Join us on Flagler Avenue for the 9th Annual New Smyrna Beach Shrimp & Seafood Festival from 5 to 9pm on Thursday, August 20, 2015.  The event will include all the best restaurants in New Smyrna and its surrounding areas serving up sample sized portions of their award winning seafood dishes all priced between $3 and $5 plus local artists, musicians and other “Seafood” related activities.  During the Festival, restaurants will be competing for the coveted “BEST ON THE BEACH” awards in 4 categories, Shrimp, Shellfish, Fish and Specialty Seafood. This is a great opportunity to try out our great local cuisine and perhaps find a new favorite dish or local restaurant.

8th Annual New Smryna Beach Shrimp & Seafood Festival Best on the Beach Contest
And the winners are…

Best on The Beach – Shrimp
1st Place: Izzy’s Island Tacos, Pineapple Shrimp Taco
2nd Place: Manzano’s Deli, Shrimp & Avacato Ceviche
3rd Place: Malcolm’s Bar & Grill/LPGA International, Mojito Shrimp Shooter

Best on The Beach – Fish
1st Place: Malcolm’s Bar & Grill/LPGA International, Tuna & Avacado Tartar
2nd Place: Yellow Dog Eats, Tuna Sliders
3rd Place: Flagler Tavern, Ceviche

Best on The Beach – Shellfish
1st Place: Panhead’s, Goat Cheese Crab Balls
2nd Place: Flagler Tavern, Mini Crab Cake
3rd Place: Gene’s Steak House, Mussels Fra Diavaolo

Best on The Beach – Specialty Seafood
1st Place: Crabby Chris, Blue Crab & shrimp
2nd Place: Heminway’s Hideout, King Crab Stuffed Filet
3rd Place: Peanut’s Restaurant & Sports Bar, Seafood Strata with Pesto

The NSB Shrimp & Seafood Festival Best on the Beach Contest was presided over by head judge Executive Chef and Co-Owner of New Smyrna’s Spanish River Grill and Orlando’s Txokos Basque Kitchen, Chef Henry Salgado. In addition to being largely credited as the spark that ignited the growing culinary movement in New Smyrna Beach, Salgado is a James Beard Awards 2014 Finalist for Best Chef in the South.  The panel of judges participated in the blind judging out in the open in front of the estimated 8,000 visitors to the event. Over 60 entries from 22 restaurants were tasted by the judges and the winners were selected based 100% on the taste of their food.