Coastline RV Resort is located on the ‘forgotten coast’ of Florida’s Panhandle. Located in the town of Eastpoint, FL directly off US 98 which hugs the Gulf Coast with sunset views of Apalachicola Bay. The bridge over to St.George Island and more camping opportunities is a short drive away. This area is beautiful and offers a multitude of interesting venues to explore. Notably St.George Island, historic Apalachicola lost in a time warp with good restaurants, Crooked River Lighthouse, and Carrabelle Beach with its beautiful sandy dog friendly beach.
This is a new rv park, built in 2013. This is the sister park to Coastline RV Campground approximately 1 mile West on US 98. This can only be considered a resort if one wishes to incorporate their restaurant 1 mile West adjacent to the Coastline RV Campground. The resort has wide, easy navigable gravel streets with paver patios The first three tiers of sites all face the Apalachicola Bay and have views while the tiers in the rear, behind the clubhouse, have no or limited views. The grounds are well kept with no trees and minimal landscape plantings. Backing into our tier three site with our 45’ motorcoach was simple since the wide streets provided ample turning room. Between the first three tiers facing Apalachicola Bay and the back tiers sit two buildings, the office and the clubhouse. The office contains the welcome center, a modest store and a rental unit called ‘The seaside Suite’. The clubhouse, with a beautiful crystal clear pool located next to it, contains the modern, sparkling clean showers and bathrooms. It also has a full kitchen, small exercise room, lounge area, and laundry machines. The end of the clubhouse has a screened porch overlooking the pool and the Bay. Alas, the pool is not heated so when visiting at the tail end of April the water was way too chilly to even contemplate wading in. One of the few parks where (even though they state that they clean sites before check-in time) the sites are actually cleaned; we saw first hand where the site next to us was cleaned, charcoal grill cleaned and emptied, grass edged around pad, and the picnic table scrubbed down-wow.
WiFi is provided, and as in most parks it is satisfactory streaming with occasional buffering. We used our Winegard Rayzor Automatic local antenna to receive the few local TV stations.
A newly opened restaurant and part of Coastline located 1 mile West, adjacent to the Campground, the Pesky Pelican, offers good seafood dinners.
A welcomed feature on their website is a reservation app which is unique in the rv park/campground industry (we have only seen this at a few other rv park websites and it has been offered at national park reservation sites for reserving tent and rv sites for some time). This apps provides a picture and short description of each site (including the suite and cottages) and is so convenient as a particular site can be chosen and reserved in a matter of minutes. No more time spent on the phone as the booking agent attempts to decipher if any sites are available and does not guarantee any particular site. This is the future just beginning to surface.
The takeaway: A pleasant rv park, right on Apalachicola Bay, not a resort, well maintained with acceptable WiFi. Wide gravel streets, views of Apalachicola Bay, clubhouse with all amenities along with a pool and access to their own pier on the Bay (still damaged at time of our visit from hurricane Michael), and beautiful sunsets over Apalachicola Bay. A unique on-line reservation system allows the guest to pick and reserve a particular site. Stayed April 2019. Go to www.rickpicks.com for other reviews, critiques and essays.
Perry KOA, located in Perry, FL on US 98 is a launch site for accessing the Florida Panhandle. This KOA campground is in my opinion typical of unhealthy KOA’s throughout the country. Please do not misunderstand my characterization as we have found and stayed at some excellent KOA’s out West. However Perry KOA is a fine example of little, if any, evidence of routine maintenance. There was a sign posted requesting patience while they were making improvements...no such construction efforts were visible. Joining the growing trend this park has begun adding small houses/park models which at this time comprise approximately 10% of total sites.
