held my breath. Next we had the Shrimp and Scallop appetizer with curry sauce- A massaman curry with a perfect blend of sweetness, creaminess, and kick. Scallop was wrapped with smoked bacon. Both shrimps and scallop were perfectly cooked. Again, the dish doesn't overwhelm your taste buds, it treats them just right. Stuffed Portabella Mushroom- crawfish, andouille sausage, scallions, all inside a crispy panko-crusted portabella mushroom, covered with a lightly flavored sauce that brought all the ingredients together. When I cut into this large fried mushroom and saw that it managed to hold together, and then actually tasted my bite, I knew then and there that this place was beyond just "legit". There was some serious thought and skill put into making this, and it definitely showed- not just flavor-wise, but aesthetically as well. It was a beautiful dish (see pic) for the eyes and the palate. In conversing with the chef's wife, we found out that she was Thai. Since our friends had just been to Thailand a few months ago, they started talking about Thai food- and the next thing we know without us asking for it, she goes into the kitchen and makes us a green papaya salad which was spicily scrumptious! If you know your Thai food, make a request, and she just might make it for you. Pan-fried Whole Red Snapper- One of the hostesses mentioned to us that the fish special of the day was REALLY good. At $34 for a 1.5 lb snapper, it wasn't cheap, but it was enough to feed both my wife and myself as our main entree! But more than that, the way the fish was flavored was just awesome. Chef Minh told us that he'd first rub the fish with olive oil and freshly cut garlic, insert rosemary in the stomach, and then put his special rub (that you can purchase) on the fish before it was pan fried. So simple...so good, especially with a brief dip into their house-made chili-flavored oil (different from the one used for the bread). The seasoned rice that came with the fish was likely flavored with a hint of Thai sweet chili sauce-it was a perfect complement to the fish. Our friends each ordered grilled sirloin and a cluster of crab legs for their entrees. Now sirloin really doesn't excite me at all, but when I took a bite of theirs, I was pretty floored by how perfectly the steak was executed. It made sense after we found out that Chef Minh had worked for 18 years at a steakhouse prior to starting Sealand. Our meal was so awesome at this point that we had to get some dessert (even if it was just a little bit). Orange ginger creme brulee- Something different, and definitely good. There's a common theme to our meal- the flavors always come together perfectly. It's that phenomenal. I wondered aloud to my friends whether people in Fort Walton Beach can really truly appreciate what they have in Sealand. With the care, thought, and execution of the food, they could definitely do well in a larger metropolitan area. If we're back in the area, this place will ALWAYS be on our list, so long as Chef Minh and his wife are at the helm.
(5)
Sara B.
A little spendy, but totally worth it! Our waitress was a hoot! Plus, She was very accommodating! The food was phenomenal!! I can't wait to go back! When we parked, it looks kind of "lacking". I didn't think it would be good. When we went in, there were boxes of wine everywhere and it's kind of clustered, BUT the service and food was outstanding!!
(5)
Kim W.
Fantastic food. Service Was good. They were busy. Did not feel rushed between courses. Would go back to try more things from menu.
(5)
Allison C.
Thanks, Sealand, for ruining my anniversary dinner. I won't forget it, that's for certain, and I'm incredibly offended by the effortless manner of the owner/manager to even attempt to rectify the situation. Our server did a decent job, but seemed nervous about the fact that my food sucked and I didn't want it replaced. Then I was charged $28.99 for a miserable side salad, three bites of broccoli and two bites of disgusting grouper that I wouldn't even take home to feed my dog. The menu described the dish that I ordered as SAUTEED grouper with artichokes, crab, capers and lemon butter sauce. What I received was a deep fried, overcooked, TINY piece of fish that literally turned my stomach instantly after trying it. The fish did not seem fresh either, but that's questionable because it was fried to a crisp jerky. The crab was very dry as well and the sauce was so scant that I even wondered if it made it on the plate. I'm still so disappointed!! We had heard years ago that this was a place to avoid (service industry advice), but after seeing such positive reviews on Yelp, we decided to use our anniversary on Friday night as a reason to go there. Everyone seemed quite nice, and the service was attentive, for the most part, though I did have to ask about specials and the fresh fish choices. I even looked on Yelp while we were there to look for recommendations. We ordered fried calamari for an appetizer and it was good, not spectacular. It arrived hot and I did enjoy the two sauces, marinara and key lime mustard. I've had worse, that's for sure, but for $10.95, I expected more. My husband ordered the 14oz prime rib and wanted a Caesar salad instead of the side salad, but the server said that we would have to pay for it, full price at $5.99, because it was "made to order." Husband opted not. Four little slices of french bread and some dipping oil were brought. It was okay. At this time, I am assuming that the chef's wife, Noi, came by to ask if we would prefer butter instead of oil, but that was the extent of the conversation. Our side salads were brought and as I said above, it was pretty pathetic. Not brown, but tired mixed salad with a wedge of tomato, two extremely thin sliced cucumber disks and about five minuscule croutons. When our entrees arrived, I was immediately disappointed because of the portion size. I'm soooo not about giant portions to make a good food experience, but this was ridiculous for the price. My husband looked at his cut of beef and immediately thought in was a strip and not a ribeye (normal prime rib) because of the lack of fat. The taste, texture, and temperature were good, but he was disappointed with the obvious trimming of the cut. The server checked on us and asked if our food was all right. I said that it wasn't good and he asked me if I wanted a replacement. I said that I didn't and he seemed very uncomfortable with my answer and left the table. I didn't eat any more of it, and he returned later and asked if he could remove my plate. I agreed. He eventually brought the check, which had my inedible food on the bill, and prepared our wine to-go. My husband said that he thought it unfair to pay for food that I didn't eat and the server seemed almost panicked about the situation. The server asked me what was wrong with the dish (after it was long gone), and I explained my issues. At this point, everything was very uncomfortable and my husband presented our debit card but said very clearly that it was NOT going to affect the server, but that if we were charged for the dish that we wouldn't be back, ever. When the server returned, he virtually tossed the check book thing and ran off, not returning. We tipped rightly because we aren't assholes, but $165? FUCKING SERIOUSLY? I am totally fine spending this type of money on a well-worth experience. This was horrible. Another thing that I have to mention is that there was liquor and wine stacked everywhere in our section, which was the bar area. Yeah, it was sort-of tidy, but overflowing on the bar and in the leg-room area under the bar. The decor was awful, weird curtains and knick-knack crap everywhere. For the price of a "fine dining" experience, I would definitely, NO DOUBT, go elsewhere. I am totally pissed off but have the feeling that I will not be comforted. I was really hoping this wouldn't be awful, but, again, Fort Walton just disappoints. Sealand sucks and I will never return. The more we talk about it, the angrier we become. I will say that I liked the selection of half bottles of wine. We were trying to celebrate, after all.... And the prices for the vino were quite reasonable. I'll give credit where credit is due.
(1)
Sam B.
Wow. Can't help but give 5 stars. And rarely would I give it based largely on service. But, for and affordable restaurant, this place offers 5 star service. Great creations by the chef. I had the shrimp and grits, covered in a cheese/crab sauce. It was excellent, again at an affordable price! Not much too look at from the outside, and you would probably not pick this place, unless you knew...
