Just in time for the "local's season" a new eatery has opened at Uptown Grayton that is just the right size and atmosphere to become a locals' favorite.
Grayton Seafood Company is the first venture into the South Walton food scene for owner Kenny Griner, but he is not new to the business.
Griner owns Chet's Seafood in Pace, which has been very successful.
But Griner is turning it up a notch, he said, on this new venture as he returns to his roots in WaltonCounty.
"Grayton Seafood is completely different," he said. "I love this area."
Griner has been coming to South Walton since he was a kid. He is from Niceville, but his family's homestead is in Mossy Head.
"WaltonCounty is home to me," he said.
As the name implies, at Grayton Seafood Company expect to find a variety of seafood dishes on the menu, such as crab cakes, shrimp linguine, and blackened fish dishes. All tend to lean towards the Cajun style.
Appetizers such as fried pickles, fried green tomatoes topped with lump crab meat, and fried calamari take you back to the deep South.
But don't leave without trying the chocolate pecan bread pudding.
To accompany, you will find an extensive wine list, as well as beer on tap and bottled from local breweries.
"I want to support the locals," said Griner. "Our fish, oysters, and shrimp is local too."
"I want this to be a place you can feel comfortable coming in and dining in flip flops and have good food," he said.
The restaurant's rustic decor contributes to a comfortable ambiance.
Located at the back of Uptown Grayton, the eatery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. during the fall and winter. In the spring, Griner said he expects to be open seven days a week.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Chet's owner opens Grayton Seafood in South Walton