Hunt’s Oyster Bar & Seafood

Hunt’s Oyster Bar & Seafood is a casual oyster bar and seafood restaurant on Beck Avenue in the heart of Historic St. Andrews. Housed in a bright yellow building, it has been serving Gulf seafood since 1966, according to Destination Panama City, and it is known for crowds that line up for oysters shucked behind the counter.

The restaurant was founded by the Hunt family, and after Randy Hunt retired it was acquired by the Abrams family of Panama City. Greg Abrams owns Tarpon Dock Seafood Market and runs Greg Abrams Seafood, a wholesale supplier, and Collins and Austin Abrams are also part of the ownership. Hunt’s says its oysters and seafood come daily from Tarpon Dock Seafood Market. Under the new owners, Hunt’s added a second story with an open-air deck overlooking St. Andrews Bay, while keeping the look of the original first floor. A salvaged boat hull named the Miss Adley, after Austin Abrams’ daughter, was turned into an outdoor bar.

Oysters are the reason most people come. The menu includes raw oysters on the half shell, baked oysters topped with garlic and cheese, and fried oyster dishes. Beyond oysters, Hunt’s serves Gulf shrimp, crab cakes, seafood platters, fish dishes, hand-cut steaks, sandwiches and Southern favorites. The restaurant describes itself as casual and kid-friendly, and online ordering is available through its website.

Hunt’s is a signature stop on the Panama City Oyster Trail. During National Oyster Day in August, Destination Panama City reports that first-time oyster eaters can receive a hand-painted Golden Oyster keepsake, a fun reason to try your first raw one.

The restaurant’s posted hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday. Hours can change, so check before you go. Hunt’s sits in the middle of the Beck Avenue strip, steps from the Panama City Publishing Company Museum and St. Andrews Slice House and a short walk to Oaks by the Bay Park and St. Andrews Marina. Expect a wait at peak times, especially on weekend evenings.

Hunt’s also ties into the wider seafood story of St. Andrews. The neighborhood grew up around fishing, and St. Andrews Marina, a few blocks west, is still home to commercial fishing boats and charter captains. Because the owners also run a seafood market and wholesale business, Hunt’s is one of the more direct ways for visitors to taste local catch in a casual setting. Families are welcome, and the upstairs deck offers a breezier seat with bay views than the original downstairs dining room. First-timers who are unsure about raw oysters can start with a baked or fried order before moving on to the half shell.