• Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores, Alabama, is in Baldwin County, about 51 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama, and 31 miles southwest of Pensacola, Florida. In addition to its public beaches, Gulf Shores features attractions such as the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, Waterville USA and the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors to Gulf Shores have numerous dining options to choose from, including seafood restaurants and pizzerias.
  
  

The Hangout

• The Hangout has served the community of Gulf Shores since the 1960s. The restaurant overlooks the ocean with large windows that provide views of the gulf. The menu begins with 10 appetizer choices, such as the chef's specialty "Hangout wings," which are grilled over charcoal and served in a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce. A dinner specialty is the fish tacos, flour tortillas stuffed with blackened tilapia, cabbage, black beans, Monterrey jack and cheddar cheeses, salsa and cilantro. The restaurant has a full bar. The Hangout serves lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are not taken, and the wait has the potential to be long during dinnertime, especially on weekends. The restaurant does not have a dress code. Live music and a DJ are featured regularly on weekends.
  
  The Hangout
  
  101 E. Beach Blvd.
  
  Gulf Shores, AL 36542
  
  251-948-3030
  
  thehangoutal.com
  
  

The Original Oyster House

• Founded in 1983, The Original Oyster House is located along the Gulf Shores boardwalk and has views of the ocean from its dining room. Thirteen appetizers like the peel and eat shrimp, oysters on the half-shell, fried crawfish tails and alligator nuggets lead the menu. A specialty entree is the crab cakes and grilled shrimp combination, accompanied by the house remoulade sauce. Another is the baked oysters, which come four ways: Parmesan garlic, Cajun, garlic and smoked bacon and spinach and mozzarella cheese. The bar specializes in tropical drinks such as its signature pina colada, hurricane and margarita. The Original Oyster House is open for lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are not taken. Casual attire is appropriate. A children's menu is available for young diners.
  
  The Original Oyster House
  
  701 Gulf Shores Parkway
  
  Gulf Shores, AL 36542
  
  251-948-2445
  
  originaloysterhouse.com
  
  

Papa Rocco's

• Papa Rocco's pizzeria and oyster bar is along Sixth Avenue in Gulf Shores. The restaurant is a past winner of the "Best Pizza" and "Best Oysters" People's Choice awards given by local ration station Sunny 105.7 FM. The menu includes eight specialty pizzas like the seafood primavera, topped with alfredo sauce, mozzarella cheese, shrimps, scallops, mushrooms, onions and broccoli. In addition to raw oysters on the half-shell, the restaurant serves the shellfish in seven other ways, including the hot shucks, which are baked on the half-shell and covered in butter, cocktail sauce, cheese and bread crumbs served alongside jalapeno peppers. The restaurant has a full bar. Papa Rocco's serves lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are not necessary. Casual attire is the norm when dining at the restaurant. The restaurant has live music nightly.
  
  Papa Rocco's
  
  101 W. 6th Ave.
  
  Gulf Shores, AL 36542
  
  251-948-7262
  
  paparocco.com