5 Tricks for Ordering Online Food Delivery

Pros and Cons of Restaurant Online Food Delivery Services | Fridge

As technology continues to integrate into our everyday activities, businesses have found more ways to make our lives as consumers easier. One such growing trend is food delivery. It’s become common to order food online and have it delivered instead of going into a restaurant and sitting down for a traditional meal.

This growth is mostly driven by millennials and younger generations who are reliant on apps and gig economy services. According to USA Today, recent research has found that 77 percent of millennials have used a food delivery service in the last 90 days, which is 26 percent more than all diners in the United States.

Getting food delivered is easier than ever, thanks to third-party ordering systems and apps like Menufy. Below are some of our best tips to make sure you have the best experience possible when ordering food.

1. Order Food Online Early so It’s Ready When You Get Home

Many people use food delivery as a backup option when they don’t want to cook or are tired after work. However, if you plan ahead, you and your family won’t be stuck hungry and waiting around for your meal.

Order your food before you leave work for the day or while you’re waiting to pick up your kids from school or after extracurricular activities. Most food delivery services provide estimated delivery times. While these aren’t always accurate, they give you a good rough idea of when you can expect your food to arrive. If you know you’ll get home around 6:00, start looking for food to order around 4:45 or 5:00.

If you are worried about missing the delivery if it comes before you get home, you can prepare for that too. Leave a note instructing the driver to drop the delivery off on the porch if no one answers the door, or call or text your delivery driver to let them know where you are. Of course, no one likes waiting for someone to arrive, so make sure you agree to a delivery time that’s after you’re likely to be home.

2. Order Healthy Before You’re Starving

Planning food delivery can also benefit your health. If you are trying to eat healthier or lose weight, schedule your delivery in advance by ordering before you are starving. The less hungry you are, the more likely it is that you’ll make a better food choice, like a salad or other lower-calorie option.

Ordering ahead of time also allows you to adapt to how long restaurants take to fulfill your order. If you know of a specific restaurant that has healthy options but usually takes longer than a fast-food business, you can plan accordingly by ordering earlier.

3. Leave Clear Delivery Directions

It’s crucial to make delivery as easy as possible for the drivers delivering your food. Leave clear directions during the ordering process in case the driver isn’t familiar with your neighborhood. Include cross streets or details on how to identify your home easily (e.g., “on the corner with a red door”).

Delivery preferences are important to list as well. For example, if you have children sleeping and you don’t want to wake them, leave instructions for the driver to knock instead of ringing the doorbell.

4. Prep Your House

It’s also essential to make things easy for your driver once they get to your house. Make sure there aren’t any obstacles preventing them from coming to the door (like pets, snow, trash, or other debris) and that the outside of your house is adequately lighted and easy to see. This helps the drivers find the correct address and make it to your front door quickly.

Drivers also want to feel safe when delivering, so proper lighting will ensure they know where to go and can see who is answering the door.

5. Always Tip

What is the cheapest food delivery app? | UpMenu Blog

Most delivery drivers rely on tips to ensure they are making a decent hourly wage. Most food delivery services and apps allow you to tip when ordering or online after the order is completed. Drivers will also happily take cash, as this is instant payment, instead of waiting to be paid by the ordering service. According to Glamour Magazine, tipping 15-20% is standard for large food orders, such as several pizzas or bags of food for multiple people. It’s also polite to tip more if it takes more effort than normal to complete a delivery, such as during severe weather. For smaller orders, such as dinner for one or two people, Glamour says $2-4 is a good range.

Following these tips will help you do your part as a food delivery consumer. Being more aware of what to tip, how others can navigate to your home, and when you should order food online can help you have a better overall experience with your delivered meals.

If you are finding a portion of good food to order online you can contact us for more information and we’re happy to serve you.

10 USEFUL GRILLING TIPS

I often say the heart of grilling lies in grilling techniques. What separates the master grillers from the masses is that the experts understand how to manage their grill.

Sure, recipes are important, but techniques matter most. Thus, here are the 10 essentials for better grilling. Follow these tips and you will become a true BBQ master.

1. PREHEAT THE GRILL

Preheat your grill with the lid closed for 10 to 15 minutes.
With all the coals glowing red, or all the gas burners on high, the temperature under the lid should reach 500F.
The heat loosens any bits and pieces of food hanging onto the grate, making it easy to brush them off.
Preheating your grill also helps prevent food from sticking to the grate, and gets the grate hot enough to sear properly.

2. KEEP YOUR GRILL CLEAN

When bits of food have stuck to your cooking grate, and the grate is hot, clean it with a stainless steel brush. This step is not only for cleanliness. It also prevents your food from sticking.
Note: Replace brush if any loose bristles are found on cooking grates or brush.

