This bistro is nothing short of incredible! Came here with a small group and we all had different soups/salads and EVERYTHING here was extremely tasteful. I'm going to have to try this place for breakfast!
(5)
Amy Z.
Cute little tucked away place in a strip mall. Had a lovely brunch. I had the breakfast croissant sandwich with potatoes and my friend had the seafood omelette with andouille sausage. We both loved our meals. They give you these mini cheddar biscuits when you first get there that were delicious.
(5)
Jack T.
Amazing customer service and food. My son and I were welcomed immediately. The waiter was very professional and knew the menu. We each ordered the half smoked turkey wrap with chips and french onion soup. The sandwich and soup were fantastic!
Could certainly use a makeover, as I felt like I was transported back to 1980 with the dark green walls and carpet. The dark woods, the outdated menus, plants and even the servers uniforms. I feel like they could make it less stuffy and brighten it up. I'm sure this was why my husband and I were the youngest clientele. The food was delicious and the service was great. I enjoyed my flounder stuffed with lobster and the butternut squash was tasty. The cost, a little bit on the high side. I think I would go again, but will not be a frequent visitor.
(3)
Lisa B.
The ambiance of this restaurant needs updating, but the food is fabulous! The restaurant is tucked away in a shopping center and we seem to forget it's there. Decent wine list, daily specials...you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Ruddie M.
First and foremost, Doug is FANTASTIC. I have been to O'Brien's a few times and we always luck into having him as a server. Great, great experience. Tonight I had the Steak O'Brien medium rare (duh), temp was perfect. My boyfriend had the Mint Rack of Lamb. Also medium rare, also spot on temp. And we both had the French Onion soup, so hot you had to give it a minute. I usually go during lunch because it is a bit in the higher price range for dinner, though every bit worth it and not by a huge margin... highest price entree is about $23? There is a GroupOn going on that allowed the splurge tonight. -- if you get it, please tip on the full amount. These cats deserve it. Oh almost forgot, the app special tonight was Pesto Escargo! Had it. Loved it. Overall, nom.
(5)
Jim R.
Great crab cakes,with a perfect pair of vegetables medley,and tarter sauce with black beans! Best holindaise sauce,always try any of their specials of eggs benidicts! ! Very pleasant atmosphere, sevice always good and friendly! One of our favorite local places for Sundays, a must try!!!
(5)
Sonja L.
Staff was very nice, dinner was served promptly with bread and salad. Husb wasn't impressed with thin pecan encrusted grouper and cold sweet potatoes but I enjoyed my sirloin w/mashed potatoes and spinach. I don't care about decor and price was comparable to like places. I'll come again
(3)
Pat C.
It's nice when a place exceeds your expectations. We had a lovely time tonight. Cosy place, great service and delicious meals. The veal medallions with pasta was outstanding. The pecan crusted grouper with mashed sweet potato and fried green tomatoes was a dinner. We will certainly go again.
(5)
Walter G.
Great food. The chefs are able to blend flavors that work. Real food that fills you up. Good selection of adult beverages. Price a bit high but worth a trip through Groupon.
(4)
Bonnie R.
Fast service, great menu & food. Consistently good lunch spot. Always love the soup du jour no matter what it is.
(5)
Laurie A.
This is one of Pensacola's hidden gems! The food is spectacular and always fresh. The portions are perfect (I never leave here over-stuffed but always satisfied). O'Brien's has a wonderfully diverse menu, from steak, to seafood, to pasta, to duck, etc. Their prices are exactly what you would expect them to be, based on the quality of the food, which is always exceptional! The atmosphere is quiet and elegant (including linen table cloths and wine menu), but you never feel underdressed or overdressed - always a comfortable atmosphere! The service is always spot-on and friendly. My favorite place to dine - ANYTIME!
(5)
Kyla C.
Yum! I had the Greek Salad and it was awesome! I also got a side black bean salad and it too was great. I'll definitely be back! A great place to check out!
(5)
Lindsay M.
This place is disappointing for what is ostensibly a nicer local restaurant. The decor is truly lacking and would be hilarious if you weren't paying so much for the food! I agree that encrusting anything in coconut makes it better but that is half the menu with perhaps two different sauces. The service is good which is the only thing that really elevates this place. My parents like this place but for the same price I think you can go elsewhere in Pensacola for a much better all-around experience.
