Polonza Bistro

From the first bite of the country fried steak, I knew this place was something special. The crispy, golden breading gave way to tender, flavorful steak, and the creamy gravy was simply divine – the perfect comforting classic. But the French toast? Absolutely sublime. Thick slices of bread, soaked just right and griddled to a perfect golden brown, were fluffy on the inside and boasted a hint of sweetness that made my taste buds sing. Each bite was a delightful indulgence, making it hard to decide which dish I loved more. The quality of the food here truly shines. Beyond the fantastic food, the service was genuinely amazing. Every staff member I encountered was incredibly friendly, attentive, and seemed genuinely happy to be there. Our server was prompt, offered helpful suggestions, and made sure we had everything we needed without being intrusive. Their warm smiles and efficient service truly enhanced the entire dining experience, making us feel welcomed and valued. Finally, the location is fantastic. Situated in a great part of the city, it was easy to find and offered a pleasant atmosphere. I can't wait to visit again!

A pleasantly cozy brunch spot, good for smaller groups. We visited on Mother’s Day and the efficiency of our server Thomas was admirable. My “Toad in the Hole” (fried egg on sourdough with arugula) might’ve been messy to eat, but it was very savory and my partner loved his sunrise burger- commenting on the quality of the croissant. The fries were FRESH. Thomas had an eagle eye on our water cup levels, we were impressed he noticed with how many guests he was attending to. The noise level is something to be wary of if dining with hearing-aid wearing loved ones; I overheard a couple saying it was very hard to hear with all the bustling. A week day might be better. The warmly lit restroom was surprisingly clean even with the rush. Sitting near the entrance on a busy day can be overwhelming as guests are constantly in line to wait, peering down at you finishing your latte. I would also recommend asking for a honey or lavender flavor if you order the latte, I found it quite plain. Amazing location, especially if it’s a nice day, bring your furry friend and enjoy the outdoor seating they have.

This place is perfect! Request Becky to be your server, she is very bubbly and will give you perfect suggestions. The drinks are worth the wait! The food was not only beautiful, but the best we have had for this whole vacation! Make a reservation and enjoy your time in the cozy restaurant!

I really enjoyed this place and my brunch. Finally I find good coffee. Good service and atmosphere. I will be back for weekend brunch. Thank you for your good job!!!

The service was great! i was greeted as soon as I walked in the door. We had a big party & thrbserver did a an awesome job! It was decorated beautifully for the holidays! And the food was amazing. Very large servings. I had the peppermint mocha coffee special & chicken waffles.

*UPDATE: They went out of their way to contact us to learn more about our experience. It showed that they really care about their customer's and want to improve or correct any issues. We were assured that our complaints were valid, and that was not how they normally run things. That felt so nice to be heard and acknowledged! We really do love this place and will definitely be back!* Food was wonderful. The Brunswick stew was so delicious. Service wasn't very friendly. Maybe our server was having a bad day. Our cocktails all came to the table at different times even though the table all ordered at the same time. There was about 10 minutes in between each of our drinks being delivered. We asked about the missing drinks and was told that the bar makes the drinks one at a time. The first persons drink was already finished by the time the last person got theirs. We would have ordered more drinks but didn't want to wait over 30 minutes for them again, so we cut our brunch short. We enjoyed the food, but our experience would have been better if they can figure out a better way to serve the table at the same time.

Enjoyed a wonderful lunch today. I had the ginger plum iced too and berry, granola and yogurt bowl.

Joseph was awesome, food was great. Burger done perfectly. Cuban was delicious. Cheese grits had lots of cheese and realllllly creamy. U know what i say.... Go there!

We came here again it's been a couple of years..they no longer do dinner but breakfast/lunch more so now, which was still amazing! By luck we got the same server we had years ago, Josiah, he was so amazing just like last time and we love to see servers loving their work environment! it was the first breakfast date we've been on in a year without the kids. Met every expectation I had leading up to it. Food was awesome and the drinks were great!

Really nice brunch spot In Pensacola. Nice high end menu and everything was really good. We got the fired green tomato appetizer. It came with 6 slices for $12. Nice and fresh with a nice sauce. The coffees and teas were all excellent as was everything else. We were a party of six and were seated immediately. We had a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes and everything was great. A bit pricey, but we were on vacation so a nice treat. Very high quality downtown

Oh em gee, the Stuffed French Toast was to die for, and the bacon... well, it was the ultimate sidekick! Together, they made breakfast perfection! Drinking the Lavender Latte was like a having a spa day with my coffee. It made my day 100% more instagrammable!

