RESTAURANT REVIEW: Ballyhoo affordable choice on 30A

Ballyhoo Bar and Grill claims to be the opposite of the quintessential South Walton fine dining experience. Their hope is that you enjoy a tasty meal without breaking the bank.

Opened a little more than a year ago, Ballyhoo is a full-service bar that serves a variety of pizza, burgers and seafood that’s sure to satisfy any size appetite.

The food

Ballyhoo’s menu isn’t too diverse, but has enough to make it hard to decide what exactly to order. I, for one, had trouble deciding between the Ballyhoo burger, which was topped with ham, bacon, Swiss and onions, or the shrimp tacos. In the end, I opted for the tacos.

Fish tacos are also available and either choice can be served fried, grilled or blackened.

If you don’t want your seafood on a taco, Ballyhoo serves sandwiches and entrees with shrimp, fish or chicken.

There are nine burger choices, and besides the Ballyhoo burger include, a regular burger, cheeseburger, a Brie burger, the mushroom and Swiss burger and a cowboy burger, which is topped with cheese, bacon and barbecue sauce.

At Ballyhoo, diners can build their own pizza or choose from cheese, the meateater, veggie, the whole kitchen, pepperoni galore and Hawaiian pizzas.

Build-a-Spuds are also on the menu. This is a large baked potato with a choice of toppings such as onions, mushrooms, bacon, tomato, black olives, jalapeno, salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, chili, bleu cheese, grilled vegetables and barbecue sauce.

If it’s Buffalo wings you desire, Ballyhoo serves those two ways, mild or “Timmy style!”

Appetizers include peel-and-eat shrimp, loaded nachos, chili cheese fries, fried mushrooms and fried pickles.

The children’s menu has burgers, chicken tenders, grilled cheese and fish and chips.

The atmosphere

Ballyhoo is very laid back and casual. They day I went, the place was nearly empty. There was a huge projector television my date and I watched.

There is plenty of seating at wooden tables and chairs, and along the long, rectangular bar.

Since Ballyhoo is also a bar, there are plenty of games to keep you occupied while you wait for your meal, such as a pool table, darts and a Shrek pinball machine.

The service

Our waitress Angie was very devoted, as we were her only customers. She was knowledgable about the menu, as well.

A final taste

After a day at the beach, this is the perfect place to show up in your beachwear. It’s no frills, and filling. Ballyhoo deserves a shot at fulfilling your appetite.

QuickBites

Ballyhoo

3711 W. County Road 30A

Santa Rosa Beach

At mile marker 4

Phone number

850-622-4092

Hours

11 a.m. to at least 11 p.m., seven days a week

Price range

Appetizers

4.95 to 9.95

Burgers

7.49 to 12.99

Pizza

10.99 to 19.99

Spuds

4.99 to 10.99

Children’s menu

Yes

Payment

Cash only

ATM on site

Handicap access

Yes

Full bar available