The skinny: Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille is a very nicely appointed place with an outstanding view. Extreme Caution Advised on Holidays. We scored the walkway seats over looking a marina full of handsome vessels and wildlife (it was beautiful to watch the heron fish for its lunch). We went to the restaurant to avoid the typical Mother's Day rush on the expected eateries. And it wasn't a bad wait. At 11:30 we had a 20 minutes wait that we strolled around enjoying the sights of school of fish hungrily chasing smaller fry. The dining experience was disappointing, though. It started innocently, but weird enough with the tired frustration I saw on the Hostess' face when she put our name down. She was equally abrupt when she 'seated' us, but I had some recommendations from work colleagues so we sat down and I looked eagerly at the brunch menu. $2 Bloody Mary's and Mimosa's encouraged me more. It was soon obvious that the place was overwhelmed. We chatted and after a long of a wait we met our server who soon showed impatience as we decided on drinks. The drinks came out, but the Bloody Mary's between the two of were very inconsistent my drink was bitter (I guess too much Angostura) and my bride's was very strong (which I like, so happy accident an I took her libation). We submitted orders for two egg and bacon breakfasts and the 'wrap' i.e. a breakfast burrito that has gotten an advanced degree. One hour passed which we made the best of by talking, at the end of 55 minutes though the strong drinks and nibbles were giving way to an awkward stomach rumble.The waiter passed a dozen or so times during this and promised about the last 4 times that it would be right out, every time the promises drew the awkwardness thicker. Our plates looked great when the arrived. I was a little jealous of the healthy portion of the egg dish, the kitchen was generous on that smoky engine of taste: bacon! My wrap looked good, unfortunately it tasted as if it had been sitting for some time, with nary an afterglow of the cooking temperature. It was cooked fine, it didn't taste bad, but could it have been sublime if it had been served when it was made. The wait staff continued to be out of their league all around us: our waiter asked if everything was OK, but he was gone before the question mark dropped. He knew it wasn't and he ran away. It was also obvious that the host staff continued to get more flustered as we waited through another 20 minutes to pay the bill. Verdict: It is a shame they blew it today. I will go back to give the place another chance, probably after a good period of time has passed. Mark my words though, I will NOT go back during a 'rush'/holiday and I wouldn't recommend you do either until they get the management under control.
(2)
Emily A.
Worst salmon burger I've ever had. It's literally the salmon out of a can smushed in with raw peppers and slapped on a bun with 2 pieces of chewy bacon on top. I took 2 bites and couldn't handle it anymore. Never will go again.
(1)
TIFFANY H.
I went here after seeing an advertisement in the IN Weekly newspaper. I thought it would be the perfect place to take my friend and her two kids for a Mother's Day Brunch. I, however, was sadly mistaken. It first started when I tried to call to make reservations. I was a little saddend because they were not accepting reservations for parties under five people. However, I have been trying my best lately to try out new places to eat, so I thought we would just try our luck. We arrive and they are quite busy indeed. During our predicted 15 minute wait, that was actually over 30 minutes, I heard the hostess call for over 7 parties of people who had "Reservations". These parties had "groups" of people ranging from 4 to 2 people! I don't know if we had missed something somewhere where I could have made reservations for my tiny group of four, but it was rather irritating. Service side: I could be more impressed elsewhere. I did tip my usual 20%, but only because I felt that our server was pulled all over the place, he even had tables outside to attend to! Refill count: 1. However, he was very attentive to the kids needs when we were able to get him to the table. Although- basic items like salt, pepper, ketchup, etc. where not offered nor were they on the table to start with. Food Side: For what I ordered, it was horrible. For my friend, she did enjoy her meal. I requested the eggs be cook over medium, and they were horribly runny and absolutely disgusting. I didn't care to send it back because it would have taken them another 40 minutes to bring eggs cooked correctly. Clock: We were there for about 1.5 hours. .5 hours waiting for the table. about .25 hours waiting for our first sip of our drink. about another .25 for the food. we ate. and then another .25 waiting for him to bring us our check. On a side note: The wait time is not a hit in my opinion, as they were very busy being it was Mother's Day. I feel bad for the waiter, in my opinion. I know a lot isn't his fault, and he was very very busy. He was running around so much that he was drenched in sweat tbh. Result: I will not return. I will not reccommend.
(2)
Scott J.
Great lasagna; great wild mushroom flat bread; Paul is an awesome waiter; check this place out
(5)
Kelljor S.
Appetizers and dessert was good. The cocktails were watered down. Scenery in Florida very nice as usual. The menu has been slimmed down and does not offer fresh local seafood speciaties. Flatbread pizza on the H2O....really???
(4)
Erin E.
One of my favorite spots in Pensacola. Always great service and ambiance, although it can get noisy inside. We love the pomme frittes and bruschette to start and our favorite flatbreads are the Pesto and the Tender Blue. Great place for drinks or dinner with family & friends.
(5)
Carolyn R.
In the search for a nice salad for lunch i found that there are not that many places downtown that i would venture. Jaco's Southwest Salad with a tasty lime vinaigrette was exactly what I was looking for. I added shrimp and my friend added chicken. We each had more than enough to eat, but finished our plates anyway because it was so good! We had a lovely lunch overlooking the bay.
(5)
Orion K.
Jacos is always an amazing experience. The location offers a fantastic view of the marina and Pensacola bay. The wait staff have been nothing but curious and eager to serve each time I've been. I have yet to have a menu item which I did not enjoy, or was not expertly prepared. The drinks are also fantastic.
(5)
Chris E.
I went to this restaurant expecting good food and a nice view. What my love and i got was an uncomfortable table and too much noise. The waitress was slow and self-centered and the food was OK ... nothing special. however, I liked the dessert. It's OK and I guess I'd do it again .... just get me another waitress.
(2)
Cole Y.
Cool location, Food is ok
(3)
Laurin E.
Delicious meal, great service and fantastic location. I'll be going back. And it's one of the few places open on a Monday night.
(4)
Damian K.
We only stopped here for a few drinks and a light meal, so can't really rate it, just to say the ambience was nice, and the staff friendly. The flatbreads were tasty.
(3)
Elaine G.
I was visiting P'Cola these past 2 weeks and had been dining out quite a lot. We had been to 3 other well-known and very pricey restaurants in P'Cola that were good, however, a friend suggested Jaco's. My son and I dined there Thursday, 10-25. First, I knew it was going to be a pleasant experience when I saw the outside of the lovely building sitting adjacent to the marina. And Jaco's sign....who can resist the sweet face of Jaco, the Wheaten Terrier....soooo cute. Ah yes, a building, a marina, and a cute dog don't make the food, but they certainly set the ambiance. We decided to sit inside instead of the lovely outside dining. The indoor dining is clean and modern. And, we enjoyed looking at the bar. It rivals any restaurant in Denver (and we have some very good ones). The bar is very well stocked with high-end liquors. As we sat down, we experienced one of those breathtaking sunsets where it looks as if God's fingers are illuminating the sky. Friends told us that Jaco's flatbread "pizzas" were very good. There is quite an assortment to choose from. But, I hadn't eaten all day, so I wanted something more. So many of the fares sounded wonderful. We could not decide, so my son and I both ordered several things: white flatbread, island style flatbread, bouillabaise, and grilled pork tenderloin. No we didn't eat it all, but that's ok as my son needed some leftovers in the fridge for his new apartment. Our waitress was wonderful....very attentive. The 2 owners came by our table several times to check on us. Stephen, 1 of the owners, was extremely gracious and made certain that we were totally satisfied. He did inform us that the talented chef brings several years of experience to Jaco's from Atlanta. Ok, the food: the bouillabaise was served with a salad of baby spring lettuces accompanied by a side of a thick balsamic dressing. The lettuce leaves were all nice and green...no wilting or disgusting "old salad" colors. The dressing you need to take a bit on your fork and then pierce your lettuce. Not difficult or clumsy, and oh so worth it as the dressing has a very light and not too vinegarey flavor. The baby sliced tomatoes were sweet and fresh. The bouillabaise was a refreshing change to some heavier flavored ones that a diner might have previously experienced. What a great thought by the chef since P'Cola weather is hot and balmy, and who wants to eat a HOT bouillabaise when it's 90 degrees outside? Well, there was plenty of fish, shrimp and clams to enjoy. The risotto was prepared to perfection....not over or under done....just perfect. And the sausage was a wonderful way to add the fennel taste necessary for a bouillabaise. I'd say it was a unique idea in giving bouillabaise a Southern twist. In addition, there was a type of succotash vegie combination added for the vegetables....another Southern touch. I'm not certain if the legumes were baby limas or edamame, but whichever, it was delicious. The tomato saffron broth was very good; there was not too much of it so you wouldn't lose the risotto or crostina, and there was enough to enjoy it. All in all a great choice. According to my son, the pork tenderloins were great. Very, very tender and juicey....not dried out. It was served with new potatoes, which were as they should be, a little sweet. I can't comment on the flavor, but he said it was the best meal he had eaten in P'Cola. And, without mentioning any competition, he had a very, very expensive steak the previous week, and he felt that his pork tenderloin....hands down.....was much better. My son loves pork and orders it frequently when we dine out. He loved it and would order it again. We both enjoyed our flatbread pizzas. Taste and presentation were excellent. I would recommend getting a flat bread pizza as an appetizer and share it with your SO before your entree....that way you can enjoy Jaco's flat breads and something else. We also ordered dessert. My son had the homemade key lime tart. I had the chocolate caramel tart served with strawberries and fresh whipped cream. All we can say is yum, yum. Our son is a Navy Officer stationed here, and he will certainly be back again to enjoy the sunsets with his fiancee. Between our initial impression, ambiance, food, and service, we give Jaco's 2 big thumbs UP or 5 stars.
(5)
Benjamin S.
Jaco's is a tiny little restaurant located at the very end of Palafox St. right on Palafox Pier. We came in at 7:30 on a Sunday evening for dinner and the place seemed to be fairly bustling. When we sat down, the restaurant started to quiet down and the customers were all leaving. It turned out that they close at 8:00 on Sundays. Even though it's Sunday, I think 8:00 is a bit early to close down if you're serving dinner. We sat down and our waiter took our drink orders, and then proceeded to order. The wait time for our entrees was not exactly fast. We waited for about 20-30 minutes for our entrees to arrive. By the time the entrees had came, we had already finished our drinks, and the waiter never actually noticed that we had empty glasses. Anyways, onto the food. My kids ordered a pork tenderloin with a miso/honey glaze which was very good, and a slider with a sauce that tastes exactly like the claws in garlic sauce at the Fish House (??). I ordered the mushroom flatbread with truffle oil and my wife ordered the Ahi Tuna. The flatbread was oh so delicious, while my wife commented that the Tuna was a bit on the tough side. Oh well, you can't have everything. I have to say that the best thing about this restaurant is the amazing view that accompanies it. It was so relaxing eating beside those huge (and expensive) yachts. Overall, the food was pretty good but they can improve the service a bit. I shouldn't have to ask for drink refills.
(4)
Todd C.
GREAT atmosphere, particularly outside, cool staff and good food. Prices weren't too bad and they're dog friendly;).
(4)
Thu V.
Jaco's is WACKO! Worst experience at a restaurant ever. Restaurant cannot handle parties. Server spilled drink all over my cell phone while trying to sit drink down on table, veggie lasagna came out tepid warm (even in the center), entree came out BEFORE starter house salad, Complaint was made to manager and he was completely rude about it. Told me there's no way my lasagna is not hot, that "it came out of a 650 degree oven". Absolutely ridiculous that he's even questioning me instead of apologizing. I wanted my lasagna reheated and they never brought it back. Caution, the ahi tuna dish is FISHY and when your order is missing items instead of informing the customer they bring your dish sans items they 'ran out of' with a quick, "oh, we ran out" reply (ONLY when you inquire). Thanks for asking me if I still want my entree sans items. I am NEVER coming back. I WILL NOT and DO NOT recommend this restaurant.
(1)
Arnold N.
This is a little known gem in downtown Pensacola. We had an early dinner here today, and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. These type places are normally just overpriced yuppie bars that serve average food. The food was not great, but it was very good. The prices were a little high, but for the view and the tasty food, it is worth it. This was our first visit, and we do plan to return.
(4)
Stephen c.
What a great location!! Service is crazy good and a selection of food that makes your taste buds really have fun.
(5)
B B.
While visiting P'cola, my folks took me to Jaco's. We sat at the bar and were helped by Campbell and John. Great guys, very nice. My pizza was tasty and I didn't feel weighted down after. I also love the wine selection and prices. A bottle of Stag's Leap 06 Merlot for $46?! Yes, please. Met the owners, Dave and Steven. Wonderful hosts. Jaco's is now on my list of places to visit every time I come to see my parents. Great job, guys!
(5)
Stuart W.
Nice scenic location, friendly staff, good food. They specialize in salads and flatbread pizzas. Not a huge menu but that means they can concentrate on what they do offer. I had the classic flatbread pizza and the Byron pint noir, both very good! The 20' curved bar is beautiful; great place to watch the sun go down. Lots of covered outdoor seating that's wonderful when not too hot. I'll be back!
(4)
Jode M.
Service was outstanding. Went at lunch and had burger, fried green tomatoes, and chicken lettuce wraps. The tomatoes were bland, but everything else was very good. I would go there again.
(4)
Pam D.
Stopped for lunch while visiting Pensacola for the day. Great location on the water, with really nice views. Our server was excellent. I had the salmon burger, which was delicious-definitely not at all like the "salmon patty" once served by school cafeterias! Hubs and one son had burgers, and they are very good as well. I am not normally a French fry person, but the slim pommes frites served here are very nice! Jaco's does offer a children's menu, but it is not printed. Our server mentioned it right away, though, before we could ask. Pricier than our average family lunch, yes, but a very nice part of our stop in Pensacola.
(4)
Timothy P.
Awesome spot with killer views and fun cocktails to go with dinner.
(4)
Veronica T.
I have been here 3 times and I do not understand the complaints about not getting enough for your money. I have been extremely satisfied with the food all three times. The items have been unique and well seasoned. For what you're getting the price is very fair. This is not something you can just go out and buy and cook in your own kitchen. Plus the view is amazing. If anything is overpriced it's the drinks.
(5)
Dave F.
