Restaurants in Pensacola, FL But it's seafood that takes top billing hereabouts: Cajun/Creole fare at Cosse's On the Beach; oysters and shrimp at Marina Oyster Barn; crabcake Benedict at Native Cafe in Gulf Breeze, oysters galore at Peg Leg Pete's, and crawfish at Cub's Crawfish.

Pensacola, Florida, is world-famous for its "Gulf Coast" Southern cuisine, with its most iconic dish being Grits à Ya Ya. Originally popularized by The Fish House, this dish features spiced Gulf jumbo shrimp served over a bed of smoked Gouda cheese grits with a sauce of sautéed spinach, portobello mushrooms, applewood-smoked bacon, garlic, and shallots. The city is also a hub for Fresh Gulf Seafood, specifically "Red Snapper" and "Royal Red" shrimp, which are known for their lobster-like flavor. For drinks, Pensacola is the birthplace of the Bushwacker, a potent, chocolatey, frozen milk-shake-style cocktail made with rum and coffee liqueur. Another local staple is the McGuire’s Irish Pub Steak, specifically their "Senate Bean Soup" (sold for 18 cents) and their charbroiled burgers. Because of its proximity to Alabama and its deep naval history, Pensacola also features a strong "Southern BBQ" scene and "Mullet" fish fries, which are a traditional local gathering staple.