For the past eight years, chef Emeril Lagasse has brought a taste of New Orleans to the Florida Panhandle with his seafood restaurant, Emeril's Coastal, known for specialties like barbecue shrimp and gumbo.

But on October 26, the restaurant — Lagasse's only venture along the Florida Gulf Coast — will serve its final meals. The closure marks the end of one of the region’s few spots for Creole cuisine, an establishment that drew both locals and New Orleanians vacationing at the beach.

"This community holds a special place in my heart... Coastal has been a true labor of love, and it’s been an honor to share it with all of you," Lagasse said in a social media post , describing the closure as a "difficult decision."

The announcement drew dozens of comments bidding farewell to the restauran

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