850 Seafood & Grill — Restaurant in Brent

850 Sports Bar boasts an inviting exterior after its renovation, featuring modern wood trim and charming lighthouse structures that aim to capture the spirit of Pensacola. However, the disappointment lies inside as the sports bar fails to live up to the bar's initial promise.

=Service= Our server, Nakeita, was efficient and attentive. It only took 31 seconds to get our drinks. During the wait for our food, she informed us about checking up on how much longer. But never got back to us until after 23 minutes when our food finally came. Compared to El Paso Mexican Grill, a similar order placed took only 10-14 minutes. A reasonable time to wait for food generally falls between 15-20 minutes depending on the complexity of the dish. Perhaps during busier hours the wait time is longer as other reviews suggest.

=The Food= As for the food, we were left disappointed. I ordered the Quesa-Birria, and while the portion size was impressive, the actual beef was tough and dry, there was a greasy broth that did little to enhance the blandness of the dish. My dad's Jalapeno burger had promise with its lovely brioche bun, but ultimately fell flat. The patty was disappointingly dry, resembling something store-bought or frozen. To top it off, the cheese was simply slapped on like the jalapenos, leaving it to appear bland and quickly assembled.

=The Atmosphere= The aesthetics are modern and stylish, with attractive wood panel decorations and living walls infusing the space with a touch of nature. There is an abundance of natural light, making the bar feel lively in the mornings. However, when you first enter you are greeted with excessive noise levels from the TV and speaker system blasting throughout the building. The volume was so high that it was difficult to hear each other. We also noted that for a sports bar with outside seating, there are no TVs outside - this could be to deter theft?

=Seating Layout= While the intention may have been to create an engaging atmosphere for sports fans, the layout is perplexing. Several tables are oriented away from the screens, forcing some diners to twist their bodies 90 or 180 degrees just to catch a glimpse of the game. Others may be able to see the screens fine though. Some of the booths are unable to see TVs in the corners or on the walls. A little more thought into the TV placements could elevate the enjoyment for others.

=Highlights= On the upside, the pay system is fast and user-friendly, ensuring that settling the bill is hassle-free. Additionally, we appreciated the military discount offered, a thoughtful touch that mirrors the community-focused vibe of the bar. Parking is also plentiful.

=Summary= In summary, while 850 Sports Bar shines in terms of its modern design and community spirit, it falters from its underwhelming food quality. Unfortunately, it seems that management has not been attentive to customer feedback, as the recurring issues noted in past reviews suggest a lack of responsiveness to the concerns of patrons. This leaves doubts about whether any meaningful changes will ever be implemented. With time and adjustments, it has the potential to become a local favorite, but for now, it seems overshadowed by its...

So, straight from jump. I sat down to a dirty table and a beer bottle left at the table. Upon asking the young server in learning, I asked her if she could wipe the table and she sprayed the table to wipe it and that’s the biggest no no and my biggest pet peeve. Especially when my child is at the table and inhaling chemicals. She is supposed to spray the towel, then wipe. Once she was done, she came back and asked us what we would like to drink, but she had yet to introduce herself and let us know her name. So I asked her her name.LOL Again, she’s young so I get it. She’ll get it eventually. I ordered tacos, expecting lettuce to be on it. According to the menu, they have multiple types of tacos, but not everybody wants to sit there and read everything on the menu in order to know what they want. They expect the server to know what’s on the menu so that they can explain it to them and help them with their decision. So I explained to her that explaining that The specifics of the different tacos on the menu would’ve been easier coming from her had she known the full menu. She did correct herself and said she probably should’ve explained all that. We had to call or wave for her attention for her to come so that we can pay our bill and request boxes for the food. She brought back the boxes, but not the check. Had to go back for the bag after coming back and giving us the check. She’s got a lot to learn and she’s very sweet. But when it comes to the food, I feel like the Carne Asada was very bland, and there was more onions on the plate than meat being that in most places in Pensacola we have a lot of meat on the plate and this plate was slim. We were listening to music and then the music was being played over by sports so we’re listening to sports and music at the same time and then the music stops and then you’re only listening to sports. Not sure which one was supposed to be on. One last critique, the walls were full of crowns drawing. The wall that was all the way to the left side did not look like it was finished.. But everything else on the other side looks really nice. This was our first time to the restaurant. Don’t think I...

While the food tasted good, some of the plating, specifically the Ceviche Florida that I ordered would be better plated in a low slightly curved bowel to make eating easier. Also it was served with 6 saltine crackers which wasn't nearly enough to eat the portion size served. Since most of the food is Mexican inspired, I asked for some tortilla chips to scoop up the ceviche, which they didn't have, but they did provide me with 3 tostada's to eat with it, which was sufficient. My dad ordered the 850 Fajita trio which was huge in portion size with only 3 small tortillas that he enjoyed. It also came with a shredded chicken dish with beans, rice and corn. His meal was easily about 3-4 meals and he will have leftovers for days. When we asked for take out containers, the waitress, as nice as she was, had a difficult time trying to understand that we needed enough boxes for both of our food and didn't take into consideration that if I'm taking home fried tostada's, that I want to keep them separate from the ceviche so they don't get soggy. While the food is good and mostly seafood centric, the restaurant seems to have a bit of an identity crisis. They also offer sushi rolls, burgers, and wings, which is typical for the sports bar that it is, and I haven't tried any of those items because it seems primarily Mexican. My dad also had the strawberry mojito which he enjoyed for $8 a piece and I had the Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita (organic) which was delicious but I take issue with the portion size and price at $12.99 for a small glass. I guess I don't see the point of buying organic alcohol when nothing else in the restaurant is organic to my knowledge. If there were cheaper or happy hour prices, it wasn't made known to me by the staff. I will try this restaurant again to see how their sushi, burgers and wings are, but like I said, the menu is a...