From firecracker shrimp to two-handed subs, fine pinot noir to kickin' bushwhackers, the food and drink of the Alabama coast is exceptional. "I must go down to the sea again," said poet John Masefield, "to find great places to eat." OK, so maybe I added that last part. Still, for delicious fare, down by the Gulf Coast is the place to be. Cast away assembly line burgers and seafood from the shores of Taiwan, and discover fresh tastes and cool drinks at eateries you may not even know exist. RUM AND FUN Part of the adventure of Flippers Seafood & Oyster Bar is finding it. Bay La Launch Avenue ain't exactly Times Square. But this double-decker Perdido Bay bar and restaurant is worthy of an expedition. Did I say bar? There are actually three under one roof. Sarah Long tends the upstairs Bent Oar Tiki Bar. "Our signature drink is the Dizzy Dolphin," she says, pouring a cool one. "It combines various rums with pineapple, cranberry and orange juices and a splash of grenadine." "We also make a great bushwhacker," co-owner Paula Taylor notes. It's a savory wedding of chocolate liqueur and rum with homemade Eddie Boy's Ice Cream. Flippers Seafood & Oyster Bar 5749 Bay La Launch Ave., Orange Beach. 981-3547. flippersrestaurant.com WHAT A CATCH! Why would a Gulf Coast restaurant overlooking Cotton Bayou offer Maryland crabs? Because they are so deliciously prepared that Maryland natives actually come here to eat them. "We've had Maryland tour groups say that our pan seared jumbo lump crab cakes are the best that they have ever had," says a Geno's Fresh Catch Grill waiter. The beauty of Geno's cakes is in simplicity: pure meat and very little filler, breading or mayonnaise. The grill also offers terrific gumbo and mouthwatering shrimp and grits. Plus, watching folks from Maryland taste grits for the first time just might be worth the trip in itself! Geno's Fresh Catch Grill 26619 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach. 975-1388. genosfreshcatchgrill.com CARIBBEAN CUISINE "The lower the latitude, the better the attitude!" proudly proclaims Bob Murphy, co-owner of Bahama Bob's Beachside Cafe. "Our signature dish is right there," says the surf-side cafe restaurateur, pointing out the window to the blue water and white sand vista. This may be true, but his coconut shrimp and Bahama Bob�s Burger, with its grilled pineapple, bacon, two slices of Swiss cheese and half pound of beef, are close contenders. "People come here to escape for a little while," he says. Tourists and locals alike know this as a little bit of the Bahamas in coastal Alabama. "We are the very best of everything that you come to the beach for," Murphy says. Bahama Bob's Beachside Cafe 601 W. Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores. 948-2100. OYSTER SAMPLER For the freshest oysters, don scuba gear, search the ocean floor and scoop them up yourself. Or just dine at Sea-N-Suds. Oysters here are shucked while you wait. It's a great spot for gumbo, too - "a family recipe, handed down since 1975," says owner Nancy Peyer. "We sell tons of it." Sea-N-Suds 405 E. Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores. 948-7894. sea-n-suds.com POWER BRUNCH Duck's Diner's brunch is so good, it's blessed. "Every week a monsignor from a local church comes to eat our eggs Benedict," co-owner Rhonda Drummond says. When he's finished, the well-fed priest walks into the kitchen proclaiming, "Bless you." The signature dish is only served on weekends, and come early, because people line up. Duck's Diner 4560 Easy St., Orange Beach. 948-9191. WINE AND ROMANCE My usual wine preference is a rich, full-bodied blend from the vineyards of Sam's Club warehouse. Picking and pairing not your forte? Nina Martin's Sunset Cork Room Restaurant and Wine Bar to the rescue! "We are here to help," the owner and wine aficionado says. For me, she suggests either a Bordeaux-style blend or a pinot noir that perfectly complements their most excellent filet mignon. Another popular dish is the seared ahi tuna, below. Sunset Cork Room's cozy, intimate setting is a nice retreat from the beach glare and heat. It's easy to see why it was named the most romantic restaurant on the isle. Sunset Cork Room Restaurant and Wine Bar 225 E. 16th Ave., Gulf Shores. 967-4773. sunsetcorkroom.com FIRECRACKER SHRIMP When a dish's title combines explosives with fresh seafood, expect some tasty fireworks. The Firecracker Shrimp appetizer, above, at Cosmo's Restaurant & Bar is the big bang of shellfish. "It's popcorn shrimp prepared in a spicy remoulade sauce," says general manager Jennifer Kaylor. The crab cakes are out of this world, too. How something as ugly as a blue crab can become such a delicacy is one of the mysteries of the sea. Cosmo's has a fun atmosphere that features bright colors, an eclectic art gallery and a funky purple and red bar. The varied menu includes seafood, steak and noteworthy sushi. Cosmo's Restaurant & Bar 25753 Canal Road, Orange Beach. 948-9663. cosmosrestaurantandbar.com DRINK UP OK, so I know LuLu's Homeport Marina is not exactly a new discovery. The owner, Lucy Buffett, is Jimmy Buffett's sister, for Pete's sake, and her restaurant is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Alabama. "Crazy Sista" has indeed made a name for herself with her cooking. Let's now raise a toast to her drinks. They go way beyond wasting away in Margaritaville. "We change our specials often," says Lulu's bar manager Gerald Tipton. "But one of our signature drinks is the Bama Breeze." Feel the breeze with vodka, Cruzan rum, grapefruit flavors, a bit of lime and more. LuLu's Homeport Marina 200 E. 25th Ave., Gulf Shores. 967-5858. lulusathomeport.com TWO-HANDED SANDWICHES "Once we get you in, we've gotcha," says Dottie Ray, manager of The Grape Escape Deli & Wine Cellar. I say "gotcha" to the Big Bad Roast Beef Sandwich - a three-quarter-pound slab of Boar's Head beef, Havarti cheese, portabella mushrooms and extras, wedged between two slices of ciabatta bread. "It's definitely a two-hander, maybe more," Ray adds. "We go through 50 to 75 a week." It took me a half hour to go through this one. All soups and sandwiches in The Grape Escape are made from scratch in-house. Their wines, on the other hand, are from all around. "We offer recommendations with your meal," Ray explains. "For example, a pinot noir would be great with your roast beef sandwich." Cheers! The Grape Escape Deli & Wine Cellar 3099 Loop Road, Orange Beach. 980-3354. AW, SHUCKS With a name like Shucker's, it has to be good. Shucker's Oyster Bar at The Wharf pours a kickin' bushwhacker and a charmingly named Mother Shucker's cocktail, comprised of assorted rums, white liqueur, amaretto, grenadine and orange juice. "Don't leave without trying the gumbo," says manager Terri Days. And don't leave without sampling the charred oysters on the half shell, grilled with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses and melded in smoked butter. Heck, don't leave at all! Shucker's Oyster Bar at The Wharf 4673 Wharf Parkway, Orange Beach. 224-1007. BIG STEAKS Nothing can keep a good steak down, or the house that serves it. Recently reopened, Nolan's Restaurant & Lounge boasts a specialty steer butt steak. They also take pride in their Mediterranean cuisine, including Greek-style grouper. Nolan's Restaurant & Lounge 1140 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores. 948-2111. nolansrestaurant.com Image information: Main: Flippers Seafood & Oyster Bar Left: Bahama Bob's Beachside Cafe Right: Shucker's Oyster Bar at the Wharf Photos by Elise Poche