mezzrow's Profile
Secret Garden, Jacksonville
http://jacksonville.com/business/2011-03-04/story/jacksonvilles-secret-garden-cafe-no-secret-after-food-network-exposure
That should answer your question - short version: things seem to be going well...
Jacksonville - Know of any restaurant that will fry my turkey?
Hmmm... I doubt it. Generally this gets set up so one can do a whole bunch at a time by various churches or clubs, etc. If I had to pick one place to check in the area, you might ask the boys at Kickbacks what their suggestions would be. Doubt if they'd do it there, but they might have some ideas, and you can keep drinking tasty beers until you find a solution to your problem. Between the staff on hand and the patrons, you might get a plan together.
Landing at JAX at 9am and driving north. Breakfast ideas?
That's a tough one, q. You're too far north to pick up anything much in Jax, and the trek north to Brunswick and the exit to get to the Georgia Pig for 'cue is a bit too far away to give you the sustenance you seek in a timely manner. The closest breakfast type thing that comes to mind (other than a Hardee's breakfast biscuit, that is) is a Cracker Barrel in the shopping area on the other side of I-95 on the Airport Road aka Duval Road (go under the overpass and further down to the "Town Center" area - you'll see the sign), bu that won't help you much with that sense of dread.
If you were going into town it would be a different matter, but you're a little early for BBQ even down here - most don't serve till at least 11 or so.
Not much here, but that's all I got. I'm not a Northside guy - maybe one will show up and school both of us. There's no substitute for local knowledge.
Anything - Jacksonville/Orange Park
Like Thai? Try Thai Garden on Blanding - convenient to OP and very good. Otherwise, come up the road and try Orsay on Park St. (not to be confused w/ Park Ave. in OP) in Jax. Very good french bistro. I hear Sarnelli's Italian on park Ave. just south of Kingsley is OK from friends in the area - I haven't been there in many years. Also, you could try Mojo's BBQ down on 220 in Fleming Island as well, or Whitey's Fish Camp a little bit farther out on 220 for some local flavor. Mojo's is probably the top 'cue in the area - lots of options down in OP. Not a chain in the bunch.
Shula's 347 Grill in Lake Mary -- Chow Worthy?
I can only report on a similar Shula's 347 grill in Jax, at a fairly new Sheraton Hotel off of JTB.
It likely doubles as the restaurant for the hotel, but I got a perfectly good steak at the one in Jax, and my better half loved her seared tuna. YMMV, but it might be worth a shot.
NCAA Dinner Options in Jacksonville near Veterans Memorial Arena or Downtown Hotels
S'truth. As i often say, there is not an edible bite at the Landing. Avoid.
Where to Eat in Clearwater or Tampa Near Phillies Bright Field House Stadium?
Seconds on the Lenny's rec, esp. for breakfast. Very close to the stadium, it's basically a Jersey Diner in Clearwater. Scrapple, dude! I'm not a local, but when in the bay area, I go here for my Jersey diner fix.
NCAA Dinner Options in Jacksonville near Veterans Memorial Arena or Downtown Hotels
I'm sure Orsay can handle a room for 20 unless they've booked their extra rooms out already. If you're based in town, not at the beach, this is an excellent and convienient option. I'm in the neighborhood, and it's one of our favorites. Ask about Sunday brunch, too. Call 904-381-0909 and ask for Crystal.
http://www.restaurantorsay.com/
Birthday Meal In Jacksonville
If you want atmosphere, no. If you want good food, yes. It is really outstanding, and they have pastries and baked goods to go as well. I cannot emphasize how important it is that you get there by 11 AM, though.
It is really advantageous to get on the front end of the rush. If you haven't been before, get there early and reconnoiter the area - it is not obvious that this place serves food, other than the wonderful smell in the area.
Best Sandwich in Jacksonville (?)
Ow. I've got to hit Pinegrove for a sammich, now. I've tried the steaks, and they are as you say they are - it's even in the 'hood.