(5)
Sharyn P.
Outstanding restaurant. The food and service is the best. We have celebrated many birthdays and anniversaries here. Highly recommend stopping in for supper.
(5)
Andrea J.
My family and I had the best experience at this restaurant. From the outside it doesn't look too spectacular, but the food spoke for itself. We started with potato skins and fried mushrooms. Both were great. They made a special spicy ranch to go with the mushrooms and that sauce was so good I could have drank the bowl. They then brought fresh bread with oil, fresh garlic and seasonings, and balsamic vinegar. We ate three baskets before our dinner even arrived. The bread was so good we just could t get enough. We all ordered different entrees so we could sample each. We had prime rib (fantastic), ribeye (awesome), chicken Parmesan (the best I ever had with a really thick juicy cut of chicken), mahi mahi topped with grilled shrimp (great), and grouper stuffed with crab (delicious). Tiramisu for dessert was so light and fluffy and absolutely decadent. We left feeling like we were fifty pounds heavier but mostly we left happy and well satisfied. We will be eating here a lot more often.
(5)
Jocelyn D.
*3.5 stars* It was pretty good. I had crab stuffed shrimp. I really wish there were more crab in the stuffing. My husband got steak and crab legs, both very small portions for the price. We were pleased with our meals so decided to get dessert. We got tiramisu and key lime pie. Both good. Our 2 year old got fish nuggets- she's picky and still ate them. Pretty tasty. The staff is very good, very attentive.
(3)
Brian K.
Great fresh food. Go inside, wait staff is excellent. Chef is a Vietnamese and added a pleasant Asian touch to the meals. Try it. You won't be sorry.
(5)
Nancy H.
What a waste..Had the grilled fish of the day which was grouper, tasteless. Mom had the stuffed shrimp (stuffin was supposed to be crab more like mushy - salty goop) husband had the Seafood pasta...more like garlic - butter soup with noodles and seafood. Pricey. The decor was 1950-ish.... floral overload with plants and worn down benches for seating.I ALWAYS read Yelp reviews before I dine... This was a total BUST...All the patrons were elderly... just a guess but maybe that's why the food was bland?? To cater for their clientel. ..Go to Rick's Crab Trap waayyy cheaper, bigger portions. .friendlier staff.
We decided to try this out after reading the reviews. We were seated immediately, however it took our waiter over 15 minutes to take our order. We ordered our prime rib medium and it came out well done and chewy. The baked potatoes didn't taste fresh. The bread and dipping sauce was really good! It was an average meal, but not a place we will return to! Dewey Destin is still our favorite in the area!
(3)
Gunter W.
Waited over an hour for the food to be delivered. With kids, this was miserable. I will never eat here again. Period. Can't speak to the quality of the food BECAUSE I AM STILL WAITING.
(1)
Julianna O.
Food was delicious!! Don't be fooled by the building outside. Prices are great, service was great, and the food was cooked wonderfully. We had the spring roll app and all of us had the steak and crab legs.
(5)
Tan T.
I visited also for just dessert. I ordered a brownie. It was horrible. I have never had a wet mushie brownie. It didn't taste like brownie or even cake. I wouldn't recommend this place. Also the menu prices seemed quite pricey.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed Coat Check : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Steph D.
The service was very slow at first. we waited at the front door and then once we were seated we waited about 10 minutes before a waiter came to our table. Thankfully his service and the food made up for it. I got the crab stuffed shrimp and it was very good. The people next to us ordered snapper and it came as a whole fish.. It looked delicious and they gobbled it up! I'll come back.
(4)K L.
Execellent service and food, We saw the glowing reviews on Yelp and decided to check it out. I would have never stopped there based on the outside appearance since its so simple. Kind of drab interior however the food and service quckly make up for it. We and steak and pork chops - both were awesome. Daily early bird specials until 630 pm also, Glad I found a new place in this area next time I visit!
(5)R C.
Man, oh, man! Excellent meal. I was reluctant to go because of the name and the outside appearance, but my wife insisted on having Paella at the beach. The "Paella" was in quotation marks because it was Chef Minh's take on this tasty seafeast. No octopus or squid or fish . . . just shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, and chicken on a bed of what may be the tastiest rice, peppers, and tomatoes I've ever had. The salad was fresh, with an excellent balsamic house dressing. Crème Brulé with fresh fruit and whipped cream was mighty good and well-presented. The bread pudding was perfect. The only downside was the toughness of the otherwise tasty pork chops. (This is the main reason it doesn't get five stars.) Sealand is definitely a keeper. Interesting story about the chef and the name as well. We hope to go back again soon.
(4)Hudson W.
This place is a must! The service is amazing and everyone is super friendly. Ask for the backstory on the owners. The grilled shrimp and scallops appetizer is amazing and the grilled grouper is off the charts!
(5)Stacey B.
Family dinner while on vacation. What a pleasant surprise! Definitely a time where you can't judge a book by the cover. We had fantastic and friendly service. We had a variety of things from the menu from fresh fish to beef panang. We have a party of eight that all ordered different menu items and each was delicious!
(5)Nikki S.
This was a very good little place! The outside is a little deceiving but the food is very good! I ordered the baked stuffed mahi mahi with a side of their rice and it was delicious. The salad I relieved before my meal was a little small but still good. I was with a group of 9 people and everyone liked their food. I also recommend the key lime pie for dessert!
(4)Brenda K.
After reading other reviews we decided to try for ourselves. The food and service was awesome. We will definitely go to Sealand restaurant next time we come. On vacation to fort Walton . I had the paella and my husband had seafood pasta, absolutely delicious on both counts. Bk from Memphis
(5)Ashlyn S.
Food was very good and service was excellent, but the portions are very small for what you are paying. Would go more often but my family left hungry after we spent $117
(3)Amy K.
The food was really delicious; (had Trigger fish for the first time). The service was wonderful (ask for Sue); the atmosphere was laid back and friendly. Will go back every time I'm in Ft. Walton.
(5)Don W.
This restaurant is a hidden gem in the Ft Walden Beach area. Not often do you find food quality and service in a restaurant. The food is fresh and wait staff knowledgeable in helping pick that awesome meal for the novice at heart. I highly recommend this restaurant as it operates with heart.
(5)Jim S.
Ignore the outside appearance and cheesy interior decor. The food is great. Service can be suspect but ended up fine. Salad is basic. I got their special whole snapper catch of the day and it was awesome. The chef is from Vietnam and wife from Thailand so they know how to cook seafood. Stock with local fish. My wife got Pad Thai and enjoyed it. Authentic flavors but not as spicy. Ask for more heat if you are used to spicier Thai food. Overall a great meal.
(4)Nancy W.
This restaurant was awesome and had great service! Don't know if we loved the food or servers more!! Sautéed triggerfish with lump crab, crab stuffed grouper, and filet were all fantastic! Creme brûlée was to die for. This was like a hidden jewel for us even though it's right on Miracle Strip and super easy to find. Wish we lived in the area so we could be regulars!!
(5)Katie Z.
