Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar is a cool new spot on the corner of West Scenic Highway 30A and South County Highway 393. It has delicious food — even for those who don’t like seafood — a waterfront view and frequently hosts live music.

THE FOOD

My guest and I were a little anxious about dining somewhere with “oyster” in the name. Neither of us had tried oysters but, for the sake of writing this feature, we figured one of us should give them a taste.

For starters, though, we ordered the Duck Fat Gulley Fries. It was a tough decision because the appetizer menu included tuna poke, yellow fin tuna dip, fried crab claws, Key lime rum shrimp and a variety of oysters.

While we waited for our appetizer, a staff member shucking oysters kindly offered to let us try one. My guest agreed and tried an oyster with a saltine cracker and the restaurant’s sauce.

We devoured the flavorful fries quickly. They were topped with garlic, olive and truffle oil, sea salt and garlic aioli.

Another way to start your meal is with one of the restaurant’s soups or salads. The menu features a shrimp and crab bisque, Shunk house salad, wedge salad and grilled Caesar salad.

Choosing the entrée was even tougher than the appetizer because there are many seafood and non-seafood options. The menu has sandwiches, such as the shrimp po boy, oyster po boy and Gulf sandwich, which features fish from the Gulf of Mexico. It also offers entrees such as the Catch of the Day basket, Gulf shrimp basket, fried oyster basket, filet mignon and crab cakes.

The side choices are a side salad, french fries, asparagus or coastal slaw.

After earlier taste-testing an oyster, my guest ordered a half-dozen of the bacon cheddar jalapeño oysters for his entree.h

The oysters came with bread slices. He enjoyed the oysters' flavor with the toppings, and how filling they were surprised him.

I couldn’t decide if I wanted a burger or the Sweet Tea Chicken Basket. The basket comes with fried sweet tea-brined chicken.

I went the more traditional route and ordered the Shunk Burger. The wait staff had walked past me with several burgers that made my mouth water.

The half-pound cheeseburger came with Vermont sharp cheddar cheese, applewood bacon, romaine lettuce, tomato jam, caramelized honey onions and pickles. The burger comes inside a challah bun.

The juicy burger was tasty and hearty, and the fries were crispy. The best part of the burger was its deliciously sweet onions.

For beverages, the restaurant offers an extensive wine, cocktail and beer menu. It has about 15 red wine and white wine choices each, more than 10 ocean-themed specialty cocktails and a selection of canned beer and some locally-brewed draft beer. The cocktail names are creative, such as the Sea Queen Mojito, Mermaid Martini and the Sand Dollar.

Choosing the dessert was the easiest decision because my guest and I love Key lime pie. We were so full from our meals, it made sense to split a light dessert. Next time, we might try the Beignet Fries or Mac’s Pie, which also sound yummy.

The Key lime pie was a classic style topped with white chocolate mousse and a slice of lime.

THE ATMOSPHERE

Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar is hip.

The wall on the side facing the Gulf has two garage doors. It’s too cold to raise them now, but it will be awesome when warmer weather arrives.

It offers table and bar seating, mounted TVs and a view of the cooks preparing food. I always think it’s nice to see what is going into the meal.

This restaurant transitions seamlessly from day to night. It’s ideal for families or tourists with its convenient location near the beach and menu featuring light and heavy dishes. It’s also ideal for evenings of entertainment, as one part of the restaurant frequently features live music. You can tell just from the extensive drink menu, live music schedule and vibe, this is a fun place for a night out.

The best part is the restaurant’s location, which is directly across from a public beach access. You can either admire the water from the eatery or hit the beach before or after you eat.

THE SERVICE

Because we ate at the restaurant on New Year’s Eve, it was packed. While the servers were extremely busy, we received extra attention from the staff member shucking oysters next to us at the bar.

He made sure our server took our order and he chatted with us while we waited. Keep in mind, he never once stopped shucking oysters.

We asked how many oysters were typically shucked in one day, and the numbers started at 60 dozen and went past 100 dozen. Wow. He admitted his hands were sore the day after shucking.

He also showed us the restaurant’s collection of mini-pearls the staff members have found inside the oysters. There were about 100 small pearls of different colors.

Although we didn’t catch his name, we appreciated how he ensured our visit was pleasant, even knowing the server would receive the tip.

Our server was friendly and never rushed us, despite how busy she was.

Overall, we were pleased with the quality of service and genuine sentiment of the staff.

A FINAL TASTE

With its modern design and prime location, we knew we would like Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar as soon as we walked in. This joint will make a popular choice for tourists and locals in the 30A community.

QUICKBITES

Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar

Location: 1875 County Highway 393, Santa Rosa Beach

Telephone: 850-622-2733

Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. lunch; 4-9:30 p.m. dinner daily

Reservations: No

Kids menu: Yes, $8

Price Range: Appetizers, $8-$25; soups and salads, $8-$13; sandwiches, $16-$20; entrees, $14-$34; desserts, $8-$9