Graffiti: Steak, Seafood, Pasta, Pizza, and Paintings
707 Harbor Blvd East, Destin, 654-2764
Hours: Open daily for lunch 11 am to 2 p.m. Dinner @ 5 pm


By Bruce Collier September 20, 2007 Issue

This is the place with Elvis and the paintings. Elvis is at the door holding a welcome sign. The paintings are everywhere else. Graffiti is one of Destin’s older dining establishments. If the walls could talk — from the look of some of the artwork, they probably can — they’d wonder at all the changes that have taken place around the old-fashioned little building. Graffiti adjoins the Funky Blues Shack, and one can move freely between the two places. There are three dining rooms, one of which contains the bar. Diners can choose between booths and tables. We chose tables, which got us a room to ourselves. Booths seemed to be the seating of choice on the mid-week night we ate there.

Our server was Ashley, a friendly young woman who brought us water and menus, and told us of the day’s specials. I used to eat at Graffiti frequently when I lived in the Destin area. The menu has retained many of the same dishes, obviously proven favorites, and an extensive pizza list.

One cannot ignore the walls, even while studying the menu. Graffiti is known for its collection of paintings and freestanding artwork, displayed on every available inch of restaurant space. All are for sale, and the pieces bear the names of both celebrated and up-and-coming local artists. The colors range from muted to near blinding. There are also crayons on the tables for drawing on the paper placemats.

We ordered appetizers. My friend got the French onion soup, her particular favorite. I got the fried calamari, my particular favorite. Other starters are clam chowder, caprese with tomatoes, oil and vinegar, bruschetta, escargot sauteed with garlic and olive oil, and a crab and artichoke-stuffed portabella mushroom.

We decided on the main course, and ordered a bottle of wine. The menu offers salads, pasta and gourmet pasta dishes, and a short list of chicken, veal, fish, and beef entrees. The culinary theme overall is Mediterranean, but the fish is largely Florida coastal. My friend ordered herb-crusted triggerfish. I decided to try the fettucine Alfredo, with shrimp (which are extra).

In the interim, Ashley brought us a hot whole wheat baguette and an olive oil dip with garlic and red pepper seasoning. Graffiti used to put cheese in the dip, which my friend missed and I did not.

The appetizers came. The cup of soup had the requisite topping of thick cheese, and gave my friend further employment for the bread. The soup was steaming hot, and less salty than a lot of onion soup served hereabouts. The calamari was a huge portion, piled up, fried crisp and hot, with a marinara sauce.

At this point, Ashley also brought out my friend’s dinner salad. Since we were not even halfway through the starters, we asked her to slow things down. She said she would hold off submitting the main course orders, and the pace was leisurely for the remainder of the meal.

We actually left half the bread. Incredible but true. The main courses came.

As with all things at Graffiti, portions are generous. The moist trigger was crusted with herbed breadcrumbs and horseradish, and sat atop garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed thin-sliced squash. The fettucine had just the right amount of creamy cheese sauce, with none of the gumminess that keeps me from ordering Alfredo at a lot of places. The shrimp were medium-to-large, butterflied and cooked just right.

Other choices include assorted pastas with garlic and oil, pesto, bolognese sauce, seafood with marinara or white wine cream sauce, lobster and three-cheese ravioli, chicken parmesan, paneed chicken, grouper with hazelnut butter sauce, veal marsala, beef portabella, and beef tips with penne and Dijon cream sauce.

The menu lists three desserts, of which two were available that night. We ordered the key lime pie and creme brulee with fruit. The dense, tangy pie came in an enormous slice, like a cheesecake, with graham cracker crust. The creme brulee — my second in as many weeks — had that satisfying crunch and creaminess that makes this such a popular dessert. They also look pretty, and hey, who doesn’t like saying “creme brulee?” Tiramisu is also listed, but was not available that night.

Graffiti recently changed owners, but wisely, they are keeping things in the same groove. If you haven’t been there recently, go back. It’s as good as you remember.

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