By Will Estell

This staple of local South Walton food and fun is perhaps just as well known for its energetic vibe and live music nights as it is for its food. But, trust me, the food, just like the music and fun, definitely keeps people coming back for more. One visit and you’ll see precisely what I mean.

Louis Louis, located just off of Hwy. 98 and convenient to 30A, is a kitschy American café with art-filled walls, colorful décor, hip chandeliers, and a definite cool factor in place. The restaurant is owned and managed by a well-known local trio of restaurateur brothers, Philippe, Olivier, and Louis Petit, along with their father, Louis Sr.

The family also owns other restaurants along the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, including, a favorite of many tourists and locals alike, the iconic and wildly popular Red Bar in Grayton Beach. Though there are similar elements in all their restaurants, Louis Louis is probably known and frequented more by locals than it is by the hundreds of thousands of tourists converging on the 30A area each vacation season. And, I say this because that makes it just the ideal place to check out if you want to experience food and fun much as the locals do.

The food quality is, as with all of the Petit family’s establishments, consistently excellent, the service above board, and the available selections diverse enough that you’re bound to find a favorite on their menu… whether you opt for Chicken Panne, Shrimp & Crawfish Pasta, or their delicious Pork Tenderloin. And if you’re into sweets at all, you’ll definitely want to try the homemade Key Lime Pie or Crème Brule too.

For those looking for a cool bar vibe Louis Louis’s definitely has you covered there.

With everything from a weekly ladies’ night to a vibrant happy hour scene, this is a great place to get your live music fix while sipping on a vast array of offerings from their full-service bar, complete with its cool, vintage feel.

Whether it’s the food, fun, or laid-back local feel, once you give Louis Louis a try, I think you’ll find yourself making it a regular spot for your future trips to our beautiful little strip of sand, sun and fun.