If you’re a Birmingham native, a snowbird or a Deep South transplant, you know one of the best beaches on the Alabama Gulf Coast is the luscious Orange Beach. Not just because it’s named for a lovely citrus fruit, but also because its beaches are pearly white, generally covered with beautiful sea shells and not as “packed” as the other nearby, popular spot, Gulf Shores.
You can spread out on Orange Beach. You don’t have to stake out a spot at 8:00am. You can leisurely show up, roll out a towel and take a nice, cool dip in the salty water. You can even pack up everything and take a trip to a local favorite for lunch, and the hole you dug, along with your drip castle, will be just as you left it when you return. Or you can stay in the sun all day, and when you’re beat from a day in the heat, you can find a nice cool table at Doc’s Seafood Shack.
We’ve been here before. When it’s the off-season, the servers at Doc’s will take your drink order before you can flip flop over to your table. This time, it was peak season. But we didn’t have to wait outside long. The kitchen at Doc’s is a well-oiled machine, churning out favorites like raw oysters and seafood gumbo. We ordered both. If you didn’t already know, Doc’s has some of the best gumbo this side of New Orleans. Now, I know that’s a big fish to swallow, but try it next time you’re down at the beach. The brown broth has a nice heat about it and lots and lots of chunks of seafood. You won’t be disappointed. The oysters are cold and fresh. The shuckers just stand next to a big vat of the things, shucking constantly until the place is empty. Order a dozen and see how fast they come to your table if you don’t believe me.
We also ordered the seafood platter. When the server brought it out, I couldn’t find the plate there was so much food on it. The fry is yummy, not too greasy or heavy but not light. Don’t order this if you’re on a diet. The pitchers of beer are served very cold with an ice-cold glass. If you tell the server to “keep ‘em coming,” rest assured he or she will.
On your way out, while you’re waiting in line to pay, or even if there’s no line, slide open the glass door on the ice cream freezer and grab a frozen treat. They’ll ring it up with your meal so you can enjoy a little bit of the coolness of Doc’s on your way back to the pearly white shore.
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