3. KEEP THE GRILL LID DOWN

Here are 4 important reasons why your grill lid should be closed as much as possible.
1. It keeps the grates hot enough to sear the food.
2. It speeds up the cooking time and prevents the food from drying out.
3. It traps the smokiness that develops when fat and juices vaporize in the grill.
4. It prevents flare-ups by limiting oxygen.

5. GRILLING TIME AND TEMPERATURE

By monitoring your time and grilling temperature you avoid overcooking your food.
Use a timer!
If you are grilling in a colder climate or in a higher altitude, the cooking times will be longer. If the wind is blowing hard, it will lower a gas grill’s temperature and raise a charcoal grill’s temperature.

6. DIRECT VS. INDIRECT HEAT GRILLING

Direct heat (when the fire is directly below the food) is best for relatively small, tender pieces of food that cook in 20 minutes or less.
Indirect heat (when the fire is on either side of the food) is best for larger, tougher cuts of meat that require more than 20 minutes of cooking.

7. MAINTAINING GRILL TEMPERATURES

Our grills are designed to give you complete control over the heat inside of the grill. By having consistent, reliable heat source and proper venting, the grill can maintain low or high temperatures effectively.
The dampers on the top and bottom of the grill control the airflow inside the grill. The more air flowing into the grill, the hotter the fire will grow and the more frequently you will have to replenish it. To slow the rate of your fuel burning, close the top vent as much as halfway and keep the lid on as much as possible. The bottom vent should be left open whenever you are grilling so you don’t kill your fire.
Under normal circumstances, a typical charcoal briquette fire will lose about 100˚F of heat over 40 to 60 minutes. A typical lump charcoal fire will lose heat even faster.
Gas grills have individual control knobs so that you can easily regulate the heat and create different grilling zones easily. You can easily maintain heat levels as low as 200˚F to over 550˚F easily and shift from direct to indirect in minutes.

8. TAME THE FLAME

Too many flare-ups can burn your food. Keep the lid on as much as possible. This limits the amount of oxygen inside the grill, which will help extinguish any flare-ups.
If the flames are getting out of control, move the food over indirect heat temporarily, until they die down. Then move the food back.

9. CARAMELIZATION IS KEY

One of biggest reasons for the popularity of grilled food is its seared taste.
To develop this taste for maximum effect, use the right level of heat and resist the temptation to turn food often. Your patience will allow for caramelization, or browning. That creates literally hundreds of flavors and aromas.
As a general rule, turn food only once.

10. LIGHTER FLUID: NO WAY!

It’s a liquid product that evaporates. Who wants that, and its foul chemical fumes under their food?
Chimney starters and lighter cubes are much cleaner and much more effective.

Health Benefits of Eating Italian Food | Pinocchio’s CO

Italian food is an integral part of the Mediterranean diet and provides an excellent part of a balanced, healthy diet.

Eating a balanced diet is an essential part of good nutrition, improved overall health, and a lowered risk of chronic disease. Italian food is an integral part of the Mediterranean diet — which focuses on fresh vegetables, olive oil, and grains — is an excellent part of a balanced, healthy diet. Eating Italian food offers many health benefits for you and your family!

Manage Your Weight

The best Italian food is made from fresh vegetables, including tomatoes, leafy greens, and onions, that are low in calories but high in nutritional value. These reduced-calorie ingredients can help you increase your intake of vitamins while achieving or maintaining your ideal weight!

Increased Fiber

Fiber-rich foods, such as vegetables and grains, are important staples to the Italian menu! Getting the right intake of your daily recommended fiber help to regulate your digestive system, stabilize blood sugar levels, and lower blood cholesterol.

Healthy Heart

Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat rich in omega fatty acids. This healthy form of oil is full of antioxidants and is used in the most authentic Italian meals! Olive oil helps to reduce inflammation, protect your heart, and fight disease.

Fighting Power

Italian food is packed with ingredients that offer powerful antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E. Like olive oil, Italian meal ingredients such as vegetables, grains, and nuts, and fruits provide the benefit of antioxidants – and flavor! A glass of red wine also offers antioxidants, which protect the body from unstable molecules that can cause cell damage.

Long-life Longevity

Italian food uses fresh, natural ingredients and the healthiest of fats, both of which have been found to be associated with lower levels of cancer, heart disease, inflammatory disease, and more. Improving the longevity of life might be a natural benefit of enjoying an Italian meal!

Great Garlic

Did you know that garlic, whether crushed or chopped, offers antibiotic and antifungal properties? Garlic is a key ingredient in the finest Italian foods and has been shown that it may lower the risk of breast, colon, stomach, and throat cancers. Also, garlic has been shown to offer heart protection properties!

