A fantastic covered patio, cold draft beer, a bay breeze coming in off the water, and a Daily Special on the board that was highly suggested by the sweet server, Jessie. The 4 lunches ordered here at AJ's On the Bayou just line up right.
The setting does a lot of the work before the food arrives. From the patio you've got a straight shot across the bay — palm trees, open water, the kind of lunchtime magic that makes it hard to leave. The covered tables catch the breeze without allowing the patron to get cooked in the sun. It's a perfect place to grab some lunch, even though it is outside.
The Daily Special on Friday was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. The chicken had a real crispy crust. It was so good that you peeled it off the chicken and ate the whole thing. The 2 piece included a breast and a leg, just what every good bar serves!!! The mashed potatoes were exactly what you want alongside fried chicken. Green beans done right. Straightforward and satisfying, and that's a harder target to hit consistently than it sounds.
The rest of the table went different directions. Fried fish — thick fillets, golden crust, served with fried okra and coleslaw on a newspaper-lined tray — looked as good as it tasted. Grilled shrimp skewers came out with crinkle fries and cocktail sauce, a full plate. Nothing precious about any of it, which is exactly what a waterfront lunch in Fort Walton Beach should be.
A view will get you in the door once. A kitchen that backs it up is why you put it on the regular rotation. Check the board when you walk in, grab a cold one, and take the seat closest to the water. The bay's not going anywhere, but the Daily Special might.