Valentine’s Day is fast approaching on Feb. 14, so in the spirit of love, we have 14 of our top picks for romantic restaurants to check out in the Pensacola area, not just on the holiday itself, but any time you want to share a romantic moment with your honey throughout the year.
Not only are you sure to find something on the menu that will suit your fancy, but you’ll also find inviting décor, knowledgeable waitstaff and maybe even a nice view. Let’s take a look at the list.
14 of the most romantic restaurants in the Pensacola areaGeorge Bistro + Bar
6205 N. Ninth Ave.
George Bistro + Bar has been a go-to date-night spot in Pensacola since opening downtown in 2015, before relocating to 6205 N. Ninth Ave. in 2018 for a larger location. Last year, Yelp put the locally loved restaurant in the national spotlight after compiling “a list of the country’s best date-night restaurants, based on Yelpers’ glowing reviews” for a Top 100 Date Night Restaurants list, according to Yelp’s website. Owned and operated by Pensacola chef George Lazi and his wife, Luba Lazi, George focuses on ingredient-driven menu with a “South-meets-South” approach, with flavors reflective of South France and the U.S. South, with local influence from the Panhandle. While there are a variety of menu staples that patrons will make the trip for time and time again—such as the 72-hour braised short rib and wild mushroom parmesan ravioli—you can never go wrong with an ever-changing seasonal or nightly special.
Bonsai
12 Via de Luna Drive
Food isn’t just food at Bonsai—it’s art. On a typical night at the eight-table, white tableclothed restaurant, guests are given a front seat to chef Mark Calvo’s craft. Diners will share a night popping open one of the 100-plus varieties of wine while snacking on Faroe Island salmon sashimi and soaking in a sunset view over the Gulf. Located on the second floor of the Hilton hotel on Pensacola Beach, Bonsai is somewhat hidden as its entryway is tucked inside a hallway of hotel rooms. Bonsai has maintained its status as Pensacola Beach’s best-kept secret for fine-dining in Japanese cuisine for years, but it’s still being discovered by first-timers, sometimes referred to as a “speakeasy sushi restaurant.” The Omakase is one of the best ways to experience Bonsai on a first visit. It offers guests a four-course experience with half an appetizer, half a sushi roll, an entrée, and a dessert.
Jackson’s Steakhouse
400 S. Palafox St.
If your goal is to impress your date with a nice steak, elegant ambiance and a bottle of wine for the table, Jackson’s has been a well-respected Pensacola dining establishment for decades for a reason. Jackson’s has been a destination dining establishment since first opening in 1999 and is championed by executive chef Irv Miller. The menu is built around fresh, local, seasonal ingredients and hand-selected Midwestern wet-aged beef. The steaks are cut from grain-fed beef from the heartland and are served with garlic confit and 100% natural demi-glace, according to Jackson’s website. Jackson’s is known for its “prime” beef cuts, which are considered superior to average cuts of beef due to their abundant marbling, tenderness and flavor.
Bonelli’s
1217 N. Ninth Ave.
Bonelli’s has been a staple for family Italian fare since opening in 2010, and still to this day, it’s highly recommended that you make a reservation if you’re looking to get a table. You can find a wide variety of comfort food favorites, such as Salbo’s Meatballs (large homemade meatballs topped with Sal’s signature red sauce, their caprese salad with buffalo mozzarella and roma tomatoes, or their baked eggplant parmesan served with a side of Bonelli’s house pasta. The menu offers only a half-joking disclaimer that the freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano really does come on everything, and they enjoy their wine “like our grandparents did,” served in a mug. The food is crafted with intention, and when you order, you’re treated like part of the family as you break open a bottle of wine and wait for your meal to be made fresh for you. You’ll be sure to impress your date with Bonelli’s old-school Italian charm in an intimate dining environment where you enjoy the evening without any rush.
Agapi Bistro
555 Scenic Highway
Tucked away in the East Pensacola Heights neighborhood, Agapi (fittingly named after the Greek word for love) is as captivating on the inside as its striking royal blue exterior. There is no right or wrong way to do Agapi, whether you want to load up on interesting tapas-style small plates to share—such as an order of chargrilled octopus, watermelon poke, or blue crab moussaka—or go with a more traditional entree. If you want to undertake an adventure with your partner, Agapi Bistro’s Chef’s Blind Tasting Menu allows diners to meet the chef to prepare their mystery four-course meal specifically for them. The chef will build the menu around the diner’s profile, including those that are gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian. Don’t sleep on the cocktail samplers and spirit flights to pair with your meal, as you get to carry the interactive experience over to the beverages as you sip, sample and enjoy each other’s company.
Pearl & Horn
1504 W. Intendencia St.
Under the umbrella of Pensacola chef George Lazi, Pearl & Horn offers an upscale dining experience in a lively, imaginative setting. The restaurant has two diverse dining experiences: the nautical pearl side and the rustic, wood-toned land. The menu, however, is uniform and can be ordered from either side, with dishes highlighting both concepts, ranging from handpicked oysters, fresh snapper and seared scallops to quality steaks, Colorado lamb chops and elk ragu pappardelle. The restaurant takes diners on a culinary journey, spanning Lazi’s roots in the country of Georgia to the Gulf Coast. There is also a wide variety of wine, beer and cocktails to match, including the signature Chef George Martini, made with Reyka vodka or Martin Miller’s gin, Lazi’s brine blend, Disco Inferno bitters, atomized Carpano Dry Vermouth and pickled amuse bouche.
