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Schooners
Categories: Restaurants Nightlife Bars Local Flavor Restaurants, Bars, Local Flavor [Edit]
5121 Gulf DrPanama City, FL 32408
(850) 235-3555
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
37 reviews for Schooners
Review Highlights
37 reviews in English
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Review from Laura T.
Atlanta, GA
10/10/2011
Ate here while on vacation last week. We had a great view of the gulf & sunset as we ate dinner. Can't complain about the atmosphere!
We started with the chips & salsa, which I really enjoyed. Salsa had just the right amount of kick to it. I'd order it again. Hubby & I split "The Beach Party" entree. The shrimp were decent; nothing special. I liked the oysters & grouper a lot. Wasn't a fan of the hushpuppies much at all. Good fries.
Our server was attentive with our refills & checked back on the food. But she always seemed as if she was in a rush to get on from us to other tables. Maybe it's b/c we weren't drinking??
Anyway, I'd definitely return here next time I'm in PCB. -
Review from Mark N.
Absecon, NJ
1/15/2012
Lived here a whole year and went here for the first time today, seemed to be a heavily local crowd (well it is January, so that should not be a surprise..), felt more like a local sorta place anyhow.. beautiful beach front location, probably great place to hang out when it is a bit warmer.. tried the grilled fresh grouper sandwich which comes with one side (i got steamed veggies) for a "mere" $14... a modest portion of grouper.. so yeah, prices are pretty high, in keeping with the concept of you are paying for the beachfront location and the ambiance, which is pretty nice... menu in general looked fairly typical of the beach bar places, lotsa fried stuff, more like bar food than a real restaurant, but the grouper was pretty good..
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Review from Invisible P.
Los Angeles, CA
12/27/2011
Visited this place while working in the area some years back. What a great establishment. Food, atmosphere, bars, employees, locals, music....on the beach or inside...... Wow, the memories.
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Review from Amanda H.
Lawrenceville, GA
5/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A reliably good seafood restaurant can be hard to find in PCB, but Schooners fits the bill--so much so, in fact, that while here with my parents, sister, and brother-in-law for a long Mother's Day weekend, we ate here twice.
I have a special place in my heart for fried shellfish, so the first night I ordered the Beach Party; my waiter didn't mention that it's a meal that could easily feed two people, but he was new so I let it slide. Six fried shrimp, six fried oysters, five (5!) little hushpuppies, a huge piece of fried grouper, all on a bed of french fries. Absolutely everything on the plate was exactly as it should have been: shrimp were plump, oysters were tender and perfectly cooked, hushpuppies didn't have too many onions, grouper was flaky, and the fries were good too. I normally push aside whatever the fish or side items are, in order to focus on the shellfish, but not so with this plate. It was on point, y'all.
The second night I wanted to try something else, so I got the crab-stuffed shrimp with cheese grits. I was actually surprised that the crab-stuffed shrimp were also fried--I've always had them baked. They were okay, but not as good as the regular fried shrimp. I really enjoyed the cheese grits, because they were extra cheesy with cheese on top, though my dad wasn't crazy about them. (But let's be fair: it's dang hard to get grits to be perfect, especially to a discerning Southerner. I thought they were plenty good.)
I think perhaps the best thing about this place is that it can be a lot of different things: a place for a family to eat a meal together on the beach, or a bar for spring breakers to listen to live music. There was no wait for a table on Friday; we had to wait about 10 minutes with a group of 5 on Saturday. On Saturday there was live music, a guy with a guitar playing everything from Pina Colada to John Mayer, and even though we were close to the stage, the music wasn't so loud as to be intrusive.
Our waiters both nights were laid-back and casual without being douchey or aloof. The first one was new, and after our meal a manager came over to ask us how he'd done.
Perhaps my only complaint is that I wish there were more to choose from on the menu, because to be fair, a lot of it is fried. Beyond that, there's just about something for everybody here, and the next time I'm in PCB, I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Rach G.
Gainesville, GA
7/20/2011 1 photo
A really fun place. Went here after my girlfriend's wedding last year but didn't get to eat. It a great place to grab a drink and come to find out...a yummy place to eat. We had the daily special, a whole flounder done étouffée style. Sooooo good. And the view from the table was top notch.