Jaco's has a great view and our server did everything possible to put lipstick on a pig. However, their oven was out meaning no flatbreads on a weekend, food was incredibly slow and their bathrooms were out. (They actually called in an emergency plumber who managed to make a larger mess causing the entire restaurant to close early on a Friday.) I may give this a second try, but it's not a top 10.
(2)
Mel C.
Took my partner and family here for a lunch treat. Service was excellent (waiter was very entertaining) We started with the Antipasto Platters, then I had the Portabello Stack with Pesto Rissotto (absolutely delicious), everyone else had the Flatbreads, and burgers, which they enjoyed immensely. With a round of drinks the bill was $90 and worth every penny. Planning our next trip there for my Birthday this week.
(5)
KarmaQueen S.
Bar had no beers on tap; no frozen drinks available because they didn't have a blender. Strawberry Margarita on the rocks tasted nothing like anything I've had in the past, though it did have a strawberry garnish. This place is good if you aren't put off with a limited bottled beer selection while enjoying the view. (Only reason it got any stars...so many better locales for drinks) No reason to return.
(2)
Lidia J.
Delish blue flatbread Steak med rare-exactly as i asked Flatbread is thin and perfect baked crisp Mahi mahi grilled sandwich, excellent and the shoe string fries were crispy The old fashioned rootbeer is an alcoholic beverage! Do not order for kids or teens! Service was great Only complaint-heaters in porch will bake your brain in 5 mins' be prepared to run outside and get some cool air
(5)
Jacqui C.
Great location and food. We sat outside with a beautiful view of the pier. I got the guacamole appetizer with grilled chicken which were delicious. However, the service was quite terrible. Our server took forever to come by and take our order. And she rarely came around to check if we needed anything. She spilled wine on one of us and didn't even acknowledge it. Then gave me a dirty appetizer plate with crumbs stuck on it. And she forgot my side salad which I was halfway through my meal before she came by again to serve the table next to us and I had to wave her down. She also didn't offer us dessert menu until I asked for it. Overall, good food and view, terrible customer service.
(2)
Jacqueline M.
Very relaxing. Food was good. Paul our waiter was super. Flatbread very crispy. Will go back again.
(5)
Tessa M.
The mister decided we should stop here, while wandering the Palafox pier. What a rad selection. The menu was amazing looking & I really wish I has the tummy room to eat more. My mister & I shared the pomme frites (fancy ass french fries), the salsa verte salmon (get in rare) & the drunken berries. Next time I will try the flash fried tuna. Also the patio is very dog friendly. They even bring a dog bowl out full of water. Amazing service from "Travis"
(5)
Kate S.
Jaco's is always a great dining experience. We stop here each year on our drive back to Colorado. The atmosphere is beautiful, the menu choices are all fantastic, the service is great, and the food is delicious.
(5)
Alex G.
This place was delicious! we made it just in time for happy hour, and the drinks were reasonably priced. The service was great, our waitress kept checking up on us to see if we needed anything. The chicken lettuce wraps were top notch. The view of the marina was even better. I will definitely come back!
(4)
Terry G.
One simply cannot go wrong by visiting Jaco's. From the beautiful location overlooking Pensacola Bay, to the exquisite drinks and food, Jaco's offers a unique Pensacola experience. The food is always fresh and always delicious. I've had multiple items from the menu over the past few years and every time I'm delighted all over again. I must admit, however, that one of my favorites is the mushroom flatbread. Do yourself a favor and try it!
(5)
Steve H.
I've been here for drinks and I've been here for food (and drinks), but I would suggest that you eat elsewhere and stick with the drinks. It's not that the food is exactly horrible...it isn't...but I will say that you don't get much for what you pay. That may be my frugal side breaking through, but really, the flatbread "pizzas" are nothing more than some scant ingredients on a flour tortilla. Seriously. I could eat $50 worth of those things and leave hungry. Sitting at the bar ensures quicker service. And it isn't that the floor staff ignores you, but more like the bartender has nowhere else to be, so you know where to find her (the bartender has always been a female the 5-6 times that I've been to Jaco's). The best part of the experience, as noted by many others, is the location. The sunsets are great and the doors are usually open to let the bay breeze waft through. I received a PM from a fellow Yelper that says that Jaco's is dog friendly, so add this to your list of places to go with your puppy.
(3)
ChefBob P.
Beautiful location. Awesome service from our waiter Chris not only did he look like a model when he heard it was our 30th anniversary he went the extra mile. I had the salmon burger, Darlene had the grilled Mahi both were great needed a tiny pinch of salt. At only $12.00 we will be back to try more of the menu, hope we get Chris again. the buns were extraordinary.
(4)
Victor S.
This restaurant was the reason I joined Yelp. Beautiful location, great food, great service. Had the Mediterranean flatbread, Tender Blue Salad both were fantastic. We were still hungry so we ordered the Tender Blue flatbread, it was good but better as a salad. We finished with the fried Oreos which the kids loved.
(5)
Chad G.
There is no denying the ambiance at Jaco's. Beautiful and romantic on a more than impressive marina. Although I must admit that staring at the gigantic yachts can make a regular schmo like me feel a bit inadequate. My wife, God bless 'er, was sweet enough to tell me that those boats were too big for her anyway. Thank you, sweetheart. I really wanted to give this place at least 4 stars, but just couldn't justify it. If Yelp would allow, I'd say that this place warrants 3.8 stars. So I'll start with the good. We ordered the Wild Mushroom Flatbread as an appetizer. It was pretty good and was enough for all four of us to have a piece. The seafood is great. I ordered the Fish Bouillabaisse. It was great. I would have liked more seafood in it. Now, for the bad. My wife ordered the Filet Mignon. It was just plain bad. The one thing I know for sure is that it was NOT a Filet Mignon. Maybe a mock Filet. It appeared to be cooked correctly, but it was quite tough and had no flavor. I'm serious, I love steak and this thing was flavorless. My wife ate everything except her $27 steak. The server asked if it was ok and we told her it was bad. She said she mention it to the manager, but no one ever came back to the table nor did we receive any discount. I suppose the ultimate blame lies with us. Jaco's is a seafood restaurant. Stick with what they are good at. We'll go back, but only for the seafood.
(3)
Jason F.
I've eaten here many times and the atmosphere here is great. The food, when available is above average. The problem is that the last four times we have had nothing but excuses as to why they are out of things. This time they are out off tuna, grouper, pork tenderloin, and guacamole. Last time it was french fries and salmon. What gives? I want to eat here but kind of pricy for settling on something I didn't want on the first place.
(2)
Ninjosh A.
I'm writing this as the meal progresses so I don't know what kind of review it will be yet. We arrived close to 10pm and had no problem getting choice seats with a gorgeous view from the friendly hostess. We were immediately greeted by our waiter Andy who was warm and friendly. He steered us towards a couple of house cocktails that were every bit as good as he promised. After a short while he brought us some hot toasted bread and kept out water glasses full. We took his recommendations for food as well, the ahi and the tacos, the ahi was delicious, the tacos were acceptable, but bland and relied heavily on the mango salsa. The view puts this place over the top, the service is, in our experience, excellent. Solid 4 star experience, would reccomend.
(4)
Anna F.
The fish tacos are beyond yummy. Don't order the berry mojito because you might as well just chew on mint leaves and wash them down with turpentine. Im pretty sure the bartender was absolutely clueless or just too busy flirting with the waitresses.
(4)
Conor G.
Jaco's is one of the few places I feel deserves a "five-star" rating. Every time I have visited Jaco's I have left incredibly happy with both my meal and service. As a stickler for perfect steak, their filet mignon dish was amazing and their bartender made the perfect Manhattan. Definitely visit Jaco's. Don't expect a "suit and tie" atmosphere, but expect great food, a great view and a great wait staff.
(5)
Christine R.
I was told that Jaco's is known for their flatbread pizzas. None of them appealed to me, so I tried my very first fish taco and boy am I glad I did. The mahi taco was delicious. Although I prefer my tacos on soft shells, these were on hard blue shells that were quite tasty. The mahi I got was grilled and really yummy with a spicy aoli on the inside and a mango salsa and black beans on the side. I sat on the patio and had a beautiful view of the gulf and marina.
(4)
Lindsay M.
Jaco's has the most beautiful view in Downtown Pensacola (excluding the Wahoos stadium which I think actually has an AMAZING view) and it is a pleasure to sit outside and enjoy food and drink here. You are paying for the view- just make peace with that. I almost always get the Wild Mushroom Flatbread. I just haven't had anything that is as tasty- it is SO good. My wife is gluten free and there are options for her here as well- she likes the Bibb lettuce wraps and other salads. Their drinks are really delicious and they have a nice selection of wine. I think their house wines are of good quality and very reasonably priced. There is never a bad time of day to go here. I even like it when it's raining.
(4)
Matt K.
You must try flat bread mushroom pizza. Amazing and surprisingly filling. Very classy.
(4)
Minhtastic P.
Finely crafted food sitting in view of the waterfront/pier?! I say yes, yes and YES! This place is hidden on Palafox Pier. The menu is just right with good choices for the healthy minded. Menu has salads, flat bread(pizzas), and pasta. Portions are just right, though I may have to order more if I was starving. I would suggest getting an appetizer, main course, and dessert to give your pallet a voyage of tastely goodness. Tonight I tried the Palafox, which is a pasta dish. The dish was extremely flavorful. Tomatoes were fresh and juicy in my tomato basil pasta dish. Pairing my meal with red wine was victory! I also tried an appetizer sampler that had toast, two different meats, salsa, and some bean based sour dish that tasted amazing! The dessert I would suggest is the fried Oreo. We ordered a sampler dessert dish. Most of the dessert dish is whip creamed base....meh. The fried Oreo is served with ice-cream. Yes, we all scream for ice-cream! Staff was nice. Some attractive waitress and hostess are at this establishment. Next time I come, I will definitely suit up and take a date here for a good time. You can enjoy good food and nice views of expensive boats and a beautiful view of the pier.
(4)
John B.
The staff is not incredibly inviting. One of those places that is doing well and isn't afraid to act like it.
(2)
Daniel B. O.
Great food and views of Pensacola Bay. I had the Mahi Sandwich for lunch and it was pretty good. The other dishes passing by my table also looked amazing!
(4)
Harish C.
We were visiting Pensacola for the long weekend. We came to this place based on a recommendation from our friends in Gulf Breeze. This restaurant is located near a pier with lot of costly private yachts parked next to it. The views outside are good and the ambiance inside is also good. We had a reservation and they got us seated right away in a big booth in the corner. We ordered drinks and we got them in few minutes. We placed the order for appetizers (Pomme Fritters & Crab Sliders) POMME Fritters: These are just thin french fries (Like McDonald fries thin) with some sauce. It has a touch of spiciness and Parmesan flavor. Delicious! Crab Sliders: We got two sliders on our plate with some lettuce and some kind of salsa next to it. The buns were not that great. Then the crab cake is greasy and it has lot of bread than crab in it. It was just passable...would not order this dish again. By this time, our drinks were done and our server was nowhere to be found. It's been another 5-10 mins before we can ask him for refills. And we place order for our Entrees. My wife ordered Greek Chopped with Chicken (It's a salad) which was just ok...the meat was fresh but not much flavor to it. Our other orders were Mediterranean, Roasted Chicken flatbreads. Flatbread is nothing but a pizza on a very thin crust and very crispy. Both of them were decent but the size is like a personal pizza. For $10 at lunch, the size should be little bigger than what we got. We were still hungry by the end of it. We ran out of drinks and we have to hunt out waiter to get them refilled again. Not acceptable! We placed two orders for desert. One Key Lime Pie and other one is Icecream with fried Oreos. Key Lime pie was just ok...I had better ones. Icecream with Fried Oreos was very good. We asked for their famous Chocolate desert but they ran out of them that day. Overall an average affair except the views. The food and service needs to improve to get 4* from me. They cannot getaway with just killer views of the Bay.
(3)
Susan V.
We found this place by accident Sunday morning. How fortunate for us! Great ambience and decor. We sat outside where we could watch the boats moving in and out. We ordered the antipasti. More than enough for a lunch. Crusty crostini, lovely cured meats, buttery cheeses, and the most delicious olive tapanade. My pinot grigio was delightful, not to mention well priced. My partner had the salmon burger which was moist and HUGE. He substituted a caesar salad for the fries and could not say enough about how delicious it was. He had a Sweetwater Blue beer to round out his meal. We enjoyed watching locals arriving with their dogs. It was great that big bowls of water were served to these canine guests along with their human companion's beverages. We will definitely come back!
(5)
Jill J.
jaco's definitely delivers in it's niche as the only restaurant right on palafox pier. the atmosphere is pleasant and the service is good. i have had very generously poured wine and cocktails and have absolutely no complaints in the bar department. the food is not bad either....but i agree with other reviewers who have said that you should go here for the drinks and eat somewhere else. i have found that the food is overpriced, in my opinion, for what it is....and does not always have the best execution. have tried several flatbreads, their guacamole, and tomato tart (which was really a deconstructed tart---ie, 3 slices of tomato with a tiny disc of puff pastry placed on top) and none have left me wanting more or going back because i crave it. all in all, you will have a good experience at jaco's. but don't expect an eating experience you will feel evangelical about. **antecdote...the first time we came here our server's first question was did we know what a flatbread is. pensacola is like 8 years behind...so ya know, martinis and flatbreads are brand new there still.
(3)
Heather C.
I am so sad to write a poor review of someplace I loved to go. I entered the restaurant with my small service animal, registered and wearing a vest with proper insignia, and sat at the bar with a friend. There were 3 other people at the opposite end of the bar and the restaurant was in a slow period. I sat Max on the stool next to me as I got settled in and was looking over the menu to order. I was asked to leave. I quickly added that he would be sitting in my lap if that was the problem and I was told that was not acceptable. I frequent MANY establishments in Pensacola and abroad with him and this was a new experience. He is not a companion/comfort animal, he is a trained, certified medical alert service animal. I will not go back to Jaco's and will share this experience freely. I would like to note it was the manager that asked us to leave after ordering drinks and I had to pay for them without consuming them.
(1)
Andy D.
