Restaurants near Old Gulf County Courthouse

Food was exceptional. Service was exceptional. If you want a food experience that is guaranteed to delight this is one of them.

Autumn, our server, was exceptional. The food was simply incredible. Our group of five indulged in a delightful feast featuring grouper, lamb chops, salmon, and snapper. Each dish was a culinary masterpiece, earning a perfect score of 10 out of 10. My friend couldn’t resist the temptation of the bread pudding for dessert, and it was undoubtedly the best bread pudding we’ve ever tasted.

My husband and I went for dinner and sat in the bar area the service and food were fabulous our waitress was Allison she was very attentive and made great suggestions. The only complaint was that the bread they gave you wasn’t enough but it was delicious.

We had dinner at The White Marlin last night, and both my husband and I were delighted. The staff was personable and attentive. The ambiance was lovely-- nice music, inviting decor, and linen tablecloths and napkins. I liked the music so much, I asked what it was and learned I could get the play list from Spotify. The food was scrumptious--all of it. We each had a starter--tender calamari and an incredibly good pear salad. My husband had the filet mignon, which was cooked perfectly; and I had the coconut crusted grouper--yum, yum! The wine and drinks list is impressive. We each had a drink and enjoyed both. I came away thinking that finally we've found a fine dining establishment we can count on. (We had quit going out for special occasions in Apalachicola because our old favorites had changed hands and had fallen down in both service and quality of food. )

If you are wondering if all of the glowing reviews posted on social media for the Grand Marlin are accurate, let me assure you they are! I made reservations for my wife and I to celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary and The Grand Marlin took it from there. From the time we arrived until the end of our meal we were treated like VIPs. We were seated upstairs dockside overlooking the Pirate Ship berth. We were served cocktails to start. My wife chose the French Marlin and I chose the Cinnamon Old Fashion. Both were to our liking. For an appetizer we selected the Blue Crab Claws. Our waitress recommended that we try them sautéed, and that proved to be a nice change from the fried variety that we would typically order. For the main course, we both chose Red Snapper. My wife's was served with a ginger soy sauce, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I chose the Chef's Pick which came with coconut and black bean rice and asparagus. This proved to have an excellent flavor profile. The fish on both dishes was succulent with a mild nutty flavor and its texture reminded us of the best Chilean Sea Bass. For dessert we chose the Key Lime Pie. We have been to Key West several times and always indulge in the Key Lime Pie there, but Grand Marlin's offering was among the best we have enjoyed. Dessert was served with a raspberry coulis and had "Happy Anniversary" beautifully inscribed on the plate in chocolate. Of course the food is only part of the dining experience. The ambiance gave a resort-like feel. And I saved the best for last. Our server was wonderful! She was knowledgeable about the items on the menu and made some great recommendations. She convinced my wife to try the Red Snapper even though she was hesitant based on a bad experience at another establishment. The waitress' recommendation was spot on and made for a memorable meal for both of us. Thank-you to the entire Grand Marlin staff for a great evening!