Well, I guess it’s official. Sadly my birthday celebrations are over.
In our family we don’t just celebrate the day we were born. We celebrate the whole month …and boy was it fun! Last month we were lucky enough to travel home to the Florida panhandle to see my parents and enjoy some much needed beach and pool time. And being the foodie that I am, I had to check out the new restaurant in town that everyone is talking about. So for my birthday lunch my family and I dined at the brand spankin’ new Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen in Destin. It is located in my favorite outdoor mall, Destin Commons and is hands down one of the most inviting and prettiest restaurants in the city!
This is the third PDFK location I have had the pleasure of dining at, along with The Lady and Sons in Savannah. Each offers different specials and events but they all serve Paula’s signature dishes like Southern Fried Chicken, Georgia Fried Catfish, and Ooey Gooey Butter Cake.
Scroll down to see what we ordered and our favorite dishes and tips!
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A little of this, a little of that. Lunch and dinner at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen is served family style. You can choose 2 or 3 bottomless entrees, each served with 4 side dishes! Dessert is included and it just may be the best part {try the banana pudding}.
Nicole’s tip: Kids 4 and under are free!
Cocktails like the Lemon Mint Sparkler or the Bloody Mary with a Kick are served all day.
You can also order specialty teas and lemonades like this Georgia Peach Tea.
Nicole’s tip: Is it 5 o’clock yet? Try Jamie’s Texas Margarita!
These fluffy Garlic Butter Biscuits alone are worth a visit. Seriously, they make ya want to slap your Mama. I honestly did when my Mama tried to grab the last biscuit {kidding}!
Nicole’s tip: The biscuits are brought out first so be sure to gobble eat one {or two} before you fill up on the hearty Southern meal you are about to be served.
You have the option of ordering a few select appetizers including Paula Deen’s amazing Fried Green Tomatoes. They are perfectly crispy and topped with roasted red pepper sauce and sweet onion relish. :drooling: I have fried up and eaten many fried green tomatoes in my life and these were at the top of my list, especially with her onion relish!
Nicole’s tip: Check out the retail shop before you leave and pick up a jar of Paula’s Vidalia Onion Relish to take home!
Lunch is served y’all and boy was it good!
You can order all you want but no doggie bags are allowed so be sure to come hungry.
Obviously, the Best Ever Southern Fried Chicken is pretty darn good. With a name like that it has to be, right? But my favorite, and I order it every single time, is the Low Country Chicken.
It is chicken breasts sauteed in a Southern white wine sauce and topped with mushrooms and shallots. Paula’s favorite and mine too!
Nicole’s tip: Order the Low Country Chicken. Thank me later.
Southern comfort food may not always be the prettiest but it sure is finger lickin’ good!
Two of our favorite sides, Creamed Corn and Baked Mac and Cheese.
My kids order these every time and we always get seconds.
Nicole’s tips: You get 4 sides to share and they are free refills. Not a fan of something?
Your server will let you choose another side.
Dessert time is the best time!
Everyone gets to order their own single Southern dessert.
You can choose from Ooey Gooey Butter Cake {traditional or chocolate}, Banana Pudding, and Seasonal Cobbler.
I tried Peach Cobbler during our visit and loved the cake like cobbler topping. Of course, Paula’s Banana Pudding is always #1 in my book too!
This Mama sure is proud of her little foodies!
My girls have lived in three different states as military kids and have always loved trying the local cuisines. They love crawfish, frog legs, and catfish in Louisiana, barbecue and Tex Mex in Texas, and frozen custard and fried ravioli in Missouri.
And of course, being my kiddos they love Southern comfort food the most.
They always eat everything we order to Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen and I appreciate that just about everything on the menu is kid friendly.
Stella’s favorite: Fried Catfish and tarter sauce and Green Beans.
Ava’s favorite: Fried Green Tomatoes and Mac and Cheese.
Both: every single dessert on the menu.
Nicole’s tip: Don’t leave the kids at home! Bring them and let them try some good ol’ Southern cooking!They will leave full and happy.
We tried a little of everything {at least it seemed like it}.
I will say that the Pot Roast was very salty on the day we were there but our server quickly traded it out for fresh out of the fryer Southern Fried Chicken.
I’m happy to hear that they have now added Shrimp and Grits at the Destin restaurant and hopefully soon will have Barbecue Ribs and Chicken Pot Pie like some of the other locations.
We also had a delicious brunch for Memorial Day last year {with complimentary meals for military} at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen in Texas and I would love to see that added to Destin one day soon!
Two of my favorite people in the world, my Mom and Dad.
So grateful I got to spend my birthday with them.
They enjoyed their meal at PDFK and are already planning their next visit!
I even met Paula herself {or atleast I pretended to}!
The family that eats and cooks together, stays together!
The family that eats and cooks together, stays together!
Shopping for gifts and goodies in the retail shop is a must!
I like her aprons, mugs, scented sponges, lip balm {try Ooey Gooey Butter Cake}, and decorative signs.
Check out my Birthday Photo Shoot from the Flower Vault in San Antonio.
I had to take a few in honor of Paula Deen herself.
She will always be an inspiration to me!
Proud Southern Girl.
Mama and home chef. I love being both.
My Paula signed cookbook gets good use in my kitchen.
Can;t wait for her next one to come out!
I was provided a meal in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I love Paula Deen restaurant. I normally attend the one in myrtle beach. So yummy!
Mmm, that Georgia Peach Tea is making me thirsty! And I am all for celebrating birthday MONTHS, too! 🙂
This is fun article. Great job! We covered it on our Destin travel blog as well, but we didn't get as in-depth as this. Now I am hungry 🙂
Okay, so I'm not a fan of Paula Deen, the person, but this restaurant looks really good actually!
I was just at this restaurant a couple of weeks ago. I love the decor there and food.