Last I wrote I gave Jaco's four stars. The location is outstanding, both past and present, as is the service too! But once again the things I should have ordered, I didn't and it really was a real let down. Tonight we ordered, the wild mushroom flatbread, tomato tart, and the Thai style ribs. when two out of three are bad, then I guess Jaco's is only capable of simplicity. The Thai ribs were so uninspiring, because you realize that anyone could do a better job. These rib's were something you'd find in a crock pot, when you absolutely had to make something. Throw some spices in there and just because there's some five spice powder in it, you can call it Thai style. Seriously as kind as the Thai's are, after one bite a Thai would go on a homicidal rage. Instead of calling it Thai style, why not call it, "I know longer give a flying F%$# style" surly a winner there. The Tomato Tart, actually was ok, not really great but, after the rib's, the tart had immensely more flavor. Lastly the wild mushroom flatbread, is there best item they make now. It's rich, and the flat bread is crisp, the only change up i would do is place a wild green's salad on top of it. There mushroom flatbread is outstanding. I'm very disappointed in there food, as with killer views, killer service, there food has just become lame. I'd go back there again, but, now I know what to order, a glass of wine, and wild mushroom flatbread. Kinda sad, that experimentation has been taken away.
(3)
Trupti T.
This place has a great view, decent food. The best part for me was the key lime pie so delicious and tart.
(3)
Cristen L.
Just went to Jaco's for the first time on a Saturday afternoon. We sat at the inside bar and had appetizers and a few drinks- food, drinks, and service were amazing. I had mimosas and my roommates had martinis- all tasty and well made. The attentive bartenders were the icing in the cake. I had the lettuce wraps- so fresh, light, and great sauce with it. My roommates had the tender blue salad and wild mushroom flat bread. Both also delicious with very fresh ingredients. On top of all this, the beautiful view and comfortable ambience make Jaco's an all around 5 star place. Happy eating :)
(5)
Kacey A.
A tiny little gem tucked away at the Palafox Pier. We've walked past here before, but didn't know it was open, so one Saturday while checking out the Peacemaker Tall Ship docked next door, we stopped by for a glass of wine and an appetizer. We sat outside, and although it was chilly, they had outdoor heaters, and the setting sun was still nice and toasty. The view was very nice and peaceful, and I loved that no tables sat in front of each other. We both ordered a reasonably priced glass of wine and split the Wild Mushroom Flatbread with was delicious. It seemed like it was on a homemade tortilla - that's how thin it was, but it was nice and crispy and was able to support the delicious toppings of mushrooms, Pancetta, truffle oil, asparagus, onions, Balsamic vinegar, and goat cheese. It was the perfect filling snack - anything with truffle oil on it goes a long way. This is just what the pier needs down there. It's comfortable, classy, and affordable. I look forward to going again.
(4)
David W.
Totally unimpressive, the location is the only reason I would go here. Food was far below average and far below the expectation for the price. Met the owner, David, not a restaurant guy and I would guess that's the problem.
(1)
Joey E.
The mushroom flatbread is out of control. The hubby and I usually pair it with the tender blue salad followed by the dessert sampler. Delicious food. Great view, service, and atmosphere. One of our faves!!
(5)
Suzette C.
We had a nice dinner on a Monday evening. It wasn't terribly crowded, so we experienced no wait for a table with a bay front view. I had the Margherita flatbread and loved every bite. It was perfectly crisp and had a generous amount of toppings, including fresh mozzarella. My husband ordered the Greek chopped salad, but had a hard time making up his mind between that and a shrimp dish. Our waiter suggested adding shrimp to the salad - and that turned out to be a perfect choice. This was the first night of a Florida vacation,during which i planned to have key lime pie at least once a day. They didn't exactly have KLP but offer instead a key lime tart. It is an individual pie with a filling similar to lemon meringue pie. But very "limey" and very very tart. For some people I suspect it is perhaps too tart. Not for me however. I loved it! Our waiter was friendly and helpful without being intrusive. Service was quick and efficient. After dinner we enjoyed a stroll among the yachts anchored nearby. A perfect start to our vacation.
(5)
F P.
The bruschetta plate and breads are wonderful. Includes a carmelized onion and goat cheese spread. Crazy good!
(4)
Garee B.
My uncle took me there as a thanks for helping him out with some PC problems. We sat outside on the patio it was nice and sunny. Our server was quick and attentive. I ordered the crab sliders, but I don't recall the menu saying they were ON FIRE spice-wise; it was almost unbearable. The slider buns also were a little charred on top as if someone forgot to take them out of the oven while toasting them. I would have given this a higher rating; if not for the above mentioned items.
(2)
Yvonne A.
Ok, so we tried it again. Same. View was awesome. Food was horrible. Bathrooms were closed. Not sure why they can't get the food right and additionally baffled how they stay open with how bad the food is.
(2)
Pensacola D.
Jaco's has got it together like none other in the Pensacola downtown area! Great location, great ambiance, great service, great food and great prices! We have been to Jaco's no less than a dozen times and it's still our favorite place to go downtown. You can sit outdoors, sit inside or sit at the bar. Any seating you choose offers the same great service. Where else can you go in downtown Pensacola that has such a BEAUTIFUL bar, an extremely capable and attentive MANAGER (yes manager) waiting to greet you upon your arrival, a hostesses who actually SMILES when she sees you (hard to imagine that in Pensacola) and a wait staff that is not only friendly, helpful and attentive - but they actually seem to - get this - like their job. Yes, they actually seem to work with one another instead of against. For such a small kitchen, their food is unbelievable. My wife and I both love the flatbreads (pizzas). And the regular entrees are great, too. AND Jaco's occasionally changes up their menu -- so it's a great reason to keep going back. Situated where the old Lillo's used to be downtown, the view of Pensacola Bay, Palafox Marina and the Wahoo's ballpark is the best. And parking is never a problem. PS: They have really great bartenders. Great - means they are friendly, personable and they all offer really great bar service.
(5)
Kerrin K.
We met some friends down here last Saturday evening to watch the weigh-in for the Pcola Intl Billfish Tournament. We sat outside on the patio, watched the beautiful boats bring in their bounties and enjoyed the lovely summer evening. Hubby and I opted for flat bread pizzas (Rustic Veggie being my fav!) and our friends went with the pasta and the beef medallions. All meals were superb and everyone was satisfied with their choice. The only frustration was with the slower-than-usual service. I always love when proprietors care enough to walk around and make sure guests are satisfied and David, the owner came by to do just that. We topped off our meals with a fried Oreo dessert that was scrumptious! If possible, time it like we did with an evening of fireworks from nearby Blue Wahoos stadium for a perfect night!
(4)
Cory F.
Service is okay. Water bowl for the dog that's awesome. Good drinks. Girlfriends meal is great, seafood frittata. But the stuffed French toast was bland, mediocre at best. The "fresh fruit" was obviously store bought, flavorless and disappointing. Seems most of the food was not freshly made but frozen, thawed out and nuked. Boring, lifeless food on fancy dish wear.
(3)
Joe M.
Great view. Usually good food.
(4)
Chris K.
Wife & I stopped in for lunch on weekeday right around noon. Seemed about 1/3 full, but waitstaff got somewhat confused right off the start. I hate the "food auction" where someone else brings out your drinks and food and tries to guess who had what- especially if when are not busy. Anyways, that plus being seated in next to a crying baby mitigated the ambiance somewhat. This place does have a great patio and I can understand the rave reviews for that. We each had a glass of wine and were a little dismayed at the very stinginess of the pour. We ordered the Capeise salad, Tender Bleu salad and shared the Wild Mushroom Flatbread and Key Lime pie (tart actually)- the last two on the recommendation of yelpers. We both found the salads to be excellent. Generous portions on the Caprese. The mozzarella portions were quite large, as were the tomatoes. The pesto tasted fine, but appeared to be a little stale (the outside had darkened substantially & dried somewhat, but was bright & moist underneath). My wife is an olive oil perfectionist, and she really loved the taste of the oil used. My steak was perfectly cooked to rare on the Tender Bleu, although the onion strings on top were kind of greasy. In all fairness, I'm not a fan of them anyway, so I might be hard to please in that area. The flatbread tasted absolutely amazing- crispy without being crumbly, balanced and a nice hint of truffles. The Key Lime tart was the perfect size for sharing, and was spot on in balance of sweetness, tartness and lime. At the end, it was kind of awkward as the waitress seemed to be moving us along- taking plates immediately as we finished. So quick in fact I felt rushed- taking a bite and as the fork left my mouth the plate was gone. As I said, it wasn't crowded, we weren't camping out or anything so why the rush to try & flip the table? It really didn't mesh with the laid back atmosphere. A manager (owner) realized my wife hadn't finished her wine so he got a plastic cup to take it with her... what he should have realized was that we were being herded out. So, our experience overall was good: great food, a fair value ($50), inspiring atmosphere but probably an inexperienced staff. Would return without question, probably for dinner when more experienced staff worked (and we could enjoy the sunset view). Last tip: on the right day you can see the Blue Angels practice over the bay!
(4)
Kaitlyn R.
Beautiful setting right on the waterfront! Went there for lunch on a rainy day and still loved looking out on the water. We got three flat breads (the Tender Blue, the Margherita, and the Wild Mushroom), all which were AMAZING!!! The Tender Blue flat bread was the best by far... blue cheese, steak (medium), and balsamic reduction... DELISH! Will definitely re-visit if in town again!
(4)
Amanda B.
We went here the other day and we seated outside. We sat for 20 minutes and nobody came over to ask us for our drink orders. We let the hostess who seated us know that nobody had come over and she said "she'd like someone know we were seated there. In the next few minutes a waitress came outside (Almost all tables outside were filled and it's not like we were by ourselves) and took the order of the table next to us and then didn't come back out. So we decide to go leave and on the way out walked past the manager. I told him what had happened. He reseated us in another location and someone else took our order. The manager then brought us out an appetizer, french fries with some kind of shredded parmesan cheese (?) and dip. We each ordered flat bread and they were both good but nothing special. It wouldn't be someone worth ordering again. Then we had the key lime pie for dessert and it was okay. The key lime pie at the Fish House was to die for so I would definitely hit the Fish House first! The good news was the manager did take care of the whole bill.
(3)
Sarah R.
Location, location, location! I love this place. It has become a staple in our happy hour destinations list. The view is of course amazing and when the weather is nice you certainly want to sit outside. The staff is very friendly and the owners come around and greet you and chat for a while. I like that they do this as it gives Jacos' a personal touch. The menu is not huge but a good mix of food. The flat bread pizzas pair well with the extensive wine list. The interior is built to look old, which I love! The bar area is cozy and the bartenders are nice and chatty. Stop in if you are in the area and you will not be disappointed.
(4)
Frank C.
The view was excellent, the food was disappointing, and the staff were arrogant. Me and my wife are foodies, and love a culinary experience, but this fell waaaaaay short of that. Most of the menu is composed of "flatbreads" which are little more than flour tortillas baked with mid-quality cheese and toppings. They would be more accurately called "open-faced quesadillas". The appetizer sampler platter came with bread that was stale (not crunchy or dry, but soggy and stale). When the waitress was told this, she told us shortly that it's supposed to be like that; and then brought us equally un-fresh foccacia bread instead. This may be a great spot for sunset cocktails, but the overpriced food was a disappointment. I imagine a lot of the price of the meal goes to the expensive rent of being on the water, and not on the quality of the ingredients. Spots we love in Pensacola include: the fish house, mcguire's, Hemingway's, and dharma blue. You'll have better luck with these.
(2)
Stephen P.
Terrible manager, who was rude,unprofessional with poor customer skills. Salmon in the salad was raw and gave me a very sour stomach. Manager said it was not his fish, well this may be so, but I hadn't eaten anything else, and I was quite ill. This ruined my valentine's lunch with my wife...and spoiled the whole day.
(1)
Sharon A.
Excellent view of the Bayfront from our table. Service was great, food was fanatic. Overall I recommend if you are looking for tasty food selection, great choice of beer, wine, and mixed cocktails. Happy hour is half off wine and signature cocktails. I had the wild mushroom flatbread pizza, sister had the Margarita flatbread, both were very, very good and flavorful. My daughter had the porkloin dinner she enjoyed very much, it was tender, tasty and oh so good. We started off with the pommes frittes and they were so good we got a second order, comes with 2 dipping sauces. We were there for happy hour I recommend the grey goose raspberry lemonade. It's made with fresh muddled raspberries and top shelf vodka. Best of all it was half off for happy hour. Usually you don't see top shelf drinks for happy hour but they had a great selection of interesting cocktails to choose from. We also tried 2 desserts the key lime pie - just ok for me but I'm not big on key lime anyhow. Deep fried oreos with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Again -not my thing but not bad.
(4)
Debbie M.
This place is terrible. We ordered the chips and salsa to start and the chips came out cold and were fried much earlier. I guess the few mins it took to fry up the chips was too much for them to handle. I had the steak salad and the salad was not cold, onion topping the salad was stale as well and the steak had no flavor. My husband and brother in-law had their Jaco's tacos and it was supposed to have blackened fish but came out pan fried and lacking any flavor. My sister in-law was the only one that lucked out since her salmon burger was ok. This was not worth the wait. The only good thing this restaurant has going for it is the view.
(1)
Katrina E.
My husband and I took my mother from out of town to Jacos after hearing everyone's great reviews of the restaurant, worst mistake ever! For an app. We ordered a margarita flat bread. To our surprise it came out just a few minuets after we ordered. We figured out why...it was cold and soggy like it had already been made and was just sitting on the counter waiting for someone to order it. The menu is very limited so we ordered the Cuban sand which and my mother order the miah miah Ruben. When our sandwiches came out I laughed, I've never seen a sandwich so small. It was all bread with a pickle slice and a small sliver of meat. I've had a lot of Cuban sandwiches before and this was a pathetic excuse of a sand which, even publix had a better Cuban. My mom ordered her fish without the bread, it's came out as a small piece of COLD fish. And to make matters worse the table next to us was so loud we couldn't even hear ourselves think. After our meal we talked to the manager and all she wanted to do was give us free dessert. I don't want anymore of their food why would I want a free dessert. We left the restaurant frustrated and still hungry! As a local I'm am beyond disappointed and having my mother from out of town come and experience this was even worse Worst experience I've we've had,if something is wrong management needs to do something to fix it, not throw a free desserts at us.
(1)
Kathy D.
Really delicious food . Did not try the cocktails. Good service . Spectacular view
(4)
Arpy N.
