Photos by Walter Coker

Compiled by Marlene Dryden

Folio Weekly’s
2007 Bite By Bite By Cuisine:
Our Most Outrageous EVER!
Three squares a day. For the average person, that comes to more Barbecue 17 Japanese 46
than 75,000 meals in a lifetime, not including snacks, desserts and Brazilian 18 Mexican & Southwestern 49
drinks. Who has the time to cook all that food? British & Irish 18 Middle Eastern 51
It’s outrageous — as is Folio Weekly’s 2007 Bite By Bite By Cafés, Delis & Sandwich Spots 19 Neighborhood Hangouts 52
Cuisine, the most comprehensive guide to all things edible in Caribbean & Cuban 25 Peruvian 56
Casual Spots 26 Pizzerias 56
Northeast Florida. In addition to hundreds of restaurant
Chinese 30 Regional 59
descriptions, this installment of Bite By Bite includes outrageous Coffeehouses 32 Seafood 63
tales of hilarity and woe as revealed by the region’s servers, Eclectic 34 Spanish 67
bartenders and restaurant managers. From near-brawls to flashing French 36 Specialty & Dinner Theater 67
brides-to-be, the yarns spun by these put-upon restaurant German 37 Sportsbars, Wings, Oysters 67
employees will make you glad you’re the customer. Global 37 Steakhouses 69
So dig in. Folio Weekly’s most outrageous Bite By Bite Greek & Mediterranean 40 Sweet Spots 70
promises to be everything you need to get satisfaction from Home Cookin’ 42 Thai 70
dining out — with the possible exception of an expense account. Hot Dogs 43 Vegetarian 73
Indian 43 Wine Bars 74
Italian 43
Barbecue
AJ’s Café
626 May St., Riverside,
358-2644
AJ’s Café features Chicago-
style smoked rib tips, St. Louis-
style ribs and smoked chicken,
barbecue beans, slaw and fries.
So good you don’t need the
sauce — but check it out any-
way, it’s homemade. Beer and
wine are available. Catering
services are offered during the
week. Open for lunch 10:30
a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, and at
7:30 p.m. for a free block party
Friday and Saturday nights.
Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q
12620 Bartram Park Blvd.,
Jacksonville, 652-2989
4907 Beach Blvd., San Marco,
398-4248
10065 Skinner Lake Drive,
JTB & Gate Parkway,
998-1997
9820 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 268-2666
3303 San Pablo Road S.,
Intracoastal West, 223-1391
8011 Merrill Road, Ste. 23,
Arlington, 743-3727
5229 Jammes Road,
Westside, 772-0050
1036 Dunn Ave., Ste. 2,
Northside, 696-6968
1266 S. Third St., Jacksonville
Beach, 249-8704
5711 Bowden Road,
Southside, 448-5395
705 S. Lane Ave., Westside,
783-1404
10645 Philips Highway,
Southside, 886-2801
100 Bartram Oaks Walk, Fruit
Cove, 287-7710
5903 Norwood Ave.,
Northside, 765-1817
1307 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune
Beach, 270-2666
1765 Town Center Blvd.,
Orange Park, 269-8870
1001 A1A Beach Blvd., St.
Augustine Beach, 461-0157
2420 U.S. 1 S., St. Augustine,
794-9424
Folio Weekly readers have
repeatedly picked Bono’s as
their favorite place to eat bar-
becue. For more than 50 years,
Bono’s has offered meats that
are slow-smoked and tender,
along with tangy sauces. Try
the baby back ribs or go for a
barbecue salad, smoked
sausage or chicken breast
sandwich. For parties, call
880-8310. Bono’s also offers
catering. A children’s menu is
available. Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Blackjack’s BBQ
4610 San Juan Ave.,
Westside, 387-3900
A local family-owned-and-
operated barbecue restaurant
that never reheats anything,
Blackjacks serves up ribs, com-
bos, sandwiches, salads and
chicken falling off the bone.
Blackjacks also offers four
unique Cole Pepper Blackjack
barbecue sauces. A kids’ menu
is available and BBQ lovers may
dine in or carry out. Catering is
:: After 19 years, the family-owned Sun Dog Steak and Seafood in Neptune Beach is still going strong,
serving innovative cuisine in an art-deco setting.
also offered. Open from
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday.
Brown Brothers BBQ
1522 King St., Riverside,
388-9227
Brown Brothers serves authen-
tic North Florida barbecue,
including ribs, chicken, pork and
sausage, with down home fix-
ins, like okra and fresh greens.
Fresh ingredients are used in
every dish. A kids’ menu is
available. Open for lunch from
10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, for lunch and
dinner from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30
p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Bull’s Bar B Q
8602 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 739-3874
Bull’s serves pork, ribs, beef,
chicken and baby back ribs, as
well as salads and sides.
Open for lunch and dinner
from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
Checker Barbecue
3566 St. Augustine Road,
San Marco, 398-9206
Art Jennette, formerly of Palms
Fish Camp, runs the show at
Checker Barbecue, serving up
all manner of barbecue, seafood
and down-home comfort food.
The Trailer Trash Special fea-
tures a pulled-pork sandwich,
15 of Art’s fried white shrimp,
fries and fresh fried green
tomatoes. The dinner buffet,
held on Friday and Saturday
night, offers North Florida cui-
sine, from Art’s original recipes.
Open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday through Saturday for
lunch and from 6 to 8 p.m.
Monday through Thursday for
dinner, with the dinner buffet
from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday
and Saturday.
Jack’s BBQ
691 A1A Beach Blvd., St.
Augustine, 460-8100
The modest building at the
corner of A1A Beach Boulevard
and A Street has drawn regu-
lars and locals for more than six
decades. Part of Jack’s BBQ’s
appeal is the old-fashioned pit
barbecue, but the place has
been updated with a Tiki bar, a
large wooden deck with picnic
tables, even a swimming pool.
Lunch and dinner are served
daily, along with a full bar and
plenty of cold beer. Live enter-
tainment is featured Saturday
and Sunday.
Jenkins Quality
Barbecue
2025 Emerson St.,
Lakewood, 346-3770
830 N. Pearl St., Downtown
Jacksonville, 353-6388
1791 Kings Road, Northside,
358-9915
5945 New Kings Road,
Northside, 765-8515
For 50 years, Jenkins Quality
Barbecue has served some of
the best, sloppiest food ever to
be licked off a paper plate —
and the secret’s in the sauce.
Even John Kerry dropped in to
sample the legendary nectar
during a 2004 campaign stop.
It’s a little bit mustard and a
whole lot delicious, whether
slathered on a whole smoky
chicken or applied liberally to a
basket of crinkle-cut French
fries — even if it won’t land you
in the White House. Jenkins
Quality Barbecue’s Pearl Street
and Kings Road locations are
open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Monday through Thursday, 10
a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and
Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m.
on Sunday.
Mojo Bar-B-Que
1607 University Blvd. W.,
Southside, 732-7200
Mojo Kitchen BBQ Pit
& Blues Bar
1500 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville
Beach, 247-6636
This Southern blues kitchen
offers pulled pork, brisket and
North Carolina barbecue. The
Southern platters include chick-
en-fried steak and Delta-fried
catfish, and all the barbecue is
slow-smoked for hours. A kids’
menu, carry-out and full-serv-
ice catering are available, along
with a full bottled beer selec-
tion. Open from 11 a.m. to 9
p.m. Sunday through Thursday,
and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday. The
Beaches location features live
blues music and has a full bar.
Sonny’s Real Pit
Bar-B-Q
12485 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 288-7928
4434 Blanding Blvd., Westside,
777-0730
1923 S. Lane Ave., Westside,
786-0081
2742 S. Eighth St., Fernandina
Beach, 261-6632
1976 Kingsley Ave., Orange
Park, 272-4606
12719 Atlantic Blvd.,
Intracoastal West, 220-9499
10840 Harts Road, Northside,
751-4225
5097 University Blvd. W.,
Southside, 737-4906
1720 U.S. 1 S., St. Augustine,
824-3220
2720 S.R. 16, St. Augustine,
824-3315
For more than 30 years,
Sonny’s has been a Northeast
Florida favorite, voted the Best
Barbecue in Folio Weekly’s Best
of Jax readers poll. The beef,
pork, chicken and ribs are
cooked in a wood-fired barbe-
cue pit. Side orders include
Vidalia onion rings, corn
nuggets and potato salad along
with the traditional barbecue
beans and freshly made
coleslaw. All-you-can-eat spe-
cials are featured seven days a
week. Take-out and catering is
available. Beer is served. Open
for lunch and dinner daily.
Sticky Fingers
363 Atlantic Blvd., Beaches
Town Center, Atlantic Beach,
241-RIBS (7427)
8129 Point Meadows Way,
Baymeadows, 493-7427
 B B B
A true Memphis-style rib
house, Sticky Fingers’ ribs,
chicken and barbecue are
slow-smoked over aged
hickory wood. The menu
also includes hickory-
smoked chicken wings,
rotisserie-smoked chicken,
burgers, dinner salads and
desserts. Dine indoors
where the décor is reminis-
cent of Memphis’ Beale
Street or outdoors on the
screened patio. Happy
hour is featured weekdays.
Catering services available.
Dine in or take out. Open
for lunch and dinner, 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday, till 11
p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Tombo’s Backporch
Barbecue
8929 Philips Highway,
Southside, 363-0990
Tombo’s bright yellow
awning screams “BBQ!”
and the menu doesn’t dis-
appoint. Tombo’s offers
low-fat dishes like barbe-
cue salad, and a full break-
fast menu, but the restau-
rant will also smoke your
hogs, hams, deer and
turkeys. Open for break-
fast and lunch Monday
through Saturday.
Woody’s Bar-B-Q
4291 Roosevelt Blvd.,
Westside, 384-3442
8206 Philips Highway,
Ste. 25, Southside,
265-0066
1638 University Blvd. S.,
Southside, 721-8836
10771 Beach Blvd.,
Ste. 301, Southside,
642-3774
9825 San Jose
Blvd., Ste. 46,
Mandarin,
262-3955
1478 S. Sixth St.,
Macclenny,
259-5800
950 Blanding Blvd.,
Ste. 1, Orange
Park, 272-1419
1635 Wells Road,
Orange Park,
278-2212
226 Solana Road,
Ste. 1, Ponte Vedra
Beach, 280-8999
135 Jenkins St., Ste.
106, St. Augustine,
819-8880
474323 S.R. 200,
Fernandina, 206-4046
Woody’s Bar-B-Q features
barbecue plates, sandwich-
es, baby back ribs, barbe-
cue salads and the popular
pulled pork sandwiches.
Along with lunch and din-
ner specials, there are sev-
eral all-you-can-eat spe-
cials. (At dinner, $1 more
creates an all-you-can eat
meal.) A children’s menu is
available, and a seniors’ dis-
count is offered at some
locations. Beer and wine
are served. Dine in or take
out. Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Brazilian Catch and corned beef and
cabbage — dishes to be
sampled with the requisite
Tento Churrascaria pint of Guinness. Open at
528 N. First St., 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through
Jacksonville Beach, Friday and at 11 a.m. on
246-1580 Saturday and Sunday, with
Located across from the an Irish brunch served
Jacksonville Beach Pier, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
this new Brazilian steak- on Sunday, complete
house features more than with mimosas and
14 cuts of meat carved Bloody Marys.
tableside, as well as an
ample salad bar and a Fionn MacCool’s
selection of soups. The full Irish Pub &
bar features an extensive
wine list, including the tra-
Restaurant
ditional Caipirinha. Open 333 N. First St.,
for dinner from 5 to Jacksonville Beach,
10 p.m. Tuesday 242-9499
through Sunday. Fionn MacCool’s serves a
variety of dishes, including
steaks and seafood as well
British & Irish as sandwiches and salads.
The pub is authentic down
to the furniture and bar
Ann O’Malley’s (made in Ireland and
23 Orange St., St. brought over here), and
Augustine, 825-4040 offers a full bar including, of
Located across from the course, Guinness pints. Live
Old City Gates, Ann music is featured Wednes-
O’Malley’s has an authen- day through Sunday. A chil-
tic Irish pub atmosphere, dren’s menu and take-out
with a casual menu of are also available. Open 11
soups, salads and sand- a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
wiches. Dine indoors or
out on the porch. Beer and Hell’s Kitchen
wine are served, with Irish (at The Fly’s Tie
beers on tap. Open daily
from 11 a.m. to midnight. Irish Pub)
177 E. Sailfish Drive,
The British Pub Atlantic Beach, 246-4293
213 Anastasia Blvd., St. A full traditional Irish
brunch, including black
Augustine, 810-5111 bacon, beans, and black
This traditional British pub and white puddings, is
serves ale, beer and wine, offered from 11 a.m. to 2
as well as traditional meat p.m. on Sunday. The
pies, Cornish pasties and
Outrageous DRUNKS!
Dylan Louvier
Bartender at Shantytown in Springfield
“On a busy night at Shantytown last
December, there was this dude from out of
town that missed his Greyhound. He was a
younger guy on his way to see his folks in
North Carolina, and he was supposed to stay
at a punk house down the street. However, he got drunk and dis-
appeared. After closing the bar, I was driving home with a friend,
listening to the Beastie Boys, and as soon as I pulled up to my
house, I hear this voice from the back say “Uhh, where am I?”
This makes me jump up and my friend turns around, fists up. It
was the same guy. The two things I learned that night are that I
need to lock my doors, and that drunks are very amusing.”
sausage rolls. Varieties of Fly’s Tie Irish Pub pours
authentic British food and Guinness, ales and assort-
candies are sold in the little ed beers. Nate Holley
shop within the pub. Open performs on Mondays,
4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday Tuesday is songwriter’s
through Thursday, 3 p.m. night, Wednesdays feature
to 1 a.m. Friday, Saturday reggae, the Wes Cobb
and Sunday. Band plays Thursdays and
live music is presented
Culhane’s Irish Pub Friday and Saturday nights.
967 Atlantic Blvd., Sundays feature DJ Jaren.
Atlantic Village, Atlantic
Beach, 249-9595 King’s Head
An upscale Irish pub and British Pub
restaurant that can’t help
6460 U.S. 1, St.
but be authentic — four Augustine, 823-9787
sisters from County
At this authentic British
Limerick, Ireland own and pub, owner Ann Dyke and
manage the quaint place.
her staff serve a variety of
Culhanes’ menu includes British draught beers and
fish and chips, Nana’s
cider in 20-ounce Imperial
sausage rolls, Fisherman’s pints. The pub was named
:: Located just west of the Shave Bridge in Fernandina Beach, The Armadillo Grill & Oyster
Bar serves up great vistas and inventive cuisine, like almond-crusted grouper fingers and
lobster enchiladas.
Best Neighborhood Bar in
St. Augustine in 2000 in
Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax
readers poll and offers
dishes such as Cornish
pasties, bangers and mash,
and fish and chips.
Organized dart matches
are played every
Wednesday. Open for
lunch and dinner 11:30
a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday
through Thursday, 11:30
a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 9
p.m. Sunday. Located four
miles north of the St.
Augustine airport on U.S. 1
— look for the double-
decker red bus out front.
The London Bridge
English Pub
and Eatery
100 E. Adams St.,
Downtown Jacksonville,
359-0001
This downtown mainstay
serves traditional British
pub cuisine and beverages
while catering to a hip
crowd. The menu includes
fish and chips, bangers and
mash, cottage pie and big
hamburgers, and free tea
comes with the lunch spe-
cial on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday. A
large selection of draft and
bottle beer, ales and ciders
— including Guinness,
Tucher and Strongbow —
and wines are available.
Live music. Open Monday
through Friday from 11
a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday
and Sunday from 5 p.m.
to midnight.
Lynch’s Irish Pub
514 N. First St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
249-5181
Folio Weekly readers have
repeatedly named Lynch’s
as Jacksonville’s Best Pub
in the annual Best of Jax
readers readers poll.
Lynch’s fresh “green”
menu includes Irish stew,
corned beef and cabbage,
Shepherd’s pie and fish and
chips. There’s also a full
range of appetizers and
daily specials. The full-
service bar has 32 draft
beers on tap. Live enter-
tainment is featured every
evening. Open 11 a.m. for
lunch and dinner daily.
McKnight’s
Little Ireland
113 Anastasia Blvd., St.
Augustine Beach,
829-0870
McKnight’s
Irish Pub
At Cathedral Place, St.
Augustine, 824-0046
Both locations offer Irish
fare including shepherd’s
pie, fish and chips and daily
specials. Bee and wine are
served. A kids’ menu is
available. Open for break-
fast, lunch and dinner.
O’Kane’s Irish Pub
318 Centre St.,
Fernandina Beach,
261-1000
Winner of Folio Weekly’s
Best of Jax award for Best
Neighborhood Bar on
Amelia Island, O’Kane’s
offers a large selection of
draft and imported beers.
In the back, the eatery
offers fish and chips, soups
in sourdough bread bowls
and certified Angus beef.
There’s a daily happy hour
and late-night food is
served. Live entertainment
is featured Thursday
through Saturday nights.
Open from 11:30 a.m. to
10 p.m. daily.
The Prince of Wales
54 Cuna St., St.
Augustine, 810-5725
In the heart of St.
Augustine’s historic dis-
trict, Prince of Wales
serves traditional English
food — including fish and
chips, beef and Guinness
pie, curry, bangers and
mash, spotted dick,
cottage pie and Scotch
eggs — crated by the phat,
bald bastard Chef Tony in
a British pub atmosphere.
Wine and more than 39
beers, ales and ciders are
served. An authentic
British menu for the kiddies
is featured. Open from
noon to 9 p.m. Thursday
through Monday, closed
Tuesday and Wednesday.
WalkAbout Café
& Eatery
13245 Atlantic Blvd.
(at Hodges Blvd.),
Intracoastal West,
221-8222
14333 Beach Blvd., Ste.
101, Intracoastal West,
992-2221
This Australian-inspired
café has a line of folks each
morning seeking specialty
mochas. Breakfast includes
muffins and a traditional
British breakfast of
sausage, eggs, baked beans
and toast. Lunch includes
British sausage baked in
pastry, fish and chips, meat
pie with mashed potatoes
and the popular Aussie
burger. A bevy of imported
English teas and British
and Australian grocery
items are available. Open
for breakfast and lunch
daily, and dinner on
Friday, at the Atlantic
Boulevard location.
Cafés, Delis
& Sandwich
Spots
The American Café
2 Independent Drive, Ste.
201, The Jacksonville
Landing, 353-4503
The café’s specialties
include steaks, ribs and
fresh fish, but the chicken
pot pie is a customer
favorite. Gourmet pizzas,
pastas and large salads are
also offered, and French
bread is served with every
entrée. Full bar, open for
lunch and dinner daily.
 B B B
Angel’s Porch Café
708 Centre St., Fernandina
Beach, 321-2299
Located in an 1887 shotgun-
style house in historic
Fernandina Beach, Angel’s
Porch Café features dishes like
stuffed crab, quiche, turkey
meatloaf, black beans and rice
with pork, croissant sandwiches
and salads. Beer, wine and san-
gria are served along with cap-
puccino and flavored coffees.
Artistic gifts are available for
purchase. Angel’s is open for
lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
Monday and Tuesday, and for
lunch and dinner from 11 a.m.
to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday
through Sunday.
Arden’s Kafé &
Katering
1650 Hamilton St., Ste. 4,
Ortega, 384-4144
From gourmet to Cajun, Chef
Arden deSaussure can create it,
using fresh ingredients, includ-
ing local seafood, veggies and
meats. A buffet is served 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
Atrium Café
1 Independent Drive, Ste. 100,
Downtown Jacksonville,
634-1811
Located in the Modis Building,
Atrium Café offers a variety of
items, featuring hot entrées and
traditional sandwiches, includ-
ing the buffalo chicken sand-
wich. Dine outside, inside or
take out. Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday for
breakfast and lunch. Catering
is available.
Back Porch Café
3031 Monument Road, East
Arlington, 998-9918
This casual restaurant has a
sophisticated atmosphere, serv-
ing dishes like coconut shrimp,
pork chops with mango salsa,
Yankee pot roast and flounder
Francaise. A children’s menu is
offered and take-out is
available. Beer and wine are
served. Open at 11:30 a.m. for
lunch and dinner Monday
through Saturday.
Bagel World
2202 S. Third St., Jacksonville
Beach, 246-9988
Home of the Best Bagel,
according to Folio Weekly’s
Best of Jax readers poll, this
cozy little place offers a break-
fast special (eggs, ham and
cheese) as well as a variety of
coffees and juices. Bagel sand-
wiches are made with fresh
ingredients and the friendly
folks behind the counter will
help you pair your bagel with a
cream cheese flavor. Open 6:30
a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through
Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday.
Bagelicious
176 S.R. 312, St. Augustine,
824-9949
4255 A1A S., Ste. 7, St.
Augustine Beach, 461-4300
Bagelicious is a popular break-
fast and lunch spot with inno-
vative sandwiches, salads and
soups served with chutzpah.
Freshly baked bagels and arti-
san breads are available, along
with a coffee bar and sweet
treats. With a Bohemian
atmosphere, Bagelicious is open
weekdays, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
and Saturday and Sunday, 7
a.m. to 3 p.m.
Blue Boy
Sandwich Shop
421 N. Laura St., Downtown
Jacksonville, 355-6767
6514 Norwood Ave.,
Northside, 768-9791
Blue Boy offers hot and cold
sandwiches served on breads
made on site, as well as subs,
camels, salads and desserts.
Downtown location is open
from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday. North-
side location is open from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through
Friday and till 3 p.m. Saturday.
Bright Mornings
105 S. Third St., Fernandina
Beach, 491-1771
This small café is hidden behind
Amelia SanJon Gallery. With
indoor and outdoor dining, the
café is open for breakfast and
lunch weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 2
p.m. (closed Wednesdays), and
weekends 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Available for parties and events
after hours.
Buffalo’s Southwestern
Café
6055 Youngerman Circle,
Westside, 778-1101
Southwestern/American cui-
sine is Buffalo’s niche, from
wings and fajitas to sirloin steak
and wrap sandwiches.
Children’s selections are avail-
able, and there’s a special week-
day lunch menu. Bike night is
every Wednesday, when
motorcyclists raise money for
charity, and there’s also live
music and beer specials.
Buffalo’s serves a full bar with a
daily happy hour. Dine indoors
or out on the patio, where
there’s a smoker-friendly patio
bar. Catering service is avail-
:: Customers pick their own ingredients to be prepared on the 72-inch flat hot grill at Mongo’s Flat Hot Grill at The
Jacksonville Landing.
able. Open for lunch and dinner
daily. Kids eat free on Sundays
and for 99 cents on Tuesdays.
The Bunnery
121 St. George St., St.
Augustine, 829-6166
How many places in the world
let you frost your own sticky
bun? And why wasn’t this place
around when we were kids?
Located in the heart of St.
Augustine’s historic district, the
Bunnery offers homemade
cakes, cheesecakes and pastries
in addition to serving up full
Southern breakfasts, sandwich-
es, and chilled and hot espres-
sos. The coffee bar, diner chairs
and booth seating lend a con-
temporary feel to the 1920s
building. Take-out is available.
Café Eleven
501 A1A Beach Blvd., St.
Augustine, 460-9311
Since Café Eleven opened in
2002, Northeast Florida has
seen a considerable increase in
the number of decent bands
rolling through this neck of the
woods. It’s no wonder that hip
indie and Americana acts come
from far and wide to play this
intimate venue. The expertly
renovated convenience store is
cozy but never cramped, has an
adventurous selection of beer, is
directly across the street from
the ocean, and has a menu
packed with innovative sand-
wiches, soups, salads and
entrees. Perfect for punks who
want a Buffalo Chicken Panini
with a side of Against Me!, or
perhaps hipsters who crave
Blackened Salmon with an
extra helping of Modest Mouse.
Open for breakfast, lunch and
dinner from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
daily, later if there’s a show.
Café Express
1706 Southside Blvd.,
Jacksonville, 724-3997
This cozy café — home of the
fried bologna sandwich and
homemade potato chips —
offers hot and cold sandwiches
as well as breakfast dishes.
Favorites include blackened
chicken Caesar salad and
homemade chicken salad. Dine
in or take out. Open 6:30 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m. for breakfast and
lunch Monday through Friday.
Café Nola
333 N. Laura St.,
Jacksonville, 366-6911
There’s something so cool and
metropolitan about eating lunch
in an art museum. Judging by
the dangerously tall floral center-
pieces and the selection of haute
cuisine, metropolitan chic is
exactly what Café Nola is shoot-
ing for. Located in Museum of
Contemporary Art Jacksonville,
Nola is impressive enough for an
important business meeting, but
reasonable enough for a casual
lunch with friends. OK, it’s in the
heart of downtown Jacksonville,
not Manhattan — but they make
it easy to pretend. Open for
lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday, for din-
ner from 5 to 9 p.m. on
Wednesdays and from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. for Sunday brunch.
Café St. George
Coffeehouse & Bakery
114 St. George St., St.
Augustine, 823-1229
This lunch venue serves sand-
wiches, focaccia and a wide
selection of wraps made with
fresh ingredients. Café St.
George also features Seattle’s
Best Coffee, bagels, muffins,
ice cream and smoothies.
Open daily.
Café 331
331 W. Forsyth St.,
Downtown Jacksonville,
354-1999
American, Chicago and
Mediterranean-style char-grilled
sandwiches are served up at
Café 331, where everything’s
fresh and made to order, includ-
ing salads, breakfast and lunch.
There’s no minimum order for
delivery and the service is fast —
businesspersons, take note. Open
at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday
and at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Carolyn’s On Centre
316-D Centre St., Fernandina Beach,
277-6644
Located in historic downtown
Fernandina, Carolyn’s offers a beer and
wine menu paired with soups, salads
and sandwiches downstairs and upstairs,
the specialty is Southern cuisine, includ-
ing seared scallops over cheese grits,
and crab cakes, served in an intimate
setting. Open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 3
p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, for
dinner from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday
through Saturday. The full bar is
open from 4 p.m. till late Monday
through Saturday.