Interesting there were so many great reviews about this place. The inside looked worse than outside to begin with. At the beginning service was quick and friendly, actually nobody was rude during our experience. However, to get to the point, we waited 30 minutes for a brownie and 2 cappuccinos. We only came for dessert not dinner. They did not have the capability to make decaf espresso so the waiter offered to use decaf drip coffee and some lovely foamed milk- being from the west coast I cringed but decided that would be fine. Our coffees arrived, all 20 oz of them...90% decaf drip and some warm milk on top minus the froth hence the word CAPPUCCINO. Annoyed I tried to look past it, until we got our bill which was a $10 charge for the coffee (it was not a cap) that we did not drink. When I gave the waiter our card I explained to him that he didn't use espresso and we weren't grealty fond of our drinks and perhaps he could charge for what they were, a drip coffee. He spoke with the manager who apparently said sorry this is the way it is. The brownie was less than mediocore. If you're going to offer a coffee drink like a cappucino, spend 20 minutes on utube or wherever and figure out how to make one! As for the brownie I had a Duncan Hines box I should have just gone home and spent the 20 minutes to make it...Most of my fury could have been mitigated if the "manager" would have come to the table and discussed the situation and had a reasonable solution besides doing nothing at all. CUSTOMER SERVICE and a bad review go a long way, hopefully one day you will figure it out.
(1)Alexa M.
You would never think so from outside but the food here is great. All our courses were excellent. Ordered potstickers as appetizer, fried oysters as entree, side salad (included) and tiramisu as dessert. All great. Service was EXCELLENT. They need a makeover in the restaurant but food & service are great.
(4)T W.
Excellent ! Super menu, great prime rib, perfectly cooked. The roast pork in wine gravy is best flavor. We sat outside, great fall weather. Early bird special till 6pm. Closed Monday's
(5)Leslie M.
Amazing! We had catch of the day. Simply amazing. We had the bread pudding with rum sauce, which is divine. For an appetizer we had the Creole Shrimp which was very good. I would highly suggest this place. Its away from the tourist area of Destin but just across the bridge. Well worth it!!!!
(5)Kevin C.
AMAZING! I have eaten all over the world. I love seafood. And this place is on the top of my list. Never disappointed. The Chef takes pride in every dish! And that's what we pay for. The price is on point. I would pay more for each dish and feel satisfied. Bottom line if you want seafood go here. I hear the steak and prime rid is on point. I've never had it because the seafood hits the mark. The service is great. If you are in destin or fort walton beach this is where you need to eat.
(5)Lindsay K.
Fresh seafood, not frozen. The fish market is right next door and they change specials based on what comes into the market that day that looks good. I would say the food was very fresh, but not exactly the most flavorful thing I have ever eaten. The crab cakes were good, not great. The salad was good, not great. The bread was good, not great. The fish of the day (grouper) was good, not great. I did love the crabmeat stuffing on top of the fish. My husband LOVED the seafood pasta with alfredo (he's a sucker for alfredo). One thing I LOVED was the baked potato ALL THE WAY (everything on it). It was almost like a twice baked potato with all the toppings mixed into every bite, it was DELICIOUS! The decor is a little odd, a mixture of Asian/Italian. Yelp says they are open until 11pm, but actually they may close earlier so it is best to call. They don't have a closing time posted and when I called, the lady on the phone told me "oh we will serve for probably another hour or so" (that was at 8:30).
(4)Ben L.
I chose this restaurant for me and my co-workers as it was one of the few open on sunday that seemed good. The high ratings on yelp gave me hope. A hope that was dashed on the rocks. We started by ordering steak, pasta, and fish of the day (triggerfish) I ordered a ceaser salad. Thirty minutes drag by, and I recieve my cesar salad. No joke; 30 minutes to get a salad. 10 minutes later my co-workers receive their salads. Caesar is apparently 10 minutes less prep time than a garden salad! We then proceeded to wait one more entire hour for the entree. We sat there for nearly an hour, listening to bad music, getting more and more angry, until finally our entrees arrived. The food? Pretty good, nothing spectacular. Not as good as what I got from stewby's shanty for 8 bucks. Definitely not worth the wait! The waiter never made any mention of the ungodly amount of time our lunch order was taking. I have not left a $0 tip in a long time... but they earned it, both by the complete neglect of our wasted time, and by failing to make any acknowledgement of the fact that 5 men had been sitting at a table looking incredibly bored for about an hour with nothing to eat. Not to mention I am now fired from choosing the places that we eat from lunch. I so enjoy greasy fast food burgers! WOW! Avoid at all costs, people.
(2)Diane W.
The decor is funky but as others have said the food is outstanding. Loved the trigger fish both grilled and topped with crab meat, artichokes and capers. Perfectly steamed broccoli on the side. Absolutely delicious. Home made balsamic salad dressing perked up an otherwise blah salad. Service was great too with very attentive servers. No room for dessert. Lose the dead plants on the porch and clean up the exterior and more folks would come in for the delicious food.
(4)Josh W.
This is the best hidden jem in the area. The menu is large, but every single item was spectacular. Will be back again.
(5)Scott R.
Decided to try this place based on the good Yelp reviews, and we were not disappointed. Delicious crab n corn chowder, good ceasar, stuffed shrimp was excellent. Our waitress was personable, helpful, charming and efficient.
(4)Deb F.
Four of us ate here on Christmas Eve after church service. One had vegetarian; portabella mushroom for an app and pasta in garlic wine sauce for entree' w/side if asparagus The other 3 had sausage and shrimp for app and grouper and yellow fin tuna for entree' bred pudding, ice cream with chocolate sauce and bread pudding for desserts. Everyone rates their meals as excellent and the service is above average. Two of us were there for the first time and two were their for their 5th time and said they have had good food every visit. As a whole food plans based eater, I would go back!
(5)Melissa K.
Great place and ambiance. Had the almond crusted mahi mahi which was great. Husbands tuna steak was excellent as well. Our kids had pasta dishes and they loves them. Also had crab claws for appetizer and they were the best this trip.
(4)Frank C.
Arrived to a 3/4 full restaurant but still took 30 mins to be sat...bus boy brought us water... 10 mins later waitress finally comes around. We verify that chicken marsala can be prepared unbreaded due to gluten intolerance after about 20 mins our salads show up lol. 40 minutes later entrees and guess what! Breaded chicken of course. Promptly sent back and per the chef he will only now cook a steak or plain grilled chicken so my daughter picks chicken. At no time does a manager come to check on the problem and best of all they charge us the same price for plain ole grilled chicken. Bottom line is its overpriced for small portions and lackluster service!
(1)Jenn A.
Loved this place! Passing by this restaurant on the highway, I didn't think much of it until I read the reviews here and was convinced to give it a shot, and I'm so glad I did. All the food we had here was amazing! I especially loved the pan fried snapper (a whole fish). The grouper was pretty good too. Save room for dessert, the tiramisu and creme brûlée (homemade) are fantastic!
(5)Jorden H.
I'm not quick to give five stars but this place takes the cake. I came with a group of 8 very hungry guys and none of us left disappointed. The trigger fish was fantastic, the tuna was amazing, and the steak was mind blowing. Our waitress , sue, was funny and very attentive, the food could have been sub par but we would come back just for her. As with any good food the prices were a bit high but it was most definitely worth it. The appetizers were on point the food was amazing, the coffee and desert was perfect. This is without a doubt a must go for anybody looking for good food in a great atmosphere.
