Restaurant Review: The Red Bar, Grayton Beach, Florida
Our favorite Red Bar beverages. Check out the interior decoration in the background!The Mahi-Mahi sandwich, not quite as exceptional as I remembered from previous dining visits.Red Bar’s huge and unique blackboard menu is easy to read. Prices shown are 2016. Note cash or check – no credit cards accepted.
This was our third opportunity to dine at the unique Red Bar in Grayton Beach, Florida one of our favorite stops along the Gulf Coast Scenic Drive from Pensacola to Apalachicola. It is the nearest bar or restaurant to the actual sparkling white beach that the town’s name references, so that is one reason for its popularity. Another is its crazy funky interior decorations covering every square inch of ceiling and walls with odd collectibles and notices. It is a fun place to dine and drink and the food ain’t bad either!
My favorite adult beverage at the Red is their signature Bloody Mary, now going for $7 (2018). It is the literal “meal in a glass” having in addition to the Bloody Mary Mix and Vodka, you get a large stalk of celery, a couple of pimento olives, a few dilly green beans, a slice of lemon, and 2 kinds of sweet, mildly hot peppers. Jo had their famous Mimosa, sweet and suitably powerful.
We both ordered the Mahi-Mahi sandwich basket, one of the Red Bar’s specialties we’ve previously enjoyed. Jo found her sandwich as tasty as she remembered and would give it 4.5 stars. However, I felt mine was too dry and a little chewy. I also was surprised it was served on a rather ordinary hamburger bun and the “greens” were iceberg lettuce vs a higher quality loose-leaf lettuce. I’d give my sandwich a 3.5 rating. The service was friendly and prompt. We did have a little trouble understanding our menu options as explained by our server. (After dining at The Red Bar in three different years, it is apparent they employ guest workers or exchange students as wait staff so you can get a mixed bag in expertise in spoken English.) I’ve noticed in checking the reviews on the Zomato website that some of the more recent reviews mirror our recent less enthusiasm for the quality of the food itself.
Slide Show – The Red Bar
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Dining at the Red Bar is always enjoyable and especially when they have live music. If you’ve never been there before, it is must-experience when you visit Grayton Beach. But dedicated “foodies” may want to also check out the Grayton Seafood Company (see our review), located away from the beach along Scenic Highway 30A.
The “beach” at Grayton Beach is one of the finest along the gulf coast. Learn more about visiting Grayton Beach here.
One of Pensacola’s Best places to eat, Jaco’s is upscale casual dining, overlooking Pensacola Bay and the Palafox Pier Marina. Spacious, comfortable tables and seating with cloth napkins, lemon-slice in the water, and more substantial eating utensils give it a touch of class.
Jo getting ready to dig into her tasty Pesto Flatbread.The overhead heaters and transparent wind screens allow customers to enjoy dining outside even in cooler weather.
Service was also classy. Competent, friendly and attentive wait staff. Refilling my water glass and stopping by frequently to check in during the meal is one of my service check marks and Jaco’s staff did well hitting these marks. My glass of Yuengling tap was served in a frosted glass and had a decent head of foam on it, another mark of quality service. Finally it was not a long wait for our meal to be delivered and it arrived hot so it had not been sitting under heat lamps for long. We give 5 stars for Jaco’s service.
I had their blackened Mahi-Mahi Taco, a dish I often use as a benchmark to compare restaurants. Jaco’s offering was a little different from many others in that it was served in a hard shell taco vs. a soft shell. I found the hard shell easier to consume without a mess of ingredients squeezing out. My previous Mahi-Taco at another dining establishment necessitated lots of finger-licking! Jaco’s Taco is nicely prepared and presented, as good tasting as I’ve had in the past. Instead of fries, chips, or hush puppies, Jaco’s Taco came with an ample combination of brown rice and beans as a side dish plus a mango salsa relish serving. Nice change of pace from the usual side I get.
Jo had their Pesto Flat Bread that came with Kalamata olives, Italian sausage, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, fresh basil, spinach and Pesto Spread. She found it very tasty and filing.
Jaco’s outside dining deck had overhead heaters which allowed us to be comfortable eating outdoors on a very nice sunny day that otherwise would have been too cold and windy to eat out on the deck.
Decent quality food, top service, pleasing dining atmosphere, all for a relatively modest price. Jaco’s is an excellent value; we rate it among the best restaurants we’ve experienced in Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. And reviewers on Zomato also rate it among the top 5 restaurants in Pensacola.