Chai House Tea Company

1034 Hendricks Ave., San Marco,
399-4848
Under new ownership, this vintage-style
cafe serves breakfast, lunch and
desserts in a relaxed atmosphere. Chai
House offers loose-leaf teas, herbal
teas, frozen Jet Teas, boba teas and
lattes in a variety of flavors. Breakfast
includes eggs Benedict, eggs Florentine,
English muffins and French toast with
maple-butter glaze. Reservations can be
made for traditional afternoon tea
served in the private dining room, which
is also available for events. Open 7 a.m.
to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Catering and take-out are available.

Curly’s Café
1975 Wells Road, Ste. 4, Orange Park,
276-8491
Familiar fare is Curly’s specialty, includ-
ing the Curly burger, subs and sides,
served in a family-friendly atmosphere.
A kids’ menu and take-out are available.
Curly’s is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday, and from 7
a.m. to noon on Saturday. Breakfast is
served till noon and there’s a different
special each day.

Deerwood Deli & Diner

9934 Baymeadows Road, Southside,
641-4877
This 1950s-style diner features pink-
and-chrome furnishings, a checkerboard
floor and photographs of the heart-
throbs of yesteryear. The menu includes
burgers, Reubens, shakes and Coke
floats. Breakfast and a kids’ menu are
available, as are take-out and delivery.
Open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.

Diane’s New Dawn Market

110 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine,
824-1337
Diane’s Natural Food Market
240 S.R. 312, St. Augustine,
808-9978
The lunch counters inside both of these
health food stores serve sandwiches on
freshly baked whole-grain bread, soups,
salads, banana smoothies and fresh carrot
juice. Everything is made-to-order using
organic ingredients. Sandwich choices
include avocado, soy protein un-chicken
salad, peanut butter with honey, hum-
mus, tofu salad and a veggie burger. Open
for lunch Monday through Saturday.

