I’m excited to launch a new series on Coastal Ali with Elizabeth Williams. Elizabeth started the popular Pensacola Foodies page on Facebook (you can read more about her here).
We’re calling the series ‘The Emerald Toast’. We’ll be raising a glass to all of the great places to eat on the Emerald Coast.
Each week we’ll visit a new restaurant, food truck, or bar. We’ll eat, drink, chat with the owners, take pictures. You can count on us to get the scoop for you!
Café Nola on Pensacola Beach
This week we’re checking out Café Nola on Pensacola Beach.
Owners Johnny Chisholm and Cy Whitney have roots in Louisiana, as does Chef Ted McCrary. Chef Ted works his magic in the kitchen, cooking up his family’s authentic Cajun and Creole recipes like seafood gumbo, red beans and rice, crawfish étouffée and jambalaya. Café Nola regularly wins accolades for its dishes, including winning a handful of Best of the Bay awards.
They truly want diners to experience the real deal …going so far as to have their po-boy bread delivered from Gambino’s Bakery in New Orleans.
You’ll happily join the line to place your order. The hardest part will be choosing what to get.
It’s a casual place with plenty of outdoor seating and a great view of Quietwater Beach. A few bites of gumbo and your feet will be moving to the Cajun/Zydeco music playing on the deck.
Elizabeth ordered the roast beef and debris po-boy (dressed of course, with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayo).
I went for spicy and got the BBQ Shrimp in a delicious buttery, garlic sauce with French bread for dipping. I’m looking forward to trying out their Charbroiled Oysters next time.
We indulged in their homemade bread pudding and their decadent cheesecake swimming in bananas foster sauce.
Let’s Do Brunch
On Sunday’s Cafe Nola offers a popular brunch menu with several variations of Eggs Benedict, including a blackened shrimp Eggs Benedict and fried soft shell crab Eggs Benedict plus, biscuits with Creole tomato gravy, shrimp and grits and bananas foster French Toast.
And you can drink bottomless champagne and their version of the Bloody Mary called the Bloody Marie, with bacon, shrimp and greens overflowing the glass!
Elizabeth’s Take
“If you love New Orleans like so many of us do, Cafe Nola will make you feel like you are there. A slice of the sound side beach with colorful vibes of Saints football, zydeco music, hurricanes, and homemade family recipes.”
Ali’s Take
“Being a New Orleans native there’re some days when I crave the classics I was raised on. I love the attention to detail like using po-boy bread from Gambino’s. Café Nola would feel right at home on Magazine Street. The staff is great and you can feel the southern hospitality.
What Makes Café Nola Special
Each week we ask our restaurateurs to tell us what makes their place so special.
Café Nola Assistant GM Michael Waters, said, “It’s the authenticity of our recipes. So many customers tell us that our gumbo is just like their Grandma used to make. It’s great to hear that our food is good and even better knowing that we can bring a taste of New Orleans to Pensacola.”
Side Note: Mike told us about a woman who recently came to Café Nola every day of her weeklong vacation. She ordered the gumbo every time because it reminded her of the version her grandmother served up.
Doesn’t get much better than that!
Good to Know
Cafe Nola is located at
400 Quietwater Beach Rd
Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
850-677-8532
- Summer Hours: Mon – Thurs 11AM – 10 PM. Sunday 10 AM – 10 PM Note: call to confirm hours
- Pets are allowed on outside deck
- Café Nola is one of the oldest buildings on the beach and has no elevator access
- They have a full bar and a huge selection of Abita beer and even Abita root beer for the kids
- Several gluten free items are available on the menu
- They sell Gambino’s French Bread for $4 a loaf
- They serve Community Coffee
- Cafe Nola plans to open another location in Pensacola on East Gregory St.
Let us know if you try Café Nola in the comments below!
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