Jo reviewing the menu before placing our Fat Mama’s order.Huge Taco Salad, Roast Beef PoBoy, and Mama’s Tamales.Jo enjoying her Fat Mama’s Margarita out on the dining deck.
Fat Mama’s originally opened in Natchez in 1989 and have been at their current Canal Street location since 2008. Its colorful fun atmosphere, fast and friendly service, good homemade food, and decent prices have made Fat Mama’s a favorite Natchez dining institution.
You place your order at the counter, get your beverage, leave your name and take a seat in the restaurant or out on the dining deck. A server will bring your meal when it is ready.
Jo ordered the Taco Salad, a crispy tortilla shell filled with lettuce, seasoned chicken, shredded cheese, sliced black olives, diced tomatoes and onions, but held the jalapeno peppers. Very fresh and crisp and a generous quantity of ingredients. She liked that the chicken and all the ingredients were nicely distributed throughout the salad versus being layered like you find at some eateries.
I had the huge Roast Beef & Gravy PoBoy sandwich. Served on French Bread and a generous quantity of hot thin-sliced roast beef with shredded cabbage, sliced tomatoes and pickles. Served with a side of homemade potato chips. Very filling and tasty. The chips were exceptional.
Because she had no idea what a Tamale was Jo ordered a half dozen to go with our meal. They were served hot wrapped in corn husks. Too spicy for Jo’s tastes; I found them good but could only eat one as my Roast Beef PoBoy filled my tank to the top.
Jo ordered Fat Mama’s signature Margarita and found it suitably powerful and brain-freezing chilled. I had a chilled glass of amber ale tap; one of 8 specialty beers on tap.
We give Fat Mama’s high marks for fun, comfortable, casual dining, plus great food, and good service. Zomato.com rates it in the top 5 Natchez restaurants. We had previously dined and enjoyed the food and service at The Camp restaurant, located along the river in the Natchez-Under-the-Hill neighborhood. Other top-rated Natchez dining spots on our future list of places to try are Roux 61, Mammy’s Cupboard, and the historic King’s Tavern.
Some of Hot Springs most favorite restaurants are located a good distance from the National Park Bathhouse Row and downtown Hot Springs. But when we visit we are there for the camping, hiking, and history that the National Park offers so when we eat out, it is downtown near the park headquarters.
Famous and Infamous people like Babe Ruth, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Al Capone, Bugsy Segal and others have sat at this historic bar.
Located across the street from Bathhouse Row, the historic Ohio Club has been doing business since it opened in 1905 as a Casino and Saloon, with brief periods of closure due to fires, floods, and illegal gambling. During prohibition it disguised itself as the Ohio Cigar Store and continued to offer gambling and drinking services to those who knew the password. Over its history, the Ohio Club has served many notable figures in entertainment as well as infamous gangsters who were drawn to its casino operations and clandestine betting parlors.
Both in its exterior and inside, the Club maintains the character of 100 years ago. Its opulent back bar goes back even further than its 1905 beginning, estimated to have been made around 1880. The story is the bar was originally in a Cincinnati tavern and was purchased by the Club’s original owner and transported to Hot Springs where it became the back bar of the Ohio Club. The bar and the interior furnishings give the Club an A+ for atmosphere.
Service Grade A, Food a B+, and the Beer a B.
The service from the wait staff was excellent and very attentive. Grade A. My water glass was refilled without having to ask, one indicator I use to gauge if the wait staff is on the ball. We had sandwiches and beers. Jo ordered her signature Mushroom & Swiss Cheese burger, topped with lettuce and tomato. I had the Portobello Mushroom Veggie Burger. Both came with a helping of thick fries and a dill spear. Adequate size portions and served on a tasty bun. Loved the fries. We rated the food a B+, decent quality for an under $10 burger basket. Our tap beers were a Porter and a Milk Chocolate Stout. OK, but I felt a bit pricey for tap beers – $6 and $7.
A fun place to stop in, soak up some neat atmosphere, and have a sandwich and beer. And if you like live music, they have it seven nights a week.