Kevin, our waiter, was great and recommended the special (thanks Kevin!) Good beer and great people watching. Great band playing. Can't ask for much more at the beach. -
Review from LTine B.
Virginia Beach, VA
3/15/2011
Just moved into a condo down the street from Schooners and we definitely found our hang out spot!
The staff is super friendly.
The band was great.
The food was delicious.
The drinks were strong.
The view is amazing.
The atmosphere is chill.
LOVE IT!!!! Will definitely be there multiple times a week! -
Review from Angela S.
Virginia Beach, VA
4/19/2011
"I love this bar"
On the beach, very open feeling. Staff is quick and friendly.
Drinks are yummy, and defiantly have a kick to them .I love that they come in a plastic Schooners logo cup so you can take them home. (Awesome for tourists like me)Food was really good both times I went, and the fries were super duper delicious. This place is great for any beach day!
Ps. Amazing Bloody Marys- perfect for that Panama Beach Hangover -
Review from Candice M.
Alpharetta, GA
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice view of the beach, but that's about all. The service was pretty slow, and the food was average, but boy were the prices high. I would absolutely pay these prices if the food was of higher quality but it was just average. I guess you pay for the beach front property and the view, which ends up being totally worth it after a gaze to the beach and few cocktails.
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Review from Gia S.
Metairie, LA
9/8/2011
Oh, the fun times I've had at Schooners. Totally a quintessential beach restaurant and bar, but the food is awesome! Way better than most beach places. The drinks are totally kick-ass... nothing watered down here. This place is the perfect place to kick back during the day as you look out onto the beautiful view of the beach, but at night they kick it up a notch and it becomes a totally fun party scene. Great for lunch or dinner. The staff is always very fun and cool, too. Love this place!
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Review from Cassie D.
Panama City Beaches, FL
10/2/2011
My husband and I ate here at noon on a Sunday. Service was wonderful. Food came out fast and was excellent. Beautiful view of the gulf! No complaints! Would come back here in a heartbeat!
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Review from Rene C.
I was afraid, very afraid.
The menu reads "Not responsible for well done items."
This is not what someone who craves a rare ribeye steak wants to hear. But I ordered it anyway and waited for a charred piece of beef to appear.
However, what arrived was a perfectly cooked rare steak. Warm, pink and flavorful. It was so rare that it grossed out half of my coworkers. I was in Heaven!
The atmosphere is very casual and beach wear is completely appropriate. And speaking of, this place sits right on the water and allows for an awesome view of the white sand beach just a few feet away.
The service is good, but the wine not so much. I ordered a glass of Kendell Jackson merlot that tasted like it came from a bottle that sat opened in the bar for a few days. I decided not to suffer and just stuck to beer. Which given the warm weather was not a bad option.
Excellent service and awesome wait staff.
3 1/2 stars -
Review from Justin D.
Orlando, FL
9/4/2011
Fun spot, the band Phar Fletcher that played was awesome. Didn't eat, but their drinks were solid.
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Review from Blaine W.
Valdosta, GA
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
All I have to say is wow. The fish tacos will make u slap your mama. The homemade salsa is amazing too. Five stars.
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Review from Benny B.
Bonne Terre, MO
8/22/2011
Very cool spot. We had a big group, and without a single complaint outta that crowd was a near miracle.
Drinks were good and didn't seem weak. Band was jammin'. Waiter was cool, helpful, and humorous. Atmosphere was fun. Food was above average and tasty.
The girlfriend and I split the "Beach Party" platter, which was a bit greasy but hey, it's all fried stuff, so that's how it goes. It was all good, but not the best grouper I've had down there. Stuffed crab was our appetizer and it was swell. Tried the seafood gumbo someone ordered and it was among the best I've ever tasted...and that's coming from a fella who loves seafood and lived on the Pacific coast for several years.
Would go back when down in the area next, but not until after first checking out a couple spots missed during the last trip. -
Review from Autumn P.
Toccoa, GA
Updated - 8/28/2011
Are here again and it was just as good. I've had the fried shrimp twice now and enjoyed them both times! We were there at sunset for the cannon blast (didn't know about that). It's worth it to eat there just for the views----can't beat beachfront dining! Would definitely go back again.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/17/2010
We ate here 10/9/10. Absolutely loved it!! Sat out on the patio area about sunset. From our seats… Read more »
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Review from Bulky Boy K.