Oceanfront restaurant with a wide selection of food and drinks. Got a linglang draft beer and the ahi tuna special. Thought it was going to be small, but boy was I wrong. Also comes with a soup or salad, i got the crab bisque. Great service great food!
(4)
Yasmine H.
Wonderful food selection. Fantastic service! On the water with great views of the boats.
(5)
Vane V.
Overpriced and small portions, place is hot with no a/c. All this place has going is its location but for that Fish House is better.
(2)
Gary S.
Excellent place to eat. We are taking a sunset cruise and picked this place. Had the special and it was great. Wahoo with risotto. Wife had salmon and said its the best she's ever had. Lots of gluten-free options here for those that need that.
(5)
Yazmin B.
Great view and atmosphere for an outdoor dinner. They have a nice selection of cocktails and great accommodating bartenders. We opted for the Antipasto platter and shared a flatbread for dinner. Everything was delicious! This is a spectacular place for a romantic dinner...make sure you go at sunset. The view is to die for!
(4)
Theresa R.
Delicious! The view was perfect, a nice view of the water and the boats. We sat outside on the nicely sized patio. Our waitress was very attentive. We started off with the fried green tomatoes which were good. They came out right away. My wife had a hamburger and she said it was the best she has had in a while, which is quite the compliment as she eats hamburgers a lot and without the buns! I had Jaco's Tacos. They were quite good with a chipotle sauce and mango salsa. The fish was a tad bit dry, but not too bad. There were lots of pups on the patio so it seems a pet friendly place. Overall it was really good and we'd definitely go again!
(4)
Paige M.
I came by Jaco's this afternoon for lunch, and was expecting to be impressed, which may have been my problem. Jaco's had some great points and some disappointing ones. The view of the water is gorgeous and the indoor seating area was comfortable and nicely decorated. The bar is beautiful and the speciality cocktails looked delicious but at $10 a drink, I opted not to try one. The menu was small and in my mind, overpriced, as I'm sure they are catering to the clientele who own the boats in the dock. I ordered the Southwest salad with chicken on it and quite honestly, I've had a better salad at McDonalds. It was small, totally soaking wet with some cilantro based dressing, and the greens were not especially fresh. My grandfather ordered a burger that was ground in house and some very thin crispy fries. My grandmother ordered the Thai Bibb lettuce wrap appetizer as a meal and she seemed to enjoy it. Our waitress was very attentive and kind and came promptly with refills. However, a manager (?) came over and started clearing plates while we were still eating and had to be asked to bring them back. At the end, the waitress brought us refills in to-go cups, which we thought was very nice, but we quickly realized they were Dr. Pepper instead of Diet Coke, which my grandparents cannot drink. All in all, it was totally overpriced for the quality, and I would not come back. If you decide to go here, I would try a cocktail and a flatbread, or perhaps the pasta, but their salads are definitely not their specialty.
(1)
Dallas H.
We visited several months ago and enjoyed our experience. Different story this time. Got there early, before 5:30pm. Lots of wait staff and plenty of open tables so many of the staff were standing around talking. Never too busy while we were there. Service was terrible this time. Our waitress was also waiting on tables on the complete other side of the restaurant. She was "out of touch" with us, which would explain why she brought us our appetizer after it had already been delivered by someone else, eaten, and plates picked up. We waited, and waited, and waited for our entrees. Manager finally delivered our meals himself. My wife liked a dessert we had last time, but that took forever too. I thought maybe they would offer the dessert without charge due to our 30-40 minute wait between appetizer and entree. But no, never was mentioned. We couldn't spend anymore time there to complain. We were disappointed and won't be back.
(3)
Adam C.
This place has a great atmosphere and location that alone can keep the place packed. Located downtown at the end of Palafox with views of Pensacola bay, the Harbor, and the ballpark; you can't ask for better real estate for a restaurant in my opinion! My girlfriend and I were seated outside, looking into the marina that was half full of beautiful boats and we started our meal with Pomme Frites. They are basically some fancy thin cut French fries, dusted with Parmesan, served with two dipping sauces and presented in cone shaped wax paper held upright by by a metal contraption seemingly created for just this thing. Not bad at all. I had the mushroom stack for my entree and I was personally a little disappointed with the small amount served to me and the lack of flavor. Basically the feta cheese and calamata olives added the only flavor to the dish. My girlfriend had the sirloin flatbread and it was very good but also isn't very large. The service was great and overall I enjoyed myself so I would return and order something different hoping for a an increase in food and flavor if I was to return for a third visit.
(3)
Amanda L.
I was impressed by their menu, and I really enjoyed the views of the water as I ate outside at sunset. Would recommend to friends.
Stopped in for lunch. We had the antipasto appetizer and two flatbreads. Not bad overall. The views are quite nice though!
(3)
Tonya L.
This place has an amazing view. The was is a bit over priced for the portions that is given to you. I had the southwest salad it tasted great, but the portion is small. My little one had the stuffed French toast with berries , she loved it and ate every little bit of it.
I feel like when your review restaurants in Pensacola, you have to remember that they're in Pensacola. Me and my wife have been here more times than I can remember and usually make it our Friday night spot. This place is off and on. The service has been great 100% of the time. The food is either good or awful. The fried green tomatoes are awful. Anything bacon wrapped I've eaten has been awful. However their salmon is cooked perfectly every time and their soups are delicious. Their flat breads are "ok". And the steak is mediocre. The bartenders are awesome and they make awesome drinks, whatever you like. We usually just come for the service and the bar. The food is more of a side item. No draft beers however, you have WOB down the street for that.
(3)
R D.
First the obvious, this place has a great view. The tables on the patio in the back are roomy, but the ones that run down the side of the building are too close together. The people next to you feel like they are at your table. Having said that, the food is pretty good. The crab cake salad was fine, the crab cakes could use a little more crab meat though. Flatbread pizzas are good. The specialty drinks are very good. Try the Cucumber Cooler; it's $9 but it's very good. Service is polite and professional and, as mentioned, the view is very nice. Very relaxing.
(4)
Dani S.
Jaco's is fresh, fast, and not to mention the view is amazing = perfect lunch spot. The prices are not worth the food quality, but you pay for the experience as a whole. I had the Jaco's Tacos and Lasagna.
(4)
Michelle B.
Amazing, beautiful location overlooking a marina. Downtown Pensacola is so cute, too. The food was very good. I had the fish tacos, and they were made with grilled mahi. I also had a delicious martini made with Hendricks gin, cucumber and basil. I so want to recreate that at home! Service was good also. Happy hour got us $3 off specialty drinks from 3-6, I believe.
(4)
Ashly P.
Rude. We just sat down to eat, family of 3, we were completely treated with disgust. The hostess and servers looked at as as if we didn't belong there. Never have I ever been treated with such discourtesy. I WILL NEVER STEP FOOT IN THIS JOKE! Beautiful view horrible staff. Terrible and embarrassing.
(1)
Rebecca K.
My husband and I dined at Jacos this evening. We were seated right away at an inside table. The servers were friendly and attentive and the food was delicious, especially the bruschetta appetizer. The only complaint is that it was very warm inside and very noisy. The view was gorgeous!
(4)
Chef D.
Delicious. Bartender was interactive and engaged. Chef made his presence known in the dining room, observing everything around him. Excellent environment, staff, cocktails and food. Would recommend to ALL!
(5)
Katie D.
Beautiful view, great server! I wanted steak. Only 1 option: $30 filet. Kinda pricy, I bet it will be delicious so I'll get it anyway. May I have rice? We don't have rice. Okay, mashed potatoes it is. Food came out and I was appalled at the size it was smaller than the palm of my hand and about and thick as my fingers laying flat on the table, on top of a heaping amount of mashed potatoes. I basically paid for my view. I didn't even get full from the meal. My guy got the fish tacos. Mediocre. We probably won't go back. Was a beautiful night though, and I do praise on the service.. But I can't eat that.
(3)
Dave D.
I've been here 4 times now and always quality tasting food. I'm hoping they will get lionfish on the menu soon.
(4)
Melissa O.
We had a great experience at Jacos! Andy the bartender made some phenomenal cocktails, but the best part was our service from Ashlee. A party of 10 can sometimes be overwhelming, but she was a pro! Food was great, but the service and atmosphere were better :)
(5)
Caleb F.
I simply adore this place! The view is always first class and the environment and food accompanies that "coastal vibe" that we all yearn. The staff is always friendly and the general manager makes everyone his priority. Be sure to stumble upon this hidden gem--you won't regret it.
(5)
Stephen R.
Those two stars are for the location only. Sunsets here are amazing. Food is mediocre and very spotty. A few dishes there are fairly solid as long as they don't come out cold. Flatbreads are good, but super small. I don't typically eat big portions, but I'm pretty sure I could eat $80 worth of flatbreads as an appetizer. Don't be in a hurry, food always takes a while. but that's okay if you are here for the view.
(2)
Cynthia G.
If you are going for the location it's beautiful & the service was great. I was not impressed with the food. The Fried green tomatoes were not hot and tasted as they were from the freezer. My husband had the Lasagna dish & it tasted as if it was a Stouffers dish. I had their Southwestern Salad with shrimp added. The avocado they have listed on the menu is actually guacamole with too much onion. My grilled shrimp had too much seasoning.
(3)
Victoria G.
Had the southwest salad. Friend got a flatbread. Food was great. Service was great and so was the view. Split the deep fried Oreos. They were amazing and were served with ice cream. I'll definitely be back. Be warned that parking close to this place is fairly difficult so its probably easier to park and walk a bit.
(5)
Lisa L.
Beautiful location with great view. We waited about 20 minutes for a table and enjoyed watching the sunset over the marina. I think this was the peak of our experience. The food was average and not what I would consider worthy of their price. The homemade chips with salsa and guacamole were very tasty, though the guacamole was what I would consider a "dab" and not what I was expecting for "Jaco's Guaco". We ordered the filet mignon and a salad that had steak in it. (I can't recall the name). Taste was good, but the meat was chewy. Husband ordered his medium and it was more rare. The waitress never collected the menus which we all put aside at a nearby table and a booth seat. The poor waitress dropped one of the plates while clearing our table; not an issue because accidents happen, but upon leaving, the floor was greasy-slick from where they cleaned it up, so we had to be careful not to slip. The dessert sampler was a treat with my best choices being the key lime pie and whatever the chocolatey dessert was. Overall, we just didn't think it was worthy of the hype.
(3)
Georgio B.
Only stopped in for drinks. No draft beers or frozen margaritas! No blender? Wha?!!! Those are considered staples in my world. Nice view though. ;)
(2)
Paul S.
Good stuff and a great view right on the sound / bay of Pensacola. Drinks are very good - I'm a martini fan and they always come out ice cold and tasty. You cannot beat this view, million dollar and up power yachts and sailboats.
(3)
Ang E.
I have to say this was my favorite restaurant that I visited while in Pensacola last week. The food, the atmosphere, the service, the view, and the manager we're all perfect. I had the veggie lasagna and it was amazing. One of my friends had the salmon and said it was the best she's ever had, and another friend had filet mignon and shrimp and said it was outstanding. I also had the bruschetta bread which was mouth watering yummy and I've been craving it ever since I left. Can't wait to visit again, this will be the first restaurant I go to. Also their deck is wonderful and they allow you to bring your dog for outside dinning.
(5)
William L.
Stopped in on a whim. Just walking around Palafox st. The bartenders were great, She and im sorry I dont remember her name but they were awsome. I ordered a personal pizza and it was fantastic. I cant wait to go back and try a full meal.
(5)
April M.
Delicious! Great service! Manager walking around checking in on everyone. Everything was SO good. We were prepared based off of previous reviews for the no draft beer. They were out of fries (an appetizer) as another person said but, we got the Bruschetta instead, which was super yummy and I'm glad they didn't have the fries! The view at sunset it just perfect. Nice, relaxing atmosphere. A new favorite date night restaurant!
(5)
Eric C.
My wife and I arrived and were asked if we wanted inside or outside seating. My wife said if you have a table with a view, so they took us past a bunch of tables for two overlooking the marina to a table with a view of the parking lot. We both ordered the southwest salad, hers with steak and one with salmon. First make sure you go toward well done on any protein. I asked for medium rare and the fish was raw. My wife asked for medium well and it was medium rare. Funny thing about the salads was the size difference mine looked like a full salad but my wife's looked like a side salad. The description said there was pancetta which in my salad was a burnt quarter inch mystery nugget on my plate. I thought it was something scraped off the grill withy salmon until I recalled it was in the salad. My wife had the same... one piece! The service was polite, but don't dump our food and take off running so you don't have to take another drink order. My wife also asked for no dressing on her salad with oil and vinegar on the side, hers was dressed with the normal dressing. Not the best experience
(2)
Sarah P.
We went for lunch on a glorious day....got to see our favorite ship, the Dare II (Condor Sailing Adventures) docked there, and had the BEST time AND food with our SUPER waiter Travis, and Manager, Contessia! We sat outside overlooking the marina, Travis helped me to decide on the fried green tomatoes ( I wasn't that hungry), and OH YUM! My husband had been missing his pizza, his eyes lit up when he saw that Mediterranean flat bread before him! I am normally one of those people who take a pic....but we just dove in! Delish! I was then strong armed by Travis saying the key lime pies just came out of the oven, then pushed over the edge by Contessia to get the key lime pie....Travis told me I'd be sad if I split it with my husband....and I was :( (I don't usually eat sweets, btw)...just a wonderful way to have a delicious relaxing lunch....then a walk of the marina to work off that pie! HIGHLY recommend, beautiful setting, amazing menu, amazing staff!
(5)
Sonja L.
Arrived around 2:00pm on a Sunday, seated quickly, hostess and waitress both pointed out half of the lunch menu was no longer available as brunch was over. Not a lot of options, I got a so-so Southwestern salad for $10 (no meat, chicken was an extra $4), husb enjoyed a grilled Mahi sandwich with shoestring fries $14 (no side options offered). I got a taste, the mahi was firm and delicious. Our service wasn't prompt, we were inside by the exit door which opened constantly letting in blasts of heat. Very nice location and view of the yachts.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Thomas A.
