THE SUMMER KITCHEN STORY
Family Owned and Operated
Way back when, a “Summer Kitchen” was an outbuilding where all the household cooking was done in an effort to keep the heat out of the main house. It only seemed appropriate to name the first restaurant here in Rosemary Beach, The Summer Kitchen & to invite the surrounding community in for a bite to help keep the heat out of their own kitchen.
Established in 1999, the Summer Kitchen was the first restaurant & commercial business in Rosemary Beach, Florida. Our humble beginnings took place in a little red sandwich shack, and today you can find us nestled in below the Rosemary Beach Inn.
78 Main St. - Curent Location
5 Main Street - 1st Location
Barrett Square - 2nd & 3rd Location
THE SUMMER KITCHEN HISTORY
5 MAIN STREET
1999 - 2000
Established in 1999 by owner James E Dillon, the Summer Kitchen was the first restaurant and commercial business in Rosemary Beach, Florida. What started as a one-man operated, walk-up window serving the few people working in and building the town, has turned into a Rosemary Beach® tradition for vacationers and locals alike.
74 S. BARRETT SQUARE
2000 - 2004
As the Summer Kitchen Cafe began to expand, we moved into our larger, most well-known building in 2000. This building allowed us to offer counter service as well as a sit-in dining room which served breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
64 N. BARRETT SQUARE
2004 - 2015
As Rosemary Beach® began to grow, there was a change in our plans...or our view. To make space for more neighbors, we had our building literally picked up and moved across the street in 2004 to 64 N. Barrett Square where we stayed for the next eleven years!
78 MAIN STREET
2015 - Present
The Summer Kitchen Cafe made its final move when the Dillon Family purchased it's current location, 78 Main St. This building also happens to be the first commercial building built in Rosemary Beach® back in 2000. It's now home to not only the Summer Kitchen, but also our family's newest business, The Rosemary Beach Inn.
For over twenty years, The Summer Kitchen Cafe has been a popular dining destination in Rosemary Beach® Florida known for its fresh delicious food, friendly service, and relaxed atmosphere. It's a great spot for locals + visitors looking to enjoy casual, coastal cuisine in a beautiful beach setting.
COME STAY AWHILE!
Come join us for more than a meal! The Summer Kitchen Cafe is nestled underneath our family's newest business venture, The Rosemary Beach Inn. One of the many perks of staying at The Inn is a complimentary breakfast at The Summer Kitchen Cafe!