IRONMAN Florida weekend: where to eat in Panama City Beach

Racing, cheering or driving someone to the IRONMAN Florida start at Pier Park on Saturday, November 7? Big Mama's PCB at 10071 Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach, is a few minutes' drive away with big tables and a large free lot. Fried chicken, mac and cheese and peach cobbler, plus weekend brunch from 9. Call (850) 588-5085 to confirm hours.

When is IRONMAN Florida, and what does it mean for dinner?

Visit Panama City Beach lists IRONMAN Florida for Saturday, November 7, 2026, with a 6 AM start at Pier Park. One older IRONMAN schedule showed October 31, so confirm your own wave and times with IRONMAN before you plan around them.

For food, that gives you three meals to think about: the night before, race day for the people waiting on the course, and the meal after. A race family needs the same things at each: a table that fits everyone, easy parking and a menu with something for every age.

What can you eat the night before?

Friday, November 6, the daily special is chicken n' rice, and prime rib starts at 4 PM through close. Both come with two sides, a third is $2 more, and when we are out, we are out. No special price is posted, so ask or call.

If you would rather pick from the full menu, these are the plates people build a pre-race dinner from:

• Bone-in fried chicken, from $15
• Shrimp N' Grits, $22
• Pork Chop, $17
• Veggie Plate, $12
• Sides at $4: mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, cheese grits, black eyed peas, green beans, mock shoe
• Cornbread, $2

We will not tell you what to eat before an IRONMAN. That is between you and your coach. This is what is on the menu.

Where do spectators eat on race day?

Spectators have the longest day. Big Mama's PCB opens at 9 on Saturday for brunch, so the hours of waiting along the course can start with a real breakfast. Brunch plates run from the Lil Mama at $12 and the Big Mama at $16 to Chicken N' Waffles at $16, plus biscuits and gravy from $7. Hours are still being confirmed, so call before you drive over.

If you are staying in a condo, order ahead on Toast and pick up at the counter. That works well when half the group is at Pier Park and the other half is back at the room.

The regular lunch and dinner menu runs all day behind brunch, so a late arrival is fine. On Saturday the kitchen also adds prime rib from 4 PM to close.

How do you feed a big group after the finish?

Call ahead. We will do our best to have a big table ready, and parties of 6 or more carry an 18% gratuity, which is better to know before the check than after it.

The Big Papa Platter is $28 and is the plate to order when nobody wants to decide. Add a basket of Chicken Wings (10) at $16 for the table, or the Pimento Fritters at $13, which are fried pimento cheese you dip in pepper jelly. Peach cobbler comes with whipped cream we make in house, and the other three desserts, bread pudding, pecan pie and strawberry shortcake, are $8 like the cobbler.

Sunday, November 8, the special is brunch plus fish or fish and shrimp, so a family heading home can eat before the drive. The lunch and dinner page has the full menu, and the brunch page has the weekend plates.

What if someone does not want a heavy meal?

The Veggie Plate is $12, and sides are $4 each, so a table can pick three or four and share. Kids plates are $10. The full menu is on the all-day menu, and the brunch menu lists the Saturday and Sunday plates.

Drinks are sweet or unsweet tea at $3.50, an Arnold Palmer at $3.50, coffee at $3 and juice at $4. There is also a full bar, with draft beer, wine, cocktails and margaritas, for the people who are done for the weekend.

How to pick

Pre-race dinner on Friday, chicken n' rice or the Veggie Plate with a couple of sides. Race morning for spectators, brunch from 9. Group after the finish, call ahead and order the Big Papa Platter. A condo full of tired people, order ahead on Toast and pick it up.

Big Mama's PCB is at 10071 Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach, in the old Applebee's building, a few minutes' drive from Pier Park. Prices are cash prices and a 3% card fee is added. Call (850) 588-5085 to confirm hours, or order ahead on Toast.