The skinny: Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille is a very nicely appointed place with an outstanding view. Extreme Caution Advised on Holidays. We scored the walkway seats over looking a marina full of handsome vessels and wildlife (it was beautiful to watch the heron fish for its lunch). We went to the restaurant to avoid the typical Mother's Day rush on the expected eateries. And it wasn't a bad wait. At 11:30 we had a 20 minutes wait that we strolled around enjoying the sights of school of fish hungrily chasing smaller fry. The dining experience was disappointing, though. It started innocently, but weird enough with the tired frustration I saw on the Hostess' face when she put our name down. She was equally abrupt when she 'seated' us, but I had some recommendations from work colleagues so we sat down and I looked eagerly at the brunch menu. $2 Bloody Mary's and Mimosa's encouraged me more. It was soon obvious that the place was overwhelmed. We chatted and after a long of a wait we met our server who soon showed impatience as we decided on drinks. The drinks came out, but the Bloody Mary's between the two of were very inconsistent my drink was bitter (I guess too much Angostura) and my bride's was very strong (which I like, so happy accident an I took her libation). We submitted orders for two egg and bacon breakfasts and the 'wrap' i.e. a breakfast burrito that has gotten an advanced degree. One hour passed which we made the best of by talking, at the end of 55 minutes though the strong drinks and nibbles were giving way to an awkward stomach rumble.The waiter passed a dozen or so times during this and promised about the last 4 times that it would be right out, every time the promises drew the awkwardness thicker. Our plates looked great when the arrived. I was a little jealous of the healthy portion of the egg dish, the kitchen was generous on that smoky engine of taste: bacon! My wrap looked good, unfortunately it tasted as if it had been sitting for some time, with nary an afterglow of the cooking temperature. It was cooked fine, it didn't taste bad, but could it have been sublime if it had been served when it was made. The wait staff continued to be out of their league all around us: our waiter asked if everything was OK, but he was gone before the question mark dropped. He knew it wasn't and he ran away. It was also obvious that the host staff continued to get more flustered as we waited through another 20 minutes to pay the bill. Verdict: It is a shame they blew it today. I will go back to give the place another chance, probably after a good period of time has passed. Mark my words though, I will NOT go back during a 'rush'/holiday and I wouldn't recommend you do either until they get the management under control.
(2)Emily A.
Worst salmon burger I've ever had. It's literally the salmon out of a can smushed in with raw peppers and slapped on a bun with 2 pieces of chewy bacon on top. I took 2 bites and couldn't handle it anymore. Never will go again.
(1)TIFFANY H.
I went here after seeing an advertisement in the IN Weekly newspaper. I thought it would be the perfect place to take my friend and her two kids for a Mother's Day Brunch. I, however, was sadly mistaken. It first started when I tried to call to make reservations. I was a little saddend because they were not accepting reservations for parties under five people. However, I have been trying my best lately to try out new places to eat, so I thought we would just try our luck. We arrive and they are quite busy indeed. During our predicted 15 minute wait, that was actually over 30 minutes, I heard the hostess call for over 7 parties of people who had "Reservations". These parties had "groups" of people ranging from 4 to 2 people! I don't know if we had missed something somewhere where I could have made reservations for my tiny group of four, but it was rather irritating. Service side: I could be more impressed elsewhere. I did tip my usual 20%, but only because I felt that our server was pulled all over the place, he even had tables outside to attend to! Refill count: 1. However, he was very attentive to the kids needs when we were able to get him to the table. Although- basic items like salt, pepper, ketchup, etc. where not offered nor were they on the table to start with. Food Side: For what I ordered, it was horrible. For my friend, she did enjoy her meal. I requested the eggs be cook over medium, and they were horribly runny and absolutely disgusting. I didn't care to send it back because it would have taken them another 40 minutes to bring eggs cooked correctly. Clock: We were there for about 1.5 hours. .5 hours waiting for the table. about .25 hours waiting for our first sip of our drink. about another .25 for the food. we ate. and then another .25 waiting for him to bring us our check. On a side note: The wait time is not a hit in my opinion, as they were very busy being it was Mother's Day. I feel bad for the waiter, in my opinion. I know a lot isn't his fault, and he was very very busy. He was running around so much that he was drenched in sweat tbh. Result: I will not return. I will not reccommend.
(2)Scott J.
Great lasagna; great wild mushroom flat bread; Paul is an awesome waiter; check this place out
(5)Kelljor S.
Appetizers and dessert was good. The cocktails were watered down. Scenery in Florida very nice as usual. The menu has been slimmed down and does not offer fresh local seafood speciaties. Flatbread pizza on the H2O....really???
(4)Erin E.
One of my favorite spots in Pensacola. Always great service and ambiance, although it can get noisy inside. We love the pomme frittes and bruschette to start and our favorite flatbreads are the Pesto and the Tender Blue. Great place for drinks or dinner with family & friends.
(5)Carolyn R.
In the search for a nice salad for lunch i found that there are not that many places downtown that i would venture. Jaco's Southwest Salad with a tasty lime vinaigrette was exactly what I was looking for. I added shrimp and my friend added chicken. We each had more than enough to eat, but finished our plates anyway because it was so good! We had a lovely lunch overlooking the bay.
(5)Orion K.
Jacos is always an amazing experience. The location offers a fantastic view of the marina and Pensacola bay. The wait staff have been nothing but curious and eager to serve each time I've been. I have yet to have a menu item which I did not enjoy, or was not expertly prepared. The drinks are also fantastic.
(5)Chris E.
I went to this restaurant expecting good food and a nice view. What my love and i got was an uncomfortable table and too much noise. The waitress was slow and self-centered and the food was OK ... nothing special. however, I liked the dessert. It's OK and I guess I'd do it again .... just get me another waitress.
(2)Cole Y.
Cool location, Food is ok
(3)Laurin E.
Delicious meal, great service and fantastic location. I'll be going back. And it's one of the few places open on a Monday night.
(4)Damian K.
We only stopped here for a few drinks and a light meal, so can't really rate it, just to say the ambience was nice, and the staff friendly. The flatbreads were tasty.
(3)Elaine G.
I was visiting P'Cola these past 2 weeks and had been dining out quite a lot. We had been to 3 other well-known and very pricey restaurants in P'Cola that were good, however, a friend suggested Jaco's. My son and I dined there Thursday, 10-25. First, I knew it was going to be a pleasant experience when I saw the outside of the lovely building sitting adjacent to the marina. And Jaco's sign....who can resist the sweet face of Jaco, the Wheaten Terrier....soooo cute. Ah yes, a building, a marina, and a cute dog don't make the food, but they certainly set the ambiance. We decided to sit inside instead of the lovely outside dining. The indoor dining is clean and modern. And, we enjoyed looking at the bar. It rivals any restaurant in Denver (and we have some very good ones). The bar is very well stocked with high-end liquors. As we sat down, we experienced one of those breathtaking sunsets where it looks as if God's fingers are illuminating the sky. Friends told us that Jaco's flatbread "pizzas" were very good. There is quite an assortment to choose from. But, I hadn't eaten all day, so I wanted something more. So many of the fares sounded wonderful. We could not decide, so my son and I both ordered several things: white flatbread, island style flatbread, bouillabaise, and grilled pork tenderloin. No we didn't eat it all, but that's ok as my son needed some leftovers in the fridge for his new apartment. Our waitress was wonderful....very attentive. The 2 owners came by our table several times to check on us. Stephen, 1 of the owners, was extremely gracious and made certain that we were totally satisfied. He did inform us that the talented chef brings several years of experience to Jaco's from Atlanta. Ok, the food: the bouillabaise was served with a salad of baby spring lettuces accompanied by a side of a thick balsamic dressing. The lettuce leaves were all nice and green...no wilting or disgusting "old salad" colors. The dressing you need to take a bit on your fork and then pierce your lettuce. Not difficult or clumsy, and oh so worth it as the dressing has a very light and not too vinegarey flavor. The baby sliced tomatoes were sweet and fresh. The bouillabaise was a refreshing change to some heavier flavored ones that a diner might have previously experienced. What a great thought by the chef since P'Cola weather is hot and balmy, and who wants to eat a HOT bouillabaise when it's 90 degrees outside? Well, there was plenty of fish, shrimp and clams to enjoy. The risotto was prepared to perfection....not over or under done....just perfect. And the sausage was a wonderful way to add the fennel taste necessary for a bouillabaise. I'd say it was a unique idea in giving bouillabaise a Southern twist. In addition, there was a type of succotash vegie combination added for the vegetables....another Southern touch. I'm not certain if the legumes were baby limas or edamame, but whichever, it was delicious. The tomato saffron broth was very good; there was not too much of it so you wouldn't lose the risotto or crostina, and there was enough to enjoy it. All in all a great choice. According to my son, the pork tenderloins were great. Very, very tender and juicey....not dried out. It was served with new potatoes, which were as they should be, a little sweet. I can't comment on the flavor, but he said it was the best meal he had eaten in P'Cola. And, without mentioning any competition, he had a very, very expensive steak the previous week, and he felt that his pork tenderloin....hands down.....was much better. My son loves pork and orders it frequently when we dine out. He loved it and would order it again. We both enjoyed our flatbread pizzas. Taste and presentation were excellent. I would recommend getting a flat bread pizza as an appetizer and share it with your SO before your entree....that way you can enjoy Jaco's flat breads and something else. We also ordered dessert. My son had the homemade key lime tart. I had the chocolate caramel tart served with strawberries and fresh whipped cream. All we can say is yum, yum. Our son is a Navy Officer stationed here, and he will certainly be back again to enjoy the sunsets with his fiancee. Between our initial impression, ambiance, food, and service, we give Jaco's 2 big thumbs UP or 5 stars.
(5)Benjamin S.
Jaco's is a tiny little restaurant located at the very end of Palafox St. right on Palafox Pier. We came in at 7:30 on a Sunday evening for dinner and the place seemed to be fairly bustling. When we sat down, the restaurant started to quiet down and the customers were all leaving. It turned out that they close at 8:00 on Sundays. Even though it's Sunday, I think 8:00 is a bit early to close down if you're serving dinner. We sat down and our waiter took our drink orders, and then proceeded to order. The wait time for our entrees was not exactly fast. We waited for about 20-30 minutes for our entrees to arrive. By the time the entrees had came, we had already finished our drinks, and the waiter never actually noticed that we had empty glasses. Anyways, onto the food. My kids ordered a pork tenderloin with a miso/honey glaze which was very good, and a slider with a sauce that tastes exactly like the claws in garlic sauce at the Fish House (??). I ordered the mushroom flatbread with truffle oil and my wife ordered the Ahi Tuna. The flatbread was oh so delicious, while my wife commented that the Tuna was a bit on the tough side. Oh well, you can't have everything. I have to say that the best thing about this restaurant is the amazing view that accompanies it. It was so relaxing eating beside those huge (and expensive) yachts. Overall, the food was pretty good but they can improve the service a bit. I shouldn't have to ask for drink refills.
(4)Todd C.
GREAT atmosphere, particularly outside, cool staff and good food. Prices weren't too bad and they're dog friendly;).
(4)Thu V.
Jaco's is WACKO! Worst experience at a restaurant ever. Restaurant cannot handle parties. Server spilled drink all over my cell phone while trying to sit drink down on table, veggie lasagna came out tepid warm (even in the center), entree came out BEFORE starter house salad, Complaint was made to manager and he was completely rude about it. Told me there's no way my lasagna is not hot, that "it came out of a 650 degree oven". Absolutely ridiculous that he's even questioning me instead of apologizing. I wanted my lasagna reheated and they never brought it back. Caution, the ahi tuna dish is FISHY and when your order is missing items instead of informing the customer they bring your dish sans items they 'ran out of' with a quick, "oh, we ran out" reply (ONLY when you inquire). Thanks for asking me if I still want my entree sans items. I am NEVER coming back. I WILL NOT and DO NOT recommend this restaurant.
(1)Arnold N.
This is a little known gem in downtown Pensacola. We had an early dinner here today, and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. These type places are normally just overpriced yuppie bars that serve average food. The food was not great, but it was very good. The prices were a little high, but for the view and the tasty food, it is worth it. This was our first visit, and we do plan to return.
(4)Stephen c.
What a great location!! Service is crazy good and a selection of food that makes your taste buds really have fun.
(5)B B.
While visiting P'cola, my folks took me to Jaco's. We sat at the bar and were helped by Campbell and John. Great guys, very nice. My pizza was tasty and I didn't feel weighted down after. I also love the wine selection and prices. A bottle of Stag's Leap 06 Merlot for $46?! Yes, please. Met the owners, Dave and Steven. Wonderful hosts. Jaco's is now on my list of places to visit every time I come to see my parents. Great job, guys!
(5)Stuart W.
Nice scenic location, friendly staff, good food. They specialize in salads and flatbread pizzas. Not a huge menu but that means they can concentrate on what they do offer. I had the classic flatbread pizza and the Byron pint noir, both very good! The 20' curved bar is beautiful; great place to watch the sun go down. Lots of covered outdoor seating that's wonderful when not too hot. I'll be back!
(4)Jode M.
Service was outstanding. Went at lunch and had burger, fried green tomatoes, and chicken lettuce wraps. The tomatoes were bland, but everything else was very good. I would go there again.
(4)Pam D.
Stopped for lunch while visiting Pensacola for the day. Great location on the water, with really nice views. Our server was excellent. I had the salmon burger, which was delicious-definitely not at all like the "salmon patty" once served by school cafeterias! Hubs and one son had burgers, and they are very good as well. I am not normally a French fry person, but the slim pommes frites served here are very nice! Jaco's does offer a children's menu, but it is not printed. Our server mentioned it right away, though, before we could ask. Pricier than our average family lunch, yes, but a very nice part of our stop in Pensacola.
(4)Timothy P.
Awesome spot with killer views and fun cocktails to go with dinner.
(4)Veronica T.
I have been here 3 times and I do not understand the complaints about not getting enough for your money. I have been extremely satisfied with the food all three times. The items have been unique and well seasoned. For what you're getting the price is very fair. This is not something you can just go out and buy and cook in your own kitchen. Plus the view is amazing. If anything is overpriced it's the drinks.
(5)Dave F.
Jaco's has a great view and our server did everything possible to put lipstick on a pig. However, their oven was out meaning no flatbreads on a weekend, food was incredibly slow and their bathrooms were out. (They actually called in an emergency plumber who managed to make a larger mess causing the entire restaurant to close early on a Friday.) I may give this a second try, but it's not a top 10.
(2)Mel C.
