VisitPensacola.com
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We take our food seriously in the Pensacola Bay Area, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have fun with it.
Our historic city is home to five Pensacola Celebrity Chefsand more culinary options than you can shake a garlic press at. We’ve hit the highlights of Pensacola’s dining scene here, so you can sample some of the best.
Best Special Occasion Restaurant: Jackson’s Steakhouse
Trust me – you deserve an elegant treat like Jackson’s Steakhouse. Located in a historic 1860s building in downtown Pensacola, Jackson’s Steakhouse is named for Gen. Andrew Jackson (just across the street in Plaza Ferdinand VII, Jackson accepted the transfer of Florida from Spain to the United States in 1821). An intimate bar complements the light and airy interior.
Tip: Order Irv’s Coastal Crab Cakes: Pensacola Celebrity Chef Irv Miller combines the richness of a fire-roasted red pepper butter sauce with the satisfying sweetness of candied pecans. It will leave you speechless.
Best Sushi: Bonsai Sushi Bar at H20
Pensacola Celebrity Chef Dan Dunn has tongues wagging about his unique “Cajun-Asian” cuisine at H2O Grill inside the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front. Adjacent to H20 is the sleek little Bonsai Sushi Bar. Sexy and modern, Bonsai is perfect for a stylish dinner followed by a walk on a moonlit beach.
Tip: Try the Pensacola Beach Roll: A combination of cilantro, jalapeno, green onion and tuna, it has the perfect “kick.”
Best Tapas: The Global Grill
The best way to experience Global Grill is with a group of friends – otherwise you’ll just stare at the expansive menu all night, wishing your stomach were large enough to accommodate more dishes. The Global Grill is a tapas bar, which means appetizer-sized dishes (tapas means “small plates” in Spanish) allow you to sample and experiment. If you have your heart set on a heartier portion, Pensacola Celebrity Chef Frank Taylor also offers main plates such as Hoisin-seared salmon steaks served with rice noodles, shiitake mushrooms and snow peas or roasted duck breast with Jarlsberg au gratin potatoes.
Tip: Save room for dessert: The gooey-centered chocolate cake has become one of the city’s most talked-about treats.