My friends and I stopped in for brunch a couple weekends ago. This was my first time dining here, I had dinner plans so I wanted to order something lite. I went with the Brussel sprout appetizer and a side of fries. The Brussel sprouts were a very large portion. I did end up eating all of them, which was probably excessive. They were super crispy and flavorful. The fries were okay. Our server was very nice and friendly.

this place is in the heart of downtown and such a cute spot ! the sweet potato fries dipped and the chicken salad on the croissant tasted so good. tried the moscow mule and it was very tasty !! the service was great !! highly recommend :-)

Food is okay. Service is friendly. Space for groups of many different sizes. Parking is pretty easy.

Great sandwiches and soup. Nice neighborhood vibe with an unhurried atmosphere. It seemed to be very popular with the locals.

Our first morning in Pensacola, we decided to take a walk downtown and happen to come across this bistro. Bistro is definitely my first choice for brunch. It was a Thursday morning so the place was pretty empty. We decided to sit at the bar which did have plenty of open seating. I did appreciate that they had a specials menu and I ordered the chocolate pistachio coffee. it was pretty good and I was lucky enough to order the last one. My girlfriend and I decided to share the croissant breakfast sandwich with a side of cheesy grits. We both weren't happy with our croissant because it seen that it was cooked in a pan of grease. There was no way either one of us was able to pick up this greasy croissant. That meal was eaten with a fork and a knife. The cheesy grits were delicious and always happy when they're not made too watery, but just the right consistency. We did plan to come back here and try a different menu since there was so many other options that we were probably better off trying, but we never ended up making it back. Overall the service and atmosphere was amazing and I do highly recommend coming here since it did get pretty busy over the weekend. We just had a menu item that we just weren't satisfied with, but we would definitely come back in the future.

Don't waste your money. The food was okay, our waitress kept pushing coffee and tea orders after we kindly declined in the first few minutes of sitting down, and it was gross inside the dining room with random food pieces on the floor and unkempt tables and chairs (tattered and torn chairs and uneven tables). The restroom was also not very clean. If they're not giving their dining room the attention it deserves to be clean and orderly I'd hate to see what the kitchen looks like! This place seemed extremely run down since my last visit almost a year ago.

Great brunch restaurant. I've been here several times now. Service is quick and staff is very friendly. Love the eggs Benedict and the steak and eggs. Everything is made from scratch and cooked to perfection. Love the dog friendly outdoor seating too.

I was a bit concerned about another review regarding the service. There was no need for apprehension. I ate brunch at the bar, and the service was excellent--no hovering or ignoring. I hade the stuffed French toast and subbed potatoes for the bacon. Also had a Gibraltar coffee. All was delicious. Definitely will be back.

For Brunch Had a lovely meal No wait at noon Very friendly waitress and the bar is very good Meagan was great The bar is very good and the Baresta is top notch Husband Had the Benedict which was excellent Had the pancakes and Bacon which is very good too Wonderful dinning experience Can highly recommend Ask for Megan

The toad in the hole is amazing! The iced coffee was also great. The mimosa flight is a little odd as it is made with jerk soda.

Brunch was good and peanut butter espresso martinis were excellent. Staff was kind and attentive. Quick service decent prices!

My friend and I came here after being quoted a 45 minute wait at the Ruby Slipper on the other end of Palafox. Nice, relaxed interior. Their food choices were simple but well-done, and included high-quality ingredients. The omelet was tender and had a variety of delicious veggies. The lattes were very good, and there was a full bar as well. Would definitely return!

This place is a tri-fecta of excellence! Great service, wonderful fresh food, and great ambiance. Check out their brunch menu.

I usually have a good experience at this restaurant unfortunately, this time my eggs that were supposed to be poached were hard boiled. The waiter apologized and proceeded to try to fix the situation by getting me new eggs however, after several minutes and the rest of my food being cold, they never came out. I asked for the check there was no discount offered, and the rest of my food was cold. I took what was left home with me still tipped over 20%, but most likely will not ever order poached eggs again from here.