Elizabeth’s Café
1500 Sawgrass Village Drive,
Ponte Vedra, 543-7677
Serving baked goods, a full breakfast
menu and lunch items, Elizabeth’s Café
in Sawgrass Village specializes in scram-
bled eggs with Nova Scotia salmon and
onions and deli-style sandwiches. Soups,
salads and freshly baked bagels are also
available. Espresso bar coffee drinks can
be served hot, over ice or frozen.
Outside patio dining, catering and spe-
cial events available. Open 8 a.m. to 3
 B B B
p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8
a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Elizabeth’s Tea Room
568 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic
Beach, 270-1980
Elizabeth’s Tea Room is simply
that: a tea room offering lunches
and teas. Children’s tea parties
and private teas are featured.
Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday
through Saturday. Take-out is
available. Brunch is now available
on Saturday and Sunday, by
reservation only.
Fly By Café
4900 U.S. 1 N., St. Augustine,
824-3494
Located at the county airport, Fly
By features a laid-back atmos-
phere with a view of the
Intracoastal from the patio. The
menu offers signature soups, spe-
cialty burgers and chicken sand-
wiches. A kids’ menu, and beer
and wine are available. Open
from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday
through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7
p.m. on Saturday and till 4:30
p.m. on Sunday.
Genesis Café & Catering
8725 Old Kings Road S.,
Jacksonville, 448-8434
Genesis Café & Catering has an
Old World atmosphere and an
eclectic menu with an emphasis
on seafood. Specialties include
chicken Florentine and Maryland
crab cakes. Live jazz and blues
are featured. Open weekdays for
lunch and for dinner, 5 to 9 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday.
GQ’s Café & Wine Bar
12760 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 886-1993
GQ’s offers European and
Mediterranean cuisine in a bistro
atmosphere. Popular dishes
include Greek omelet, Asian
chicken salad and salmon
Benedict. Open for lunch 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m., for dinner from 5 to 10
p.m. Monday through Saturday,
and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for
Sunday brunch.
Heirlooms Café
& Market
9545 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 880-2291
This culinary café and market
offers dishes made with fresh
ingredients, served inside or out
on the terrace. Signature items
include BBQ duck wonton, pesto
alfredo tuna panini and
Brentwood pot roast sandwich.
Take-out and catering are avail-
able. Open for lunch and dinner
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
and Tuesday, till 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday through Friday.
High Tide Café
40 S. Dixie Hwy., St.
Augustine, 829-1160
This surf-themed restaurant is
just outside the historic district
and serves health-minded
sandwiches and salads, as well as
home-brewed Fusion Tide Tea.
Live music is presented every
Friday and local surfing art is dis-
played. Open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday through Saturday and
from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday,
featuring live music during
Sunday brunch.
Jason’s Deli
2230 S. Third St., Jacksonville
Beach, 246-7585
4375 Southside Blvd., Ste. 15,
Southside, 620-0707
Jason’s Deli serves fresh, thick,
deli sandwiches along with soups
and salads and super spuds. The
signature sandwich is a New
Orleans-style muffuletta sand-
wich. There’s also a salad bar
with more than 33 choices and
free ice cream. Beer is available.
Open for breakfast, lunch and
dinner daily.
J & E Food Company
1409 S. Third St., Jacksonville
Beach, 247-9911
Fresh baked cookies and pastries,
breakfast sandwiches and freshly
made salads and sandwiches are
served in this artisan bakery and
deli. Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday through Saturday.
Kitchen Kettle Deli
1120 S. Edgewood Ave.,
Murray Hill, 387-8400
Kitchen Kettle Deli is a small,
family-owned business serving
homemade dishes and desserts.
Chef Kim Wright serves daily
lunch specials including chicken
salad and potato salad. The menu
now includes Atkins and Weight
Watchers items. Desserts are sold
whole, and take-out is available.
Open Monday through Friday
from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
La Bodega Courtyard
Cafe and Deli
19 S. Third St., Fernandina
Beach, 321-1922
Overlooking the historic Florida
House Inn in downtown
Fernandina Beach, La Bodega
features an eclectic menu spiced
with herbs from the garden and
popular daily specials. Specialties
include including fresh local
seafood at dinner — each dinner
entrée comes with cheddar grits,
jalapeño collard green and ginger-
thyme biscuits — and at lunch,
homemade soups, grilled fish,
chicken and hamburgers. Beer
and wine are served. The court-
yard has the look and feel of a
European café. Open for lunch
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday
through Saturday; for dinner
starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday. Reservations
are recommended.
Latitudes Café &
Martini Bar
2429 S. Third St., Jacksonville
Beach, 247-6606
This new Beaches destination
blends a cosmopolitan attitude
with a tropical atmosphere, fea-
turing a trendy martini and wine
list and an upscale tapas menu.
Dine in the secluded courtyard or
in the newly renovated dining
room. Open 11 a.m. to midnight
Tuesday and Wednesday, from 11
a.m. till 2 a.m. Thursday through
Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4
p.m. for Sunday brunch.
Larry’s Giant Subs
7001 Merrill Road,
Arlington, 743-5664
7140 Atlantic Blvd.,
Arlington, 724-8466
:: Jax River City Café in Springfield specializes in homestyle cooking, traditional breakfasts and hearty portions.
1301 Monument Road, breakfast. Open for lunch and din- Monday through Thursday, till 10
Arlington, 724-5802 ner daily. The Tinseltown location p.m. Friday and Saturday.
also offers an extensive beer and
10750 Atlantic Blvd.,
Intracoastal West, 642-6980
wine selection, with a daily happy Nancy’s Café•Bar
hour, as well as espressos, cappuc- 1504 N. Third St., Jacksonville
4479 Deerwood Lake, cinos and South Beach salads.
Southside, 425-4060 Open for lunch and dinner daily.
Beach, 246-4877
This is a new Nancy’s, relocated
8616 Baymeadows Road, from First Street, but it still offers
Baymeadows, 739-2498 Leone’s Café a killer breakfast featuring the
10920 Reedy Branch Commons, 1560 Business Center Drive,
buffet as well as corned beef
Baymeadows, 519-9801 Orange Park, 215-7770 hash, 10 eggs Benedict recipes,
9041 Southside Blvd., Leone’s is a deli, bakery and café breakfast burritos and 10 flavors
Southside, 363-0012 all in one. The menu features of pancakes. At lunchtime there’s
soups and salads made fresh daily, an ample cold salad buffet. Open
611 St. Johns Bluff Road, as well as paninis and other sand- 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through
Southside, 641-6499 wiches. Breakfast is served all Saturday and until 3 p.m. Sunday
1900 Atlantic Blvd., day. The bagel dough is flown in and Monday. The breakfast buffet
Intracoastal West, 221-7827 from New York, so the bagels are is served 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
baked fresh every day, on the Saturday and Sunday. A full bar
701 Mayport Crossing,
Atlantic Beach, 246-1613 premises. (The baker insists a is offered.
good bagel is all about the New
830 A1A N., Ste. 6,
Ponte Vedra, 273-3993
York water.) Open 5:30 a.m. to One Hot Cookie!
2:30 p.m. daily. & Creamery
657 N. Third St., Jacksonville
Beach, 247-9620 930 Sawgrass Village, Ponte
Little Joe’s Café Vedra Beach, 273-2606
11018 Old St. Augustine Road, by Ackel’s
Mandarin, 262-7879 217 N. Third St., Neptune
245 Riverside Ave., Ste. 195, Beach, 270-2127
11362 San Jose Blvd.,
Riverside, 791-3336 One Hot Cookie serves up cus-
Mandarin, 674-2945 This bright riverview café located tom desserts in a pop-art gallery.
12001 Lem Turner Road, inside the St. Joe Building offers Among the sweet temptations
Northside, 764-9999 breakfast and lunch in a casual are soft-dough cookies, gourmet
2620 Blanding Blvd., atmosphere. Fresh soups, salads coffee, smoothies and ice cream
and signature salad dressings with mix-ins. Also available are
Middleburg, 291-0663 round out the New York-style deli
1509 Margaret St., made-to-order breakfast items,
experience. Take-out or dine in and sandwiches and wraps,
Riverside, 674-2794 available. Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. including chicken Caesar with
4218 Blanding Blvd., Monday through Friday.
homemade dressing. Outdoor
Westside, 778-0720 seating overlooking the lake is
8102 Blanding Blvd., Matthew’s Market available. A kids’ menu is avail-
Westside, 779-1933 & Catering able. Open from 8 a.m. to 9:30
2103 San Marco Blvd., San p.m. Sunday through Thursday,
700 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 15,
Marco, 398-6676 till 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Orange Park, 272-3553
1545 C.R. 220, Located right across the street
Panera Bread
from Matthew’s restaurant,
Orange Park, 278-2827 9810 Baymeadows Road,
1330 Blanding Blvd.,
Matthew’s offers prepared gour-
met food to go, including seafood, Southside, 645-5747
Orange Park, 276-7370 deli meats, juices and sandwiches. 4720 Town Crossing Drive,
96106 Lofton Sq. Blvd., Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Jacksonville, 807-9103
Yulee, 491-3384 13820 Old St. Augustine Road,
With more than 50 locations
throughout Northeast Florida, McAlister’s Deli Mandarin, 262-1732
13740 Beach Blvd.,
these stores are known for piling 9700 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 5,
subs high and serving them fast. In Southside, 564-2377 Southside, 821-8211
addition to a vast selection of hot McAlister’s offers fresh food 11111 San Jose Blvd.,
and cold subs made with fresh served fast, including sandwiches, Mandarin, 268-3366
meats and cheeses, the menu fea-
spuds, soups, salads and specially 9301 Atlantic Blvd.,
tures soups, salads and other made sweet tea. A kids’ menu,
items. Several locations also offer Arlington, 722-2725
catering and take-out are avail- 12959 Atlantic Blvd.,
Taco Max, as well as provide able. Open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
delivery service and/or serve
Intracoastal West,
221-1300
2104 S. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
246-6688
1615 Hendricks
Ave., San Marco,
306-9600
4403 Roosevelt
Blvd., Ste. 3,
Jacksonville,
387-1727
8635 Blanding
Blvd., Westside,
778-4141
13271 City Station
Drive, Northside,
714-6488
Voted Best Bakery
and Best Bagels by
Folio Weekly read-
ers, Panera’s features
a variety of fresh-baked
goods. Artisan breads,
panini sandwiches, espres-
so drinks and thick iced
coffees are also on the
menu. If you want a sweet
treat, Panera’s bakery case
is filled with many selec-
tions of Danish, muffins,
cookies and scones. Lunch
and dinner are served
seven days a week.
Pinegrove Meat
Market & Deli
1511 Pine Grove Ave.,
Avondale, 389-8655
Pinegrove offers Cuban
sandwiches and home-
made chicken salad within
the meat market, which
also sells choice and prime
aged beef cut to order.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
are served from 8 a.m. to
6 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Player’s Café
262 Solana Road, Ponte
Vedra Beach, 273-5595
Owners Don and Terri
Stanton invite you to a
family-friendly restaurant
with a golf theme and a
“wall of fame.” (Ask Don
how to get your portrait
on the wall.) The menu
:: Located in the Modis Building, Atrium Café in Downtown Jacksonville offers power lunches outside,
inside, or packaged for take-out.
includes a fresh grouper Sandwich Company
sub, Cuban sandwiches, 2011 Emerson St., San
Philly cheesesteaks, cordon
bleu sandwiches and Marco, 396-3666
homemade soups. The This spot has a relaxing
Outrageous JERKS!
Kjalein Swanson
Bartender at Down Under, A1A and Intracoastal
Waterway, Fernandina Beach
“I was at the bar, and I felt someone hovering behind me.
There was a couple there, and I asked if they wanted a
drink. The man said, ‘No,’ real shitty-like. So I went down
to the end of the bar and started doing my dishes. He
comes down to the end of the bar and kneels down in my
face and says, ‘Can you tell me when those dark people
will be leaving? My wife and I would like to sit down.’ I told
him that they’re paying customers, and they’ll leave
whenever they damn well please.”
breakfast menu includes
eggs Benedict and giant atmosphere and offers a
biscuits, and there are full breakfast menu, with
early-bird specials until 9 platters and pitas. Lunch
a.m. Catering and week- features steak pitas,
day delivery service is homemade chicken and
available for breakfast or tuna salads and subs. Open
lunch. Open from 6:30 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily for through Friday, till noon
breakfast (served all day) on Saturday.
and lunch.
San Marco Deli
River City Deli 1965 San Marco Blvd.,
315 W. Forsyth St., San Marco, 399-1306
Downtown Jacksonville,
Independently owned and
operated, San Marco Deli
354-7330 serves a full breakfast
Executive chef Mike menu, salads and a wide
Cinanni came to River City variety of hot or cold sand-
via New York, offering cre- wiches made with Boar’s
ative signature sandwiches Head meats and breads
made with his specialty from the French Pantry.
breads, as well as wraps, Grilled fish, chicken
paninis — made with breasts, turkey burgers and
Boar’s Head meats and Angus beef burgers are
cheeses — and salads. also available. It’s a classic
Catering, take-out and diner, but with an enor-
delivery are available, and mous selection. Call-ahead
the walls are adorned with ordering and pick-up cater-
some terrific photos of ing are available. Open 7
downtown Jacksonville. a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday
Open from 6 a.m. to 3 through Friday, until
p.m. Monday 2 p.m. Saturday.
through Friday.
Schmagel’s Bagels
69 Hypolita St., St.
Augustine, 824-4444
Fast and affordable
 B B B
breakfast and lunch items
are prepared on freshly
baked bagels. Serving
Boar’s Head meats, fresh
local produce, kosher Nor-
wegian lox, soups, salads
and panini. Outdoor dining
in the heart of St. Augu-
stine’s historic district.
Open 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Monday through Saturday,
8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Secret
Garden Café
10095 Beach Blvd., Ste.
600, Southside, 645-0859
This café serves breakfast
and lunch in a gothic gar-
den setting. Menu items
include French toast, eggs
Benedict, fried green
tomatoes, Alabama meat-
loaf, gourmet soups, sand-
wiches and made-from-
scratch desserts. Local art
is displayed. Private dinner
reservations are available
for special events. Open
7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday,
from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for
Sunday brunch.
Shane’s
Sandwich Shop
450 Busch Drive,
Northside, 757-7312
5551 St. Augustine Road,
Southside, 737-2317
11750 Philips Highway,
Southside, 880-9800
This family-friendly shop
offers basic breakfast,
lunch and homemade
desserts at reasonable
prices. Daily specials are
offered. Open 6 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. Monday through
Friday for breakfast and
lunch, from 7 a.m. to 2
p.m. Saturday.
The Sheik
Sandwich Deli
9720 Atlantic Blvd.,
Regency, 721-2660
2708 N. Main St.,
Jacksonville, 353-8181
7361 103rd St., Westside,
778-4805
:: Religious iconography served with a nice chianti: The “Pope” room at Buca Di Beppo on
Jacksonville’s Southside.
5172 Normandy Blvd.,
Westside, 786-7641
2953 Philips Highway,
Southside, 396-7040
1994 Kingsley Ave.,
Orange Park, 276-2677
With locations all over
town, The Sheik offers a
full breakfast — pitas to
country plates — and an
extensive lunch menu,
ranging from burgers and
fries to pitas and subs.
Family-owned-and-operat-
ed, The Sheik has served
Jacksonville for more than
40 years. Open from 6
a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Sweet Indulgence
Café & Desserts
10920 Baymeadows
Road, Ste. 33, Southside,
538-0787
This café offers full break-
fasts, grilled panini sand-
wiches, fresh soups, salads,
gourmet coffees, custom
cakes and desserts, created
daily. Ice cream, shakes
and sundaes are available.
Open from 7 a.m. to 10
p.m. daily.
TC’S Subs &
Smoothies
9974 Old Baymeadows
Road, Ste. 1,
Baymeadows, 646-1595
TC’S offers 12-inch subs,
paninis and wraps made
from all-natural foods with
no preservatives and which
are low sodium. Build your
own choosing from an
extensive list of ingredients.
All smoothies are blended
with whole fresh fruit and
100 percent fruit juices for
healthy treats. Open from
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Tidbits Restaurant
1076 Hendricks Ave., San
Marco, 396-0528
Fresh food served in a
friendly atmosphere,
Tidbits offers popular
lunch items including
chicken salad, potato salad
and unique avocado and
specialty sandwiches. For
more than 22 years,
Tidbits has been satisfying
San Marco’s business com-
munity at lunchtime.
Catering, take-out and
delivery are available.
Open 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
Tory’s Café
9842 Old Baymeadows
Road, Deerwood,
641-4890
Customer favorites include
chicken with artichoke
hearts, French-onion
chicken, shrimp salad and
New Orleans crepes.
Tory’s torte and carrot
cake are popular. Open 11
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
The Tower Café
50 N. Laura St., Ste. 125,
Downtown Jacksonville,
356-5568
The Tower Café, located
in the Bank of America
building, serves an exten-
sive menu for breakfast
and lunch. Take-out and
catering are available.
Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
Trey’s Deli & Grill
2044 Rogero Road,
Arlington, 744-3690
Trey is a Jacksonville
native who’s been serving
Northeast Florida for
almost two decades. Menu
items include Trey’s
Reuben, deli sandwiches,
grilled chicken, pork,
seafood, pasta, and home-
made soups and pies. Beer
and wine are served and a
kids’ menu is available.
Open 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
Turtle Island
Natural Foods
363 Atlantic Blvd., Stes.
7 & 8, Beaches Town
Center, Atlantic Beach,
247-6400
This Beaches market
:: The specialty pies at Melissa’s Pizza in Atlantic Beach include alfredo, seafood combo and shrimp.
stocks natural and organic
foods, including groceries,
fresh produce, seafood and
chicken, beer and wine,
and prepared foods. The
deli features all-natural sal-
ads, sandwiches and wraps
with no-preservatives deli
meats, fresh organic veg-
gies and organic breads.
The chef serves up dishes
prepared with locally made
tempeh, tofu and organic
and natural poultry, includ-
ing garbanzo bean cakes
with creamy dill sauce and
baked wild Alaskan
salmon. Outside seating,
take-out and catering are
available. Open 9 a.m. to 8
p.m. Monday through
Saturday, and from 10 a.m.
to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
The Village Café
& Bakery
2902 Corinthian Ave.,
Jacksonville, 389-3995
Located in historic Ortega,
Village Café offers an in-
house bakery, fresh soups
and sandwiches.
Vegetarian dishes are avail-
able, as well as breakfast,
lunch and dinner to-go.
Beer and wine are served.
Live music is featured on
Friday and Saturday nights.
Open for breakfast and
lunch 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Open till 4 p.m. for
desserts and coffee
Monday through Friday,
and for full dinners from 6
to 10 p.m. Thursday
through Saturday. Open
for brunch from 9:30 a.m.
to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Whiteway
Delicatessen
1510 King St.,
Jacksonville, 389-0355
A Jacksonville tradition,
and a favorite lunch spot
for business leaders and
politicos, Whiteway fea-
tures an extensive sand-
wich selection and specials.
Salads, burgers, sides and
breakfast items are also
available. Open 7 a.m. to 3
p.m. Monday through
Friday, to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Worman’s
Bakery & Deli
204 Broad St.,
Jacksonville, 354-5702
Worman’s has been around
since 1923 and still packs
out at lunch. From its
Reuben sandwich, home-
made Matzo ball soup and
pastrami sandwiches to its
blintzes and omelets,
Worman’s offers a true deli
experience. A kosher-style
menu is available, as is
catering. Open for break-
fast and lunch Monday
through Saturday with free
delivery in a limited area
(with a minimum order).
Open from 6 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. Monday through
Friday and from 6 a.m. to
2 p.m. on Saturday.
Yaya’s Homecookin’
2002 Cassat Ave.,
Westside, 693-1004
Yaya’s Homecookin’ offers
soul food and home-
cooked dishes from the old
school. Popular selections
include collard greens, fried
chicken, oxtail and chitter-
lings. Take-out is available.
Open from 11 a.m. to 7
p.m. Tuesday through
Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 7
p.m. on Sunday.
Caribbean
& Cuban
Beignet’s
Caribbean Cafe
4770 Barnes Road, Ste. 1,
Southside, 737-6789
A taste of the Caribbean
permeates this restaurant.
Menu items include jerk
chicken, curry chicken,
oxtail, goat, shrimp and
mahi-mahi sandwiches and
Caribbean beignets with a
coffee from New Orleans’
Café Du Monde. Open
from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
till 7 p.m. on Friday.
Bongo’s
Cuban Cafe
12192 Beach Blvd.,
Intracoastal West,
645-7476
Bongo’s serves Cuban and
Puerto Rican cuisine as
well as barbecue. Beer and
wine are available and
take-out is offered. Open
11 a.m. to midnight
Monday through Thursday,
from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Friday and Saturday, and
from noon to 8 p.m.
on Sundays.
Caribbean Choice
5519 Norwood Ave.,
Northside, 764-1710
This new island-style place
makes fresh carrot juice
and punch daily. The
authentic Caribbean menu
includes soups as well as a
variety of genuine island
dishes. Beer and wine are
served. Open 11 a.m. to 9
p.m. Monday through
Saturday, with plans to
open soon on Sunday.
Caribé Breeze
2177 Kingsley Ave.,
Orange Park, 272-7100
Caribé Breeze serves
Caribbean cuisine in a
Spanish setting. Menu
items include Cuban sand-
wiches, pallomilla steak
and paella Valenciana. All
meals come with black
beans and rice, Cuban
bread and salad. The
weekday lunch buffet
includes soup and salad
bar. Finish the meal with
homemade flan and a
Cuban coffee. Beer, wine
and homemade sangria are
served. A kids’ menu is
available. Open 11 a.m. to
10 p.m. for lunch and
dinner daily.
 B B B
Caribbee Key
100 First St., Beaches
Town Center, Neptune
Beach, 270-8940
With outdoor seating and
a popular upper deck,
Caribbee Key features
fresh local seafood, steaks
and ribs served in a tropical
setting. The menu includes
lunch wraps, crab cakes, a
seafood platter and the de
rigueur Key lime pie. A full
bar is served and live reg-
gae music keeps things
jamming on Friday and
Saturday. Open 11 a.m. to
late night daily.
Cuban
Sandwich Café
91 Blanding Blvd., Ste. E,
Orange Park, 541-1369
This homestyle Cuban-
themed restaurant’s popu-
lar dishes include ropa vieja
(shredded beef in tomato
sauce with onions, pepper
and garlic), chuletas (grilled
pork chops), grilled
palomilla steak, lechon
asado (shredded roasted
pork) and vaca frita. There