(3)
Sue T.
My daughter and I went here for dinner this weekend. It was fantastic!! Our server was so wonderful, made us feel very welcome and was very knowledgable about the menu. I had the pecan crusted grouper, it was delicious and the sides were too! My daughter had the Asaigo chicken and she loved her meal as well. Had the housemade sangria, it was amazing. Bread pudding couldn't have been more tasty. Very nice setting,candlelit tables,the comments about it being dated seem silly. It's a great place, I would highly recommend Obriens and can't wait to visit again.
(5)
Dee D.
It would seem that I am a crab cake snob. Since moving away from pensacola , no place can compare with Chef O'Brian's crab cakes with the black bean and corn salad. I don't even bother ordering cakes anymore as I am always disappointed, and my attempts to make them at home are no better. There are 2 types of chefs I have worked for a) the ones who keep their recipes secret or leave out an important ingredient ( proprietary) and b) the chefs who graciously share the recipe and details to ensure success, and are complimented that you love and miss their food/art. Chef, will you please share with me?
(5)
Michael N.
Had the Snapper special Friday night and it exceeded our expectations.... Our last three meals at O'Briens have been the equal of some of our better New Orleans dining experiences but without the drive and the tourist prices.
(5)
Michael G.
I love this place for lunch - it's perfect for a date with the wife or for a business lunch. I'm always disappointed by the price and choices when I come for dinner. But it's the best place to go for lunch in Pensacola.
(4)
Skye H.
Finally after eating at disappointments all week, we finally get to eat here. Heard raves about it. We first get greeted with warm friendly smiles. Food came out within 10 minutes. Great fast delicious food in our faces. Food so good and cooked perfectly that all 4 of our lunch dishes went back clean. If we ever find ourselves back in town, we will DEFINITELY be back!!! Especially spread the word to everyone we know that comes & visits all the time.
(5)
Joe M.
I've been wanting to write a review on this place for a while. Overall this place is a hidden gem that is very unique to pensacola. Unique in the sense that it has one of the best seasonal menus around. The menu is generally American and seems very farm to table. Looking for some great gulf seafood, come here. A great steak? Come here. Even incredible salads (the Caesar is by far the best prepared salad I've ever had), come here. Even non traditional items like Elk tenderloin are treated very simply, and have very complex flavors. The staff is incredibly friendly and the chef really knows what he is doing. The decor and ambiance is nice too. A good place for a date yet not too fancy if you want to drop in jeans and flip flops. Highly recommend!!!
(5)
Jay A.
Great for quick and friendly lunches. Service and atmosphere is good. Food was tasty but not great. Except the fish tacos were very fresh and excellent guacamole. Would try again at dinner, just to see the difference. Free bread is always a plus in my book! The pricing is okay, but I don't have a problem giving a local mom and pop an extra 20%. Maybe thats just me.
(4)
Joey E.
I've only eaten here for lunch, and I think O'briens is a hidden gem to the locals. The salad trio with toasted croissant is my go to while my husband loves their French onion soup!!
(5)
Chris F.
This dark-colored restaurant has an identity problem. It's all for wine, that's for sure. Between the bookshelves of wine bottles to artwork and adverts depicting everything from wine glasses to grapes, O'Brien's features wine. The problem is the menu. They have fish dishes, salads and pork medallions. I was told that their BBQ spicy shrimp was Cajun inspired as was another dish I cannot recall. They serve oysters, Brie and fresh soups as appetizers but the menu changes immediately at 5pm. All at a place called "O'Brien's". It's missing an identity though; I had the Three Cheese Eggplant Parmesan, a decidedly Italian entree among the sea of various culinary nationalities. The food was good, not great but much more reasonable before 5pm. If you go, I would recommend the lunch.
(3)
Ms B.
I tried this place once and wasn't impressed by the quality of the food, but I decided to give it another try. I took my brother who was in town and he wanted to eat a salad so I suggested this place since it was close by. Again I was not impressed by the food. My brother got a chicken caesar and the chicken had no taste and it seemed to have been boiled. I had a chicken salad sandwich which was way better than my brother's salad. I don't think I'll return here again. The decor of the restaurant matches its food...cheap and could be better.
(1)
Ray H.