(5)Neil G.
Great meal and great service. Ate here last year when we were in vacation and did not disappoint again.
(5)Tripp J.
Children are not welcome here. They have two signs near the entrance that show a crying child with a large red X over him. We took our three kids and left.
(1)Alan L.
The food was good but the decor is bad. I thought it was priced a bit high for the portions received but the finished product was very good.
(4)Chris H.
Very, very disappointed. We ordered appetizers and entrees. My crab dinner was pathetic, I felt like someone ran to Walmart to pick up frozen crab, heated it and threw it on my plate. The ribeye special my son ordered was a laugh and a half, my wife said her mahi-mahi was "ok" at best. My daughters shrimp was a normal plate that you would order from basic chain seafood place. That said, my four year old said his chicken fingers were yummy. All in all I will never stop there again which is their loss because we are here for a month and we like to eat seafood!!
(1)D K.
This restaurant is fantastic!! Great food, great atmosphere, and great owners and staff! My husband and I have been coming here for years and have never had a bad dish! The owners and staff always make you feel welcome. They will also bring you out some extra things to try at times on the house.
(5)Stan H.
The seven of us visited this place and all had a great meal. We had appetizers of shrimp and scallops, onion rings, and fried mozzarella sticks. Entrees included fish of the day (trigger fish), Mahi-Mahi, prime rid, filet mignon, and red curry. The food was all delicious and the service was excellent.
(5)K S.
Some of the best food in the area. We have been twice this week. Early bird deals are great. Prime rib was fine, not as juicy as I like but fine. Crab cakes are fair. Shrimp and grits were very good. Fish of the day was trigger fish and I got it grilled. Absolutely perfect. Simple, fresh and exactly what I've been looking for all over the coast for three years. For the early bird it is $12.99 with salad and a side so it's also significantly cheaper than fish elsewhere. Calamari is fine but there is so much else to try I wouldn't get it. Bacon wrapped scallops were good but be warned there were only three in the order. Firecrackers were great. Angel crab was a favorite with the BF. Fried baby lobster was good but a bit plain. Their house salad dressing is really good and bread comes with a warm olive oil to dip in. The downsides: The service could be better but nothing terrible. They need to rip down the ridiculous fabric and decor. The wine list is nothing exciting - this is a big one, they need a better beverage menu all around. Number one point to take away - get the grilled fish. Order before 6:30 for early bird items.
(4)Mike B.
Great dinner where the while family cleaned their plates. I highly recommend this place especially with the early bird specials. Great value for great food. Did I mention clean plates all the way around?
(5)Mike V.
Excellent service,and outstanding food. They have a big menu with items that will please anyone. They have great early bird specials!
(5)Michele J.
The early bird special (4:30-6:30p) of trigger fish, salad, baked potato and bread was delicious and affordable!
(4)Jim W.
Get to Sealand before 6 for the early bird specials. Alot cheaper menu prices including the prime rib. Dont look at the outside or you wont go in. A no frills kind of place but offers good fresh food. Cant go wrong here.
(4)Steve B.
Extensive menu...EVERYTHING is awesome.
(5)Traci L.
What an awesome restaurant! My son said it perfectly..you shouldnt judge a book by its cover and thats exactly the same as this restaurant. It looks small and old fashioned but inside..wow! The food was awesome! We had the thai sausage for an appetizer which was a little spicy but sooo good, and then I had the Catch of the Day and my husband had the Prime Rib both on the early bird menu. My fish was awesome and so was the baked potato, my husband said the prime rib was delicious and for the price well worth it. My son had the kids popcorn shrimp which oh golly there was a lot and it was so good and my daughter had the chicken tenders which were so moist and delicious I couldnt help but sneak a bite or 2. We ordered the brownie and the creme brulee to go and they were soo good as a snack later on in the evening at our hotel. The food, the atmosphere, it was an awesome restaurant and we will definitely be back!
(5)O K.
I almost gave 4 stars but my fiance was like "It was good. Real good!" and after our experience last night, well, he's right. Last night was no good and tonight was GRRRRREAT! So, we walked in and I thought uh oh, I am under dressed. But it's okay. You can dress up or go in jeans. There are white table cloths but they have a vinyl cover so it's cool. Oh my god, the service is EXCELLENT! The other night our waiter was super stoned at the crappy restaurant and well, Sealand knows how to hire service help. Professional in every way. On the ball with refills and time to clear plates. The food: Minh is the owner chef and he is Asian. There are a lot of those influences in the food. I had the bacon wrapped scallop and shrimp appetizer which was served with a coconut curry sauce. YUM! I also had calamari. I think it was perfectly breaded and actually i dipped it on the scallop/shrimp sauce. The fiance had mussels and clams first. The bread with them was great. Light and airy with a side of olive oil with some garlic and spices in it. He also got the amberjack special. It has a hollandaise sauce, crawfish and andouille sausage on it. Pretty tasty! This is a must if you are in Fort Walton or Destin.
(5)Mike W.
Excellent! Don't let the outside fool you. Very good food and service. Very reasonable prices.
(5)Mike S.
Awesome food, best seafood around. A little bit pricey but it defiantly pays off. Service is extraordinary and very attentive. Owner and his wife are usually there and even cooking the meals. The wife came and greeted us after the dinner which really set the night. We'll defiantly will be returning to this restaurant the next time we're in fort Walton
(5)Bailey G.
John Paul was our waiter and he was very polite and attentive. The food was excellent and the desserts were almost too beautiful to eat (but we did). Very happy we stumbled across this little gem.
(5)B M.
Followed YELP recommendation since we are from out of town. Our server Phyllis was the best. Very attentive and professional. Ask for her...you won't be disappointed. Ordered fried oyster appetizer. It was served with 5 oysters. An odd count for sharing and a bit pricy for $9.95. They were good not great. Next came the tossed salad with house vinaigrette. This dressing was superb so I would recommend you give it a try. Salad was good, nothing fancy and the cherry tomatoes tasted less fresh then I would have liked but overall a good salad. I ordered the grilled in lemon butter Grouper at $19.95. Good portion and oh so flavorful. It was delicious. My wife had the baked Salmon. It was moist and tender. We had asparagus that was done perfectly as was the steamed broccoli. We had two glasses of the house Chardonnay which was quite good. We finished up with a slice of Key Lime pie which was nice and the bread pudding in rum sauce which was heavenly. All in all a very good meal and Phyllis added a nice touch with her attention to service and elegant personality. I will return.
(4)Leslie D.