Other Good Restaurants in downtown Hot Springs near Bathhouse Row
Another Hot Springs Restaurant we like a lot is Steinhaus Keller. They are on Central Avenue a few blocks south of the bathhouses. They have a decent selection of brews, great German cuisine, and a unique Biergarden. We’ve dined there a couple of times and always came away very happy with the food and the service. See our earlier Restaurant Review of Steinhaus Keller here.
Another unique pub is the Superior Bathhouse Brewery, located in the actual National Park, along Bath House Row and across the street from the Ohio Club. Their beer is brewed with the same 144 degree thermal spring water that serves the other bath houses and the water fountains that are along Bathhouse Row. The Brewery also offers a selection of pub food to accompany your craft brewed beer. Two years ago, we stopped in there shortly after the Brewery first opened and the food service was limited. From reading reviews in Zomato, the menu has expanded dramatically and is getting some very favorable comments. So next time we are Hot Springs, we must eat there (as well as sample the brews).
Rolando’s Restaurante is another downtown restaurant that gets good reviews for its atmosphere and food. If you like Southwestern, Latin and Central American dishes this is the place you should try.
If you are Irish or like Irish dishes, try the Copper Penny Pub. We’ve only had a few brews there during the very crowded post-St. Patty’s Day Parade Celebration (see our video). In the reviews, some have liked the Fish & Chips and other Irish fare, but others not so enthused. So we’ve got to try them ourselves on the next visit.
Our Reviews of Best Restaurants and Pubs in Natchez, Mississippi
In March of 2017, we spent a few days sampling visitor attractions in historic Natchez, Mississippi including food and drink establishments. Here’s some reviews of places we tried, plus some we missed and plan to sample the next time we are in town.
Reviews on this page: The Camp Restaurant, Bowie Tavern, Steampunk Coffee Roasters, and Fat Mama’s Tamales.
The Camp Restaurant Review
Great river views from the outdoor dining deck of the Camp Restaurant
We wanted to dine within view of the river and found The Camp was listed among the Top 10 Natchez Restaurants in Zomato so we gave them a try. Great location on Silver Street below the bluff and on the waterfront in an area called Natchez Under-the-Hill. It is part of a collection of historic old buildings set off from the rest of Natchez (Natchez proper is on high ground above the bluff). Their website tag line is “Cold Beer. Good Food . . . at one of the best restaurants in Natchez.” We agree.
They have outdoor seating in their beer garden in back and out front on the porch overlooking the Mississippi River. Inside there are two or three dining rooms including one that has a wall that kids can draw on. So it’s a family friendly kind of place that also has a sport bar character.
Their intimate tap room commanded by friendly bartender Mike offers 18 beers on tap, mostly from southern breweries. Finding out we were dark beer lovers, Mike recommended a coffee porter from Natchez Brewing Co. An excellent choice, stands up to the best of porters we’ve had.
18 beers on tap in the Camp’s cozy bar.
While more of a sports bar, The Camp takes a great deal of pride in its food service. They make their own bread for burgers and sandwiches, cut their own potatoes for frys, and hand-form their own patties. Food is made to order, not pre-made and then microwaved. The menu includes a wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, taco baskets, soups, salads, and choice of three entre dinners with fresh side veggies. As we had a mid-afternoon snack, we weren’t ready for a large meal so were attracted to their “Slider Menu.” These are mini versions of their regular burger baskets. The Sliders have all the fixings of their big brother version and the pattys were thick and juicy even though small in diameter. Likewise the bun was very tasty but scaled down in size fitting the burger. They came with an order of fries and cole slaw. Jo had her signature Mushroom & Swiss burger and pronounced it excellent. She could tell fresh mushrooms were used vs. ones coming from a can. I had the Brisket Slider – sliced smoked brisket, Sweet Heat BBQ sauce, cole slaw, house pickles. We loved the sliders and the “concept.” It gives you a smaller portion but in every other way its quality and amendments matches the full menu version. A tasty meal that was surprisingly filling.
BTW For younger readers, the name “slider” comes from the famous mini-burger produced by the White Castle hamburger palace, a fast-food chain that pre-dated McDonalds. The burgers were about the size of your palm, the pattys were square with a holes in the middle so they could cook fast. As a teenagers, we found a bag of five sliders would be about the right meal size! Link to their menu.
Bowie’s Tavern occupies the former 1840s warehouse, across the street from Bluff Park.
We were attracted to Bowie’s Tavern because of its historic architecture and it was located on Broadway Street across from the Riverwalk Promenade and Gazebo that overlook the Mississippi River.
