Lovely scenery, good dessert, poor service and overpriced entrees. The French onion soup wasn’t bad but it just didn’t taste like French onion, whatsoever. All of the food was really salty, and average at best. The reason I’m giving one star is because of the rude comments from the waiter. I told him I didn’t like the Wellington and that it tasted salty to me, my friend said she wanted what I had. He has the nerve to tell her “I can’t waste another dish, she already said she didn’t like it and you probably won’t like it either.” What a joke! Great silk pie though!

Our friends took us there and what a great find right on the water with a great view of the bridge, docks and bay. Great outdoor seating the waitress was fantastic and we had a great meal and drinks. Three of us had one of the special's Triggerfish in such yummy sauce with smashed potatoes and green beans. My wife had the Shrimp Salad and she loved it. We had the Tiramisu and Apple Tart which were fantastic. So be for lunch and some drinks or dinner they do a great job!

Looking at the outside of this place and you might not be impressed. However once inside things turn in the opposite direction. The service was excellent. The waiter was knowledgeable about everything on the menu. Even made wine suggestions. The food was also really good. Classic French style. Could have easily had 3-4 different entrees. Excellent place to go for a date night, celebration, or a good time with friends. Le plus beau!

Consistently good food and service. Not on the menu, but they make a great greek salad with shrimp and scallops. If you don't like heat ask them to give you a different salad dressing, it's normally served with a wasabi dressing. Excellent!

A lot I could say about this place. The food was decent, albeit a little sloppy. Side salad consisted of bagged lettuce and one tiny half moon tomato. Dressing selection? There is only one, but it was remarkably good. I had the grilled amberjack croissant. Same sauce as the salad dressing... I think. Bread, fish, and cheese... was made better by adding the lettuce from the salad for a little texture. Tasty, just without texture. For $19 I'm looking for a little more effort. Not a big deal, but somewhat an annoyance, canned soda. Canned soda that was $4. No refills. I'm all about capitalism, but this was a little wild. Service was great however. Our server Hollie was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and polite. She would be better served at a busier place. The restaurant was pretty slow overall with maybe 5 other tables in the whole place taken up at 1pm lunch. This is a place of complacency that may have been great at one time, but has yet to evolve with the times. Tons of potential given the on the water location, but falls short greatly in the menu offerings(who is eating shrimp marinara at lunch really?). This place would be a prime candidate for a Gordon Ramsey restaurant makeover. Wouldn't take much, but the place is probably serving the same exact people it has been for the last 20 years and doesn't even realize the viewpoint from a younger demographic that has never been there before. Probably wouldn't go back.

We absolutely love coming to this place. The Sea Bass is always a must here and is always cooked perfectly! The Duck tonight was absolutely delicious!!! Make sure you leave room for dessert! The service is always great and we always love when our server is Shawna as she always takes great care of us.. We can't wait for Sunday Brunch on the porch again! Make sure to ask to sit outside and enjoy the spectacular views! A must for anyone visiting Fort Walton Beach.

This is such a refreshing restaurant to experience!! From the moment we walked in, we were attended to immediately even though they were a bit busy! The chef, took over, because the hostess & waitresses were busy seating other people and he handed us off to the next available host so we wouldn’t be waiting. The side salad is wonderful, with an amazing dressing on it, tasted like it was homemade dressing. If you like French Onion Soup, this was one of the best I have had! The Chicken Picatta is delicious. Just the right seasonings without being too salty. Very intimate setting for a nice lunch and I’m sure even better for dinner with the view. Nice selection of wines and imported beer.

Came here last night with my boyfriend for a Very nice dinner with beautiful views of the bay. We were seated immediately & right on the water. Our waitress was Very friendly & attentive. I had the filet mignon & my boyfriend had the strip steak—both were amazing. This is a higher end establishment with a local vibe, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for a perfect birthday dinner, we are from Chicago but we will be back!

The food was amazing! Very flavorful and delicious! Highly recommend the French onion soup, it was the best I’ve ever had. I had the chicken Florentine and my husband had the steak. Everything was cooked perfect. Tiramisu for dessert….amazing

Clearly the 5 star posts come from loyal customers. The only nice thing about the restaurant was the view. Not sure who cooks a half duck until it's stringy and tries to pass it off as crispy. From using frozen bread loafs to a sad food taste and presentation the "Chef" (used extremely loosely here) should be ashamed of themselves. Will not eat here again and will strongly discourage anyone else who I meet.

We loved this new find in Fort Walton right on the Bay! A new upscale favorite for sure! The food and service was excellent and you will need to make reservations. Request to dine on the patio and watch the boats go under the bridge. I had the Grouper Wellington and it was amazing. We will be back!!