We just got back from a WONDERFUL dinner here tonight! This is our second year back to this area and we cancelled our existing reservation on Open Table in lieu of something local, and close to the condo. Do not let the unassuming building and decor fool you. I decided on this place because of other Yelp reviews. In fact, this is my very first review on this website. It was phenomonal. The hot bread with garlic oil was scrumptious, and the fresh fish was not only economical, but perfectly prepared. We had the fresh Cobia, and I had it simply grilled and my husband had the preparation with crabmeat, artichoke hearts, and capers. Both were excellent. Get the spiced rice as a side - it is awesome. Portions are normal; not too much, but not skimpy and prices reflect that accordingly. The fish was so fresh and just melted in your mouth. We will definitely come back. We had a bottle of Louis Martini wine, which where we come from would be about $50, but it was only $34.00 a bottle. In fact, all their bottle prices were completely fair. We went on a Sunday and while they have $12.99 specials for early birds, we didn't partake in that, since we ordered the specials. It was crowded, so locals know this is a good place. The creme brulee was great too, and even my daughters children's pasta (just angel hair with marinara) was excellent. They have crayons and coloring for the kids to keep them busy. Our server Ryan was polite, pleasant, but never rushing, yet, attentive. Totally authentic and again, do not let this unassuming place fool you, the food is fabulous. You will not be sorry. We loved this local place!
(5)Floyd W.
I had the new York strip steak there. It had so much grissal in it that I made a compliant to the waiter. I ask either for a replacement or a different type steak. The waiter went to talk to the chef and said that the chef refused to cook me another steak of any kind. I ended up having only my salad and then leaving, never to go back! I was polite at all times, they were unreasonable!
(1)Lee G.
Scott can't be more wrong. Local favorite. The early bird menu is great and includes prime rib! The fish is fresh and the meals are prepared with care. I highly recommend it!
(5)Bill R.
This is a small restaurant with an Asian tilt (Vietnamese chef, Thai contributor) serves a very diverse menu. The prime rib was good and came with a salad (I chose balsamic/ vinegar) and choice of sides. The napkins were white linen and service constant and without flaw. The house wine was so-so. I believe this restaurant is under new management. There was no loud music, very muted.
(4)Angela Y.
I loved it. Got off a long flight and found this place by accident. I had the Grilled Fresh Fish and it was done perfectly. The salad and bread were also fresh and tasty. I had a Tiramisu to go but haven't tried it. It does look pretty good though. Sue was my waitress and made me feel comfortable when I was dining by myself.
(5)Carter B.
I love this but place, I have been coming here for about a decade. Noi is a great hostess! Tonight for dinner I had Noi's favorite, which is grouper, soft shell crab, grilled shrimp, butter sauce.bit was great. We always get the spicy sausage, and a few apps, Susie is the best, she always remembers your name and what salad dressing we want. Service is great Food is great, a little bit of everything for everyone and always consistent! This is a great place... Sunday's are my favorite
(5)Stuart A.
Let me stress that the food here is AMAZING!!! I had the AJ special (whitefish covered in andouille sausage and crawfish), and my wife had the prime rib; both were incredible. However, the service was incredibly slow; so slow, in fact, that we thought about walking out several times. The waitress kept apologizing, but it was a tough wait with a hungry two year old; that's the only reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 (or even a 6 if I could). This place is worth a visit, but if it takes more than 30 minutes to get an appetizer on your table, you're in for a long night.
(4)Patrick L.
Great service. I had the Fried Seafood Dinner. Everything was tasty with the exception of the fried oyster. Very good otherwise. My partner had the linguini with clams. He said it was very good although the sauce could have been thicker. I would recommend to a friend.
(4)Jocelyn L.
Our server was so friendly and hard working. Honestly, I would come back here simply for the bread and the oil- it's the best I've ever had. We enjoyed the early special ($14.95) for your choice of meat, salad, bread and side. I had a strip steak that melted in my mouth. This is a place to return to on every trip to this area!
(5)Jere L.
Make the trip to find this great hidden gem along the emerald coast. The service was prompt and thorough. If you have never tried fried soft shell crab, I did here for the first time and I'm kinda upset that I waited so late in life it's great. The menu has something for all tastes to enjoy you won't be disappointed. Thanks Bruce and the kitchen staff for taking care of my family on or last night in the Destin area.
(5)Jiyoon S.
Great wine list, food and service. Definitely a gem we discovered. Thank you Derick for great service!
(5)ChauPha N.
Visited this place while I was on vacay and thanks to help, we visited this place while they were doing their early bird specials. For the price of 14.95 you get to pick from ribeyes to fish of the day( which is always seem to be trigger fish). 3 out of 4 people at our table picked rib eyes while I picked the fish of the day. The rib eyes also comes with either a baked potatoes or fresh veggies. For my fish I picked the baked potatoes. Oh and for appetizers we picked the scallops and shrimp dish. It was shrimp and scallops on top of a curry sauce. It was little but really good. No complaints. Lol Okay so for entrees, everyone was happy with their rib eyes. I was disappointed with my fish. It didn't have much flavor and was little. I'll get something else next time I'm in town. So for the entrees, nothing spectacular. The only dishes that stood out was the appetizers and desserts. For desserts we got the tiramisu and creme brulee. The tiramisu was really good! And the creame brulee was also good and I really liked the fruits on the sides. Overall i would come back again to try other dishes and get the tiramisu again! Yum! :)
(5)Paul R.
Good food but sub-par experience. We went with our children one evening, and had to wait for 30+min. I don't typically take issue with a wait in a popular restaurant, but don't agree with creating a line when there were multiple empty tables available within view of the cramped waiting area. Drinks, appetizers, the food and the check were all spaced out through almost three hours with almost no appearance of the wait staff. Rather than asking about desert, our waitress popped in to ask if we wanted a box, before disappearing for almost a half an hour. The check took another 10min. Once again - a wait is understandable but stretching dinner out into almost three hours with two children under three makes for a stressful and uncomfortable meal. The layout of the restaurant makes it tough to get around. There was a group of pharmaceutical reps meeting in the "meeting room" which was a section of the restaurant cut off by hanging drapes. This cut off access to the bathrooms, forcing you to utilize the same hallway as the wait staff. The waiting area is minimal at best, surrounded by racks of wine bottles. Not great with a destructive 2.5 year old :-) All in all, this would have been a one-star rating if it hadn't been for the excellent food. If sub-par service isn't an issue, the meals make it worth the trip. As far as our little family - we have no plans to return unless it's without the kids and we have a reservation!
(3)Ethan C.
So we were searching for a nice restaurant and we found this. We looked at the reviews and it sounded good. We went here knowing it did not look good but please before you judge GO IN. It looks really good. The food was delicious but this is not a restaurant for babies or toddlers. Also the food might be more expensive than other restaurants. But besides that it is perfect for a nice dinner at.
(5)Renee R.
