Table-hop between some of my favorite northwest Florida restaurants:

At Jackson's in Pensacola, repeatedly named one of Florida's best restaurants, entrée prices reflect the designation. Taste a $34 double pork chop or a $26 beef and ale en croute. Jackson's also enjoys a rep for making a perfect martini.

Asian and Cajun? If this mélange appeals, try H20 Grill, the restaurant at the Hilton Garden Inn, Pensacola Beach. It's not every day you find sushi sharing menu space with po' boys. The most obvious blend could be in the appetizer of boudin fried wontons.

Dessert lovers should head to The Village of Baytowne Wharf (at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort) to taste the New Orleans bread pudding with rum sauce served at Acme Oyster House.
As construction rises on the Beaches of South Walton, so do fine dining opportunities.

Dining on a budget? Take note: there's a $4.95 entrée-sharing fee at Louisiana Lagniappe in Destin, but each person gets his or her own salad and twice-baked potato. A kid's menu is also available. For a starter, I ordered oysters Lagniappe. Covered with cheese, stuffed with crabmeat, they were enough to fill me.

Dress for an elegant meal at Seagar's Prime Steaks (in the Hilton Sandestin), replete with top-notch porterhouses and fresh local seafood, coupled with a huge wine list.

As construction rises on the Beaches of South Walton, so do fine dining opportunities. Consider a visit to Criolla's in Grayton Beach for an inspired fusion of Creole and Caribbean cuisine.

Capt. Anderson's is a Panama City Beach tradition. Southern Living, Wine Spectator and Florida Trend have heaped their awards on the waterfront restaurant and market, where local catches shine. Call ahead before you visit - this family-owned business operates only eight months out of the year.

It's not for the tea and toast crowd, but Caroline's River Dining in Apalachicola makes a breakfast dish called oysters benedict. Think: your choice of eggs(typically poached) served over oysters and a buttermilk biscuit, topped with hollandaise sauce. The sea bite of the oysters adds an unexpected kick to breakfast. Eat indoors or out, soaking up the stunning river views.