pvgirl's Profile
Mambos - Cuban Food in Jacksonville Beach
Thanks. We've been to Havana Jax and Madrid - and they're basically not worth the drive for us (we're out at the Beaches). Perhaps if we find ourselves on the west side for some other reason - we'll try Puerta Playa. Robyn
Mambos - Cuban Food in Jacksonville Beach
Mambos Cuban Bistro is a new Cuban restaurant in Jax Beach (3rd Street a little north of Beach Blvd.). It's operated by a Cuban family from Miami. Had lunch there today - and it's pretty good. Note that this is Mambos' second location (the first is up near Mayport). Serves lunch - dinner and breakfast on weekends. Has a full liquor license too. A welcome addition to the Jax restaurant scene (which has almost nothing in the way of Cuban restaurants). Robyn
Latin American Cafeteria Mary Brickell Village?
My husband and I will be in Miami next month - business trip. Staying on Brickell. He wants to have a Cuban sandwich/Cuban food one night. He also hates to drive in Miami. The concierge at the hotel said that a Latin American Cafeteria (Cafe?) has opened in Mary Brickell Village. But I can't find any information about it. Anyone here know anything about it - ever eaten there? Is it related to the old Latin American Cafeteria (we used to live in Miami)? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks. Robyn
Opus 39 in St. Augustine Closed
Yes - it was all over the news in articles like this one:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=157674&catid=3
Best Sandwich in Jacksonville (?)
All I can think of that's close to your office is the zoo! Do note that it's a pretty nice zoo - and worth a couple of hours if you can find the time when it's open. Have you gone over to Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach for dinner? Pleasant drive (easier once we get into daylight savings time). There are 2 restaurants at the Ritz Carlton - one casual - one fancy. Both are pretty good - pleasant setting. Also lots of other restaurants in the general area (I get to any particular one of those so infrequently that I can't give specific recommendations except for the RC). Downtown Fernandina Beach is "cute" and worth at least a 20 minute walk (smile).
bb's is a couple of blocks from Bistro Aix (probably not quite as good overall as Bistro Aix - but it's a change of pace and the desserts are terrific). The people who own bb's also own a place in Avondale (Biscotti's - slightly more bistro menu - same great desserts).
We live out at the beaches - so we tend to hit the same places repeatedly when we travel to other areas of town (especially since we're usually going out to lunch - not dinner - and a lot of places aren't open for lunch).
Out here at the beaches - our favorite lunch spot is our golf club - TPC at Sawgrass. The clubhouse is a knockout. The kitchen puts out a really nice lunch buffet 5 days a week (also has a regular lunch menu - great happy hour deals - casual and formal dinner menus - a Sunday brunch - as well as special events). It is open to the public and is a good place for a business lunch or after-work break . Dress is casual - but not grubby (you mentioned project sites - I assume construction sites - and although golf shorts and shirt or similar are fine - jeans and construction boots wouldn't cut it). Here's the link to the dining info:
http://www.tpc.com/sawgrass/food_beverage/index.html
Give a holler if you get out here - and we will give you the 10 cent tour. Robyn
Suggestions for a Food Oriented Trip To Toronto
First off - thanks for all the great replies. I should have done more homework before I posted my message. Did some work on the hotel/air aspect of the trip today - and confirmed with my travel agent that the old Four Seasons is indeed kind of a dump these days (hasn't changed since the last time I stayed there maybe 20 years ago - you're talking 24 inch CRT TVs) and all efforts now are being put into the new property. I guess the closing of the main restaurant is simply one sign of this. And although new hotels are coming on line (both the FS and the RC to name a couple) - they're not here yet. The air situation is also ridiculous - at least as of a couple of weeks ago. Two-three hours arrival in advance at airport for flight back to US! Sounds like a bit much for a long weekend trip. So I will probably pass on this one until next year. The restaurants will probably be as good (or better) and the hotel/air situation will probably be a lot better! Robyn
Best Sandwich in Jacksonville (?)
Where do you stay/do business while in JAX? As I'm sure you know - it's a very large geographical area - and the places I might suggest if you were 10 minutes away might not be worth a 40 minute drive each way. Some places might work for lunch instead of dinner - and vice versa - depending on where you are working/staying. I have a lot of trouble - in terms of attention span - following threads on Chowhound (wish I could get replies in my email so I could follow them better). Please feel free to email me at robyn47@bellsouth.net for some suggestions/ideas (I live in the area).