are also Cuban sandwich-
es, of course, including
Cuban Paradise and the
Midnight Sandwich, and
unique milkshakes (try the
guanabana). Sangria and
imported and domestic
beers are available. Open
from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
till 9 p.m. on Friday
and Saturday.
De Real Ting Café
128 W. Adams St.,
Jacksonville, 633-9738
This Caribbean restaurant
features dinner and danc-
ing Friday and Saturday
nights. Specialties are jerk
or curried chicken, jerk
shrimp, conch fritters,
Jamaican patties, steamed
red snapper and roasted
fish, as well as curried goat
and oxtail. A full bar and
beer and wine are served
and happy hour is Friday
afternoon. On- and off-site
catering available.
Green Turtle Tavern
14 S. Third St.,
Fernandina Beach,
321-2324
Housed in a historic island
shotgun shack, this laid-
back local hangout offers
dining on a covered porch
and in the Taproom. The
beer selection is vast.
Wine is also available. Live
music is featured
Wednesday through
Sunday. Open daily 3:30
p.m. to 2 a.m.
Habana
Village Café
1 King St., St. Augustine,
827-1700
Homestyle Cuban and
American cuisine, featur-
ing homemade sangria,
authentic Cuban bread and
Cuban roast pork. Habana
Village offers St. Augu-
stine’s only Latin dinner
club with jazz Thursday
through Sunday. A chil-
dren’s menu is available.
Reservations are recom-
mended. A full bar is
served. Open noon to 10
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, noon to mid-
night Friday and Saturday,
and 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Havana-Jax Café/
Cuba Libre Bar
2578 Atlantic Blvd., St.
Nicholas, 399-0609
The Cuban sandwiches
served in this clean, bright
café are the real thing: big,
thick and flattened. Other
favorites include seafood
enchilada, masa de puerco
(pork) and churrasco
(steak), served with rice,
beans and plantains, as
well as traditional desserts
and made-from-scratch
sauces, all prepared without
chemical enhancement. A
full bar, Spanish wine and
Cuban drink specials,
including Mojitos and Cuba
Libres, are served. Open
for lunch and dinner 11 a.m.
to 9 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Laing’s Caribbean
Restaurant
5940 Merrill Road,
Arlington, 744-0222
Authentic Caribbean dish-
es, including oxtail, spicy
jerk chicken, curried goat
and curried chicken. Wine,
cold beer and jammin’
Reggae music daily. A kids
menu and take-out are
available. Open from 10
a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, and
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday through Sunday.
Madrid Restaurant
11233 Beach Blvd., Ste. 4,
Southside, 642-3741
Madrid features Spanish-
Caribbean cuisine from
Cuba and South America.
The Cuban sandwich is a
big seller along with black
bean soup, paella and arroz
con pollo (a chicken and
rice dish). The menu
includes roast pork, chick-
en and beef entrées. Beer,
wine and homemade san-
gria are served. Open 11
a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
through Saturday, noon to
7 p.m. Sunday for lunch
and dinner.
Mango Mango’s
Beachside Bar
& Grill
700 A1A Beach Blvd., St.
Augustine Beach,
461-1077
Just steps from the A
Street beach access, this
Caribbean kitchen offers
comfort food with a tropi-
cal twist. Specialties
include coconut shrimp,
fish sandwiches, Caribbean
jerk chicken and fried plan-
tains. Homemade desserts
and smoothies round out
the casual beach dining
experience. Beer and wine
are served, and a kids’
menu is available. Open 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Saturday, noon to
9 p.m. Sunday.
Mangrove Island
Grille
3546 St. Johns Bluff
Road S., Southside,
997-8565
This casual restaurant
serves healthful menu
items made with a Key
West flair, including grilled
fish, chicken and steak
sandwiches served on
Cubans, flatbread or
wraps. Specialties include
Mangrove grouper Cuban,
Gaucho steak flatbread,
Mangrove chicken salad
and blue crab bisque. Open
from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday through Saturday.
Casual Spots
Applebee’s
Neighborhood
Grill & Bar
14560 St. Augustine
Road, Bartram Park,
262-7605
4507 Town Center
Parkway, St. Johns Town
Center, 645-3590
5055 J. Turner Butler
Blvd., Southside,
296-6895
10502 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 268-2635
13201 Atlantic Blvd.,
Atlantic Beach, 220-5823
1627 Racetrack Road,
Jacksonville, 230-6889
9498 Atlantic Blvd.,
Regency, 721-2337
8635 Blanding Blvd., Ste.
201, Argyle, 771-0000
1803 East-West Parkway,
Orange Park, 215-0237
6251 103rd St., Westside,
772-9020
843 Lane Ave. S.,
Westside, 378-5445
574 Busch Drive,
Northside, 696-5545
225 S.R. 312, St.
Augustine, 825-4099
2006 S. Eighth St.,
Fernandina Beach,
206-4304
This popular chain restau-
rant has an extensive
menu including stir-frys,
steaks and burgers as well
as a Weight Watcher’s
menu. The children’s menu
includes all the favorites.
Serving a full bar and open
for lunch and dinner daily.
Beef O’Brady’s
Family Sports Pub
9475 Philips Hwy.,
Southside, 519-2333
3615 Dupont Ave., Ste.
100, Jacksonville,
425-4010
1061 A1A Beach Blvd.,
St. Augustine Beach,
461-5771
12630 Beach Blvd., Ste.
4, Southside, 565-0050
1916 S. 14th St.,
Fernandina Beach,
261-0555
8540 Argyle Forest Blvd.,
Ste. 1, Jacksonville,
317-2783
450 S.R. 13 N., Ste. 113,
Julington Creek,
230-1935
1520 Park Ave., Orange
Park, 637-0385
Along with daily specials,
Beef O’Brady’s features
signature wings, burgers,
sandwiches and a kids-eat-
free special Tuesday
evenings. Beer and wine
are served. Monday
through Friday, the happy
hour features wings and
draft specials. Watch
sporting events from the
many TVs. Open 11 a.m.
to 11 p.m. Monday through
Saturday and even later on
football game nights. Open
Sunday from noon to 10
p.m. Take-out available.
Bennigan’s Grill
& Tavern
9245 Atlantic Blvd.,
Regency, 724-0991
8532 Baymeadows Road,
Jacksonville, 731-3075
8440 Blanding Blvd.,
Orange Park, 771-6624
Featuring Irish hospitality
and American cuisine,
Bennigan’s menu ranges
from appetizers to sand-
wiches and steaks.
Children have their own
menu. The popular chain
features a Time Crunch
Lunch — served in 15 min-
utes or it’s free. Full-serv-
ice bar, open daily for lunch
and dinner.
Bistro 202
4670 Salisbury Road,
Marriott Southpoint,
Southside, 296-2222
Bistro 202 offers a casual
atmosphere and a varied
menu including fresh
seafood, grilled steaks and
light fare items. Senior dis-
counts are available. Bistro
202 also has a daily break-
fast buffet. The full lobby
bar is open for dinner.
Open for breakfast, lunch
and dinner. Sunday buffet
is held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Block & Barrel Deli
7035 Philips Highway,
Baymeadows, 332-9144
Owner David Mayfield
offers a wide variety of
sandwiches, burgers, pani-
nis, wraps and salads for
the harried businessperson.
This deli-style venue fea-
tures daily blue-plate spe-
cials like pot roast, turkey
and meatloaf. Open 7 a.m.
to 3 p.m. for breakfast and
lunch, Monday through
Friday. Delivery is available.
Cherry’s Grill
2220 C.R. 210 W., NW
St. Johns County,
819-1554
Cherry’s offers family din-
ing with all-American food
in an old-school diner
atmosphere. Beer and
wine are served, and there
is a children’s menu. Open
11 a.m. for lunch and
dinner daily.
Chili’s Grill & Bar
13210 City Station Drive,
Northside, 714-9768
385 Marsh Landing
Parkway, Jacksonville
Beach, 285-8557
12987 Atlantic Blvd.,
Intracoastal West,
220-2136
9350 Atlantic Blvd.,
Regency, 725-3450
9500 Baymeadows Road,
Southside, 739-2476
11101 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 262-6264
13891 St. Augustine
Road, Mandarin,
880-0100
1664 Wells Road, Orange
Park, 264-6907
2005 East-West
Parkway, Fleming Island,
264-8412
215 S.R. 312, St.
Augustine, 824-2216
463725 S.R. 200, Yulee,
225-8666
Established in Dallas,
Texas, more than 25 years
ago, Chili’s serves a
Southwestern-influenced
menu including fajitas, ribs,
impressive salads and mar-
garitas. The full bar offers
happy hour drink specials
all day, every day, including
two-for-one on most
drinks and draft beers.
Open daily for lunch
and dinner.
Chow Down Alley
14775 Old St. Augustine
Road, Ste. 3, Mandarin,
880-7900
This family-operated spot
serves breakfast sandwich-
es, burgers, salads and spe-
cialty sandwiches. Open
6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
Dave & Buster’s
7025 Salisbury Road S.
(I-95 and JTB),
Southside, 296-1525
This 40,000-square-foot
restaurant/entertainment
complex includes a dining
room for a quiet meal —
away from the games. The
menu features steak, bar-
becue ribs, creative salads,
pastas and seafood. D&B’s
has the latest electronic
interactive games and sim-
ulators as well as tradition-
al favorites in the Million-
Dollar Midway. Open from
11:30 a.m. to midnight
Sunday through Thursday
and till 1 a.m. Friday and
Saturday for lunch and din-
ner. Take-out is available.
Firehouse Subs
357 Marsh Landing
Parkway, Ponte Vedra,
280-9404
12620 Beach Blvd., Ste.
7, Intracoastal West,
620-0580
1855 Cassat Ave.,
Westside, 695-1055
6352 103rd St., Ste. 5,
Westside, 854-0224
6752 Normandy Blvd.,
Ste. 3, Northside,
338-9000
200 Cobblestone Drive,
Ste. 106, St. Johns,
819-1808
1978 S. Eighth St.,
Fernandina Beach,
491-8095
6331 Roosevelt Blvd.,
Ste. 6, Westside,
854-0057
1038 Dunn Ave., Ste. 1,
Northside, 338-0098
1014 Margaret St., Ste. 5,
Downtown, 791-9787
8380 Baymeadows Road,
Ste. 8, Baymeadows,
737-3473
1234 Beach Blvd.,
Jacksonville Beach,
339-0312
1949 San Marco Blvd.,
Ste. 1, San Marco,
396-0001
233 Third St., Neptune
Beach, 249-6013
1 W. Adams St., Ste. 101,
Downtown, 354-3509
13245 Atlantic Blvd., Ste.
9, Regency, 220-7140
10131 San Jose Blvd., Ste.
8, Mandarin, 886-2179
4268 Oldfield Crossing
Drive, Jacksonville,
338-0142
8221 Southside Blvd.,
Ste. 4, Southside,
996-0894
10261 River Marsh Drive,
Ste. 131, St. Johns Town
Center, 674-0536
9734 Deer Lake Court,
Ste. 4, Southside,
425-4980
4347 University Blvd.,
Ste. 1, Arlington,
731-1888
2245 C.R. 210 W., Ste.
11, St. Johns, 823-9914
465 S.R. 13, Ste. 5, St.
Johns, 287-3495
1581 C.R. 220, Ste. 115,
Eagle Harbor, 215-7302
2285-B Kingsley Ave.,
Orange Park, 276-1537
1540 Wells Road, Orange
Park, 278-6727
2640 Blanding Blvd., Ste.
210, Middleburg, 291-4411
This Jacksonville-based
sub chain has been voted
Best Subs in Folio Weekly’s
Best of Jax readers poll for
six years. Firehouse serves
large portions of premium
meats and cheeses,
steamed hot and put in a
toasted sub roll. Each loca-
tion has a family-oriented
atmosphere with a fire-
fighter theme. The menu
includes subs, salads and
chili. Hot sauces are avail-
able, including the house
favorite, Captain
Sorensen’s Datil Pepper
 B B B
:: The young, energetic staff at Botan Japanese on Jacksonville’s Southside offers cuisine that’s bold and
delicate, crunchy and melting, icy and hot.
Hot Sauce. A kids menu and
delivery are also offered. Most
locations are open 10:30 a.m. to
9 p.m. weekdays, till 10 p.m.
on weekends.
Five Guys Famous
Burgers & Fries
4413 Town Center Parkway,
St. Johns Town Center,
996-6900
9039 Southside Blvd.,
Southside, 538-9100
Popular up North, Five Guys is
now in Northeast Florida.
Burgers are made with fresh
ground beef, and finished from
a wide selection of toppings,
including fried onions, jalapeños
or sautéed mushrooms. The
fries are served up Five Guys
style or spicy Cajun. Kosher hot
dogs and soft drinks round out
the simple, basic menu. Open
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Flavors Eatery
125-C King St., St. Augustine,
824-4221
A favorite among college stu-
dents and locals, this restaurant
serves wraps, quesadillas, sub-
wiches, pizza, smoothies,
espresso, and beer and wine.
Local live musicians play every
night. Indoor and outdoor seat-
ing. Open Monday through
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Flip’s Café
5846 Atlantic Blvd.,
Arlington, 724-6755
This café offers steak-in-a-sack,
grilled chicken with Greek
salad, burgers, sandwiches and
limeade. Take out or eat in.
Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday through Friday, 7:30
a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The Frank-N-Wurst
Connection
1324 Beach Blvd., Beach
Plaza, Jacksonville Beach,
241-1985
There’s a New England attitude
at this hidden Beaches eatery.
Breakfast includes egg dishes,
omelets, pancakes, biscuits and
skillet dishes. Lunch offers spe-
cialty sandwiches, soups, burg-
ers, franks, wursts and kielbasa.
Open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday
through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2
p.m. Saturday, and 7:30 a.m. to
12:45 p.m. Sunday.
Grassroots Natural
Market
2007 Park St., Riverside,
384-4474
This new juice and smoothie
bar also offers teas and coffees,
as well as a large selection of
gourmet cheeses and natural
and organic items. Open 9 a.m.
to 7 p.m. Monday through
Saturday, from noon to
5 p.m. on Sunday.
Grinder’s Cafe
10230 Atlantic Blvd.,
Arlington, 725-2712
For 20 years, Grinder’s has been
serving homestyle meals, featur-
ing fresh veggies, freshly ground
burgers, meatloaf, steaks, pork
chops and seafood. A kids’ menu
and take-out are available. Open
for breakfast, lunch and dinner
from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
through Saturday, from 8 a.m.
to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Guthrie’s
1855 N. Main St., Downtown
Jacksonville, 633-3553
3505 St. Johns Bluff Road S.,
Southside, 928-0852
Anyone who’s been really hun-
gry late at night in Tallahassee
knows Guthrie’s. Guthrie’s has
been cooking fingers to order
since 1965, serving them up
with fries, slaw and toast. The
popular spot has now arrived in
Jax, bringing their popular
chicken fingers and special
sauce along. A kids’ menu is
available. Breakfast is now
being served at 6:30 a.m.
Monday through Friday. Open
from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday, from
10:30 a.m. to late on Saturday
and Sunday.
Harpoon Louie’s
4070 Herschel St., Riverside,
389-5631
A locally owned and operated
American pub, Harpoon Louie’s
has been a fixture in the
Avondale area for 14 years. The
menu include half-pound burg-
ers, fish sandwiches, wings, sal-
ads and pasta dishes. Open
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday, later on the
weekend. Happy hour is from 3
to 7 p.m. during the week.
Hero’s 19th Hole
605 S. Penman Road,
Jacksonville Beach, 249-0761
Tucked inside the clubhouse at
the Jax Beach Golf Course, this
casual eatery offers basic break-
fast fare as well as lunch and
drink specials. Burgers, hot
dogs, club sandwiches and
$1.50 drafts are featured. Open
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Jax City Subs
100 E. Forsyth St.,
Downtown Jacksonville,
633-9028
This downtown mainstay offers
an ample selection of subs and
sandwiches. Beer is served,
take-out and free delivery (for
orders more than $30) are
available. Open for breakfast,
lunch and dinner, 8:30 a.m. to 7
p.m. Monday through Friday, 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Johnny’s Deli
474 Riverside Ave., Riverside,
356-8055
Relocated from downtown,
Johnny’s experienced staff
cooks up made-to-order lunch
fare, including grilled wraps,
gyros and grilled chicken salad
— more than 60 menu items
are available, for take-out only.
Lunch is offered from 11 a.m. to
3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Loop Pizza Grill
869 Sadler Road, Amelia
Island, 321-0093
4000 St. Johns Ave.,
Avondale, 384-7301
8221 Southside Blvd.,
Deerwood, 645-7788
5000 U.S. 17 S., Fleming
Island, 541-0097
450 S.R. 13 N., Ste. 101,
Julington Creek, 230-2202
2851 C.R. 210 W., John’s
Creek, 287-2008
9965 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 262-2210
13760 St. Augustine Road,
Bartram Park, 880-0204
211 Third St., Neptune Beach,
241-8476
550 Wells Road, Orange Park,
269-0756
2014 San Marco Blvd., San
Marco, 399-5667
14444 Beach Blvd., Ste. 51,
Intracoastal West, 223-6611
Since 1981, The Loop has com-
bined the convenience of a fast-
food restaurant with the indi-
vidual attention of table service.
There’s no hassle and no tipping
expected. A winner of Folio
Weekly’s Best of Jax readers
poll for gourmet burgers for the
past decade, The Loop now
offers a Cajun or grilled grouper
sandwich and a black bean
burger. Beer and wine are
served. Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Mercury Moon
2015 C.R. 220, Fleming
Island, 215-8999
Mercury Moon serves appetiz-
ers and sandwiches. Live music
is presented Wednesday
through Saturday, and a full bar
is available. Open 11 a.m. to 2
a.m. Monday through Saturday
for lunch and dinner.
Moe’s Southwest Grill
9301 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 119,
Jacksonville, 727-9299
9700 Deer Lake Court, Ste.
3, Southside, 620-8436
9960 Southside Blvd.,
Jacksonville, 519-9099
12959 Atlantic Blvd., Ste 103,
Jacksonville, 220-9090
2400 S. Third St., Ste. 107,
Jacksonville Beach, 249-3299
4403 Roosevelt Blvd., Ste.
102, Jacksonville, 389-5299
2004 San Marco Blvd.,
Jacksonville, 399-3502
11111 San Jose Blvd., Ste.
1105B, Jacksonville, 262-5299
445 S.R. 13 N., Ste. 1, Fruit
Cove, 287-2799
1544 C.R. 220, Ste. 104,
Orange Park, 637-0080
Moe’s cuisine is Southwestern
in origin, but the restaurant’s
theme is a mix of TV charac-
ters, movie stars and rock leg-
ends. A popular dish is The
Homewrecker, a burrito with a
choice of meat, guacamole,
sour cream, salsa, cheese, rice
and beans. A kids’ menu
includes a cookie and drink with
every meal. Open daily for
lunch and dinner.
Mongo’s Flat Hot Grill
2 Independent Drive, The
Jacksonville Landing, Ste.
200, 665-0123
Mongo’s allows patrons to pick
their ingredients and create
their own sauce, then have
it all prepared on a 72-inch
flat hot grill. Dessert is self-
made, too, with a selection
of fixins for s’mores. A
beach atmosphere on the
St. Johns River, Mongo’s
also has a huge patio. A full
bar is offered. Open 11
a.m. to close Tuesday
through Sunday, 10 a.m. on
Sunday for brunch.
Outrageous INGREDIENTS!
Alex C.
Former Server/Cashier at a restaurant on Southside
Boulevard, Jacksonville
“I once accidentally spilled a box of safety pins in the
marinara sauce. I thought I’d scooped them all out, but
apparently not. The head of a local nonprofit got a
safety-pin pizza that night, and freeeeeaked out on
[the restaurant].”
Nalu’s Tropical
Take-out
1020 Anastasia Blvd. (in
the parking lot at the
state park entrance), St.
Augustine Beach,
501-9592
This funky taco stand
serves fresh island-style
beef, chicken, fish and veg-
etarian tacos and burritos,
including Baja fish tacos
and Hanalei Bay Bomb.
Pick up to-go or dine out-
side on picnic tables. Open
for lunch and dinner, 11
a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
through Saturday, noon to
6 p.m. Sunday.
Park Avenue Bistro
1177 Park Ave., Orange
Park, 215-1022
New to Orange Park, Park
Avenue Bistro serves
American fare, including
rack of lamb and roasted
salmon with tomato coulis.
A wide selection of wine is
served, along with beer. A
kids’ menu is available.
Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday through Sunday.
Philly’s Finest
Cheesesteaks
& Pizza
1527 N. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
241-7188
This casual restaurant
serves authentic Philly
cheesesteaks made with
Amorso bread and steaks
direct from Philly. A beer
and wine bar features 55
different kinds of beer.
Open seven days a week
for lunch and dinner. Late-
night delivery until 1 a.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Roadhouse Grill
9743 Old St. Augustine
Road, Mandarin,
886-4223
9220 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 737-5812
1650 Wells Road, Orange
Park, 278-5595
Roadhouse Grill has a
casual atmosphere with an
exhibition grill. The menu
includes catch-of-the-day,
hand-breaded chicken strips
and ribs, along with a popu-
lar prime rib, but steak is the
focus. Lunch specials are
offered Monday through
Friday. A full bar is served.
Open from 11 a.m. to 10
p.m. Sunday through
Thursday, till 11 p.m. Friday
and Saturday, for lunch and
dinner daily.
Ruby Tuesday
4784 Windsor Commons
Court, Intracoastal West,
821-0394
1022 Hospitality Lane,
Arlington, 727-7017
1360 Airport Road,
Northside, 741-3692
590 Marsh Landing
Parkway, Jacksonville
Beach, 273-7885
1760 Wells Road, Orange
Park, 278-5351
1521 C.R. 220, Eagle
Harbor, 269-6900
10300 Southside Blvd.,
Ste. 242, Avenues Mall,
363-1540
2443 S.R. 16, St.
Augustine, 829-0950
Whimsical antiques and
odd artifacts contribute to
Ruby Tuesday’s casual
atmosphere. Appetizers, a
wealth of entrées and
combo meals aim to satisfy
all appetites. The full-serv-
ice bar offers two-for-one
draft beers all day, every
day. Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Sliders Seaside Grill
1998 S. Fletcher Ave.,
Fernandina Beach,
277-6652
On the oceanfront,
Caribbean-themed Sliders
offers handmade crab
cakes, fresh seafood, steak,
chicken and pasta entrées
and fried pickles. Outdoor
dining is featured, and chil-
dren have their own menu
and a fenced beachfront
playground. A full bar is
served inside and outside
at the authentic Tiki bar
offering frozen drinks. Live
entertainment is presented
from 2 to 6 p.m. on
Saturday and Sunday.
Open daily 11:30 a.m. to
close for lunch and dinner.
Stan’s Sandwich
& Grill
1562 Hendricks Ave., San
Marco, 398-6642
Marking more than 30
years in the same location,
Stan’s serves up breakfast
pita sandwiches, omelets
and pancakes, as well as
hand-pattied burgers, dogs,
chicken, hot and cold subs,
and desserts — and fresh
cherry limeade. Open from
6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday,
and from 7 a.m. to 2:30
p.m. Saturday.
Starlite Café
1044 Park St.,
Riverside, 356-4444
Located in the cen-
ter of Five Points,
Starlite Café serves
snacks and light fare
as well as a full bar
along with daily spe-
cials. Live entertain-
ment is featured
throughout the
week. Open daily
until late. Smoking
is permitted.
Stonewood
Tavern & Grill
3832 Baymeadows Road,
Ste. 3, Mandarin,
739-7206
950 Marsh Landing
Parkway, Jacksonville
Beach, 285-2311
The casual, upscale
Stonewood Tavern & Grill
offers a flavorful dining
experience with a classic
American menu. The full
bar offers a large wine list
and a daily happy hour.
Open from 4 to 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
till 11 p.m. Friday and
Saturday and till 9 p.m.
on Sunday.
Sweet Tomatoes
1625 Wells Road, Orange
Park, 269-6116
1115 Mary Susan Drive
(off Atlantic Boulevard),
Regency, 722-9889
Graze through a 60-foot
salad bar featuring four
types of tossed salads, 17
freshly cut vegetables and
deli items, five pasta salads
and a dozen dressings. The
bakery offers muffins and
focaccia to complement
the three sautéed pastas
featured every day. Take-
out is available. Open for
lunch and dinner daily.
Times Grill
10915 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 674-2606
This Louisiana-based
restaurant chain is brand
new to Northeast Florida,
serving big burgers,
seafood, sandwiches and
wraps, as well as old-fash-
ioned malts, shakes and
floats. If you eat the one-
and-a-half-pound Wall of
Fame burger, you get your
picture on the — that’s
right — Wall of Fame.
Open from 11 a.m. to 10
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, and till 11 p.m.
on Friday and Saturday.
 B B B

