East Hill East

article by JENNIFER PASSERETTI

Wining and dining in East Hill is bigger and better than ever. From street tacos to local brews, you don’t have to travel far to find the best cuisine or bar scene. Venture beyond your normal favorites to find internationally-inspired local gems across the neighborhood.

BREAKFAST-INSPIRED

JITTERBUG BEVERAGE CO. (*Business Member*)

2050 N 12th Avenue | DrinkJitterbug.com

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 8 am-3 pm

Jitterbug, located in place of the long-standing former City Grocery, makes its specialty, velvety smooth cold brew and espresso drinks with locally roasted Alla Prima Coffee. Their menu includes the classics, as well as seasonal specials and signature lattes like the Bees Knees, Campfire, Canelazo, and Matcha. Not a coffee drinker? Not to fear, Jitterbug offers additional teas and drinks + gluten-free treats that are sure to make your day!

THE DAILY SQUEEZE JUICE AND SMOOTHIE

901 N 12th Avenue | TheDailySqueezePcola.com

Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 am-4 pm, Saturday 9 am-1 pm

With a focus on fresh, smooth, nutrient-dense products made on their cold-pressed juicer and packaged in ecofriendly, toxin-free glass bottles, the Daily Squeeze offers a variety of juices, wellness shots, and smoothies. Need a quick and healthy snack? Choose from their Chia Seed Parfait, Overnight Oats, Hummus and Veggies, and Energy Balls. They also offer a variety of healthy coffee drinks for a morning or afternoon pick-me-up.

LE DOUGH FOOD TRUCK

HelloLeDough.com

Le Dough is a unique mobile bakery offering handmade, vegan donuts and sweet treats, as well as savory breakfast and brunch dishes. Their menu is always rotating with new flavor options. Le Dough also caters both small and large events and can deliver a customized menu upon request. Follow Le Dough on social media to see where the truck will be popping up next!

J’S BAKERY & CAFÉ

2014 N 12th Avenue | JsBakeryandCafe.com

Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 am-6 pm

Nestled in the heart of East Hill, J’s Bakery and Café has been serving up fresh doughnuts, pastries, cookies, desserts, and custom cakes since 1946. In addition to the classic bakery recipes that have made J’s a Pensacola institution, current owner Ryan Thomas and his staff now offer breakfast, lunch, and catering options as well.

MAXIMILIAN COFFEE SHOP

3419 N 12th Avenue | CactusFlowerCafe.net

Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 am-5 pm

The sister restaurant to Cactus Flower Café, Maximilian Coffee Shop brews up gourmet coffees and lattes, espresso, Mexican coffees, Chai, and herbal teas, as well as ice cold frappes, fruit smoothies, and milkshakes. Need some nosh with your latte? Choose from a variety of freshly made croissants, biscotti, pastries, breakfast taquitos and burritos, breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, and more.

THE ORANGE PEEL FOOD TRUCK

1010 N 12th Avenue | OrangePeelin.com

Hours: Monday-Friday 7 am-11 am

Parked next to the Old Sacred Hospital on 12th, The Orange Peel brings East Hill and your next special event a variety of delicious, made-to-order breakfast dishes including breakfast sandwiches, chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, and more! They also feature new and evolving menu items, so check out their social for updates!

LUNCH LIKE YOU MEAN IT

BROWN BAGGER FOOD TRUCK

2435 N 12th Avenue (Behind Alga) | BrownBaggerFoodTruck.com

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 am-8 pm, Friday-Saturday 11 am-9 pm, Sunday 11 am-3 pm

If you’re in the mood for a made-to-order burger that’s fast becoming the favorite in town, definitely stop by Brown Bagger, now located behind Alga. They offer everything from a variety of delectable burgers to wraps to their famous Chicken Tendies to delicious sides (be sure to Truffle Parm any of them!). Pair your meal with a craft beer from Alga for the perfect lunch, dinner, or happy hour snack.

TACOS MEXICANOS

3000 N 12th Avenue | TacosMexican.com

Hours: Monday-Sunday 11 am-8 pm

East Hill’s Tacos Mexicanos food truck offers a variety of delicious tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more with both meat (including lengua and barbacoa) and vegetarian options.

HOT SPOT BARBECUE

901 East La Rua Street | HotSpotBarbecue.com

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 am-8 pm, FridaySaturday 10:30 am-9 pm

Opened in 2013, family-owned Hot Spot Barbecue strives to serve the very best southern style BBQ around. Using quality ingredients and a combination of recipes from family and friends, Hot Spot selects only the best meats, seasons them with their special dry-rub, then cooks them in their outdoor oak and hickory barbecue pits. Just follow the smoke rising from the corner of 9th and La Rua for some of the best Southern cooking in Pensacola.

THE BUSY BEE MERCANTILE & GENERAL STORE

3002 N 9th Avenue | TheBusyBeeMercantile.com

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-7 pm

The Busy Bee Mercantile a is a fresh and quick cafe and general store that works with a small group of trusted vendors and distributors to provide the finest food products. The wholefoods-centered, vegan café incorporates seasonal produce and products, so the menu changes daily and consists of affordable, healthy options. Try their Buffalo ChicN Wrap, Asian Nachos, Rodeo Burgers and Dogs. Chef Chardon has also started offering vegan meal kits, where customers can learn how to prepare their own vegan dishes from home!