That said, I must again step up for my guys at Blue Boy. Two locations, Northside at Norwood Ave., just off I-95 North - get off at the Norwood/Lem Turner exit and head south about a 1/4 mi. - look for a non-descript Blue building and a sign on the right (not a big one, either.) Also on Ft. Caroline Rd. in Arlington, north of JU. Outstanding in-house bread, huge portions, and anything you want between two pieces of bread - served by a crew with decades of experience.
http://www.blueboysandwiches.com/
North Florida/Georgia "Real" Barbecue
(Sigh) I miss the Plantation too. It has been a long, long time. Those were simpler days. I can't really remember the 'cue so much, but I sure remember going to the Plantation after ball games all those years ago. The old Green Derby was just a couple of blocks away on Riverside, right up Rosselle St. Gone forever. They only live in our minds and memories.
North Florida/Georgia "Real" Barbecue
The name of the hole-in-the-wall place on St. Augustine Rd. is Checkers BBQ. The guy who runs it is 'Art' - the same guy who used to be resident at the Palms fish camp up on the Northside out Heckscher Dr. I haven't been by in awhile, but they do indeed smoke meat and deepfry some considerable bit of seafood at his establishment, if my memory serves me correctly.
Dinner in downtown Jax on Saturday night?
That would be La Chaina - as in "chain of fools"
Chain, chain, chain... :)
Dinner in downtown Jax on Saturday night?
Call Jerry at La Cena and get some reservations. He's right around the corner from Chew. Let them know that you're going to the show and when it starts, and he'll make arrangements to keep your leftovers until you can come back by and get them. (Trust me - you'll have leftovers.) La Cena is mainly for the regulars, but if you get into the habit, you'll probably become a regular - we did.
You'll find wonderful pasta dishes, and service set up to get you out of the door on time, if you let them know when the show starts and that you plan to walk (takes about 10 minutes on foot from the restaurant.) Jerry won't have any problem telling you when you need to show up if you plan to get to the show on time. He doesn't hold back.
I recommend the Trenette alla Cornelia (prosciutto, shittakes, and diced tomatoes) or the Trenette w/ pesto. The trenette is made fresh daily. Just wonderful. When you read the menu, you may have some questions - my advice is to go ahead and ask your questions, and roll with it. Enjoy.
Don't settle for the Landing - you can do much better.
looking for pho in jax!!!
Give PK Noodles a try, over on Beach Blvd. It's a long drive for me, so I don't get there often, but it's the go-to joint for Pho in Jax.
http://www.pknoodles.com/
International (Ethnic) Food in Jacksonville
Thanks, Moot. This is a great list you've got here.
I'll try a few I haven't hit - I'm west of the river, and most of your picks are from the Southside to the beaches. I'd add Pepe's Hacienda for Mex - it's another tienda/taqueria setup on St. Augustine Road at Dupont. In the same strip area across from Pepe's is a good family Greek place at Athens Cafe - comfort food, w/ great owners - once you're a regular you're like family. I'll add Puerto Plata on Blanding - the owners are from the DR and are just great. Standard carib stuff much like Rican, with a twist. I like their tostones that come w/ a bowl of garlic sauce. Yowza.
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Pepe's Hacienda
3615 Dupont Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32217
Jacksonville Fish Camps - Which one is best?
Of these, I like Clark's and Whitey's, myself. If you're west of the river, try Whitey's - way down south of O.P. If east of the river, try Clark's in Mandarin. Clark's is not an easy place to find, though.
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Clark's Fish Camp & Seafood
12903 Hood Landing Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32258
Whitey's Fish Camp
2032 County Rd 220 Ste Ofc, Orange Park, FL 32003
Best Onion Rings?
In Jax, go to Mojo's BBQ. Nobody else is even close. It's a big order of hand dipped rings w/ a side of ranch. Consistently great, and I'm hooked on the peppery batter they use to dip these in.
Jacksonville classics
"the bread is not too great "
Opinions vary. I love the stuff.
There is not a single bite worth eating at the Jacksonville Landing. Avoid.
Jacksonville classics
Glad to hear this, Andy. Here's a little more background on Arden's: Have a great trip.
