It was getting late, and we were driving from Houston, Texas, to the last stop on a road food trip. Jerry’s Drive In in Pensacola is another one of the spots that I’ve been wanting to eat at for over ten years.
Jerry’s has been around in one form or another since 1939 and was, at one point, an actual drive-in with car hops. Long gone are those days; however, they do lay claim to be “Home of the Original Bacon Cheeseburger.”
NO MATTER WHERE YOU TRAVEL, ON THIS, YOU CAN DEPEND. THREE THINGS REMAIN CONSTANT: GOD’S LOVE, YOUR PARENT’S LOVE, AND JERRY’S DRIVE IN.
Jerry’s Drive In Website
We arrived a little past 8 pm, so they were already winding down for the night but still gave that excellent service you expect from a family-owned business. The menu has a nice mix of Southern comfort food favorites to spicy cheese curds, which I’ve never seen before.
Jerry’s Drive In Menu
Jerry’s Drive In Must Eats
Marcela was adamant that a cheeseburger would not be her meal, and that’s how the fried grouper made its way to her. I don’t eat seafood often, but these fellas were crispy and tasty.
Now, before I get to the bacon cheeseburger and patty melt Fred and I shared, let’s talk about our snacks: pork rinds, fried pickles and jalapeños, and spicy cheese curds. The freshly fried pork rinds were dusted with BBQ seasoning; what’s not to like?
I’ve had my fair share of fried pickles, but never with jalapeños thrown into the mix. It’s a great idea that I didn’t realize my life needed.
And spicy cheese curds? Nothing in that sentence sounds wrong, and I can confirm it tastes as great as you’re hoping for.
Why haven’t I seen spicy cheese curds on more menus? Now, that’s an actual crime.
Bacon Cheeseburger and Patty Melt Talk
Fred let me choose what we were eating. There is an order to select, and I always start with a restaurant’s signature burger. In this case, their bacon cheeseburger is that guy.
There was no lettuce, tomato, or onion on this guy, just bacon, American cheese, and a bit of mayo on the top bun. It didn’t need the mayo since it was a perfect bacon cheeseburger specimen.
I suggest you order only bacon and cheese and never look back. It’s great that way.
The patty melt is another flawlessly executed classic sandwich. The rye bread was griddled and had that crunch you look forward to on your first bite.
This was one of the best patty melts I’ve had all year. So, if I had to choose which of the two I preferred, I don’t think I could!
There’s a Pimento Burger and a Thursdays-only Meatloaf Sandwich that I need to try at some point. What I’m trying to say is Jerry’s Drive In is a must-stop Pensacola landmark if you find yourself in Florida’s panhandle.
Jerry’s Drive In
2815 E Cervantes Street
Pensacola, FL
(850) 433-9910
Website – https://jerrysdriveinpensacola.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/therealjerrysdrivein
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jerrysdriveininc
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday CLOSED