Access into the park off Route 98 is easy, however be cautious of the dip up and down when entering and exiting. We raised our motorcoach up when exiting so as to avoid bottoming out. A narrow one lane asphalt road leads to the rv sites, a combination of grass and hard pack. Long ago the tipped and aging electric posts were standing strong and proud as in the misleading photo posted on rvparky; today the elderly sites display their aging less gracefully. There is more than ample space between sites. The one size fits all sites are long, approx. 70 feet, and lined with that unpleasant material (called ‘quarry process’ like crushed limestone) that when wet turns to a gooey sticky mess that sticks to shoes, your coach, etc. A friendlier approach would be to line the parking sites with crushed aggregate for a better visitor experience.
Driving to the site and exiting in our 45’ motorcoach with the tow was unchallenging as there is good turning clearance and the U-turn to exit is of a wide radius. Also, to their credit, and this always aggravates me, the large oak trees have been trimmed up so that our 13’ foot height was not an issue. FHU is provided; the 50 amp service is stable; the site was to their credit close to level, and aging picnic tables were erratically dispersed with random sites missing this amenity altogether. They have worked to keep the grounds reasonably clean and landscaped; they do not have irrigation so the grass survives as best it can in Florida sand.
This old the park has hints of former glory hidden by neglect over time.
The physical plant is worn and weary, although the office and store show what can be accomplished when a building is maintained. In a separate building on the ground floor of a two story residential type building is the recreation hall. Pleasant enough and serviceable inside with exterior displaying wear and deterioration.
A separate cement block building houses the bathrooms and showers; old painted cement block interior was relatively clean; just needs modernization. The pool and hot tub are old, however relatively clean despite being surround by live oaks which I am sure necessitates continual cleaning. The bathrooms at the pool are old, run down and the roof looks as if it is standing due to habit. Again pictures on their web site and Google Maps are not representative of the condition we observed April 2019.
WiFi was acceptable for retrieving email; it does not support streaming music nor movies even though we have a Winegard ConnecT . Using our Winegard Rayzor Automatic enabled us to pull in the local tv channels in HD.
The Takeaway: benign neglect aptly describes this KOA park, however at this price point it may be attractive to those travelers like us that needed a layover stop on our way to the FL Panhandle. The pictures on the web, Facebook, Google Maps are disingenuous. At least KOA does not call this a resort; WiFi is disappointing and does not support streaming. Pictures on web site, rvparky, and Google Maps are not representative of the actual condition of this Perry KOA. Visited April 2019. Go to www.rickpicks.com for other reviews, critiques and essays.
Harbor Lakes RV Resort, located in Port Charlotte, FL is an Encore resort and, as most of their holdings, is populated by permanent residents living either in rv’s or park models. The majority of rv sites have been converted to park models; close to 75% of the sites are now park models.
Interestingly, the ‘resort’ (locution of the day and euphemism) has abnormally wide streets, equivalent to a three lane road, so maneuvering a 45’ coach with a tow was effortless, including backing into our site. Note that both ‘standard’ and ‘premium’ sites are dirt and grass with a cement patio(some without a concrete patio). This is an old park and it shows its age with old narrow concrete pads. On the ‘elite’ sites the concrete pads are still intact, level and include a concrete patio with picnic table. FHU is provided and the 50 amp electric is stable.
Although old the park has worked to keep the grounds reasonably clean and landscaped; they do not have irrigation so the grass survives as best it can in the sandy Florida soil.
The physical plant is pleasant with the buildings well maintained. There is a billiards building with two billiard tables. The main complex houses the recreation hall, large enough to hold a large gathering for social, dancing, entertaining, etc. It also contains a library. In addition is the laundry room, well kept and clean. The bathrooms/showers, leading to the expansive sparkling pool and hot tub, have been updated with slate tile on walls and floors and is clean.
Located in Port Charlotte, FL it is convenient to Myakka River State Park and the beaches of Englewood and home to off-shore racing.
There is WiFi available on a per diem charge and no cable(we did not use their WiFi and assume that since it is an up charge that one can stream movies). We used our Pixel phone as a hotspot coupled to our Winegard ConnecT antenna&router and used our Winegard Rayzor Automatic local over-the-air antenna to receive numerous local TV stations in HD. We no longer subscribe to Directv since WiFi internet access provides more on demand variety and an improved experience.
