-The city overlooking St. Andrew’s Bay offers a diverse range of culinary offerings-

Panama City, Fla., August 2, 2016 – Overlooking beautiful St. Andrew’s Bay, with easy access to the Gulf of Mexico, and benefiting from diverse cultures, Panama City offers a surprising array of culinary offerings. The expected – and iconic – oyster bars and seafood shacks are not to be bypassed, but adventurous diners soon discover that the city Where Life Sets Sail has something to serve all moods and occasions, from elegant special celebrations to laid-back waterfront dives.

Here a just a handful of eateries that demonstrate the range of cuisine to be found in Downtown, Historic St. Andrews and in other points throughout the city.

Ferrucci Ristorante’s owner, Mike Ferrucci, who originally hails from Naples, has been executing prefect Italian maritime recipes by taking advantage of the seafood coming into the Panama City Marina just blocks away from the restaurant. A caught-that-day pan-seared snapper treated to lemon-caper butter sauce or shrimp linguini studded with fresh zucchini, tomato and basil can only be improved when put to bed with an airy tiramisu.

Millie’s Café transports New Orleans just slightly east along the coast to serve up Louisiana-style seafood and po’boys. If you need a powdered-sugar pick-me-up, Millie’s will offer you a convincing beignet along with a cup of coffee strong enough to stand a spoon up in – and live music on Saturday night promises to let le bon temps rouler.

When Gilbert Hamati moved to Panama City in 2007, he eventually solved his growing hankering for Bay City fare by opening Trigo San Francisco Style Deli. Six years later, his downtown eatery has become a local favorite for its daily soups, salads, subs and pizzas.

Just the Cook serves up delectable Latin Caribbean-inspired fare, such as a Shrimp Tortuga, but the menu item that best matches the quirkiness of his floating kitchen is the Dan-D Donut Burger – a rosemary-seasoned all- beef burger topped with Canadian bacon, Swiss and bleu cheese, and a grilled red pepper, sandwiched between two locally made grilled doughnuts.

Little Village, an outdoor bazar with a Deadhead vibe tucked beneath trees shading brightly colored individual booths filled with fair-trade art, crafts, and home and garden décor, hosts a low-key waterside outdoor café, Finns Island Style Grub, that serves local brews and succulent, well-stuffed fish tacos.

Hunts Oyster Bar is a local institution housed in a bright yellow bungalow with a decrepit wooden boat beached out front – just what you’d expect from an old-time Northwest Florida oyster shack.

Four Winds Grill & Spirits overlooking St. Andrews Marina, serves breakfast, lunch and supper and features a casual seafood-driven menu.

St. Andrews Coffee House & Bistro brews a seriously perfect cup along with constantly changing breakfast specials and deli sandwiches at lunch.

Wine Knot Tapas, tucked in a corner of a neighborhood bordering downtown, offers an incredible by-the-glass wine program to accompany perfectly executed, authentic Spanish tapas, such as datiles con jamon and scallop con chorizo.

The nostalgic, classic Americana diner ambiance of Chef’s belies the level of cuisine offered in seasonal lunch and dinner menus, as well as a vast selection of local and craft beers. Lunch focuses on sandwiches and creative tacos while dinner is driven by contemporary Southern fare, such as Alabama chicken and waffles, fish and grits and curried chicken and dumplings.

Shipyard Grill at Sun Harbor Marina offers multilevel dining and beverages, with live entertainment on the outdoor patio, with upscale yet relaxed American fare highlighted by fresh local seafood with a hint of Greek and Caribbean fusion.

Sailors and landlubbers alike can’t help but get in a Jimmy Buffett frame of mind at Bayou Joe’s, cozily tucked into the heart of the marina at Massalina Bayou. Enjoying a hearty Southern breakfast or an oyster po’boy dockside with a cold beverage and the gentle lap of water against the wooden deck is a sure recipe for lowering stress levels.