***Changing my review from 2 stars to 1. Please see my update below.** We arrived at the restaurant at about 6:20. When we walked in the door the hostess looked at us and started re-arranging a stack of menus. She then asked us to wait. By the time we were finally seated and the waiter came over it was a minute or two after 6:30. We asked for the early bird menu (which ended at 6:30) and the waiter said he would ask the manager. He came back and said that the manager said no. We insisted that we had arrived before 6:30. He went to ask again. This time the manager came to the table. She was not very nice. We explained that we at the restaurant before 6:30 but that the hostess made us wait. She basically just kept repeating that the specials ended at 6:30. So much for customer service. The waiter later informed us that the hostess is the owner's daughter!!! Now it is starting to make more sense. We opted to stay and order from the regular dinner menu. The food was okay. I could have had the same pasta at Olive Garden and would not have taken as long. Myother had the prime rib. She usually had the prime rib from the early bird menu. She said it was thinner and not worth the price. This, added with the attitude of the manager, I will not be returning. The waiters were nice and seemed sympathetic. Unfortunately it did not make it worth the price of the meal. If you are in the area you should opt for The Original Waterfront Crab Shack. The food is good and the view is spectacular. ***UPDATED*** Let me first start by stating that I lived in the area for most of my life and return to visit my mother who has lived in the area since 1975. Secondly, my mother has been a customer of Sealand since it opened and dined there at least once a week. That all changed because of my Yelp review. Last weekend she arrived with a client from her business. (She was sure to arrive well before 6:30 this time!) At that time she was approached by the owner/manager who demanded to know who "Renee" was. She was unprofessional in her approach of my mother. At first my mother stated that she did not know as to not make a scene in front of her client. Later my mother confessed that I was her daughter and had been upset with my last visit. When asked where I lived my mother explained that I was visiting and lived in Fort Lauderdale. At that time the owner/manager said she did not have to care about my review but that I was no longer welcome there. She also stated I made her angry with my review. As I said, my mother was with a business client and, although the owner/manager was unprofessional, my mother wanted to maintain her professionalism. The client even mentioned to my mother that the owner/manager was rude and aggressive when approaching my mother about the Yelp review. Throughout that evening the chef, who is the husband of the manager/owner, came out and both were pointing over at my mother making her feel uncomfortable. This chef actually worked at another restaurant, Pandora's on Okaloosa Island. He is using similar recipes. Why go to a business that frequently berates the customers and bans them for writing an honest review. Pandora's has a better atmosphere and the SAME food. The only redeeming quality I can say about this place is that the wait staff are sympathetic and attentive. At least someone there has some sort of respect for the customer...even if the owner/manager does not. And on a side note to the owner/manager...since I hope you are reading my update...I have a lot of friends that still live in the area. I will be sure to forward them all a link to my review. Anyone else reading this review keep in mind you can get a better meal with a more welcoming atmosphere at Pandora's. The have the same specials as Sealand on Sunday and Wednesday.
(1)Odalis R.
The service was great. We enjoyed the appetizer although a little small - bacon wrapped scallops and shrimp in a Thai curry sauce. My entree was delicious, grouper with artichokes and capers. Hubby got the early bird special, some grilled fish we didn't recognize and he was very disappointed. My son got the grilled amberjack (local fish) and he thoroughly enjoyed it. I've never seen home finish a meal so fast. :)
(4)Marty W.
This was the tastiest food ever ! Job well done staff ! The hostess was a hoot made us feel very welcome . Feed a family of 4 without drinks for around 100 dollars. I thought it was well worth it
(4)Jenni T.
My husband and I ate at Sealand last night for our anniversary, the food was amazing and our server Bobbi was awesome! We will definitely be returning!!
(5)Jess J.
BEST FOOD I've had in this area, hands down. Yes I'm a food snob and also from NYC so trust when I tell you I know good food and good service! This place is rather small and hidden, nothing special on the outside, a bit dated on the inside, offers some outdoor seating as well, but by god the food and service are outstanding, no doubt about it!!! I saw some people walk in and walk out because the place didn't look like what they expected it to look or perhaps they were discouraged because the clientele was a bit older, too bad for them though, missed out on some tasty food. Check the pictures I put up with this review! Ok let's start: We asked to be seated outside because it was a nice day! Great idea! Food - we ate the following: 1. stuffed portobello for appetizer (really good although I was skeptical at first) 2. Linguini with clams in white wine sauce - really good and with plenty of sauce for bread dipping. 3. Spaghetti meatballs - wow! The sauce is authentic marinara, made in house. None of that fake ragu bs you're used to getting in chain restaurants! 4. Chicken Parm with a side of broccoli - another amazing dish. All food came with salad (awesome balsamic dressing) and bread with dipping oil. The server, Sue, was great, friendly and real, no BS type of woman. The chef is Vietnamese, from NY nonetheless :) but you'd swear he is a battle- hardened Italian from Nonna's village in Sicily! Trust me, go eat here!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Keith E.
By far THE best secret restaurant in Ft Walton. The outside is very deceiving to the absolutely fantastic food served inside. Everything is fresh and locally harvested. From the real Orchids on each table to fresh seafood nothing missed. Appetizers were fried mushrooms and probably the best we have had anywhere. The early bird special were all good portioned and 5 star. My 12 yr son said he loved it because the bathrooms were so clean and smelled really good. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a great meal for not a lot of money!
(5)Katie K.
Great food, great drinks, and fantastic service. Can't go wrong here! The staff is so personable and makes you feel like family!
(5)Michelle L.
Never judge a book by its cover!!! This place is nothing to drive by but inside is a treasure. The service and food are impeccable, very generous and accommodating. We got everything from steaks to the seafood pasta and the fire cracker app!! Delicious!!! You gotta try this place.
(5)Felicity H.
Sealand has always been a consistently good place to eat. Great service, they treat you like you are guests in their home!
(4)Kim B.
We live in the area and my mother was visiting from PA. On our way home from a trip to Panama City one evening, we randomly stopped by Sealand for a late dinner. Upon entry, I found the atmosphere to be cozy with a warm kind of family feel. The décor isn't anything special, so if you go, don't expect to find yourself in a "posh" environment. We were immediately greeted with a smile and a warm welcome. The menu is extensive and I had an incredibly hard time deciding what to order, which was jokingly noticed by the server and led to a fun conversation with her. Our service was the absolute best we've had since moving to FL, maybe the best we've ever had, but more about that later. We started with some crab and corn bisque, golden fried crab claws as well as the clams and mussels in garlic wine sauce, all were fantastic but I must say, the bisque was simply amazing. On to the main courses...seafood pasta with alfredo, steak, amberjack and the fried seafood platter. WOW! Simply put, our palates were delighted. Our beverages were never empty and multiple interactions and conversations with our server made us feel like we were enjoying dinner with extended family. By this time, as you can imagine our stomach's were more than satisfied with little to no room for dessert, but we found ourselves wondering if it was possible for them to be as good as good as the rest of our meals had been. We opted to share a couple...key lime pie and crème brulee. About the crème brulee, again more choices, of which led me to ask the server to surprise me with the flavor as I couldn't decide. To my delight, she opted to bring me a sampler assortment of each flavor! Really? Again, her customer service is the best! Our desserts did not disappoint. My mother and I also concluded our amazing experience with a couple cappuccinos that were to die for! Back to our "server". We found out, a couple employees had called off for one reason or another, leaving the restaurant a bit short handed, so our server was actually one of the owners! Over the course of the next 2 weeks, we returned twice to our new favorite restaurant, which by the way is 40 minutes from our home. We are now regulars, recognized by name. I've read many of the other reviews and am perplexed by the negative ones. Was the service as good on our return visits? Maybe not, but the food definitely was! While I'm sure it's possible for someone to have a not so great experience at any restaurant, I would believe they are few and far between at Sealand. As we frequently have guests visiting us from other states, Sealand will be our first choice when the inevitable, "where do you suggest we go for dinner" question comes up. Whether you're lucky enough to live in the area, or visit the gulf coast on vacation, I encourage you to add Sealand to your list of places to go for a great meal.
