The Grand Marlin Grand Opening

Photography by Mike Booini and Cortland Alloway

The Grand Marlin Restaurant and Oyster Bar opened in October after months of reconstruction efforts and major improvements.

During a pre-opening tasting event, Executive Chef and partner Gregg McCarthy presented fresh and unique menu items. “Our focus will remain the same: To provide upscale-casual dining focused on fresh, local ingredients paired with exceptional service in an inviting and relaxed atmosphere,” said McCarthy. “Our menu will continuously evolve and be printed daily.”

The once open-air main floor is now enclosed and a 1,200-pound Grander Marlin is mounted above the bar area – the big game fish is a replica of a fish once caught by one of the restaurant’s owners.

There is a shucked-to-order oyster bar at one of its three full bars in the restaurant and the second floor is an open-air bar named after a world-class marlin fishing destination off the coast of St. Thomas in the Caribbean, The North Drop.

Situated at the Lighthouse Marina on Grand Lagoon, the Panama City location looks to duplicate the strategy and success of its anchor location in Pensacola Beach. “We’re excited to be a part of the Panama City community,” says President and Partner Bryan Housley. “Our focus has always been about people. We look forward to building a family of locals and team members within the community.”