Seated quickly with great server. My wife had the coconut shrimp which was very good. I had the pork tenderloin. It was also very good. Both were served with the sweet potato mash and fried green tomatoes. Sides were very good. Soup or salad was included. We had very prompt service. It is a little pricey for the quantity of food you get though but overall a nice experience.
(4)
Kristi g.
The food is consistently good, but I fear a tad bit over priced. The bread/muffin type things they serve now are a little card boardish...The decor is a little 1980-90ish, fake plants and ivy are just a tad ghetto looking. The staff is usually nice, wine selection is ok (not an unusual wine list at all). My point being, a $100 meal deserves the surroundings that go with a meal like that. The sandwiches at lunch have all been really good, nice flaky buttery croissants. Soups are meh...I hope they update the decor, wine list and join us in the 2000's. I will meet the girls for lunch, and pretend its the 1990's...
(3)
Katie L.
So hubby and I decided to try this after reading the previous review and checking out the menu. We had high hopes for this place! We get there and it's tucked in the back corner of a strip mall. We are pleasantly surprised when we walked in (except for all of that creepy fake ivy...) and immediately get seated. Our service was good. The food was good. The bread was very fresh and warm. The butter had herbs- yum! Our meals were tasty (I had the stuffed chicken and hubby had the mahi special). But for the price- it was a horrible value. Each entree runs $17-23. Not worth it. At all. $5 less per plate? Sure. We had the brie appetizer. Very tasty... but I don't know if it was worth $10. The wine selection was from Wal-Mart (at best- a few from Target). Horrible. And the glass prices ($6 per) were silly for the horrible quality of the wine. The candy bar cheesecake was not worth it either. I don't know what type of candy bar it was- but the cheesecake had about 3 chunks of crushed peanuts in it. Our meal total (including tip) was $86. We can eat at Fish House for that!! Or Global Grille! Or definitely Bonefish Grill! Like I said- the food was actually quite good, but not for those prices in a neighborhood eatery. It is unlikely that we will be back.
(3)
J B.
This was a nice dinner experience! When we pulled up my husband and I both were a little nervous since it's in a strip mall and it kind of looked like a budget restaurant from the outside. But we were pleasantly surprised when we entered and the environment was welcoming and warm. We were seated right away and our waiter was pleasant, efficient, and knowledgeable. Our entrees were delicious, as good as any other nice restaurant we've eaten at, and the courses were well-timed so it was not rushed. We were impressed with the overall experience and would go back.
(4)
katrina a.
I've been here a couple of times over the last few years, and each time I've been pretty underwhelmed. Maybe this last time it was because we'd been to Global Grill the week before, which was phenomenal. The prices are not justified by the food that was served.
(3)
Matt M.
Start with the soup du jour, Lobster Bisque. It was only $3.50 a cup, but it wasn't worth it. The soup lacked complexity and lobster. I then ordered the seared ahi tuna salad for $10.50. The waiter asked if i was aware that "seared" meant that it was raw. I ensured him that was ok. Well the tuna arrived fully cooked. In addition, the tuna was so thin, it would have been impossible to "sear" it. After two bad plates and no atmosphere, I decided to leave. For the menu, the restaurant is reasonably priced. Unfortunately, you get what you pay for...
(2)
Daniel H.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Pensacola. I've been here for a little over two years, and coming here from San Diego, the lack of decent choices is definitely one of my biggest complaints. I've eaten both lunch and dinner at this place, and both were excellent. The entrees were unique and very well prepared. The seafood is very fresh. The smoked salmon appetizer was one of the best I've ever had. The food isn't cheap, but I wouldn't say it's overpriced. The wine is a little pricey for the selection, but they do have a reasonable selection of bottled beer. The decor is a little tacky, but the food more than makes up for it. If you want a great meal, and a little more variety than most restaurants in Pensacola offer, I highly recommend you give this place a try.
(5)
Bill M.
I am usually not a big complainer but I had such a lousy dinner last night that I won't ever go back for dinner. We met two friends at 6:30 and were seated quickly. The table was tiny for four. While everybody else seemed okay, my meal looked bad and tasted worse. I unfortunately ordered coconut fried shrimp, which I loved at the old Mr. Manatee's, with sweet potato mash. When the dish came, everything looked the same, sort of orange, including the fried sliced vegetable which may have been a squash. The shrimp were beyond fried into the burned category. I thought about sending back this tasteless, burned, ugly mess but didn't want to embarrass my friends who invited us. The comments above are right about high prices too. Avoid this place at all costs.