It was too early in the day for dinner, so we opted for some brews and a Nacho basket on their outdoor patio overlooking the park. Inside the interior is highlighted by a huge antique mahogany bar and other appointments that give a clue to the building’s history in Natchez, originally a cotton warehouse built in 1840.
We dined at Bowie Tavern’s outdoor patio overlooking the Mississippi River Bluffs.
Not everything inside is old-tyme due to several large flat-screen TVs creating a sports bar atmosphere. Their menu also reflects their sports bar theme, featuring wings, burgers, Po’Boys, seafood platters, soups and salads, and some specials. Rated by TripAdvisor #18 out of 66 rated Natchez restaurants, it gets some good recent reviews . . . but also a few disappointed customers. I’d rate it as a fun place to have some brews, watch some games and have good to passable bar food. Reviewers noted happy hour prices are very good.
Have coffee and pastries inside or if the weather is nice, enjoy the attractive outdoor patio at Steampunk Expresso Bar.
Steampunk isn’t a full service restaurant, but rather a coffee house/expresso bar that does serve some bakery items, chocolate, and yogurt to accompany your fresh roasted coffee drink (see the menu here). As their coffee is roasted in the back room of the cafe, you can be assured it is fresh roasted and have a nice selection of brews. You can also get your coffee in a variety of brewing concoctions (expresso, cappuccino, latte, french press, turkish, iced, etc.). We had a dark roast, traditionally brewed with two huge blueberry muffins. They roast and brew a decent cup of coffee and the muffins very good. Comfortable, cozy coffee house atmosphere and good service. Located in a re-purposed historic 1868 cabin, they also have an attractive patio for outside service. Steampunk gets almost a perfect 5.o rating on Trip Advisor so they have lots of satisfied customers. Great place for excellent coffee and light breakfast or afternoon snack.
In March of 2017, our RV was parked at the Natchez Visitor center. From there we walked to the downtown and historic district and passed Fat Mama’s on Canal Street only a few blocks from the Visitor Center. But every time we went by them either we weren’t ready for a meal or had already eaten. They had an attractive looking outdoor patio that seemed an appealing place to dine. It looks like a fun place to eat and I regretted not including it during our visit to Natchez.
Jo enjoying her Fat Mama’s Margarita out on the dining deck.
But we corrected that omission on a later trip. See our Fat Mama’s Restaurant Review. Rated 3rd best Natchez Restaurant on Zomato, people generally love the Tamales, although their menu also includes Po’Boys, Salads, and Casseroles so you aren’t limited. People also rave about the Margaritas, but if that isn’t your favorite, there are also several tap beers and other mixed drinks available.
More Best Natchez Restaurants and Pubs We Must Try on our next Visit
A place we somehow missed on our walk through the Natchez historic district, King’s Tavern is the oldest standing building in Natchez, dating back to 1789. In addition to its history, Kings is noted for its specialty mixed drinks and exceptional flatbread cuisine. The menu doesn’t offer a broad variety of items but what is available is as several reviews have commented “awesome.” But it isn’t a restaurant in the conventional sense. More properly it is a Pub that serves food, which you order at the bar itself. King’s is the #2 rated Natchez restaurant by Trip Advisor, The second floor of the tavern has some ghost history exhibits plus a small gift shop. For the history, ambiance, and a lighter meal, we will make sure to stop here the next time we are in town.
Roux 61 isn’t actually located in Natchez proper but south of town on Route 61. Its rural location offers lots of parking and is an attractive setting. Lots of seating inside and a very popular place with both locals and Natchez visitors. It seems to be the consensus place to go for Seafood and Cajun and Creole dishes in the Natchez area. But if seafood or Cajun isn’t what you want, they get rave reviews on their steak, chicken, pasta, burgers and a wide variety of other dishes. Superb, friendly service. It rates out at the #2 of Best Natchez restaurants on Zomato.
Billing itself as “. . . Iowa’s oldest food & drinking establishment” Breitbach’s was originally built in 1852 and has been run by six generations of the family since 1862. Current owners Mike and Cindy Breitbach have several of their children on site working in the kitchen, waiting tables, washing dishes, or tending to the bar ensuring that in time there will be a seventh generation continuing the family tradition.
The dining area is spacious and comfortable with a few antique touches.
