Joe’s Caribe Restaurant and Bakery’s time at 6224 N. Ninth Ave. has come to a close. However, a new restaurant is on its way and set to open later this month.
Restaurateur Samir Mustafa has spent the past six months transforming the former Caribbean-inspired restaurant into a new establishment, Seventy1 Bistro, which is planned to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner in a modernized and welcoming dining environment.
Seventy1 Bistro will feature globally inspired cuisine, including dishes inspired by Spain, the Middle East, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and more.
Mustafa has also taken over Joe Caribe’s food truck, currently stationed outside of the North Ninth Avenue store, and will continue serving Puerto Rican cuisine from the truck under the Joe’s Caribe brand.
Joe’s Caribe has occupied its North Ninth Avenue location since 2019, after relocating from its original spot near at 1350 S. Blue Angel Parkway. In all, founder Joe Perez spent nearly a decade serving the Pensacola area favorites such as jerk chicken, pernil and Cuban sandwiches.
When you first walk into Seventy1 Bistro, you’ll be greeted by a stocked case of fresh-baked goods, such as weekly varieties of croissants, six or seven flavors of baklava, and Dubai chocolate cups. You will also be able to get handcrafted coffee beverages.
Baking will begin bright and early every day at about 4 a.m., according to Mustafa.
The plates are also meant to impress, and will come out artfully decorated, whether it be a burger, sandwich, bowl of paella or ceviche.
“It’s going to be something very different. You won’t find it anywhere,” Mustafa said.
He is no stranger to the restaurant industry, and his family has about eight restaurants back home in Colombia. His menu, however, won’t be built around Colombian cuisine because he doesn’t think Pensacola has much of a following for it.
In addition to the food, there will be beer and wine beverages such as fresh sangria and Coronaritas.
Seventy1 Bistro is meant to be as much about the experience as it is about the flavor of the food, where service is above and beyond for customers, according to Mustafa.
Mustafa and his family have been hands-on converting the space to be filled with a nature-inspired décor, with florals hanging from the ceiling and wood tones backing the walls.
They are working to build a place where “everybody feels like this is their home,” Mustafa said.
Once Seventy1 Bistro opens, the food truck menu will get a revamp about a month later, implementing some menu changes while holding onto the Puerto Rican flavor profiles, according to Mustafa.
While hours of operation aren’t finalized, Mustafa expects the restaurant to be open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For real-time updates and information, follow Seventy1 Bistro on Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: New bistro to replace Joe’s Caribe indoor eating area; Puerto Rican food truck will remain
Reporting by Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