BTW - I'm going to Tallahassee next week (azalea season) - and - after looking at the recent Tallahassee threads - I think you have made your point that you don't care for the dining scene there - no need to say it more than once or twice! I've been traveling to Tallahassee since the 70's (I'm a retired lawyer) - and I remember when the Silver Slipper was a really big deal. But - needless to say - Tallahassee has never been a "foodie destination" - even in terms of "undiscovered gems". Robyn
Georgio's in Tallahassee
We have dined at Georgio's in Tallahassee several times while visiting (once a year or so - usually an overnight from JAX to see the state gardens and go to Tallahassee Nurseries - one of the nicest garden centers in north Florida). We are not beef eaters. Overall the food is ok and the atmosphere is relatively civilized for Tallahassee (they make very good martinis). FWIW - because we have had such a cold winter - I think this will be a great year for azaleas (when we have a warm winter - the flowers tend to open a few at a time - after a cold winter - they all seem to explode at once).
Tallahassee's Urbane and Marie Livingston's fall further
There used to be a place that was kind of like that in Tallahassee - the Buckhead Brewery (which closed quite a few years ago). We always made a point to stop by when we were in Tallahassee.
CURRENT Tallahassee restaurants
Apparently - Stinky's had a fire in December and - best I can tell - it is closed.
Suggestions for a Food Oriented Trip To Toronto
Haven't been around since I wrote up our last trip (to Los Angeles) in August. Because I haven't been anywhere (except Atlanta for a weekend wedding - only restaurant meal was at Restaurant Eugene - excellent - and I should write it up)! Anyway - I am planning our next trip for end of May (my husband's 65th birthday). Long weekend trip (perhaps 5 nights or so). Now we haven't been to Toronto in ages. And I think the only thing that is the same since the last time we were there is the old Four Seasons (I've been waiting for the new one to open - but don't want to wait until 2011 or 2012). But at stay 2 nights - get 1 free - it;s a hard deal to resist - even if it is perhaps more than a little dated. But since my husband loves Chinese food - and it isn't a long trip for us - I thought it would be worth a look (and I expect end of May we will find very nice weather there).
Anyway - I am looking for some general ideas about the best types of food and best places to eat them in Toronto. Chinese food is of course at the top of the list for us (the best Chinese food we have where we live is at Wok N' Roll). But recommendations relatively close to the Four Seasons (not a 30 minute cab ride) would be appreciated. Perhaps I can plan a small "Chinese banquet" (if there is such a thing) for my husband's birthday dinner. We also love dim sum - but I can read the existing threads about those places.
Our taste in food is pretty eclectic. But I would like to know what the specialties are in Toronto in terms of local type food (use of local ingredients is a big positive - end of May will probably still be spring veggie/baby lamb season up north - I would probably avoid restaurants that specialize in things like our local Florida fish and shrimp). And ethnic specialties other than Chinese. We tend to prefer higher end restaurants - but not if they're "tired". And although we enjoy newer forms of food - it's only if the chef is accomplished - and what he puts out isn't something that looks like amateur night with a sous vide machine. We really aren't into the best pizzas - burritos - etc. - etc. IOW - we're looking for a "middle to higher end" *Toronto* dining experience.
I have also read about some food markets (there's a big one whose name I can't remember off the top of the head). And the week I am planning to visit is - last week in May - is - for lack a better word - "Architecture Week" - where a lot of interesting buildings are open to the public. Sounds like "Architecture Week" in Chicago - which we have enjoyed before. And if any of you have visited the attractions that week - I'd appreciate a list of favorites.
And last - I remember when we were last in Toronto - maybe 20 years ago - the restaurant at the Four Seasons was an old fashioned really English kind of place. It seems to have been replaced by something new. Is the new restaurant worth a try? Thanks for any help you can give me. Robyn
P.S. I know Toronto has great public transportation. We won't have a car - and will probably use it a fair amount. But my husband has some mobility issues - and - by evening - he will probably be too tired to use public transportation. Therefore dinner recommendations relatively close to the Four Seasons (15-20 minutes cab ride distance) would be appreciated. Robyn
Quick Impressions of Our Los Angeles Dining
I think there are lots of urban myths about food - including fish. After all - some of the best tuna in the world is caught off the coast of the NE United States - flash frozen - shipped to Japan - sold at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo - and then - in some cases - reimported to the US and served at high end Japanese restaurants. Too bad the fish doesn't get frequent flyer miles .
