Runaway Island

Reviews

• SF

  Sara Figueroa

  1 day ago
  4.0
  This spot is gorgeous if you’re looking for a place to enjoy a meal and see the ocean. Great oysters, but the rest of the food was just okay. The atmosphere was the best part, being able to see the ocean. Love music is available sometimes, and they have a cute little gift shop available inside as well. Abundant outdoor space to sit, as well as indoor seating available.
• DA

  Duane Alewine

  Mar 8, 2026
  5.0
  My wife and I stopped in for a late lunch/early dinner. We sat at the bar (normal for us) and were greeted by Jake. We had drinks,appetizers, and a full meal each so we ended up with a nice variety of food. We were both impressed with everything. Fresh and prepared perfectly. Jake as well as Ben behind the bar made sure we had everything we needed. Just a great overall experience.
• DS

  Dale Scott

  Mar 6, 2026
  1.0
  I honestly wish I had read the reviews before coming to Runaway Island because this place was a huge disappointment. I ordered what was advertised as blackened grouper, and what showed up on the plate was clearly not grouper. Anyone who has eaten real grouper knows the difference immediately. It tasted and looked like tilapia, which is already a downgrade, but the worst part was that it was undercooked. The texture was mushy and unpleasant, and the flavor was off to the point where I couldn’t finish it. For the price they charge, you’d expect quality seafood—especially at a place sitting on the beach in Panama City. Instead, I got what felt like a cheap bait-and-switch with poorly cooked fish. Between the questionable fish, the poor execution, and the overpriced menu, this was easily one of the most disappointing meals I’ve had in Panama City Beach. I won’t be returning, and I definitely wouldn’t recommend it if you’re actually looking for good seafood.
• IR

  Ian Richardson

  Feb 17, 2026
  3.0
  Runaway Island let me down on this occasion. Valentine's Day 2026 we were excited to read they had a special menu, a small menu with only three choices but nonetheless enticing enough for us to be excited to share a sunset at Runaway, hear the sunset bell and enjoy their food. We went early with a reservation (lots of open tables so didn't need the reservation but good to have). We ordered identical specialty beach drinks, they arrived separately and tasted noticeably different, odd but not a show stopper, one tasted better than the other, slightly irritating for a specialty cocktail for $15 each. We had chosen ahead of time the Butter Poached Lobster and New York Strip, on ordering the server informed us that they were out of lobster, this is 4.45pm at the beginning of dinner service and a huge disappointment. We pivoted back to the regular menu and order one Runaway Grouper ($44) and the New York Strip ($39) the later from the special menu. The steak was delicious, comforting and served hot with Bordelaise Sauce and mash potatoes. The Runaway Grouper did not live up to the pictures online or previous visits and came to the table cold with cold mash potato and a tiny amount of the Lemon Butter Sauce that accompanies the dish. The server offered to have the dish remade but by now we had three strikes, odd tasting drinks, out of the special menu food by 4.45pm and a Runaway Grouper not well executed. The server was overhead to be apologizing to other tables as well so not a good service for Runaway. We will be back to Runaway at some point but feedback is important and to be shared. A high end dining restaurant, with high end prices has no excuses for being busy.
• II

  ian

  Feb 17, 2026
  3.0
  Runaway Island and Valentine's Day Cupid let us down. We chose Runaway Island for Valentine's Day dinner based on the success of previous visits being locals in the area and for the special Valentine's Day menu. The menu was limited to 3 items and we were looking forward to the lobster entree, and steak entree that we had chosen ahead of time. We went early, made a reservation to have dinner (didn't need the reservation, plenty of open seating) and to enjoy the sunset. We sat outside and ordered the drinks, the same drinks arrived separately and each tasted different which was odd but we moved on. We tried to order the lobster to be told they had sold out (4.45pm) that was extremely disappointing, almost unbelievable so early in the service. I ordered the steak ($39) which was very good and my wife pivoted to the standard menu and the Runaway Grouper ($44). Her dish came out cold with cold mash potatoes and a mere spoonful of lemon butter sauce, very different to the pictures on the menu. It is such a shame that this was our experience from Runaway Island, being busy is not an excuse for an established high end, high priced restaurant. We ultimately sent the Runaway Grouper back and although I did enjoy the steak we left disappointed at what should have been a much better experience. The service was ok although our server was noticeably apologizing to other tables close to us for other issues. We didn't "Runaway", but we won't "Runback" so quickly next time for a sunset dinner.

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