The Village Inn Restaurant

7716 Atlantic Blvd.,
Regency, 721-8884
200 Third St.,
Neptune Beach, 241-7626
8495 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 739-9744
10140 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 262-1718
900 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd.,
St. Augustine, 824-4377
A Best of Jax winner for its Key lime pie
and breakfast, Village Inn also serves
sandwiches, dinners, and late-night
desserts and coffee served in a classic
diner atmosphere. Village Inn is open
early till late and some locations are 24-
hour — check with the restaurant.

Zoës Kitchen
240 A1A, Merchant’s Plaza, Ponte
Vedra Beach, 273-1100
1661 Margaret St., Riverside,
355-9637
Zoës means “life” in Greek, and this
casual restaurant aims to make every-
one’s a little easier. Original recipes,
with Greek and Mediterranean influ-
ences, use fresh ingredients for home-
made deli salads, slaw, made-to-order
sandwiches, chicken kabobs, grilled feta
sandwiches and whole dinners, all avail-
able to go. Dessert includes homemade
ya-yas (a chocolate sheet cake). A kids’
menu, catering and delivery are avail-
able. Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Opened just last week, the Riverside
location is brand new.

Chinese
Blue Bamboo
3820 Southside Blvd., Southside,
646-1478
Located one mile north of JTB, next to
Hong Kong Trading, Blue Bamboo
offers contemporary Asian-inspired cui-
sine including rice-flour calamari, seared
ahi tuna, panko-bleu cheese crusted
strip steak and pad Thai. Soups, salads
and street eats (fried dragon whiskers,
barbecue duck, wonton crisps) are also
available. Beer and wine, including 33 by
the glass, are served. Open for lunch 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday;
for dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through
Friday and 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday.

China Coral
830 A1A, Ste. 12, Ponte Vedra Beach,
273-8776
Located in the Tournament Plaza,
China Coral serves Shanghai, Mandarin
and Szechwan dishes. In addition to the
menu, daily lunch combination dishes
and dinner specials are offered, including
the fresh fish and seafood entrées, the
crispy fish, crispy duck and the stir-fried
string beans. Beer and wine are served.
Open for lunch and dinner, from 11 a.m.
to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday
and till 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

China King’s Super Buffet

14333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 41, Southside,
223-8889
Combo plates and chef ’s specials are on
the menu daily, along with gourmet
dishes for dieters. Popular dishes include
Cantonese roasted hog, Peking duck,
snow crab, blue crab and oysters.
Customers can order from the menu,
the sushi bar, the hibachi or the buffet.
A children’s menu is available, as is a pri-
vate party room seating 85. Open 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday
and Saturday.