Power-packed Protein

Most Italian dishes use the healthier, white meats and fish. Both are excellent sources of protein and lower in fat than red meats. Fish also offers essential fatty acids and minerals, which are necessary for overall well-being. White meats, such as chicken, serve up protein, vitamins, and minerals in every portion!

Sharing Meals

One of the most pleasurable parts of Italian dining is the love that goes into making each dish and the chance to share meals with others! Food is not only about sustenance to maintain health but is an opportunity to be social with others, laugh, and live a life that celebrates family, friends, and health!

At Pinocchio’s Italian Eatery in Brighton, CO, we serve up the freshest of Italian food every day! Call us at (303) 655-7777 to make a reservation or

stop by to enjoy our homemade food and toast your health!

11 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Eating Fish

Fish is among the healthiest foods on the planet.

It’s loaded with important nutrients, such as protein and vitamin D.

Fish is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are incredibly important for your body and brain.

Here are 11 health benefits of eating fish that are supported by research.

1. High in important nutrients

Fish is packed with many nutrients that most people are lacking.

This includes high-quality protein, iodine, and various vitamins and minerals.

Fatty species are sometimes considered the healthiest. That’s because fatty fish, including salmon, trout, sardines, tuna, and mackerel, are higher in fat-based nutrients.

This includes vitamin D, a fat-soluble nutrient that many people are lacking.

Fatty fish also boast omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for optimal body and brain function and strongly linked to a reduced risk of many diseases (1Trusted Source).

To meet your omega-3 requirements, eating fatty fish at least once or twice a week is recommended. If you are a vegan, opt for omega-3 supplements made from microalgae.

SUMMARY Fish
is high in many important nutrients, including high-quality protein, iodine,
and various vitamins and minerals. Fatty varieties also pack omega-3 fatty
acids and vitamin D.

2. May lower your risk of heart attacks and strokes

Heart attacks and strokes are the two most common causes of premature death in the world (2Trusted Source).

Fish is considered one of the most heart-healthy foods you can eat.

Unsurprisingly, many large observational studies show that people who eat fish regularly have a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death from heart disease (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

In one study in more than 40,000 men in the United States, those who regularly ate one or more servings of fish per week had a 15% lower risk of heart disease (7Trusted Source).

Researchers believe that fatty types of fish are even more beneficial for heart health due to their high omega-3 fatty acid content.

SUMMARY Eating
at least one serving of fish per week has been linked to a reduced risk of
heart attacks and strokes.

3. Contain nutrients that are crucial during development

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for growth and development.

The omega-3 fat docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is especially important for brain and eye development (8Trusted Source).

For this reason, it’s often recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women eat enough omega-3 fatty acids (9Trusted Source).

However, some fish are high in mercury, which is linked to brain developmental problems.

Thus, pregnant women should only eat low-mercury fish, such as salmon, sardines, and trout, and no more than 12 ounces (340 grams) per week.

They should also avoid raw and uncooked fish because it may contain microorganisms that can harm the fetus.

SUMMARY Fish
is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which is essential for brain and eye
development. It’s recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women get enough
omega-3s but avoid high-mercury fish.

4. May boost brain health

Your brain function often declines with aging.

While mild mental decline is normal, serious neurodegenerative ailments like Alzheimer’s disease also exist.

Many observational studies show that people who eat more fish have slower rates of mental decline (10Trusted Source).

Studies also reveal that people who eat fish every week have more gray matter — your brain’s major functional tissue — in the parts of the brain that regulate emotion and memory (11Trusted Source).

SUMMARY Fish
intake is linked to reduced mental decline in older adults. People who eat fish
regularly also have more gray matter in the brain centers that control memory
and emotion.

5. May help prevent and treat depression

Depression is a common mental condition.

It’s characterized by low mood, sadness, decreased energy, and loss of interest in life and activities.

Although it isn’t discussed nearly as much as heart disease or obesity, depression is currently one of the world’s biggest health problems.

Studies have found that people who eat fish regularly are much less likely to become depressed (12Trusted Source).

Numerous controlled trials also reveal that omega-3 fatty acids may fight depression and significantly increase the effectiveness of antidepressant medications (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

Fish and omega-3 fatty acids may also aid other mental conditions, such as bipolar disorder (16Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Omega-3 fatty acids may combat depression
both on their own and when taken with antidepressant medications.

6. A good dietary sources of vitamin D

Vitamin D functions like a steroid hormone in your body — and a whopping 41.6% of the U.S. population is deficient or low in it (17Trusted Source).

Fish and fish products are among the best dietary sources of vitamin D. Fatty fish like salmon and herring contain the highest amounts (18Trusted Source).

A single 4-ounce (113-gram) serving of cooked salmon packs around 100% of the recommended intake of vitamin D.

