DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen: Gulf Shores Local Favorite

DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen is a local favorite in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This seafood kitchen has an epic menu everyone will love.

DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen

When we first moved to Gulf Shores, Alabama, we kept hearing everyone mention DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen as a must-visit place.

They have fantastic daily lunch specials, all of the seafood favorites you want from a coastal restaurant, the most amazing fresh bread, and an entire menu of great options.

I could happily eat the great homemade sides and be happy but the main dishes are also pretty darn great.

The fresh honey wheat bread served warm is so good. Make sure to come hungry and ready for epic plates of food.

During the summer, during peak hours, there will be a wait to get into the restaurant!!!! They are a local favorite and popular with visitors.

TL;DR Don't have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
📍Tours
✨What's New in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

The Restaurant Space

Indoor Seating

The indoor seating is split between two levels. If you have any mobility restrictions and stairs are not comfortable, make sure to tell the hostess when you arrive, they'll seat you on the main level.

There is a small staircase to reach the second-level seating, which is filled with comfortable chairs and tables. Both levels offer a welcoming atmosphere with that casual Gulf Coast vibe that makes you feel right at home.

Indoor Bar

On the main level of the restaurant, there is a small bar with seating. It's a great spot if you're dining solo, want to catch a game, or just prefer the bar atmosphere. The bartenders are friendly and can help you navigate the extensive menu if you're a first-timer.

De Soto's Seafood Kitchen Menu

DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen menu is filled with steamed fresh seafood, chicken, salads, pasta dishes, starters, fried seafood favorites, fresh catch seafood platters, and seafood specialties, plus homemade desserts. If you love seafood, Southern comfort food, or both, you're in the right place.

They have great home-style lunch specials that are beloved by locals who know where to get the best value for quality food. Be prepared to already be planning your next visit while you're still in the restaurant-there are so many great options on the lunch and dinner menu, it's hard to pick what to have.

Pro Tips for Ordering:

• The fresh honey wheat bread is legendary
• Make sure to get a cup of Seafood Gumbo or a cup of Bisque (Crab & Shrimp), both are house favorites
• We love that DeSoto's serves Gulf Shrimp that's been verified
• Don't sleep on the sides, they're homemade and delicious

Exquisite Appetizers:

• Fried Crab Claws - Served with cocktail sauce
• Sweet Potato Fries Basket - ORDER THESE! The brown sugar butter dipping sauce is amazing, and the fries are delicious! This is a must-try appetizer that locals rave about.
• Coconut Shrimp - Large Gulf shrimp dipped in an Ale Beer batter, rolled in coconut flakes and flash fried to golden perfection
• Oysters on the Half Shell - Fresh Gulf oysters available by the half dozen or dozen
• Alligator Bites - Fried tail meat served with remoulade (a true Gulf Coast experience!)

Tonight's Catches

Seafood favorites prepared your way: fried, broiled, grilled, blackened, steamed, or Cajun style. Choose your preparation method and make it yours.

Try the fresh catch and have it prepared in one of these specialty styles:

• Pecan Encrusted Style - A local favorite preparation that adds Southern flair to any fresh catch
• New Orleans Catch - Blackened fish seasoned with blackening spices over yellow rice and topped with crawfish étouffée (a Louisiana classic)
• Mediterranean Catch - Grilled fish seasoned with Greek spices served over angel hair pasta with basil sauce (pesto with walnuts) and fresh Roma tomatoes
• Caribbean Catch - Grilled fish seasoned with island spices over a bed of yellow rice with a mango fruit salsa

Land Lover's Fare (For the Non-Seafood Eaters):

• Chicken Fried Steak - Served with gravy, corn nuggets, and hushpuppies
• Grilled Chicken Breast - Served with a light garlic herb olive oil and a spicy orange marmalade
• Fried Chicken Tenders - Hand-trimmed chicken breast dipped in beer batter with house spices and a side of honey mustard
• Hawaiian Ribeye Steak - Hand-cut and marinated for 48 hours in fresh pineapple, ginger, soy, and Worcestershire sauce (a unique and flavorful option!)