We first discovered Breitbach’s in 2006 while taking our first trip along Iowa’s Great River Road north of Dubuque. At that time the original structure, built in 1852, still existed. (See photos below). It was a neat old building filled with 150 years of antique furnishings and memorabilia collected over the years. Besides a step-back-in-time to a genuine old fashioned country tavern, the food itself was genuine home-cooking. In addition to the delicious Iowa Pork Chops, I recall the most extensive and flavorful salad bar I’d ever experienced.
Since that original visit we’ve returned several times. Unfortunately, in 2007 the original Breitbachs burned to the ground in a gas explosion and fire. Almost all the antiques and collections from several generations were destroyed. A new Breitbach’s now occupies the original foundation. The dining area is much larger and is finished in beautiful oak beams and trim with some nice touches of antiques here and there. But nothing could replace the charm of the old 1800s era building and its contents.
All you can eat Buffet draws people from long distances to tiny Balltown Iowa.
However what hasn’t changed is the Breitbach family is still there running the place. Great small town service and excellent home cooking featuring famous Iowa Beef and Pork. On our most recent visit in October 2017 we caught their fantastic all-you-can-eat Dinner Buffet. We had a choice of beer battered cod, beef tips, popcorn shrimp, and broasted chicken. All excellent tasting, hot and moist. Jo particularly loved the homemade noodles, reminding her of those her grandmother used to make. Mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn rounded out the main course. But then there’s the exceptional soup and salad bar completely homemade by Cindy Breitbach and her kitchen crew. Still the best and most varied salad bar I’ve ever had. So much delicious food and even though I stuffed myself I couldn’t sample everything. Well that leaves more for next time.
From the Balltown scenic overlook, looking towards the Mississippi River bluffs. Wisconsin in background at top of picture.
Next to dining at Breitbach’s Balltown’s most notable attraction is the scenic lookout over the Mississippi River valley. At 1185 feet in elevation it is the second highest point in Iowa. Our latest visit was mid-week so we missed the music and Octoberfest celebration in the beer garden behind the restaurant. We caught that one year and it was lots of fun. In October you can also catch some good color and scenic river overlooks along the Iowa River Road Scenic Byway from Balltown to Guttenberg.
According to Zomato reviews and recommendations from friends, Brewery Creek Pub is one of Mineral Point’s most popular places to eat. The Inn and Pub are located in a restored 1854 Warehouse. In the pub the original thick limestone walls, exposed hand-hewn timbers, solid oak tables and chairs, and classic bar complete the intimate and genuine old time pub atmosphere. The dining area and its adjacent bar are not very spacious, yet you didn’t feel crowded. Something to do with how the space was arranged with an eye towards good use of space and providing variety. Perhaps it was also the high open ceilings exposing the thick old floor joists of the floor above and the rough sandstone rock walls did a nice job of cushioning conversation from the bar or adjacent tables.
Their own beer is brewed on-site and they offer a limited but diverse selections of brews. They were temporarily out of their Porter so we chose their Dark Amber ale instead. While advertised in their menu as “mild” we found the brew had good body and a full taste. And it was darker in color than the usual amber brew. Perhaps the “mild” referred to alcohol content, which we didn’t miss, particularly on a day when the temperatures were headed above 90 degrees!
Jo ordered their California Burger and I had their Wild Sockeye Salmon sandwich. Each came with a choice of sides; we both elected the fries. Brewery Creek touts their use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and injects an home-cooked artisan approach to their pub menu. The California burger came with tomato and red onion and their specialty garlic mayo sauce. Jo gave it good marks for taste. The hand-made patty was moist and not over-cooked and just the right size for a filling meal but not over-board.
In contrast, my Sockeye Salmon sandwich was a disappointment. All the ingredients were right. Nice sesame seed bun, adequate size salmon fillet, crisp fresh lettuce and tomato, decent sauce, etc. But as I picked up the bun, I could feel the top slice was chilled! And when I removed the tooth pick with the mini-cucumber at the end the mini cuke itself was chilly too. Undeterred I took my first bite, the salmon was room temperature, not at all hot. I was too hungry to send the dish back for a replacement, so I finished my meal. Something weird must have happened to my salmon sandwich because this is not the usual customer experience. Perhaps the finishing procedure of preparation is to flash microwave the entire sandwich once all the ingredients are assembled and somehow mine never got this final treatment. Perhaps the cold bun and cuke fresh from the fridge served to cool off the salmon which sat too long before served. A mystery.
