Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ

  What can we say? This chain of restaurants in Pensacola (and elsewhere) is a franchise and a down-market franchise at that, but we love their BBQ! Sonny’s is absolutely perfect for a particular type of situation: When you are hungry and want lots of tasty food fast, without the need to get dolled-up to go out. Which is exactly when you crave BBQ, is it not? Sonny’s is that place we go when we don’t want to cook, we don’t want to drive far, don’t want to get cleaned, up, and just want to dive into great food. The service is friendly and accomodating. The meat is all slow cooked all-day, so its ready to hit the plate as soon as you order it. Sonny’s is one of the last restaurants in Pensacola to have a  GREAT salad bar to get food right NOW. And the bill is very reasonable.

Since it is a BBQ place and we love our BBQ, let me take a minute to lead you in the right directions. First , let’s talk sauce. All of Sonny’s sauces are exactly how they are tagged: Mild, Sweet, Sizzlin’ Sweet, and Smokin’. Don’t expect the Smokin’ to be super hot, but it is spicy. I like the Sizzlin’ Sweet for the best of both worlds. On a good night, you just can not beat Sonny’s baby back ribs. Be careful- the Sweet and Smokey ribs can be dry at times. (I like to ask for a one rib sampler, or I just go with Baby Back, which are almost always great!) The pulled pork and the beef brisket are also winners.

We listed one dining location below. It’s the one we most frequent. But there are other locations in Pensacola as well.

Name: Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ
Location: 6757 North 9th Avenue, Pensacola, FL, 32504
Phone: 850-476-7618
Price: $-$$
Website: http://www.sonnysbbq.com/

Philly’s

      Its Christmas and at Christmas we all think about home. Since this is a restaurant blog, I think about Restaurants in my hometown. I was born in Philadelphia, and when one think about Philadephia food the first thing that comes to mind is CHEESESTEAKS! The second thing is hoagies. While Pensacola restaurants offer us many different food options, from seafood and steak to sushi and thai, one has to hunt long for a cheesesteak or a hoagie. Never fear. I have found a restaurant in Pensacola that serves cheesesteaks as good as any in Philly. Its called Philly’s (ironically enough!)

Let’s first do a bit of background study on the food itself. Wikipedia says this:  “The cheesesteak, known outside the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area as the Philadelphia cheesesteak, Philly Steak and Cheese, Philly cheesesteak, steak and cheese, or simply a Philly is a sandwich principally of thinly sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese on a long roll. A cheesesteak without cheese is locally called a steak sandwich, or a Philly Steak in other parts of the country. The cheesesteak is a comfort food for natives of the Philadelphia region. It was invented in the city in 1930 and is considered to be a city icon along with other foods such as Tastykakes, water ice, the Philadelphia soft pretzel, hoagies, and scrapple.” The best places to get cheesesteaks in Philadelphia is Pat’s or Geno’s. The former claims to have invented the cheesesteak.

I grew up eating all these things in abundance, and still do a couple times a year, when I get back to southeast Pennsylvania. Hoagies became known in other parts of the world as italian subs, but hoagies are different. They come on the same roll as a cheesesteak. Those rolls are special. In fact, as Ross, the owner of Philly’s in Pensacola, tells the story, he woudl have opened Philly’s sooner if he could have figured out how to get the rolls fresh in Pensacola. He now has them specially shipped to his shop. It is important that the bread is fresh to a great cheesesteak or hoagie. Philly’s has them fresh.

Philly’s in Pensacola is every bit as good as Pat’s or Geno’s in Philadelphia. (You’re welcome, Ross) It’s not a glamourous place (sorry, Ross), but neither s Pat’s or Geno’s. They are all essentially grill counter sandwich shops that are entirely focused on giving you the real product, which is a belly full of delicious juicy meat, grilled onions, peppers, bread, and cheese. Both cheesesteaks and hoagies are traditionally served with fries and soda, with a dessert of Tastykakes. Philly’s has it all. There are a few tables but most business is takeout!

If you are a southerner looking to step above the mason doxon line, or you are a Yankee looking for a taste of home, Philly’s can not be beat. And it is a must for anyone seeking to expand their culinary horizons. I’d love to see Philly’s expand their operation to more tables and a downtown location.

Name: Philly’s Cheesesteaks & Hoagies
Location: 3900 Creighton Rd, Pensacola, FL, 32504
Phone: (850) 969-0087
Price: <$
Website: www.phillysonline.com

Zea Rotisserie and Grill

This is a relatively new chain restaurant for Pensacola, and in general. There is 10 locations across the south United States. In a nutshell, the food is great but the service is lacking. I’ve eaten here over a half dozen times in the last year (and recently) in a varitey of settings- lunch, dinner, meeting room. Overall this assessment stands true. I ate lunch at Zea Rotisserie and Grill recently with an associate, and we sat for over ten minutes until we were approached for a drink order.That being said, they have some fantastic stuff on their menu. Their dry rub ribs are absolutely excellent and their salads are delicious. The atmosphere and decor are clean and warm, with special touches everywhere. If you can get service, it is the perfect location and environment for a business lunch. The tables are not too close and sound doesn’t travel. In addition, Zea offers something that is curiously rare in a beach town like Pensacola- outdoor dining! Its not a big area, but it is protected and you can actually see the bay! Its a hidden treasure. Ask for it. Zea should work on its training and management programs if it is to experience sucessful growth, but it has potential.Name: Zea Rotisserie and Grill
Location: 605 West Gregory, Pensacola, FL, 32502
Phone: (850) 433-2159
Price: $-$$$
Website: www.zearestaurants.com