The food is great (if you get your order), but the management is poor. Our family waiting over an hour for our food (we get it's busy; we eat here often) and finally had to leave. Amanda is the manager there and does not care if you receive service or not. She will just hang up on you if you call in to speak with her.

So the manager, Jamie decides to send my son a threatening message who was terminated a week ago because he filed a complaint so you decide to send him a threatening message through text. that you're going to ruin his life and he's never going to be able to find a job and you have his Social Security and date of birth someone please help.

If I could leave a zero star, I would! This was by far the worst restaurant experience I've EVER had! We waited over an hour with NO service, never received our food, serve staff was AWFUL!!! And then when I called to speak to management, I was hung up on. I will be contacting the owners! My husband and I love patronizing, small businesses, especially our local community. But we will never visit this location again.

Been here a few times for brunch. Haven't ventured too much off the menu as Toad in the Hole is my favorite because it's full of flavors! A bit too much arugula this time but otherwise delicious as usual. Also not pictured is their Bloody Mary with pickled okra! The only cons of the place is that there may be a long wait on the weekends and no rez option for brunches. Also, you may be waiting long for the food to come out. The atmosphere is great and optional seating outside where you can people watch. The Palafox Market is right outside as well so you can stuff your belly and take a walk thru the market afterwards!

Since it was just me, the hostess directed me to the bar. The bar's service was impeccable. They were extremely attentive & recommended I try the iced latte instead of iced coffee. They're unable to add flavor to their iced coffee so it's extremely strong. The iced caramel latte was so so, not bad but not fantastic. I'd recommend trying another flavor. For an appetizer, I ordered bruschetta. It was phenomenal. One of the best I've ever tasted. Had amazing flavor & tasted fresh. For the entree, I had steak and eggs. I like my steak medium rare & it was cooked to perfection. The potatoes had a little kick to it but super delicious. The eggs were seasoned very well. I was not a fan of the biscuit, it was too dry. Overall, the only issue I really had was they forget my silverware & butter for the biscuit. Besides that, I enjoyed the atmosphere & the kind staff. The food was delicious & definitely recommend stopping by to try this place.

Absolutely average food, service, menu choices. It is really a stretch to call this a bistro. It is a glorified sandwich shop or cafe at lunch with some breakfast fare and a creatively named but average brunch menu. I had a reuben which was dry and stale. The iced tea did not disappoint. I probably wouldn't return unless I was downtown anyway and just didn't want to bother driving.

Our server, Emilia, was excellent and made us feel instantly welcomed. She was helpful with our selections and the breakfast was delicious. My wife ordered an omelet and I had the country-fried steak and eggs. Get the biscuit with your order instead of toast. You will not regret it.

We tried Polonza's for the first time for brunch, and we were immensely impressed by not only the quality of the staff but also by the fresh flavors of the food and drinks served. We started with the Fried Green tomatoes, which were paired nicely with fresh greens and a chipotle sauce that was to die for. We decided to try the Big Jerk Soda mimosas, mine Blueberry and his Cherry, which were spectacular. It was a nice twist to a brunch classic by using a trusted local brand of soda, and that in itself makes me trust that the restaurant looks out for other locals. As for the entrees, I decided on the bruschetta for mine, but my hubby picked the Andouille Sausage Benedict, which he polished off without any help. Everything was perfect, and we will definitely be back. Thank you for an enjoyable experience!

We've eaten here on several occasions and have mostly enjoyed it but unfortunately this place has been going downhill over the past year. Customer service is not a priority anymore. Hostess was unwelcoming to us and several other guests. Employees seemed very mismanaged and unhappy. We sat waiting for over an hour and never received any food, our server was basically MIA. When I brought my concerns to the manager (Amanda) she was disrespectful and very unprofessional. I think the issues we experienced were a true reflection of her lack of skills. Won't go back until they find new management...and new staff.

Horrible experience! Came in for my daughter's birthday, this used to be one of her favorite spots. After today we will never patronize this restaurant. We waited over an hour and never received our food. The waitress only came to our table twice during that hour. We finally left because we clearly weren't going to get any service. I called to speak with the manager on staff for the day (Amanda) and she was very disrespectful and even hung up on me. Of course I was upset...her response was "well, you're already mad, what do you want me to do about it?" Clearly she does not have the customer service skills needed for this industry. Awful service all around.

