The Shack in Fort Walton Beach, FL, is a relaxed waterfront seafood restaurant that brings together fresh flavors, easygoing comfort, and a setting designed for lingering. With a spacious deck overlooking the water, it is the kind of place where steamed crabs, seafood plates, and creative cocktails feel right at home.
Guests come for the laid-back atmosphere and stay for the experience: fast service, a lively yet cozy vibe, and a menu that celebrates both local favorites and satisfying comfort food.
Whether you are stopping in for lunch, settling in for dinner, or enjoying a solo meal with a view, The Shack offers the kind of warm, welcoming environment that makes every visit feel like a true escape.
What makes The Shack especially appealing is its ability to combine quality dining with genuine convenience. Guests can choose from outdoor seating, dine-in service, takeaway, delivery, and on-site service, making it easy to enjoy their seafood however they prefer.
The bar on site adds to the experience with a strong selection of beer, cocktails, happy-hour drinks, and happy-hour food, while live music and a great beer and cocktail selection help create a fun, energetic setting.
Known for serving local specialties, the restaurant also offers healthy options, coffee, dessert, and catering, giving customers plenty of reasons to return for casual meals, special gatherings, and memorable celebrations.
Accessibility and comfort are also a priority at The Shack, with wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance, seating, and restrooms available to help ensure a welcoming experience for all guests. The restaurant accepts reservations and offers flexible payment options including credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments for added convenience.
With a strong 4.50-star rating from 4,950 reviews, The Shack has earned a reputation as a trusted favorite in the area—one that combines great food, attentive service, and a vibrant waterfront setting into an experience customers are glad to recommend.
Located at 104 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW in Fort Walton Beach, it is an inviting destination for anyone looking for high-quality seafood, a memorable atmosphere, and a place that feels both dependable and special.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at The Shack
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Our creamy house-made recipe loaded with lump crab. Served with pita chips.
Southern fried golden brown. Topped with our house-made volcano lobster topping.
One pound of hickory smoked wings tossed in our hot and tangy house-made sweet chili buffalo sauce, hot honey bbq sauce or garlic parmesan sauce. Served with ranch or bleu cheese dressing.
Our homemade smoked tuna seasoned and blended perfectly with onion and celery. Served cold on a bed of lettuce with cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and Captain's Wafer crackers.
Blue crab claws available either fried or steamed in our white wine and garlic sauce. Served with cocktail sauce.
One pound of mussels steamed with onion and our white wine and garlic sauce and garnished with fresh cilantro. Served with garlic bread.
A half-pound of either a classic shrimp cocktail or our house-smoked shrimp served either hot or cold with cocktail sauce and drawn butter.
Spicy, fried volcano shrimp or crawfish tails. Served on a bed of lettuce and garnished with diced tomatoes, green onions and lemon.
Spicy, fried volcano shrimp or crawfish tails. Served on a bed of lettuce and garnished with diced tomatoes, green onions and lemon.
One pound of breaded boneless wings tossed in our house-made sweet chili buffalo sauce, hot honey bbq sauce or garlic parmesan sauce. Served with ranch or bleu cheese dressing.
10 hushpuppies served with our homemade strawberry butter.
Quartered, panko-style crusted softshell crab deep fried and served with sweet chili sauce.
Fried and served with warm marinara sauce.
A "healthy" portion of dill pickle chips, hand-breaded and fried. Served with ranch dressing.
Seafood gumbo meets jambalaya in this signature recipe chock-full of fish, shrimp and smoked sausage.
Fresh mixed greens salad topped with your choice of our fried "Bangin'" shrimp or crawfish or grilled chicken breast, fresh pineapple pico de gallo, shredded cheese and fried tortilla strips.
Fresh, crisp Romaine tossed with Caesar dressing, Parmesan cheese and croutons.
Fresh, crisp mixed greens salad, served with your choice of dressing
Fresh spring mix topped with strawberries, Mandarin orange slices, sliced red onions, candied pecans, bleu cheese crumbles and our homemade strawberry balsamic vinaigrette.
One pound of snow crab, one pound of Dungeness crab, half pound of steamed shrimp, one pound of mussels, half pound of clams and smoked sausage. Serves 2.
One pound snow crab, one pound Dungeness crab, one pound steamed shrimp and smoked sausage. Serves 2.
Two pounds of snow crab, two pounds of Dungeness crab, one pound of steamed shrimp, two pounds of mussels, one pound of clams and smoked sausage. Serves 4.
One pound of steamed Dungeness crab legs.
One pound of "melt in your mouth" steamed snow crab clusters.
Your choice of snow or Dungeness crab & steamed or smoked cocktail shrimp.
A crab lover's delight. Steamed Dungeness and snow crab legs.
Your choice of fish cooked either Served with tartar sauce..
A tender & juicy 8 oz. USDA Choice Angus flat iron steak grilled to perfection.
Large shrimp cooked either fried, grilled or blackened. Served with cocktai sauce.
