The Shrimp Trail
In Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Day 1
Breakfast: Ruby Slipper Cafe
Start day one with a mimosa and BBQ shrimp and grits at The Ruby Slipper Café. Not your typical shrimp and grits, this dish includes sautéed shrimp with beer and rosemary butter reduction over creamy stone-ground grits and is served with a buttermilk biscuit.
Lunch: LuLu's
Looking for a lighter lunch option on the shrimp trail? Try Lucy Buffett's LuLu's Summer Shrimp Salad. This is no plain salad. Rather, it's delectably prepared with fresh Gulf shrimp, celery, red onion, bell pepper, and egg, lightly tossed in mayonnaise with LuLu's Crazy Creola Seasoning Mix. Order this salad, and you also get fried green tomatoes with LuLu's famous Wow Sauce.
Dinner: The Gulf
Have dinner by the water at The Gulf. This outdoor spot offers delicious food, incredible views and a unique, beachy atmosphere. While there, be sure to try their yummy shrimp tacos, served with pineapple-corn salsa, smokey ancho aioli, napa cabbage and fresh cilantro. You can have them in flour tortillas or in a rice and bean bowl.
Day 2
Breakfast: Another Broken Egg Cafe
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so start it off right at Another Broken Egg Cafe. The Mardi Gras Omelet is a must-try. It’s filled with Louisiana crawfish, Gulf shrimp, andouille sausage and red peppers and is topped with tomato hollandaise, tomatoes and green onions. Served with an English muffin and grits, this meal will definitely leave you satisfied.
Lunch: King Neptune's Seafood Restaurant
A local favorite, King Neptune's Seafood Restaurant provides the highest quality fresh seafood daily. King Neptune's serves Alabama wild shrimp that are brought in right off the boat from Bon Secour Fisheries. The Royal Red shrimp platter is a must-have and is served with steamed new potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, and garlic butter toast.
Dinner: Desoto's Seafood Kitchen
Head to DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen for a delicious dinner. While there are many great things on the dinner menu, we suggest you bring your gaze to the appetizers and order the coconut shrimp. Large gulf shrimp are dipped in the restaurant’s ale beer batter, rolled in coconut flakes, and finally flashed fried to perfection.
Day 3
Breakfast: Brick and Spoon
Begin your third day at Brick and Spoon. An ideal spot for brunch, you’ll discover dozens of tasty meals on the menu. Shrimp lovers will love the bayou benedict, which comes with blackened shrimp, onions, bell peppers, and a Cajun cream sauce. All of this deliciousness is served on a biscuit with poached eggs and house-made hollandaise.
Lunch: Mikee's Seafood
We hope you saved room for lunch! If there's one thing better than AYCE shrimp, it's fresh Gulf AYCE shrimp. Head over to Mikee's in Gulf Shores for all-you-can-eat fried shrimp. Served with hushpuppies and potatoes and fried to perfection, these delicious shrimp are just what you need after a morning on the water.
Dinner: Gulf Island Grill
You can expect to find fantastic seafood right from the Gulf at Gulf Island Grill in Gulf Shores. Finish your third day with this restaurant’s shrimp kabobs. This mouthwatering island meal combines the fresh shrimp of the Alabama Gulf Coast with the taste of the Caribbean.
Day 4
Breakfast: Tacky Jacks
We can’t talk about shrimp without mentioning Tacky Jacks. Known for its popular tacky shrimp and other amazing shrimp dishes, Tacky Jacks serves an incredible bowl of shrimp and grits. With a location in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan, you can indulge anywhere on the island.
Lunch: Pink Pony Pub
If you’re spending your day relaxing on the shore at Gulf Place, head into Pink Pony Pub, located right on the beach. This iconic beach bar offers a fantastic fried shrimp po’boy with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, served with French fries and great views.
Dinner: Coastal
End your trail on a high note with a noteworthy meal at Coastal. On the restaurant side, Coastal offers an incredible tropical shrimp dish. This entrée consists of blackened shrimp served on a citrus rice pilaf with caramelized pineapple beurre blanc, pineapple salsa, pickles, red onions and micro greens.
Grilled Gulf Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley
- 1 lemon juiced
- 2 tbsp of hot pepper sauce
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tsp of dried oregano
- 1 tsp of sea salt
- 1 tsp of ground black pepper
- 2 lbs of large gulf shrimp (or royal reds), heads removed, deveined with tails on
Directions
In a mixing bowl, mix together olive oil, parsley, lemon juice, hot sauce, garlic, oregano, salt and black pepper. Reserve a small amount for basting later. Pour remaining marinade into a large resealable plastic bag with shrimp. Seal, marinate in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours turning bag several times. Preheat grill for medium - low heat, lightly oil grill grate or seafood grate. Cook shrimp for 5 minutes per side or until opaque, basting frequently with reserved marinade.
