George Bistro + Bar

George Bistro + Bar: Southern cuisine with a French accent in Pensacola

George Bistro + Bar is a restaurant and bar located at 6205 N 9th Avenue, in Pensacola, Florida. It opened its first location in downtown Pensacola in 2015 and in 2018 moved to its current, more spacious premises on North 9th Avenue. The project is the work of Chef George Lazi and Luba Lazi, who define their offering as a "South-meets-South" fusion: the South of France meets the American South.

The establishment presents itself as a modern and welcoming space with Southern charm, which includes a porch swing at the entrance, a communal table, intimate booths, and booth-style seating. Its offering spans weekend brunch, lunch, dinner, cocktails, coffees, and desserts, with specific menus for each service, as well as options for children.

A cuisine of ingredients and Southern fusion

The cuisine is based on fresh ingredients and artisanal preparation of coffees, cocktails, and eclectic bistro dishes. The company emphasizes its respect for ingredients as a way to tell the story of each dish. On the menu, the house favorites are identified with a signature "George" icon.

The culinary offering combines recipes and experiences from New York, the owners' European travels, and the flavors of the American South. That blend translates into an offering the company describes as "South-meets-South."

Chef George Lazi and his career

George Lazi was born and raised in Soviet Georgia, where he became fond of cooking and hospitality in the family setting. At age 19 he emigrated to New York after graduating in dentistry, but he soon turned to the restaurant industry and worked at a kosher deli in Queens. He trained in the culinary program at the Art Institute of New York and began his career in the city at the restaurant Jean Georges, which serves French cuisine and holds one Michelin star. He then moved on to Fig and Olive, a Mediterranean restaurant, where in six years he rose to corporate chef, with regular trips to the West Coast of the United States and to Europe. On his visits to the South of France he learned of the region's insistence on fresh, seasonal ingredients, which gives rise to clean but exciting dishes. In 2013 he moved with Luba to the Florida Panhandle and opened his first restaurant in Pensacola.

Luba Lazi and business management

Luba Lazi emigrated from Kazakhstan to New Orleans as a teenager and in 2000 settled with her family in Pensacola. She graduated in fashion merchandising from Florida State University and completed an internship at Bergdorf Goodman in New York. After marrying George, the couple traveled extensively. In 2013, faced with the illness of Luba's mother, they returned to Pensacola. Luba was key to the opening of the first George Bistro + Bar location downtown and to the launch of the current premises on North 9th Avenue, bringing her aesthetic training to the business. Today she is often the first person to greet customers at the couple's restaurants.

Team and other concepts

The team includes Carolyn Ore as chef de cuisine; Travis Hartsfield, Nick McCrea, Ryan Carty, and Kim Payne as sous chefs; Nicole Greenwell as beverage director; Marissa Packard, Tuan Nguyen, and Kathleen Czaplewski in front-of-house management; Rachelle Rue as administrative director; and Anastasia Reyes as marketing director.

The owners have developed a second concept, Pearl & Horn, inspired by the chef's homeland and featuring a wide selection of dishes from land and sea. It is located at Barrancas & Intendencia, in west downtown Pensacola.

Services and experience

The restaurant offers dine-in service, reservations, and online ordering. The company states its commitment to website accessibility and provides a phone number and an email address to report access difficulties or suggestions. The venue also has a communal table and booths, designed for groups or intimate meals.

Location and contact

6205 N 9th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32504 · Phone: (850) 912-4655 · Email: georgebistroandbar@gmail.com