If you crave tender meat and flavorful sauce, you will quickly fall in love with Pensacola’s best-kept culinary secret: Hot Spot Barbecue. This hole-in-the-wall joint serves some seriously impressive barbecue. From chicken to ribs, you’ll find it all — unless you’re a vegetarian, in which case you’d best find your next meal elsewhere.
The restaurant might not look all that impressive from the outside, but as the old cliche states, looks can be deceiving. Step inside the popular BBQ joint, and you’ll be blown away by the wonderful aroma. As amazing as the meat smells, it tastes even better. The sauce is also wonderful, but it’s served on the side so that you can enjoy full control. Many visitors prefer this approach, as other barbecue restaurants sometimes obscure the flavor of the meat by smothering it in sauce.
The service Hot Spot is invariably attentive. You can expect your server to check on you and your companions on multiple occasions — but without feeling pushy. The service is also prompt, but you’ll never feel pressured to leave before you’re ready.
A few of our favorite menu items include the following:
Beef Brisket Barbecue Plate
The brisket at Hot Spot is fall-apart moist. Several visitors have claimed that it rivals the best brisket in Texas. Judge for yourself by ordering a plated meal, which includes a generous serving of meat. This entree also comes with your choice of a meatless salad or two sides. Favorite sides include potato salad, chips, corn on the cob, and mac & cheese with ham.
Barbecue Ribs
Ribs are a top seller at Hot Spot, which, on its menu, claims to have sold over 100 tons to date. As soon as you dig into these tender pork spareribs, you’ll understand why they’re so popular. Depending on your appetite and your willingness to split your order with somebody else, you could enjoy a full, half, or third rack.
Barbecue Salad
You might not think of a barbecue restaurant as your top spot for ordering a salad, but this tasty blend of veggies, meat, cheese, and hard-boiled egg just might change your mind. Feel free to select beef brisket, pork, chicken, or sausage. You can also opt for a meatless salad — a great option for the rare vegetarian who shows up at Hot Spot. A wide array of salad dressing options are available, as is ‘sandwich slaw’ upon request.
Paul’s Lemon Cream Pie
If you somehow manage to save room for dessert, you’ll definitely want to order a slice of pie. While Hot Spot offers a few mouthwatering options, this lemon cream pie provides an especially sweet ending for your BBQ restaurant experience. Feel free to order a slice for yourself — or an entire pie to split with your companions.
No Pensacola meal quite compares to the meat plates and other dishes served at Hot Spot Barbecue. One whiff of this restaurant’s amazing aroma, and you’ll be hooked — even before you take a bite of its notoriously tender meat and its tasty sides.
Insider Tips:
– Be sure to mention to your server if this is your very first visit to Hot Spot. As a new patron, you will receive free cookies after your meal.
– Parking can be a bit of a hassle when visiting this restaurant, as the lot is small and fills quickly during the lunch and dinner rush. Thankfully, ample street parking is typically available, especially if you’re willing to walk a block or two.
– Hot Spot is unique among local restaurants in that it closes every Sunday. Plan ahead if you hope to stop by during the weekend.
– While Hot Spot’s meals are best enjoyed inside the cozy restaurant, they are also available for take-out.