Seafood Specialties

• Stuffed Shrimp - Bacon-wrapped, baked with crabmeat dressing and Monterey Jack cheese (decadent and delicious)
• Shrimp Scampi - Sautéed in garlic, mushrooms, and scampi butter with fettuccine alfredo
• Grilled Skewer Shrimp - Basted with garlic butter and served with Caribbean yellow rice
• Shrimp Creole - Stewed tomatoes, sweet peppers, celery, onion, and flavored with sausage over yellow rice
• Crab Cake Dinner - Three Southern-style lump crab cakes sprinkled with Parmesan cheese
• Snow Crab Legs - Steamed and served with drawn butter
• Royal Red Shrimp - A Gulf Coast specialty

Pasta Dishes

• Basil Pesto Pasta - Angel hair pasta tossed with fresh basil, olive oil, garlic, chopped walnuts, and Parmesan cheese
• Fettuccine Alfredo - Creamy garlic alfredo with fettuccine noodles (add shrimp, chicken, or vegetables)

Home style Sides - Sweet potato casserole, Cole slaw, baked potato, steamed vegetables, yellow rice, French fries, Hush puppies, Fried Green Tomatoes.

Lunch Menu Highlights

The lunch menu has a ton of great salads, seafood favorites, sandwiches, and great lunch specials that bring locals back week after week.

Sandwiches:

• Po-Boy Sandwich - Available with fried shrimp, flounder, crawfish, or oyster piled high with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and a pickle spear
• Cheeseburger - Choice ground chuck with American cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, and a pickle spear
• Monte Cristo Sandwich - Ham, turkey, Monterey Jack and American cheese on honey wheat bread battered and deep fried, served with strawberry preserves for dipping (sweet and savory perfection!)

Salads:

• Caesar Salad - Served on crisp Romaine lettuce tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, anchovies, egg yolks, Parmesan cheese, bacon, and croutons
• Riviera Salad - Bed of greens with scallions, bacon, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, eggs, almonds, and croutons (available with pecan chicken tenders, boiled shrimp, grilled chicken, or blackened chicken)

Homestyle Lunch Specials with choice of two side dishes include:

• Hamburger Steak
• Country Fried Steak
• Pork Chops
• Country Ham
• Vegetable plate - choice of 4 side dishes
• Fried catfish
• Broiled Flounder or Fried Flounder
• Chicken Creole (Smothered in a spicy tomato and vegetable sauce with yellow rice)

Daily Specials - Served 11 am to 3 pm

• Monday - Fried Chicken
• Tuesday - Bar-B-Q Meat Loaf
• Wednesday - Chicken-N-Dumplins
• Thursday - Beef Tips over Rice
• Friday - Fried parmesan encrusted flounder 

Kids Menu

DeSoto's Kids Menu includes chicken fingers, fish sticks, fried shrimp, fettuccine alfredo (no sides), grilled cheese, corn dog, hamburger, or a cheeseburger served with French fries or applesauce.

Kids are welcome and well-accommodated at DeSoto's, making it a great choice for family dining.

Dietary Accommodations

Gluten-Free Options:

The menu has designated gluten-free items including:

• Blackened catfish
• Broiled seafood platter (flounder almondine, sea scallops & shrimp, broiled and topped with paprika)
• Oysters on the Half Shell
• Snow Crab Legs
• Royal Red Shrimp
• Blackened, grilled, or broiled catch of the day served with two side dishes
• Jamaica-Jerk Chicken
• Grilled Chicken Breast

Vegan Options:

The best option is most likely a house salad with raspberry or balsamic vinaigrette. You may also be able to request the basil pesto pasta without cheese, but check with your server.

Vegetarian Options:

The creamy garlic alfredo with fettuccine noodles with fresh steamed broccoli and cauliflower is a great vegetarian choice. The vegetable plate with four side dishes is also excellent.

Signature Cocktails & Drinks

The bar menu includes excellent wine choices, beer, and local favorite cocktails:

• Bushwacker - A Gulf Coast frozen cocktail classic
• Margarita on the Rocks - Classic and refreshing
• The Relaxer - House specialty
• Daiquiris - Available in banana, mango, strawberry, orange blossom, and piña colada

Wine and beer selections are also available to complement your meal.