Our homemade recipe blending lobster and blue crab meat. Served with our remoulade sauce.
Fresh select oysters hand-battered and fried. Served with cocktail and tartar sauce.
Blackened fish topped with Parmesan cream sauce, blackened crawfish and green onions.
Blackened chicken breast topped with Parmesan cream sauce, blackened crawfish and green onions.
Our homemade smoked gouda grits topped with sauteed shrimp, bacon and scallions in our homemade roux.
Two bone-in pork chops grilled to perfection with a Hawaiian-style glaze and topped with grilled pineapple.
A "Shackload" of shrimp! 12 fried, 12 blackened, 12 grilled, 12 steamed and 12 smoked shrimp, served with your choice of 4 side items and 8 hushpuppies. Serves 3-4.
Your choice of fish cooked to perfection. Served either fried, grilled or blackened with tartar sauce.
One teriyaki glazed pork chop, topped with grilled pineapple and green onions.
One blackened chicken breast topped with parmesan cream sauce, blackened crawfish and green onions.
One pan sauteed homemade lobster crab cak
Fresh select oysters hand battered and fried
Large shrimp fried, grilled or blackened
Hear from our valued guests
I was in Fort Walton Beach for a military reunion, and The Shack was located a short walk from our hotel. It was fantastic. I ate there three out of the five days I was in town. Living in Colorado, it's difficult to find high quality, fresh seafood. The kitchen and serve staff at The Shack hit a home run each time I was there. My first trip was for lunch after flying in. I had the First Mate's platter, and I crushed it. There was nary a morsel left. Service from Carmella was first rate and she was so friendly and cool. Second trip was for dinner after spending all day at Navarre Beach/Pier. Enjoyed the blackened Redfish dinner. Perfectly cooked and the hush puppies were amazing. Broke my diet and had a slice of Key Lime Pie; totally worth the splurge. Service from Jan was also first rate and she too was very friendly. Final trip was for lunch, and I had a bowl of gumbo and a couple of beers. Generous portion of nicely seasoned gumbo that was perfect for lunch. Beers are really well price at under $5. Service from Whitney was, yes, you guessed it, first rate and she was cool and friendly. I wanted to come back for lunch on my departure day, but the weather impacted my flight, and I had to leave early. Sorry, Carmella, I'll catch you next time. Absolutely recommend this restaurant for great food, great service, and a super nice view of the water.
The Shack is a fantastic lunch spot if you’re in or around Destin and want good food without the fuss. The vibe is relaxed and coastal, exactly what you want after a morning at the beach or out on the water. It feels local, welcoming, and unpretentious — the kind of place you could easily linger a little longer than planned. The food is consistently solid and fresh. Whether you go for fried, grilled, or blackened seafood, everything comes out hot, well-seasoned, and generously portioned. The fish and shrimp are standouts, and the classic sides like fries, slaw, and hush puppies round out the meal perfectly. It’s comfort food done right, with Gulf flavor that doesn’t need to be overcomplicated. One of the best parts is the waterfront setting. Sitting outside, watching boats go by, really adds to the experience and makes it feel like a true Destin lunch stop. Service is friendly and efficient, even when it’s busy, and the staff keeps things moving without making you feel rushed. If you’re looking for a dependable, casual lunch with good seafood and a great view, The Shack is absolutely worth a stop.
The Shack was delicious 😋 The food and Service was A1!! The fried green tomatoes with volcano lobster sauce was so good the lobster crab cakes shrimp tacos shrimp and grits I could go on and on. The beer selection is good too. If you love seafood and great service I recommend The Shack
We are here visiting Fort Walton for the first time! We wanted a beach/waterfront restaurant view for our dinner and this place delivered just that! We asked to sit outside and without hesitation they led us out there! They have umbrellas and an amazing view of the water! It was such a nice night! We had an amazing waitress, and I love crab legs so I had to get their 1.5lb snow crab that came with 2 good size potatos, a piece of corn on the cob and a cup of coleslaw! I was worried at first when picking this place because I wanted a “seafood boil” but couldn’t find any near with this atmosphere and something on the menu for my friend who does not like seafood! (She got the burger and it was huge and looked amazing) When these crab legs came out they were fabulous! The seasoning and butter and lemons on the side were just as amazing as a boil! I would come here again if I’m ever back in town! And not to mention the price for my order, so worth it! Was expecting $55-$65 and it was only $41.99!!!!
Great food with great views!! Had the grilled shrimp lunch plate and substituted the fries for their delicious summer salad for $4.50 more. It’s definitely worth it! Also had their hushpuppies appetizer that keeps you wanting more. Hubby had the pick 2 combo platter with shrimp and lobster crab cake - everything was perfect. Would likely eat here every day if we could!!
