When you walk into Marina Cafe, a wall full of accolades greets you before you even reach the hostess.

After enjoying a meal there, or even just appetizers and drinks, I think you’ll agree they are well deserved.

THE FOOD

An in-house brochure describes Marina Cafe as “contemporary dining at its very best.” It's that and so much more.

With everything from sushi and small plates to pizza and prime steaks, Marina Cafe makes choosing a difficult pleasure.

We decided to forgo a formal appetizer, but there are many possible choices. They include a soup du jour, Thai barbecue chicken, fried green tomatoes, fried calamari, blackened grouper cheeks, grilled Gulf fish tacos, carpaccio of Wagyu beef, and more, many featuring seafood.

Although tempted by the Thai chicken and the Wagyu beef, instead, we each chose a salad.

I picked the Caesar salad with shaved Reggiano cheese and focaccia bread croutons. The greens were crisp and well chilled, and the dressing was evenly distributed throughout. The croutons added a nice crunch.

My guest tackled the hearts of Romaine wedge with sweet onions, grape tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon and blue cheese dressing. The imposing salad filled a large rectangular serving dish, and he ate all of it.

I noticed several such salads throughout the evening as they were taken to other tables. At one, the wife started it and the husband finished it along with his soup.

A basket with two small loaves of warm, fresh bread and infused dipping oil was brought to our table along with our beverages. All of which was a nice accompaniment to our salads. We had iced tea, but Marina Cafe has an extensive wine list.

Marina Cafe offers two additional salads — one with fried oysters, spinach, jalapeno-bourbon bacon, candied pecans and apple-rosemary vinaigrette; the other with Romaine, cucumbers, red bell peppers, radishes, grape tomatoes and ginger vinaigrette.

Because we had looked up the menu in advance, we already had a good idea of what we wanted for our entrees.

My guest ordered the 8-ounce center-cut filet mignon with house-made worcestershire sauce and rosemary garlic roasted potatoes. He requested it be cooked medium, and it was perfectly. He savored every bite.

I chose the specialty sauteed local Gulf grouper with soy-ginger butter, avocado crema, zipper peas and cucumber salad. One bite and I thought I was in culinary heaven.

I told my guest I could eat that dish every day for the rest of my life. It was incredible. Our server said it has been on the menu for more than 20 years. It is perfection on a plate.

From where I sat, I could see the wood-burning pizza oven. Marina Cafe hand tosses a variety of pizzas including Margherita, veggie, carne Italiano and bianco. They also have dishes featuring pasta.

Other steaks on the menu are a 16-ounce prime ribeye, an 18-ounce prime New York strip and a Wagyu flank steak.

The largest part of the menu belongs to seafood, and I can’t list everything here. However, a few more entree options feature grilled Gulf swordfish, pan sauteed mahi mahi, seared Scottish salmon, Creole barbecue jumbo shrimp, New Bedford scallops and chargrilled yellowfin tuna.

Duck, free range chicken, braised pork shank and a vegetable plate are also offered.

You may order additional sides a la carte, such as grilled or steamed asparagus, roasted Brussels sprouts and braised garlic spinach.

Marina Cafe further tempts diners with a whole separate menu for dessert that includes not only dishes but also dessert wines and after dinner beverages such as Irish Coffee, Chocolate Kiss Coffee, Caribbean Coffee and its own signature Cafe Marina with Irish whiskey, Frangelico, Emmet’s Irish Cream, Grand Marnier and whipped cream.

My guest has a weakness for peanut butter pie, and Marina Cafe offers it. Be warned, though, its double chocolate peanut butter pie and extremely rich. It comes with a crispy tuile and is plated with caramel. I had to “help” him with a bite.

I chose the coconut cream pie with toasted coconut and plated with caramel and creme anglaise. It was huge but light, fluffy and full of sweet coconut flavor. The perfect end to a perfect meal.

A jumbo brownie, vanilla bean creme brulee and rum raisin bread pudding souffle are other dessert choices.

We saw several children in the restaurant, and Marina Cafe provides a special menu for young diners. It includes filet medallions, Kobe beef sliders with cheese, grilled chicken and grilled catch of the day all with fries, cheese pizza plain or with sausage and rigatoni pasta with a choice of sauce.

THE ATMOSPHERE

The restaurant is beautiful outside and inside. The whole south wall is a gigantic window with a stunning view of Destin Harbor.

Seating in the main dining area is on two levels at tables with some booths lining the north wall of the second level.

We were seated at the center table along the rail of the upper level. We were told it was the best table in the house, and it very well might be. We watched the sun set shortly after our arrival, and we could see what was going on all around us.

There are a few tables outside, but no one was sitting there on this winter evening.

A separate bar area that you skirt as you enter was bustling with happy people as we left. I noticed at least one big-screen TV there tuned to a college basketball game.

THE SERVICE

When we arrived at Marina Cafe, a dozen or so diners were already waiting outside for it to open, and it did, precisely at 5 p.m.

We filed in and were seated quickly. Our server, Edyta, took wonderful care of us, answering questions and making recommendations. It’s thanks to her I ordered the specialty grouper instead of the regular dish.

Our meal was paced well. The only lag time we experienced was in getting our desserts. By then, the restaurant was completely full, and our server had been given a table with at least 10 or more people at it.

We didn’t mind as it gave us more time to soak up the vibrant atmosphere. People clearly were there with friends and family and having a good time.

A FINAL TASTE

Our experience at Marina Cafe was, in a word, amazing. Valentine's Day is just 12 days away, and an evening at Marina Cafe would make a memorable gift for your special someone as well as for yourself.