Ox Kitchen is now open in downtown Pensacola. Here are four menu staples you have to try

If you’re looking for a quick, juicy burger in the heart of downtown Pensacola, Alabama-based Ox Kitchen is now open in The Garden at 501 S. Palafox St.

The menu, which is a compact version of the Fairhope, Alabama brick-and-mortar, offers a wide variety of salads, sandwiches and sides − but for owner and chef Bo Hamilton, the mouthwatering burgers are the main attraction.

“Here (at The Garden) everyone has their niche of what they do, and our deal is burgers,” Hamilton told the News Journal. “At Fairhope, we do a lot of different things, but here we really just wanted to focus on our burgers, which is our top-seller over there also…We’re just doing six burgers, we’re doing our chicken sandwich, and then a few of our salads, then a couple kid’s items. So, kind of cut it down, nice and simple, to just really try and focus on that.”

The quick-service restaurant has earned a reputation for simple food made with high quality ingredients since 2017, which stems from Hamilton’s rich culinary background.

“We make pretty much everything in house. I have a fine dining background, so I came from, ‘everything has to be fresh. Everything has to be made in-house,’” Hamilton said. “The whole idea of this (Ox Kitchen) was to apply that to simpler food that people love. And people love burgers…All the little details is what makes it good in the end.”

The Garden location brings all the quality recipes from across state lines but in a fast and convenient format suitable for a lunch break or dinner on the go.

“We just want people to come to the window, grab something to eat, get it quick for as cheap as we can do it,” Hamilton said.

Here are four menu staples you must try on your visit:

Ox Burger

What’s inside? American, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, Alabama white sauce and Ox gravy.

How much is it? $9.70 for a single, $13.70 for a double

Why should you try it? While it’s simple in nature, the Ox Burger represents what the restaurant has built its reputation on: high quality meat, homemade pickles, from-scratch sauce. If you want a burger oozing with flavor, the Ox Burger is what Hamilton considers a great starting point. Pro tip: try it with a side of ponzu roasted brussels if you feel like switching up the fries.

Chopped Southern

What’s inside? Spring mix, bacon, egg, tomato, cheddar, pickles and onion.

How much is it? $9 for the base with a $5 add-on for either grilled or fried chicken

Why should you try it? Fresh is the Chopped Southern’s middle name. The salad offers a lighter lunch option without losing any of the flavor. There, you can find the tender chicken, spiced homemade Chipotle ranch dressing, smoky crumbled bacon, cool egg and shredded cheese. The Chopped Southern is more than a salad, it’s a sensory experience.

Ox Chicken Sandwich (grilled or fried)

What’s inside? Brioche, lettuce, pickles and Alabama white sauce.

How much is it? $9

Why should you try it? This sandwich satisfies your fix of Southern fried chicken, dressed simply with a soft brioche bun, homemade pickles and slathered in a house Alabama white sauce.

Ox Fries

What’s inside? Waffle fries, blue cheese dip, Ox gravy, chopped green onion

How much is it? $6.50

Why should you try it? Offered as a side dish but satisfying enough to justify the trip to Ox Kitchen alone, the homemade Ox Gravy takes these fries to the next level.

Hungry for more? Stay up to date on the latest restaurant news by subscribing to our free Pensacola Eats newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign up for the newsletter at profile.pnj.com/newsletters/pensacola-eats/

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Ox Kitchen is now open in downtown Pensacola. Here are four menu staples you have to try