Roswell, GA
8/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
The place was okay. I feel like it was just another one of those tourist traps down in PCB. Being that my wife is from New Orleans. I've had the best deep fried seafood there is. So I might be kinda biased on my opinion of the dish that I had. Anyhow I originally came for the fish tacos, but discovered that they only serve those for lunch. Instead I ordered the Beach Party. Which is a mixed plate of fried grouper, shrimp, and oyster. The food was good but nothing stood out about it. Plus the price was a little high. My wife had the blackened mahi plate and it was decent. Overall the place was too crowded. It's an open air restaurant so it can get a little hot and stuffy, Would not recommend it if you have an 11 month baby. The place has live music which can get loud, and like I said before it does get crowded.
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Review from Lia G.
5/22/2011
We went to schooners on our weekend trip to PC. The first time for dinner and the second for lunch. Both times were great (service and food). I definitely recommend the chips and salsa, the sunset splash, and the grouper sandwich. My fiancé loved the jerk chicken sandwich. Perfect atmosphere, directly on the beach. Fun and laid back!
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Review from Tj D.
Franklin, TN
6/23/2011
Grouper was excellent and key lime pie was killer! Great atmosphere, but there may be a wait.
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Review from Brad W.
Mobile, AL
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wife and I went here after spending 3 days in the Keys, and this place was more fun than anywhere we went! Great band, strong drinks, friendly patrons and staff, reasonable prices. I can see why this place has been in business so long, and has lasted as huge condos have built up around it. Now, every time we go to PCB, we will be sure to make this a stop. View at the rear bar is very nice. Food was very good.
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Review from Barry M.
Crawfordsville, IN
4/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a solid choice in Panama City. You have the choice of indoor or outdoor dining. There was live music on the night we went. The blackened Mahi mahi was really good. Our waiter was very courteous and gave us good service. We would return without a second thought. You want to try this one if you haven't been here before.
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Review from Hannah S.
9/4/2008
Picture this: you sit beside the water, gazing dreamily at the white sand and emerald green water. You drink a pina colada and eat fried shrimp, all the while listening to a live band play Jimmy Buffett tunes. Does life get any better than that? Not for me.
Schooners is the ultimate beach hangout. It's a hot spot for locals, so it's not as infested with spring breakers during the season as some of the other spots on the sand. The food is typical northern Florida fare-fried seafood and burgers, but it's tasty. Drinks are delicious, and staff is friendly. Really, you can't ask for much more.
They call it the "Last Local Beach Club," and it might well be that. Either way, it's the best place to be when you need to drink in a beach-side sunset while indulging in an adult beverage. Yum. -
Review from Heather N.
Decatur, GA
6/13/2009
Hunts was closed (Sunday), so we decided to check Schooner's out.
I am giving these guys an extra star just for the ability to walk straight in and get a table RIGHT on the beach at sunset, and in that moment, I would've taken that warm ocean breeze over a seat at the Ritz.
Now, I am normally a food first kind of gal, meaning that I will eat in a hole in the wall if the food is good, but if I am in a gorgeous place with lame food, I will not be happy. This place is more about the atmosphere, and I was pleased that the food was decent and reasonable. Seems like burgers are the thing to get here, but I wanted fish, and had a nice grouper sandie.
Schooner's was there in the right place at the right time. Thank you... -
Review from Lisenby S.
Panama City, FL
7/20/2011
Best place on Panama City Beach to Dine & Have a glass of Wine :-)
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Review from Jennifer D.
Woodstock, GA
1/9/2010
This was my first restaurant experience of 2010. Yeah, I definitely coulda done better, but this is where the nieces wanted to go, and the nieces must be obeyed!
This place is actually a dive, but it's on the beach and serves up some tasty seafood. But alas, i wasn't feelin' the seafood this day, so I went for the wings. Surprisingly, they were great. They were large, juicy and tender. It came with celery, of which there were two stalks. Um, more please. Thanks. The blue cheese dressing looked like it had stayed out too late, so I passed on that.
