For our 2011 Annual Spring EAT! Issue, IN staff, with a little help from some anonymous foodies, have put together the first ever "Top 50 Places to Eat Right Now"--according to us--based on food execution, staff, atmosphere and how the meal quality falls in line with cost. No one has ever attempted to put together such a list until now. Dining is inescapably subjective. For some, a sublime meal is one with white linens on the table. For others, it’s a storefront run by an ambitious young chef eager to make his mark, while some find their bliss in comfort foods or a well-run chain restaurant. All of these experiences are represented on this list. Some of you will love it. Some of you will hate it. But alas, dear readers, you'll have your chance to tell us YOUR favorites in our 2011 Best of the Coast Readers Poll coming up later this summer. Believe us, it was tough to narrow down our favorite joints to 50, but we had to cut it off somewhere.
600 South Italian Eatery & Wine Bar
600 S. Palafox, 434-6320, 600southpalafox.com Why We Love It: Its new menu, which features several Italian tapas, has attracted attention, but 600 South’s Sunday brunch is what put the restaurant on this list. 600 South Staff Recommends: Panko and Herb Crusted Grouper ($12 Small, $20 Entrée) Served over linguini with homemade marinara and served with tomato jam
which come raw, baked or steamed. Atlas Oyster House Staff Recommends: Sushi. Atlas serves half-price sushi every Tuesday night from 5-10 p.m., featuring $2 domestic draft pints.
Bagelhead's
916 E. Gregory St., 444-9661 Why We Love It: Even if the bagels and
Aegean Breeze
913 Gulf Breeze Parkway, # 20, Gulf Breeze, 916-0430 Why We Love It: The best Greek restaurant in the Pensacola area is in Gulf Breeze. You can’t go wrong with any of the seafood, but we love the Seafood Mykonos. The steaks and lamb are excellent, too. The setting is homey, and the wait staff is friendly and attentive.
Blackwater Bistro
5147 Elmira St., Milton, 623-1105, blackwaterbistro.com Why We Love It: This Milton restaurant has made its mark since opening in 2009. All of the sandwiches, wraps and salads are excellent, but we can’t resist the Blackened Grouper. Blackwater Bistro Staff Recommends: Pecan Crusted Grouper ($18.95) Fresh grouper filet covered and baked with Renfroe's Fancy Fresh Crushed Pecans and topped with a mornaise sauce and served with a pair of country sides
Blue Dot Barbecue
The Atlas Oyster House
600 S. Barracks St., 470-0003, goodgrits.com Why We Love It: When The Fish House is packed, turn left at the hostess stand and enjoy its sister restaurant. You can partake in all of the menu items from The Fish House, but we go to Atlas for the oysters,
coffee weren’t great, we would recommend this place for its view of Pensacola Bay. Fortunately, it’s also a great place for breakfast or lunch, with friends or alone, to read the latest copy of the IN.
Oysters from The Atlas Oyster House
310 N. De Villiers St., 432-0644 Why We Love It: You go here for the burgers. Stand in line at the counter, place your order, and sit on a picnic bench to wait for the best hamburger in Pensacola to be handed to you in a brown paper bag. That’s how the locals do it.
Bonefish Grill
5025 N. 12th Ave., 471-2324, bonefishgrill.com Why We Love It: This chain restaurant doesn’t feel like one. The seafood menu is extensive. Here is our dream dinner: Appetizer-Bang Bang Shrimp; Soup-Corn Chowder with Lump Crab; Entrée-Chilean Sea Bass with warm Mango Salsa; and Dessert-Key Lime Pie.
Cactus Flower Cafe
3425 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, 432-8100; 3309 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola, 458-3833; and 8725 Ortega Park Drive, Navarre, 936-4111; cactusflowercafe.net Why We Love It: California-style Mexican food never tasted so good. A great change from the other uninspired Mexican eateries in the area. This place is always crowded, particularly the Ninth Avenue location, so take an early or late lunch to avoid the crowd.
Chet's Seafood
3708 W. Navy Blvd., Pensacola, 456-0165; 3601 U.S. 90, Pace, 994-3299 Why We Love It: Best fried mullet dinner in the Pensacola area. You want to get there before the banana pudding runs out. INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |
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