The Terrace withstands the passage of time

INLET BEACH, FL - The Terrace restaurant stands as an iconic establishment at Inlet Beach that has weathered the tests of time.

Open in the same location for 16 years, the restaurant has built its clientele on locals and second-home owners who come back year after year. His patrons return, said Chef/owner Thom Kindos, because of the consistent level of service they receive.

The service customers expect and find at The Terrace includes being welcomed at the door by the Kindos family. Either Kindos’ wife, Kathy, or daughter Helena will show guests to a table and help them at the bar.

Once shown to a table, diners are encouraged to enjoy the complete dining experience.

“We encourage our guests to stay for at least two hours to fully enjoy. We don’t rush people here. We want you to dine,” said Helena.

“Yes,” said Thom. “It’s cozy here, not loud, but romantic, enjoy.”

The romantic element comes through with floral cloth tablecloths and napkins and a candle on every table.

The restaurant’s full bar is also softly lit and offers happy hour daily from 5 - 6:30 p.m.

The menu is seasonal, with an emphasis on coastal cuisine, and all items are served fresh and cooked to order.

“If anyone wants a dish prepared a special way I will do it,” said Kindos.

Even steaks are cut to order. 

The chef also takes no shortcuts in preparing a dish, said Helena. “He makes his own stock every day,” she said.

Kindos explained that habit comes from his strong classical training in New York City of taking no short cuts. “Nothing is pre-cooked,” he said.

Kindos first opened The Terrace in Panama City 19 years ago and moved it to Inlet Beach 2.5 years later.

“There was not much here then. But in Panama City at that time, there was no demand for fine dining,” he said. “But we got our reputation started there.”

Originally from New York City, Kindos found himself in the restaurant business when he came out of the service and needed a job. He went to work at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, where he learned techniques from the restaurant’s French chefs. He incorporates those touches, along with Italian and Greek flair in his cooking today.

On the menu at The Terrace since the beginning has been his Grouper Gourmet and Terrace Baked Oysters, which he considers his signature dishes.

Although his heritage is Greek, Kindos said most of his dishes are in the realm of coastal cuisine.

“We will prepare a dish Greek style if that is what a customer wants,” he said. “We offer the Greek Spinach Pie and we have done fish and lambchops Grecian style.”

To finish off the meal, diners may enjoy a fresh dessert concocted by Kathy Kindos, who does all the baking.

“We do everything ourselves,” said Helena. “I think that’s the secret to our longevity is that we are family owned and operated. We get to know our customers and they know us.”

The Terrace is open Tuesday through Saturday evenings for dinner. They will close Sept. 13 - 24 for family vacation.