Chopsticks Chinese
Restaurant
10771 Beach Blvd.,
Southside, 642-5365
Owner Gee Tam serves
Cantonese-style dishes at
reasonable prices.
Chopsticks isn’t a full-serv-
ice restaurant, so most peo-
ple order at the counter for
take out. (The few tables
inside fill quickly at
lunchtime.) Choose from
more than 30 entrées. The
pepper steak and the
sweet-and-sour chicken are
two of the most popular
dishes. Open for lunch and
dinner 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
till 11 p.m. Friday and
Saturday and from noon to
9 p.m. on Sunday.
Chun King
2771 Monument Road,
Ste. 33, Arlington,
646-1393
From sushi to soup to the
fried bananas for dessert,
Chun King offers daily chef
specials and all-you-can-eat
Mongolian Barbecue. A full
menu, including Thai and
Japanese dishes, is also
served. Chun King doesn’t
use MSG. Take-out meals
are available. Inside, you
may order beer, sake or
wine. Open 11:30 a.m. to
2:30 p.m. Monday through
Friday and from 5 to 9:30
p.m. Saturday.
Genghis Khan
10601 San Jose Blvd.,
Ste. 114, Mandarin,
268-1668
Genghis Khan offers all-
you-can-eat Mongolian
barbecue with an assort-
ment of meats, veggies and
sauces. Choose chicken,
beef or pork, add vegeta-
bles, select a sauce, then
stand back and watch the
chef prepare your meal on
the open-air grill. Takeout
is available from the menu.
Beer and wine are served.
Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for
lunch Tuesday through
Friday, for dinner daily.
Ginger Bistro
3055 C.R. 210 W., Ste.
109, St. Johns, 287-8898
2 Fairfield Blvd., Ponte
Vedra, 280-2078
Asian fare is served in a
relaxed, contemporary
atmosphere at Ginger
Bistro. Chef Lee specializes
in Hong Kong, Chinese
and Thai cuisines, creating
authentic dishes like Hong
Kong XO shrimp, Peking
duck, pad Thai and pan-
seared Chilean sea bass.
Beer and wine are avail-
able, as is take-out. Open
for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. Tuesday through
Friday, for dinner from
4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday and
from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday. Open
in Ponte Vedra for lunch
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday through Friday, for
dinner from 4:30 to 9:30
p.m. Sunday through
Thursday, and till 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Golden China
Chinese Restaurant
11112 San Jose Blvd., Ste.
23, Mandarin, 260-8836
Mandarin, Szechwan and
Cantonese dishes are
served at Golden China,
located near Barnes &
Noble bookstore in
Mandarin. There are also
daily lunch and dinner buf-
fets featuring 26 items on
the hot bar and eight
items on the cold bar.
Customer favorites
include crispy fish and
crispy shrimp. Golden
China also has a full-serv-
ice bar. Dine in or take
:: Classic Middle Eastern
cuisine is the focus at The
Casbah of Avondale — if
you can take your eyes
off the belly dancers and
3-foot hookah pipes,
that is.
out. Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Grand Buffet
1487 Mayport Road,
Atlantic Beach, 246-6338
This restaurant features an
all-you-can-eat sushi and
Chinese buffet, with a
large selection of freshly
prepared dishes at moder-
ate prices. An extensive
menu is also available.
Located one-half mile
north of Atlantic
Boulevard, Grand Buffet
offers take out and can
accommodate groups and
events. Open from 11 a.m.
to 9:30 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, 11 a.m.
to 10:30 p.m. Friday and
Saturday, noon to 9:30
p.m. Sunday.
The Great Kahn
1521 Sadler Road,
Fernandina Beach,
261-5887
The Great Kahn features
Szechwan and Mandarin
cuisine along with all-you-
can-eat Mongolian barbe-
cue for dinner. Customer
favorites include General
Tso chicken, seafood dish-
es and double delight
shrimp. The Great Kahn
offers sushi as well as buf-
fets (featuring crab legs for
dinner). Beer and wine are
served. Dine in or take out.
Open from 11 a.m. to 4
p.m. Monday through
Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.
Sunday for lunch, and from
4 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday and till
10:30 p.m. Friday and
Saturday for dinner.
Great Wall
Chinese Restaurant
12200 San Jose Blvd.,
Ste. 4, Mandarin,
262-9107
View the Great Wall of
 B B B
China — or at least a large picture
of it — inside the restaurant.
Located in the Mandarin Pointe
Shopping Center and family-
owned-and-operated, Great
Wall’s menu features Szechwan,
Hunan and Cantonese dishes.
Choose from more than 150
menu items, including several
steamed dishes prepared without
oil, cornstarch or salt for the
health-conscious. Dine-in or take-
out available. Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Hong Kong Bistro
9825 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 29,
Mandarin, 292-5286
Brand-spankin’ new in Mandarin,
Hong Kong Bistro serves up
authentic Chinese cuisine, featur-
ing steamed fish, black pepper
with calf rib and prawns in cream
sauce with fried milk. The chef is
a native of Hong Kong, China,
with more than 20 years’ experi-
ence in New York City’s
Chinatown restaurants. Take-out,
and beer and wine are available.
Open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday through Friday, till 10 p.m.
on Saturday.
Jackie Lee’s China Bistro
10915 Baymeadows Road,
Ste. 101, Southside, 425-6988
Upscale Chinese cuisine, featuring
shrimp dumplings, shrimp stuffed
peppers and chef ’s specials. A full
bar is available. Open for lunch
from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday, for dinner, 4:30 to
10 p.m. daily.
Jade’s Bistro
11362 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 8,
Mandarin, 288-7999
Careful preparation and fresh
ingredients are the key to quality
cuisine served in this contempo-
rary bistro. The menu combines
traditional and alternative Thai,
Chinese and Asian dishes includ-
ing Thai Chilean seabass, Peking
duck and glazed walnut shrimp.
Beer and wine are served. Open
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, till 10:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, and from
noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Mama Fu’s Asian House
11105 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin,
260-1727
MSG-free pan-Asian cuisine is
prepared to order in woks using
fresh ingredients. Authentic
Chinese, Japanese, Korean,
Vietnamese and Thai dishes are
served. A children’s menu is avail-
able and beer and wine are served.
Open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
Pagoda Chinese
Restaurant
8617 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 731-0880
Mr. Tam, owner and chef, has
been serving customers since
1975. Popular dishes include the
seafood combination (lobster,
shrimp, scallops and Chinese veg-
etables), sesame chicken and
spicy General Tsao chicken.
Pagoda has a full-service bar. Dine
in or take out. Catering is avail-
able. Open for lunch and dinner
Monday through Saturday.
:: With five locations around Jacksonville, Chicken Koop Wings & Things serves up wings with all the sauces,
sandwiches and sides you can handle.
Quick Chinese
Restaurant
9836 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 642-9617
Specials include mushu pork,
pepper steak, kung pao chicken
and the hunan double delight.
There is a healthy diet menu fea-
turing various steamed dishes.
Open daily for lunch and dinner,
take out available.
Sushi World
9734 Deer Lake Court, Ste. 11,
Tinseltown, 998-3090
Chinese, Japanese and Asian cui-
sine are served in this casual
restaurant, featuring an all-you-
can-eat buffet, including a wide
selection of fresh sushi, updated
daily. There’s an extensive selec-
tion of menu items, too. Dine
indoors or out in the open-air din-
ing area. Beer and wine are served.
Open at 11 a.m. daily. A kids’ menu
and take-out are available.
Wasabi Buffet
1014 Margaret St., Ste. 1, Five
Points, 301-1199
A variety of Asian cuisines are
served, prepared from the fresh-
est ingredients. Open 11 a.m. to
10 p.m. daily for lunch and dinner.
Coffeehouses
Amelia Island Coffee
& Ice Cream
207 Centre St., Fernandina
Beach, 321-2111
This coffeehouse offers fresh-
roasted coffees from around the
world — by the cup or by the
pound — as well as cappuccinos,
frozen drinks, scones, strudels
and croissants. For lunch there
are deli sandwiches, soups and
salads. The dessert selection
includes homemade gourmet
cakes and 16 flavors of ice cream.
Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays
and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday.
The Bad Ass
Coffee Company
4352 Southside Blvd., Ste. 1,
Tinseltown, 645-7160
This Hawaiian-themed coffee
shop offers 100 percent Kona cof-
fees. All coffees contain at least
10 percent of the superlative
Hawaiian beans. Bad Ass also
offers muffins, cinnamon rolls,
assorted pastries and cheesecake.
Open from 5:30 a.m. — one can
never fix on caffeine too early —
to 8 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, till 11 p.m. Friday, 6
a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 6
a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Cool Moose Coffee
Company & Bistro
2708 Park St., Riverside,
381-4242
Located at Park and King streets,
this New England-style café
offers an eclectic breakfast menu,
classic sandwiches, wraps and
soups. Beer and wine are avail-
able. Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to
4 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2
p.m. Sunday for breakfast
and lunch.
D.S. Kennedy
Coffee Roasters
9965 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 48,
Mandarin, 260-0810
Kennedy Coffee Roasters is an
independently owned coffee shop
where the beans are roasted on
site. Coffee drinks, frozen lattes,
baked goods and bagged coffees
are also available. Open 6:30 a.m.
to 9 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and from 7:30 a.m. to 10
p.m. on Saturday.
Fuel Coffeehouse
1037 Park St., Riverside,
425-3835
Located in the heart of Five Points,
Fuel is a neighborhood hotspot. In
addition to signature coffees,
desserts and food items, Fuel
boasts Riverside’s largest selection
of draft beers, imports and bottles,
plus dozens of wines by the glass.
Open at 4 p.m. Sunday and
Monday, and at 8 a.m. Tuesday
through Saturday. Fuel stays open
late every night. Call for the live
entertainment schedule.
Kôfé Hôus
822 Sadler Road, Fernandina
Beach, 277-7663
The coffee beans are roasted on-
site at Kôfé Hôus, which also
offers New York-style bagels,
freshly baked pastries, coffees and
espresso drinks. An art gallery
complements the funky casual
atmosphere. Open 6:30 a.m. to 6
p.m. Monday through Friday, from
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Latitudes Coffee
Roasters & Tea
Merchants
474301 E. S.R. 200, Fernandina
Beach, 277-8081,
888-FLA-JAVA
This wholesale coffee roaster has
a café attached to the warehouse,
where professional baristas serve
coffees and teas, including
Northern Italian roasted style
coffees. A bagel breakfast, light
lunch and gourmet desserts are
also served. Outside and inside
seating, and a drive-thru. Open
from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, from 6:30 a.m.
to 9 p.m. Friday, from 7 a.m. to 9
p.m. Saturday and from 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. on Sunday.
Mystic Bean
Coffee Company
470 S.R. 207, St. Augustine,
669-7610
This funky espresso bar and
gallery serves fresh coffee daily
from organic and gourmet beans
— they roast and grind more than
47 kinds of gourmet beans onsite
— as well as fresh pastries. Open
from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
through Saturday and from 7 a.m.
to noon on Sunday.
Shelby’s Coffee Shoppe
200 First St., Beaches Town
Center, Neptune Beach,
249-2922
Shelby’s Café
303 N. Laura St., (in the Main
Library), Downtown
Jacksonville, 301-1065
A Beaches landmark, Shelby’s
carries coffee from around the
world and serves lattés, mochas
and cappuccino. The breakfast
and dessert menus include eggs,
muffins, bagels, cakes, ice cream
and fresh fruit. The lunch menu
offers daily specials, soups, salads
and sandwiches. Hot or cold chai
tea and Big Train frozen coffee
drinks are also featured. Dine
indoors or out, with patio and
courtyard seating. Live entertain-
ment is featured and catering is
available. Open daily at 7 a.m.
The new library location is open
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, till 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday and from 1 to
6 p.m. on Sunday.
Slackers Museum
1022 Edgewood Ave., Murray
Hill, 389-0008
Slackers Museum is a combina-
tion art gallery and light-fare cof-
fee house, offering Belgian waf-
fles topped with whipped cream
and fruit, and a wafflewich, a
sandwich made with turkey and
ham. Lattes, tea, espresso, caf-
feine-free drinks and ice cream
are featured, along with baked
goodies made onsite. Open from
7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to
10 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m. to 10
p.m. on Saturday.
Truffles Coffee House
and Bakery
11362 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 11,
Mandarin, 292-3345
This full-service bakery and cof-
feehouse offers smoothies and
frozen coffee drinks. A private
room for groups and special gath-
erings is available. Full-service
catering on premises is also avail-
able. Wedding cakes and other
items are custom made to order.
Open for breakfast and lunch
from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday
through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11
p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Uncommon Grounds
Coffee Company
2000 Hendricks Ave., Ste. 2,
San Marco, 398-3776
This independently run, family-
owned coffeehouse offers special-
ty coffees, bagels, pastries and
desserts in a cozy atmosphere.
Beer and wine are now available.
Live music is featured on the
weekend, and WiFi is available.
Open daily from 6 a.m. till late.
Where Ya Bean?
235 S. Eighth Ave., Jacksonville
Beach, 247-6869
This cozy, locally owned coffee-
shop and bakery offers a wide vari-
ety of freshly baked goodies and
coffees and espresso drinks. It also
houses local art in its gallery, featur-
ing a different local artist in rota-
tion. Open from 6:30 a.m. to 6
p.m. Monday through Friday and
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday
and Sunday for breakfast and lunch.
 B B B
Eclectic
The Atlantic
333 N. First St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
249-3338
The Atlantic offers an
oceanfront sushi bar as
well as the Interior Lounge
— serving an extensive
menu — both of which
feature South Beach style.
Room for private functions
for 40 to 200 guests is
available. A full bar is
served and take-out is
available. Open Tuesday
through Sunday from 5
p.m. to 2 a.m.
Aqua Grill
950 Sawgrass Village
Drive, Ponte Vedra
Beach, 285-3017
This American-eclectic
restaurant features fresh
gourmet seafood, Maine
lobster, aged Angus steaks,
pork, lamb, pasta and veg-
etarian entrées. Climate-
controlled lakeside patio
seating and private ban-
quet facilities are available.
A children’s menu is avail-
able and a full bar is
served. Reservations
accepted. Open 11:30 a.m.
to 1 a.m. daily.
b.b.’s
1019 Hendricks Ave.,
San Marco, 306-0100
It’s rumored that b.b.’s
stands for “Baby Biscotti’s”
(b.b.’s was opened by
Biscotti’s owners in 2000),
but it’s more like Biscotti’s
Cool Older Brother
(b.c.o.b. is a bit labored).
Anyway, there’s certainly
nothing baby about b.b.’s.
With an interior dressed
up in business-suit tones,
b.b.’s has sophistication to
spare, from the ever-
changing selection of fine
cheeses down to the cof-
fee bean carefully placed in
each espresso martini.
Open for lunch and dinner
Monday through Saturday.
Open till midnight on
Friday and Saturday. A
Saturday brunch is offered
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Biscotti’s
3556 St. Johns Ave.,
Avondale, 387-2060
In a way, Biscotti’s is kind
of like a microcosm of the
neighborhood it calls home.
Just as Avondale’s elite
multi-million dollar homes
exist alongside modest
bungalows and rental prop-
erties, it’s never surprising
to see khaki-slacked corpo-
rate execs sitting next to
members of Avondale’s
artsy-but-struggling youth
population. From upscale
dinner entrees to innova-
tive pizzas (their Duck
Confit Pizza is legendary)
to their massive selection
of almost-too-pretty-to-
eat desserts, Biscotti’s has
something for anyone in
the mood for a good meal
— and perhaps even a little
bit of harmony. Open for
lunch and dinner Monday
through Friday and for
breakfast, lunch and dinner
Saturday and Sunday.
Bonito Grill
& Sushi
614 Centre St.,
Fernandina Beach,
261-0508
Located in downtown
Fernandina Beach, Bonito
Grill offers an eclectic Asian
fusion menu in a contem-
porary atmosphere. A full
bar is served, and there’s an
extensive wine list and sep-
arate sushi area. Lunch and
dinner daily.
Brick Restaurant
3585 St. Johns Ave.,
Avondale, 387-0606
This casual eatery’s
exposed brick façade and
interior are modern and
hip, but simultaneously
very classic-Avondale.
Yeah, they took the obvi-
ous route in naming the
place, but there’s always
something surprising about
Brick Restaurant, or “The
Brick” as locals affection-
ately refer to it. For
instance, you probably
wouldn’t expect to grab a
burger and watch a game
at a place with such expen-
sive fixtures, or to get the
best lamb chops in town at
a place you can stroll into
sans reservation. Open for
lunch and dinner 11 a.m. to
10 p.m., Monday through
Thursday, 11 a.m. to mid-
night Friday, 10:30 a.m. to
midnight Saturday and
from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on
Sunday. Brunch is served
till 3 p.m. on Saturday
and Sunday.
Café Karibo
27 N. Third St.,
Fernandina Beach,
277-5269
Café Karibo serves eclectic
cuisine under a canopy of
oak trees in historic down-
town Fernandina. The
menu includes sandwiches,
homemade desserts and 20
wines by the glass. Chef ’s
specials are featured night-
ly, live music on the week-
ends. Open for lunch from
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on
Monday, and for lunch and
dinner from 11 a.m. to 9
p.m. Tuesday through
Saturday. A Sunday
brunch is offered from
10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Chew Restaurant
117 W. Adams St.,
Downtown Jacksonville,
355-3793
Chew Restaurant has
become a destination for
the downtown lunch
crowd, with an atmos-
phere that conveys high-
class contempo but a menu
that says conservative.
Experience innovative
dishes without breaking
the bank. Can’t get by for
lunch? A new dinner menu
is offered Thursday
through Saturday, and
during the First Wednesday
Art Walk. Beer and wine
are served. Open 8 a.m. to
3 p.m., Monday through
Friday for breakfast and
lunch, from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
for dinner Thursday
through Saturday.
The Corner
Brasserie
1430 San Marco Blvd.,
San Marco, 396-1414
This relaxed bistro is one
of San Marco’s best-kept
secrets. The Corner
Brasserie’s executive chef
Scott Bennett specializes
in upscale but moderately
priced American cuisine
with a European flair.
Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for
lunch Monday through
Friday, 5 to 10 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday
for dinner. Beer and wine
are served. Take-out, deliv-
ery and catering are avail-
able. Reservations are sug-
gested. A new private din-
ing room is available.
Club Fusion
Bar & Grill
3009 N. Ponce de Leon
Blvd., St. Augustine,
829-8333
The restaurant’s theme is
modern Japanese anima-
tion, and features pool
tables and a game room.
The menu includes burg-
ers, finger foods, fried
shrimp and sandwiches.
Various national, regional
and local rock bands
perform nightly. The music
is all original, along with
the décor. The Club
becomes a dance hall on
Marathon Mondays.
Gypsy Cab
Company
828 Anastasia Blvd., St.
Augustine, 824-8244
A mainstay among locals
and tourists alike, Gypsy
Cab’s menu changes daily
and incorporates numerous
international spices and
fresh ingredients. The sig-
nature dish is the Gypsy
chicken — a whole chicken
breast stuffed with Swiss
cheese and herb butter, and
smothered in a mushroom-
tarragon sauce. The varied
menu also includes seafood,
pork, veal, Cajun and vege-
tarian dishes. Brunch offers
egg dishes made to order.
Gypsy Cab serves a full bar.
Open for lunch and dinner
daily and Saturday and
Sunday brunch. The Gypsy
Comedy Club is now open.
Heirlooms Bistro
104 Bartram Oaks Walk,
Ste. 101, Jacksonville,
230-3999
Offering eclectic dining in a
warm, urban atmosphere,
Heirlooms Bistro serves
innovative dishes including
tuna tartare, teriyaki roast-
ed duck breast and bour-
bon pecan pie tower. A full
bar is served and patio
dining is available. Gallery
artwork throughout is
provided by Stellars
galleries. Open from 4:30
to 10 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, till 11 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Joe’s 2nd
Street Bistro
14 S. Second St.,
Fernandina Beach,
321-2558
Chef Joe Robucci
prepares New
American cuisine
using fresh seafood,
steaks and pastas
using a variety of
local ingredients.
The menu contains
influences from Italy,
France and New
Orleans, and nightly
specials are offered. Dine
indoors or out in the court-
yard. The upstairs deck is
open for dining from 6 to
9:30 p.m. Beer and wine
are served. Open daily
for dinner.
Lulu’s Bra & Grill
11-B S. Seventh St.,
Fernandina Beach,
261-7123
The owners of this hap-
pening downtown eatery
with the funny name,
Susan Conn and Ann
Wilson, offer Latin-
inspired cuisine with a
Southern twist. Favorite
dishes include fish tacos,
fresh salads and pressed
sandwiches. Dine indoors
near the brassiere-adorned
wall or out in the court-
yard. Daily and nightly spe-
cials. Take-out is available,
beer and wine are served.
Open for lunch and dinner,
from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday,
and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
for Sunday brunch.
:: The staff at Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant in Fernandina Beach can dish it out — and you can
take it, be it classic Mexican or vegetarian specials.
Max’s International
Restaurant and
Ballroom
1312 Beach Blvd., Beach
Plaza, Jacksonville Beach,
247-6820
Outrageous MESS!
Mary Beth Smith
Server at Yamato Japanese Steakhouse
in St. Augustine
“One of the [teppanyaki] chefs at a table
where I was serving was performing and
accidentally cracked an egg all over
a customer.”
This upscale restaurant is a
Golden Spoon award win-
ner with European
ambiance. Max’s specialties
include Florida crab cakes,
ahi and sushi tuna and rack
of lamb. Choose from
fountain-side tables in the
dining room, or sit out-
doors in a courtyard patio
with a New Orleans feel.
A full bar is served and the
Grand Ballroom is available
for events. A variety of live
entertainment at the piano
bar is featured Friday and
Saturday. Open from 11:30
a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday for lunch
and dinner, and from 11:30
a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday
for lunch.
9th & Main
1850 N. Main St.,
Springfield, 353-6002
Housed in a renovated
Firestone Tire Station in
the historic Springfield arts
district, 9th & Main serves
a casual lunch menu of sal-
ads, burgers and wraps,
along with dinner specials.
There’s an in-house art
gallery, a unique wine list
and a full bar. Open from
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch
Monday through Friday,
from 4 till late on Thursday
and Friday, when live
music is featured.
Opus 39 Restaurant
& Food Gallery
39 Cordova St., St.
Augustine, 824-0402
The cuisine is contempo-
rary American, the
atmosphere is elegant and
artistic, and the menu is
prix fixe, changing daily. A
tasting menu is available,
and the back of the restau-
rant features an extensive
and eclectic retail wine
shop. Open from 5 p.m. to
9 p.m. for dinner Tuesday
through Saturday.
PLAE
80 Amelia Village Circle,
Amelia Island, 277-2132
Located in the Spa &
Shops at Amelia Island
Plantation, this bistro-style
venue — a 2005 Best of
Jax winner for Best
Restaurant on Amelia
Island in Folio Weekly’s
Best of Jax readers poll —
offers an innovative menu.
With a full bar, the com-
fortable lounge at PLAE
features artistic décor and
live entertainment nightly.
Open at 5:30 p.m. for din-
ner daily. Reservations
accepted for six or
more only.
Seven Bridges Grille
& Brewery
9735 Gate Parkway N.,
Tinseltown, 997-1999
This grill and brewery fea-
tures an innovative menu
 B B B
of fresh, local grilled
seafood, chicken, steaks,
appetizers, pizzas and
award-winning freshly
brewed ales and lagers.
Dine indoors or outdoors.
A full bar is served and use
of the pool tables is free
until 4 p.m. Call for
updates on live entertain-
ment, which is featured
Wednesday through
Saturday. Open from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m. daily for
lunch, dinner and till 2 a.m.
on Friday and Saturday for
late-night dining.
Sun Dog Steak
and Seafood
207 Atlantic Blvd.,
Beaches Town Center,
Neptune Beach, 241-8221
This art-deco, family-
owned restaurant has been
around for 19 years and
features both booth dining
and a ’50s-diner-style
counter. Entrées include
blackened tuna steak with
fire-roasted corn sauce,
fresh tomatoes and scal-
lions, blackened New York
strip and seven styles of
half-pound hamburgers, as
well as nightly chef ’s spe-
cials. The Sunday brunch,
served from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m., offers steak and eggs,
plus oatmeal pancakes and
grilled vegetable omelets.
Live music is featured
nightly and a late-night
menu is available till 1 a.m.
Open for lunch and
dinner from 11 a.m. to
2 a.m. daily.
Twisted Sisters
1266 Beach Blvd., Pablo
Plaza, Jacksonville Beach,
241-6453
This Beaches hangout
offers a Southern Coastal
menu including fresh
soups, salads and wraps for
lunch as well as tapas-style
cuisine served late into the
night. Head Chef Eric also
prepares gumbo, shrimp,
fried green tomatoes and
chicken dishes. WiFi and
ping-pong are available,
depending on whether you
want to work or play. A
full bar and live entertain-
ment are offered and
there’s outside dining on
the new patio. Open for
lunch, dinner and late-
night dining, 11 a.m. to late
Monday through Saturday.
Urban Flats
330 A1A N., Ponte Vedra
Beach, 280-5515
New to Northeast Florida,
Urban Flats offers a casual
but cutting-edge bistro-style
menu, featuring Old World
flatbread paired with fresh
seasonal and regional ingre-
dients in wraps, flatwiches,
entrées and salads. A full
bar and a selection of wines
by the glass or the bottle are
served. A children’s menu
and take-out are available.
Live entertainment is fea-
tured Wednesday through
Saturday evenings. Open
from 11 a.m. to midnight
Monday through Friday, till
1 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Urban Golf Café
14185 Beach Blvd.,
Intracoastal West,
223-0335
Located inside Urban Golf
Indoor Club, Urban Golf
offers a gourmet menu
featuring fresh wraps,
entrées, flatbread pizzas
and salads served up in a
casual, sleek atmosphere.
Popular items include Thai
