Smoked Tuna Dip at DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen

Photo Credit: DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen

Starting off Right at DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen

The menu at this popular Gulf Shores restaurant is loaded with amazing entrees, tropical drinks and yummy desserts. But we’re here to celebrate the starting lineup at DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen. We’re such fans we’ve been known to make an entire meal out of these starters. Here are our top five picks.

Smoked Tuna Dip

Take advantage of being on the coast and dive into the delicious Smoked Tuna Dip.  Served with toasted French bread, this dip is fresh and flavorful. If your first thought of tuna has anything to do with a can, you are in for a pleasant surprise. No cans here.

Oysters on the Half Shell

Chilled briny goodness from the Gulf! Order up a half dozen or a dozen. Squeeze the lemon. Grab a saltine cracker. Dash on the hot sauce. Enjoy and repeat. Pair your oysters with a cold beer and you’ve got the perfect beach vacation appetizer.   

Alligator Bites

Golden nuggets of joy! If you’ve never tried alligator bites, now’s the time. DeSoto’s serves up fried tail meat alongside a Remoulade dipping sauce. Does it taste like chicken? Perhaps a little. But it also has a unique taste all its own.

Fried Crab Claws

No, these are not crab legs or stone crab claws. These are Blue Crab claws, and yes, there is a correct way to eat them. Hold on to the end of the claw. Dip the meaty part in cocktail sauce. Put it in your mouth. Bite down gently against the cartilage. Pull. Discard the claw.  

Coconut Shrimp

Sure, you can get the Coconut Shrimp as part of your entrée, but why wait? Start your meal with an order of these gems. Each shrimp has been dipped in a beer batter and topped with coconut before heading to the deep fryer.

Want more options? DeSoto’s has them! The starter menu also includes Spinach & Artichoke Crab Dip, Southern Style Crab Cakes, Stuffed Mushrooms, Fried Green Tomatoes, Seafood Gumbo and Crab & Shrimp Bisque.

Located at 138 West 1st Avenue in Gulf Shores, DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen is locally owned. They’ve been welcoming hungry diners since 2000 and have frequently won awards for their friendly staff. As you can imagine, they can get pretty busy. You can reduce your wait time by using their online waitlist.