Rachel Ray always says on her show $40 A Day to find out what is their favorite restaurant when choosing a place to eat when travelling. I decided to take her up on that idea while I was visiting Pensacola Beach. While I was buying postcards in Go Fish, one of the little shops on Quickwater Pier, I got chatting with the very nice owner. I told him I was on vacation and looking to walk around Pensacola Beach and have lunch. Right there, he suggested I have lunch at Hemingway's Island Grill, and the Lobster Bisque was really good, and the lunch prices were fairly reasonable. Being a lover of Mom's Shrimp Bisque at home, I took the guy up on his suggestion and after browsing the stores more and dipping my toes into the Gulf, I headed for lunch.
Hemingway's is located near Hooters off of Quickwater Pier. Its interior and exterior are decorated as if you stepped into Papa's home in Key West or Cuba. There is indoor and outdoor seating, and I told the hostess I wouldn't mind sitting outside as long as there was shade. She seated me on a huge covered porch with a view of the beach. There was a little breeze coming in from the Gulf, but I was sweating like a pig from walking around, and it took a while to cool down.
My waitress, Kiyah, showed up very quickly and asked me if I wanted a drink, and I ordered a Diet Coke and inhaled that while looking at the menu. Kiyah came back a few minutes later to take my order, and I ordered a cup of the Lobster Bisque ($5.99) and Papa's Grilled Fish Sandwich ($13.99).
I started to write in my travel journal while waiting for my food, and it wasn't five minutes when Kiyah showed up with my bisque. Like a hungry wolf, I dug in, and it was thick and creamy with chunks of lobster, and I enjoyed every bit of it!
Kiyah came a few minutes later with my fish sandwich and asked how the bisque was, and I told her, "just like Mama's!" My jaw dropped to the table at the sight of my sandwich. It was HUGE with the grilled fish on a big roll with lettuce, tomato, and red onion, and it also came with a heaping order of french fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce. After I few bites of the sandwich, it fell apart being so big, and I had to eat everything with a fork and knife, but it was the best fish sandwich I have had in a long time, and I got full and couldn't finish my fries.
Kiyah came back and wondered if I was ready for Hemingway's famous Key Lime Pie ($7.99), but I was so stuffed, I asked for an order to go.
My bill was $32.85 + a nice tip for Kiyah. Hemingway's is a little expensive, but it's well-worth it!