Took my partner and family here for a lunch treat. Service was excellent (waiter was very entertaining) We started with the Antipasto Platters, then I had the Portabello Stack with Pesto Rissotto (absolutely delicious), everyone else had the Flatbreads, and burgers, which they enjoyed immensely. With a round of drinks the bill was $90 and worth every penny. Planning our next trip there for my Birthday this week.
(5)KarmaQueen S.
Bar had no beers on tap; no frozen drinks available because they didn't have a blender. Strawberry Margarita on the rocks tasted nothing like anything I've had in the past, though it did have a strawberry garnish. This place is good if you aren't put off with a limited bottled beer selection while enjoying the view. (Only reason it got any stars...so many better locales for drinks) No reason to return.
(2)Lidia J.
Delish blue flatbread Steak med rare-exactly as i asked Flatbread is thin and perfect baked crisp Mahi mahi grilled sandwich, excellent and the shoe string fries were crispy The old fashioned rootbeer is an alcoholic beverage! Do not order for kids or teens! Service was great Only complaint-heaters in porch will bake your brain in 5 mins' be prepared to run outside and get some cool air
(5)Jacqui C.
Great location and food. We sat outside with a beautiful view of the pier. I got the guacamole appetizer with grilled chicken which were delicious. However, the service was quite terrible. Our server took forever to come by and take our order. And she rarely came around to check if we needed anything. She spilled wine on one of us and didn't even acknowledge it. Then gave me a dirty appetizer plate with crumbs stuck on it. And she forgot my side salad which I was halfway through my meal before she came by again to serve the table next to us and I had to wave her down. She also didn't offer us dessert menu until I asked for it. Overall, good food and view, terrible customer service.
(2)Jacqueline M.
Very relaxing. Food was good. Paul our waiter was super. Flatbread very crispy. Will go back again.
(5)Tessa M.
The mister decided we should stop here, while wandering the Palafox pier. What a rad selection. The menu was amazing looking & I really wish I has the tummy room to eat more. My mister & I shared the pomme frites (fancy ass french fries), the salsa verte salmon (get in rare) & the drunken berries. Next time I will try the flash fried tuna. Also the patio is very dog friendly. They even bring a dog bowl out full of water. Amazing service from "Travis"
(5)Kate S.
Jaco's is always a great dining experience. We stop here each year on our drive back to Colorado. The atmosphere is beautiful, the menu choices are all fantastic, the service is great, and the food is delicious.
(5)Alex G.
This place was delicious! we made it just in time for happy hour, and the drinks were reasonably priced. The service was great, our waitress kept checking up on us to see if we needed anything. The chicken lettuce wraps were top notch. The view of the marina was even better. I will definitely come back!
(4)Terry G.
One simply cannot go wrong by visiting Jaco's. From the beautiful location overlooking Pensacola Bay, to the exquisite drinks and food, Jaco's offers a unique Pensacola experience. The food is always fresh and always delicious. I've had multiple items from the menu over the past few years and every time I'm delighted all over again. I must admit, however, that one of my favorites is the mushroom flatbread. Do yourself a favor and try it!
(5)Steve H.
I've been here for drinks and I've been here for food (and drinks), but I would suggest that you eat elsewhere and stick with the drinks. It's not that the food is exactly horrible...it isn't...but I will say that you don't get much for what you pay. That may be my frugal side breaking through, but really, the flatbread "pizzas" are nothing more than some scant ingredients on a flour tortilla. Seriously. I could eat $50 worth of those things and leave hungry. Sitting at the bar ensures quicker service. And it isn't that the floor staff ignores you, but more like the bartender has nowhere else to be, so you know where to find her (the bartender has always been a female the 5-6 times that I've been to Jaco's). The best part of the experience, as noted by many others, is the location. The sunsets are great and the doors are usually open to let the bay breeze waft through. I received a PM from a fellow Yelper that says that Jaco's is dog friendly, so add this to your list of places to go with your puppy.
(3)ChefBob P.
Beautiful location. Awesome service from our waiter Chris not only did he look like a model when he heard it was our 30th anniversary he went the extra mile. I had the salmon burger, Darlene had the grilled Mahi both were great needed a tiny pinch of salt. At only $12.00 we will be back to try more of the menu, hope we get Chris again. the buns were extraordinary.
(4)Victor S.
This restaurant was the reason I joined Yelp. Beautiful location, great food, great service. Had the Mediterranean flatbread, Tender Blue Salad both were fantastic. We were still hungry so we ordered the Tender Blue flatbread, it was good but better as a salad. We finished with the fried Oreos which the kids loved.
(5)Chad G.
There is no denying the ambiance at Jaco's. Beautiful and romantic on a more than impressive marina. Although I must admit that staring at the gigantic yachts can make a regular schmo like me feel a bit inadequate. My wife, God bless 'er, was sweet enough to tell me that those boats were too big for her anyway. Thank you, sweetheart. I really wanted to give this place at least 4 stars, but just couldn't justify it. If Yelp would allow, I'd say that this place warrants 3.8 stars. So I'll start with the good. We ordered the Wild Mushroom Flatbread as an appetizer. It was pretty good and was enough for all four of us to have a piece. The seafood is great. I ordered the Fish Bouillabaisse. It was great. I would have liked more seafood in it. Now, for the bad. My wife ordered the Filet Mignon. It was just plain bad. The one thing I know for sure is that it was NOT a Filet Mignon. Maybe a mock Filet. It appeared to be cooked correctly, but it was quite tough and had no flavor. I'm serious, I love steak and this thing was flavorless. My wife ate everything except her $27 steak. The server asked if it was ok and we told her it was bad. She said she mention it to the manager, but no one ever came back to the table nor did we receive any discount. I suppose the ultimate blame lies with us. Jaco's is a seafood restaurant. Stick with what they are good at. We'll go back, but only for the seafood.
(3)Jason F.
I've eaten here many times and the atmosphere here is great. The food, when available is above average. The problem is that the last four times we have had nothing but excuses as to why they are out of things. This time they are out off tuna, grouper, pork tenderloin, and guacamole. Last time it was french fries and salmon. What gives? I want to eat here but kind of pricy for settling on something I didn't want on the first place.
(2)Ninjosh A.
I'm writing this as the meal progresses so I don't know what kind of review it will be yet. We arrived close to 10pm and had no problem getting choice seats with a gorgeous view from the friendly hostess. We were immediately greeted by our waiter Andy who was warm and friendly. He steered us towards a couple of house cocktails that were every bit as good as he promised. After a short while he brought us some hot toasted bread and kept out water glasses full. We took his recommendations for food as well, the ahi and the tacos, the ahi was delicious, the tacos were acceptable, but bland and relied heavily on the mango salsa. The view puts this place over the top, the service is, in our experience, excellent. Solid 4 star experience, would reccomend.
(4)Anna F.
The fish tacos are beyond yummy. Don't order the berry mojito because you might as well just chew on mint leaves and wash them down with turpentine. Im pretty sure the bartender was absolutely clueless or just too busy flirting with the waitresses.
(4)Conor G.
Jaco's is one of the few places I feel deserves a "five-star" rating. Every time I have visited Jaco's I have left incredibly happy with both my meal and service. As a stickler for perfect steak, their filet mignon dish was amazing and their bartender made the perfect Manhattan. Definitely visit Jaco's. Don't expect a "suit and tie" atmosphere, but expect great food, a great view and a great wait staff.
(5)Christine R.
I was told that Jaco's is known for their flatbread pizzas. None of them appealed to me, so I tried my very first fish taco and boy am I glad I did. The mahi taco was delicious. Although I prefer my tacos on soft shells, these were on hard blue shells that were quite tasty. The mahi I got was grilled and really yummy with a spicy aoli on the inside and a mango salsa and black beans on the side. I sat on the patio and had a beautiful view of the gulf and marina.
(4)Lindsay M.
Jaco's has the most beautiful view in Downtown Pensacola (excluding the Wahoos stadium which I think actually has an AMAZING view) and it is a pleasure to sit outside and enjoy food and drink here. You are paying for the view- just make peace with that. I almost always get the Wild Mushroom Flatbread. I just haven't had anything that is as tasty- it is SO good. My wife is gluten free and there are options for her here as well- she likes the Bibb lettuce wraps and other salads. Their drinks are really delicious and they have a nice selection of wine. I think their house wines are of good quality and very reasonably priced. There is never a bad time of day to go here. I even like it when it's raining.
(4)Matt K.
You must try flat bread mushroom pizza. Amazing and surprisingly filling. Very classy.
(4)Minhtastic P.
Finely crafted food sitting in view of the waterfront/pier?! I say yes, yes and YES! This place is hidden on Palafox Pier. The menu is just right with good choices for the healthy minded. Menu has salads, flat bread(pizzas), and pasta. Portions are just right, though I may have to order more if I was starving. I would suggest getting an appetizer, main course, and dessert to give your pallet a voyage of tastely goodness. Tonight I tried the Palafox, which is a pasta dish. The dish was extremely flavorful. Tomatoes were fresh and juicy in my tomato basil pasta dish. Pairing my meal with red wine was victory! I also tried an appetizer sampler that had toast, two different meats, salsa, and some bean based sour dish that tasted amazing! The dessert I would suggest is the fried Oreo. We ordered a sampler dessert dish. Most of the dessert dish is whip creamed base....meh. The fried Oreo is served with ice-cream. Yes, we all scream for ice-cream! Staff was nice. Some attractive waitress and hostess are at this establishment. Next time I come, I will definitely suit up and take a date here for a good time. You can enjoy good food and nice views of expensive boats and a beautiful view of the pier.
(4)John B.
The staff is not incredibly inviting. One of those places that is doing well and isn't afraid to act like it.
(2)Daniel B. O.
Great food and views of Pensacola Bay. I had the Mahi Sandwich for lunch and it was pretty good. The other dishes passing by my table also looked amazing!
(4)Harish C.
We were visiting Pensacola for the long weekend. We came to this place based on a recommendation from our friends in Gulf Breeze. This restaurant is located near a pier with lot of costly private yachts parked next to it. The views outside are good and the ambiance inside is also good. We had a reservation and they got us seated right away in a big booth in the corner. We ordered drinks and we got them in few minutes. We placed the order for appetizers (Pomme Fritters & Crab Sliders) POMME Fritters: These are just thin french fries (Like McDonald fries thin) with some sauce. It has a touch of spiciness and Parmesan flavor. Delicious! Crab Sliders: We got two sliders on our plate with some lettuce and some kind of salsa next to it. The buns were not that great. Then the crab cake is greasy and it has lot of bread than crab in it. It was just passable...would not order this dish again. By this time, our drinks were done and our server was nowhere to be found. It's been another 5-10 mins before we can ask him for refills. And we place order for our Entrees. My wife ordered Greek Chopped with Chicken (It's a salad) which was just ok...the meat was fresh but not much flavor to it. Our other orders were Mediterranean, Roasted Chicken flatbreads. Flatbread is nothing but a pizza on a very thin crust and very crispy. Both of them were decent but the size is like a personal pizza. For $10 at lunch, the size should be little bigger than what we got. We were still hungry by the end of it. We ran out of drinks and we have to hunt out waiter to get them refilled again. Not acceptable! We placed two orders for desert. One Key Lime Pie and other one is Icecream with fried Oreos. Key Lime pie was just ok...I had better ones. Icecream with Fried Oreos was very good. We asked for their famous Chocolate desert but they ran out of them that day. Overall an average affair except the views. The food and service needs to improve to get 4* from me. They cannot getaway with just killer views of the Bay.
(3)Susan V.
We found this place by accident Sunday morning. How fortunate for us! Great ambience and decor. We sat outside where we could watch the boats moving in and out. We ordered the antipasti. More than enough for a lunch. Crusty crostini, lovely cured meats, buttery cheeses, and the most delicious olive tapanade. My pinot grigio was delightful, not to mention well priced. My partner had the salmon burger which was moist and HUGE. He substituted a caesar salad for the fries and could not say enough about how delicious it was. He had a Sweetwater Blue beer to round out his meal. We enjoyed watching locals arriving with their dogs. It was great that big bowls of water were served to these canine guests along with their human companion's beverages. We will definitely come back!
(5)Jill J.
jaco's definitely delivers in it's niche as the only restaurant right on palafox pier. the atmosphere is pleasant and the service is good. i have had very generously poured wine and cocktails and have absolutely no complaints in the bar department. the food is not bad either....but i agree with other reviewers who have said that you should go here for the drinks and eat somewhere else. i have found that the food is overpriced, in my opinion, for what it is....and does not always have the best execution. have tried several flatbreads, their guacamole, and tomato tart (which was really a deconstructed tart---ie, 3 slices of tomato with a tiny disc of puff pastry placed on top) and none have left me wanting more or going back because i crave it. all in all, you will have a good experience at jaco's. but don't expect an eating experience you will feel evangelical about. **antecdote...the first time we came here our server's first question was did we know what a flatbread is. pensacola is like 8 years behind...so ya know, martinis and flatbreads are brand new there still.
(3)Heather C.
I am so sad to write a poor review of someplace I loved to go. I entered the restaurant with my small service animal, registered and wearing a vest with proper insignia, and sat at the bar with a friend. There were 3 other people at the opposite end of the bar and the restaurant was in a slow period. I sat Max on the stool next to me as I got settled in and was looking over the menu to order. I was asked to leave. I quickly added that he would be sitting in my lap if that was the problem and I was told that was not acceptable. I frequent MANY establishments in Pensacola and abroad with him and this was a new experience. He is not a companion/comfort animal, he is a trained, certified medical alert service animal. I will not go back to Jaco's and will share this experience freely. I would like to note it was the manager that asked us to leave after ordering drinks and I had to pay for them without consuming them.
(1)Andy D.
Last I wrote I gave Jaco's four stars. The location is outstanding, both past and present, as is the service too! But once again the things I should have ordered, I didn't and it really was a real let down. Tonight we ordered, the wild mushroom flatbread, tomato tart, and the Thai style ribs. when two out of three are bad, then I guess Jaco's is only capable of simplicity. The Thai ribs were so uninspiring, because you realize that anyone could do a better job. These rib's were something you'd find in a crock pot, when you absolutely had to make something. Throw some spices in there and just because there's some five spice powder in it, you can call it Thai style. Seriously as kind as the Thai's are, after one bite a Thai would go on a homicidal rage. Instead of calling it Thai style, why not call it, "I know longer give a flying F%$# style" surly a winner there. The Tomato Tart, actually was ok, not really great but, after the rib's, the tart had immensely more flavor. Lastly the wild mushroom flatbread, is there best item they make now. It's rich, and the flat bread is crisp, the only change up i would do is place a wild green's salad on top of it. There mushroom flatbread is outstanding. I'm very disappointed in there food, as with killer views, killer service, there food has just become lame. I'd go back there again, but, now I know what to order, a glass of wine, and wild mushroom flatbread. Kinda sad, that experimentation has been taken away.