(5)Kevin M.
Love this little place! The food was amazing and the staff was awesome! At first the outside didn't look all that good but the food and staff made up for it. Also the owner came to greet us and made her own special sauce which was amazingly good.
(5)E R.
You ever wonder if you are getting the fish you order? Well we were shocked when they had trigger fish - it was out of season but we ordered anyway. It was uncooked and pink. We sent it back they nuked it and made it worse, finally I looked closely and there was no way it was trigger. I am a local and it is wrong to try and fool our tourist!
(1)Jenna O.
Loved this little restaurant. The outside isn't much but the inside is cozy. Complete with a pillow on our bench seat. The food was delicious. I had the sautéed grouper with artichoke and absolutely enjoyed every bite. My husband had the seafood fettuccini with Alfredo sauce and his was wonderful as well. Even my sons fish fingers and steak fries were good. They tasted like they actually made them opposed to other restaurants who pull them out of the freezer section of SAMs club.
(5)Lee L.
My new favorite seafood restaurant in Florida! Thanks to Yelp, my friends and I came for our last dinner in the Destin/Ft. Walton area. And man, what a hidden gem this place is. Pan fried whole red snapper Stuffed Portobello- crawfish cream sauce Papaya salad- light & a good palate cleanser (not on the menu) Orange ginger creme brulee Oil for bread (with garlic, scallions, chili pepper)-so good & flavorful! (we actually brought a bottle to bring back home) Everything was super scrumptious. One fantastic dish after another came out... Our dinner table was covered in food. The chef and his wife Noi were both so nice. Noi talked to us for a while (not many other Asians eat at her restaurant). Thank you Noi & Chef Minh for a wonderful evening and delicious eating!
(5)Tom W.
Excellent food. Great service. Exactly what we were looking for when visiting Fort Walton Beach.
(5)Michael L.
Appearances can certainly be deceiving. In this no-frills, non-descript type of building with the roofing literally labeled with the words "Seafood Steak Pasta", we literally found a treasure trove of food-gasmic pleasure. I really didn't have any expectations despite the high overall yelp rating, and when we were greeted with an expansive menu, my expecations actually dipped because most restaurants can't truly execute well too many items. But we were here, and we were going to give it a good shot. Bring on the bread....with their house-seasoned oil (garlic, scallions, chili pepper). It's kind of ridiculous, but this was seriously the best oil I've ever used with any kind of bread, anywhere. It will not overwhelm you with flavor per se, but if you're attentive to what's going on, all three ingredients take their turns to shine through the olive oil. We liked this so much that the chef's wife gave us a jar to take home (their hospitality and generosity can result in a separate five-star rating in and of themselves). When we found ourselves food-gasming over their simple house-seasoned oil for their bread, I had an inkling that we may be in for a great night. But I still held my breath. Next we had the Shrimp and Scallop appetizer with curry sauce- A massaman curry with a perfect blend of sweetness, creaminess, and kick. Scallop was wrapped with smoked bacon. Both shrimps and scallop were perfectly cooked. Again, the dish doesn't overwhelm your taste buds, it treats them just right. Stuffed Portabella Mushroom- crawfish, andouille sausage, scallions, all inside a crispy panko-crusted portabella mushroom, covered with a lightly flavored sauce that brought all the ingredients together. When I cut into this large fried mushroom and saw that it managed to hold together, and then actually tasted my bite, I knew then and there that this place was beyond just "legit". There was some serious thought and skill put into making this, and it definitely showed- not just flavor-wise, but aesthetically as well. It was a beautiful dish (see pic) for the eyes and the palate. In conversing with the chef's wife, we found out that she was Thai. Since our friends had just been to Thailand a few months ago, they started talking about Thai food- and the next thing we know without us asking for it, she goes into the kitchen and makes us a green papaya salad which was spicily scrumptious! If you know your Thai food, make a request, and she just might make it for you. Pan-fried Whole Red Snapper- One of the hostesses mentioned to us that the fish special of the day was REALLY good. At $34 for a 1.5 lb snapper, it wasn't cheap, but it was enough to feed both my wife and myself as our main entree! But more than that, the way the fish was flavored was just awesome. Chef Minh told us that he'd first rub the fish with olive oil and freshly cut garlic, insert rosemary in the stomach, and then put his special rub (that you can purchase) on the fish before it was pan fried. So simple...so good, especially with a brief dip into their house-made chili-flavored oil (different from the one used for the bread). The seasoned rice that came with the fish was likely flavored with a hint of Thai sweet chili sauce-it was a perfect complement to the fish. Our friends each ordered grilled sirloin and a cluster of crab legs for their entrees. Now sirloin really doesn't excite me at all, but when I took a bite of theirs, I was pretty floored by how perfectly the steak was executed. It made sense after we found out that Chef Minh had worked for 18 years at a steakhouse prior to starting Sealand. Our meal was so awesome at this point that we had to get some dessert (even if it was just a little bit). Orange ginger creme brulee- Something different, and definitely good. There's a common theme to our meal- the flavors always come together perfectly. It's that phenomenal. I wondered aloud to my friends whether people in Fort Walton Beach can really truly appreciate what they have in Sealand. With the care, thought, and execution of the food, they could definitely do well in a larger metropolitan area. If we're back in the area, this place will ALWAYS be on our list, so long as Chef Minh and his wife are at the helm.
(5)Sara B.
A little spendy, but totally worth it! Our waitress was a hoot! Plus, She was very accommodating! The food was phenomenal!! I can't wait to go back! When we parked, it looks kind of "lacking". I didn't think it would be good. When we went in, there were boxes of wine everywhere and it's kind of clustered, BUT the service and food was outstanding!!
(5)Kim W.
Fantastic food. Service Was good. They were busy. Did not feel rushed between courses. Would go back to try more things from menu.
(5)Allison C.
