Spring has finally showed up on the Emerald Coast and we are taking every opportunity to get outside! Last weekend was particularly gorgeous, so we loaded up the kids and headed to the Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.

We wanted to take advantage of the resort’s bayfront views, we so decided on The Village Door for dinner.

Jason and I used to frequent The Village Door in our dating days for the bar and nightclub scene. I even had a bachelorette night here with some girlfriends back in the day. 😉

These days, The Village Door is very family-friendly during lunch and dinner and serves up authentic smoked BBQ and fresh seafood dockside.

It was seriously the most gorgeous Friday evening! This outdoor patio was jam-packed by the time we finished our early dinner.

I’m a lucky lady with all these handsome boys.

Miles loved the piano man and wanted to be right by him during our meal. He was very gracious and sang songs from the Trolls soundtrack for Miles. 😉

Since it feels like vacation when you’re in Baytowne, we decided to start with some fruity frozen drinks. The Hurricane and Baytowne Smash were sweet and refreshing (and quite the large portion).

The five of us shared the fried pickles and smoked chicken wings to start.

Fried pickles are my love language and it was fun for the kids to give them a try. Just as I suspected, they loved them!

I love me some smoked chicken wings and these did not disappoint! They were tossed in a Sweet Georgia Brown BBQ sauce and were very tasty.

I’m thankful that my family doesn’t have to worry about food allergies, but I know they are all-to-common these days. Luckily, most of the menu items at The Village Door are gluten-free, including all four of their house-made BBQ sauces and the fry batter for the seafood and such.

We would have never guessed these beauties were GF. So much flavor and the perfect crunch!

Mac requested popcorn shrimp while my BBQ-loving girl asked for ribs and slaw. Girlfriend LOVES coleslaw.

Mac’s shrimp was GF and really tasty. The kids’ meals were huge and very affordable at just $7 each. These are easily shareable if your kids don’t have monster appetites like mine.

I was feeling feisty, so I ordered The Blaze sandwich, which was loaded with pulled pork, beef brisket, jalapenos, and pepper jack cheese, all on a sweet Hawaiian roll.

Whoa Momma! Not for the faint of heart and not for the dieters. But this sandwich was so flavorful! I loved the savory BBQ with the sweet bun. I could barely eat half!

Jason had the brisket platter which came with some of the best cheese grits I’ve ever had! Super cheesy, creamy, and garlicky.

We had such a fun family night and I’m so glad to have rediscovered this old favorite in a new light.

If you are strolling through Baytowne with the family and looking for a scrumptious meal with a laid back vibe in a waterfront setting, be sure to give The Village Door a try.

The Village Door will soon open a second location at Seascape in Destin and will feature live music and new menu items. Our family can’t wait to try that location, as well!

The Village Door
136 Fisherman’s Cove
Miramar Beach, FL 32550
(850) 502-4590

I have fallen hard for this adorable little coffee shop over the last month!

Capriccio Cafe is pretty unassuming from outside. It’s in an old run-down strip mall that has been mostly empty as long as I can remember. But Capriccio is so quaint and welcoming, largely thanks to the Italian owner, Marco.

Marco and his crew bake fresh focaccia and other Italian breads and pastries fresh daily. The menu is full of Italian coffees and espressos, crepes (savory and sweet!), as well as salads, paninis, and more.

I’ve gotten in the habit of heading straight to Capriccio once I drop my boys off on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I love exploring the coffee menu (at the suggestions of the friendly staff) and getting work done on my computer.

Sometimes I let the kiddos tag along. 😉

Mac loved his hot chocolate and Miles is quite fond of the chocolate milk. Marco is always so kind to them!

I cannot adequately describe the fresh focaccia bread. It is perfectly soft and salty and I’m prettttty sure they butter and griddle it before serving it to you. The paninis are outstanding.

My very favorite thing on the menu is The Destin salad. Fresh shrimp over spinach with pecans, grapefruit, and a killer balsamic dressing. Sometimes I add tomatoes and kalamata olives if I’m feeling fancy.

I also recently tried the chicken Caesar, which was great (minus the onions), too!

The staff is happy to accommodate most any request you have. You really must try a Nutella crepe with strawberries, bananas, and pecans! You will not be sorry.

Lucky for me, Capriccio Cafe is walking distance from our new house! They’ll be seeing my face even more frequently very soon. Be sure to stop in for fabulous coffee, scratch-made food, and friendly faces.

Capriccio Cafe
810 Harbor Boulevard (Shoreline Village Mall)
Destin, FL 32541
850-460-7050