Why you will love De Soto's Seafood Kitchen

• Local's Favorite Seafood Restaurant When locals consistently recommend a place, you know it's the real deal. DeSoto's has earned its reputation through decades of quality food and service.
• Close to the Beach Located just a block north of the Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Place Public Beach, you can easily stop by for lunch or dinner during your beach day.
• Huge Menu With so many options across appetizers, seafood, land fare, pasta, salads, sandwiches, and daily specials, there's something for everyone, even the pickiest eaters in your group.
• Award-Winning Voted "People's Choice Winner" for Best Lunch, Best Seafood, Best Restaurant, and Friendliest Staff. These aren't just marketing claims, locals genuinely vote for DeSoto's year after year.
• One of Alabama's Favorite Family Restaurants Families feel welcome here, with a kids menu, comfortable atmosphere, and staff who genuinely care about making your experience great.
• Senior Menu Reserved for 55 and over, offering great options at senior-friendly prices.
• Verified Gulf Shrimp They take pride in serving verified Gulf Shrimp, supporting local fishermen and ensuring quality.
• Homemade Quality From the fresh honey wheat bread to the homemade sides and desserts, you can taste the care and quality in every bite.
• Daily Lunch Specials If you're a local or staying in the area for a while, the rotating daily lunch specials keep things interesting and affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen? DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen is a beloved family seafood restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama, known for fresh Gulf seafood, Southern home-style cooking, daily lunch specials, and generous portions. They've been voted "People's Choice Winner" for Best Seafood, Best Restaurant, and Friendliest Staff.

Where is DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen located? DeSoto's is located at 138 West 1st Avenue, Gulf Shores, AL 36542-just one block north of the Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Place Public Beach in the heart of Gulf Shores.

Is DeSoto's a local favorite or tourist trap? DeSoto's is definitely a local favorite! When we moved to Gulf Shores, locals immediately recommended it. You'll see both locals and visitors dining here, which is the sign of a genuinely good restaurant.

Menu & Food

What type of food does DeSoto's serve? DeSoto's specializes in fresh Gulf seafood including shrimp, oysters, crab, fresh catch fish, and seafood platters. They also serve Southern home-style cooking, chicken dishes, steaks, pasta, salads, sandwiches, and daily lunch specials.

What is the honey wheat bread everyone talks about? DeSoto's serves fresh honey wheat bread warm to every table. It's house-made and has become legendary among regulars. It's slightly sweet, perfectly soft, and absolutely delicious.

Does DeSoto's serve Gulf Shrimp? Yes! DeSoto's proudly serves verified Gulf Shrimp, supporting local fishermen and ensuring you're getting authentic Gulf Coast seafood.

Does DeSoto's have non-seafood options? Absolutely! They have Grilled Chicken Breast, Fried Chicken Tenders, Hawaiian Ribeye Steak (marinated 48 hours!), Chicken Fried Steak, and various pasta dishes. The lunch menu also includes burgers and sandwiches.

Things to know when planning a visit to De Soto's Seafood Kitchen

Address - 138 West 1st. Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Located a block north of the Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Place Public Beach in the heart of Gulf Shores.

Phone - 251-948-7294

Hours - Please confirm with the restaurant to ensure that hours have not changed.

Accessibility - The seating is split between two levels. Make sure to tell the hostess and remind them if needed that you are not comfortable going up stairs.

Plus Size Seating - The chairs were really comfortable

Dress Code/Suggestions - Casual

Pets - Pets are not allowed in the restaurant.

Parking  - There is parking in front of the restaurant.

Restaurants and Attractions near De Soto's Seafood Kitchen

While you're in the heart of Gulf Shores near DeSoto's, check out these other local favorites:

Cherry on Top Ice Cream - Right next door you can enjoy ice cream treats!

Souvenir City - Take a picture in the mouth of the shark entrance or with the pirate ship back door before shopping for great Gulf Coast gifts.

Crico's Pizza & Subs - This local Gulf Shores Pizza shop is a favorite.

Wade Ward Nature Walk - Enjoy a great boardwalk over wetlands with amazing bird watching right around the corner from De Soto's.

The Hangout - Great beach restaurant with live music, fun decorations, foam parties, and more.

Additional Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Articles

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo - Check out all of the fun things to see and do at the zoo

Great Gulf Shores Donut Shops - Check out the epic donut shops right in Gulf Shores for the perfect morning treat.

Best breakfast spots in Gulf Shores - Gulf Shores knows how to do a great breakfast! These are our favorite breakfast restaurants we return to often.

Best pizza in Gulf Shores - Best pizza in Gulf Shores from a local perspective! Who offers delivery and who has great flavor.

Not to be missed Ice Cream in Gulf Shores - Check out all of the best ice cream shops in Gulf Shores you do not want to miss.