chicken cilantro wrap, gor-
gonzola mini-burgers,
grilled shrimp pesto, goat
cheese pizza and ginger
seared ahi tuna. A broad
beer selection is offered as
well as wine and cigars.
Open from 10 a.m. to 10
p.m. Monday through
Wednesday, till 11 p.m.
Thursday through
Saturday and till 6 p.m.
on Sunday.
Zhanra’s Arts
& Eats
108 Anastasia Blvd.,
Anastasia Island,
823-3367
A new art-themed, tapas-
style restaurant where
culinary and visual arts
blend, Zhanra’s is located
just over the Bridge of
Lions from historic down-
town. Zhanra’s (pro-
nounced “genres”) fea-
tures more than 60 small-
plate selections in a casual,
contemporary space. A
children’s menu is available,
a full bar is served and
take-out is available. Open
from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
daily, with a weekend
brunch served from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m. Hidden in
the back is Sidney’s cigar
and martini bar.
French
Bistro Aix
1440 San Marco Blvd.,
San Marco, 398-1949
If Bistro Aix (pronounced
“X”) were a movie,
Executive Chef Tom Gray
would be the star — and
his performance would
probably earn him an
Oscar nod. Besides having
his mug plastered on the
cover of USA Weekend
magazine, Gray performs
nightly in Aix’s open-air
kitchen, flanked by a cop-
per chef ’s bar. Equally
important are Gray’s co-
stars: inventive cuisine
inspired by French and
Mediterranean fare and an
urban-chic atmosphere.
The restaurant draws local
celebs as sure as if it had a
red carpet outside. And
the selection of 250 wines
is certainly Golden Globe
worthy. Open 11 a.m. to 10
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11
p.m. Friday, 5 to 11 p.m.
Saturday and 5 to 9 p.m.
on Sunday.
Crush Bistro
3630 Park St., Avondale,
381-0909
Maybe it’s because the
French bistro is located
across the street from a
Laundromat and next door
to a good ol’ Southern bar,
but somehow Crush man-
ages to pull off an authen-
tic European sophistication
without excessive preten-
sion. The interior’s dark
wood trim and displayed
copper cookware are
warm and welcoming even
for the most proud-to-be-
an-American guest. And
whether you order the
Roti de Porc aux Pommes
(a pan-roasted pork chop
with cream sauce), the
Onglet de Boeuf et
Pommes Frites (hangar
steak with house-made
fries) or a bottle of
Demoiselle’s Brut Tete de
Cuve (a non-vintage cham-
pagne), the staff won’t
make you feel like a jerk if
you have trouble with the
pronunciation. Open from
11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for
lunch Monday through
Friday, for dinner from 5 to
10 p.m. Monday through
Thursday and until 11 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
JJ’s Liberty Bistro
330 A1A N., Ste. 209
(Shoppes of Ponte Vedra),
Ponte Vedra Beach,
273-7980
This French-owned bistro
emphasizes French cuisine
created with fresh local
seafood. An extensive wine
list and beer are offered.
Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday through Saturday.
JJ’s Bistro de Paris
7653 Gate Parkway, Ste.
105, Shoppes at Village
Walk, 996-7557
This French bistro sports
authentic décor and Old
World service. The accent
is on French cuisine creat-
ed with fresh local seafood.
An extensive wine list and
beer are offered. There’s
also a replica of the Eiffel
Tower. Open from 11 a.m.
to 9 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Le Clos Café
Restaurant-
Provencal
20 S. Second St.,
Fernandina Beach,
261-8100
Located in Fernandina’s
historic district, Le Clos
Café Restaurant-Provençal
features dishes by candle-
light in an intimate, turn-
of-the-century cottage.
Chef-owner Katherine
Ewing earned degrees in
pastry and cuisine from Le
Cordon Bleu, Paris, and
trained at the Ritz Hotel in
Paris. Her menu includes
fresh fish, braised lamb
shank and seafood
entrées. Beer and an
extensive wine list are
available. Reservations
are recommended. Open for din-
ner Monday through Saturday.
The Magnificat Café
231 N. Laura St., Downtown
Jacksonville, 353-3588
Located in the heart of down-
town Jacksonville on Hemming
Plaza, this French-style café
serves French onion soup,
quiche Lorraine, specialty sand-
wiches and fresh fruit salad.
Dine indoors or out on the cov-
ered patio. Take-out and deliv-
ery are available. Open from 11
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
German
German Schnitzel
Haus
13245 Atlantic Blvd.,
Jacksonville, 220-0096
Authentic German fare is
served by a chef with more
than 30 years’ experience. In
addition to schnitzel, steak and
turkey, there are weekly spe-
cials and brick-oven-baked
pizza. Beer and wine are
served, including a wide variety
of German draft beers. A kids’
menu, take out and delivery are
available. Open from 11:30
a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, and from
noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Schnitzelhouse
German Restaurant
5711 Bowden Road, Ste. 7,
Southpoint, 730-3657
This café serves traditional
German cuisine including veal,
Jagerschnitzel, wienerschnitzel,
:: Koja Sushi at The Jacksonville Landing serves sushi, sashimi and
hard-to-find items like jellyfish salad.
sauerbraten, Cordon Bleu, beef
goulash and potato pancakes.
Dessert selections feature fried
apples, a German favorite.
Check the board for daily lunch
specials. Beer and wine are
served, with an extensive selec-
tion of German varieties of
both. Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday and
from 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Global
Augustine Grille
1000 PGA Tour Blvd.,
Sawgrass Marriott, Ponte
Vedra Beach, 285-7777
The chef ’s menu of global cui-
sine is seasonal, and all chops
and steaks are naturally aged.
Selections from the grill include
New York strip, USDA prime
porterhouse, lamb and veal
chops. A full bar is served. Call
for reservations. Open for
dinner 6 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Avilés Restaurant
& Lounge
32 Avenida Menendez, St.
Augustine, 829-9727
Located inside the historic
Hilton Bayfront Hotel, Avilés is
an upscale bistro offering pro-
gressive global cuisine. Popular
dishes include grilled hoisin,
marinated filet mignon with
truffle potato purée, crispy
onions and baby spinach. A
children’s menu is available and
a full bar is served. Open 7 a.m.
to 10:30 p.m. daily for break-
fast, lunch and dinner.
Beech Street Grill
801 Beech St., Fernandina
Beach, 277-3662
Located in a historic home built
by Captain Bell in 1889, this
restaurant has an Award of
Excellence from “Wine
Spectator” for its extensive
wine list, as well as multiple
Best of Jax wins from Folio
Weekly readers. Daily black-
board specials feature regional
dishes and a full bar is served.
Reservations are recommend-
ed. Thursday through Saturday
evenings offer piano entertain-
ment. Dress is resort-casual.
Open for dinner nightly.
Brett’s Waterway Café
1 S. Front St., Fernandina
Beach, 261-2660
Brett’s Waterway Café serves
fresh seafood, chicken, steaks
and a popular spinach-and-arti-
choke dip. At the foot of
Centre Street, Brett’s is located
on the Intracoastal Waterway
overlooking the Fernandina
Harbor Marina. The full-service
bar has an extensive wine
selection. Reservations are
requested for parties of six or
more. Open for lunch, 11:30
a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for din-
ner at 5:30 p.m. daily.
Casa Marina Inn
& Restaurant
691 N. First St., Jacksonville
Beach, 270-0025
The 1924 Casa Marina
Restaurant is the oldest struc-
ture in Jax Beach and offers
dining indoors, out on the
verandah or in the restored
courtyard by the ocean. The
New Beach menu features low
country crab cakes, marinated
pork tenderloin with fruit
chutney, salmon Wellington
and goat cheese salad, as well
as homemade breads. Open
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. for
lunch and dinner Tuesday
through Friday. An award-
winning brunch is served
from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
Sunday. The Penthouse
Lounge, which overlooks the
Atlantic Ocean and offers
tapas and a martini bar, is
open at 4 p.m. daily.
Chef Gerald’s
A1A at Mickler’s Landing,
Ponte Vedra Beach,
285-CHEF (2433)
Chef Gerald’s combines glob-
al flavors with fresh local
seafood, steaks and wild
game in a relaxed setting near
the beach. A kids’ menu and
catering are available; beer
and wine are served, with a
Wednesday wine tasting.
Open from 5 to 10 p.m.
for dinner Monday
through Saturday.
Collage
60 Hypolita St., St.
Augustine, 829-0055
New restaurant Collage (the
former La Parisienne) offers
artful global dining with an
eclectic menu focusing on
local seafood as well as
steaks, veal, lamb and pasta.
Everything is made from
scratch and served in an inti-
mate atmosphere. A specialty
dessert, The Bougainvillea,
commemorates their Brazilian
tree. An extensive wine list and
beer are offered. Open nightly
at 5:30 p.m. for dinner.
Currents
Riverview Bistro
841 Prudential Drive,
Southbank, 306-9512
Located in the Aetna building,
Currents offers gourmet cui-
sine, including Indian, Thai,
Latin and European inspired
dishes, as well as Southern-
fried chicken. Outside dining on
the veranda is featured, and
catering is available. A full bar is
available — the specialty is the
Currentstini — and the river
views are terrific. Open from
6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for break-
fast and lunch, Monday
through Friday.
Dwight’s Mediterranean
Style Bistro
1527 Penman Road,
Jacksonville Beach, 241-4496
This small, cozy bistro next to
Cinotti’s Bakery specializes in
hand-rolled pasta and grilled
vegetables. All dishes, including
fresh fish, sea scallops and the
popular crab cakes, come with
pasta and veggies. Owner and
Chef Dwight DeLude prepares
meals in his exhibition kitchen,
and beer and wine are served.
With limited seating, reserva-
tions are suggested. Open from
5:30 to 10 p.m. for dinner
Tuesday through Saturday.
Eleven South
216 S. 11th Ave., Jacksonville
Beach, 241-1112
Eleven South serves New
American eclectic cuisine with
influences from around the
world. In addition to a mesquite
grill and courtyard dining, Eleven
South serves a full bar and a
selection of fine wines. Open for
dinner at 5 p.m. nightly.
Giovanni’s
1161 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville
Beach, 249-7787
A Beaches tradition for more
than 30 years, Giovanni’s fea-
tures a menu of continental cui-
sine with a modern Italian flair.
Favorite entrées include lamb,
seafood and a variety of pasta
dishes. A full bar is served and
the upstairs piano bar is open
Thursday through Saturday.
Open from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.
for dinner Tuesday through
Saturday, from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
on Monday.
The Hilltop
2030 Wells Road, Orange
Park, 272-5959
Nestled in the woods, The
Hilltop serves New Orleans
shrimp along with traditional
dishes like certified Black Angus
prime rib, seafood, veal chops
and she-crab soup. Homemade
desserts are featured, along
with a piano bar (Wednesday
through Saturday evenings), a
large collection of antiques, pri-
vate party rooms and a garden
setting. The Hilltop is a fre-
quent staging ground for wed-
dings. Full bar. Open for dinner
Tuesday through Saturday.
 B B B
Joe’s Old
City Grille
1968 U.S. 1 S., St.
Augustine, 826-3636
This neighborhood eatery
serves dishes from around
the globe, including a vari-
ety of homemade-style
entrées, fresh seafood,
pastas, salads, wraps, burg-
ers and sandwiches. Beer
and wine are served. Open
for lunch and dinner from
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
Juliette’s and
The J-Bar
245 W. Water St.,
Jacksonville, 355-6664
Located in the lobby of the
Omni Hotel, Juliette’s
serves dinner prior to (or
dessert after) a downtown
show. Dine on the terrace
overlooking the atrium or
cozy up in a booth. Nightly
specials are available in
addition to the new menu
at Juliette’s. In the morn-
ing, there’s a breakfast buf-
fet. The full-service bar
carries beers of the world.
Open for breakfast, lunch
and dinner daily.
Le Pavillon
45 San Marco Ave., St.
Augustine, 824-6202
One of the oldest restau-
rants in the area, Le
Pavillon is filled with
antiques and artifacts in a
century-old home. Family
owned and operated, Le
Pavillon’s Claude and
Gisele Sinatsch recom-
mend two dishes: the rack
of lamb and the bouilla-
baisse. Norwegian salmon
is another popular item, as
is the duck and the Dover
sole. The full-service bar
has a good selection of
wines. Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
:: Located right beside the Palm Valley bridge on the Intracoastal Waterway, The Bridge serves an
eclectic menu with an emphasis on New Orleans-style flavors.
Matthew’s
2107 Hendricks Ave., San
Marco, 396-9922
Jacksonville’s only four-dia-
mond, four-star restaurant,
Matthew’s has won the
Golden Spoon six times.
Chef Matthew Medure
offers a tasting menu paired
with wines, or enjoy the
seasonal à la carte menu
featuring an eclectic mix of
Mediterranean ingredients.
Matthew’s has an extensive
wine list with more than
500 selections, receiving an
Award of Excellence from
“Wine Spectator.” Dress is
business-casual, jackets
optional. A children’s menu
is available. Reservations
are recommended. Open
5:30 to 10 p.m. for dinner
Monday through Saturday.
95 Cordova
95 Cordova St., St.
Augustine, 810-6810
Located in the heart of the
restored Casa Monica
Hotel in downtown St.
Augustine, 95 Cordova is
home to Executive Chef
Rene Nyfeler and his menu
of New World eclectic cui-
sine. Specialty dishes blend
of Moroccan, Asian,
Mediter-ranean, Caribbean
and European influences.
The adjacent Cobalt
Lounge features the
Cobalt Martini, as well as
a full bar and a variety of
fine wines. Open daily for
breakfast, lunch and dinner
as well as Sunday brunch.
Ocean Grill at
Amelia Inn
6800 First Coast
Highway, Amelia Island
Plantation, Amelia Island,
261-6161
Ocean Grill is Amelia
Island Plantation’s most
elegant restaurant. Dinner
features steaks, chops,
chef ’s specials, a bountiful
wine list and desserts,
accompanied by a view of
the Atlantic. Open to
resort guests for dinner
from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday.
Ocean 60
Restaurant, Wine
Bar & Martini
Room
60 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic
Beach, 247-0060
Ocean 60 offers fine dining
in a casual beachfront
atmosphere. Signature
menu items include baked
shrimp, goat cheese spadini,
whole fried red snapper as
well as daily specials featur-
ing fusion sushi, globally
inspired fresh catch dishes
and desserts. The Martini
Room offers original live
music Monday through
Saturday and a nightly
happy hour. An extensive
wine list is featured. Wine
tastings are held at 7 p.m.
on Monday. Reservations
recommended. Open at
5:30 p.m. for dinner
Monday through Saturday.
Old City House Inn
115 Cordova St., St.
Augustine, 826-0184
Featuring award-winning
cuisine with Mediter-
ranean, Asian, South
African and Southern
influences, Old City House
offers a world of flavors
from pinwheeled rack of
lamb to South African
ostrich to seafood Thai
curry. Nationally voted
among the top 15 inns by
Bed & Breakfast Journal,
and recipient of multiple
T.O.St.A. awards, Old
City House Inn is St.
Augustine’s only Historic
Inn with a full-service
restaurant and bar. Serving
breakfast, lunch and
dinner daily, as well as
Sunday brunch.
:: Not just sweets, One Hot Cookie! & Creamery in Ponte Vedra and Neptune beaches serves
made-to-order breakfast items, sandwiches and salads.
Purple Olive
International Bistro
4255 A1A S., Ste. 6, St.
Augustine Beach,
461-1250
Owners Peter and Deidre
Kenney offer a creative, full-
dinner menu of internation-
ally inspired chef ’s entrées,
including the signature
sesame-seared scallops or
the boursin and spinach
stuffed chicken. Also, diners
can build their own unique
meal using grilled specialty
entrées paired with sauces,
condiments and side dishes.
Artisan breads, soups, salad
dressings and desserts, as
well as a kids’ menu, are
available. International beers
and wines are served.
Open 5 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday.
Raintree Restaurant
102 San Marco Ave., St.
Augustine, 824-7211
There’s something strange
but cool about dining on
escargot and Beef
Wellington in a beautiful,
late-19th-century Victorian
mansion while wearing
jeans and sneakers. The
Raintree has really taken
its motto — “Casual
Dining at its Finest” — to
heart. The menu is packed
with fine-dining favorites
like roast duck, lobster and
their famous brandy pep-
persteak, but with no jack-
et required. Reservations
suggested. Open at 5 p.m.
daily for dinner.
Restaurant Medure
818 A1A (The Veranda),
Ponte Vedra Beach,
543-3797
Another successful cre-
ation of Chef Matthew
Medure, Restaurant
Medure emphasizes fresh
seafood, steaks and chops
prepared with Mediter-
ranean and Asian flair. A
wine list of more than 400
selections and a variety of
desserts are offered.
Restaurant Medure offers
wine tastings at 6:30 p.m.
every Wednesday. A full
bar opens at 4 p.m. daily,
dinner is served from 5 to
10 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, till 11 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
The Row
Restaurant
1521 Riverside Ave.,
Riverside, 354-5080
Continental cuisine with a
Southern accent is served
at The Row Restaurant,
located in Riverdale Inn, an
elegant turn-of-the-centu-
ry B&B. The menu fea-
tures roasted asparagus
crusted with toasted hazel-
nuts, grilled filet mignon
with lump crab, bearnaise
and asparagus, served with
garlic mashed potatoes,
and The Row’s stuffed
chicken marsala. A full bar
is available. Serving dinner
5:30 to last reservation
Monday through Saturday,
as well as afternoon tea
from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday and
Saturday, and a Sunday
brunch, from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m.
Roy’s of
Jacksonville Beach
2400 S. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
241-7697
Fine dining combined with
friendly “aloha” service,
Roy’s serves Hawaiian
fusion with Asian aromat-
ics using fresh local ingredi-
ents, European sauces and
bold Asian spices. A full
bar is available and a chil-
dren’s menu is offered.
Open from 5:30 to 9:30
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, until 10:30 p.m.
on Friday and Saturday,
and until 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Sterling’s of
Avondale
3551 St. Johns Ave.,
Avondale, 387-0700
Located a few minutes
from downtown
Jacksonville, this five-star
restaurant features steaks,
veal, lamb and at least
three fresh fish selections
each day. Indoor and
courtyard dining are avail-
able. Dress is business-
casual. Premium liquor as
well as an extensive wine
list and beer are served.
Private function rooms are
available. Reservations are
suggested. Open for lunch
and dinner Monday
through Saturday, brunch
and dinner on Sunday.
The Tavern &
Fresh Grill
301 Royal St. Augustine
Parkway, St. Augustine,
824-4653 ext. 2
Dine in the picturesque
atmosphere of Royal St.
Augustine Country Club.
A children’s menu is avail-
able and a full bar is
served. Light fare is served
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
daily and a full dinner is
served till 8 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday, till 10
p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Live piano music is pre-
sented from 5 to 9 p.m. on
Friday and Saturday.
Tra Vini Grille
216 Ponte Vedra Park
Drive, Ponte Vedra
Beach, 273-2442
Owned by Gianni
Recupito, who’s also the
proprietor of Caffé
Andiamo, Tra Vini serves a
transcontinental menu that
includes Angus steaks, ten-
derloin of buffalo and veal
chops, plus numerous
seafood, veal and pasta
dishes. Indoor or outdoor
dining is available and a full
bar is served. Open from
11 a.m. to midnight
 B B B
Monday through Thursday,
from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday
and Saturday. Live entertain-
ment, a martini bar and tapas
are offered on Friday and
Saturday evenings. (Tra Vini is
hard to see from A1A. Look for
the sign just south of Marsh
Landing Parkway.)
Outrageous COMEDY!
Amy Rudlaff
Former Bartender at Coconuts Comedy Club in
Atlantic Beach
“When I bartended at Coconuts Comedy Club this
comedienne, ‘The Grandmother from Hell,’ held us up at
gunpoint because the owner didn’t pay her at the end of
the evening. Turns out she had a sick husband upstairs,
[she] needed the money and just lost her mind.”
29 South Eats
29 S. Third St., Fernandina
Beach, 277-7919
Fernandina Beach’s latest addi-
tion to the historic downtown
scene was voted Best New
restaurant in Folio Weekly’s
Best of Jax readers poll. At his
popular bistro, Chef Scott
serves traditional world cuisine
with a modern twist. Open for
lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday, for
dinner from 5 to 9:30 p.m.
Monday through Thursday and
till 10 p.m. on Friday and
Saturday. Sunday brunch is
offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Twisted Martini
The Jacksonville Landing,
2 Independent Drive,
353-TINI
822 A1A N., Ponte Vedra,
353-8464
This drinking, dancing and dining
venue features a gourmet,
award-winning tapas-style menu
including grilled lamb chops and
Thai shrimp lettuce wraps. A
full bar — martinis are the spe-
cialty — is available and happy
hour is held from 4 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday through Sunday.
Open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Wednes-day through Sunday.
Wildflower Café
4320 A1A S., St. Augustine
Beach, 471-2691
Wildflower Café serves a full
breakfast, lunch and dinner
menu featuring crab cakes,
eggs benedict, Tuscany panini,
fresh soups, salads, sandwich-
es, seafood and pasta. Chef
Brian Helm, a graduate of
Johnson & Wales at University
of Rhode Island, has been rec-
ognized in Florida Trend maga-
zine. Dine indoors or outdoors.
The early-bird special is from
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. A kids’ menu
is available and beer and wine
are served. Open from 7:30
a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through
Saturday, and till 1 p.m. (break-
fast only) on Sunday.
Wine Cellar
1314 Prudential Drive,
Southbank, 398-8989
The Wine Cellar offers New
World dishes in an Old World
setting. Dine outdoors under
majestic oaks or indoors in
stylish, intimate dining rooms.
An extensive wine selection
and a full bar are available.
Open for dinner from
5:30 to 10 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Greek &
Mediterranean
Athena Restaurant
14 Cathedral Place, St.
Augustine, 823-9076
Athena has an extensive menu
of Greek and American dishes,
including moussaka, lamb
kabobs and spinach pie, along
with traditional favorites.
There’s a full menu for break-
fast as well as daily specials.
Beer and wine are served.
Dine inside at a booth or table,
or order to go. Open from 7
a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday, till 10 p.m. Friday
and Saturday for breakfast,
lunch and dinner.
Athens Café
6271 St. Augustine Road, Ste.
7, Mandarin, 733-1199
From the dolmades (stuffed
grape leaves) and saganaki (fried
cheese) to the baby shoes
(stuffed eggplant), moussaka
(layers of eggplant with potatoes
and ground beef topped with a
bachamel sauce) and pastitsio
(Greek lasagna), Athens offers all
:: Located on Amelia Island and a locals’ favorite, Your Place serves Mediterranean cuisine, as well as paninis,
deli sandwiches and salads.
the favorites. The café serves
beer and wine, including Greek
brands, and catering is available.
Carry-out orders may be faxed
ahead. Open for lunch Monday
through Friday, dinner Monday
through Saturday.
Café Mirage
Mediterranean Grill
301 10th Ave. N., Jacksonville
Beach, 241-8272
Chef Shawn, preparing
European and Mediterranean
cuisine for 27 years, offers his
signature sultani kabobs (filet
mignon, round sirloin, barg and
koobideh), in addition to an
extensive menu. Assorted selec-
tions of hookah tobaccos are
also featured. Full-service cater-
ing on or off-site. Open for din-
ner from 6 p.m. to midnight
Tuesday through Thursday, till 2
a.m. on Friday and Saturday and
till midnight Sunday.
Georgie’s Diner
100 Malaga St., St. Augustine,
819-9006
Georgie’s Diner is new to the
St. Augustine scene, serving up
homestyle fare with an exten-
sive menu of comfort foods,
including classic American
breakfast, along with lunch and
dinner items, and Greek special-
ties from owner George
Chryssaidis, who also owns
Athena Restaurant. Georgie’s is
open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
weekdays, till 10 p.m. Friday
and Saturday. Outdoor patio
seating is available.
Hovan Mediterranean
Gourmet
9501 Arlington Expressway,
Ste. 170, Regency Mall,
727-9539
2005 Park St., Ste. 1, Five
Points, 381-9394
A quick meal doesn’t have to
equal greasy grub served with a
scowl. Hovan has proved that.
Rather than fries, Hovan offers
hummus and chips, instead of
burgers, they serve up falafel
sandwiches, and the privately
owned franchises are staffed
with employees that seem fairly
happy to be there. And every-
thing is fresh at Hovan from the
handmade roll-up sandwiches
to the crisp Mediterranean
décor. Open for lunch and din-
ner from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Saturday;
closed Sunday.
The Italiano Greek
Italian Café
119 W. Adams St.,
Downtown Jacksonville,
355-8181
The Italiano specializes
in Greek dishes, including grape
leaves and moussaka. The
Greek pizza, covered in black
and green olives, tomatoes and
feta cheese, is a customer
favorite. Dine-in or take-out.
Open from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
Layla’s of San Marco
2016 Hendricks Ave., San
Marco, 398-4610
The winner of the 2006 San
Marco Preservation award,
Layla’s offers traditional
Mediterranean cuisine,
including gyros, falafel and
wraps, as well as American
favorites, in an authentic
atmosphere, featuring a cov-
ered patio for cigar smoking and
a hookah lounge. Wine and
beer are served. Open from 11
a.m. to midnight Monday
through Thursday, till 2 a.m.
Friday and Saturday and till 10
p.m. Sunday.
Mediterrania
Restaurant
3877 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 731-2898
With an Old World atmosphere,
this family-owned-and-operated
Greek and Italian restaurant has
been a Southside favorite for
more than 20 years. Fresh
seafood, veal chops and rack of
lamb are some of the specialties.
For dessert, there’s crème
brûlée cheesecake or the
Magnificent 7, a seven-layer
chocolate cake. Beer and wine are avail-
able. Open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. Monday through Friday, for dinner 5
to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The Mediterranean
242 Solana Road, Ponte Vedra Beach,
285-4900
Serving fresh homestyle Middle Eastern,
Greek and Italian cuisine, The Mediter-
ranean specializes in falafel, hummus,
tabouli, kabobs, pasta dishes and chef ’s
specials. Beer and wine are available.
Open for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to
9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from
4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday.

