A Panama City Tradition

By Joseph Kemp

There’s a little restaurant on the corner of Harrison Avenue and 15th Street that has been a Panama City staple since the 1950s.

The Tally-Ho drive-in gives its customers a trip back to yesteryear, when Elvis first swiveled his hips and before the Day the Music Died. You simply pull in and a friendly carhop walks out to hand you a menu.

The menu offers delicious burgers, fries, different sandwiches, onion rings and a tasty chicken basket among other classic Americana cuisine. You can choose to sit in your car, get it to go, or have a leisurely lunch at one of their picnic tables.

If you choose to have your order to go, try driving down to the Marina for a nice picturesque meal. Whichever way you choose to dine, be sure to tip the local guardians of the Tally-Ho, the seagulls, with a fry or two.

If you chose to eat in your car at the restaurant, the carhop will leave a tray on your driver’s side window and when you’re done, simply turn on your lights and she will come take it away.

There’s something special about the Tally-Ho. Listening to the golden oldies, and eating one of their terrific Cuban sandwiches, creates a fond memory, even for those of us born decades after it’s inception. You can almost see the classic 57 Chevy’s now.

We may not have an “Al’s Diner” like on “Happy Days,” but we do have a Tally-Ho. There, the spirit of the 50s lives on for all of us to enjoy. Go there and take part of a Panama City tradition that will live on into the future.

Tally-Ho

1449 Harrison Ave
Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 769-2436