Chef's

Chef's is located at 553 E. 6th. St Panama , Florida.  

For those of us who are natives, this is the old Jimmy's Drive Inn.  Once a bastion of burgers, fried chicken, and french fries is now the home of the most innovative chef in Bay County.  
Lindsey Nordness has turned a casual lunch into a taste bud adventure.  Her Lemon, Chicken, & Orzo soup is a bowl of love.  It is warm, lemony, rich, and  satisfying.  It recently hit the spot on a rainy afternoon.  The Thai Coconut Curry soup is equally interesting.  Thai chili oil and coconut milk come together for a spicy (not hot) explosion of flavor.  A single thin sliced mushroom floats on top.  The menu has recently changed to herald in spring and summer which is a novel idea for the Panama City food scene.  The new roasted beet salad combines mixed greens, roasted red and yellow beets, dressed with a honey balsamic dressing.  The sweet candied pecans contrast the tart dressing, genius.  No longer on the menu the meatball sandwich was made with chicken meatballs and painted with pesto, served on a warm hoagie bun.  The O.G. burger hearkens back to to the drive in roots of Jimmy's.  One of the top burgers in town.  

Two items on the dinner menu are a must try.  The beer braised short ribs over creamy grits and Lindsey's interpretation of Chicken and Waffles.  The short ribs are braised in Oyster City Brewing "Hooter Brown Tupelo Honey Ale".  This rich, beefy, and unctuous, mixture is served over stone ground grits.  People it don't get any better than this.  The chicken and waffles uses pulled chicken, a sweet potato waffle, served on wilted collard greens, and dressed with Alabama White BBQ sauce.  Hot damn ya'll, yo grandma never cooked like this.

If you haven't tried Chef's, please do.  You will not be disappointed.  If you have please continue to support this restaurant with your patronage.  Bay County deserves this place and this Chef.  http://www.chefsinpanamacity.com/



Chef's gets 5 stars.