The Takeaway: a layover spot and a convenient place to stay while exploring Myakka River State Park (38 miles away). An older park dominated by park models, not a resort in the true sense; nevertheless offering updated shower and restrooms and a sparkling pool with easy access to/from I75. The extra wide streets are a welcome benefit as are the level concrete pads in the ‘elite’ category. WiFi cost is reasonable and over-the-air tv accesses numerous local channels in HD. Visited April 2019. Go to www.rickpicks.com for other reviews, critiques and essays.
Adventureland Campground, Altoona, IA is 13 miles northeast of Des Moines, IA off I80. A word of caution driving into the park since the signage is erroneous, misplaced and missing. Quite an accomplishment to commit such a fauxpas. When exiting I80 take NE Hubbell Ave West and turn onto Adentureland Dr. East (do not turn at the LED sign for Adventureland Inn which will take one into the parking lot with no maneuvering room and a sign that erroneously directs one to the Inn and its 12’ overhang) and continue toward the first traffic light(opposite Jethro’s ‘n Jakes Smokehouse), just before the traffic light and the traffic island turn right into the Adventureland Campground on NE Simpson Rd. which will take you straight into the campground and the office (exiting is as convoluted as the entranceway). This was brought to the attention of several employees who all professed no knowledge of this problem and stated that this was management’s accountability.
The park is part of a large amusement park, water park, circus, restaurants, and show venues with a hotel, adjacent to which is the old rv park and accordingly with these amenities does qualify as a resort. There are numerous dining options in the amusement park. The roads are paved as are the very narrow pads with no patio. The pads are fairly level and there is abundant green space between sites. Turning into a pad without running over the grass is not possible in a 45’ motorcoach. There are also numerous ‘buddy site circles’ which appear to only accommodate rv’s less than 22’ feet in length. The trees are well trimmed up so our 13’ height did not become an issue and the well established grass between sites is due to the regulation that no coverings are allowed on grass areas, a welcome condition. Be aware that sections of the park easily flood as we witnessed during our rainy stopover. Garbage dumpsters are few and a long distance from most sites. Bath houses/shower facilities are dispersed among the park in old cement block buildings. Adventureland describes them as ‘modern showers and rest rooms’...probably back in the 60’s! They are relatively clean and require updating to make them more inviting. Although the pool was not open it appeared fine and the adjacent clubhouse contains a comfortable lounge area with tv, a game room with pool table, small arcade, and laundry facility.
The FHU was in operable condition and the 50 amp electric was stable. The included WiFi provided standard streaming (not in HD) and was nominally successful with occasional buffering when watching movies. We did receive numerous over-the-air tv HD channels on our antenna.
The Takeaway: an older campground, dominated by permanent residents, with close and easy access to/from I80 (once the entrance and exit route challenges are overcome). A very reasonably priced campground offering resort amenities at the adjacent Adventureland Amusement Park. Good for a stopover or a vacation with children to enjoy the amusement, water park, circus, etc. as well as the diverse food stand offerings. A Midwest resort in prairie country. We visited May 2019. Go to www.rickpicks.com for other reviews, critiques and essays.
