'Friendly natives' open beach cafe

Joyce Brown

What started as a plan to open a beach restaurant took a four-year detour, but it was worth the wait.

Joyce Brown, her son Jesse and his friend Tony Williamson opened the Native Cafe last month in Pensacola Beach's "historic district" after their initial plans were interrupted by the fire in the unit next door.

The setback was just a bump in the road for the entrepreneurs, who all are "natives" from Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach.

Joyce Brown said the goal of the Native Cafe is to offer local flavor, using fresh ingredients that are cooked to order in a healthy manner. The restaurant does not have a deep fryer, and items such as the fish tacos are pan seared.

"We make everything fresh," Joyce said. "The roast beef, the au jus, the corned beef for the Reuben, it's all made here in the restaurant. Michael Tate, our executive chef, makes all the sauces."

Art by local artists adorns the walls of the cafe, adding to the decor.

Native Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch and will be adding dinner later this month. They are getting a license to serve beer and wine.

The fish tacos at the Native Cafe, complemented by Chef Tate's sauces, explode with flavor in your mouth.

Breakfast items include Eggs Benedict, Homemade Pancakes and Three Cheese Omelets. Lunch fare includes Fish Tacos, Fresh Shrimp Poboys, and the Native Burger, featuring a half-pound beef patty. Dinner items include fresh Swordfish, Redfish or Mahi Mahi served with vegetables and rice. The Native Cafe can be reached at 934-4848.