(1)
Tracey M.
Food is always good here. I wish it were not in a strip mall and, as another reviewer mentioned, I wish they would get rid of all the tacky fake ivy, but the food is what stands out here. The biscuits and herbed butter while you wait are so tasty. I wish they had more vegetarian options but I like what they have.
(4)
Kyle M.
I may be a little biased because I worked here for a year or so, but this is definitely the best restaurant in Pensacola. I've worked at other prominent restaurants in the area and the reason I worked here is because the food is so great. The American/French cuisine is reasonably priced for the quality that you receive and the service is wonderful. The restaurant is usually occupied by regulars that know and expect excellent food and service. The owner/chef is working almost nightly and the awards on the wall give prove to the quality of food. There is a distinct lunch and dinner menu, with the chicken salad melt being my favorite on the lunch side and the duck or grouper lyonaisse the best dinner menu items (with exception to the 3 nightly specials). Can't wait to go back and visit.
(5)
Robin S.
I apologize in advance for a long review... So I pretty much ate my way through Pensacola while I was there for 2 weeks during Christmas and New Year's. I mostly stuck to my favorites, since I rarely get home anymore, but a few of us were getting together for dinner one night and wanted something different. One of my friends lives there now, and suggested O'Briens. I of course went to Yelp first thing to look it up, since she told me it was in a strip mall. That didn't get me excited. After reading through reviews, I thought I could probably handle it. I was the first of our group of 7 to arrive at 7:30 on a Wednesday, and it wasn't crowded at all. I wasn't sure exactly how many we were going to have so I told the hostess that I would wait to be seated. She seemed a little annoyed at this. She also happened to be our waitress as well. Our group had not seen each other in quite some time, so we had a bit of catching up to do. We were in a back room with no one else, but I still felt like we were irritating the servers and staff. Our waitress kept coming over every 5 minutes asking if we were ready to order when we hadn't even had a chance to look at the menus. We did order an appetizer of spinach dip which was good, but she was pretty insistent that we order dinner before that came out, so we did. Food was good--I won't say great, but decent. I ordered the grouper stuffed with lobster over angelhair pasta with a cream sauce. The choices for sides were either steamed asparagus or cooked spinach, neither of which I like, so the only alternatives she suggested were more pasta (no thanks) or steamed veggies. They looked like they had been taken from a Lean Cuisine frozen dinner. Seriously. They were gross. The fish and lobster filling were fine though, and for $18 I though it was acceptable. Just wish they had better choices for sides at that price. My dining mates all got the special which was a panko crusted grouper over rice with a side of asparagus. All said it was good. Again, not great but good. The main complaint was with the staff--by 9:00 they had dimmed the lights in the main room (we were the only ones left) and by 9:30 they were vacuuming. I mean, I didn't think 9:30 was that late. Our waitress didn't seem to like the fact that we were all catching up on conversation and our lives, and not 100% focused on eating/ordering. I'll probably give it another shot when I'm home again, but only if someone else wants to go. I'd rather go to a restaurant where they at least act like they want you to be there.
(2)
Benjamin S.
This is one of the few mom & pop stores left in Pensacola that I know. Pensacola is now getting taken over by giant chain corporations now. Service had the mom & pop feel to it too. The owner/manager was nice enough to check on us during the meal, which is very much appreciated. Prices were decent, but not great. Our entrees were also wonderful. I ordered the seared salmon special, and my wife ordered the veal. The only cons about this place I can think of is all of the fake plants they keep inside the restaurant. I feel like that era has passed. Another thing they should probably change probably should be the handwritten checks with untelligable handwriting. Time to get into the 21st century people! Time to get a computer. Overall, experience was great.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Max G.
This bistro is nothing short of incredible! Came here with a small group and we all had different soups/salads and EVERYTHING here was extremely tasteful. I'm going to have to try this place for breakfast!
(5)Amy Z.
Cute little tucked away place in a strip mall. Had a lovely brunch. I had the breakfast croissant sandwich with potatoes and my friend had the seafood omelette with andouille sausage. We both loved our meals. They give you these mini cheddar biscuits when you first get there that were delicious.
(5)Jack T.