Little Bear Campground is located in West Liberty, IA in the cornfields of the Heartland 206 miles due west of Chicago. The only reason we can think of for coming here is it to have our hydraulic slides and leveling system serviced by HWH Corp. in Moscow, IA. However, upon further consideration, we can understand the attraction this campground has for locals to get away for a weekend. The owner is a personable and congenial fellow who takes pride in maintaining a clean and well landscaped property. The trees are all trimmed up and away from the roadway. The entrance is deceiving and should be entered at the fuel station, not a hundred feet down the road where the Little Bear sign points to enter. Entering the fuel station affords a very wide asphalt entrance and keeping to the left will put one straight into the campground parallel to the office/registration building. The roads in the park are hard pack dirt and the sites are grass; roads are wide enough to carefully maneuver a 45’ motorcoach with a tow with the sites well compacted to support our 27 ton weight. Thick green grass separates the sites with ample space between them. There is a contingent of full time rv’s, the remaining level sites for visitors providing FHU and stable 50 amp service. The office building archetype reveals this as a former KOA which the current owner purchased 14 years ago and has continually upgraded. The office building houses a small and clean laundry center and the bath/shower rooms which are clean. There is a clubhouse which is reserved for rallies and also for the occasional dinner parties hosted by the owner; he also hosts outdoor movie nights on a big screen. The sparkling clear pool has ample lounge chairs and patio furniture around its apron. So a bit pastoral, however a much improved camping experience over those parks exhibiting benign neglect. This demonstrates what pride in ownership accomplishes. The park WiFi was sketchy at best, but hey we are out in the middle of nowhere along the I80 corridor. We used our phone as hotspot and our OTA (over the air antenna) to receive several local channels (too far from Chicago to receive their stations). This campground as mentioned earlier is not near anything nearby (except the HWH Corp located in the middle of cornfields as far as the eye can see…how did this happen?); well actually 6 miles away is the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. FYI, there is actually a good pizza shop, Heb ‘n Lou’s Pizza, west on I80 exit 254 in the little hamlet of West Branch, IA.
The Takeaway: a clean well maintained pastoral campground with well kept grounds offer the visitor a relaxed and peaceful retreat. Dirt roads and level grass sites offer a compacted stable base for trouble-free leveling. The sparkling clear pool and owner sponsored outdoor movie nights hearken back to our parents camping days. A retreat for locals; for the rest of us a good and safe layover spot on the I80 corridor. We visited April 2018 and again May 2019. Go to www.rickpicks.com for other reviews, critiques and essays.
Frustrated using a blower to remove leaves, debris, and grass clippings. All that occurs is to move dirt from area to another, sometimes having it blown back just where I had cleaned. And those corners and recessed entrances around the house just blew the dirt all over me, but couldn’t seem to dislodge the dirt from those recessed corners. I longed for the manufacture of a yard vacuum so I could easily suck up those leaves, grass clippings and debris. And do it cleanly without blowing dirt all around me, ending up looking like the Peanuts character, Linus.
This season (we live in south Florida) I was determined not to blow dirt around as my wife and I prepared to bring the neglected landscaping and patio back from the tangled overgrowth looking more like a jungle than the SWFL paradise landscape seen in advertisements.
So my search online began. The search did uncover many links for yard vacuums. Immediately dismissed were those $$$ and higher. Astonished by yard vacuums costing $499, $1010, and yes even $2500 I pressed on in my quest. And the most expensive vacuum was a self-propelled yard vacuum by Billy Goat at $4700. Now I must state that some of these were impressive with many features and powerful Honda gas engines. I would be the envy of the neighborhood with the cleanest yard, yes even the grassed areas would have that hard to achieve manicured look.
But doesn’t somebody sell a yard vacuum that I can afford and works. Well it turns out after opening quite a few websites that there are yard vacuums more reasonably priced. Of course you have to omit those machines manufactured/sold by the name brands, brands that you would trust. And so a leap of faith occurs as the quest for the affordable and functional yard vacuum continues. Hand held vacs were deemed not an option; I wanted a real push vacuum, and it had to be electric(I figured dragging an extension cord around was preferable to a gas engine). Let me also state at this point that my needs and expectations are modest. I don’t have artificial turf, nor have any inclination to vacuum my grass area-no, only prerequisite is to vacuum the paver patio, the driveway, the carport and the recessed entryway to the house. Pretty simple request.