Our waitress was friendly and courteous but only gets about a C+ compared to what one would expect from Brewery Creek’s reputation. She wasn’t attentive in asking how things were going mid-meal, nor noticing that my water glass was empty. She didn’t inquire how we “liked the meal” until we just about done. When I told her about my salmon sandwich, she’d said she’d have to tell the kitchen staff about it. But she never came back later with any mention of my complaint. It was as if I never said anything. Our dining at Brewery Creek was on a Sunday lunch time. They were busy but not over-crowded, still a few empty tables. Considering its reputation and neat ambiance, this dining experience was a disappointment. We’ll do a re-visit sometime and hope our next experience rises to their reputation.
According to Trip Advisor, the Grand Marlin is the number 1 rated restaurant in Pensacola Beach. But as it is also listed as the most expensive restaurant in Pensacola Beach we’ve not dined there. But considering its good rating, perhaps we ought to find out “how expensive” it is! 🙂
But we have had a chance to sample some of the Beach’s other top rated restaurants.
Our Reviews of Best Restaurants in Pensacola Beach
Below are reviews of:
Flounder’s Chowder House
Red Fish-Blue Fish Restaurant
Native Cafe.
Review – Flounders Chowder House
Flounders is a beach front casual, seafood dining and entertainment emporium that has been in Pensacola Beach since 1979. It is full of nautical paraphernalia, antiques, and fanciful creations. A former world record 980 lb Blue Marlin hangs from the ceiling of the Marlin Bar. Adjacent to the street-side entrance is the 55 foot former shrimp boat, the M/V Flounder named after its owner Captain Frank Flounder. Frank’s three sons opened Flounders Chowder House after serving their tours shrimping.
Diners have a choice of seating: an open-air outdoor deck adjacent to their beach, a covered outdoor deck, and inside seating. There’s also a separate, cafeteria style Sushi Bar. The stand-up Tiki Bar is out on beach and the more spacious Marlin Bar is in the open-air covered area.
The sand beach fronts on Pensacola Bay and includes a long pier with boat docking facilities for guests arriving by water. The large beach area also hosts a volleyball court and a kids playground area within view of the restaurant so Mom and Dad can keep an eye on the kids while they dine. The entertainment stage looks out over the the deck, but no one was performing the day we were there. But Jamaican music played in the background on their PA system.
The former Flounder’s Shrimp Boat welcomes visitors to the restaurant.Beach volleyball in front of Flounders Chowder HouseDining on the deck at Flounders Chowder House.
Rating Flounders Food & Service
I had the Grilled Mahi Taco Salad and Jo chose her favorite burger basket, a Mushroom & Swiss Burger w fries. The food portion size was large and the quality good, but not outstanding. We’ll give it Four stars. The wait service was prompt and friendly. A fun, family friendly, entertaining place to spend an afternoon or evening. Next time I’ll have to try their signature Floyd Flounder’s Phenomenal Chowder, a past winner of the Great Florida Chowder Cook-off.
Red Fish Blue Fish is another funky beach front dining and entertainment also located on the Pensacola Bay side of the island. Like Flounders it has an extensive white sand swimming and lounging beach, in fact maybe a little larger than Flounders. As with Flounders you can be in the open-air patio, the covered deck, or inside away from all the elements. There’s no volleyball court but there are corn-hole game sets on the patio and on the beach.
The day we were there a country-pop trio was performing on the outdoor stage. They had a Simon & Garfunkel style of close harmony and a wild electric fiddle that I loved. It was an idyllic afternoon, good food, good music, sun, beach, ocean breezes, and a very tasty Bloody Mary.
Our lunch was Grilled & Blackened Mahi on a bed of steamed asparagas, rice & spinach. Excellently prepared and decent wait service. We’ve had and enjoyed Grilled Mahi at other Gulf Coast eateries and the dish served up by Red Fish Blue Fish didn’t disappoint us.
Relax on this funky bench outside the entrance to Red Fish Blue FishThe Patio of Red Fish Blue Fish Restaurant in Pensacola Beach is where everyone wants to be.Some great tunes out on the Patio of Red Fish Blue Fish
Also a bit away from the hustle and crowds is the best breakfast spot in Pensacola Beach (also serves lunch until 3pm). Nestled in a plain jane strip mall east of Pensacola Beach’s entertainment center, Native Café is easy to miss unless you know about their reputation. We found out about them on Trip Advisor where they are rated the #2 Restaurant in Pensacola Beach behind the Grand Marlin, which is the top rated place to eat in the Beach – but is also the most expensive.