Some fish oils, such as cod liver oil, are also very high in vitamin D, providing more than 200% of the Daily Value (DV) in a single tablespoon (15 ml).

If you don’t get much sun and don’t eat fatty fish regularly, you may want to consider taking a vitamin D supplement.

SUMMARY Fatty
fish is an excellent source of vitamin D, an important nutrient in which over
40% of people in the United States may be deficient.

7. May reduce your risk of autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissues.

Several studies link omega-3 or fish oil intake to a reduced risk of type 1 diabetes in children, as well as a form of autoimmune diabetes in adults (19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).

The omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D in fish and fish oils may be responsible.

Some experts believe that fish intake may also lower your risk of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, but the current evidence is weak at best (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source).

SUMMARY Eating
fish has been linked to a reduced risk of type 1 diabetes and several other
autoimmune conditions.

8. May help prevent asthma in children

Asthma is a common disease characterized by chronic inflammation of your airways.

Rates of this condition have increased dramatically over the past few decades (24Trusted Source).

Studies show that regular fish consumption is linked to a 24% lower risk of asthma in children, but no significant effect has been found in adults (25Trusted Source).

SUMMARY Some
studies show that children who eat more fish have a lower risk of asthma.

9. May protect your vision in old age

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness that mostly affects older adults (26Trusted Source).

Some evidence suggests that fish and omega-3 fatty acids may protect against this disease.

In one study, regular fish intake was linked to a 42% lower risk of AMD in women (27Trusted Source).

Another study found that eating fatty fish once per week was linked to a 53% decreased risk of neovascular (“wet”) AMD (28Trusted Source).

SUMMARY People
who eat more fish have a much lower risk of AMD, a leading cause of vision
impairment and blindness.

10. Fish may improve sleep quality

Sleep disorders have become incredibly common worldwide.

Increased exposure to blue light may play a role, but some researchers believe that vitamin D deficiency may also be involved (29Trusted Source).

In a 6-month study in 95 middle-aged men, a meal with salmon 3 times per week led to improvements in both sleep and daily functioning (30Trusted Source).

The researchers speculated that this was caused by the vitamin D content.

SUMMARY Preliminary
evidence indicates that eating fatty fish like salmon may improve your sleep.

11. Delicious and easy to prepare

Fish is delicious and easy to prepare.

For this reason, it should be relatively easy to incorporate it into your diet. Eating fish one or two times per week is considered sufficient to reap its benefits.

If possible, choose wild-caught fish rather than farmed. Wild fish tends to have more omega-3s and is less likely to be contaminated with harmful pollutants.

Salmon can be prepared baked, fried, seared, or boiled. It pairs well with a multitude of vegetables and grains.

SUMMARY You
can prepare fish in a number of ways, including baked and fried. If you’re
able, select wild-caught varieties over farmed ones.

The bottom line

Fish is a wonderful source of high-quality protein. Fatty species also pack heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

What’s more, it has numerous benefits, including vision protection and improved mental health in old age.

What’s more, fish is easy to prepare, so you can add it to your diet today.

Saltwater Grill Serves Seafood by the Water

Way up a wide, sea-blue staircase, diners at the Saltwater Grill get something extra with their shrimp pasta, fire-grilled rib-eye steaks, and crab-encrusted grouper. On the balcony, they take in broad views of the White Oak River and the Intracoastal Waterway, both of which cradle the village of Swansboro on the eastern edge of Onslow County.

Sandbars and islets dot the water, and shrimp boats rest in their moorings on the far side of the river. The Atlantic Ocean is only five minutes away by boat, and Hammocks Beach State Park stretches just across Hawkins Bay. At one end of the restaurant, dinner is served with a view of the sun setting over the water: The seascape turns a fiery orange, and shadows stretch long across Swansboro’s quaint downtown.

In warm weather, boaters can navigate into the public slips at the base of the restaurant and take a table right on the dock. Wearing swimsuits, shades, and sunscreen, they lunch on shrimp burgers, lobster cake sandwiches, bacon-wrapped scallops, and mahi-mahi tacos.

The water is as central to the restaurant’s origins as it is to its views. One warm afternoon in 2011, Kim Pierce and Mike Egan hopped on Jet Skis in Jacksonville and zigged down the New River, then zagged up the Intracoastal Waterway to Swansboro, where they stopped for lunch at a steak-and-seafood restaurant overlooking the waterfront historic district.

Though Pierce and Egan were only in their early 30s at the time, they already had years of experience in the dining industry — they’d hustled in food-service jobs as students at East Carolina University, and one or the other had tended bar, coordinated special events, or run the business side of restaurants ever since. The couple eventually moved to Charlotte, where Pierce worked as the catering director at a country club, and Egan managed accounts for a software company that worked with restaurants.