Wouldn't bet my life on it - but if I recall the tuna auctions at Tsukiji correctly - the larger frozen tuna from the NE US drew higher prices than than the smaller fresh tuna which were more local to Japan.
FWIW - I grew up in a recreational fishing family - and - unless you wanted to eat fish you caught same day - best way to deal with them was freezing them after cleaning in salt water ASAP. Of course - those big tuna boats have flash freezing capabilities no recreational fisherman could hope to duplicate in a million years.
With shell fish - like clams - scallops - oysters and the like - you have to keep them alive if you want to eat them fresh. Once they're dead - they go to h*** pretty fast (I used to collect shells - and - when I took live specimens - which I haven't done in decades - you had to clean them out fast or risk a big stink wherever you put them).
Things like shrimp - well they'll last a couple of days (we have a shrimp fleet here - so we get lots of fresh local shrimp).
Anyway - I had not had high end sushi type fish from the time we dined in Japan in 2006 until we dined at Asanebo last week. Asanebo didn't live up to high end Japanese restaurant standards - but it didn't have anything to do with freshness IMO.
Quick Impressions of Our Los Angeles Dining
I've flown halfway around the world to have great food. But there is something about having heavy traffic as an appetizer and a dessert that diminishes the main course IMO. It wasn't even the length of drives or time involved that drove me nuts - because we often drive 30-40 minutes to St. Augustine to dine (pleasant drive on A1A along the ocean). It's more the stop/go stop/go stop/go with thousands of cars all around you.
FWIW - the area where we live (the greater Jacksonville FL area) is really sprawly too. And many places aren't close to our house. E.g., nearest Whole Foods - only one here - is about 20 miles away. But we go to those places because the drives aren't unpleasant (except maybe during regular rush hour - which we try to avoid). We also do exactly what you do. Combine things to do/places to dine in particular parts of town. Like if we go to a show or a concert downtown - we'll pair it with a trip to a restaurant there (old favorite or new place we want to try).
I hear what you are saying about fish - and I suspect our friend would agree (although I personally don't know which markets are open on which days - and what they offer - I know there's supposed to be a good Farmers' Market in BH on Sunday mornings - but don't have a clue what's offered there - or if any of it makes sense for a restaurant). But sometimes vacation/work schedules dictate eating schedules. First time we could get together with this friend was Friday night. We hadn't seen him in 9 years - and my husband and I insisted on dining in a place where we could chat for hours in a relaxed non-hassled setting (hard to do on a Friday night anywhere). So my husband and I chose the hotel dining room (which was exactly right for the occasion). Only other day we could get together during our week in Los Angeles was Sunday. So that's how we wound up with Japanese food on Sunday. So be it. It was a lot better than the RT to San Diego on Saturday. Robyn
Quick Impressions of Our Los Angeles Dining
I'm pretty sure the gougeres were an amuse - not an appetizer. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. If an amuse - then I'm right. If not - then you're right. FWIW - a lot of the dishes at Bazaar came in 3's. Fine for us - since we were 3. Ok if you're 2 (you can fight over the third). Not so good if you're 4. If I recall the menu at Bazaar correctly - it specifically stated when there was a certain number of something.
SE Florida traffic (we lived in Miami for 20+ years and moved to north Florida about 14 years ago) is pretty awful - but not quite as bad as Los Angeles. My cousin and husband from the SFV drove us downtown. We probably would have been better off if we had done the driving - since our rental car had a GPS and satellite radio (with the "traffic channel"). Their car didn't have either - and they didn't have any maps - so they only knew one way to get there. After a week - I knew our GPS favored certain roads that had awful traffic - and sometimes "hit the map book" (that big Thomas book of maps) to avoid those roads. My husband would freak out (he loves having a GPS). But he's the driver - and I'm the navigator - and sometimes I just had to turn the darn thing off. The traffic wouldn't deter us from visiting again. It's just that we like to mix things up - and usually don't get to any particular distant place more than once every 5 years or so. FWIW - I think a partial solution to the traffic is tolls. On our way to San Diego - the GPS took us on a toll road between the 405 and I-5 (73?) - about 15 miles for about $4.50. I think we saw 10 cars during that 15 mile drive. I also saw lanes that said 50 cents for X miles on certain roads - but didn't try them because the traffic was ok on those roads when we were on them.