(3)Trupti T.
This place has a great view, decent food. The best part for me was the key lime pie so delicious and tart.
(3)Cristen L.
Just went to Jaco's for the first time on a Saturday afternoon. We sat at the inside bar and had appetizers and a few drinks- food, drinks, and service were amazing. I had mimosas and my roommates had martinis- all tasty and well made. The attentive bartenders were the icing in the cake. I had the lettuce wraps- so fresh, light, and great sauce with it. My roommates had the tender blue salad and wild mushroom flat bread. Both also delicious with very fresh ingredients. On top of all this, the beautiful view and comfortable ambience make Jaco's an all around 5 star place. Happy eating :)
(5)Kacey A.
A tiny little gem tucked away at the Palafox Pier. We've walked past here before, but didn't know it was open, so one Saturday while checking out the Peacemaker Tall Ship docked next door, we stopped by for a glass of wine and an appetizer. We sat outside, and although it was chilly, they had outdoor heaters, and the setting sun was still nice and toasty. The view was very nice and peaceful, and I loved that no tables sat in front of each other. We both ordered a reasonably priced glass of wine and split the Wild Mushroom Flatbread with was delicious. It seemed like it was on a homemade tortilla - that's how thin it was, but it was nice and crispy and was able to support the delicious toppings of mushrooms, Pancetta, truffle oil, asparagus, onions, Balsamic vinegar, and goat cheese. It was the perfect filling snack - anything with truffle oil on it goes a long way. This is just what the pier needs down there. It's comfortable, classy, and affordable. I look forward to going again.
(4)David W.
Totally unimpressive, the location is the only reason I would go here. Food was far below average and far below the expectation for the price. Met the owner, David, not a restaurant guy and I would guess that's the problem.
(1)Joey E.
The mushroom flatbread is out of control. The hubby and I usually pair it with the tender blue salad followed by the dessert sampler. Delicious food. Great view, service, and atmosphere. One of our faves!!
(5)Suzette C.
We had a nice dinner on a Monday evening. It wasn't terribly crowded, so we experienced no wait for a table with a bay front view. I had the Margherita flatbread and loved every bite. It was perfectly crisp and had a generous amount of toppings, including fresh mozzarella. My husband ordered the Greek chopped salad, but had a hard time making up his mind between that and a shrimp dish. Our waiter suggested adding shrimp to the salad - and that turned out to be a perfect choice. This was the first night of a Florida vacation,during which i planned to have key lime pie at least once a day. They didn't exactly have KLP but offer instead a key lime tart. It is an individual pie with a filling similar to lemon meringue pie. But very "limey" and very very tart. For some people I suspect it is perhaps too tart. Not for me however. I loved it! Our waiter was friendly and helpful without being intrusive. Service was quick and efficient. After dinner we enjoyed a stroll among the yachts anchored nearby. A perfect start to our vacation.
(5)F P.
The bruschetta plate and breads are wonderful. Includes a carmelized onion and goat cheese spread. Crazy good!
(4)Garee B.
My uncle took me there as a thanks for helping him out with some PC problems. We sat outside on the patio it was nice and sunny. Our server was quick and attentive. I ordered the crab sliders, but I don't recall the menu saying they were ON FIRE spice-wise; it was almost unbearable. The slider buns also were a little charred on top as if someone forgot to take them out of the oven while toasting them. I would have given this a higher rating; if not for the above mentioned items.
(2)Yvonne A.
Ok, so we tried it again. Same. View was awesome. Food was horrible. Bathrooms were closed. Not sure why they can't get the food right and additionally baffled how they stay open with how bad the food is.
(2)Pensacola D.
Jaco's has got it together like none other in the Pensacola downtown area! Great location, great ambiance, great service, great food and great prices! We have been to Jaco's no less than a dozen times and it's still our favorite place to go downtown. You can sit outdoors, sit inside or sit at the bar. Any seating you choose offers the same great service. Where else can you go in downtown Pensacola that has such a BEAUTIFUL bar, an extremely capable and attentive MANAGER (yes manager) waiting to greet you upon your arrival, a hostesses who actually SMILES when she sees you (hard to imagine that in Pensacola) and a wait staff that is not only friendly, helpful and attentive - but they actually seem to - get this - like their job. Yes, they actually seem to work with one another instead of against. For such a small kitchen, their food is unbelievable. My wife and I both love the flatbreads (pizzas). And the regular entrees are great, too. AND Jaco's occasionally changes up their menu -- so it's a great reason to keep going back. Situated where the old Lillo's used to be downtown, the view of Pensacola Bay, Palafox Marina and the Wahoo's ballpark is the best. And parking is never a problem. PS: They have really great bartenders. Great - means they are friendly, personable and they all offer really great bar service.
(5)Kerrin K.
We met some friends down here last Saturday evening to watch the weigh-in for the Pcola Intl Billfish Tournament. We sat outside on the patio, watched the beautiful boats bring in their bounties and enjoyed the lovely summer evening. Hubby and I opted for flat bread pizzas (Rustic Veggie being my fav!) and our friends went with the pasta and the beef medallions. All meals were superb and everyone was satisfied with their choice. The only frustration was with the slower-than-usual service. I always love when proprietors care enough to walk around and make sure guests are satisfied and David, the owner came by to do just that. We topped off our meals with a fried Oreo dessert that was scrumptious! If possible, time it like we did with an evening of fireworks from nearby Blue Wahoos stadium for a perfect night!
(4)Cory F.
Service is okay. Water bowl for the dog that's awesome. Good drinks. Girlfriends meal is great, seafood frittata. But the stuffed French toast was bland, mediocre at best. The "fresh fruit" was obviously store bought, flavorless and disappointing. Seems most of the food was not freshly made but frozen, thawed out and nuked. Boring, lifeless food on fancy dish wear.
(3)Joe M.
Great view. Usually good food.
(4)Chris K.
Wife & I stopped in for lunch on weekeday right around noon. Seemed about 1/3 full, but waitstaff got somewhat confused right off the start. I hate the "food auction" where someone else brings out your drinks and food and tries to guess who had what- especially if when are not busy. Anyways, that plus being seated in next to a crying baby mitigated the ambiance somewhat. This place does have a great patio and I can understand the rave reviews for that. We each had a glass of wine and were a little dismayed at the very stinginess of the pour. We ordered the Capeise salad, Tender Bleu salad and shared the Wild Mushroom Flatbread and Key Lime pie (tart actually)- the last two on the recommendation of yelpers. We both found the salads to be excellent. Generous portions on the Caprese. The mozzarella portions were quite large, as were the tomatoes. The pesto tasted fine, but appeared to be a little stale (the outside had darkened substantially & dried somewhat, but was bright & moist underneath). My wife is an olive oil perfectionist, and she really loved the taste of the oil used. My steak was perfectly cooked to rare on the Tender Bleu, although the onion strings on top were kind of greasy. In all fairness, I'm not a fan of them anyway, so I might be hard to please in that area. The flatbread tasted absolutely amazing- crispy without being crumbly, balanced and a nice hint of truffles. The Key Lime tart was the perfect size for sharing, and was spot on in balance of sweetness, tartness and lime. At the end, it was kind of awkward as the waitress seemed to be moving us along- taking plates immediately as we finished. So quick in fact I felt rushed- taking a bite and as the fork left my mouth the plate was gone. As I said, it wasn't crowded, we weren't camping out or anything so why the rush to try & flip the table? It really didn't mesh with the laid back atmosphere. A manager (owner) realized my wife hadn't finished her wine so he got a plastic cup to take it with her... what he should have realized was that we were being herded out. So, our experience overall was good: great food, a fair value ($50), inspiring atmosphere but probably an inexperienced staff. Would return without question, probably for dinner when more experienced staff worked (and we could enjoy the sunset view). Last tip: on the right day you can see the Blue Angels practice over the bay!
(4)Kaitlyn R.
Beautiful setting right on the waterfront! Went there for lunch on a rainy day and still loved looking out on the water. We got three flat breads (the Tender Blue, the Margherita, and the Wild Mushroom), all which were AMAZING!!! The Tender Blue flat bread was the best by far... blue cheese, steak (medium), and balsamic reduction... DELISH! Will definitely re-visit if in town again!
(4)Amanda B.
We went here the other day and we seated outside. We sat for 20 minutes and nobody came over to ask us for our drink orders. We let the hostess who seated us know that nobody had come over and she said "she'd like someone know we were seated there. In the next few minutes a waitress came outside (Almost all tables outside were filled and it's not like we were by ourselves) and took the order of the table next to us and then didn't come back out. So we decide to go leave and on the way out walked past the manager. I told him what had happened. He reseated us in another location and someone else took our order. The manager then brought us out an appetizer, french fries with some kind of shredded parmesan cheese (?) and dip. We each ordered flat bread and they were both good but nothing special. It wouldn't be someone worth ordering again. Then we had the key lime pie for dessert and it was okay. The key lime pie at the Fish House was to die for so I would definitely hit the Fish House first! The good news was the manager did take care of the whole bill.
(3)Sarah R.
Location, location, location! I love this place. It has become a staple in our happy hour destinations list. The view is of course amazing and when the weather is nice you certainly want to sit outside. The staff is very friendly and the owners come around and greet you and chat for a while. I like that they do this as it gives Jacos' a personal touch. The menu is not huge but a good mix of food. The flat bread pizzas pair well with the extensive wine list. The interior is built to look old, which I love! The bar area is cozy and the bartenders are nice and chatty. Stop in if you are in the area and you will not be disappointed.
(4)Frank C.
The view was excellent, the food was disappointing, and the staff were arrogant. Me and my wife are foodies, and love a culinary experience, but this fell waaaaaay short of that. Most of the menu is composed of "flatbreads" which are little more than flour tortillas baked with mid-quality cheese and toppings. They would be more accurately called "open-faced quesadillas". The appetizer sampler platter came with bread that was stale (not crunchy or dry, but soggy and stale). When the waitress was told this, she told us shortly that it's supposed to be like that; and then brought us equally un-fresh foccacia bread instead. This may be a great spot for sunset cocktails, but the overpriced food was a disappointment. I imagine a lot of the price of the meal goes to the expensive rent of being on the water, and not on the quality of the ingredients. Spots we love in Pensacola include: the fish house, mcguire's, Hemingway's, and dharma blue. You'll have better luck with these.
(2)Stephen P.
Terrible manager, who was rude,unprofessional with poor customer skills. Salmon in the salad was raw and gave me a very sour stomach. Manager said it was not his fish, well this may be so, but I hadn't eaten anything else, and I was quite ill. This ruined my valentine's lunch with my wife...and spoiled the whole day.
(1)Sharon A.
Excellent view of the Bayfront from our table. Service was great, food was fanatic. Overall I recommend if you are looking for tasty food selection, great choice of beer, wine, and mixed cocktails. Happy hour is half off wine and signature cocktails. I had the wild mushroom flatbread pizza, sister had the Margarita flatbread, both were very, very good and flavorful. My daughter had the porkloin dinner she enjoyed very much, it was tender, tasty and oh so good. We started off with the pommes frittes and they were so good we got a second order, comes with 2 dipping sauces. We were there for happy hour I recommend the grey goose raspberry lemonade. It's made with fresh muddled raspberries and top shelf vodka. Best of all it was half off for happy hour. Usually you don't see top shelf drinks for happy hour but they had a great selection of interesting cocktails to choose from. We also tried 2 desserts the key lime pie - just ok for me but I'm not big on key lime anyhow. Deep fried oreos with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Again -not my thing but not bad.
(4)Debbie M.
This place is terrible. We ordered the chips and salsa to start and the chips came out cold and were fried much earlier. I guess the few mins it took to fry up the chips was too much for them to handle. I had the steak salad and the salad was not cold, onion topping the salad was stale as well and the steak had no flavor. My husband and brother in-law had their Jaco's tacos and it was supposed to have blackened fish but came out pan fried and lacking any flavor. My sister in-law was the only one that lucked out since her salmon burger was ok. This was not worth the wait. The only good thing this restaurant has going for it is the view.
(1)Katrina E.
My husband and I took my mother from out of town to Jacos after hearing everyone's great reviews of the restaurant, worst mistake ever! For an app. We ordered a margarita flat bread. To our surprise it came out just a few minuets after we ordered. We figured out why...it was cold and soggy like it had already been made and was just sitting on the counter waiting for someone to order it. The menu is very limited so we ordered the Cuban sand which and my mother order the miah miah Ruben. When our sandwiches came out I laughed, I've never seen a sandwich so small. It was all bread with a pickle slice and a small sliver of meat. I've had a lot of Cuban sandwiches before and this was a pathetic excuse of a sand which, even publix had a better Cuban. My mom ordered her fish without the bread, it's came out as a small piece of COLD fish. And to make matters worse the table next to us was so loud we couldn't even hear ourselves think. After our meal we talked to the manager and all she wanted to do was give us free dessert. I don't want anymore of their food why would I want a free dessert. We left the restaurant frustrated and still hungry! As a local I'm am beyond disappointed and having my mother from out of town come and experience this was even worse Worst experience I've we've had,if something is wrong management needs to do something to fix it, not throw a free desserts at us.
(1)Kathy D.
Really delicious food . Did not try the cocktails. Good service . Spectacular view
(4)Arpy N.
Oceanfront restaurant with a wide selection of food and drinks. Got a linglang draft beer and the ahi tuna special. Thought it was going to be small, but boy was I wrong. Also comes with a soup or salad, i got the crab bisque. Great service great food!
(4)Yasmine H.
Wonderful food selection. Fantastic service! On the water with great views of the boats.
(5)Vane V.
Overpriced and small portions, place is hot with no a/c. All this place has going is its location but for that Fish House is better.
(2)Gary S.