We recently visited The Shack and were immediately impressed by the beautiful water views—definitely one of the highlights of the experience. We started with the Shack hush puppies, which were absolutely delicious. The strawberry butter served alongside them added a unique and surprisingly tasty twist that really set them apart. For our main dishes, we ordered the deconstructed chicken taco bowls and the lobster crab cake sandwich. The crab cake sandwich, served with coleslaw, was a solid choice—flavorful and satisfying overall. The deconstructed chicken taco bowls were also a hit, packed with flavor and very filling. We had French fries on the side, and they came with a special seasoning that made them extra enjoyable. Portions across the board were generous, so you definitely get your money’s worth. The only downside to the visit was the parking situation—it’s very limited and can be a bit frustrating. Do yourself a favor and park across the street to save some hassle. Overall, great food, great views, and definitely worth a visit!
We enjoyed our lunch here. Crystal was our server and although she kept getting hit with tables she did a good job of staying out of the weeds. We sat inside as we wanted to be out of the sun. The windows were open, so it was almost a patio experience. The clam strips were good. The shrimp pimento cheese was also really good (and a substantial amount), but would benefit from a tangier mayonnaise base. The shrimp tacos were great - really good flavor profile. Fries were excellent. They would benefit though by slapping the flour tortillas on the flattop for a minute instead of serving them straight out of the bag. The snow crab legs were nicely done, but we had to ask for a cup of hot water to rinse some of the seasoning off as it was a bit salty. The potatoes were good. The corn was okay.
Where does one even start leaving a review for this local gem?! What is one of our favorite restaurants ended up being the location for our wedding reception in 2024. 10/10 recommend if you're looking for a reception venue in the area. Kelly Young (manager) and her team are phenomenal! They were so easy going and accommodating - from helping us with the dinner menu, the seating layout, cocktail hour options, presentation of the appetizers, quality of the food, as well as allowing us to bring in our own decorations and table settings. To this day we still have friends and family that talk about their experience as well as how delicious the food was. You couldn't ask for a better location - we love The Shack!
Our first time at Ft Walton Beach for vacation, wife and I walked down the beach from where we were staying and had lunch at the first, beachfront eatery we found. THIS was not The Shack but I mention it because our server, who has lived in Ft Walton all her life, provided the names or two restaurants she felt were the best on the Miracle Strip Pkwy, The Shack was one of those mentioned and her restaurant was NOT the other. My wife and I determined The Shack would be our first get-cleaned-up-and-go-out-for-dinner experience of this trip. The Shack was only 2.6mi from our hotel. At 5:57p, parking was limited, packed and lots of folks waiting outside for a table. We didn’t care. We’re on vacation. We were told 45min for an outside table on the water. We only had to wait for 30 and checked out their swag shop during our wait, which BTW, had some pretty cool branded, fishing and daily-wear shirts! After being seated, we were greeted by our server within 3min and placed our drink and appetizer order. We ordered the hushpuppies, 10 count with strawberry butter. Gotta say, best we’d ever had and with a side of seafood protein, I could have made my meal right there. But, by then, we had already ordered our entrees. We both ordered a House salad with a protein, wife’s with blackened red fish and mine with grilled shrimp. Both her fish and my shrimp paired well with the Lime Vinaigrette dressing. The salads were mas-sive and had we eaten all the hushpuppies, we could have easily split a single salad, especially since a day in the sun seems to suppress our appetites. Bottom line, servers were friendly and attentive, atmosphere/vibe perfect for a beach community, food/drink selection, plentiful. Including my wife’s Pinot Grigio, and my sweet tea, balance due, $64.12. It’s not fast-food seafood so we already knew from other reviews the basic price point. My only regret…not enough room left for their key lime pie. Next time…count on it!
We found The Shack and we loved it. The seafood is delicious. If you are looking for well priced seafood that also doesn’t skip on the quantity Shack is where it’s at. We got there for lunch, I got the fried shrimp and they were a good sized and good portion. Their crinkly fries are well seasoned and delicious. My in-laws got the seafood platter seen above and that’s was smashin-crab delicious!! my recommended time to be here is 1130 am to get the best experience. The staff was also on point, getting our order and delivering the goods was about 10 minutes. Great seafood, great place. We will definitely go back.
Common questions about The Shack
The Shack is located at 104 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, United States, Fort Walton Beach, FL, United States.
You can reach The Shack by calling +1 850-664-0345.
The Shack has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 4950 customer reviews.
The Shack features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
The Shack features the following from the business: Identifies as veteran-owned, Identifies as women-owned.
The Shack features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
The Shack features the following highlights: Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Live music, Serves local specialty.
The Shack features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
The Shack features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy-hour drinks, Happy-hour food, Healthy options, Quick bite, Small plates, Spirits, Wine.
The Shack features the following dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
The Shack features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
The Shack features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Lively, Trendy.
The Shack features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, LGBTQ+ friendly, Tourists.
The Shack features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
The Shack features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
The Shack features the following children: Good for kids, High chairs, Kids' menu.
The Shack features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Paid parking lot.
Business Features
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