Amazing customer service and food. My son and I were welcomed immediately. The waiter was very professional and knew the menu. We each ordered the half smoked turkey wrap with chips and french onion soup. The sandwich and soup were fantastic!
(5)Greg R.
(I would wish yelp would allow half star ratings because four stars is too high and three stars is little too low but I'm going with three stars) Decor: Okay let's state the obvious, the decor is really bad and really cliché. When you step into this place you step into a time warp: 1980's. Dark green emerald walls, dark green carpet, fake green ivory plants. A person with a little vision and $5k could really freshness this place up. Staff: staff friendly and if anything the service was above average Food: I had the seared swordfish and Caesar salad. The Caesar salad was probably one of the best I have had. The fish was very good I would compare the quality of a bonefish grill dish. Negatives on food: I felt my portion size was a little small for the price I paid. Many people have mentioned the above average pricing but I didn't suspect a small portion too. Clientele: maybe it is because of the Decor but the average age of the customer was probably 61. We dined on a Thursday night and at 6:30 the place is pretty full. Would I go back: possibly; I like my entrée, I didn't love my entree. Somehow when the server was giving a detailed explanation of their specials I somehow didn't hear that the dish was full olives. I hate olives, and after picking all of the olives out of the dish I still ate and enjoyed the dish even if it was contaminated with olive residue.
(3)Courtney B.
Could certainly use a makeover, as I felt like I was transported back to 1980 with the dark green walls and carpet. The dark woods, the outdated menus, plants and even the servers uniforms. I feel like they could make it less stuffy and brighten it up. I'm sure this was why my husband and I were the youngest clientele. The food was delicious and the service was great. I enjoyed my flounder stuffed with lobster and the butternut squash was tasty. The cost, a little bit on the high side. I think I would go again, but will not be a frequent visitor.
(3)Lisa B.
The ambiance of this restaurant needs updating, but the food is fabulous! The restaurant is tucked away in a shopping center and we seem to forget it's there. Decent wine list, daily specials...you won't be disappointed!
(4)Ruddie M.
First and foremost, Doug is FANTASTIC. I have been to O'Brien's a few times and we always luck into having him as a server. Great, great experience. Tonight I had the Steak O'Brien medium rare (duh), temp was perfect. My boyfriend had the Mint Rack of Lamb. Also medium rare, also spot on temp. And we both had the French Onion soup, so hot you had to give it a minute. I usually go during lunch because it is a bit in the higher price range for dinner, though every bit worth it and not by a huge margin... highest price entree is about $23? There is a GroupOn going on that allowed the splurge tonight. -- if you get it, please tip on the full amount. These cats deserve it. Oh almost forgot, the app special tonight was Pesto Escargo! Had it. Loved it. Overall, nom.
(5)Jim R.
Great crab cakes,with a perfect pair of vegetables medley,and tarter sauce with black beans! Best holindaise sauce,always try any of their specials of eggs benidicts! ! Very pleasant atmosphere, sevice always good and friendly! One of our favorite local places for Sundays, a must try!!!
(5)Sonja L.
Staff was very nice, dinner was served promptly with bread and salad. Husb wasn't impressed with thin pecan encrusted grouper and cold sweet potatoes but I enjoyed my sirloin w/mashed potatoes and spinach. I don't care about decor and price was comparable to like places. I'll come again
(3)Pat C.
It's nice when a place exceeds your expectations. We had a lovely time tonight. Cosy place, great service and delicious meals. The veal medallions with pasta was outstanding. The pecan crusted grouper with mashed sweet potato and fried green tomatoes was a dinner. We will certainly go again.
(5)Walter G.
Great food. The chefs are able to blend flavors that work. Real food that fills you up. Good selection of adult beverages. Price a bit high but worth a trip through Groupon.
(4)Bonnie R.
Fast service, great menu & food. Consistently good lunch spot. Always love the soup du jour no matter what it is.
(5)Laurie A.
This is one of Pensacola's hidden gems! The food is spectacular and always fresh. The portions are perfect (I never leave here over-stuffed but always satisfied). O'Brien's has a wonderfully diverse menu, from steak, to seafood, to pasta, to duck, etc. Their prices are exactly what you would expect them to be, based on the quality of the food, which is always exceptional! The atmosphere is quiet and elegant (including linen table cloths and wine menu), but you never feel underdressed or overdressed - always a comfortable atmosphere! The service is always spot-on and friendly. My favorite place to dine - ANYTIME!