Mike Egan and Kim PiercePHOTOGRAPH BY CHARLES HARRIS

During their dockside lunch, they gazed up at the restaurant and out over the vast, quiet water. Both felt the allure of the same dream. “I wish we could own a restaurant like this,” Pierce said.

“If I were going to take a risk, a leap, I’d rather do it now,” Egan replied.

And that was the end of it — until a few months later when their friend Tim Anderson approached them. “It’s not on the market,” he told them, “but if it were, would you be interested?”

Indeed they were, and in April 2012, they partnered with Anderson and took over as owners of that very restaurant, which they renamed the Saltwater Grill. Together, they’ve established a casual restaurant built around friendship, familiarity, and the fraternal feel of a tight-knit community.

And water. Lots of saltwater.

In fact, when the weather cooperates, Chef Martin Berndt has been known to skipper his boat to work — a seven-minute trip by skiff that beats the 20-minute commute by car. He admits that returning home in the dark after a long shift in the kitchen can get tricky on the waterway, but he’s found that learning the feel of the tides is just a part of life in Swansboro.

“Coming here was the sun, the moon, the stars — a very acceptable, welcoming challenge,” says Berndt, who grew up in Germany as the son of a three-star Marine general and studied culinary arts in France. He cooked in restaurants, country clubs, and hotels in Germany, Pennsylvania, and Greenville before joining the Saltwater Grill — lured, in part, because his wife is Pierce’s best friend.

His menu draws upon the area’s abundant seafood. Flounder, shrimp, oysters, yellowfin tuna, and grouper all occupy regular spots, while conch and squid show up from time to time. Berndt confers regularly with local seafood brokers, who call with reports of the latest catch. He also offers some surprises, including Asian-inspired shrimp stir-fry linguini, Creole-marinated alligator-and-jalapeño bites, and, in honor of his European childhood, Bavarian soft pretzels.

Yellowfin tuna with wasabi butter.PHOTOGRAPH BY CHARLES HARRIS

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me,” Berndt says. “From the people to the climate, everything suits me. I’ve basically been around the world, and this is the [place] I’d pick.”

The Saltwater Grill has deep roots in North Carolina. Pierce was born and raised in Wilson, while Egan, like Berndt, came from a Marine family and spent much of his youth in nearby Jacksonville.

Their restaurant draws on the everybody-knows-everybody air of small-town Swansboro, even though many of their customers are out-of-towners.

“We meet some very, very, very interesting people,” Egan says. “We live where everybody else vacations. When those people come in the door, we want them to feel welcome.”

Mallory Parker, who has tended bar and served tables at the restaurant since it opened, drives the 35 minutes daily from Jacksonville to Swansboro. “That was one of the wonderful things — how beautiful it is and how happy people were to be here,” she says. “Everybody knows everybody, and I know them, too.”

She felt a quick, lasting connection when she met Pierce and Egan. “I realized these people were special,” she continues. “They’ve been at the bottom, and they’ve worked their way up. They know what it’s like to be in our shoes, so they treat us with understanding.”

Pierce and Egan, who live with their dogs in a loft above the restaurant, have become part of Swansboro’s civic structure. They work with other restaurant owners in the historic district. If one of the businesses runs low on ice or sugar, they share. Egan joined the Rotary Club; Pierce serves on the board of the Swansboro Area Development Foundation.

“The older we get, the more appreciation we have for what a wonderful community this is,” Egan says. “It’s awesome when your friends want to come and hang out where you work.”

Plus, when things don’t flow smoothly, all that water provides ready respite. “If you have a stressful day,” Pierce says, “you just hop in your boat and go far enough away that you can see if the restaurant is on fire, and then you come back. A little salt water cures everybody.”

Benefits of Salt Water for Skin

It’s quite common for people to avoid consuming salt. It can cause bloating and contribute to high blood pressure. But, for your skin, salt can do wonders. Whether you’re taking a dip in the ocean or using your own concoction at home, salt water can do your skin some good! Our experienced dermatologists at the Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery Institute share several benefits of saltwater for the skin.

A Great Remedy for Various Skin Conditions

Magnesium, calcium, and potassium are all skin-friendly minerals that can be found in sea salt. These minerals are great benefits of salt water since they help combat acne-causing bacteria, skin infections, and speed up the healing process.

Those with oily skin can benefit from washing with a saltwater solution with its moisture-reducing abilities that can help control excess oil, which leads to clogged pores.

If you have eczema, you can really benefit by using saltwater in your skincare routine since magnesium is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial mineral that alleviates itching and reduces moisture from bacteria and fungi that causes eczema.

infographic on DIY ways to use salt for your skin

Gentle Exfoliant

Besides its “scrubby” element, sea salt acts as a great exfoliant that opens pores for a deeper clean, increase blood circulation, and allows your skin to better absorb moisturizers and other treatments. If you have sensitive skin, salt water should be used for your body instead of the face, where your skin is thinner and more easily irritated.