One thing that skipped my mind. The Annenberg Space for Photography is a 2 minute walk from Craft/Craftbar in Century City. Both are open on Sunday (the Annenberg until 6) - so a museum visit and a visit to that restaurant might make for a nice early Sunday evening. I know Lizziee has recommended Craftbar - and I wanted to try it - at least for a drink and some appetizers. But that day we were with THE FRIEND WHO ONLY EATS AT SUSHI PLACES. After determining that his first choice (Katsu - relatively close to us) was closed - we made a mad dash over the hills to get to Asanebo shortly after 6 so we would be sure to get 4 seats at the counter. This friend lives on Mulholland Drive - so he is used to doing the hills at about 50 mph. I drove with him - and arrived with white knuckles. My husband drove with our friend's companion - and arrived 20 minutes after us - also with white knuckles . One thing I forgot to mention about Asanebo. I usually drink spirits - no wine (doesn't agree with me) - but champagne is ok. Asanebo has Veuve at $80/bottle - less than 100% markup over current Costco prices. Good value IMO. It also had the best tomatoes I have ever tasted (they called them "Japanese tomatoes" - but I really don't know what the heck they were - probably some California tomato that never leaves California. I also thought the toro was excellent - although some of the other fish was simply very good (having spent 3 weeks in Japan a few years ago - I'm a little spoiled). Robyn
Quick Impressions of Our Los Angeles Dining
I'm starting to get a bit more organized (even though my computer isn't well yet - I've set up the guestroom for the IBM repair person :(. Anyway - here is what I wrote about Bazaar night after I dined there. Hope this helps you to enjoy your dining experience there.
"Some of you asked me to write about my meal at Bazaar. So I will. Since I am on vacation - and don't dine with a camera - you will get more comprehensive writeups with pictures on blogs like the Refined Palate. So I will just give you my general impressions.
Bottom line. This is a really fun restaurant with surprisingly good food (for both Los Angeles and a "scene" restaurant). We dined there last night (a Wednesday). For someone who is seriously into food (as opposed to scene) - I recommend dining early. We had a reservation at 6:30 (ok for us since we were on eastern time). At 6:30 - the place is all about food. By the time we left (close to 10) - it was a very crowded zoo type of scene. With regard to reservations - when we did ours - I was told that requests for seating in particular places could only be accommodated at 6:30 and 8:30 (in between - you take your chances - which I wouldn't do here - the patio overlooking the hotel driveway isn't attractive). Also - the FOH gave me a slight bit of a hard time when we checked in ('your table isn't ready" even though the place was 3/4 empty - etc.") - but since I had a note of the person with whom I had made my reservation - and the terms - and spoke up - the BS lasted for about 30 seconds. Anyway - we had requested the rojo or blanco room - and got the blanco - which I really liked (better than the rojo when I took a look - but that is a personal preference).
The menu is extremely large - many dishes. So I very much recommend reading blog entries before going - and having a rough idea of the things that most people have liked the best. I also recommend having a piece of paper and a pen - so you can write down the dishes you're thinking of ordering (like in a Chinese restaurant). This is a small plates restaurant - and - even with 3 people - we wound up ordering a fair number of dishes (11 or 12). Some of the things that had stuck in my mind were the Philly cheesesteak - the Bellota ham (expensive Spanish ham from pigs raised on acorns) - the foie gras sliders and the cotton candy with foie gras (they brought us 2 of the latter by mistake and only charged us for one :) ). We had others - the caprese - the butiferra - the king crab - the scallops - and the croquetas. Some were from the "traditional" side of the menu - some from the "modern". I recommend mixing it up. Our server was excellent - and when he thought we might be making a mistake - he steered us in the right direction. Overall - I can honestly say we didn't order a single dish we didn't like. Also - our server served a couple of dishes at a time - pairing them appropriately (which we asked him to do).
The spirits were excellent. Our companion had a mojito made with frozen sugar which dissolved when mixed with liquor. I had a very floral gin and tonic (it actually had flowers in it). Excellent drinks. Very good pours. The wine service (my husband had wine) left a lot of be desired. The GM (we spoke with him after our meal) said a sommelier will be coming on board soon - and he hopes to improve things in that category a lot in the near future.
After our main meal - we went to the patisserie for dessert. We shared a "floating island" made with liquid nitrogen. It was delicious. But - by this time - the place was a) jumping; or b) overcrowded - depending on POV. The patisserie is next to a branch of Moss - and there are lots of gawkers at the store after 9. I think on a subsequent visit - we might prefer to stay put for dessert - but - this being our first time - I was agreeable to seeing more than one part of the restaurant. By the time we left maybe 45 minutes later - no question the place was a zoo (unless your only interest is the scene).