(5)Kyla C.
Yum! I had the Greek Salad and it was awesome! I also got a side black bean salad and it too was great. I'll definitely be back! A great place to check out!
(5)Lindsay M.
This place is disappointing for what is ostensibly a nicer local restaurant. The decor is truly lacking and would be hilarious if you weren't paying so much for the food! I agree that encrusting anything in coconut makes it better but that is half the menu with perhaps two different sauces. The service is good which is the only thing that really elevates this place. My parents like this place but for the same price I think you can go elsewhere in Pensacola for a much better all-around experience.
(3)Sue T.
My daughter and I went here for dinner this weekend. It was fantastic!! Our server was so wonderful, made us feel very welcome and was very knowledgable about the menu. I had the pecan crusted grouper, it was delicious and the sides were too! My daughter had the Asaigo chicken and she loved her meal as well. Had the housemade sangria, it was amazing. Bread pudding couldn't have been more tasty. Very nice setting,candlelit tables,the comments about it being dated seem silly. It's a great place, I would highly recommend Obriens and can't wait to visit again.
(5)Dee D.
It would seem that I am a crab cake snob. Since moving away from pensacola , no place can compare with Chef O'Brian's crab cakes with the black bean and corn salad. I don't even bother ordering cakes anymore as I am always disappointed, and my attempts to make them at home are no better. There are 2 types of chefs I have worked for a) the ones who keep their recipes secret or leave out an important ingredient ( proprietary) and b) the chefs who graciously share the recipe and details to ensure success, and are complimented that you love and miss their food/art. Chef, will you please share with me?
(5)Michael N.
Had the Snapper special Friday night and it exceeded our expectations.... Our last three meals at O'Briens have been the equal of some of our better New Orleans dining experiences but without the drive and the tourist prices.
(5)Michael G.
I love this place for lunch - it's perfect for a date with the wife or for a business lunch. I'm always disappointed by the price and choices when I come for dinner. But it's the best place to go for lunch in Pensacola.
(4)Skye H.
Finally after eating at disappointments all week, we finally get to eat here. Heard raves about it. We first get greeted with warm friendly smiles. Food came out within 10 minutes. Great fast delicious food in our faces. Food so good and cooked perfectly that all 4 of our lunch dishes went back clean. If we ever find ourselves back in town, we will DEFINITELY be back!!! Especially spread the word to everyone we know that comes & visits all the time.
(5)Joe M.
I've been wanting to write a review on this place for a while. Overall this place is a hidden gem that is very unique to pensacola. Unique in the sense that it has one of the best seasonal menus around. The menu is generally American and seems very farm to table. Looking for some great gulf seafood, come here. A great steak? Come here. Even incredible salads (the Caesar is by far the best prepared salad I've ever had), come here. Even non traditional items like Elk tenderloin are treated very simply, and have very complex flavors. The staff is incredibly friendly and the chef really knows what he is doing. The decor and ambiance is nice too. A good place for a date yet not too fancy if you want to drop in jeans and flip flops. Highly recommend!!!
(5)Jay A.
Great for quick and friendly lunches. Service and atmosphere is good. Food was tasty but not great. Except the fish tacos were very fresh and excellent guacamole. Would try again at dinner, just to see the difference. Free bread is always a plus in my book! The pricing is okay, but I don't have a problem giving a local mom and pop an extra 20%. Maybe thats just me.
(4)Joey E.
I've only eaten here for lunch, and I think O'briens is a hidden gem to the locals. The salad trio with toasted croissant is my go to while my husband loves their French onion soup!!
(5)Chris F.
This dark-colored restaurant has an identity problem. It's all for wine, that's for sure. Between the bookshelves of wine bottles to artwork and adverts depicting everything from wine glasses to grapes, O'Brien's features wine. The problem is the menu. They have fish dishes, salads and pork medallions. I was told that their BBQ spicy shrimp was Cajun inspired as was another dish I cannot recall. They serve oysters, Brie and fresh soups as appetizers but the menu changes immediately at 5pm. All at a place called "O'Brien's". It's missing an identity though; I had the Three Cheese Eggplant Parmesan, a decidedly Italian entree among the sea of various culinary nationalities. The food was good, not great but much more reasonable before 5pm. If you go, I would recommend the lunch.