I've had a dinner reservation scheduled with them for over a month. I checked their site to see the menu before going tonight and saw they were closed for dinner because of staffing issues. I was even sent a text asking me to confirm my reservation yesterday. Wish I had been sent a cancellation further in advance instead of a false confirmation the day prior.

My wife and I usually have day dates on her off days to relax and get some good food and we're good about trying new places. My wife suggested this and it was easy to make a reservation online even though it wasn't too busy at the time we went. The service was great and timely so we didn't wait long for anything. Our server Jordan was great as well and made sure we had everything we needed. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a nice brunch spot downtown or looking to get a quick meal if in the area. Will definitely visit them again

Love everything about Polonzo Bistro...food service and ambiance! They are wonderful here...Highly recommend!

Ok, it's hip, chic, quaint, and the food is very unique and good. At least the brunch food. Polo said remade itself into all these things. It has a diverse crowd, that is one of Pensacloa's finer points. To Mach the crowd it has a diverse menu too. Hoppin Johns salmon, black bean hummus, stuffed French toast, come on who knew. And the burgers look exciting too. This is a Saturday and Sunday breakfast spot for sure.

The morning mule is probably one of the best cocktails I've ever had!!! Service was truly great and attentive. Loved my breakfast dish. Two scrambled eggs, toast, hash browns & bacon. I ordered a side of waffles, and I wouldn't recommend- it's made with some type of pecan flavor (I think) & it has a weird after taste in my opinion, but they were fluffy & the syrup helped a lot! Still thinking of the morning mule... LOL how refreshing! I will forever put OJ in my mules from now on!

Wow, the best biscuit and gravy in Pensacola! Homemade gravy is over the top. Kelly Jean our waitress was the best!

I stopped here for breakfast last week and was treated to a great dining experience with good quality food and a good staff. The barista is able to make modern and classic espresso drinks and he gave a great suggestion regarding what to order. The food was simple and elegant, there's a magic to using fresh ingredients. I came early so I'm not sure how busy it gets, but the atmosphere was calm and relaxing when I was there. I definitely recommend this place to grab a quick bite!

If you have 2 hours to spare, come here for brunch. I have been here 3 different times and it has always taken over an hour for the food to come out. The seating areas are nice and it is in a great location. Once you get the food it is decent but for the cost and time it takes it just isn't worth it.

Our experience was great! We were seated right away and Joseph took good care of us! We both had the croissant sandwich which was amazing! Highly recommend!

So I had their Korean BBQ Chicken Sandwich with a side of Wasabi chips. It was amazing! The best chicken sandwich I have ever had. The combination of everything on the sandwich was Perfect and fried to perfection. I am not a fan of Wasabi but the wasabi chips were light and crispy with out an overpowering flavor.

Food is okay. Used to be better. The quality AND quantity have both gone down. It used to be so fun for me and my girls to go to Palafox Market and then walk over for a quick brunch. My girls were both under the age of 10 and they used to give these cute wax strings as a toy with the kids meals and it kept the kids occupied as my kids aren't tablet babies and THEN they did away with the crayons for the paper menus for kids. The servers seem to have a high turn over as they never seem to be the same faces every few months and that seems to be the same excuse whenever the food isn't made properly. "The cook is still in training".

Seriously depends on the day you go. I first went to Polonza on a weekday and MAN was it good! I purchased their honey latte and pancakes. To DIE for!!! The second time I went was on a Saturday and the quality of the food was pretty heartbreaking. The latte was still awesome, but The food was cold, I had hair hair in one of our breakfast bowls, and the pancakes were burnt, so I had to return them. If they're not backed up or busy the quality of the food goes up!

Took 45 min to an hour for us to get our food. When we finally got it, it was cold and the grits were burnt. Took maybe 2 bites. When i told the waitress, she offered more food but I was over it this point. They still charged me for food that I didn't eat. She grabbed the manager and I was told that she could only give me a discount. Never going back here again

This is the second we've eaten here prior to a lecture at the Wright Place across the street. The last time we got there 45 minutes prior and ended up being late. This time we arrived 70 minutes early. The food was good the server nice but they made us late again. 75 minutes for a regular lunch is ridiculous. We ordered a salad and a sandwich and that was too challenging for them. Regretfully we won't be back.

