Alabama fast-casual favorite Ox Kitchen will open a new location of its “New South Casual” style restaurant in downtown Pensacola this summer.
Ox Kitchen owner Beau Hamilton plans to open a second location in the outdoor food court, The Garden, replacing Calavera Tacos, hopefully by mid-June.
Since 2017, this quick-service restaurant has gained a reputation for simple cuisine made with quality ingredients, specializing in fresh salads, burgers, and sandwiches. Specialty sandwiches include a chicken sandwich with homemade Alabama white sauce and a homemade smoked turkey sandwich with Chipotle mayonnaise.
The Airstream trailer in Pensacola will have an integrated version of the full menu, with an emphasis on burgers.
Ox Kitchen started out in a food court model similar to The Garden, but it grew in size and moved into its own brick-and-mortar space about two years ago. The restaurant is named after his wife's roots in Oxford, Mississippi.
House-made sauces are one of the many original touches that set it apart, along with hand-cut fries and house-made pickles.
“We cut no corners, we do everything by hand, and we hire great people,” Hamilton told the News Journal.
Burgers were what The Garden was missing, and The Garden's owner, Michael Caro, was confident Ox Kitchen could fill it. The lease for Ox Kitchen is approximately 4 years.
“Ox Kitchen combines everything we want to see in The Garden,” says Caro.
After enough tastings at Hamilton's restaurant in Fairhope, Alabama, Caro knew their burger was destined to be a crowd-pleaser.
“We were expecting good burgers. We didn't expect to have such a phenomenal experience,” Caro said.
One of our best sellers is the house signature The Ox Burger, which includes fresh lettuce, tomatoes, house pickles, onions, Duke's mayonnaise, and Ox gravy.
Other popular burgers to visit at The Garden include the Pimento Cheese and Bacon Burger and the Greek Burger, a nod to the Greek food scene in Hamilton's hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.
Hamilton said he plans to offer five to seven burgers and sides. Ox Kitchen's popular sides include ponzu roasted Brussels and macaroni and cheese.
Although the restaurant isn't expected to be completed until the summer, Caro recommends those interested visit the Alabama brick-and-mortar location at 365 Greeno Road South for the full experience.
“Give it a try, it’s worth it,” Caro said.
Further updates and information can be found on the Ox Kitchen Fairhope Facebook page.