(3)Ms B.
I tried this place once and wasn't impressed by the quality of the food, but I decided to give it another try. I took my brother who was in town and he wanted to eat a salad so I suggested this place since it was close by. Again I was not impressed by the food. My brother got a chicken caesar and the chicken had no taste and it seemed to have been boiled. I had a chicken salad sandwich which was way better than my brother's salad. I don't think I'll return here again. The decor of the restaurant matches its food...cheap and could be better.
(1)Ray H.
Seated quickly with great server. My wife had the coconut shrimp which was very good. I had the pork tenderloin. It was also very good. Both were served with the sweet potato mash and fried green tomatoes. Sides were very good. Soup or salad was included. We had very prompt service. It is a little pricey for the quantity of food you get though but overall a nice experience.
(4)Kristi g.
The food is consistently good, but I fear a tad bit over priced. The bread/muffin type things they serve now are a little card boardish...The decor is a little 1980-90ish, fake plants and ivy are just a tad ghetto looking. The staff is usually nice, wine selection is ok (not an unusual wine list at all). My point being, a $100 meal deserves the surroundings that go with a meal like that. The sandwiches at lunch have all been really good, nice flaky buttery croissants. Soups are meh...I hope they update the decor, wine list and join us in the 2000's. I will meet the girls for lunch, and pretend its the 1990's...
(3)Katie L.
So hubby and I decided to try this after reading the previous review and checking out the menu. We had high hopes for this place! We get there and it's tucked in the back corner of a strip mall. We are pleasantly surprised when we walked in (except for all of that creepy fake ivy...) and immediately get seated. Our service was good. The food was good. The bread was very fresh and warm. The butter had herbs- yum! Our meals were tasty (I had the stuffed chicken and hubby had the mahi special). But for the price- it was a horrible value. Each entree runs $17-23. Not worth it. At all. $5 less per plate? Sure. We had the brie appetizer. Very tasty... but I don't know if it was worth $10. The wine selection was from Wal-Mart (at best- a few from Target). Horrible. And the glass prices ($6 per) were silly for the horrible quality of the wine. The candy bar cheesecake was not worth it either. I don't know what type of candy bar it was- but the cheesecake had about 3 chunks of crushed peanuts in it. Our meal total (including tip) was $86. We can eat at Fish House for that!! Or Global Grille! Or definitely Bonefish Grill! Like I said- the food was actually quite good, but not for those prices in a neighborhood eatery. It is unlikely that we will be back.
(3)J B.
This was a nice dinner experience! When we pulled up my husband and I both were a little nervous since it's in a strip mall and it kind of looked like a budget restaurant from the outside. But we were pleasantly surprised when we entered and the environment was welcoming and warm. We were seated right away and our waiter was pleasant, efficient, and knowledgeable. Our entrees were delicious, as good as any other nice restaurant we've eaten at, and the courses were well-timed so it was not rushed. We were impressed with the overall experience and would go back.
(4)katrina a.
I've been here a couple of times over the last few years, and each time I've been pretty underwhelmed. Maybe this last time it was because we'd been to Global Grill the week before, which was phenomenal. The prices are not justified by the food that was served.
(3)Matt M.
Start with the soup du jour, Lobster Bisque. It was only $3.50 a cup, but it wasn't worth it. The soup lacked complexity and lobster. I then ordered the seared ahi tuna salad for $10.50. The waiter asked if i was aware that "seared" meant that it was raw. I ensured him that was ok. Well the tuna arrived fully cooked. In addition, the tuna was so thin, it would have been impossible to "sear" it. After two bad plates and no atmosphere, I decided to leave. For the menu, the restaurant is reasonably priced. Unfortunately, you get what you pay for...
(2)Daniel H.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Pensacola. I've been here for a little over two years, and coming here from San Diego, the lack of decent choices is definitely one of my biggest complaints. I've eaten both lunch and dinner at this place, and both were excellent. The entrees were unique and very well prepared. The seafood is very fresh. The smoked salmon appetizer was one of the best I've ever had. The food isn't cheap, but I wouldn't say it's overpriced. The wine is a little pricey for the selection, but they do have a reasonable selection of bottled beer. The decor is a little tacky, but the food more than makes up for it. If you want a great meal, and a little more variety than most restaurants in Pensacola offer, I highly recommend you give this place a try.
