PICKY PEACHES ON THE ROAD #7: Rolling in the Dough at Donut Hut and Pizza by the Sea on 30A!

Of course you’ve heard the expression “as American as apple pie”, as we celebrate Independence Day, we’d like to suggest that there is nothing more American than donuts and, maybe, pizza. Donuts were actually invented by an American in 1847. Even though first made in Italy in 1889, pizza was brought here by American soldiers, who were stationed in Italy during World War II and fell in love with it. They returned home and spread the word. As a result, pizza became highly Americanized as well as hugely popular. So if you’re blessed enough to be an American and vacationing on Florida’s Emerald Coast, you can enjoy both of these favorites on the same day. Vacation is a time of rest and relaxation, so why are you spending so much time in the kitchen? There’s a gorgeous, world-class beach out there. Take the day off. Enjoy yourself. Eat some decadent food. That’s exactly what we did at our next two stops in Peaches on the Road.

We started the day by going to the Donut Hut on 30A. It is absolutely worth the calories! Made fresh daily, these mouth-watering wonders are so delicious that the people in the condo next door probably wondered what was going on when we kept repeating, “Oh my gosh, that’s so good!” They have classic donuts like glazed and cream-filled but they’ve gone above and beyond with specialty flavors like s’mores, toasted coconut and Reese’s. One of our favorites is the key lime pie donut, which is filled with actual key lime pie filling. A perfect blend of tart and sweet, it pairs surprisingly well with a morning cup of coffee. However, the most outstanding donut is the maple bacon. It’s easy to see why it’s the best seller. Donut selections vary daily. Breakfast sandwiches, muffins and beignets are also on the menu.

Tip: Visit the website to make your selections ahead of time, preferably the night before so one person can go pick them up while everyone else catches a few more z’s. Be prepared to wait in line for a few minutes to place your order at the counter. They’re only open for 6 hours a day, so plan ahead.

Donut Hut, 4042 E. Hwy. 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459.
Hours: Open daily 6:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
30adonut.com

A busy day of beach activities can work up an appetite and Pizza By The Sea is the perfect place to go for a satisfying meal. This casual, family-friendly eatery can get a little rambunctious so don’t go there if you’re looking for a quiet, romantic dinner. However, if you’re looking for pizza with high-quality, fresh ingredients, this is the place.

Toppings include: Anchovies, Bacon, Banana Peppers, Black Olives, Canadian Bacon, Daiya mozzarella-style shreds, Feta Cheese, Fresh Basil, Fresh Garlic, Goat cheese, Green Olives, Green Peppers, Grilled Chicken, Ground Beef, Italian Sausage, Jalapeños, Kalamata Olives, Mushrooms, Pepperoni, Pineapple, Red Onions, Ricotta Cheese, Roma Tomatoes, Spinach, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes.

Can’t decide? Then choose from the Our Favorite Pizzas list. Combinations like Cha Cha Chipotle Chicken, Buffalo Chicken, Rabbit Food or the Great White are sure to please.

For our gluten-free friends, we’re happy to share with you the good news–they have gluten-free crust available upon request.

If you’re looking for a lower carb or another gluten-free option, try a salad or one of the creative YUM Bowls. These are pizza toppings in a bowl instead of on a crust. We just want to know why nobody thought of this before. What a great idea!

Stromboli, meatball sandwiches and pasta round out the menu. There’s also a thoughtful kids’ menu that includes hamburgers and spaghetti.

The menu has a nice selection of beer and wine, but they get extra points for offering Peroni, a popular Italian beer, which pairs very well with pizza. We also give them kudos for the retro soft drinks, like the ones you drank as a kid. Selections include Sun Drop, Nehi Grape/Orange, RC Cola, Cheerwine and Real Coke from Mexico. Ahh!

It’s easy to see why Pizza By The Sea was awarded a “30A Hot Spot” last year. Picky Peaches aren’t the only ones who think it’s delicious!

Pizza by the Sea, WaterColor Crossing, 88 WaterColor Way, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459.
Hours: Open daily 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
pizzabythesea.com

When you visit any of the places on our blog, please tell them you saw it on pickypeaches.com. Remember to “like” and “share” our Picky Peaches page on Facebook. Also, click the “RSS” button in the lower left corner of this page to follow our blog posts. We don’t want you to miss a thing!

Join us in 2 weeks for the 10th stop in the Hidden Gem Restaurant Challenge.

Until next time, Love and Peaches!

1 thought on “PICKY PEACHES ON THE ROAD #7: Rolling in the Dough at Donut Hut and Pizza by the Sea on 30A!”

  1. Missed this one, too! Oh my, a Nehi grape soda? And the fact that the pizza place has YUM bowls for us carb-free folks is just plain fab-you-lus! Don’t get me started on the donuts. I LOVE ME SOME DONUTS. Unfortunately, there’s not one thing in their ingredients that I am supposed to eat. Makes for a sad, sad girl. Thanks, ladies! Hugs and kisses!

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