Thanks, Sealand, for ruining my anniversary dinner. I won't forget it, that's for certain, and I'm incredibly offended by the effortless manner of the owner/manager to even attempt to rectify the situation. Our server did a decent job, but seemed nervous about the fact that my food sucked and I didn't want it replaced. Then I was charged $28.99 for a miserable side salad, three bites of broccoli and two bites of disgusting grouper that I wouldn't even take home to feed my dog. The menu described the dish that I ordered as SAUTEED grouper with artichokes, crab, capers and lemon butter sauce. What I received was a deep fried, overcooked, TINY piece of fish that literally turned my stomach instantly after trying it. The fish did not seem fresh either, but that's questionable because it was fried to a crisp jerky. The crab was very dry as well and the sauce was so scant that I even wondered if it made it on the plate. I'm still so disappointed!! We had heard years ago that this was a place to avoid (service industry advice), but after seeing such positive reviews on Yelp, we decided to use our anniversary on Friday night as a reason to go there. Everyone seemed quite nice, and the service was attentive, for the most part, though I did have to ask about specials and the fresh fish choices. I even looked on Yelp while we were there to look for recommendations. We ordered fried calamari for an appetizer and it was good, not spectacular. It arrived hot and I did enjoy the two sauces, marinara and key lime mustard. I've had worse, that's for sure, but for $10.95, I expected more. My husband ordered the 14oz prime rib and wanted a Caesar salad instead of the side salad, but the server said that we would have to pay for it, full price at $5.99, because it was "made to order." Husband opted not. Four little slices of french bread and some dipping oil were brought. It was okay. At this time, I am assuming that the chef's wife, Noi, came by to ask if we would prefer butter instead of oil, but that was the extent of the conversation. Our side salads were brought and as I said above, it was pretty pathetic. Not brown, but tired mixed salad with a wedge of tomato, two extremely thin sliced cucumber disks and about five minuscule croutons. When our entrees arrived, I was immediately disappointed because of the portion size. I'm soooo not about giant portions to make a good food experience, but this was ridiculous for the price. My husband looked at his cut of beef and immediately thought in was a strip and not a ribeye (normal prime rib) because of the lack of fat. The taste, texture, and temperature were good, but he was disappointed with the obvious trimming of the cut. The server checked on us and asked if our food was all right. I said that it wasn't good and he asked me if I wanted a replacement. I said that I didn't and he seemed very uncomfortable with my answer and left the table. I didn't eat any more of it, and he returned later and asked if he could remove my plate. I agreed. He eventually brought the check, which had my inedible food on the bill, and prepared our wine to-go. My husband said that he thought it unfair to pay for food that I didn't eat and the server seemed almost panicked about the situation. The server asked me what was wrong with the dish (after it was long gone), and I explained my issues. At this point, everything was very uncomfortable and my husband presented our debit card but said very clearly that it was NOT going to affect the server, but that if we were charged for the dish that we wouldn't be back, ever. When the server returned, he virtually tossed the check book thing and ran off, not returning. We tipped rightly because we aren't assholes, but $165? FUCKING SERIOUSLY? I am totally fine spending this type of money on a well-worth experience. This was horrible. Another thing that I have to mention is that there was liquor and wine stacked everywhere in our section, which was the bar area. Yeah, it was sort-of tidy, but overflowing on the bar and in the leg-room area under the bar. The decor was awful, weird curtains and knick-knack crap everywhere. For the price of a "fine dining" experience, I would definitely, NO DOUBT, go elsewhere. I am totally pissed off but have the feeling that I will not be comforted. I was really hoping this wouldn't be awful, but, again, Fort Walton just disappoints. Sealand sucks and I will never return. The more we talk about it, the angrier we become. I will say that I liked the selection of half bottles of wine. We were trying to celebrate, after all.... And the prices for the vino were quite reasonable. I'll give credit where credit is due.
(1)Sam B.
Wow. Can't help but give 5 stars. And rarely would I give it based largely on service. But, for and affordable restaurant, this place offers 5 star service. Great creations by the chef. I had the shrimp and grits, covered in a cheese/crab sauce. It was excellent, again at an affordable price! Not much too look at from the outside, and you would probably not pick this place, unless you knew...
(5)Sharyn P.
Outstanding restaurant. The food and service is the best. We have celebrated many birthdays and anniversaries here. Highly recommend stopping in for supper.
(5)Andrea J.
My family and I had the best experience at this restaurant. From the outside it doesn't look too spectacular, but the food spoke for itself. We started with potato skins and fried mushrooms. Both were great. They made a special spicy ranch to go with the mushrooms and that sauce was so good I could have drank the bowl. They then brought fresh bread with oil, fresh garlic and seasonings, and balsamic vinegar. We ate three baskets before our dinner even arrived. The bread was so good we just could t get enough. We all ordered different entrees so we could sample each. We had prime rib (fantastic), ribeye (awesome), chicken Parmesan (the best I ever had with a really thick juicy cut of chicken), mahi mahi topped with grilled shrimp (great), and grouper stuffed with crab (delicious). Tiramisu for dessert was so light and fluffy and absolutely decadent. We left feeling like we were fifty pounds heavier but mostly we left happy and well satisfied. We will be eating here a lot more often.
(5)Jocelyn D.
*3.5 stars* It was pretty good. I had crab stuffed shrimp. I really wish there were more crab in the stuffing. My husband got steak and crab legs, both very small portions for the price. We were pleased with our meals so decided to get dessert. We got tiramisu and key lime pie. Both good. Our 2 year old got fish nuggets- she's picky and still ate them. Pretty tasty. The staff is very good, very attentive.
(3)Brian K.
Great fresh food. Go inside, wait staff is excellent. Chef is a Vietnamese and added a pleasant Asian touch to the meals. Try it. You won't be sorry.
(5)Nancy H.
What a waste..Had the grilled fish of the day which was grouper, tasteless. Mom had the stuffed shrimp (stuffin was supposed to be crab more like mushy - salty goop) husband had the Seafood pasta...more like garlic - butter soup with noodles and seafood. Pricey. The decor was 1950-ish.... floral overload with plants and worn down benches for seating.I ALWAYS read Yelp reviews before I dine... This was a total BUST...All the patrons were elderly... just a guess but maybe that's why the food was bland?? To cater for their clientel. ..Go to Rick's Crab Trap waayyy cheaper, bigger portions. .friendlier staff.
(1)Eric M.
We were looking for a place that the whole family could enjoy, and we found it at Sealand. They have an early dinner special that is really reasonable, and a regular menu that is extremely varied and large. I got the grilled trigger fish, and I was enthralled by it. It was like no other fish dish I have ever had. It was seasoned and cooked in such a way that I forgot it was fish I was eating, and not some steak. My wife is quite particular, and she enjoyed the heck out of a ribeye. Both dinners came with a crisp, fresh salad, and a baked potato, for a very inexpensive fifteen bucks. My daughter enjoyed the chicken nuggets and some fries. To finish, we took a ginger creme brûlée and a vanilla one, and the chef packaged them remarkably nicely to take home. They were phenomenal, we both agreed. The reason this review is only four stars is that they were short staffed to the point where our poor server was sprinting everywhere trying to take care of too many tables. He did his darndest, but there was no way he could do it all. We recommend this place, but be patient to be rewarded with great food.
(4)L B.
We decided to try this out after reading the reviews. We were seated immediately, however it took our waiter over 15 minutes to take our order. We ordered our prime rib medium and it came out well done and chewy. The baked potatoes didn't taste fresh. The bread and dipping sauce was really good! It was an average meal, but not a place we will return to! Dewey Destin is still our favorite in the area!
(3)Gunter W.
Waited over an hour for the food to be delivered. With kids, this was miserable. I will never eat here again. Period. Can't speak to the quality of the food BECAUSE I AM STILL WAITING.
(1)Julianna O.
Food was delicious!! Don't be fooled by the building outside. Prices are great, service was great, and the food was cooked wonderfully. We had the spring roll app and all of us had the steak and crab legs.
(5)Tan T.
I visited also for just dessert. I ordered a brownie. It was horrible. I have never had a wet mushie brownie. It didn't taste like brownie or even cake. I wouldn't recommend this place. Also the menu prices seemed quite pricey.
(1)Shelby R.
I fell in love with this restaurant. It's so quaint with fresh flowers and lit candles in the table. Every course was wonderful!!! The bread and salad was delicious. I got almond crusted Mahi Mahi and it was fabulous. My favorite part was dessert- creme brûlée! To die for... Overall, amazing food and service!!
(5)