Jacksonville classics
(deep breath)
Here' are a few, Andy. Welcome to my town - I've mentioned most of these in here, but this is a very personal list. Many thanks for all the insights into the Tampa thing over the years. Tampa's a great food town.
1) Please check out the Blue Boy sandwich shop - I recommend the Northside location. It's what Jim Leff would call a 'hound spot'. In this location for 30 years plus, and some of the crew has been here just that long. The key is the in-house bread and the very experienced crew. Absolutely no "atmosphere" except for one of the great bewildering juke boxes of all time - if you like juke boxes, check this one out. They can take something as simple as a BLT and make it into a life-changing experience. Go hungry.
2) For great home cooked from scratch southern eats, go see Arden on the Westside. Arden's Kountry Kafe, to be more specific. You have to get her story along with the food. I won't go into it here, but inspirational is the best description I can give. In short, dinner on the grounds without the sermon - all on a buffet line. If you were raised Southern, you're home. I haven't heard anybody else post on this place, but I can't urge you more strongly to go check this out. She's becoming an enormous success over here, and the food is just murder - not a low fat experience, so best enjoyed once in a while. Worth it.
3) If you hit Beach Road, see if you can drop by the original Lou Bono's over on Beach Blvd. Sit at the bar and see if you can order right from the man running the pit. Again, if he hasn't reired, you'll be dealing with a master of what he does, both with the food, and with the experience of the meal. Otherwise, I'm not a huge Bono's guy, but this is why they got to be big - it's where it started. It's iconic here.
4) The French Pantry. Plan to get there and line up as soon after 11 AM as you can arrange. A terrific variety of sandwiches and salads served by what is really the major commercial French bakery here in Jax. Lots of tables and chairs - expect to sharea table with strangers - it works. You'll be brought some perfect french bread with some olive oil and balsamic to keep you busy which your lunch is being prepared. Really, really, really, good stuff.
I'll stop here, and give some other folks a shot. Hope you enjoy these places as much as we do. Check the board - I have pointers to most of these on the Florida board.
Jacksonville Steakhouse
Sorry I missed this, TE. For your area and budget, you might try Shula's new 347 Grille in Deerwood Park - this might be at about the limit of your 20 minute drive, but the Mrs. and I had a nice meal there on a coupon deal (imagine...) a few weeks ago. This seems to be the functioning restaurant for the whole Sheraton hotel it is in (a nice looking new road warrior inn, BTW) so it might be worth a try. We both ordered off of the grille menu, and got out for a nice price, if I recall correctly. My filet + sides was very good, and her seared tuna was even better.
10605 Deerwood Park Blvd. - 642-0063 is the local #.
Bamboo Creek in JAX?
My understanding is that the Bennigan's location is good, but they have not opened yet. Sometime this fall, I think.
I'd appreciate any notices if someone sees this open, too. I never drive thorugh that part of Baymedaows if I can help it. Not my part of town. Traffic is nuts out there.
southern food in Jacksonville?
Editing my post - San Juan = St. Johns, and a couple of blocks on the right, not the left.
My bad.
Really though, try Arden's - you'll never forget this place.
southern food in Jacksonville?
I'll contribute an "amen" to the Soul Food Bistro, but what you want to do is go to Arden's for lunch. Just off of US 17 S. (Roosevelt Blvd.) at San Juan Ave. Cross the tracks, and Arden's is back a couple of blocks on the left. There are usually a couple of JEA trucks parked nearby, cause that's where the boys like to go for lunch. I don't know how they get anything done after eating at Arden's.
This is the best home cooking avaiable in Jacksonnville. Arden has a menu as well as a buffet - but after you look the buffet over, you'll likely say something like "this'll do...". Open for lunch only from 11:00 AM Mon -Fri - go early - it gets busy. Real busy. Her okra and tomatoes are just like my Grannie's. Three or four meat items and all the southern style veg you can eat. You'll find field peas, squash, cabbage, greens, limas, mac and cheese, chicken and rice, biscuits, cornbread, desserts and on and on and on...
Highly recommended, completely non-chain, and ferociously local. More like a place you'd expect to find in a small town.
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Arden's Kafe & Katering
1650 Hamilton St, Jacksonville, FL
Taco Trucks in Jax?