Review Time: Polonza Bistro (Dinner Experience) I heard several months back this amazing brunch/lunch restaurant was soon going to be offering a dinner menu. After months of anticipation, Chef Edward has now provided us with his own menu for us locals and visitors to enjoy. Let's see if Chef Edward has the fire to bring a new culinary experience to our amazing downtown area? Just from browsing over the menu, it seems the offerings are made to be on the lighter and fresh side. I don't see many heavy rich small plates or entrees, which is a wonderful change for the area. If you are looking for a menu to share small plates, this is definitely an option. Every small plate, especially ours, is a very generous portion. Our service from Joseph was top notch and attentive. Everyone on the staff was extremely friendly and worked wonderfully together as a team. Our craft cocktails were delicious; which I had the strawberry banana daiquiri and my other half had the old fashion. Tonight, we decided to try the cauliflower pico de gallo. This small plate was phenomenal, which reminded me of tabouli. The finely chopped marinated cauliflower with chunks of fresh tomatoes, black beans, and corn was outstanding and refreshing. The slightly salty fried wontons was a phenomenal match. For entrees, we decided to try the smoked jerk chicken and the fresh catch. The chicken was extremely moist and slightly spicy seasoned, which was served with delicious curry chickpeas and slightly sweet coconut jasmine rice. This was a wonderful spin on a Jamaican classic with a wonderful balance of spice and sweetness. The fresh catch pasta was outstanding. This fish, wish I knew what type of fish it was, was by far the best piece of blackened fish I have had in a very long time. The fish was extremely moist and perfectly salty seasoned. The fish was served on top of fresh, in house made, al dented pappardelle pasta with a wonderful light black garlic alfredo sauce. For dessert, we decided to try the banana bread pudding. There is nothing better than finishing your meal with an outstanding dessert, which this one did not disappoint. The super moist bread pudding had large pieces of banana in it, which gave it the perfect amount of sweetness and banana flavor. The breading pudding flavor stood out exceptionally, but I loved the crunch from the crispy crumble on top as well. As stated before, this Chef's menu is a perfectly executed, impressive light cohesion of flavors and texture. I'm very excited to see what the future holds for this new wave Chef. Overall Review: there are no kinks that need to be worked out of this new dining experience. Service 5/5 (thank you to Chef Edward, Joseph, and the rest of the team for the amazing experience tonight) and food 5/5 (what an elegant light and fresh menu to make you come back for more)...congratulations to Pensacola for bringing another talented Chef to the table and to my palate...also I found out brunch/lunch will be offered 7 days a week now...make your reservations today to enjoy an exceptional meal or share some small (large) plates...

Came in for dinner on a Sunday evening. First sign something amiss, we were the only ones dining. All our group ordered the grouper. Fish was cooked well, but fish and accompanying pasta was way over salted. Also odd that dish was served with brown Gravy. Also sad sweet potato fries have disappeared from dinner menu, but still on brunch menu. Cannot recommend for dinner, maybe lunch or brunch. Service was excellent.

Delicious every time. The steak and eggs for breakfast... unmatched. Also good coffee

Love the menu, and it offers outside seating. Service is good. The Gouda Mac and cheese is to die for

Stopped in for the first time and had a fantastic experience. We started off with coffee and a mimosa flight. What a great start it was. The mimosas are flavored with jerk sodas and we're quite wonderful. I got the Nashville Buffalo chicken wrap and sweet potato fries, my friend got the salmon blt with collard greens. Everything was flavorful and tasty. My wrap was just spicy enough and the sweet potato fries and ranch was the best I've ever had. Highly recommend this place. Janalin was so sweet and helpful. Couldn't even wait to take a pic of the food

Wow. What a spot! During a recent trip to Pensacola, we had brunch with some friends and family here. I was shocked that a downtown space such as this had openings on a Sunday around 10-11am. Service was great. Menu selections were fantastic. I had a delicious Cortado and our cocktails were tasty. Everyone was pleased with their meals and the homemade biscuits were so buttery and layered. Definitely will be coming back soon.

The service was great. It was kinda pricey for the quality of food. The chicken and waffles left a lot to be desired. The bowl was much better, and the latte was fantastic. Overall, it was an esthetic was pleasing.

Menu on Valentines Day.Food could have been hotter, mostly room temp. Great atmosphere