So the winner is: Walmart. Turns out they carry three makes, one by Sun Joe, one by Shop Vac, and one by SereneLife. My requirements are: electric, push walk behind, bag capacity, and suction capability. Well the reviews on all these vacuums was all over the field from ‘junk’ to 5 stars. I decided on the Shop Vac Industrial indoor/outdoor vacuum. My reasons are more subjective than factual-after all I had reviews on all three machines that were diverse. So I chose Shop Vac simply because it was on sale, and to cover myself purchased the 2-year protection plan.
So the vacuum arrives, and the moment of truth-did my money just get thrown at Walmart like spaghetti on a wall? The box was left on my doorstep as I was not home at delivery time(always a mistake) so when I saw the damaged box that had a hole in one side it was not boding well for what might be discovered inside. To my relief the vacuum was intact and no interior damage. Pulling the vacuum from the box, assembly took all of eleven minutes. Assembly consists simply of attaching the two part handle sections with the included two bolts, each of which intuitively goes in its own designated holes and can be tightened with just a pair of pliers if one does not have either a ratchet wrench or spanner wrench . The cord from the handle to the motor (already assembled so no electrical connections are necessary) is ample and is intended to be attached to the handle shaft with the two cables ties included. As I do not want any slack that may snag on an object I took the power cord at mid-section and wrapped it around the handle shaft and secured with one cable tie at midpoint. Attaching the collection bag is simple and straightforward with just a twist to lock in place. The kick stand to hold the vacuum up is not ergonomically friendly, however it does do the job. It is spring loaded so simply lifting the vacuum up by the handle releases the kick stand to be pulled up and out of the way.
Being curious I turned over the unit to discover that it has a manual mechanism that allows two height control adjustments. The online description omits this fact which is an important feature. The vacuum works well on hard surfaces in the lower height adjustment including pavers and my uneven patio comprised of one foot square cement blocks. The suction is good and gobbled all the debris. On the low profile outdoor rug the vacuum actually sucked up the rug to the vacuum head; on the higher height adjustment the distance between carpet and vacuum head was a little to great and not all debris was removed. I solved the problem by using the lower height and pulling, rather than pushing, the vacuum and it cleaned the carpet beautifully. Although I do not have artificial turf this unit performs well and assume that in one of the two height adjustment settings one would have their artificial turf clean in no time.
On grass the unit has to be pulled, not pushed, and it did a fair job. However keep in mind that debris in grass is lodged in and too much suction may end up gulping down not just debris but grass and dirt from your lawn.
Overview: great little yard vacuum for patios, driveways, paver areas, etc., especially at this price point. This item was purchased Nov. 2018 and used weekly until April 2019 with no failures or breakdown; a sturdy well made yard vacuum.
Avenue Waterfront Grill off downtown waterfront park is located in Manteo, NC. Up a few flights of steps and overlooking the Marina is this restaurant serving seafood and featuring outside dining where dogs are welcome. Inside the welcoming décor boasts spacious ambiance with tables dispersed somewhat randomly and well spaced apart for those intimate dinner conversations. Further contributing to the relaxing atmosphere, set off from the well stocked bar, is a sofa and chair seating area to relax and enjoy the views of the water and boats.
This establishment is clean and tidy, and the restrooms are some of the cleanest we have encountered. Ever notice the relationship between a clean, well kept restaurant and good food?
We chose to sit outside with our dog and ordered the fish tacos and tuna sushi style. From the start service was prompt but not overbearing; relaxed fine dining exemplified by substantial dining utensils wrapped in thick paper napkins was followed by our luncheon presentation. The fish tacos are offered with choice of fish and my wife chose tuna medium rare which was stuffed with blackened tuna accented by a sweet & spicy taco relish. The presentation of the tuna sushi style was attractive with the tuna stacked pinwheel style with a drizzle of citrus soy running down the plate separating the tuna from the perfectly cooked and seasoned jasmine rice cake which paired perfectly with the tuna and the drizzle. The side of pickled cucumber & seaweed salad was just sharp enough to excite the tongue and offer a transition to the rice cake.