This is a definite "must go" in Los Angeles IMO. But - for someone interested in food - a bit of planning will go an awful long way. Robyn"
southern food in Jacksonville?
The Piccadilly up near Regency makes some of its manager's specials (like the smothered turkey legs) in house. Can't vouch for everything it serves. The big problem with a lot of small "mom and pop" places is the food doesn't turn over often enough (you're not going to get your fried chicken cooked to order at lunch - so who knows how long it's been sitting around?). Whereas at a place like Golden Corral - the chicken is coming out of the fryer every 15 minutes (and disappears in less than 10). The meat and three has pretty much been a dying institution for a long time - and - after many attempts to find good ones - I am about ready to pronounce it officially dead.
Quick Impressions of Our Los Angeles Dining
It was actually quite warm the evening we dined (we're from Florida and a short sleeved shirt was fine) - and the patio was almost full (I recall a large group - maybe 8 - sitting next to us). I didn't think the service was terrible - but the 3 gougeres for 4 set us off on the wrong foot - even our non-foodie dining companions figured out the math was wrong :).
This was our last meal in Los Angeles. I think a week of the traffic there really wore us down - and the hour long crawl to go 12 miles to Church & State was the final knock-out punch. Think I would have enjoyed everything a lot more had the ride been 15 minutes. I guess if you live in Los Angeles it's important to develop a driving cost/eating benefit analysis - and to keep your radio tuned to the traffic report all the time. We had a great week - lots of interesting things to do/see/eat - but the traffic wound up driving us nuts. Does it drive those of you who live there nuts too?
Quick Impressions of Our Los Angeles Dining
We're back. And I wanted to give you some feedback (my computer was indisposed when I came home - it is now only partially indisposed after 4 hours of tech work - I am catching up - so I'll be brief). Best meal in a serious setting: Providence. Kind of traditional setting - but excellent fish. Outstanding service. Picked many courses and kitchen arranged them into a tasting menu for 3. Not especially convenient to BH but worth the trip.
Best meal in a non-serious setting: Bazaar. Most fun trip of the meal. Food surprisingly good considering the scene. Service extremely competent (we picked lots of dishes and server arranged them in logical courses for 3 people). Loved the drinks (especially my "gin and tonics"). I recommend going very early (we did 6:30) if you're interested in eating because - even on a Wednesday - it was a madhouse by 9 pm (we were on dessert by then - didn't leave until about 10 pm). The late night "scene" isn't conducive to fine dining.
Church & State: Very loud (we wound up dining outside so we could talk with our dining companions - good thing it was a pleasant night).. Not worth the trip from BH (took us almost an hour to get there). Service somewhat worse than laid back (3 gougeres for 4 people? - we had to ask for a 4th). Not bad - but - like I said - not worth the trip.
Tavern - Decibel level was unbearable. Food was ok but would not recommend unless one were dining alone or on non-speaking terms with one's dinner companion(s).
Asanebo - Excellent. Go with a friend who knows how to order there (we did) or ask for suggestions about the best way to order. Also get a friend who knows how to drive over the hills :) (we're from flat as a pancake Florida - driving over hills like that isn't something we do every day).
Rancho Bernardo Inn (Veranda) - Pleasant patio where one can have lunch with elderly aunt who lives a mile away. No other reason to go there.
Gardens (Four Seasons) - Civilized place to meet and chat and dine with old friends. Food was quite good for a high end Four Seasons (where we were staying) restaurant (we were there the first night they had a new menu - there were probably some kinks to be worked out). Four Seasons Bar and patio also have a nice tasting menu - 3 "small" dishes (although not all that small) for $45. Plenty for 2 people. We did that twice (night of arrival and night we returned late from San Diego).
I'll note that we had breakfast included at the Four Seasons. Since we were on eastern time - breakfast there was early lunch for us. So we did it just about every day. 20+ choices - each excellent. Real power scene breakfast on a lovely patio. Great way to start the day. If you're staying at the Four Seasons - use a Four Seasons Preferred Partner Agent to book to get the breakfast included.
Overall - if there's one not to miss restaurant here IMO - it would be Bazaar. Close second - although it's pretty much a tie because they're such different types of restaurants - would be Providence if you love fish (we do).
