Laurel Hill Grill

Just north of Crestview on Highway 85, the small town of Laurel Hill holds a restaurant locals simply call The Grill. Laurel Hill Grill is a family owned Southern comfort food spot that has built a loyal following across Okaloosa County, and it earns most of that loyalty through two things: portion size and pie. Regulars talk about the Philly cheesesteaks first, but the menu runs much deeper into classic Southern cooking, including country fried steak, hamburger steak, and a Friday surf and turf special that pairs steak with fried shrimp.

Breakfast is where the restaurant really shows off. Expect eggs cooked any way you like, biscuits smothered in gravy, and a hash brown casserole that shows up on more than a few visitors’ must order lists. At lunch and dinner, the kitchen leans into sides that read like a family reunion table: collard greens, fried okra, field peas, baked potatoes, and fried green tomatoes. Shrimp and grits and a from scratch meatloaf round out a menu built for anyone craving a home cooked plate rather than a chain restaurant experience. Then there are the pies. Laurel Hill Grill is known for its homemade pies, with blueberry among the favorites, and a slice at the end of a meal has become something of a ritual for regulars driving through on Highway 85.

The atmosphere matches the food. Diners describe a cozy, casual dining room decorated with old signs and nostalgic knickknacks, an eclectic look that has earned comparisons to a small town Cracker Barrel. There is even a small gift shop near the entrance, so it is easy to browse while you wait for a table. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible and welcomes dine in, takeout, and groups, which makes it a natural stop for families road tripping along Highway 85 between Crestview and the Alabama state line.

Laurel Hill itself is worth a mention for anyone passing through. It is the northernmost incorporated city in Florida, a small rail town whose fortunes rose and fell with the timber industry more than a century ago. The town’s biggest annual event, the Hobo Festival, has been held every October since 1992, and Laurel Hill Grill sits right in the middle of that small town rhythm, a reliable lunch counter and dinner spot for residents and a worthwhile detour for Emerald Coast visitors exploring inland Okaloosa County.

Reviewers consistently praise the friendly, attentive service and the generous portions that come out of the kitchen, with steak dishes frequently singled out as some of the best in the area. The restaurant keeps a tight schedule, open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday, so plan a visit for the back half of the week. Call ahead if you are bringing a large group, since the dining room is cozy rather than sprawling, and expect a budget friendly check by coastal standards, since the menu skews toward affordable, filling plates rather than upscale pricing.

Laurel Hill Grill also holds a distinction that is easy to overlook: it is effectively the only sit down restaurant in Laurel Hill itself, which means it doubles as the town’s default gathering spot for breakfast meetings, after church lunches, and family dinners. Servers know regulars by name, and first time visitors quickly get folded into that same easy familiarity.

For visitors staying along the coast who want a genuine taste of inland Florida, a trip north on Highway 85 to Laurel Hill Grill delivers Southern comfort food exactly the way it should be: hearty, unfussy, and finished with a great piece of pie. Treat the drive itself as part of the appeal, since Highway 85 north of Crestview cuts through quiet, pine covered stretches of Okaloosa County that most Emerald Coast itineraries never touch. Come hungry and save room for pie.