Bon Appétit Restaurant & Marina Bar will celebrate 50 years on the Dunedin waterfront with a month-long party in October, including throwback menu items, live entertainment and giveaways.

The official date is Saturday, Oct. 17. But festivities will run throughout the month at the restaurant's location at 148 Marina Plaza, overlooking St. Joseph Sound, according to a Tampa Bay Beacons news brief published Thursday, Aug. 27.

Peter Kreuziger and chef Karl Riedl founded Bon Appétit in 1976. Crabby Bill's Seafood, the family restaurant group led by president and CEO Matthew Loder Sr., bought the restaurant in November 2022. Crabby Bill's also operates a location in Palm Harbor.

"Fifty years is an incredible milestone, and we know we wouldn't be here without the people who have supported Bon Appétit over the years," Loder said. "There are so many families who have been coming here for generations, along with employees who have spent many years taking care of our guests."

The October celebration will feature anniversary specials, historic photos highlighting the restaurant's five decades, and a call for longtime guests to share their favorite memories, photos and stories. Specific entertainment schedules and throwback menu details have not yet been announced.

Bon Appétit has remained a fixture in Dunedin's civic life beyond its dining room. The restaurant hosted the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce's 100th Annual Dinner in fall 2025, and Ellen Hale, a Bon Appétit representative, received the Chamber's "Spirit of the Chamber" award at that event.

The restaurant also launched a live sunset webcam streaming views over St. Joseph Sound earlier in 2026. The Crabby Bill's website lists Bon Appétit's 1976 founding in its own company history timeline, underscoring the milestone's significance to the ownership group.

Residents can join the 50th anniversary celebration at 148 Marina Plaza throughout October.