The Family Coastal Restaurant

Sunday we decided to take a ride to the Family Coastal Restaurant in Sumatra. Before I tell you about the amazing food and service you get at the Family Coastal, let me tell you that is in the middle of nowhere. Plan to have your car or motorcycle all gassed up before you go. It's located on lonely Highway 65 where you'll pass through Tate's Hell. If you like country roads where you'll see forest, a few animals and hardly any other cars or people around - you'll love this ride!

On to the food......It's a popular place and well worth the long ride to get a plate of seafood and a slice of pie.

Doug and I both had grilled grouper burgers. For my side I chose cole slaw. The grouper is very fresh, served with lettuce and tomato on a bun. Tarter and cocktail sauce on the side. The slaw was great - finely chopped like my mom used to make.



Doug choose cheese grits for his side. I ate some (I don't think he knew it) they were awesome! Some restaurants serve what they call cheese grits and well...they are just plain tasteless grits with orangey coloring. These definately had cheese in them, very creamy and so tasty. I highly recommend this side if you dine at this restauarnt.




As for all the choices you have for side dishes - there probably isn't one that will diappoint you. No, I haven't tried them all, but we have tried four different ones between this trip and the last time we ate there. Last time we went I had a side of fried eggplant.

If you are a fan of eggplant, as I am, you will hear angels sing as the first forkful of tender, perfectly seasoned and grilled, scrumptuous eggplant hits your tastebuds.

For a dessert we shared a piece of key lime pie. The consistancy was rich and creamy, like cheesecake, and I wish I could have brought a piece home for my son. He loves Key Lime pie. Other choices were blueberry or strawberry cheesecake and coconut pie.



The food is obviously fresh and you feel like you're a kid when Mom gave you a delicious home cooked meal.

Karisa, our server who is as friendly as she is pretty.



There are seafood platters, one of which I observed piled with oysters, grouper, hushpuppies and cheese grits...more food than one ought to put away at one sitting. But it's hard to stop eating, even as your expanding stomach protests, when it all tastes so good!

Give us a family or locally run business anytime over the chains such as Applebees, Outback, Red Lobster, etc. Not only do we like to support local business folks, the service is better. The food is better.

Karisa mentioned that someone else reviewed the restaurant and she didn't get the web address. I don't know if this is the same one, but it's a good review of the restauarnt and the surrounding area. Talks about the beekeeping industry and they have nice photos. Check it out here.


It's a great ride on the bike where you can see wild turkeys, deer and swallow tail kites. The kite we saw today was graceful and beautiful, cruising the blue sky above us, looking for prey. Or maybe it was just out having fun like we were.




The post office


The sign had fallen off .....




The house across from the restaurant...........






Ready to go now.