Two new restaurants coming to Pensacola Beach

I'm your huckleberry

Two new dining concepts will join Pensacola Beach’s culinary landscape this spring. The Wharf Fish & Oyster Company and Hideaway Beach Bar will officially open on March 8 at the former Whiskey Joe’s Pensacola Beach location.

The Wharf Fish & Oyster Company

The Wharf Fish & Oyster Company offers upscale dining in a family-friendly atmosphere. Its menu showcases the finest Gulf Coast flavors, featuring locally sourced ingredients from Northwest Florida purveyors. Signature dishes include Gulf Oysters Rockefeller, Seafood Boil, and the Gulf Grouper BLT.

The restaurant’s cocktail program promises to delight guests with creative offerings such as the Paid Vacation—a vodka-based cocktail infused with passion fruit and tarragon, served in a hanging bowl—and A Cherry Good Time, featuring citrus gin, filthy black cherry syrup, and lemonade.

Culinary Leadership

Executive Chef Kara Mardell leads the culinary vision for both establishments. Her journey began on a Kentucky farm, where she developed her passion for sustainable cooking using home-grown ingredients. Since becoming a resident of Northwest Florida in 2019, she has focused on melding her Kentucky roots with Gulf Coast cuisine, emphasizing locally sourced ingredients and rotating seasonal flavors.

“Our goal is to intertwine incredible southern and Gulf Coast flavors with every dish,” says Mardell. “We’re proud to source our ingredients from local purveyors, offering the freshest fish and beef, and produce in ways that are both creative and approachable.”

Event Spaces and Private Functions

The Wharf boasts seven versatile event spaces, accommodating gatherings of 50 to 2,500 guests. It features a private white sand beach and outdoor pavilion, perfect for occasions ranging from intimate celebrations to large corporate events. The venue’s flexible à la carte approach allows event planners to customize their experience, with options including plated meals, buffets, displays, passed hors d’oeuvres, and chef-attended action stations.

Hideaway Beach Bar

Located beneath The Wharf, the Hideaway Beach Bar offers a more relaxed atmosphere with its food truck, volleyball courts, and fire pits. The menu features their signature 50/50 Double Smash Burger—a unique blend of 50% bacon and 50% Angus beef—alongside beach-inspired cocktails like the Beachfront Mojito and Getting Barrelled, served in souvenir cups.

“Hideaway is all about fun and relaxation,” explains Jake Rossman, Director of Operations. “Whether you’re here for the cocktails, live music, or just to hang out with friends, Hideaway is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy the beach.

Jobs

A Job Fair will be held from Feb. 3 to 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. All positions will be interviewed on-site and undergo initial onboarding.

The official grand opening celebration is scheduled for March 13-16. It will feature live music and a punch card passport system that encourages guests to explore the property. The celebration will also include a partnership with a nonprofit organization that supports post-9/11 veterans through various assistance programs.

Local residents of Escambia and Santa Rosa County can join the 850 Locals Club by showing their ID. They will receive a commemorative bottle opener keychain and access to monthly specials throughout the year.

For more information about menus, events, or employment opportunities, call (850) 706-5300. Follow both locations on social media for updates and special announcements.

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Two new restaurants coming to Pensacola Beach

The Wharf Fish & Oyster Company

Culinary Leadership

Event Spaces and Private Functions

Hideaway Beach Bar

Jobs

Rules for Comments

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