City Grocery

Every city is full of deli restaurants and counters, many of them outstanding. Pensacola is no different. The City Grocery is unique in its atmosphere, history, and location. Inside, it is completely urban, like any deli you find on a street corner in New York. It has an old feel to it, and for a reason. The City Grocery has been around for a very long time, since the antique building was built.Prior to 2003, you could find articles on the stores shelves that seemed to date back to the seventies. What kept it in business was its neighborhood location, its outstanding deli grill, and its BBQ, smoked fresh every weekend. In 2003, the store was bought by local businessmen and underwent a gradual but marked updating process. They scrubbed the store down, replaced the old merchandise with specialty foods, expanded the deli offerring, kept the BBQ, and added a great wine selection.

The result is a bustling little neighborhood store than gets drop-ins from all over the city. During the warmer three seasons, patrons can be found relaxing at its outdoor tables. On weekends, BBQ is being smoked right out front. On Fridays, weekly wine tastings get East Hill residents (on wannabees) ready for the weekend.Did I mention that the BBQ and chicken salad are the best in the city? And the wine selections, while small, is excellent. Need a wine recommendation? Talk to Ed. City Grocer is the conerstone of the the new emergence of the 12th Avenue renaissance sweeping Pensacola. With new restaurants on the horizon, City Grocery will remain a corner stone of the East Hill dining experience. Name: City Grocery
Location: 2050 N 12th Ave, Pensacola, FL 32503
Phone: (850) 469-8100
Price: $
Website: none available 

Red Barn BBQ

Just west of the intersection of Avalon Blvd. on Highway 90, about 10 minutes from I-10,this BBQ joint is worth the drive to Milton from Pensacola. It is a country atmosphere with a focus on the barbeque, and oh my, is it ever. Regular specials provide all-you-can-eat opportunities, but you’ve got to have a big appetite to go for seconds. Everything about Red Barn’s fare is tasty. Even the fries are perfect. They offer a selection of house sauces that hit every note just right.I’m not sure that can write anything more to praise a BBQ place then what I’ve already written. BBQ should be an experience quite unlike other dining experiences. Red Barn BBQ delivers.

Name: Red Barn BBQ
Location: 5887 Highway 90, Milton, FL 32583
Phone: (850) 983-9771
Price: $-$$
Website: none available 

Jerry’s Drive-In

Another icon of Pensacola restaurants, Jerry’s Drive-In is a 1960s throw-back. I am sure it has been around at least that long. While it no longer offers drive-in service, it does offer a generous slice of old-school american diner. Its is typically “seat yourself”. The menu is a one pager from a deskjet. There are local ads laminated onto the table top; and the walls are plaster with bumperstickers- funny bumperstickers. The menu consists of burgers, BBQ, fish sandwiches, and a slew of southern sides. There is no effort to be gorumet, just good meat done right. And it is.

For a quick, cheap, enoyable meal, Jerry’s Drive-In can’t be beat. The price rating on this site is represented by dollar signs – $$. Loosley, each dollar sign represents $10/person that should be expected on the bill.  You can get out of Jerry’s spending $5. So maybe the price should be $/2…?

But take cash. No credit cards are accepted at Jerry’s Drive-In.

Name: Jerry’s Drive-In
Location: 2815 E Cervantes St, Pensacola, FL 32503
Phone: (850) 433-9910
Price: $
Website: none

McGuires Irish Pub

Talk about atmosphere? McGuires Irish Pub has it in spades, or should I say clovers? This is a true Irish pub, in every corner of its massive and growing number of dining areas. Loud and noisy, but also intimate and conversation, McGuires Irish Pub begs you to drink just one more beer. Brewing seasonals and standards onsite, there is plenty of beer to choose from. If you like your beer you may want to consider getting your own mug. If you are not a drinker, try the root beer made in house.

Not known just for its beers, McGuires is Pensacola’s best steakhouse. Super prime cuts of meat and superior spices help this place dominate the steak market admist a number of chain steakhouses (Outback is across the street; Dmaon’s went out of business next door). Their burger menu with 25+ excellent burgers is perfect lunch fare. Though you must be warned the burgers are HUGE and often quite sloppy.

One more thing to note: A McGuires tradition is to write something on a dollar bill and staple it to the ceiling. At last count by the IRS, there is over 700,000 dollar bills stapled to the ceiling of McGuires Irish Pub.

Name: McGuires Irish Pub
Location: 600 E. Gregory St., Pensacola, FL 32501 (downtown)
Phone: 850.433.6789
Price: $-$$$
Website: http://www.mcguiresirishpub.com/