About Dagwood's
More Than Just a Sandwich.
At Dagwood’s Delicatessen & Catering in Port St. Joe, Florida, great food starts with a simple belief: If you’re going to make something, make it worth remembering.
Founded in 2018, Dagwood’s brings a chef-driven approach to the classic neighborhood deli. From stacked, handcrafted sandwiches and bold house-made sauces to creative daily specials and catering, everything we do is built around fresh ingredients, big flavors, and food made with care.
We’re not your average sandwich shop. Behind every menu item is a passion for cooking, years of professional culinary experience, and a willingness to put a creative twist on familiar favorites.
Whether you’re a Port St. Joe local, visiting Florida’s Forgotten Coast, or grabbing lunch on your way to the beach, Dagwood’s is the kind of place where you can expect something a little different — and a whole lot of flavor.
Locally owned. Chef-driven. Proudly serving Port St. Joe.
The Experience Behind the Flavor
Meet Chef J.R. Grady
For Chef J.R. Grady, food has never been just about following recipes. It’s about creativity, craftsmanship, and bringing people together over something genuinely delicious.
A classically trained graduate of Johnson & Wales University, J.R. built his culinary career in professional kitchens across the country, developing a cooking style that blends traditional techniques with bold flavors and unexpected combinations.
His career includes serving as Executive Chef and Corporate Chef for Fat Fish Blue, a restaurant concept known for its American bistro cuisine and New Orleans-inspired dishes. That experience helped shape J.R.’s approach to food: take familiar ingredients, respect the fundamentals, and never be afraid to make something your own.
But after years in the restaurant industry, J.R. found something special along Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
What began with a camping trip to Indian Pass eventually became a new chapter. Drawn to the area’s natural beauty, close-knit community, and slower pace of life, J.R. chose Port St. Joe as the place to raise his family and put down roots.
In 2018, Dagwood’s Delicatessen & Catering opened its doors, bringing his years of culinary experience to a neighborhood sandwich shop with a personality all its own.
Today, as the sole owner of Dagwood’s, J.R. continues to bring his passion for great food to the community he calls home. From creative sandwiches and signature sauces to thoughtfully prepared catering, his philosophy remains simple:
Great food doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be done right.
For J.R., Dagwood’s isn’t just a restaurant. It’s the culmination of a lifelong passion for cooking, a commitment to quality, and a chance to share something he loves with the people of Port St. Joe.