Rejuvenating Scrub

If you don’t have sensitive skin and are looking to attain softer skin, incorporate sea salt into your skincare routine. One of the benefits of salt water for skin is that it aids in skin cell turnover, helping you achieve a softer facial texture.

Anti-Dandruff Treatment

You don’t have to use salt water for just your face; you can also use it in your hair. Salt water helps loosen and remove dandruff while stimulating blood circulation for a healthier scalp. Also, sea salt helps keep fungal growth at bay by absorbing excess oil and moisture.

Saltwater Grill: A Seafood Lover’s Delight

Us in front of the 25,000-gallon aquarium at Saltwater Grill

Fact: I love vacations. I especially love beach vacations. And, one of the things I like best about going on a beach vacation is the food. Just thinking about all of that yummy, deliciously delectable seafood is making my mouth water! From Mahi to grouper, prawns to oysters, I’ll take it all…and I’ll take it now! As you can probably gather, I’ve eaten a LOT of seafood – particularly on the Gulf Coast. During my travels, I’ve found that few places do seafood better than Saltwater Grill in Panama City Beach, FL.

The restaurant

My family and I have spent quite a bit of time in Panama City Beach. Each time we go, we make sure to hit Saltwater Grill at least once. Owned by the same group that operates Firefly, these folks really know how to run a quality restaurant. The atmosphere is upscale casual, perfect for a romantic date night or for families of all ages looking for some great food. Attire is casual as well. Although you will see some people in slacks and evening wear, most men will feel comfortable arriving in shorts and a button-up shirt while women are usually spotted in shorts or a sundress.

Upon entering the restaurant, you are greeted by the magnificent 25,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. Complete with a giant reef, the tank is filled with several different species of tropical fish and is truly a favorite of children and adults alike. The friendly host staff is happy to accommodate your seating needs, and the professional and prompt wait staff will knowledgeably guide you through the menu and specials of the evening.

The Saltwater Grill menu

Lobster spring rolls at Saltwater Grill

While the aquarium and the staff are top-notch in their own right, the true star of Saltwater Grill is the food. Start your meal with some tasty “Firecracker Shrimp,” tossed in a creamy spicy sauce and served over Asian slaw. You may also wish to try the mushroom caps, which are stuffed with blue crab meat and topped with Béarnaise sauce. However, my personal favorite is the lobster spring rolls. These golden fried spring rolls are stuffed with Asian vegetables, Maine lobster (which arrives twice a week), and served with a delightful Thai chili sauce. This dish can be quite filling, which makes it the perfect appetizer to either share or eat alone as a main course.

House salad at Saltwater Grill

Enjoy a delicious soup and salad course by trying the rich and creamy lobster bisque. The tomato base and generous chunks of lobster are sure to please your palette. When it comes to salads, few places do them better than Saltwater Grill. The crisp, tasty vegetables are taken freshly from the garden. Holly’s favorite is the center cut iceberg salad, served with onions, tomatoes, wonderful Bleu cheese crumbles, and a tasty Bleu cheese dressing. I usually opt to enjoy the house salad with some freshly baked bread. Topped with a nice peppercorn ranch or creamy thousand island dressing, the freshness of this house salad makes for a truly surprising delight.

Lobster bisque at Saltwater Grill

The main course offerings are a seafood lover’s dream. Choose from sesame seared ahi tuna, red snapper, or seared sea scallops. Pick your own Maine lobster from the live tank, or try the crab cake stack, served with crispy fried eggplant and smoked tomato fondue. The mahi-mahi topped with pineapple salsa is also a treat not to be missed. Of course, this wouldn’t be the Gulf Coast without shrimp and grouper options. Try your shrimp lightly fried with a choice of potato and the vegetable of the day. Don’t miss the “Grouper Imperial,” a mouth-watering grouper filet sautéed in sherry butter and topped off with fresh lump crab meat. Seriously, peeps: Yummers!

Mahi-mahi at Saltwater Grill

For those who prefer land fare, Saltwater Grill offers some heavenly options of its own. The 14 oz. ribeye is sure to satiate any hungry man’s appetite, while the chicken marsala will satisfy those with a craving for white meat. However, if you are going to skip the seafood, I’d recommend trying “Saltwater Grill’s Famous Slow Roasted Prime Rib.” While the standard cut is probably enough for most, the SWG cut is truly a generous helping for the hungriest in the group. Of course, you are going to want to dip this delectable dish into their delicious horseradish au jus. You’ll love it!

