Big Mama's on the Bayou, Southern home cooking in Panama City

What we cook

Breakfast runs weekdays from 6:30 to 10:30 in the morning. The biscuits are made by hand and the sausage gravy is made from scratch. Most tickets are out in about ten minutes, even with a line.

Lunch is a meat-and-two from 11 to 2:30. Fried chicken and country fried steak are on every day. The other meats rotate by weekday. Monday is beef tips over rice. Wednesday is chicken and dumplings. Friday is fish and shrimp.

Saturday and Sunday we open at 9 for brunch. Hours are posted but still being confirmed, so call first if you are driving far.

• Biscuits and gravy, half or whole
• Country fried steak with sausage gravy
• Chicken and dumplings on Wednesday
• Veggie plate, four sides for $12.50
• Peach cobbler and pecan pie when we have them

Where we are

620 W Beach Dr is on the water in downtown Panama City. The deck looks out over St. Andrews Bay and the birds work the shoreline while you eat. Dogs are welcome on the patio.

There is a free lot out front. We are about 10 minutes from Tyndall AFB, downtown and St Andrews, so a lot of our regulars are on a lunch break or on the way to the water.

Why people keep coming back

People who moved here from Kentucky and Ohio tell us it tastes like home. That is the whole idea. We have been cooking downtown for over 20 years and have held Best of Bay for Country Cooking since 2017.

Our servers get named in reviews almost as often as the food. Lisa, Jess, Emily and Selah keep the sweet tea glasses full.

Ordering and takeout

You can order ahead on Toast and pick up at the counter. Delivery options vary, so call and ask. We add a 3% surcharge on credit cards, which is printed on the menu.

Questions