The Original Oyster House is a Gulf Coast institution that runs locations in Spanish Fort and Gulf Shores; the Gulf Shores location is the one this stretch of the Coast points visitors at. Bay-side, casual sit-down, with a gator pond out back that has been entertaining children since long before this was the polished tourist economy it is now.
The oysters — raw, chargrilled, fried — are the obvious order. The gumbo is the secret order. The bread basket is a real one. The dining room is big enough that you’ll usually get seated faster than at the Boulevard front-runners.
This is the family-of-eight option. The “we drove all day and we just need a real Gulf Coast meal” option. The “kids haven’t seen a gator yet” option. It’s all the same answer.