The Takeaway: an immaculately clean restaurant inside and out with dispersed seating inside apparently created for those intimate dining rendezvous. Dog friendly on the deck for alfresco dining. The food is well prepared and presented offering consistently good gastronomic experiences time and again. Located in the beautiful and quaint Town of Manteo with marinas and the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse just a short stroll away. Enjoyed lunch July 2019. See www.rickpicks.com for other reviews, critiques and essays.
Gilligan’s Restaurant is located in Lewes, DE in the historic district on the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal. The restaurant faces the water and the boats moving past provide an interesting distraction from the fine food and presentation. It is not hard to notice that the deck, for alfresco dining, was spotless, as was the inside of the restaurant and bar; the bathrooms were equally clean and sparkling. We have found a coincidence between exceptionally clean and well maintained restaurants and the quality of the food served. Here, again the coincidence became a relationship. As we had our dog (the server brought fido a water bowl chilled with ice, just right for a warm summer day) with us we sat out on the deck overlooking the boat traffic on the Canal. The menu is limited attesting to their focus on quality rather than diversity. Although the usual fare of burgers, etc was on the menu we choose, since we are on the Eastern Shore Cape Region, seafood items. Here is a synopsis of our lunch: called ‘seafood stew’ by our server, and not on the menu, it was more like a chowder, creamy and full of dolphin and salmon, the cream sauce was barely spiced allowing the full flavor of the dolphin and salmon to delight the palate; my wife ordered the crab cake without the bun substituting a light garden salad accompanied by thick fried potato chips. A surprise when served as to the large size of the crab cake which was in the form of a ball that had been flash fried, the crab cake was all lump crab with some shredded crab used to hold it all together as there was no filler nor binder evident. The flash frying added a thin crisp tasty outer layer (they must be using high quality oil) that was neither greasy nor oily and therefore not detracting from the flavor of the crab itself. The different take on their tartar sauce was a limited amount of relish thus pairing well as a primarily mayonnaise sauce to the solid lump crab cake. Deciding on the scallops was a likely choice and I was not disappointed. The scallop presentation was a cream sauce lemon infused base covered with rice pilaf, topped with asparagus and blackened scallops. Again, the combination of the lemon infused cream sauce which awakened the tongue helped add flavor to a neutral rice pilaf and allow the scallops to exert their own flavor. Service was provided by the prep school/college crowd earning money before returning to academia in the fall and well trained to be attentive but unobtrusive.
After lunch take a stroll along the boardwalk by the marina to the Park (Lewes Maritime History Trail) to the Lightship Overfalls and US Life Saving Station museum along the Canal side of the historic district.
The Takeaway: a great lunch location in Lewes Historic District on the Canal that serves consistently good food (dislike using the word ‘exceptional’; either the food is good or it is not) properly presented. Exceptionally clean and dog friendly. Attentive but not overbearing service enhanced our luncheon experience. After lunch take a short stroll and explore the waterfront Park, the Lifesaving Station and the Lightship. Enjoyed lunch August 2019. See www.rickpicks.com for other reviews, critiques and essays.
Death of a Pizza
John’s Island Pizza, Johns Island, SC is a cubicle sized pizza shop located in a small strip mall dominated by the grocery chain Food Lion. This small footprint can seat perhaps a half dozen people and so its mainstay is take-out. Locally referred to as ‘JI Pizza’ it was well known for turning out unusually well prepared gourmet pizza. And I don’t mean the designer pizza’s of California and NYC. JI Pizza set the standard for producing homemade dough transformed into a sweet perfectly done crust supporting a rich and tangy tomato marinara topped with an abundance of meats intermingled with real cheese. We frequented JI Pizza for years as much as twice a month and the consistency of the pizza never wavered. And yet this business has plummeted to ineptness. Perhaps ownership has changed?; we don’t know. The same crew we came to recognize over the years has disappeared. The product that was so proudly served is now relegated to the pizza chain variety and quality (still not as bad as Hunts Brothers pizza, but hey that is a long fall off the ladder). There is no longer a reason to trade dollars for such mediocrity.
