Coastal Cafe continues to evolve with new menu items and hangout spaces

For more than a year, Coastside Cafe has worked to establish itself as FSU Panama City’s go-to dining location. Recently, the cafe realized its original vision, with two new seating areas, fresh signage, an ever-expanding menu, and a completely re-imagined outside seating area.

Anastazia Harrod, who operates the café with her husband Josh, saw the potential when the café was still called The Sandy Spear, with only a few tables and chairs.

"It's kind of a weird location, but a great one where you can add a setup like this with a hangout space," she said. "You also are able to come and eat in between classes. This is kind of like a little getaway. That was the setup that we were going for.”

Changes made to Coastside Cafe have been well received by students and faculty. The cafe provides a breath of fresh air and a much-needed meal—with a view.

“Of course, the whole campus has a beautiful view,” Harrod said. “Just grab something to eat and watch the water and just hang out.”

Harrod is pleased with the new menu, which now includes breakfast, lunches, milkshakes and specialty coffees.

“Things like that weren't accessible on campus, so now you have your sweets, you have your energy, your breakfast and lunch,” Harrod said. “Breakfast all day was a change that we made in the middle of our first year, and I think that was a game changer.”

Coastside Café has its regulars from FSU PC but is also serving many Gulf Coast State College students who call Seminole Landing home.

"We get a lot of Gulf Coast students that come over that aren't necessarily able to see us in the morning time with their class schedule. Now they're able to eat breakfast at 3 o'clock," said Harrod.

Harrod said the cooking system that was in place when they took over the café has been a challenge. The staff work out of a food truck before bringing meals into the main dining area.

"We're not necessarily limited to what we can put out, but we have a little setup going for a big space, basically," she said.

The future of the Coastside Café will see more changes—menu additions as well as activities for students in the hangout space, such as trivia nights. "I think that's something that you always see with us. We don't want to necessarily get stuck on the same pattern,” Harrod said.