Word is that there's one out on 103rd street on the Westside, but I haven't gotten out there to find it.
I recommend Pepe's Hacienda on Old St. Augustine Rd. - you have a tienda + lunchcounter arrangement w/ an on-site panaderia and tortelleria. Menudo available on Saturdays - the place fills up for this.
Amazing cheap, amazingly good...
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Pepe's Hacienda
3615 Dupont Ave # 900, Jacksonville, FL
PK Noodles still open
Thanks for the tip, Meg. PK is quite a poke away from my side of town, but I'll see if I can get out there and try it out.
Just moved to JAX... need to eat! =0)
re: Saigon Cafe - will do... Looking for a cold day to put away a nice bowl of pho. Thanks!
I've driven past Saigon Cafe for years and never stopped. Big thanks for the link to the Foodie Jerk site at the T-U. This is new to me.
Westside Taco Trucks? I'm there!! Weekends too??
Dos tacos al pastor, gracias...
Just moved to JAX... need to eat! =0)
Sorry about the bad experience, CD. My experience w/ Sala is limited to an occasional quick lunch, and my background in Asian chow isn't nearly as deep as yours. Sounds like you got the equivalent of chicken fried steak w/ brown gravy - unacceptable. They're really nice folks, and the panang curry for lunch tends to be quick and tasty. I'm not a Thai tea guy, so YMMV, I suppose. Better Thai can be had at Thai Garden in OP, my favorite in the area.
BTW, should you find something really authentic for Asian of any kind, please let us know here. Sorry you missed the tapas. A note - the son of the folks at Sangria House has a hole in the wall place in Riverside, and he cooks a much less traditional tapas menu than his Mom. Just a note - look for 13 Gypsies in Jacksonville. I think he's closed on Monday as well.
Just moved to JAX... need to eat! =0)
Click on my tag, and you see a bunch of reviews and pointers for a variety of local places. Here's a list of my favorites of some of the types you see listed above.
Chinese: Bamboo Creek at Tinseltown - good Chinese from the menu, and HK style dim sum. No carts for dinner, but all dim sum is available from the dim sum menu. The best Chinese in town, IMO. You will miss SoCal, but this is quite good, really.
Korean - Sam Won Garden on University Blvd. - it's about the only Korean place I know of locally, and I like it. That's about all I can say. We have BBQ on every corner, but it's not Korean BBQ. :)
Thai - I like Thai Garden in Orange Park, but you'll see lots of Thai available around town. Sala Thai is nice neighborhood Thai on the Southside, and Basil Thai is more upscale in San Marco.
Mexican - lots around, none authentic. You can get a decent Tacos Al Pastor at La Nopalera (several around town.) I like the one on Hendricks in San Marco. It's a dive, but the food is good, and everybody cooking is Mexican, honest to God.
Japanese - lots of Sushi everywhere, and some of it is even OK. We like our neighborhood places - Sumo Sushi and Sushi Cafe, both in Riverside. Teppanyaki is ubiquitous, all are about the same. Nothing special, but you know what you're going to get. Authentic Japanese? If you find some, please post here.
I invite you to develop a taste for BBQ, and southern homestyle meat and veg. Finding this here is like finding great Chinese in greater LA - there are all sorts of goodies to enjoy. Lots of recommendations for local joints - just check my board and search the Florida board for Jacksonville. You'll get a sense of where to avoid. Never eat a bite at the Jacksonville Landing, if you can help it. Not a bite of anything there is edible.
Welcome to town! Try lots of stuff, and please post your impressions pro or con right here. We love it here, and we never go hungry. :)
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Bamboo Creek
9734 Deer Lake Ct, Jacksonville, FL
Sumo Sushi
2726 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32205
Thai Garden Restaurant
10 Blanding Blvd Ste B, Orange Park, FL 32073
La Nopalera
1930 Kingsley Ave, Orange Park, FL
La Nopalera
11700 San Jose Blvd # 4, Jacksonville, FL
Sushi Cafe
2025 Riverside Ave Ste 204, Jacksonville, FL 32204
