14 Alabama restaurants on the water serving up great views and food

Do you feel like there’s something about being on the water that just makes a meal better? Well then, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of restaurants serving up just that throughout our state.

That’s why This is Alabama recently asked its Facebook followers to share their favorite restaurants that are on the water, and the responses did not disappoint. Whether you prefer our state’s beautiful beaches or its scenic lakes and rivers, you can have your pick of eateries serving up good food and water views.

You can see 14 of the restaurants suggested below, and you can read all of them on the This is Alabama Facebook page.

Felix’s Fish Camp in Spanish Fort, Ala., has been a top Causeway dining option on Mobile Bay for more than 20 years now.Lawrence Specker | [email protected]

Felix’s Fish Camp Restaurant

1530 Battleship Parkway in Spanish Fort

With more than 20 years in business, Felix’s Fish Camp Restaurant in Spanish Fort has become known for its seafood, steaks and sensational sunset views. Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, Felix’s offers a full menu of unique dishes, like crabmeat spinach dip, crawfish smothered pork chops and grits and cornmeal fried oysters in addition to traditional fare like filet mignon, chicken parmesan and more, all of which you can enjoy while looking out over the Mobile Bay.

Top O’ The River

Locations in Gadsden, Guntersville and Anniston

Top O’ the River is a local chain of restaurants that got its start in 1983 and has since garnered a reputation for serving up some of the best farm-raised catfish in the state. Open for dinner seven days a week and lunch on Sundays, Top O’ the River in Gadsden and Guntersville offer scenic lake views alongside massive seafood platters, steaks, catfish specials, homemade desserts like macadamia nut cheesecake and much more. Plus, be sure to get an order of their popular “pot O’mustard greens” on the side.

Voyagers in Orange Beach, Ala., is known for its Gulf views.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])

Voyagers Restaurant

27200 Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach

For a memorable upscale dining experience that includes panoramic views of the Gulf, look no further than Voyagers in Orange Beach. Open for dinner seven days a week, the beachfront restaurant serves an innovative menu, crafted by nationally recognized executive Chef Brody Olive. The menu features an award-winning wine list, local Gulf-caught seafood and dry-aged steaks. Some of its unique dishes include “chicken-fried” lobster, Perdido stuffed chicken, pork belly fried quail knots and more.

Stanfield’s River Bottom Grille

1050 Clayborn Liles Drive in Florence

Stanfield’s River Bottom Grille really puts the “water” in “waterside dining” given that the restaurant can be found floating in the Florence Harbor Marina, offering up some relaxing lake views. Another thing the eatery, which serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, offers its customers? Good eats. Open since 2014, River Bottom Grille has everything from massive burgers to pastas, seafood cooked every kind of way, steaks and more on its menu.

The Gulf

27500 Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach

Another popular spot — and noted Southern Living favorite — that puts you right on the water in Orange Beach is The Gulf. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, the eatery boasts a casual, family-friendly atmosphere and a diverse menu, with everything from a shrimp ‘po boy to a snapper BLT, tuna poke bowl and more, up for grabs. Plus, you can enjoy while having your toes in the sand and looking out on the waters of the pass.

The Back Porch

270 Marina Drive in Talladega

Another lakeside eatery worth checking out is The Back Porch Restaurant in Talladega, which offers spacious and shady outdoor dining accompanied by gorgeous views of Logan Martin Lake. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, The Back Porch has a wide array of dishes on its menu, including appetizers, steaks, seafood, pastas and some seriously decadent desserts, so that’s there’s something everybody will enjoy.

Pirates Cove

6664 County Road 95 in Elberta

If you’re looking for a place to grab a great meal with a great view in a laid-back atmosphere, head to Pirates Cove in Elberta. In business for more than 60 years and open seven days a week, Pirates Cove has become a favorite among travelers and locals alike thanks to its scenic setting, live entertainment and eclectic menu, which includes everything from one-of-a kind burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches to specialty pizzas and more.

Kowaliga Restaurant

295 Kowaliga Marina Road in Alexander City

Whether you drive to it or boat to it, Kowaliga Restaurant in Alexander City is the perfect place to enjoy Southern cooking on a shady porch with gorgeous views of Lake Martin. Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday, the family-friendly eatery has a full menu of old favorites like hamburger steak, fried catfish and smoked chicken as well as burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. Don’t forget to check out the beachy play area for kiddos and feed the turtles while you’re waiting for your meal.

Cobalt

28099 Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach

Who doesn’t love a great dinner accompanied by a beach breeze and a stunning sunset view? At Cobalt, the Restaurant in Orange Beach, you can enjoy all of the above. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, you can fill up on unique offerings like firecracker shrimp appetizer, pecan-fried catfish, white BBQ pork tenderloin and more, as well as more traditional fare like steak, burgers and pizzas. You can eat all while looking out on the gorgeous blue water.

Big Daddy’s Grill

16542 Ferry Road in Fairhope

Since 2007, Big Daddy’s Grill in Fairhope has become known for serving its customers fresh seafood from the Gulf and more while offering up a scenic spot overlooking the Fish River to enjoy it. Between the laidback atmosphere, live entertainment and great food — including seafood baskets, po’ boys and the popular “Big Daddy” burger — it’s easy to understand why our readers were quick to recommend it. The river view? Well, that’s just a bonus.

Capitol Oyster Bar

617 Shady Street in Montgomery

On a breezy afternoon, a meal out on the back deck at the Capitol Oyster Bar in Montgomery overlooking the Alabama River is hard to beat — which is likely why it took home our award for Alabama’s Best Oyster Bar in 2016. While it’s been nearly a decade since then, not much has changed. Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday, Capitol Oyster Bar is still a favorite, drawing customers from all over the state, thanks to its menu of fresh seafood and friendly atmosphere.

CoastAL

25722 Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach

In the mood for some Gulf views with your breakfast? CoastAL in Orange Beach has you covered. (And the same can be said for lunch and dinner too.) The waterfront restaurant offers a full selection of early morning eats, including biscuits and gravy, stuffed French toast, breakfast burritos, eggs Benedict and more daily until 2 p.m., when the gorgeous views stay the same, but the food switches over to burgers, sandwiches, seafood and more.

Ezell’s Fish Camp

776 Ezell Road in Lavaca

When we say Ezell’s Fish Camp in Lavaca is a family restaurant, we really mean it. The popular eatery was established in the ’30s, and in that time, it has garnered a strong following of fans thanks to its menu of fried catfish, shrimp, oysters and more, served alongside its beloved coleslaw and a view of the Tombigbee River. Oh, and don’t forget to save room for a slice of that pecan pie, too — you won’t regret it.

Sea-N-Suds Restaurant

405 E. Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores

Speaking of family-owned restaurants in Alabama, Sea-N-Suds in Gulf Shores is another one to add to your list of must-visit places to grab a good meal. In business for 50 years, Sea-N-Suds is located on the white, sandy beaches of the Gulf, giving customers a front-row seat to scenic coastal views. And while you’re enjoying that view, you can also enjoy a full mean of fresh seafood, an all-you-can-eat salad bar, burgers and more.

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