Great Southern Restaurants is proud to be Pensacola’s most awarded restaurant group. Over the past two decades, our restaurants and staff have won numerous awards, including the Independent News’ Best of the Coast and the Pensacola News Journal’s Best of the Bay awards, several of Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon awards, Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, among so many others. Jackson’s is particularly distinguished by securing the DiRoNA Award of Excellence and honored in Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon Hall of Fame.
As Seen on Television
Great Southern Restaurants have been featured on a number of national television shows including MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” ABC’s “Extreme Home Makeover,” PBS “A Taste of History,” Food Network’s “Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods” and “Emeril’s Florida,” as well as the History Channel’s “American Pickers” and “Picked Off.”
Other Cool Things
The Fish House, Atlas Oyster House, The Deck, Jackson’s Steakhouse, Five Sister’s Blues Café, and Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano, have all had a number of opportunities to participate in many “once in a lifetime” things including Chef Irv Miller preparing a luncheon for the King and Queen of Spain, recognized with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail, preparing dinner at the James Beard House in New York – 5 times! –, Chef James Briscione appearing on Food Networks “Chopped,” and taking the title as “Chopped” Champion – 2 times, also taking the win on “Beat Bobby Flay!”, hosting a number of political figures for rallies and special events, celebrities from all walks of life for drinks, lunch and dinner and serving as the go-to spot for national news broadcasts.
- Best Restaurant Overall – The Fish House
- Best Fine Dining – Jackson’s
- Best Seafood – The Fish House
- Best Steak Restaurant – Jackson’s
- Best Outdoor Dining – The Fish House
- Best Chef – Billy Ballou, The Fish House
- Best Desserts – Jackson’s
- Best Place to Power Lunch – The Fish House
- Best Sunday Brunch – The Fish House
- Best Shrimp – The Fish House
- Best Restaurant for Romance – Jackson’s
- Best Gumbo – The Fish House
- Best Deck – The Fish House Deck Bar
- Best Place to Meet Friends After Work – The Fish House
- Best Happy Hour – The Fish House
- Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Guests – The Fish House
- Best Wedding Reception Venue – The Palafox House
- Best Soul Food - Five Sister’s Blues Café
- Best Fried Chicken- Five Sister’s Blues Café
- Best Bloody Mary- Five Sister’s Blues Café
- Best New Restaurant 2020- Angelena's
- Best Italian Cuisine- Angelena's
- Best Wine Menu- Angelena's
- Best Steak – Jackson’s
- Best Gumbo – The Fish House
- Best Desserts – Jackson’s
- Best Uniquely Pensacola Dish – Grits à Ya Ya, The Fish House
- Best Restaurant, Downtown Pensacola – Jackson’s
- Best Seafood Cuisine – The Fish House
- Best Steakhouse – Jackson’s
- Best Original Menu – Jackson’s
- Best Chef – Irv Miller, Jackson’s
- Best-Looking Wait Staff – The Fish House
- Best Wait Staff – Jackson’s
- Best Waiter – Scott Miller, Jackson’s
- Best Outdoor Dining – The Fish House
- Best Place to Splurge – Jackson’s
- Best Place for a Business Lunch – Jackson’s
- Best Place for a Birthday Dinner – The Fish House
- Best Bar Overall – The Fish House Deck Bar
- Best Happy Hour – The Fish House Deck Bar
- Best Ladies Night – The Fish House Deck Bar
- Best Selection of Wine by the Bottle – Jackson’s
- Best Local Boss – Collier Merrill, Owner