Crab cakes at Saltwater Grill

No meal is complete at Saltwater Grill without sampling some of their desserts! Having tried all of these tasty treats, the key lime pie is certainly a favorite. Their creme brulee, bread pudding, and cheesecake options are also nice toppers to a delicious evening. For chocolate lovers (and for my kids), the chocolate lava cake can’t be beaten. Served warm and with vanilla ice cream, the chocolate simply oozes out of the cake’s center with each bite. In a word, it is simply AMAZE!

Price

Considering the quality of the food and the dining experience, Saltwater Grill is reasonably priced. With starters ranging from $8-13 and main courses running an average of approximately $22, we usually consider the evening a special night for the family. For those families with young children, or for diners who are looking to get great food at a superb price, Saltwater Grill offers an early dining menu from 4-5:30 P.M. daily. Priced at $14.99 at the time of publication, the early dining menu offers many of the fabulous dishes found on the main menu. Early birds can choose from 6 different main courses, with a house salad included.

If you are going to Panama City Beach, Florida, this is a can’t miss dining experience! Delicious seafood, reasonable prices, and an inviting atmosphere make Saltwater Grill one of the best restaurants on the northern Gulf Coast.

What Is Family-Style Dining?

How to enjoy the unique, intimate experience created by family-style dining?

This video was created in collaboration with Vox Creative.

Jamie Malone is chef and owner at the Grand Cafe in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2017, her restaurant was called “the most exciting dining experience of the year.” And in 2018, it was named one of the best in the country.

One secret to Malone’s success? Serving family-style meals. “Our goal at the restaurant is to cook delicious food, but it’s really to create an environment where people can come and truly let the rest of the world disappear and connect with each other,” she explains. “You set it down in the middle of the table, and instantly, you can see everyone’s body language, just zooming in over the food…you’ve just instantly created this connection between all of those people.”

Intrigued? Here’s why (and how) to seek out family-style dining for your next meal out.

What is Family-Style Dining?

Family-style dining—sometimes referred to as “large-format dining”—is when food is served on large platters meant for sharing, rather than as individual plates. Diners serve themselves from the food platters, just like you might at home in your dining room.

What are the Advantages of Family-Style Dining?

Diners and chefs alike enjoy the unique, intimate experience created by family-style dining. The act of ordering as a group—discussing likes and preferences, debating menu choices—can create a more communal experience. When the meal is brought out, your friends or family can experience the meal together.

Another advantage of family-style dining is that you’ll be able to try a wider variety of dishes and choose items you wouldn’t otherwise order.

While a whole roast duck isn’t something that you’d typically order for yourself, it’s an ideal choice to share with a group. Plus, you don’t have to worry about missing out or making the “wrong” menu choice.

What If I Have Kids at the Table?

Worried your kids will be overwhelmed by a family-style dining option? Family-style meals can be an opportunity for children to practice valuable life lessons like sharing, mealtime manners and healthy food choices. Family-style dining can also help your kids gain independence and self-confidence. It’s a fun way to help children learn to eat better—and to learn dining etiquette, too.

What’s the Etiquette Around Family-Style Dining?

There are a few variables unique to family-style dining. Common questions include: How should you split the bill? What if some people eat more than others? Who gets to take home leftovers?

As with any shared experience, communication is key. Discuss plans for paying ahead of time with your friends. If you’re planning to split the bill, confirm that the restaurant can handle separate checks, or use a payment-sharing app. Generally, splitting the bill evenly is easiest for a restaurant, but it may feel unfair to those who ate less than others. No matter how you handle the bill, make sure that everyone is comfortable—and that picky eaters can opt out of shared dishes if they prefer.

Not Just for Restaurants: Family-Style Wedding Meals

According to Kate Lerman, owner of Chicago Vintage Weddings, the family-style dining trend has been increasingly popular as a catering choice for weddings.

“Many of my couples choose to serve family-style meals because of the warmth and communal feel of this format. It’s a way for them to feel that they are bringing their guests together as a community to celebrate their special day,” she says. “It’s also convenient because couples don’t need to track each individual guest’s meal choice! Additionally, this is a great icebreaker for guests who are sitting at the same table who might not know each other.”

How to Find Family-Style Dining

Often, family-style dining is connected to eating traditions around the world. In Spain, tapas are small plates of food that are meant to be shared—and in some places, they’re complimentary with drink orders. Dim sum is a traditional Chinese meal that’s similar to family-style meals: Dumplings are chosen from carts, and diners share food and tea in a communal experience.

Local family-style spots may vary based on where you live. For example, in Richmond, Virginia, some of the best family-style dining spots are Italian restaurants. They offer big, shareable servings of pasta and seafood.

Look for menus that list small plates or shared plates, or search for a “family-style restaurant” near your city to find reviews that mention family-style options.

