Pensacola’s first Waldo’s Chicken and Beer is now open at 7130 N. Davis Highway, specializing in Southern fried chicken and rotisserie dishes.
The fast-casual restaurant replaces longtime tenant Tu-Do Vietnamese Restaurant, and is Florida’s second location, following a restaurant at the Silver Sand Premium Outlets in Miramar Beach. The company’s footprint encompasses Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland and Oklahoma, and locations are locally owned and operated. The Pensacola Waldo’s is the company’s 27th store to open.
How did Waldo’s Chicken and Beer get started?
The company started as a 600-square-foot food stall by CEO and namesake Mark Waldo before moving into its first brick-and-mortar location in Germantown, Tennessee, in 2019.
Waldo’s isn’t technically a franchise; instead, it partners with local owners at each restaurant to ensure everyone is connected to their community. No two Waldo’s restaurants are the same as a result.
Some have drive-throughs and smaller dining rooms, while others have booths and large bars. It all depends on the location and what local partners think will work best for them.
Pensacola’s shop features an expansive sit-down area with a full bar, a drive-through and a game room, set in a bright, colorful atmosphere.
What’s on the Waldo’s Chicken and Beer menu?
Waldo’s features from-scratch food centered on its chicken, served on the bone, on a bun, in a basket, or in a bowl, and paired with a variety of homemade comfort sides, such as decadent mac and cheese, collard greens, coleslaw and more. Waldo’s also has a following for its homemade cheddar biscuits.
Since chicken is their menu mainstay, they go the extra mile in ensuring each meal comes out hot, fresh and full of flavor. Both the fried and rotisserie chicken are brined overnight to ensure the flavor starts seeping in long before your order.
Some of the signature sandwiches include “The O.G.” Fried Chicken made up of a fried thigh, pickles, lettuce and mayo, “The Roost” Pulled Chicken with rotisserie chicken, pickles and Alabama white sauce, and the Foul Mouth, which is a fried thigh spiced up with habanero oil, cheddar, jalapeno slaw, Comeback sauce and mayo.
You can also customize your meal by mixing and matching their homemade sauces, which vary in heat level.
Don’t forget to save room for dessert, indulging in a decadent homemade banana pudding or a freshly-baked cookie.
Just as they do their sides and sauces, Waldo’s offers plenty of options when it comes to deciding on an ice-cold craft beer. Waldo’s is known to offer an ever-changing selection, with beers breaking down into local, regional and imported offerings.
While beer is in the company name, it’s not all they have to offer when it comes to a refreshing beverage. There are a handful of classic cocktails to indulge in, such as their Bloody Mary with house-made mix, bourbon lemonade or a signature Waldo-Rita.
What are the Pensacola Waldo’s hours?
Pensacola’s Waldo’s Chicken and Beer is now open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Can I order Waldo’s Chicken online?
Yes, Waldo’s accepts online orders through its website.
How do I find out more about Waldo’s Chicken and Beer?
For real-time updates and information, visit their website at waldoschicken.com or follow them on social media. The Pensacola restaurant can be reached at 850-898-1636.
USA TODAY Co. reporters Tina Harbuck and Hadley Hitson contributed to this report.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Waldo’s Chicken and Beer is open in Pensacola. Take a look at the menu
Reporting by Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