Their artsy marquee was matched with a funky, artsy and intimate interior. Some light jazz played in the background adding to the unique café atmosphere.
Native Café is family run, operated by fifth generation Pensacolians, Joyce and Charles Brown and their children, Josef Wiggins, Jesse Brown and Arin Brown. Their commitment to good food, a fun atmosphere and good service has people like us going to an effort to find them.
Native Cafe’s South Western MotifDelicious Mahi-Mahi Tacos in the foreground, Mahi-Mahi PoBoy background.
Rating the Native Cafe
We were there for a late lunch. Jo had their signature PoBoy Mahi-Mahi sandwich basket that included a side of fresh veggies. I had their famous Florida Fish Tacos, which contains sautéed Mahi which chopped cabbage, tomato, and bell peppers and 2 kinds of sauce. Excellent taste, large portions left us stuffed. Great food coupled with fast, friendly service stands up to their #2 rating. Love the artsy coffee shop atmosphere and their choice of music. 5 stars. We look forward to returning the next time we are in Pensacola Beach.
Other Top Rated Pensacola Beach Restaurants.
Peg Leg Petes Pensacola Beach(pictured at the top of the page) Bustling, pirate-themed seafood restaurant featuring a children’s play area & raw bar
We’ve driven by Peg Leg Pete’s several times on the way to and from Fort Pickens. The parking lot was always full so we never stopped as we figured there would be a long wait for a table. They get good reviews on Google and Trip Advisor so one of these days we have to give them a try. (We finally did in 2020 – see our review)
Grand Marlin The Grand Marlin is at the tip of peninsula that juts out into Santa Rosa Sound with a terrific panoramic view of the cove between the island and the Gulf Breeze peninsula. Highly rated by Trip Advisor for the quality of their food and service. But warning you also pay top dollar for that four star rating. With extensive docking facilities it is a popular dining and entertainment spot for boaters. One of these days we’ll dig into the Piggy Bank and stop there for dinner or lunch.
The Pensacola News Journal recently posted some announcements of new Pensacola Beach Restaurants recently opened that included The Drift Casino Beach Bar & Grille.
Below are our reviews of some of the top places to eat in Pensacola: Fish House Restaurant, Hub Staceys, McGuire’s Irish Pub, and Jo Patti’s Seafood. Below those reviews are links to our reviews of five more Best Restaurants in Pensacola. But first a slide show of some of these famous places to dine.
Slide Show of featured Pensacola restaurants
Top Places to eat in Pensacola: Joe Patti’s Fish Market, Hub Stacey’s Tavern, McGuire’s Pub, The Fish House Restaurant, Carmen’s Lunch Box Cafe
The Fish House Restaurant is on Pensacola Bay. A huge aquarium separates the two dining rooms.
Joe Patti's Fish Market busy fresh seafood service counter stretches for about a hundred feet. In the far right side of the picture is their Sushi Bar.
Joe Patti's Deli Market. In addition to Joe Patti's huge seafood Market they also have a large deli area with meats, sausages, cheeses, and loads of special condiments.
The popular Hub Staceys Tavern is across the street from the Seville Square Park. In addition to inside dining, they have a covered sidewalk dining area.
McGuires Pub is one Pensacola's most popular places to eat and drink. Fun atmosphere and good service.
The Money Ceiling at McGuire's Pub. Many thousands of dollars, some say a million, hang from the ceiling.
Carmen's Lunch Bar Restaurant also has a sidewalk cafe that is the perfect place for dining on a nice day.
Dining Review: the Fish House Restaurant – Pensacola
Offering, in our experience, some of the best dining in Pensacola, the Fish House Restaurant is on an inlet of Pensacola Bay and is walking distance from the downtown historic district. There is an outside dining and entertainment deck (The Deck Bar) overlooking the docks but the weather was too chilly for that so we ate indoors. It is a comfortable dining atmosphere with skilled and friendly wait and service staff. The beer was served in ice cold steins, a touch I appreciate. For me one mark of an attentive wait staff is having my water glass refilled without asking, this happened three times.