Litchfield County: Happening in the Hills

On Our Radar

Faces, places, treasures, and trends that caught our attention

Litchfield Saltwater Grille

With Andy Stowers and Brook Noel at the helm and executive Chef Robert Peotter in the kitchen, this seafood restaurant has become a local favorite, with one of the best bar scenes in the area. BY LISA FIELDING

Sometime last month I went to see a friend’s band play at Litchfield Saltwater Grille and expected an evening of great music and potentially lackluster food. To my surprise, the restaurant turned out to be a quality experience from the ambiance, service and cuisine.

The band was playing on the patio and unfortunately it was the first evening when temperatures dipped into the fifties. I was not prepared. One of the staff, whom I later learned is the owner, made a considerable effort to situate a table for me near the solitary heat lamp. Even so, I elected to sit inside—and happy I was—as Andy Stowers and I struck up a conversation about him and his wife Brook Noel’s decision to purchase the establishment in December of 2013. I thought this was a rather bold move given the fact that neither of them are restaurateurs and moved here from Wisconsin without any other infrastructure to greet them. Andy was a software executive and Brook is a published self-help author. Their safety net was bringing executive chef, Robert Peotter, with them in order to oversee the restaurant’s menu planning and management. Robert has over 25 years of restaurant experience from seafood to steakhouse concepts.

MIKE YAMIN

We started with a generous and perfectly executed cocktail while warming our now frigid bones with their delicious Connecticut clam chowder (a near cousin to New England). It was chock full of fresh clams, fresh herbs that included thyme and dill, with a creamy milky base that wasn’t too thick and also delivered a fiery kick. In a word, excellent. We sampled some crab cakes which I must confess needed more crab and a lighter touch. Fish and chips were next and the plate was generously heaped with lightly battered cod deep fried to a crispy golden finish. Fries were piping hot and also just the right texture. The tartar sauce was also a cut above and included fresh herbs and lots of chunky relish. We ordered the SWG Signature Salad and it was, as promised, loaded with cubes of smoky bacon, blue cheese, craisins and slivered almonds.

MIKE YAMIN

The restaurant space is vast and in addition to the bar and main dining rooms, it features a raw bar and space for private gatherings. I asked Andy what he hoped would be a take away for his clientele he said something to the effect that they weren’t looking to create elevated cuisine but to provide quality food in a warm environment with gracious service so customers left satisfied, happy and ready to return on their next night out. It’s an honest approach to restaurateuring that if maintained consistently could be the key to their success.

MIKE YAMIN

Litchfield Saltwater Grille is open seven days a week, 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., except on Mondays, when it opens at 4 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. On Sundays, dinner is served all day. The Lounge is open late on Fridays and Saturdays. There are 5 separate dining/lounge areas plus an outdoor patio that can seat 40. Happy hour deals are from 4-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Their calendar of events includes happy hour, tarot card readings, wine pairing dinners and, of course, live music.

Saltwater Grill Serves Seafood by the Water

Whether you arrive by car or by boat, this laid-back restaurant in downtown Swansboro will fill your plate with seafood, and your heart with a love of the water.

Though Pierce and Egan were only in their early 30s at the time, they already had years of experience in the mining industry — they’d hustled in food-service jobs as students at East Carolina University, and one or the other had tended bar, coordinated special events, or run the business side of restaurants ever since. The couple eventually moved to Charlotte, where Pierce worked as the catering director at a country club, and Egan managed accounts for a software company that worked with restaurants.

Mike Egan and Kim PiercePHOTOGRAPH BY CHARLES HARRIS

During their dockside lunch, they gazed up at the restaurant and out over the vast, quiet water. Both felt the allure of the same dream. “I wish we could own a restaurant like this,” Pierce said.

“If I were going to take a risk, a leap, I’d rather do it now,” Egan replied.

And that was the end of it — until a few months later when their friend Tim Anderson approached them. “It’s not on the market,” he told them, “but if it were, would you be interested?”

And water. Lots of saltwater.

• • •

Yellowfin tuna with wasabi butter.PHOTOGRAPH BY CHARLES HARRIS

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me,” Berndt says. “From the people to the climate, everything suits me. I’ve basically been around the world, and this is the [place] I’d pick.”

• • •

The Saltwater Grill has deep roots in North Carolina. Pierce was born and raised in Wilson, while Egan, like Berndt, came from a Marine family and spent much of his youth in nearby Jacksonville.

Their restaurant draws on the everybody-knows-everybody air of small-town Swansboro, even though many of their customers are out-of-towners.

“We meet some very, very, very interesting people,” Egan says. “We live where everybody else vacations. When those people come in the door, we want them to feel welcome.”

“The older we get, the more appreciation we have for what a wonderful community this is,” Egan says. “It’s awesome when your friends want to come and hang out where you work.”