It's rained buckets for two days and the July 4 fireworks show was canceled, but this restaurant was by far the low point of our week at the beach. I'm going to give a bulleted list of reasons why:
- Hostess told us 30-min wait. We contemplated leaving and she said, "oh, it's moving fast." We waited 40 minutes with three young children.
- After being seated, we waited another hour and 20 min for the food. When it came, my oysters were barely warm.
- The family at the table next to us actually asked for their food to go when it finally arrived.
- Our waitress came by ONCE, to take our order. I left thirsty.
- Also once seated, our friends pulled out a DVD player for their 3yo twins. They put on Cars. The entire 2-hr movie played before we left. One of their twins nodded off at the table because the food took so long to arrive. Other families brought their cranky kids to our table to watch the movie  while they waited.
- The restaurant was severely short-staffed. When we were finally seated, about a fourth of the tables were empty.
On a good note, the food wasn't bad. If my oysters hadn't been cold, they'd have been tasty. Nonetheless, my overwhelming recommendation: DO NOT GO HERE. It was two and a half hours of our lives and $45 we cannot get back.
"Ordered raw oysters. They will not cut the oysters loose on the bottom shell and they bring them torn to hell and expect you to cut them loose!! They preshuck and stack them up. Asked if they would please cut them loose and they said NO, WE DON'T DO THAT! Everywhere else I go on the NW FL Gulf Coast will cut the oysters loose on the bottom and I don't have to ask them to do it. Don't order the damn oysters!!!"
Review Source:It was "prime time" for dinner, so we didn't want to go to the usual Destin "Hot Spots" (ie. The Crab Trap, Fudpucker's, AJ's, etc). We've been to Buster's many times before, as it has been there for a very long time. Here's my advice: if you're looking for a nice restaurant that is quiet, romantic, the BEST seafood in Destin...this is NOT your place. However, Buster's is just fine otherwise! It is very kid friendly. The service wasn't wonderful; the server was slow and took her time refilling drinks, bringing our bill, etc. However, the food portions were decent (hamburger was juicy and large, oysters were flavorful, and fried grouper sandwich was good). Typically everything is fried and the oysters on the half shell are a great deal (so I've been told). I don't eat raw oysters, but my dad tells me they have excellent happy hour specials.
Buster's definitely isn't the BEST seafood restaurant in Destin, but it surely isn't the worst either. Try it out:)
Another torpedo to the broadside. I don't know what has happened to Busters in the past two years...management change maybe but it is just not good anymore. Even the basics like fried grouper (in finger form) arrives bland and mushy. I think the stuff is frozen, but tasteless too? It's really disappointing considering how good it was not that long ago.
Review Source:Once again, a great experience. Â We go here every year our first night after we unpack. Â Good service. Â Great food. Â A bit sad that it has gotten so big. Â Had the grouper again and it was great, very fresh. Â The fried mushroom outstanding! Â Â Consistent great food every time we come. Â A place that should be on everyone's list if you go to Destin. Â Get the grouper, either sandwich or plate. Â They also have a great deal on raw oysters from 5-6. Â Can't beat it.
Review Source:Went here several years ago while visiting my sister. And I loved the fried pickles and the grouper sandwich.
We actually went twice and because my daughter was wearing the Buster's t-shirt we got FREE pickles (or maybe it was because she kept RAVING to the manager how much she loved them!)
I am sad to see that in the past years there are so many problems now. But I would still go give it another try just to see. I don't eat oysters at restaurants because I am not insane! I want to go buy them from the shore and cook them my self or ice them etc. (plus its cheaper)
Is it normal to have a love-hate relationship with a restaurant? Maybe not, but I do with Buster's. For that reason, I split the difference and went with a solid three stars.
The Good: I have had some wonderful experiences at Busters. I have frequented Busters since my early youth when my parents would bring the fam to Destin, and Edgewater was considered the coolest work of architecture I had ever seen (OK...I have to admit that I still think Edgewater is neat). On my most recent visit, I had excellent service. Our server was quick and witty (a highly sought-after quality when waiting on a table of 7 loud, boisterous, twenty-something lushes). Our beers never went hot or dry. No complaints! I hit up the super-cheap ($1.99 per dozen?! You've got to be kidding me!!!) happy hour oyster special, which was fantastic. Instead of an entrée, I had peel-em-and-eat-em shrimp. They were boiled to perfection. They were humungous. They were amazing. I left happy.
The Bad: While my most recent experience was great, I have had some pretty lousy service in the past. Any restaurant in the Destin/Miramar Beach area should be very accustomed to large parties since that is going to be a LOT of what they get, but they had the worst time handling the workload and trying to split up checks in the past. On my most recent visit, they weren't super busy, but in the past, a packed house made me feel as though they were understaffed. Hopefully, this is something that will be corrected come this year's busy season. Also, I will probably be sticking to raw oysters and boiled shrimp, and will be suggesting others do the same. This is not the place to get crab legs (go to the Crab Trap and Dewey Destin for the crab fix). I also steer clear of their fried food because is it ever greasy here!
