Papa’s Pizza
400 Quietwater Boardwalk Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 934-1198
Fair-Priced Fooderies Around Pensacola
You’ve seen those travel guides that say, “Tour (Insert random destination) on $30 a Day!” Sounds great, huh? Well, that’s fine and dandy if you like scrounging bread from supermarkets, but not if you like a nice IPA on your travels — or are hauling the kids! We have so many wonderful restaurants in the Pensacola Bay Area, and there are plenty that offer flavorful fare without breaking your bank. Take a look at these fair-priced “fooderies” around Pensacola!
PENSACOLA BEACH
Beautiful sugar-colored quartz sand and the gorgeous Gulf make Pensacola Beach famous, one of the top-rated beaches in the nation. And there are plenty of restaurants that might not make the travel guides for a magnificent view or famous chefs, but you’ll find the food is fanciful. Start your morning early to beat the crowd for breakfast at the much-loved local nook Native Cafe. Grab a delicious quick lunch at Sidelines for food you truly cant beat. Are you a pizza or a burger kind of family? End your night at one of two local gems, Papa's Pizza or Paradise Bar and Grille.
Value Dining in Pensacola Beach...
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Paradise Bar & Grill
21 Via de Luna Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 916-5087
Native Cafe
45A Via De Luna Drive Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 934-4848
DOWNTOWN
The heart of downtown and its array of fabulous restaurants continue to lure foodies and fake foodies (like me) alike. While I can drop some coin on good food and appreciate fine dining, I honestly prefer a slice of pepperoni pie over a painstakingly-prepared foie gras. And among all this finery, there are good eats to be had without breaking the bank. Here are a few of my go-tos:
Value Dining in Downtown Pensacola...
The Dog House
30 South Palafox Place Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 432-3104
The Garden at Palafox + Main
501 South Palafox St. Pensacola, FL 32501 (850) 512-4565
Graffiti Pizza
210 South Palafox Street Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 972-1960
O’Riley’s Irish Pub
321 S. Palafox St. Pensacola, FL 32501 (850) 912-4001
Eurasian Bistro — The Garden Downtown
3 W Main St Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 786-3452
Cafe Single Fin
380 N. 9th Avenue Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 433-2929
Taco Agave
200 S. Palafox St. Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 332-7952
End of the Line
610 E Wright St Pensacola, FL 32501 (850) 429-0336
Juan’s Flying Burrito
200 South Alcaniz Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 316-8961
Lucy’s in the Square
301 S Adams Street Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 378-8475
Cottage Cafe
203 W Gregory St. Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 437-0730
EAST PENSACOLA
If you want to see why we locals love to live here, explore East Pensacola. Just about every day, the Graffiti Bridge at the 17th Avenue Trestle gets a fresh coat of paint — messages of joy, love and hope from the folks who live here. It’s the gateway to an area with historic neighborhoods lined with live oak, quirky local eateries, antique shops and boutiques, bay bluffs, a bayou — and great swaths of parks and bike and walking paths. There are plenty of good stops in East Hill, but I chose one stop for this piece — Tacos Mexicanos taco shack. Then you cross Bayou Texar into the epicenter of wonderful dining dives: East Pensacola Heights. All these spots are within a half-mile!
Value Dining in East Pensacola...
East Hill Pizza
2030 N 12th Avenue Pensacola, FL 32503 (850) 857-9977
Calvert’s in the Heights
670 Scenic Hwy Pensacola, FL 32503 (850) 332-5838
Jerry’s Drive In est.1939
2815 E Cervantes St Pensacola, FL 32503 (850) 433-9910
New Yorker Deli
3001 E. Cervantes St. Pensacola, FL 32503 (850) 469-0029
Scenic 90 Cafe
701 Scenic Highway Pensacola, FL 32503 (850) 433-8844
WEST PENSACOLA
It’s the heart of old Pensacola’s working community and the home of some famous diners. Great food at a great price is still the norm here.
VALUE DINING IN WEST PENSACOLA...
Cubs Crawfish
4145 Barrancas Ave Pensacola, FL 32507 (850) 456-7551
Taste of Jerusalem and more
707 North Pace Pensacola, FL 32505 (850) 466-3648
NORTH PENSACOLA
Pensacola’s northern corridor, the Nine Mile Road area, connects the north Pensacola communities of Bellview, Beulah and Cantonment (inexplicably pronounced “Can-Tone-Ment” y’all). But you will find some seriously good eats and unique local flavors here — many of them tucked into little nooks dotting the bustling thoroughfare.
VALUE DINING IN NORTH PENSACOLA...
Wacked Out Weiner Pensacola
6675 Pine Forest Road, Suite 5 Pensacola, FL 32526 (850) 741-4203
Tee It Up
312 E 9 Mile Rd #7 Pensacola, FL 32514 (850) 741-3112
Eurasian Bistro
10015 N Davis Hwy, Suite 600 Pensacola, FL 32514 (850) 786-3459
Petrella’s Italian Cafe
2174 W. Nine Mile Road Pensacola, FL 32526 (850) 471-9444
PERDIDO KEY
The name means “Lost Key” and according to legend, around 1693, Spanish explorer Sigüenza’s fleet found a lost passage, located near the present-day Alabama-Florida state line, only after being helped by a local Native American chief. Having found the mysterious bay, they named it and the adjacent barrier island “Perdido,” which means “lost” or “hidden.”
Now luxurious condos pepper the pristine coastline, but the eateries that call Perdido home share a similar recipe: serve great food and treat guests like family.
VALUE DINING IN PERDIDO KEY...
Flora-Bama Lounge, Package and Oyster Bar
17401 Perdido Key Dr. Pensacola, FL 32507-9354 (850) 492-0611
Paul’s Pizza Co.
13700 Perdido Key Dr Pensacola, FL 32507 (866) 50P-IZZA
Lillian’s Pizza
14514 Perdido Key Drive Perdido Key, FL 32507 (850) 492-0131
This just goes to show, no matter what part of the Pensacola Bay Area you’re exploring, you’ll find all kinds of flavorful fare for a fair price too. So save your dimes and get to tasting!
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