What are your impressions? Robyn
P.S. Best little known new tourist attraction: Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City. Opened in the spring. Great exhibit running now (best photojournalism of the last year). Must see.
Two Open Days - Any Suggestions?
OK - we're off to Los Angeles tomorrow. Most of our dining plans are set - but there are some openings. And I'd like some ideas to keep in my "back pocket".
Tomorrow night - we are arriving dinner time and will probably dine casually at the hotel (we'll be tired and jet-lagged).
Wednesday is Bazaar - Thursday is Providence - Friday is Gardens at the hotel (Four Seasons). As an aside - there's a $25 off coupon for dinner for a party of 2 or more spending $100 or more who pay with an AMEX card at Gardens (as well as most other FS properties in North America) here:
http://www.fourseasons.com/special_offers/summer_dining_promotion/
Don't have to be a guest at the hotel.
Saturday we are going to Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) to see my elderly aunt (who is having radiation therapy for cancer) and uncle (who has Alzheimer's - he's in a nursing home). Will do as nice a lunch as possible with my aunt (tentative plan to dine at the Rancho Bernardo Inn). Suspect after doing all that driving - we'll be ready for room service that evening. Won't want to fight the Saturday night crowds.
Plan to dine Tuesday night (last night) at Church & State.
That leaves Sunday and Monday for lunch and/or dinner. Days when a lot of places are closed. We plan to go to the Farmers' Market in Beverly Hills on Sunday. Monday we're wide open. Only ideas on my part are that after our forced march to San Diego - we won't much feel like driving very far. And that Craftbar is open and seems like a decent place for a light dinner. Any other ideas? Robyn
French near LACMA
P.S. There really aren't many places where you can get a nice higher end French meal starting at almost 10 pm - even in Paris.
French near LACMA
The restaurant closes at 9:30 - wouldn't work.
I have a request (probably not the first time I've mentioned it here). OP's should state the day of the week they'll be dining - and any time contraints (like here - dinner will be after 9:30). People who respond should check that a restaurant they recommend is open then.
FWIW - most Los Angeles restaurants seem to be pretty early places from what I've observed (except for some late night scenes - usually on weekends). So perhaps the OP might consider doing pre-theater instead of post (this movie is on a Tuesday night at 7:30). Maybe a small bites place like Bazaar (which opens at 3 pm). If they want to keep to the original plan of dining after the movie - maybe a place like Osteria Mozza (which is open until 11). Note that I know zero about Los Angeles restaurants (will be flying there tomorrow for the first time in almost 10 years). But I have noticed that many close pretty early. I may not know if the food is good - but I can pretty much figure out whether or not a restaurant will be open .
Best place, well priced fresh jumbo lump crabmeat?
Another vote for Costco. I buy it here in Florida and it's always good.
Bazaar - a brunch quickie
Were they made with bacalao (dried salted cod)? If so - the restaurant probably didn't rehydrate/soak the fish properly to get rid of the excess salt. Was the food in general too salty (I don't much like overly salty food - and will have to govern myself accordingly when we dine there on Wednesday)?
Saturday Lunch in Rancho Bernardo
Thanks. I'll ask my aunt what she likes. She's lived in the area for a long time - and - before my uncle got Alzheimer's and she got cancer - they used to go out quite a bit.
southern food in Jacksonville?
The last time I went to The Homestead (maybe 2 years ago?) it was awful. Wouldn't go back. I tried Rite Spot once - and it was mediocre. Not as good as Golden Corral.
southern food in Jacksonville?
First thing to know about Jacksonville is it's really big. Some of the places mentioned here are over 20 miles from my house - and not worth the drive. Although I know you requested non-chains - my favorites are lunch at Piccadilly Cafeteria (often has fried okra) and Golden Corral (almost always has fried okra). Of the 2 - Piccadilly is kind of dying - and somewhat sad (except on Sunday after church). Golden Corral is going great guns.
French near LACMA
Since the movie is 2 hours and starts at 7:30 - I'd check places that are open relatively late (e.g., the last reservation at Church & State is 9:45). BTW - hope you have tickets (it's sold out).
Church and State....What to get?
I made a reservation after finding a friend who wanted to join us and is willing to drive to the restaurant (I don't mind driving in Los Angeles - but prefer to avoid unfamiliar areas at night). When my made my reservation on Opentable - there were lots of limo options. The price for town cars was pretty good (cheaper than at home). So perhaps if you're a group of 4 or 6 - it might make sense to rent a limo. Robyn