Excellent place to eat. We are taking a sunset cruise and picked this place. Had the special and it was great. Wahoo with risotto. Wife had salmon and said its the best she's ever had. Lots of gluten-free options here for those that need that.
(5)Yazmin B.
Great view and atmosphere for an outdoor dinner. They have a nice selection of cocktails and great accommodating bartenders. We opted for the Antipasto platter and shared a flatbread for dinner. Everything was delicious! This is a spectacular place for a romantic dinner...make sure you go at sunset. The view is to die for!
(4)Theresa R.
Delicious! The view was perfect, a nice view of the water and the boats. We sat outside on the nicely sized patio. Our waitress was very attentive. We started off with the fried green tomatoes which were good. They came out right away. My wife had a hamburger and she said it was the best she has had in a while, which is quite the compliment as she eats hamburgers a lot and without the buns! I had Jaco's Tacos. They were quite good with a chipotle sauce and mango salsa. The fish was a tad bit dry, but not too bad. There were lots of pups on the patio so it seems a pet friendly place. Overall it was really good and we'd definitely go again!
(4)Paige M.
I came by Jaco's this afternoon for lunch, and was expecting to be impressed, which may have been my problem. Jaco's had some great points and some disappointing ones. The view of the water is gorgeous and the indoor seating area was comfortable and nicely decorated. The bar is beautiful and the speciality cocktails looked delicious but at $10 a drink, I opted not to try one. The menu was small and in my mind, overpriced, as I'm sure they are catering to the clientele who own the boats in the dock. I ordered the Southwest salad with chicken on it and quite honestly, I've had a better salad at McDonalds. It was small, totally soaking wet with some cilantro based dressing, and the greens were not especially fresh. My grandfather ordered a burger that was ground in house and some very thin crispy fries. My grandmother ordered the Thai Bibb lettuce wrap appetizer as a meal and she seemed to enjoy it. Our waitress was very attentive and kind and came promptly with refills. However, a manager (?) came over and started clearing plates while we were still eating and had to be asked to bring them back. At the end, the waitress brought us refills in to-go cups, which we thought was very nice, but we quickly realized they were Dr. Pepper instead of Diet Coke, which my grandparents cannot drink. All in all, it was totally overpriced for the quality, and I would not come back. If you decide to go here, I would try a cocktail and a flatbread, or perhaps the pasta, but their salads are definitely not their specialty.
(1)Dallas H.
We visited several months ago and enjoyed our experience. Different story this time. Got there early, before 5:30pm. Lots of wait staff and plenty of open tables so many of the staff were standing around talking. Never too busy while we were there. Service was terrible this time. Our waitress was also waiting on tables on the complete other side of the restaurant. She was "out of touch" with us, which would explain why she brought us our appetizer after it had already been delivered by someone else, eaten, and plates picked up. We waited, and waited, and waited for our entrees. Manager finally delivered our meals himself. My wife liked a dessert we had last time, but that took forever too. I thought maybe they would offer the dessert without charge due to our 30-40 minute wait between appetizer and entree. But no, never was mentioned. We couldn't spend anymore time there to complain. We were disappointed and won't be back.
(3)Adam C.
This place has a great atmosphere and location that alone can keep the place packed. Located downtown at the end of Palafox with views of Pensacola bay, the Harbor, and the ballpark; you can't ask for better real estate for a restaurant in my opinion! My girlfriend and I were seated outside, looking into the marina that was half full of beautiful boats and we started our meal with Pomme Frites. They are basically some fancy thin cut French fries, dusted with Parmesan, served with two dipping sauces and presented in cone shaped wax paper held upright by by a metal contraption seemingly created for just this thing. Not bad at all. I had the mushroom stack for my entree and I was personally a little disappointed with the small amount served to me and the lack of flavor. Basically the feta cheese and calamata olives added the only flavor to the dish. My girlfriend had the sirloin flatbread and it was very good but also isn't very large. The service was great and overall I enjoyed myself so I would return and order something different hoping for a an increase in food and flavor if I was to return for a third visit.
(3)Amanda L.
I was impressed by their menu, and I really enjoyed the views of the water as I ate outside at sunset. Would recommend to friends.
(4)Jamie S.
Fantastic!!! I had the ahi tuna and it was delicious! It came with sautéed and then lightly tempura spinach as well as creamy wasabi mashed potatoes! It was like a dream come true. Sushi without having to deal with rice!!! Yes!!! There was also some delicious reduction with it. Three thumbs up!! I usually don't finish my dinner and give some of my left overs to my husband in an attempt to be "cute" (please don't judge). Yeah, that did not happen at all with this meal. We also got a flat bread which was to die for. Our cocktails were both very good as well, but I don't think anything will ever trump that tuna!
(5)Pete F.
Stopped in for lunch. We had the antipasto appetizer and two flatbreads. Not bad overall. The views are quite nice though!
(3)Tonya L.
This place has an amazing view. The was is a bit over priced for the portions that is given to you. I had the southwest salad it tasted great, but the portion is small. My little one had the stuffed French toast with berries , she loved it and ate every little bit of it.
(4)Max G.
Had a great experience at Jaco's! My fiancé and I just moved to the area and this is literally the first place we tried and we're both VERY glad we did! Had wonderful service, quality food, and an even better view! Thanks for everything staff, we will be back in no time.
(5)Austin S.
I feel like when your review restaurants in Pensacola, you have to remember that they're in Pensacola. Me and my wife have been here more times than I can remember and usually make it our Friday night spot. This place is off and on. The service has been great 100% of the time. The food is either good or awful. The fried green tomatoes are awful. Anything bacon wrapped I've eaten has been awful. However their salmon is cooked perfectly every time and their soups are delicious. Their flat breads are "ok". And the steak is mediocre. The bartenders are awesome and they make awesome drinks, whatever you like. We usually just come for the service and the bar. The food is more of a side item. No draft beers however, you have WOB down the street for that.
(3)R D.
First the obvious, this place has a great view. The tables on the patio in the back are roomy, but the ones that run down the side of the building are too close together. The people next to you feel like they are at your table. Having said that, the food is pretty good. The crab cake salad was fine, the crab cakes could use a little more crab meat though. Flatbread pizzas are good. The specialty drinks are very good. Try the Cucumber Cooler; it's $9 but it's very good. Service is polite and professional and, as mentioned, the view is very nice. Very relaxing.
(4)Dani S.
Jaco's is fresh, fast, and not to mention the view is amazing = perfect lunch spot. The prices are not worth the food quality, but you pay for the experience as a whole. I had the Jaco's Tacos and Lasagna.
(4)Michelle B.
Amazing, beautiful location overlooking a marina. Downtown Pensacola is so cute, too. The food was very good. I had the fish tacos, and they were made with grilled mahi. I also had a delicious martini made with Hendricks gin, cucumber and basil. I so want to recreate that at home! Service was good also. Happy hour got us $3 off specialty drinks from 3-6, I believe.
(4)Ashly P.
Rude. We just sat down to eat, family of 3, we were completely treated with disgust. The hostess and servers looked at as as if we didn't belong there. Never have I ever been treated with such discourtesy. I WILL NEVER STEP FOOT IN THIS JOKE! Beautiful view horrible staff. Terrible and embarrassing.
(1)Rebecca K.
My husband and I dined at Jacos this evening. We were seated right away at an inside table. The servers were friendly and attentive and the food was delicious, especially the bruschetta appetizer. The only complaint is that it was very warm inside and very noisy. The view was gorgeous!
(4)Chef D.
Delicious. Bartender was interactive and engaged. Chef made his presence known in the dining room, observing everything around him. Excellent environment, staff, cocktails and food. Would recommend to ALL!
(5)Katie D.
Beautiful view, great server! I wanted steak. Only 1 option: $30 filet. Kinda pricy, I bet it will be delicious so I'll get it anyway. May I have rice? We don't have rice. Okay, mashed potatoes it is. Food came out and I was appalled at the size it was smaller than the palm of my hand and about and thick as my fingers laying flat on the table, on top of a heaping amount of mashed potatoes. I basically paid for my view. I didn't even get full from the meal. My guy got the fish tacos. Mediocre. We probably won't go back. Was a beautiful night though, and I do praise on the service.. But I can't eat that.
(3)Dave D.
I've been here 4 times now and always quality tasting food. I'm hoping they will get lionfish on the menu soon.
(4)Melissa O.
We had a great experience at Jacos! Andy the bartender made some phenomenal cocktails, but the best part was our service from Ashlee. A party of 10 can sometimes be overwhelming, but she was a pro! Food was great, but the service and atmosphere were better :)
(5)Caleb F.
I simply adore this place! The view is always first class and the environment and food accompanies that "coastal vibe" that we all yearn. The staff is always friendly and the general manager makes everyone his priority. Be sure to stumble upon this hidden gem--you won't regret it.
(5)Stephen R.
Those two stars are for the location only. Sunsets here are amazing. Food is mediocre and very spotty. A few dishes there are fairly solid as long as they don't come out cold. Flatbreads are good, but super small. I don't typically eat big portions, but I'm pretty sure I could eat $80 worth of flatbreads as an appetizer. Don't be in a hurry, food always takes a while. but that's okay if you are here for the view.
(2)Cynthia G.
If you are going for the location it's beautiful & the service was great. I was not impressed with the food. The Fried green tomatoes were not hot and tasted as they were from the freezer. My husband had the Lasagna dish & it tasted as if it was a Stouffers dish. I had their Southwestern Salad with shrimp added. The avocado they have listed on the menu is actually guacamole with too much onion. My grilled shrimp had too much seasoning.
(3)Victoria G.
Had the southwest salad. Friend got a flatbread. Food was great. Service was great and so was the view. Split the deep fried Oreos. They were amazing and were served with ice cream. I'll definitely be back. Be warned that parking close to this place is fairly difficult so its probably easier to park and walk a bit.
(5)Lisa L.
Beautiful location with great view. We waited about 20 minutes for a table and enjoyed watching the sunset over the marina. I think this was the peak of our experience. The food was average and not what I would consider worthy of their price. The homemade chips with salsa and guacamole were very tasty, though the guacamole was what I would consider a "dab" and not what I was expecting for "Jaco's Guaco". We ordered the filet mignon and a salad that had steak in it. (I can't recall the name). Taste was good, but the meat was chewy. Husband ordered his medium and it was more rare. The waitress never collected the menus which we all put aside at a nearby table and a booth seat. The poor waitress dropped one of the plates while clearing our table; not an issue because accidents happen, but upon leaving, the floor was greasy-slick from where they cleaned it up, so we had to be careful not to slip. The dessert sampler was a treat with my best choices being the key lime pie and whatever the chocolatey dessert was. Overall, we just didn't think it was worthy of the hype.
(3)Georgio B.
Only stopped in for drinks. No draft beers or frozen margaritas! No blender? Wha?!!! Those are considered staples in my world. Nice view though. ;)
(2)Paul S.
Good stuff and a great view right on the sound / bay of Pensacola. Drinks are very good - I'm a martini fan and they always come out ice cold and tasty. You cannot beat this view, million dollar and up power yachts and sailboats.
(3)Ang E.
I have to say this was my favorite restaurant that I visited while in Pensacola last week. The food, the atmosphere, the service, the view, and the manager we're all perfect. I had the veggie lasagna and it was amazing. One of my friends had the salmon and said it was the best she's ever had, and another friend had filet mignon and shrimp and said it was outstanding. I also had the bruschetta bread which was mouth watering yummy and I've been craving it ever since I left. Can't wait to visit again, this will be the first restaurant I go to. Also their deck is wonderful and they allow you to bring your dog for outside dinning.
(5)William L.
Stopped in on a whim. Just walking around Palafox st. The bartenders were great, She and im sorry I dont remember her name but they were awsome. I ordered a personal pizza and it was fantastic. I cant wait to go back and try a full meal.
(5)April M.
Delicious! Great service! Manager walking around checking in on everyone. Everything was SO good. We were prepared based off of previous reviews for the no draft beer. They were out of fries (an appetizer) as another person said but, we got the Bruschetta instead, which was super yummy and I'm glad they didn't have the fries! The view at sunset it just perfect. Nice, relaxing atmosphere. A new favorite date night restaurant!
(5)Eric C.
My wife and I arrived and were asked if we wanted inside or outside seating. My wife said if you have a table with a view, so they took us past a bunch of tables for two overlooking the marina to a table with a view of the parking lot. We both ordered the southwest salad, hers with steak and one with salmon. First make sure you go toward well done on any protein. I asked for medium rare and the fish was raw. My wife asked for medium well and it was medium rare. Funny thing about the salads was the size difference mine looked like a full salad but my wife's looked like a side salad. The description said there was pancetta which in my salad was a burnt quarter inch mystery nugget on my plate. I thought it was something scraped off the grill withy salmon until I recalled it was in the salad. My wife had the same... one piece! The service was polite, but don't dump our food and take off running so you don't have to take another drink order. My wife also asked for no dressing on her salad with oil and vinegar on the side, hers was dressed with the normal dressing. Not the best experience
(2)Sarah P.
We went for lunch on a glorious day....got to see our favorite ship, the Dare II (Condor Sailing Adventures) docked there, and had the BEST time AND food with our SUPER waiter Travis, and Manager, Contessia! We sat outside overlooking the marina, Travis helped me to decide on the fried green tomatoes ( I wasn't that hungry), and OH YUM! My husband had been missing his pizza, his eyes lit up when he saw that Mediterranean flat bread before him! I am normally one of those people who take a pic....but we just dove in! Delish! I was then strong armed by Travis saying the key lime pies just came out of the oven, then pushed over the edge by Contessia to get the key lime pie....Travis told me I'd be sad if I split it with my husband....and I was :( (I don't usually eat sweets, btw)...just a wonderful way to have a delicious relaxing lunch....then a walk of the marina to work off that pie! HIGHLY recommend, beautiful setting, amazing menu, amazing staff!
(5)Sonja L.
Arrived around 2:00pm on a Sunday, seated quickly, hostess and waitress both pointed out half of the lunch menu was no longer available as brunch was over. Not a lot of options, I got a so-so Southwestern salad for $10 (no meat, chicken was an extra $4), husb enjoyed a grilled Mahi sandwich with shoestring fries $14 (no side options offered). I got a taste, the mahi was firm and delicious. Our service wasn't prompt, we were inside by the exit door which opened constantly letting in blasts of heat. Very nice location and view of the yachts.
(3)