I also ate about a quarter of my sister-in-law's greek salad. Wow, was it packed with garden variety goodness! I was very impressed with zesty dressing and the amount of feta cheese. Really, really good stuff. -
Review from Bryan K.
Villa Rica, GA
6/14/2011
Great hangout. Amazingly good for families, college scene, and parrot head types alike. One of the better experiences in PCB
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Review from Laura W.
9/14/2010
This is not a review (hence the neutral 3 stars): just a tip. Imagine you are at the beach in the evening, enjoying the absolutely breathtaking sunset, and notice the beach area around Schooners is devoid of people, and everyone on the patio is looking out with expectation. Well, these people are not enjoying the sunset: they are waiting for the firing of the rifle. Just a warning so you don't have the same reaction we did after hearing the extremely loud boom: scream, duck into the sand and wait for your mini heart attack to subside. Turn bright red as the crowd appreciates this reaction with guffaws and some finger pointing. Anyway, I thought it was a rifle (it is the South, after all), but found out this was a Cannon, and is just part of the nightly ritual. You've been warned!
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Review from Andrew T.
Panama City, FL
12/21/2010
If you like it fried fried or fried you'll love it. Nasty place.
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Review from Rick K.
McChord Air Force Base, WA
10/21/2010
Best Hushpuppies in the world! Also, it doesn't hurt that the white sandy beaches of the Florida panhandle are right behind Schooner's for all to take in while waiting for those infamous Hushpuppies. FYI: the Grilled Mahi Mahi Burger I had was perfect too (for all you seafood fans).
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Review from Tiff Y.
Phenix City, AL
9/4/2010
Great food! Easily accessible from the road or the beach. Come as you are, totally comfortable restaurant! Great drinks and awesome service. They also have live entertainment pretty often!
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Review from Holly L.
Douglasville, GA
I chose Schooner's based on the reviews of my fellow yelpers, but I still did not have high hopes. My father-in-law and I are always in search of great seafood while in P.C. and today we truly had a great experience! Thanks to our very friendly & humorous server named Rob and awesome food. The portions were very large and the seafood tasted great. I rate this as one of the top 5 places to eat in Panama City and I have tried too many to count. Yum Yum!
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Review from David s.
Jacksonville, AR
8/18/2011
GREAT PLACE the food is GREAT you can't beat the view. A must stop if you are in Town visiting.
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Review from Harry M.
Biloxi, MS
7/23/2010
I obvious cannot see what these other people posting see. I honostly thought this place was horrible. If you want a bar with a poor selection of beer (bottles only, nothing on draft), and an over priced menu of bar food then this is your place. The shrimp was really good, but the smoked tuna tasted like it came out of a chicken of the sea can and looked like cat food. The scenery is the only thing this place has going for it. This place could be awesome. Looks more like a place college students would go to during spring break.
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Review from Ashley W.
Pacific Grove, CA
7/3/2011
Food was pretty good and the atmosphere was very nice. Can be a little crowded.
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Review from Mellisa L.
Panama City, FL
5/13/2010
Everyone in my party seemed to enjoy it, and the band wasn't that bad. Definately, more of a local place than a tourist trap. We actually got to sit right at the tables facing the beach so it was pretty nice.
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Review from Deborah L.
Jacksonville, FL
8/7/2010
Excellent service and above average food for a beach bar. We all had sandwiches which were tasty and just the right amount.
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Review from Derrell P.
San Francisco, CA
4/30/2008
It wasn't cretinous, but it wasn't great either. We split a jerk chicken, which was passable, though pretty darned plain, once we'd scraped off the pink mango like goo on top. It was served with decent black beans and tasso rice on the side, which was much better than the chicken. You go here for the sunsets obviously and certainly not for good beer. in retrospect, the burger or grouper sandwich was probably was where it was at. We were driven out by horrible retro boomer music being performed live by the house band. Please, no more Bob Marley covers.
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Review from Jack M.
St. Charles, IL
3/14/2010
Great food, good service, good music and a good atmosphere if you're looking for a casual fresh seafood place. I had the fresh grouper which was really good, and everyonne I went with loved their food too. Off the beaten path, BUT WELLL WORTH THE SHORT DRIVE.