Gr8 atmosphere ,which was equally matched with outstanding service & fabulous food! Appetizers were amazing. I chose sautéed artichokes, which I’ve never had, along with a fresh mozzarella dish. Friends enjoyed the escargot VERY much. It was served in a pastry w/lots of goodness inside! Entrees were cooked perfectly & arrived at just the rt time. The deserts were appealing to everybody, so we topped off dinner in a very sweet way. Off the beaten path, so when making reservations clarify the directions & location. HIGHLY RECOMMEND❗️

Spicy shrimp, qty 3 delicious but over priced! Salad was average with only 1 small piece of tomato. Steaks were very tasty and cooked to perfection! Green beans were terrible! Tasted like they were out of a can, and zero seasoning! Desserts fantastic! Service was pathetic! Very slow, and it wasn't busy when we went. Over priced for the skimpy portion sizes! I have mixed feelings about dining at the Bay Cafe and if we should try it again!

Good food highly recommend! The only restaurant we enjoy eating for our vacation. All the other restaurants is sooo salty!.

A hidden gem! Absolutely incredible meal and experience. You must have the crab claw app. It’s a quiet, intimate venue. We will be back. Thank you!!

I had the pleasure of experiencing Bay Cafe last evening on my birthday. The menu is very appealing. The food is exceptional! The staff are welcoming, professional, and efficient. The atmosphere is peaceful and intimate without being stuffy. If I could give this little gem a “10” I certainly would. Do yourself a favor…and be prepared to REALLY enjoy a great experience!

This was exactly what we were looking for, for our lunch. On the water, fresh catch of the day, outdoor seating....and delicious!!! He had the grouper (something 😏) I had shrimp marinara. The house dressing on the salad (it is extra cost for salad, but worth it) was really good, even tho it was a little spicy, it was good! And the homemade French silk pie...wow!!!

Absolutely delicious! Fabulous bread, wine, Wok chicken stir fry, cheesecake and charming staff! Great Valentine’s lunch with my guy! Thank you, Mario! We will be back! Valentine’s lunch!

What a hidden gem! Fantastic meal, nestled into the bay. Our dinner experience on the deck overlooking the water was second to none. In a sea of touristy fried seafood, our lovely grouper and amberjack entrees delivered sophistication in a perfect setting. Wine and dessert were great, we will definitely return! French dinner on the bay.. magnefique!!

We visited Destin and found this place through google and it worth the time and money. They always have full house so make reservations if you can. Good food, good vibe, excellent service. We will definitely come back.

According to a message on the phone for this restaurant, the Bay French Cafe will be closed until February 1, 2022. The Bay French Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. As the name implies, the restaurant has a number of French style dishes. The restaurant is on the Santa Rosa Sound. For those with a boat, you can dock at the outdoor eating area and tie up your boat, enjoy a delightful meal under the outdoor umbrellas, and leave to continue on your journey. Be careful of the currents here. It is very close to the bridge, there are barges and other boating traffic, and it can be tricky docking safely. I have always eaten lunch here. The Amberjack Meuniere is is on the menu and very good. A frequent special is the Grouper Meuniere. It is just as good—perhaps even better—depending on the diner's preference for one fish over the other. The several omelettes that are offered are also a favorite. They have always been cooked perfectly. There are several great desserts. For those on a diet, forget about dessert. For others, try the French Silk Pie. That is probably my favorite. Service is good here as well. It is a small dining room. The restaurant is well-named as it is reminiscent of a French cafe. Of course there is a wine list. There are wines available that are not on the menu so be sure to ask your server if you do not see what you prefer to accompany your meal. Prices are reasonable. That does not mean the restaurant is inexpensive. The prices are reasonable for the quality and careful food preparation.

Outstanding service and wonderful food. 15 July 22 Yet another great lunch at Bay Cafe. Wonderful attentive service and fabulous food. 11 August 22 Wow, what a great anniversary lunch. Great food with excellent service!

Worst dining experience ever! We knew going in that we might have to wait since we didn’t have reservations, but we didn’t mind. We sat outside because it was a beautiful day. Service was inattentive and the attitude really showed us that they didn’t value our patronage at all. My seafood omelette had one shrimp and one scallop. Plus, the table next to us had a German Shepherd, and every time he moved, dander flew up and settled on our table. The place also really seemed dated for the price. Not going back! This is with all not mentioning the fact that the large table next to us had a lady that was physically ill the entire time we were there while the rest of the people at the table ate, drank, and acted as if nothing was going on! Unbelievable!

My hubby just took me there because I wanted crème brûlée. The waiter seemed put out that All we wanted was dessert. Never came back to the table to see if we wanted anything else. We even had to take our check up to the cashier because the waiter never came back. We would have ordered drinks and another dessert had they bothered to ask AND we would have tipped far more than customary had they treated us with a little respect. We are locals and get asked all the time where the best places to eat are… this will not be one we recommend