All and all, will I go back? Yeah, probably so. "Even considering your laundry list of bad things, Jon?" Absolutely. Like I said, I've been going to Busters since I learned to walk, so I know what to order to have a good experience at this point. As for the service, all I can do is hope for the best, which is all you can really do whenever you go to any restaurant. Everyone has their good days and bad...
Went on a Wednesday at about 7:30pm. Sat at bar, which was mostly open. Immediate service by the bartender with a true pint. Ordered a cup of seafood gumbo and crab cakes. Gumbo was out in about 1 minute. Crab cakes a bit later. Gumbo was great. Crab cakes were good too, but I've had much better.
The place is very casual, which is what I was looking for. Seems like a place that locals and snow birds like. Fun.
I come here every time I'm in Destin for the oysters. The happy hour from 5-6 pm for 2$ per dozen oysters is the reason I come. The service is spotty. I'm always here with my extended family so our party is large. That usually means we're ignored, but a few servers realize that just because our group is large and includes two small children that we might be worthy of their care. The food is mainly fried seafood fare; if you don't expect much, you won't be disappointed. My wife and I did enjoy the all you can eat snow crab (I believe it was 29.99). The servers kept the plates of crab coming and they were all freshly prepared. Obviously frozen crab clusters at that price, but hey, when you're at Buster's you're there for large portions of food and large quantities of alcohol. Plenty of televisions with sports on (the only reason to stay after happy hour is over), and they do pay for the premium satellite packages, so they can always put your game on one of the TV's. There are better places to go for seafood in Destin, but most of them are more expensive and they aren't right around the corner from where I stay, so I guess I'll probably be back.
Review Source:Best grouper fingers! Â Shocked that this place got low ratings. Â The oyster happy hour (5-6 pm) with $1.99 per dozen oysters cannot be beat and the Grouper fingers are so good! Â Why haven't other places thought of making grouper fingers!? Â They are like glorified fish sticks I guess, but so good.
Don't be shocked by the appearance of this place. Â The service is great and the food is even better.
I give this place a solid three stars. If you love raw oysters (which I don't, but my husband does) you will love this place. They have an oyster happy hour from 5-6 p.m. everyday with a dozen oysters for $1.99. They give you the fixins to go with them such as horseradish, ketchup and crackers. The limit is 2 dozen and you can easily consume that (if this is something you like) along with beer in that time. We also ordered fried pickles which here are pickles chips, not spears. They give you a lot and ranch dressing to dip them in. They weren't bad, but I've had better. I cannot speak for the rest of their menu, but if raw oysters are your thing, this is the place for you.
Review Source:If you want anything more complicated than popcorn shrimp, avoid. If you don't trust sportsbars with burgers why trust one with sea food.
I ordered a shrimp po boy that came without mayo, the onions were half an inch thick and still had the skin on them. It looks like they literally threw it together. Atmosphere was typical sports bar with a sense that nothing is clean.
The waitress messed up my girlfriend's order. Never asked me about my uneatable sandwich and gave me a paper carton when I asked for a second plate to try to assemble the sandwich.
Normally I'm not a stickler for environment, but Buster's had a very "homesick" environment. You know, the kind of feeling you get at a run down Piccadilly at 4:30 pm on a Tuesday.
The decor was "eau de bad sports bar" with quite the selection of Louisiana-themed fair. And with such claims, I thought they'd at least have decent french bread. I was wrong. It was a sesame loaf. Not french bread. The crab legs were overcooked and stringy. My fries were cold. My water tasted like an upper decker.
However, they did have a good beer special: 24 oz for 4.25.
Overall, I've had way better.
The service was somewhat cordial, I didn't feel ignored or anything, but I didn't feel like a movie star either. They had somewhat of a bland menu, but I'm not a huge fan of seafood, so that might be why I think that way. Shady characters were hanging out inside, but then again, I was there on a holiday weekend pretty late at night, so who knows what kind of crowd they get. It is in a touristy spot, after all, so maybe it's difficult to get more fun customers in there. I had a grouper sandwhich I think? I don't really remember, which brings me back to the bland thing. It wasn't the worst seafood experience I've ever had, but it was the best. They had some kick ass TVs, so if you happen to be visiting here, or even if you live here, and the big game is on, I would definitely recommend heading down here to see what kind of set up they have going on because the bar selection is definitely bigger than that of the fish.
So, you know, it's not the best but also not the worst. I wouldn't say you should never go here, but I also wouldn't say it's a must.
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