History of STEWBY’S
Hi! I’m Stewart Taylor and this is my little seafood shanty. STEWBY’S Seafood Shanty is based off an old family restaurant called Sam’s Oyster House. Sam’s Oyster House was founded by my father Sam Taylor back in the late 60′s as a small seafood take-out.
Sam passed away back in 1985 and was left for myself, brother, and mother to operate. Sam’s remained open for 11 more years until it was sold in 1996. Sam’s was sold for many different reasons. One of which was the desires to go in new directions by myself and other family members.
Unfortunately Sam’s closed 1 year later at the hands of the new owners. This was very depressing. After empty promises to carry on the Sam’s name for years to come, the new owners went bankrupt just after 1 year.
Sam’s Oyster House may have had it’s problems, but the lack of quality fried seafood was not one of them. Serving fresh locally caught amberjack and shrimp, Sam’s was considered the authority on fresh fried seafood. Sam’s was actually the first to serve amberjack. Amberjack was considered trash fish and my father had to beg the fisherman to bring it to the docks.
Sam’s paved the way for most of the seafood restaurants in Fort Walton and Destin today. Most are modeled after Sam’s casual atmosphere and menu. However these restaurants don’t have what I have and that is my fathers vision and most importantly his recipes.
What is STEWBY’S Seafood Shanty
STEWBY’S Seafood Shanty is a small take out and drive thru seafood restaurant in Fort Walton Beach. Offering the most affordable and freshest local seafood. You can eat on our enclosed deck or take it to-go.
All our seafood is fresh and locally bought. The fish comes straight of the boats in Destin. Our sauces and sides are all made from scratch. Even the seafood seasoning is made from scratch with no MSG or preservatives.
Built from an old portable school classroom and placed on an old car lot, STEWBY’S is centrally located in the heart of Fort Walton Beach, Fl. on Racetrack rd.
Average order time is between 4-6 minutes. So if your in a hurry, don’t worry. We’ll have you on your way in minutes. STEWBY’S also offers a drive thru window for your convenience. But don’t let the drive thru fool you. You don’t have to sacrifice quality for convenience.
Drive thru and take some to go or stop in and order from the walk up window. STEWBY’S is always providing the best quality seafood at the best price!
Stewart,
As a young man I ate at you father’s restaurant many times. I fished out of Destin in the summer time for extra money,and learned the value of “trash fish,amberjack, trigger etc.” I’m looking forward to trying out your restaurant,as i love a good fish sandwich and fried oysters. Please keep me posted.
Thanks,
Steve
I have read through everything but I don’t see the address for this place. All I have seen and read is an alley and an old portable school trailer. Thanks Looking forward to it. Sam’s was the first place that I had ever eaten a real fish sandwich in my life at the age of 40 and it was an Amberjack sandwich. Then I heard some men sitting across from me talking about how that type of fish eats garbage and has worms in their bellies. I was done with that sandwich. Nothing against the restaurant.
Hey Steve. Thanks for your comments.
Jennifer, thanks for your interest and sorry for the confusion. STEWBY’S is not yet open. Hopefully really soon, but just not yet.
As for your misconception of Amberjack, let me take the time to clear this up. Not just for you but for others than may also share your thoughts. Amberjack is not a trash fish nor does it eat trash. LOL that is funny. Amberjack was considered trash fish because fisherman would catch them when they were after other more prized catch like grouper and snaper. They were like a nuisance and were discarded like trash.
As for the worms, they are a parasite and are found in the meet at and around the tail which can be cut out. Not all amberjack have worms. In fact the worms can be found in most gulf water fish. Trout, redfish, and I’ve even come across them in grouper and snapper. They just seem to be more predominate in amberjack. They are completely visible and are removed when cleaning the fish. If however they are abundant, then parts of the meet can be completely cut out.
I hope you will give me a chance to feed you when we get open. If you let this misconception stop you from eating amberjack, you are missing out on a great tasting fish.
P.S. You might want to reconsider eating pork, which does eat trash (slop) and is treated for worms and other parasites.