We last ordered take out in 2017, never to return (well we did once in 2018 and the pizza was still mediocre).
Sunrise Seafood Market, Avon, NC on the OBX is located in a brilliant yellow stand-alone building on Hwy 12. The personable owner, Mark and his delightful wife, opened this seafood market four years ago. Entering this market you are immediately struck by the cleanliness and presentation of seafood, complimentary sauces and condiments, etc. The fish are laid out in perfect symmetry on ice in a display case. The glass covered case also displays scallops, clams, and oysters. As a sportfisherman from the FL Keys I am accustomed to catching and eating fish that is only hours old; this place has fresh seafood! Here is an evaluation of what we purchased: shrimp (although we are accustomed in SC to purchasing fresh heads-on shrimp) had heads off and although no heads still retained a fresh shrimp flavor attesting to its freshness(NC is the northernmost area where natural shrimp thrive); crab cakes (do not pass these up!) are some the best we have had as we traverse this country (we have uncovered in our travels five other establishments in addition to Sunrise that provide a truly fresh no cereal lump crab meat crab cake) and Mark confirmed that they only use an egg binder with a hint of Old Bay that he makes himself in-store; smoked tuna spread, made in-house, is the best we have experienced, well ground smooth with just a background of spices to underline the fresh tuna; remoulade for the crab cakes was well prepared in-house and included enough herbs and some capers to provide a mild exquisite Cajun taste; red snapper was fresh and cooked on a cedar plank on the grill with minimal spices (olive oil, balsamic glaze, garlic powder, garlic and herbs) was moist and had that unmistakable sweet red snapper taste. And I almost forgot, make sure you add the key lime pies they import from Key West, they are the real thing.
The Takeaway: a clean and fresh
seafood market well worth the drive from almost any point on the OBX. Exceptionally clean premises, locally sourced and fresh seafood purveyed by the personable owner Mark and his delightful wife. Do not pass up the housemade crab cakes nor the key lime pie imported directly from Key West. Purchased seafood July 2019. See www.rickpicks.com for other reviews, critiques and essays.
Top Dog Café, Waves, NC is located in a two story building with a bar (beer and wine only)on the top floor overlooking Pamlico Sound in this unassuming restaurant serving lunch daily from 11:30 to 3:00. The interior décor is early beach shack creating an eclectic atmosphere. There is no air conditioning however under cover and with fans it was comfortable on a warm July day. Note that we were here once in early September and they were already closed, but hey, this is the OBX. The menu is extensive and probably an overreach for them (would stick with the seafood entrées), and substitutions cannot be made to the luncheon entrée, however that was not an issue as we were there for their fish tacos. These are substantial tacos served with rice and black beans accented with cut scallions; we could have split one plate and been happy. As it was we each took home the second taco as they are so large with two slabs of dolphin (Mahi-mahi for those that don’t know this is dolphin the fish, not ‘Flipper’ the mammal) sandwiched between the soft taco shell with cilantro, the usual vegetable relish, and cheese. The fresh dolphin was moist, grilled just right and the vegetable relish did not overpower the delicious flavor of a great gastronomic fish. This is good food, not exceptional, and a place to return for seafood consistently well prepared. We ate here July 2019.
The Takeaway: Good seafood choices with fresh fish consistently prepared to enhance the fish and not overpower the delectable taste. Early beach décor. Don’t challenge the waitresses and do wait to be seated or be admonished, lol. Suggest sticking with the seafood and in particular the fish tacos, apparently their signature dish. Good food consistently prepared. A sign on the wall says ‘my way or the highway’ and is apropos to management.
Hole in the Wall, Apalachicola, FL:
Best oysters West of Charleston; a must stop every time we drive the FL Panhandle. Small, eclectic decor; waitress is a trip-y'sum ma'am.