The food was excellent. We ordered the crab and lobster cake appetizer, which at first I thought was a modest size for the price ($13) but we were surprised how filling it was, and it was tasty – worth the 13 bucks. Both Jo and I ordered the Grilled Salmon. While not from the local Pensacola fishery, it must be flown in daily because it is advertised as “fresh.” It certainly tasted fresh, moist and served hot. Our sides were a grilled medley of veggies, plus cole slaw and black-eyed peas. All very tasty and good portion sizes.
I’d rate the pricing structure as mid-size yet a very good value considering the quality of food, service, and comfortable ambience of the restaurant. We will certainly dine here again.
While walking around Pensacola’s Historic District, we happened to stumble upon a neighborhood pub called Hub Staceys , which is across the street from Seville Square. That day the park was hosting the annual “Smokin in the Square” BBQ competition and festival. Wonderful aromas were wafting in the air as competitors were beginning to smoke their entries. Unfortunately we were a day early to sample the “contestants” but Hubs sidewalk signboard advertised BBQ pork sandwich on a pretzel bun. So that plus the aroma’s from the Square was enough to bring us in. Hubs is an old wood-sided corner building that looks like it has been a neighborhood bar for a long time. Inside it has a funky and friendly atmosphere befitting its neighborhood bar location. The BBQ sandwich was good but on our visit Hubs won’t win awards for attentive service. Staff was friendly but they are content to wait for you to flag them down to place your order or get a refill. In their defense, the place was reasonably busy due to the festival in the park, but I suspect that local tradition is that you speak up when you want something!
McGuires is routinely voted one of the top 10 Florida restaurants. It is noted for its steaks and burgers as well as a few Irish specialties. The pub atmosphere is olde english, dark oak paneling and pictures, plaques, and memorbilia covering all the walls. The pub is large but broken up into several small, intimate dining areas. But its ceiling (and some walls) is most distinctive. Hanging from the ceiling (and pinned to some walls) are dollar bills, an estimated 1 million of them! Rumor is the practice was started by the first waitress who celebrated the opening of McGuires by pinning her first dollar tip to the ceiling. Jo had her usual mushroom and swiss burger; I had the Reuben on Rye recommended by our waitress. Both were top notch, served hot and moist in a reasonable amount of time. The portion sizes were extremely generous, so much that we took half our sandwiches home with us. Host and wait service was prompt, friendly, and attentive. The parking lot was quite full for a Thursday afternoon about 3pm, testifying to the quality of their food and service. Bonus – McGuires brews their own line of ales. After doing the sampler I chose their stout. Four and half stars.
Jo Patti’s Fish Market is Pensacola’s large and busy ocean-side fish market carrying an amazing variety and quantity of seafood as well as a decent selection of condiments to accompany a seafood dinner. If you have never been to a large busy fish market before, it is worth a stop just for the experience – even if you aren’t shopping. If you are shopping, you take a number and get served when your number is called. In addition to seafood, they have a decent sized deli area with a good selection of cheeses and sausage. Next door is Anna’s Wine Shop. The Fish Market did offer a Sushi Bar, but neither Jo nor I are fans of raw fish, so this wasn’t an option.
We stopped at Joe Patti’s Fish Market with the intention of having lunch there as we had heard good things about their seafood offering. The Fish Market is a large building along the water front and hard to miss. What we didn’t know at the time and did not discover until we got home was that Joey’s Restaurant is not in the extensive Fish Market complex, but located a block and half away west of the Fish Market among several nondescript industrial-commercial buildings. So Joey’s Restaurant is another review we have to do in the future.
AL Fresco Outdoor Cafe
The Al Fresco outdoor dining patio, is pictured at the top of this page. Unfortunately, we can’t tell you about the food quality or service since we came upon it between meal times . . . but the ambiance is really cool. An outdoor cafe with umbrellas, palm trees, potted plants, and surrounded by 4 vintage Airstream Travel Trailers turned into Restaurant-Food Carts. Each of the Airstream Restaurants offers a different style menu. A fifth restaurant, the Shux Oyster Bar, also offers indoor dining options. Located at the intersection of Palafox and Main Streets, Al Fresco is near the waterfront, on the way to the Plaza De Luna pier. It is only a few blocks from the Historic Pensacola Village, and near downtown Pensacola as well. Next time we are in Pensacola on a nice afternoon, we have to catch a bite to eat here.