(5)Bill M.
I am usually not a big complainer but I had such a lousy dinner last night that I won't ever go back for dinner. We met two friends at 6:30 and were seated quickly. The table was tiny for four. While everybody else seemed okay, my meal looked bad and tasted worse. I unfortunately ordered coconut fried shrimp, which I loved at the old Mr. Manatee's, with sweet potato mash. When the dish came, everything looked the same, sort of orange, including the fried sliced vegetable which may have been a squash. The shrimp were beyond fried into the burned category. I thought about sending back this tasteless, burned, ugly mess but didn't want to embarrass my friends who invited us. The comments above are right about high prices too. Avoid this place at all costs.
(1)Tracey M.
Food is always good here. I wish it were not in a strip mall and, as another reviewer mentioned, I wish they would get rid of all the tacky fake ivy, but the food is what stands out here. The biscuits and herbed butter while you wait are so tasty. I wish they had more vegetarian options but I like what they have.
(4)Kyle M.
I may be a little biased because I worked here for a year or so, but this is definitely the best restaurant in Pensacola. I've worked at other prominent restaurants in the area and the reason I worked here is because the food is so great. The American/French cuisine is reasonably priced for the quality that you receive and the service is wonderful. The restaurant is usually occupied by regulars that know and expect excellent food and service. The owner/chef is working almost nightly and the awards on the wall give prove to the quality of food. There is a distinct lunch and dinner menu, with the chicken salad melt being my favorite on the lunch side and the duck or grouper lyonaisse the best dinner menu items (with exception to the 3 nightly specials). Can't wait to go back and visit.
(5)Robin S.
I apologize in advance for a long review... So I pretty much ate my way through Pensacola while I was there for 2 weeks during Christmas and New Year's. I mostly stuck to my favorites, since I rarely get home anymore, but a few of us were getting together for dinner one night and wanted something different. One of my friends lives there now, and suggested O'Briens. I of course went to Yelp first thing to look it up, since she told me it was in a strip mall. That didn't get me excited. After reading through reviews, I thought I could probably handle it. I was the first of our group of 7 to arrive at 7:30 on a Wednesday, and it wasn't crowded at all. I wasn't sure exactly how many we were going to have so I told the hostess that I would wait to be seated. She seemed a little annoyed at this. She also happened to be our waitress as well. Our group had not seen each other in quite some time, so we had a bit of catching up to do. We were in a back room with no one else, but I still felt like we were irritating the servers and staff. Our waitress kept coming over every 5 minutes asking if we were ready to order when we hadn't even had a chance to look at the menus. We did order an appetizer of spinach dip which was good, but she was pretty insistent that we order dinner before that came out, so we did. Food was good--I won't say great, but decent. I ordered the grouper stuffed with lobster over angelhair pasta with a cream sauce. The choices for sides were either steamed asparagus or cooked spinach, neither of which I like, so the only alternatives she suggested were more pasta (no thanks) or steamed veggies. They looked like they had been taken from a Lean Cuisine frozen dinner. Seriously. They were gross. The fish and lobster filling were fine though, and for $18 I though it was acceptable. Just wish they had better choices for sides at that price. My dining mates all got the special which was a panko crusted grouper over rice with a side of asparagus. All said it was good. Again, not great but good. The main complaint was with the staff--by 9:00 they had dimmed the lights in the main room (we were the only ones left) and by 9:30 they were vacuuming. I mean, I didn't think 9:30 was that late. Our waitress didn't seem to like the fact that we were all catching up on conversation and our lives, and not 100% focused on eating/ordering. I'll probably give it another shot when I'm home again, but only if someone else wants to go. I'd rather go to a restaurant where they at least act like they want you to be there.
(2)Benjamin S.
This is one of the few mom & pop stores left in Pensacola that I know. Pensacola is now getting taken over by giant chain corporations now. Service had the mom & pop feel to it too. The owner/manager was nice enough to check on us during the meal, which is very much appreciated. Prices were decent, but not great. Our entrees were also wonderful. I ordered the seared salmon special, and my wife ordered the veal. The only cons about this place I can think of is all of the fake plants they keep inside the restaurant. I feel like that era has passed. Another thing they should probably change probably should be the handwritten checks with untelligable handwriting. Time to get into the 21st century people! Time to get a computer. Overall, experience was great.
(5)