PIZZA KITCHEN

3012 N 9th Avenue | PizzaKitchenMenu.com

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 am-9:30 pm (Closed Tuesday), Friday-Saturday 11 am-10:30 pm

Pizza Kitchen, located inside Asher and Bee Apothecary + Holistic Clinic, offers an extensive menu including seafood platters, pizzas, pastas, wings, calzones, stromboli, subs, and salads. Check out their website for updated deals and coupons!

DINE-OUT DINNER

BONELLI’S CAFE ITALIA

1217 N 9th Avenue | BonellisCafeItalia.com

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 5 pm-9 pm

Bonelli’s is a local favorite for amazing Italian food. The familyrun restaurant offers a variety of pastas, bakes, homemade sauces, and decadent desserts made using family recipes. Reservations aren’t required but are highly recommended. Outdoor seating is available, often accompanied by live music! Daily Specials: Cello Tuesdays (5-9:30 pm) sample their homemade cellos with a flight of 3 for $12; Wine Wednesdays (5-9:30 pm) 50% off all wines sold by the glass; Thirsty Thursdays (5-9:30 pm) $2 Domestic, $3 Import, $4 Craft.

CACTUS FLOWER CAFÉ

3425 N 12th Avenue | CactusFlowerCafe.net

Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 am-9 pm

Cactus Flower Café offers a unique twist on delicious Mexican cuisine. The “CaliMex” menu is a fusion of traditional Mexican items made in a healthier way without lard or added animal fats, and everything is made from scratch every day. Even their cocktails are mix-free and made with only fresh ingredients.

GROVER T’S BBQ

5887 US 90, Milton, FL | GroverTBBQ.com

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 am-8 pm, Friday-Saturday 11 am-9 pm

We know it’s not in East Hill, but its owner is! If you’re in the mood to get out of town for a night, check out Grover T’s BBQ restaurant in Milton. All of their recipes are handcrafted, authentic, and prepared in a true southern style, with slowcooked BBQ meats kissed by hardwood smoke for up to eighteen hours. “If it doesn’t have a pink ring, it’s not the real thing,” to quote owner Mike Thomas. Not to mention, be sure to try their homestyle desserts and full bar with craft drinks.

EAST HILL PIZZA

2030 N 12th Avenue | EastHillPizza.com

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 am-8 pm, FridaySaturday, 11 am-9 pm

Neighborhood pizza staple East Hill Pizza is a veteran, family-owned business that is dedicated to providing homemade pizzas—they offer close to 20 specialty pies!—along with baked wings, salads, desserts, and more. Pizza dough and sauces are made in-house, and vegetables and meats are handsliced daily. Our faves include the 12th Avenue Pizza, Moreno Pizza, and Lloyd Pizza. You can also help give back to the community through their “Pizza Pay It Forward” program—purchase one of three pizza options and your purchase will be donated to anyone in need who redeems the coupon, no questions asked. Make sure to check out their load of daily specials online!

OZONE PIZZA PUB

1010 N 12th Avenue #111 | ozonepizza.wordpress.com

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 4 pm-9 pm

Ozone has been a locals favorite for classic and specialty hand-crafted pizza pies, sandwiches, calzones, salads, and a variety of beers on tap since 1998. The low-key haunt, tucked away in the basement of the historic original Sacred Heart Hospital, is known for its quirky, fun atmosphere. Rumor has it that ghosts wander the hallways, but that doesn’t stop locals from visiting the gothic-style architectural landmark. Soups and salads round out the extensive menu, and The Italian Stallion and The John Wayne grinders are savory delights on a bun.

DRINKS + NIGHTLIFE

WISTERIA TAVERN (*Business Member*)

3808 N 12th Avenue | WisteriaTavern.com

Hours: Monday 3 pm-10 pm, Tuesday-Thursday 3 pm-2:30 am, Friday-Saturday 11 am-2:30 am, Sunday 11 am-10 pm

Started as a grocery and supply store sometime in the late 1920s to early 1930s, The “Wiz” is now a Pensacola institution. They offer over 100 beers to choose from and have a large variety of both Ales and Lagers, bottled and on draft. Owner Terry Abbott personally sits down with each of his distributors and hand picks each beer. Make sure to say “Hi” to Manager Heidi behind the bar and enjoy their frequent food truck and live music too! Daily Specials and Events: Tuesday Ladies Night WITH $5 Frozee, $3 Barefoot House Wine, $3 Canyon Road Moscato, $3.50 High Noon; Thursday Trivia at 5:30 pm; Flashback Friday Happy Hour (11 am-2 pm) $2.75 all Domestics.

ALGA BEER COMPANY

3000 N 12th Avenue | AlgaBeerCo.com

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 am-10 pm, FridaySaturday 11 am-12 am, Sunday 11 am-9 pm

Alga is East Hill’s neighborhood brewery. Stop by for some award-winning craft beer made right here in East Hill—be sure to try the 12th Avenue Ale and the East Hillsner Pilsner and enjoy some snacks from the on-site food trucks. Daily Specials and Events: Trivia Tuesdays (7 pm-9:30 pm), Wednesday, Bingo with Bobo (7 pm-10 pm).

THE EAST HILL BOTTLE SHOP

2704 N 12th Avenue | 850.476.3505

Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 am-7 pm, Friday-Saturday 10 am-9 pm

Locally-owned and operated by the proprietors of The Bottle Shop and The Wine Bar downtown, the recently opened East Hill Bottle Shop offers over 1,000 wine selections, 50 craft beer varieties and plenty of free parking. Every Wednesday come in and enjoy a Wine Tasting, $10 for 10 wines.