Feature Venue: Bud & Alley's

Feature Restaurant & Venue

Bud & Alley’s, Seaside

Say ‘I Do’ to Good Food. Good Times & Great Weddings

By Lynn Nesmith & Will Estell
 


Chances are if you have vacationed in or near the wonderful beachside towns dotting the now famous Scenic Hwy. 30A, you have seen, and hopefully visited, Seaside Florida’s most well known eatery, Bud & Alley’s.  Founded in 1986 Bud & Alley's has been a revered gathering place by loyal patrons – literally the world over- who have been lucky enough to discover it once…and frequent it often.  Bud & Alley’s has come to be synonymous with great fun, wonderful food, friendly faces… and the breathtaking beauty of Seaside's sunsets for almost 25 years.

 As one of South Walton's longest established restaurant, Bud & Alley's is nestled in the dunes overlooking the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Over the years Bud & Alley's has garnered numerous prestigious awards, to include Florida Trend Magazines Golden Spoon Award, designating the eatery as one of the top 20 restaurants in Florida, as well as receiving a five star designation from the Tallahassee Democrat and  winning Wine Spectator Magazines Award of Excellence for many years now.
 
How Bud & Alley’s came to be
The story of how Bud & Alley’s came to be is best described as a Cinderella story for the restaurant industry. Founded in 1986 by Dave Rauschkolb and Scott Witcoski,  a pair of 24-year-young surfing buddies –one a chef and one a waiter, at the time- in a little beach town with only 12 houses, Bud & Alley’s would hardly seem to be a sure fire business venture.

“Back then Seaside was really in the middle of nowhere,” recalls founder and current owner Dave Rauschkolb. The fledging community was, however, on the way to a favorite surf spot along Panama City Beach. Back in 1986, the now renowned Seaside town founder, Robert Davis, was looking to open a restaurant. Scott, who first met Davis, and asked Dave to stop by and take a look, was already an accomplished chef and seasoned restaurateur at just 24. Rauschkolb, on the other hand was a college student working towards a marketing and management degree while bartending and waiting tables in Scott’s father’s Destin restaurant. With their desire to grow and ability to dream big the friends found themselves about to open their own restaurant in quaint Seaside, Florida. It seemed like everything was coming together rather quickly…everything that was, except a name.
Early on Scott had jokingly suggested that they name the restaurant after Seaside founder Robert Davis’s dachshund, Bud, and Scott’s cat, Alley. No one took the idea seriously until a month later. “We were on deadline to put a listing in the phone book and throwing out ideas when Robert’s secretary said she liked the name Bud & Alley’s. It seemed crazy at the time, but it was the perfect personification of what we would become; a casual, unpretentious eatery with great food.” says Dave.



In the early days, Dave oversaw the front of the house and Scott served as the first chef. After almost 20 years as Bud & Alley’s culinary force, Scott decided to spend more time pursuing his passions for art, photography, fishing and surfing, and sold his portion of ownership to his friend and  long-time partner, Dave.  In fact to this very day, almost 25 years after his humble beginnings, there is a good shot that if you visit Bud & Alley’s enough, you may see Dave yourself. It seems that even after much success and other ventures, his true passion is and always will be making Bud & Alley’s the very best it can be…while keeping it the same as it should be.
 
Bud & Alley’s restaurant & famous Tarpon Club
From a restaurant perspective Bud & Alley’s offers a elegant but casual dining experience where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful views of Seaside and the gulf, while at the same time enjoying some of the most delectable offerings on anyone’s menu…anywhere on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast. From crab cakes to a grilled veggie sandwich to chicken scaloppini, you will find something you know you will like, and lots of other things you know you want to try.
The main restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining, and is a perfect spot for anything from romantic dinners, to bridal luncheons to rehearsal dinners. And the offerings at Bud & Alley’s don’t stop there.
Just up the outside stairs from the restaurant you will find Bud & Alley’s famous Tarpon Club. The Tarpon Club is a classic waterfront bar overlooking what has consistently been named one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the world by such travel and vacation authorities as Frommer’s; Fodor’s; Southern Living; Coastal Living, and many more.

Though you will find great company and wonderful food and drinks most any time of day here, anyone who has visited the Tarpon Club, will tell you that it is the place to be when the sun dives below the horizon and the land sharks come out to play. In fact sunset is such a big occasion at Bud & Alley’s Tarpon Club that a cast-iron bell originally from a circa 1888 steam train, is rung each day to honor the beautiful gulf coast sunset. “The sunsets along our coast are so beautiful, I felt they deserved to be celebrated,” says Dave.
The Tarpon Club is such a great draw for brides and their groups that I have actually met one or more destination wedding groups almost every single time I have visited the Tarpon Club while on assignment for Gulf Coast Bride, or personal vacation, in Seaside. It’s simply the kind of place that you will want to hang out and have a little fun in during your destination wedding trip to Seaside or any of the surrounding towns from Destin to Panama City Beach.
 


Bud & Alley’s Taco Bar
Recently Dave decided it was time to branch out and he opened an authentic taco stand right near the main restaurant, and aptly named it Bud & Alley’s Taco Bar.

The fish tacos are a big draw, as are the  almost 50 tequilas and signature margaritas offered. “Knock the sand off your feet and wash down a spicy taco with a cold Cervazas. What’s better than that?” asks Dave.

Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar
Whether you consider yourself a big pizza fan or not, you owe it to yourself to try the awesome pies served up at Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar.            

The Pizza Bar opened a little more than a year ago and is located right down the market walk from the Taco Bar and the original Bud & Alley’s and Harpoon Club. They offer freshly made, hand prepared, and brick oven cooked pizza, as well as, salads, and pasta dishes. The Pizza Bar offers a laid back and relaxing environment that includes indoor and outdoor dining, including outdoor couches, art deco furnishings and a view to fall in love with. As someone who does love pizza and has frequented Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar on many of my trips to Seaside, I highly suggest the Farmers Market pie, but I am betting you will love anything you try at the Pizza Bar.

Weddings, Receptions, and Special Events
With all the Bud & Alley’s has to offer it is certainly no surprise that it is also a grand place of you wedding event. From a simple rehearsal dinner, to a outdoor wedding and private reception, Bud & Alley’s can accommodate your needs from 40 guests to 130 guests. The professional staff can also assist you in arranging for other wedding professionals you may need, from their list of recommended vendors. Whatever your desire and needs you can bet that Chelsey Seawell, Bud & Alley’s Event Coordinator, can help you in making your Seaside wedding dreams come true…in a place built upon dreams for over two decades.
 
For more information about Bud & Alley’s and having your wedding related event in this special place, call or email Chelsey Seawell today at (850) 231-0008 or email Chelsey@budandalleys.com. Remember to tell her you read about them in Gulf Coast Bride magazine.                       
 
Lynn Nesmith is a freelance writer who previously served as Editor for Southern Living and continues to contribute frequently to Coastal Living, Southern Accents, House Beautiful, and other well known regional and national publications, including Gulf Coast Bride. Lynn also manages public relations campaigns for an array of companies through her company, Ideas Word Results. Originally from North Carolina, she now calls Seagrove Beach, Florida home.