My husband and I have lived in various places; such is the life of a US Navy officer. We love to seek out local restaurants that have excellent food, a laid-back atmosphere and good beer on tap. Of course, all of this must include great prices. Cato’s Seafood Market at the corner of SR 231 and Cato Road looks like a complete dive from the outside, but inside is some of the best fresh seafood you will ever eat. And the prices ain’t bad either.
Not only does it boast incredibly fresh seafood – the oysters are always plucked from the Apalachicola Bay – but it has a warm, inviting atmosphere provided by a friendly, down-home staff. This is truly a place where everybody knows your name.
The walls boast flags from various college football teams and you can always catch college ball on the tv. The beer is cold and in bottles, cans or on tap. They also have a variety of soft drinks and wine for those not so into beer.
I am personally a huge fan of their sweet tea, and that is saying something as I am notoriously picky about my sweet tea. (Native Southerners usually are – we can tell the difference between tea brands and sometimes sugar brands if it comes down to it – and we always have an opinion regarding the tea at individual restaurants).
Each and every time I visit, I must get at least half a dozen raw oysters. Each and every time, they always remember that I like horseradish and lemon with them. If the server happens to forget to put the little plastic cup of horseradish on my oyster tray, when he or she arrives at the table, they inevitably notice it and hurry off to get it. Now that is service!
My husband loves their steamed shrimp. And of course, they always remember that he wants a little plastic cup of Old Bay seasoning on the side in which to dip his peel-and-eat jumbos. We also enjoy their steamed crab fingers – spicy style, naturally.
Oh, did I forget to mention that everything is either raw or steamed? And it can either be steamed spicy style (which I highly recommend) or Greek style. When my in-laws come to visit from New Jersey, they insist on visiting Cato’s. My father-in-law just loves their Greek style grouper. My mother-in-law usually shares shrimp and crab fingers with my husband and me.
The only fixed items on the menu are the Greek potatoes (yummy), the garlic bread (crunchy), the pie (so good) or the corn dog and hot dog baskets for kids or those who are not seafood people (why would they bother coming?). All of the seafood changes based on what is fresh. Sometimes you can find grouper, scamp and red snapper. Other times, they may have grouper and tuna.
They always have Gulf shrimp and Apalachicola Bay oysters. It is all always good. Anytime we have out-of-towners visiting, we take them straight to Cato’s. No one has ever complained and most have asked to go back during their visit.
In short, if you or someone you love is visiting the Panama City area, make Cato’s Seafood a must-do on your list. You won’t be sorry.
I have been one of those family memebers that have had the great fortune to be treated to Cato’s wonderful food.
My stomach is growling just thinking about it!