Ha! I love it! (Pork comment) Yeah if we take the time to really consider meats we probably wouldn’t eat any of them! My family and I are headed your way this May and look forward to eating at your restaurant! Fish taco here I come!
I grew up eating at Sams as well. I was greatly saddened when the business was sold and then even more so when it closed. If I recall it was under the Big Oaks on the site where Publix, Waffle House now sits at the foot of Brooks bridge. Looking forward to another great seafood dinner and wishing you much success!
hi stewart,
glad to see you are opening this place up. as a kid i used to come down to destin and fish the blue marlin and the old florida girl and the old kelly fleet and actually caught some of those so-called trash fish for sam. we allways ate very well on triggers and aj’s as the boat customers didnt want them, i never could understand it, to this day my two favorites are amberjack and triggers, let us know where you will be located and i will definately come by for a dinner. i wish you sucess in your endeavor.
Is this the Sam’s Oyster House that was where the closed Blockbusters is on 98 in front of Publix’s.
Hey Michele, yes the same.
Reading the History and as a native, just the mention of Sam Taylor brought fond memories of BC (before Condo’s).. I was present the Day Sam opened on Main. He had a wonderful concept. If I had a dollar for every shrimp and oyster basket I ate there, I would be a millionaire… Good luck, I’ll see you there.
Welcome neighbor.
Growing up in Fort Walton, we used to eat at Sam’s Oyster House quite a bit. I recently ran across your website and it piqued my interest, so this past Sunday, I decided to stop by for a late lunch, very happy with the food and service, though, I would have preferred hushpuppys to the mini corn muffins, still great seafood!
When I saw you building, as I go by every day on my way to and from work, I wondered how great a place this would be~~~when I saw Sam’s, it brought back memories. Since I am originally from Tennessee, and not a seafood eater, or even really liked seafood, this was one of my very first impressions of how very good it is. Fairly new to the area in the late 1980′s, it was one of the highlights to go to Sam’s for dinner. Thank you for coming back. I look forward to coming by soon, for what I am sure, will be a very enjoyable meal, and an awakened taste memory. Good fortune always!
Johnnie
The absolute BEST fresh shrimp & fresh fish in the area! Blows away the local so-called Shrimp “houses” and “baskets”. We had the fried amberjack (caught the previous day!), fried shrimp, boiled shrimp & gumbo. The food was so fresh! You could really taste the difference between this food and the usually overly breaded or previously frozen fish & shrimp! The best seafood gumbo I have had from any restaurant – ever! You can taste the homemade roux!
WE WILL BE BACK!! We will also tell all of our friends & coworkers!
Can’t wait for a crawfish boil!
I am very much looking forward to trying the seafood here. I grew up in FWB and on Sam’s. I so miss the Oysters by the dozen for $.99. Will be there for the Billy Bowlegs Festival this year.
My dad (Jimmy Ray) and mom (Mary Ruth) would be proud that I am going back to my roots…..but just to visit.
I stopped by the other night and man was it great. The food was incredible and the atmosphere on the deck was as it should be; enjoying food with other locals and visitors. Look forward to eating there again soon. Love the slaw on the fish sandwich.
I used to be a waitress at SAMS. I worked there for 4 years while attending UWF. My husband was stationed at Eglin AFB. We rented a house from your Your grandma Ms. Mac. I loved working at SAMs in fact it took me four years to complete my last two years of college because the tips were so great during spring and summer. I am a teacher and a mother of four, but I look back often to those years I worked at SAMs with very fond memories.
I hope for you great Providence in your venture and hope to make it back to FWB one day to eat at your resturaunt.
Debbie jacobs
I also use to be a waitress at Sam’s. I think about those times often. Sad to here that it closed.
saw your ad in a pop up. Mt in laws fed us one night with your shrimp baskets. Did not remember where it was from until I saw the pop up ad, we will be stopping in. Always want to assist the local places and the people with heart. I too am a local business and wanted you to know that your pop up ad worked. Money well spent. Thanks