Are you tired of disappointing, mediocre dining experiences? Many times, chain restaurants can make meals on the road more exasperating than exciting. Local eateries may offer just the solution to awaken your palate from the boredom of stale computer food. If you are traveling along the Gulf Coast, don’t miss the opportunity to experience one of Pensacola’s own culinary gems.

Tucked conveniently in Cordova Square Plaza, minutes away from the bustle of Airport Boulevard, lies locally owned and operated O’Briens Bistro. Come in and let Chef (and owner) James O’Brien prepare you his signature “Grouper Lyonnaise”.

Experience fresh caught herb-encrusted grouper topped with finely shredded potatoes and finished with a tantalizing lemon caper sauce. Or check out O’Briens for brunch every Sunday from 10am to 2pm and enjoy mixing and matching all your favorites off the al la cart menu. Savor your meal with one of the many varieties of red or white wines. With roughly 30 varieties to choose from, there’s a bottle for every preference, though a local favorite is the Marcus James house Chardonnay.

If the options prove too many, James will be happy to lend a hand; he’s been perfecting his skills since he graduated culinary college in 1983. O’Briens Bistro has been a part of Pensacola culture for 13 years now, offering Florida locals and guests alike Southern hospitality in a gourmet bistro environment. Stop in and experience authentic, upscale dining along the gulf coast at O’Briens Bistro.

Take a stroll in historical downtown Pensacola, filled with shops, museums, restaurants and theaters. Historic churches, pre 20th century homes, quaint shops and restaurants, old government buildings and parks complete with oak trees and gazebos are all of what make up this beautiful downtown area. What makes this area different, however, from other towns who share the same qualities, is the waterfront. Downtown Pensacola hugs the shoreline of Pensacola Bay, and with this union comes waterfront parkways and sidewalks, waterfront restaurants, marinas and seafood markets.

Find a spot at one of our parks and watch pelicans drift with wind currents, sailboats cruising the bay and seagulls following shrimp boats waiting for a morsel of easy prey. If you are lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the Blue Angels, the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, arriving home from an air show or practicing over the open water for an upcoming event.

The best way to experience all downtown Pensacola has to offer is parking your car and walking to the many destinations, which at the most may be only fifteen minutes away. From the Veterans’ memorial park to Joe Patti’s  Seafood market, up historical Palafox Street to our Confederate Memorial and Fort Pensacola and over to historic Seville Square, you are sure to find the town friendly, accommodating and worth the visit.

There is no better place to bearwitness to the beauty andexcitement of Japanese food culture than Tokyo JapaneseSteakhouse. In business for a decade, the restaurant prides itself in the freshness of its ingredients and the singular quality of the service it offers. Tokyo has been recognized in local media outlets many times, including being voted best Japanese restaurant, best Asian restaurant, and best place to get sushi within the Pensacola area.

Guests to Tokyo can choose from a variety of dining options. One can enjoy a traditional Japanese meal in the dining room or, for the more adventurous, sit at one of the restaurant’s hibachi grills to be entertained by the friendly and skilled chefs. Guests who choose the latter will enjoy a meal of Japanese clear-chicken soup, hibachi stir-fried vegetables, fried rice and their choice of steak, chicken or seafood, all served with Tokyo’s very own sauces.

For the sushi lover, Tokyo offers a wide variety of traditional maki and nigiri, as well as bolder, contemporary creations, such as the Dancing Chicken Roll. This roll contains tempura Chicken, Cream Cheese, and scallions. It is rolled in Japanese breadcrumbs and fried before being topped with sweet and sour sauce. If you don’t see what you are looking for on the sushi bar, just ask one of the sushi chefs and they will be happy to make you your very own custom roll.

To complete your Japanese dining experience, Tokyo has a full bar offering a variety of Japanese beers, hot and cold sake, and wine. Tokyo is the perfect place to celebrate a birthday, wedding, or other event. The private dining room can accommodate up to 40 people.

When folks along the Emerald Coast, even some around the world, want the largest selection of seafood and the best customer service around, they know where to go – Joe Patti’s Seafood. Located on Pensacola Bay. With 80 years of service and some of the best catch around, Joe Patti’s has become a world-renown Pensacola landmark. Since it opened in 1935, Joe Patti’s mission – “to offer the best and freshest seafood in the world”.

When you enter the building, walking beneath the giant letters on the roof, grab a ticket and get in line. You are now fetching dinner from Pensacola’s #2 tourist attraction. Southern Living ranked Joe Patti’s #7 in it’s “10 Things We Love About Florida,” and #3 in the nation in retail seafood markets. Not to mention the market is constantly a “Best of the Bay” selection.

In recent years Joe Patti’s has expanded to offer a gourmet deli, coffee bar, desert bar, produce, cheeses, beer and wine. It now offers Joe Patti’s fresh sushi bar. A great place to enjoy the bounty of the freshest seafood anywhere, prepared right in front of the you. Eat in our quaint cafe or we’ll prepare it for take out. Need to entertain? Let us do the work – catering trays available.

Joe Patti’s is open daily and located at 524 South B Street at Main Street. Hours are Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. -6 p.m. Joe Patti’s can fill orders placed online at www.joepattis.com Call ahead for availability and shipping rates: 1-800-?500-9929.

SANTINO’S PIZZA & GRINDERS Choose from a variety of pizzas, subs, salads and more. Experience a specialty pizza like the Mama’s Pride loaded with pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, ham, sausage, black olives and a special blend of cheeses on dough made from scratch. Dine in or call for delivery (minimum order applies) seven days a week starting at 10:30 a.m. Mon.-Sat. and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. Located in the Bruno’s Shopping Center, next to the baseball fields in Gulf Breeze, and in the Target Shopping Center in Pensacola on Bayou Blvd. Call 850-474-0400 for Pensacola, Call 850-932-1211 for Gulf Breeze, Call 850-474-0400 for Pace. Web site: www.santinospizza.net.

Historic Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood. This street festival features the Caribbean sounds of reggae and steel-drum bands sometimes referred to as pan bands, while Junkanoo bands parade and dance through the streets. There will be art, food and music activities for children. For information, call 850-207-0206 or visit www.goombaygulfcoast.com.

FloraBama Lounge at the Florida and Alabama state border on Perdido Key. This annual tournament has participants compete in an actual mullet toss. Live music, food and drinks accompany this weekend. For information, call 850-492-0611 or visit www.florabama.com.

Portofino Boardwalk on Pensacola Beach. Call 850-932-1500.

Lunch in a Haunted Restaurant at the Palace Café in Seville Quarter. Located in downtown Pensacola at 130 E. Government St. A costumed guide will weave tales of ghosts and paranormal activities while sharing the history of Seville Quarter’s furnishings and architecture. Tickets are $24 (tax and gratuity not included) per person and includes a signature coffee drink, a buffet lunch and tour. Tour departs at 10:30 a.m. from the Palace Café in Seville Quarter. Reservations required. Call 850-221-1977. Web site: www.pensacolahistoryandhaunting.com.