The District: Seville Steak & Seafood
123 E. Government St.
The District brings old-world charm to Pensacola’s historic downtown area with dry-aged steaks, hand-crafted cocktails and a swanky upstairs lounge frequently filled with live music. Championed by executive chef Josh Warner, the menu stars steaks that have been temperature and humidity-controlled in The District’s meat locker, then flame-broiled in a 1600-degree oven before serving, offering a top-tier dining experience. However, the menu has much more to offer beyond the beef, including Oysters Rockefeller, District Onion Soup, Parmesan Crusted Sea Scallops and a Cheshire Farms Dry Aged Pork Chop. When you’re finished, head upstairs to the lounge to keep the evening going with a Campfire Old Fashioned or Lavender Mule on the balcony overlooking downtown.
Jaco’s Bayfront Bar and Grille
997 S. Palafox St.
Nothing screams romance like a good sunset, and Jaco’s Bayfront Bar and Grille sets the scene for a picturesque evening. If you time it right, you can wine and dine while watching a sailboat sitting under a cotton-candy sky. The dinner menu boasts plenty of options, from Bayfront seafood plates, such as the scallop risotto, to the Jaco’s specialties, like the center cut filet mignon. But, if you’re looking something a little more casual, there are plenty of flatbreads, sandwiches and salads to share. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the seasonal, monthly cocktail.
Global Grill
27 Palafox Place
Global Grill sets the tone for an intimate, upscale experience with more traditional dining décor of white tablecloths and low lighting in the heart of downtown Pensacola. While the décor is traditional, the menu is particularly unique for the Pensacola area because of its wide variety of tapas inspired from around the world with top-tier presentation and exciting flavor profiles. The small plate style allows you to partake in a “culinary adventure” with your dinner date, but you can still get a full entrée if you would prefer. Some of Global Grill’s specialties include the Maine lobster wontons with a honeydew-ginger sweet and sour sauce, the espresso and chile-rubbed pork tenderloin medallions and the lamb lollipops served atop an Israel couscous and sun-dried tomato jus. To pair with your meal, there are dozens of wines offered by the glass, signature cocktails, beer, craft sodas and liquors. Finish with a stroll down bustling Palafox Street.
Brother Fox and Sister Hen
415 N. Alcaniz St.
Built into the bottom floor of Lily Hall, a boutique hotel in Pensacola’s historic Old East Hill neighborhood, Brother Fox brings the old-world way of live-fire cooking to life for its dinner guests. Led by Food Network Chopped champion Darian Hernandez as executive chef, the menu showcases oysters roasted on the coals, wood-fired whole chicken, prime skirt steak asada and seafood paella perfect for two to share. During your dinner, you can indulge in a pitcher of sangria with a Spanish red wine blend and seasonal berries. When you’re finished, slip over to Lily Hall’s secret speakeasy, Sister Hen, to cozy up in the low-lit, intimate bar for cocktails by candlelight.
Restaurant IRON
22 N. Palafox St.
Restaurant IRON has been a Pensacola staple for refined Southern cooking with a contemporary twist since it was first established in 2012. Led by executive chef Alex McPhail, the restaurant ventures into the unlimited potential of local and regional specialties. There, you can experience IRON’s fan-favorite escargot using black garlic butter and house rolled gnocchi, or an exciting seasonal fermented chili salmon with fresh charred pineapple, crispy lemongrass and a red masala curry. The steaks are also noteworthy, and are available in an 8-ounce filet mignon or 18-ounce prime ribeye. If you want to top it off with something special, you can even add some crater lake blue cheese, white truffle oil, or creole dusted Gulf shrimp on top. Don’t forget to add a signature cocktail, like the Iron Goddess, and end the evening with a slice of icebox Nutella pie.
Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano
101 E. Intendencia St.
Angelena’s combines big city glamour with old-school Italian cooking, providing an upscale, but comfortable, dining experience in downtown Pensacola. While you can find the Italian staples on the menu, such as rigatoni and meatballs alla vodka or lasagna Bolognese, you can also find creative, modern dishes created by executive chef Ian Gillette. One of the best ways to get a taste of the newest, freshest dishes out of Gillette’s imagination is to try the revolving three-course pasta tasting for $60, or with added Italian wine pairings for $90. These specialty dishes don’t last forever, so it can be an exciting way to try something new. If pasta is not what you’re looking for, the restaurant offers Gulf fresh catch fish, 8-ounce filet mignon, chianti-braised short ribs and wood-fired pizzas. The restaurant also specializes in Italian wines and offers a selection of signature cocktails.
Grand Marlin
400 Pensacola Beach Blvd.
If seafood is what you’re seeking, the Grand Marlin combines fresh specialty seafood plates with local ingredients and an elegant atmosphere. However, the menu ventures beyond just the seafood, you can also opt for a grilled 1855 angus ribeye, mojo chicken or 8-ounce center cut filet mignon. If you do want to travel the seafood route, you can opt for one of the restaurant’s signature dishes—like the grouper piccata, made with a parmesan crust, sauteed spinach, whipped potatoes, crispy capers and brown butter. If you’re lucky, you can snag a table with a sunset view then stroll the beach after dinner under the moonlight.
Dharma Blue
300 S. Alcaniz St.
If you’re looking for something quaint and cozy with a menu that highlights fresh, coastal cuisine, Dharma Blue may be a perfect fit. Nestled in Pensacola’s historic district, Dharma Blue delivers an intimate, classy dining experience in a comfortable environment filled with eclectic artwork. All the fish at Dharma Blue is sourced from the restaurant’s wholesale market, Harbor Docks, in Destin, ensuring it’s the highest quality possible before reaching your plate. In addition to the fish of the day, which can come grilled, blackened or semolina crusted, you can find a 6-ounce center-cut beef filet on the menu, as well as roasted pork tenderloin, chicken marsala and seared crab cakes. You can also watch your sushi being hand-rolled at the bar before being brought out to your table, with about 30 specialty rolls to choose from. Once you’re finished, take a stroll around neighboring Seville Square.
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Dining and Cooking