87 Central Square
Jim Shirley Enterprises’ latest inventive endeavor
One of the great pleasures of living in Northwest Florida is the ability to dine and sip al fresco year-round — be it a glass of chilled white and sushi in the summer or a bold red served with lamb ribs in the winter.
As the latest venture of Jim Shirley Enterprises, 87 Central Square brings intentionality in pairing a curated menu with exceptional wine in a relaxing atmosphere.
This latest concept of chef Jim Shirley joins the likes of his other successes including Great Southern Cafe, The Bay, North Beach Social, Farm & Fire, The C-Bar, b.f.f. and The Meltdown on 30A. Shirley, alongside his daughter Madison,
vice president of Jim Shirley Enterprises, sought to expand the dining enterprise to include a new concept that placed a focus on specialty wines and a creative, ever-evolving menu.
Where locals and vacationers have come to expect their favorites on the menus of Shirley’s other restaurants, 87 Central Square encourages its chefs to push culinary boundaries and create menu items from local, seasonal and thematically appropriate ingredients.
“We want to provide variety and intrigue because it creates a new excitement around the dining experience and raises the cuisine to an exceptional caliber often seen in major metro areas but with the beach nearby,” said Madison.
For Shirley, 87 Central Square is a respite from the busyness of 30A, offering an atmosphere that’s laid-back in nature. No bustling servers, and no rush to finish your meal. It’s a place to linger over the wine menu before selecting the glass that suits your palate or to order another plate of dumplings to be shared between friends.
The space includes a mix of tables and lounge seating that can be arranged to accommodate an intimate dinner for two or a larger group for a girls night out. The tented outdoor space offers fans or heaters and even blankets for comfort in any weather.
The Shirleys hope to extend the space as a community hub and look forward to hosting events and wine pairings at the new restaurant.
Long known for their culinary success, the Shirley family has also made a substantial impact on the Panhandle’s wine industry over the years. At 87 Central Square, the selection of more than 100 wines couldn’t be found on grocery store shelves. The team works with an array of distributors to support smaller boutique wineries from around the world.
With a relaxed yet refined coastal atmosphere and a revolving menu of culinary and wine options, 87 Central Square is sure to rank frequently in your regular dining rotation.
“Our dearest hope for the space goes back to our family’s personal ethos that if you break bread with someone, you learn their story,” said Shirley. “When you dine here, we hope you learn more about the community with every bite and sip.”
