Press Release

Contact: Yonnie Patronis, General Manager
Address: 5551 North Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach, Florida 32408
Telephone: 850-234-6800
Fax: 850-234-2773
Email: ypatronis@captandersons.com
Web Site: www.captandersons.com

Panama City Beach, Florida. March 1, 2005, leading restaurants and dignitaries from around the State gathered in Ft. Lauderdale for Florida Trend's Hall of Fame Dinner. Capt. Anderson's restaurant founders, Johnny and Jimmy Patronis were on hand for Capt. Anderson’s official induction into Florida’s prestigious Restaurant Hall of Fame. “We were there to receive the praise, but we didn’t get there alone. We are very proud of our team. I wish the whole crew could have been there to accept this honor, because they made it possible. They do the hard work – day in and day out… every night… they never settle for less than the best, and that’s what led to Capt. Anderson’s being recognized as one of the best and most important restaurants in Florida,” Johnny Patronis said in praise of the Capt. Anderson’s 177 member staff, with an average length of employment exceeding 27 years.

The current members of Florida Trend’s Hall of Fame are: The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Mark’s Mizner Park, Norman’s, Brooks, Mark’s Las Olas, Criolla’s, Beach Bistro, Chalet Suzanne, Euphemia Haye, Chef Allen’s, Mark’s South Beach, The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Manuel’s on the 28th, Victoria & Albert’s, The Breakers, Café L’Europe, Four Seasons Resort, The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach, Captain Anderson’s, McGuire’s Irish Pub, Darrel & Oliver’s Café Maxx, Renaissance Vinoy Resort, Michael’s on East, Bern’s
Steak House, Mise en Place, Mark’s City Place.

The Hall of Fame is the highest honor Florida Trend can bestow on a Florida restaurant. Restaurants that have won Golden Spoon Awards year after year are considered unbeatable and put into the Hall of Fame.

Captain Anderson’s have won 16 Golden Spoon Awards over the years, which includes this year’s induction into the Hall of Fame..

This year, Capt. Anderson's was also proud to receive the "Best Seafood Restaurant" award from Southern Living and Wine Spectator's "Award of Excellence."

Capt. Anderson’s restaurant is one of those rare “family” restaurants that not only survives, but strengthens and improves through the years. The landmark waterfront restaurant is enjoying its 37th year in 2005, and every year has witnessed remarkable growth without loss of quality. The restaurant has grown to 660 seats and, six nights a week, serves over 250,000 guests during its 8 ½ month season. Founders, Jimmy and Johnny Patronis have pulled alternating shifts for over thirty years - one brother working the “day” shift, the other brother working the “night” shift - and, flipping shifts the next day. Over the past sixteen years, the younger Patronis generation has stepped in to serve their share, but Jimmy and Johnny still pull their shifts. They are the role models of hard work and consistency for their team.

Year ‘round, the Patronis family works with fishermen, oystermen and others who make their living harvesting the Gulf and Bay waters, to preserve the natural oyster beds of Appalachicola Bay... to build artificial reefs... and protect the fragile coastal ecology. Preserving and replenishing the rich natural bounty of the Gulf Coast is part of the Capt. Anderson’s legacy, one of the most important reasons this landmark restaurant is known for serving more fresh local seafood than any other restaurant and one of the reasons Capt. Anderson’s has been consistently named among America’s Top Restaurants and voted the #1 Seafood Restaurant in the country.

Over the past 37 years, Capt. Anderson’s has innovated many of the Gulf Coast’s classic dishes and has won the loyalty of millions of customers and friends. It is a local tradition to dine early at Capt. Anderson’s, and watch the fishing fleets unload their catch. Capt. Anderson’s is waterfront on Grand Lagoon, Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach. Open for the evening meal only, Monday through Saturday. Closed mid-November through late January each Winter. 850-234-2225. All major credit cards are accepted. Dress is casual. www.captandersons.com