Dining with your entire team can sometimes be tricky. You have to find the perfect place that can fit your whole group and satisfy hungry athletes. Thankfully, Alabama’s Beaches have several spots with ample space and menus with various choices. From breakfast, lunch, and dinner, our shores have it all. Whether you’re fueling up before the game or celebrating a win, here are the best restaurants in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach for dining with big sports groups.
Team Breakfast
Tacky Jacks
Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that’s even more true for athletes when they have a long day of competition ahead of them. With three locations, Tacky Jacks is an ideal spot to grab a bite to eat. Your team will find offerings like shrimp and grits, breakfast burritos, omelets, and biscuits. The best part about dining here is the waterfront views and cool breezes. The Orange Beach location opens at 7 am, the Gulf Shores location opens at 7:30 am, and the Fort Morgan location opens at 8 am.
Sunliner Diner
Sunliner Diner is another fantastic place to start your day with a hearty meal. This retro 50s-themed diner serves its food with a side of fun. Your athletes will find classic breakfast staples like pancakes and waffles along with protein-packed meals like steak and eggs, shrimp benedict, and a meat lover omelet. Sunliner Diner serves breakfast all day, so your team can have their favorite breakfast items no matter your schedule. The restaurant has large tables and booths, which makes it ideal for large groups.
Lunch Spots to Refuel
Luna’s
The food at Luna’s fills your stomach and your soul. This restaurant has coastal seafood such as BBQ shrimp and grilled fish as well as hometown Southern favorites like po’boys and tomato pie. The Meat and Three special is an excellent option for hungry athletes who need to refuel. Luna’s has long tables inside and on its covered deck. After lunch, regroup on the grassy lawn and get pumped for your next game or recap the last one.
Yoho Rum & Tacos
Conveniently located just a few minutes from the Orange Beach Sportsplex, grabbing lunch at The Wharf is a convenient way to feed your athletes. While this spot has fantastic Mexican-inspired cuisine, Yoho Rum & Tacos offers lots more delicious meals than just its yummy tacos. Favorites include the chipotle shrimp burrito, tuna poke bowl, and Yoho burger. Yoho accepts reservations, so it’s best to reserve a table for your group before you arrive.
GTs On the Bay
With a name like Good Times on the Bay, you can expect a memorable meal when you dine at GTs. This waterfront restaurant has a diverse menu featuring sizable salads, fresh seafood, woodfire pizzas, and delectable desserts. They also have a separate gluten-free menu for those with gluten sensitivities. GTs has indoor and outdoor seating, with tables that can accommodate large groups.
The Gulf
The Gulf is an open-air beachfront spot that serves meals like burgers, tacos, and seafood bowls. The counter-service setup makes it ideal for those who need a quick bite to eat. You seat yourself at this restaurant, so you can find the perfect space to fit your team among the assortment of long picnic tables, round tables, and couches along the sand. If your team wants to unwind after their game, they’ll love The Gulf’s relaxing atmosphere and scenic views.
Post-Game Dinner
Cobalt
After a long day of competition, your athletes deserve a filling sit-down meal to refuel and celebrate their hard work. Cobalt is situated at The Caribe Marina and offers beautiful views of the water. Your team will enjoy seafood, steaks, pasta, and pizza in its relaxed yet upscale atmosphere. Those with gluten sensitivities can order from the gluten-free menu. Cobalt offers spacious seating both inside and out, as well as firepits. It’s a fabulous restaurant to end the day.
The Hangout
Whether you’re feeding kids, teens, or adults, The Hangout is your one-stop shop to entertain and satisfy everyone. This iconic beachfront restaurant boasts a lively atmosphere and large dining areas, making it perfect for teams to relax and recap their games over dinner. The menu includes options like burgers, seafood, sandwiches, and salads, so there’s something for everyone. If your team is adults, they’ll enjoy sipping on the unique coastal cocktails The Hangout offers.
LuLu’s
Live music, a beach area, an arcade, and incredible food are just a few of the things that make LuLu’s such a popular restaurant. A few favorite dishes include gumbo, tacos, seafood baskets, and big salads. In addition to its expansive menu, LuLu’s has special menus for those with shellfish, gluten, egg, nut, soy, and dairy allergies. All the food from these menus is prepared in a separate kitchen, meaning there is no risk of cross-contamination. LuLu’s also accepts reservations for sports teams, so you can skip the wait and have a table that fits your team already waiting for you when you arrive.
Zeke’s
If gorgeous views, fresh seafood, and coastal breezes are on your dinner checklist, take your team to Zeke’s. This waterfront restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining and is a fantastic place to celebrate after a competition. Treat the team to tasty appetizers like oysters, salmon dip, or homemade hummus. From landfare and seafood to daily specials and coastal cocktails, Zeke’s has something for everyone. After dinner, take a stroll around the marina and admire the boats.
Coastal Orange Beach
It doesn’t get more relaxing than savoring dinner on the beach after a long day of competing. Dinner at Coastal Orange Beach will surely bring smiles to your athletes' faces. Coastal has two sections, the restaurant and beach bar, both of which are open-air and serve incredible cuisine. The beach bar menu includes mango tuna tacos and a Gulf Coast chicken sandwich, while the restaurant menu offers entrees such as grilled grouper, crab cakes, and chicken pasta. If you have time to kill before your table is ready, take a look inside Coastal’s impressive gift shop or walk down to the beach from its convenient boardwalks.
Acme Oyster House
The coast is your oyster at Acme with oyster options galore (and more) to choose from, including fried, chargrilled, raw and Rockefeller soup varieties. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway with spacious indoor and outdoor seating, Acme Oyster House is an ideal location for large group dinners (or lunches).
