Buster's Oyster Bar and Grill

Destin, Florida
When you walk into Buster's it looks like any other sports bar. Lots of TVs around the room to watch whatever teams are playing, and plenty of tables with comfortable seating. However as soon as you are greeted at the door you know that you are in for a treat. The staff are all friendly and provide timely service. When I visited with a party of twelve on a football Sunday, they had a table ready and were prepared to seat everyone within minutes. Once they have you in your seat with a menu in hand Buster's begins to really stand out.
The focus of the menu is seafood, much of which is fresh from the Gulf of Mexico. As soon as we were seated, our waiter gave us the specials which included a plethora of options and game day deals. The stand out of which was a pound of peel-and-eat shrimp for about half the normal price. The shrimp were large, perfectly cooked, and incredibly fresh. They were bursting with flavor and tasted like they had come straight from the sea. They would be perfect for a group of people to share as an appetizer (as we did) or as a main course for one or two people.
Moving on to the regular menu, one of the most recommended dishes were the oysters. They were available in several different preparations as either an appetizer or an entree. The best two appetizer preparations in my opinions were the Oysters Rockefeller and the simple pleasure of Oysters on the Half-shell. The Oysters Rockefeller came to the table one a still smoking skillet straight from the oven. The oysters were served in their shells covered by a delicious mixture of bread crumbs, butter, and fresh herbs. To top it off was a coating of rich creamy cheese melted to a perfect bubbly golden brown. The topping complemented the oysters perfectly without overpowering their natural flavor, making a rich, savory starter. The other appetizer preparation is one of the simplest, and in my opinion best ways to enjoy oysters. The Oysters on the Half-shell were served by simply shucking the oysters and presenting them on a bed of rock salt with the proper condiments, fresh lemon wedges and minced garlic. They appeared of a good size to me, but the waiter insisted that since they were small, he had doubled the order at the houses expense. Generosity such as this is a refreshing sight when many establishments are fighting to cut costs. The oyster's on their own have a clean, salty taste that is perfectly complimented by the acidity of the lemon and the strong, sharp flavor of the garlic. Eating oysters in this manner truly provides the full taste of this shelled treat without overpowering it with other flavors. The freshness of the oyster is especially important in this context and Buster's did not disappoint.
The best entree featuring oysters was the fried oysters. They were large and plump oysters covered in a light breading and deep-fried to crispy perfection. The crunchy breading was mildly seasoned and provides the perfect contrast to the soft oyster that it enveloped. They could be ordered on their own or in a Po'boy. The fried oysters on an eight inch french roll with lettuce and slices of ripe tomato made an excellent sandwich, and the bread helped to soak up all the juices. As an added bonus, the sub comes with an order of French fries. Now in most restaurants of Buster's variety fries are pretty standard and run of the mill. However here they stand out as a crispy delicious treat. It takes a lot to make French fries memorable but somehow Buster's has pulled it off.
On the rest of the menu there are also many other exemplary dishes. The house seafood gumbo, an award winning recipe my waiter explained, was full of succulent pieces of shrimp and rich Cajun flavor. It had a surprising depth of flavor and was spiced perfectly. The gumbo was just spicy enough to keep things interesting put not so overpowering that you couldn't taste the multiple seafood's and seasonings that it contained. The rice in it was not overcooked, as is often the case in dishes such as this, and the sauce has a smoky, spicy richness that brought the whole bowl together. Overall it was a delicious gumbo that would be perfect either as a starter or as a meal.
Another stand out dish is the blue crab claws. They are either broiled or fried, shelled crab claws that are bursting with flavor. Hailing from Maryland where the blue crab is king,
I was surprised and delighted to see these on the menu. They came to the table still in the cast iron skillet they had been cooked in, piping hot. Many people prefer back-fin to claw meat for it's sweeter taste, but since cracking my first shell at a young age I have always enjoyed the added richness and flavor of the claw meat. Simply broiled and served with butter these made a succulent feast. The only disappointment was the lack of Old Bay, an essential spice when enjoying blue crab.
One of the easiest to overlook items on the menu is also one of the best. The fish of the day is available as a platter or served as a sandwich and comes blackened, grilled, or fried. The special the day I was there was mahi-mahi. This fish was fresh from the Gulf and was perfectly grilled. It was not overcooked so the flesh was moist and tender with the sweet, mild flavor of the fish making a firm impact on the palate. The blacked version was more flavorful, but the taste of the fish was slightly overpowered by the spices in the seasoning. However either of these is good choice, it is more a matter of personal preference than anything else.
One other hidden gem on the menu is a fairly unassuming item. The hush puppies which are available as a side or can be ordered off the A-La-Carte menu are truly phenomenal. These deep-fried balls of joy are brown and crispy on the outside but still perfectly moist in the middle. They are made with a secret blend of spices that will truly amaze. You wouldn't think something so simple could be so addictive, but you'd be wrong. Make sure you try these if you ever have the opportunity.
Overall Buster's manages to surprise and impress whoever visits it. Expecting another dime a dozen sports bar that also served raw oysters, I was pleasantly surprised when I was proven wrong. The attentive and polite staff makes you feel welcome from the moment you step into the door, and the service was prompt and polite. The menu is full of seafood dishes that are sure to delight. There are also a few dishes featuring terrestrial fare that don't disappoint if seafood isn't your preference. The menu is all familiar items with no stand out wild creations, but everything is so well done that there won't be any complaints. Buster's is a exemplary example of how good a relatively low priced seafood restaurant can be. For less than twenty dollars you can have a memorable meal that is sure to impress.

Buster's Oyster Bar and Grill
Destin, Florida
(850) 837-4399

★★★★