Sunrise Grill
3545 St. Augustine Road, Lakewood,
399-4844
Chef Isa Farhat creates breakfast and
lunch specials and kabob platters using a
mix of authentic Italian, Mediterranean
and American culinary styles. Catering
is available. Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday through Friday.

Theo’s Restaurant
169 King Street, St. Augustine,
824-5022
Located on the banks of San Sebastian
River, Theo’s is a favorite haunt for
locals. The menu includes seafood and
Greek dishes, shrimp specials and the
spanakopita, made with philo dough and
a mixture of spinach and feta cheese.
For breakfast, try the French toast,
omelets and pancakes. The homemade
rolls and cookies can be ordered to take
home as well. Open for breakfast and
lunch Monday through Saturday. Closes
at noon on Saturday.

Zaharias Restaurant
3945 A1A S., St. Augustine, 471-4799
This family-owned restaurant has been
serving Greek and Italian dishes, steak,
baby back ribs and seafood entrées for
more than 18 years. There are early-bird
dinners and daily chef ’s specials.
Zaharias has a full bar and lounge and
accommodates large parties. A chil-
dren’s menu is available. Open from 3 to
10 p.m. Monday through Friday for
lunch and dinner and from 8 a.m. to 10
p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for break-
fast, lunch and dinner.

Zaitoon Mediterranean Grill

13475 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 40,
Harbour Village, 221-7066
Zaitoon combines traditional Mediter-
ranean family recipes with contemporary
innovation, offering an extensive menu
featuring dishes inspired by Spanish,
French, Italian and Middle Eastern
cuisines. Open for lunch and dinner from
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through
Thursday, and Sunday, and from 11 a.m.
to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Zodiac Grill
130 W. Adams St., Downtown
Jacksonville, 354-8283
Zodiac serves Mediterranean cuisine and
American favorites. In addition to the
popular lunch buffet, Zodiac Grill also
makes panini, daily specials and vegetari-
an dishes. A full bar is available, and
espresso and hookahs keep the crowd on
an even keel. A large catering menu is
also offered. Open for breakfast, lunch
and dinner 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
 B B B
:: Zaitoon Mediterranean Grill in the Harbour Village shopping center on Atlantic Boulevard
combines traditional Mediterranean recipes with dishes inspired by Spanish, French, Italian and
Middle Eastern cuisines.
Home Cookin’ Col. Mustard’s
Champ’s Place
Homestyle Cooking
& Barbecue
1347 N. Market St.,
Springfield, 355-7772
Serving comfort food with
soulful Southern flavor,
Champ’s menu has chitter-
lings, neckbones and liver
and onions, beef, pork and
chicken entrées. Open
from 11 a.m. to
11 p.m. daily.
Chef Jeff ’s
Crockpot Dinners
1956 U.S. 1 S., St.
Augustine, 540-6735
Chef Jeff prepares crock-
pot dinners to go — cus-
tomers bring in an empty
crockpot and pick it up
filled with a choice of dish-
es made with fresh ingredi-
ents, featuring fresh herbs,
chicken, beef and seafood.
Items include beef stew,
pork roast or chicken and
stuffing, as well as a loaf of
bread and a side. Open
from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
Chicken Koop
Wings & Things
6145 Merrill Road,
Arlington, 388-9631
1338 Dunn Ave.,
Northside, 757-1070
1935 N. Main St.,
Northside, 791-8887
2083 Edgewood Ave. W.,
Riverside, 768-8899
5821 Beach Blvd.,
Southside, 393-9060
Wholesome homestyle
food is served at Chicken
Koop, specializing in wings
and accompanying sauces,
sandwiches, fried corn-on-
the-cob and fried yams.
Open from noon to 9 p.m.
on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to
11 p.m. Monday through
Wednesday, till midnight
Thursday, and till 1 a.m. on
Friday and Saturday.
Phabulous Phat
Burgers
9802 Baymeadows Road,
Ste. 6, Baymeadows
Village, 996-8887
The Colonel serves up
some of the region’s best
hamburgers (he took home
Folio Weekly’s 2006 Best
of Jax award in that cate-
gory), but be prepared to
get the treatment: The
Col. is famous for insulting
and taunting his clients.
Breakfast is also served,
featuring sandwiches, five-
egg omelets and French
toast. Various wings,
wraps and fries are also
available. A kids’ menu is
available. Open from 6:30
a.m. through 9 p.m. daily.
Ellen’s Kitchen
1824 S. Third St. (Pablo
Plaza), Jacksonville
Beach, 246-1572
Serving the Beaches for
nearly 40 years, this busy
restaurant offers a full
breakfast menu all day, and
is famous for its home-
made sausage gravy and
hashbrowns. For lunch, the
menu features pork barbe-
cue, BLTs, patty melts and
salads, along with daily
specials. Breakfast and
lunch orders can be called
in ahead of time, but
there’s usually a line for
breakfast on weekends.
Take-out is available. AAA
approved. Open daily for
breakfast and lunch.
The Homestead
1712 Beach Blvd.,
Jacksonville Beach,
249-9660
It’s been touch-and-go, but
as of press time, this
Beaches institution is still
open for business, despite
the road work on
Beach Boulevard that’s
been hindering operations
for a while. In the shade of
the live oaks, Homestead
serves Southern-influ-
enced, family-style dinners
in a log cabin setting. Open
for dinner, but call before
you go — exact days and
times were up in the air.
Jax River City Café
4807 N. Main St.,
Springfield, 355-9111
Jax River City specializes
in homestyle cooking.
Traditional breakfast fare
includes omelets, French
toast and the “Country
Benedict.” Lunch includes
grilled burgers and daily
hot specials like roast
chicken, lasagna and meat-
loaf. Take-out is available.
Open from 7 a.m. to
2:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
Michelle’s Southern
Home Cooking &
Neighborhood
Wateringhole
8560 Beach Blvd.,
Southside, 353-0002
Southern homecooking at
its best: loads of fresh veg-
gies (nothing from a can),
country-fried steak, meat-
loaf, and chicken and
dumplings. Throw in some
homemade pies and cakes,
and you’ve got down-home
food that tastes like Mom’s
— but they do the dishes.
Open from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. for lunch and from 5
to 8 p.m. for dinner, Mon-
day through Thursday. The
Wateringhole is open at
5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, and chicken wings
are served during Water-
inghole hours. Happy hour
is from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday
through Thursday.
Mother’s
Home Cooking
1183 Beach Blvd.,
Jacksonville Beach,
242-8894
This Beaches eatery puts a
creative spin on basic
Southern food, including
the Smothered Surfer (home-
fries with gravy, eggs and
sausage) for breakfast, portabel-
lo wrap for lunch, and chicken
and dumplings at suppertime.
All-you-can-eat weekends, a
lunch buffet and fresh seafood
specials are also featured.
Children’s menu is available and
a full bar is served. Open from 6
a.m. to 2 pm. for breakfast and
lunch Sunday through Wednes-
day, till 9 p.m. for dinner on
Thursday and Friday.
Ritespot
1534 N. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach, 247-0699
For more than 50 years, The
Ritespot, located on A1A in the
North Beach Plaza, has served
homestyle cooking, including
fresh seafood, liver and onions,
pork chops and pot roast.
Among the dozens of available
side dishes are mashed pota-
toes and gravy, shucked corn,
collard greens and black-eyed
peas. Corn muffins and biscuits
are served with every meal. A
full bar is available. Dine in or
take out. Open from 5 p.m. to
1 a.m. for dinner daily with
extended hours in “The Spot
Bar,” offering happy hours,
appetizer specials and a late-
night menu.
Hot Dogs
All American
Hot Dog
10365 Beach Blvd., Southside,
641-5794
This casual spot has been
around since 1969, offering hot
dogs served in toasted buns,
topped off with a variety of gar-
nishments, as well as subs.
Open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday through Saturday.
Outrageous MATH!
Fabian Perez
Former Bartender at the Art Bar (Riverside)
Current Bartender at The Pearl on Main Street
in Springfield
“I had a girl at Art Bar once ask me how much quarters
were. I told her, ‘Four for a dollar!’”
Hazel’s Hot Dogs
2400 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd.,
St. Augustine, 824-8484
Unique to The Oldest City,
Hazel’s Hot Dogs — so named
for an actual Chihuahua belong-
ing to the owners — works hard
to offer a variety of hot dogs and
all the embellishments that go
with the noble dog. Meal deals
include an array of side items to
sate the appetite of the most
ravenous dog-lover. Open till
after Labor Day from 10:30 a.m.
to 6:30 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Hot Dog Hut
1439 S. Third St., Jacksonville
Beach, 247-8886
The Hot Dog Hut boasts a vast
selection of hot dogs and
sausages, served up with an
innovative variety of toppings,
:: Cuban Sandwich Café in Orange Park serves homestyle
Cuban favorites, from ropa vieja and lechon asado to guanabana
milkshakes and sangria.
as well as home-cooked Italian-
style roast beef, hamburgers,
corn dogs, beer-battered onion
rings and seasoned French fries.
Beer is available. Open from 11
a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through
Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4
p.m. on Sunday.
The Hot Dog
Spot & More
2771 Monument Road, Ste.
32, Arlington, 646-0050
Located in Cobblestone
Crossing, Hot Dog Spot offers
a variety of sausages — Italian,
smoked and spicy — as well as
(big surprise) all-beef hot dogs,
which may be embellished with
chili, cheese, slaw and sauer-
kraut. Additional menu items
include wings, Philly cheese-
steak sandwiches and burgers.
A kids’ menu and take-out are
available. Open for lunch from
11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Monday through Saturday.
Orange Tree Hot Dogs
9501 Arlington Expressway,
Regency Square Mall,
721-3595
1910 Wells Road, Orange
Park, 269-1164
Known since 1968 for the
Orange Frost specialty drink,
Orange Tree serves slaw-, chili
cheese- and sauerkraut-dogs, as
well as personal size pizzas.
Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday through Saturday.
Indian
Cilantro Restaurant
9825 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 6,
Mandarin, 262-9577
This Indian restaurant offers tra-
ditional Indian items, including
chicken lollipops, mint and
cilantro chicken and vegetarian
dishes. Cilantro also has a daily
lunch buffet. Beer and wine are
served, and take out is available.
Open for lunch from 11:30 a.m.
to 2:30 p.m. Monday through
Friday, from noon to 3 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday; for dinner
from 5 to 10 p.m. Tues-day
through Friday and till 10:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday.
Courtyard Café
75 King St., St. Augustine,
826-1938
Indoor and outdoor dining in the
courtyard garden of the Lightner
Museum is the focus of this new
restaurant. Featuring contempo-
rary cuisine, Courtyard Café
offers a special curry chicken on
Thursday, and gumbahti is
served daily. A children’s menu is
available and take-out is offered.
Open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
for breakfast and lunch Monday
through Saturday.
India’s Restaurant
9802 Baymeadows Road,
Ste. 8, Baymeadows,
620-0777
India’s has claimed numerous
of Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax
awards for authentic Indian
cuisine. Everything on the
menu is prepared mild, but
made spicier upon request.
Curry and vegetable dishes are
offered, along with lamb,
chicken, shrimp and fish tan-
doori (marinated in yogurt
then roasted in a clay oven).
India’s lunch buffet offers a
quick noontime meal. Beer and
wine are served. Lunch is
served Monday through
Saturday, dinner daily.
Red Chilies
8661 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, RED-7233
In addition to the full dinner
menu, the lunchtime buffet at
Red Chilies serves six vegetari-
an dishes at all times, along
with a variety of fresh salads,
breads and entrées from every
region of India. WiFi and take-
out are available. Open for
lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30
p.m. Tuesday through Friday
and from noon to 3 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday. Open
for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30
p.m. Tuesday through
Thursday and Sunday, and till
10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Taj Express
Indian Restaurant
9041 Southside Blvd.,
Ste. 181, Southside, 519-0098
The Taj Express interior fea-
tures stained-glass art, tiled
floors and carved ornamental
decorations. The menu includes
a variety of chicken, lamb,
seafood and vegetarian dishes,
in addition to a buffet. For
dessert try the ras-maiai or
mango ice cream. Dinner spe-
cials are featured nightly. Beer
and wine are served, and cater-
ing is available. A buffet is
offered for lunch and
dinner daily.
Italian
Amici
1915B A1A S., St. Augustine
Beach, 461-0102
A family-owned-and-operated
Italian restaurant, Amici is inti-
mate and casual. The menu
offers pasta, veal, steak and
numerous seafood dishes.
Children have their own selec-
tions. Dine indoors or outdoors
on the screened patio. A full bar
is served along with a daily
happy hour. Catering and ban-
quet facilities are available.
Reservations recommended,
especially on weekends. Open
daily for lunch and dinner.
Angelo’s Italian
Restaurant
2111 University Blvd. N.,
Arlington, 745-4812
Traditional Italian cuisine has
been served up at Angelo’s for
more than 30 years in a relaxed
atmosphere. A full bar is
served, a children’s menu is
 B B B
:: The staff at Chicago Pizza & Sports Grill on Jacksonville’s Southside serves classic deep-dish
pizzas with a side of Second City humor.
offered and take-out and
delivery are available.
Open from 11 am. to 10
p.m. Tuesday through
Saturday, from noon to 9
p.m. on Sunday.
Benito’s
Ristorante Italiano
180 Vilano Road, Vilano
Beach, 827-1000
Benito’s serves authentic
Italian cuisine, including
veal and seafood entrées,
gourmet pasta and specialty
pizzas. Open for lunch and
dinner, from 11 a.m. to 9:30
p.m. Tuesday through
Thursday, till 10 p.m. Friday
and Saturday, and from
noon to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
Buca Di Beppo
10334 Southside Blvd.,
Southside, 363-9090
Buca di Beppo gets to the
heart of fresh Italian cook-
ing with recipes like lasa-
gna and garlic mashed
potatoes. Dishes are avail-
able in three generous por-
tion sizes: Buca Large
serves four or more, Buca
Small serves two or more
and Buca Mio is just right
for one. A full bar and
take-out are available.
Open for lunch and dinner
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
till 11 p.m. Friday and
Saturday and till 9 p.m.
on Sunday.
Café Atlantico
647 A1A Beach Blvd., St.
Augustine Beach,
471-7332
This small, elegant restau-
rant serves traditional and
new dishes from different
regions of Italy. Owner/
chef Paolo Pece grew up in
Naples, Italy, and has been
a chef for more than 20
years. Entrées include
risotto alla pescatora, with
shrimp, calamari, scallops
and seasonal shellfish
served in a parmesan
cheese basket. An exten-
sive, eclectic wine list is
offered, and the atmos-
phere is intimate and
relaxed. Café Atlantico
has been awarded three
diamonds for fine dining by
AAA. Reservations are
suggested. Open for dinner
Monday through Saturday.
Café Italiano
1000 PGA Tour Blvd.,
Sawgrass Marriott, Ponte
Vedra Beach, 285-7777
By day, it’s Café on the
Green, a casual dining
venue. By night, it’s Café
Italiano, an Italian bistro
featuring chicken rossino,
spinach fettuccini and veal
marsala. Open for early-
bird specials at 4:30 p.m.
nightly, and a seafood buf-
fet is served from 6 to 10
p.m. on Friday.
Caffé Andiamo
500 Sawgrass Village,
Ponte Vedra Beach,
280-2299
Featuring a menu of tradi-
tional Italian cuisine with a
continental flair, the
Recuptio family’s Caffé
Andiamo offers fresh
seafood, chicken, veal and
steak prepared in the cop-
per wood-burning oven.
Customer favorites include
fracosta loco and cappe-
santi di mare. Dine on the
outdoor patio or inside.
Carino’s Italian Grill
11892 Atlantic Blvd.,
Kernan Village, 646-4822
1940 Wells Road, Orange
Park, 278-7880
600 Tingle Court, S.R.
312, Cobblestone Village,
825-9152
Carino’s serves classic
Italian dishes — including
pastas, seafood dishes and
steaks — with a modern
twist in a Tuscan-style
atmosphere. Wine dinners
are held on the fourth
Tuesday of every month. A
full bar and curbside serv-
ice are offered. A kids’
menu is available. Open
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Saturday,
till 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Casa Dora
108 E. Forsyth St.,
Downtown Jacksonville,
356-8282
Owner/chef Sam Hamidi
has been serving genuine
Italian fare to Jacksonville
for 30 years — he’s been
downtown for seven —
with dishes like veal, chick-
en and ribeye steaks. The
homemade salad dressing
is a specialty at Casa Dora.
Open from 10:30 a.m. to
9:30 p.m. Monday through
Friday, from 4 to 10 p.m.
on Saturday.
Dolce Vita
4446 Hendricks Ave.,
San Marco, 448-2424
The rustic Italian menu at
Dolce Vita includes pasta
dishes, steak and seafood
entrées, and weekly spe-
cials — all handmade and
trans fat-free. The grouper
Francesco and the chicken
alla rosa are popular choic-
es. Desserts are home-
made, featuring tiramisu
and cannolis. This café also
features a wine bar and
live entertainment in an
intimate setting. A kids’
menu are carry-out are
available. Open from 5 to
10 p.m. for dinner Monday
through Saturday.
Enza’s Italian
Restaurant
10601 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin Landing,
268-4458
This family-owned restau-
rant offers casual fine din-
ing, specializing in Italian
cuisine, veal and seafood
dishes like seafood lasagna.
In addition to a full menu
and a children’s selection,
Enza’s offers daily specials.
Beer and wine are served.
Reservations are requested
for large parties. Open for
dinner from 4 to 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday through Thursday,
till 10 p.m. Friday, from 5
p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday
and from 5 to 9:30
p.m. Sunday.
Fontana Italian
Restaurant
& Caterers
7605 Beach Blvd.,
Southside, 805-9755
Fontana serves authentic
Italian homecooking from
Southern and Northern
Italy. Outdoor dining is
available on the covered
patio. A full bar is served.
Take out and a kids’ menu
are available. A wine tast-
ing is held monthly. Open
from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday through Thursday,
till 10 p.m. Friday, from 3
to 10 p.m. Saturday.
Leo’s Pizza Italiano
5627 San Jose Blvd.,
Lakewood, 730-3830
The vibe at Leo’s is both
Greek and Italian: Half of
the restaurant features
Greek décor, while the
other half has Italian décor.
The Italian menu carries
traditional fare like pizza,
spaghetti, lasagna and veal.
The Greek menu includes
spinach pie, grape leaves,
roasted lamb chops and
moussaka. Beer and a vari-
ety of Greek, Italian and
California wines are
served. Dine in or take out.
Open for lunch from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday
through Friday, for dinner
from 5 to 9:30 p.m.
Monday through Saturday.
Luigi’s by
Regis Pizza
10916 Atlantic Blvd.,
Regency, 641-8355
Luigi’s serves pizza, cal-
zones, wings, salads and
homemade Italian dinners
made with the freshest
ingredients. Open from 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Saturday and from
noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Maria’s Place
Italian Cuisine
13170 Atlantic Blvd.,
Ste. 26, Intracoastal
West, 221-9222
A bit of New York in the
River City, Maria’s Place
serves Italian favorites in a
cozy, casual atmosphere.
Customer favorites include
Maria’s lasagna and moz-
zarella en caruso — Italian
cheese toast in a garlic
cream sauce. There are
also daily specials, and beer
and wine are served. Open
for lunch and dinner from
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday and 4
to 9 p.m. Sunday; for din-
ner 5 to 9 p.m. Monday.
Delivery is now offered
from 5 to 9 p.m. daily.
Matt’s Italian
Cuisine
2771 Monument Road,
Ste. 8, Arlington,
646-4411
Chef and owner Matt
Gulacar is proud of all of
his pizzas, calzones and
strombolis, but he’s partic-
ularly fond of his white
pizza with shrimp. The
menu also includes chick-
en, seafood and veal, all
cooked-to-order. The pizza
crust is hand-tossed.
Desserts and breads are
homemade, and delivery is
available. Beer and wine
are served. Open for lunch
and dinner Monday
through Saturday.
Mezza Luna
Pizzeria Ristorante
110 N. First St., Neptune
Beach, 249-5573
Not just Italian anymore,
this near-the-ocean eatery
(in Beaches Town Center)
now serves a global menu.
Owner/chef Tony Pels pre-
pares schezwan ahi tuna
with crispy soba noodle
cake, lasagna bolonese and
seared jumbo sea scallops.
Mezza Luna has served
the Beaches for more than
20 years. Dine indoors at
the bar or in the dining
room or out on the patio.
There’s a full-service bar
and an extensive wine list.
And kids may create their
own pizzas at the wood-
fired pizza oven. Open 5
p.m. Tuesday through
Sunday for dinner.
Michelangelo’s
10950 San Jose Blvd.
(Fresh Market Plaza),
Mandarin, 880-3757
This family-owned restau-
rant has a relaxed atmos-
phere and a menu of tradi-
tional Italian dishes. Along
with summer lunch and
dinner specials, Michel-
angelo’s serves chicken
marsala, veal piccata and
shrimp scampi. Garlic
bread is baked fresh daily
and tiramisu is on the
dessert menu. Beer and
more than 70 wines are
served. Catering is avail-
able, and Michelangelo’s
accommodates small pri-
vate parties. Open Mon-
day through Friday for
lunch, Monday through
Saturday for dinner.
Milano’s
12620 Beach Blvd., Ste.
4, Intracoastal West,
646-9119
3259 N. Ninth Ave.,
Jacksonville Beach,
339-0909
This casual, family-owned-
and-operated restaurant
and pizzeria serves a
variety of Italian dishes,
including thin-crust New
York-style pizzas, fettuc-
cine alfredo and strombo-
lis. Children’s portions are
available, and desserts
include cheesecake, canno-
lis and tiramisu. Beer
specials and wine are also
featured. Daily delivery
service is available. Open
daily for lunch and dinner.
Catering is available.
Nero’s Café
3607 University Blvd. N.,
Arlington, 743-3141
Nero’s has been serving tra-
ditional Italian-style food for
25 years. Along with night-
ly dinner specials, Nero’s
features veal, steak and
seafood pasta dishes, New
York-style pizzas, subs and
calzones. Nero’s lounge
features a full-service bar,
and take-out is available.
Nero’s also accommodates
wedding rehearsal dinners
and parties of up to 40
guests. Open 4 p.m. for
dinner daily, for lunch
Wednesday through
Friday and on Sunday. Live
music is featured on alter-
nating Fridays.
Perard’s Pizza &
Italian Cuisine
11043 Crystal Springs
Road, Ste. 2, Westside,
378-8131
Perard’s menu includes tra-
ditional Italian fare prepared
with fresh sauces and
dough made from scratch
daily. A large selection of
gourmet pizza toppings is
available. A kids’ menu is
offered and beer and wine
are served. Take-out is
available. Open from 11
a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday
and Tuesday through
Thursday, and till 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Pizza Bella
9210 San Jose Blvd., Ste.
1, Mandarin, 731-4373
This family-owned-and-
operated restaurant serves
New York-style pizza,
homemade Italian dinners
including lasagna, baked ziti
and specialty dinners and
sandwiches, calzones,
strombolis and desserts.
Open from 11 a.m. to 10
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, and from
11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday
and Saturday.
Santioni’s
832 A1A, Ste. 1,
Tournament Plaza, Ponte
Vedra Beach, 273-7272
Santioni’s Cucina
Italiana Restaurant
11531 San Jose Blvd., Ste.
8, Mandarin, 262-5190
Bruno and Silvana Santioni
have been in the business
of Italian dining since 1987.
Their menu features chick-
en marsala, rack of lamb
and veal saltin bocca with
homemade bread. For
dessert, there’s tiramisu
and cappuccino. Beer and
wine are available. Open
from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday, 5 to
9:30 p.m. Friday and
Saturday for dinner.
 B B B
Ristorante
Sequino’s
1021 Atlantic Blvd.,
Atlantic Beach, 249-0101
Located in the Atlantic
Village shopping center,
this family-owned-and-
operated restaurant offers
authentic Italian cuisine
including traditional pasta
dishes, specialty seafood,
lamb, veal and daily chef ’s
specials. Homemade
breads, an extensive wine
list and a full-service bar
are available. Reservations
are suggested. Open from
4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday
through Thursday, from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and
Saturday and 4 to 10 p.m.
on Sunday.
Sorrento Italian
Restaurant
6943 St. Augustine Road,
Mandarin, 636-9196
Luciano Russo and his
family opened Sorrento
more than 18 years ago.
More recently, it won a
Best of Jax award for Best
Italian Cuisine. The exten-
sive menu includes fish
Françese, linguini al rimini
and lamb Torinese. Entrées
are served with salad
topped with a special
house dressing, bread and
a side of spaghetti.
Everything is homemade,
from the sauces and bread
to the tiramisu. Beer and
wine are served. Open
from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday and till 9
p.m. on Sunday.
Tonino’s Trattoria
7001 Merrill Road, Ste.
45, Arlington, 743-3848
Specializing in veal,
seafood, chicken, pasta
and New York-style pizza,
Tonino’s serves Roman-
style Italian. Dine inside or
out on the piazza. A full
bar is served — Tonino’s
:: The Row Restaurant serves Continental cuisine with a Southern accent in an elegant
turn-of-the-century B&B in Riverside.
specializes in martinis —
and a happy hour is held
from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday
through Thursday. Take-
out is available. Open from
4 to 10 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Vito’s Pizza &
Italian Restaurant
3825 Baymeadows Road,
Mandarin, 737-9236
Vito’s is family owned and
in its 20th year. The
restaurant’s signature dish
is the grouper Francesco,
but there are also New
York and Chicago-style
pizzas, surf-and-turf and
rack of lamb. For dessert,
check out the homemade
tiramisu and cannolis. A
full bar is served. Open for
lunch Tuesday through
Friday and dinner Tuesday
through Sunday.
Japanese
Blue Fin
104 Bartram Oaks Walk,
Ste. 108, Julington Creek,
230-7466
At this new Japanese
restaurant, the emphasis is
on the fresh sushi bar, but a
traditional Japanese menu
is also offered, as are as sig-
nature salads and desserts.
A contemporary atmos-
phere features an open
kitchen. Dine indoors or out
on the covered patio. A
sushi happy hour is held.
Sunday through Thursday.
An extensive full bar and
sake are served. Open for
dinner from 5 to 9 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
till 10 p.m. on Friday
and Saturday.
Botan Japanese
4076 Belfort Road,
Southside, 926-0770
Botan offers cuisine that’s
carefully orchestrated, bold
and delicate, crunchy and
melting, icy and hot. Open
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Chizu
1227 S. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
241-8455
Owners Bobby Nakajima
and Cindy Ramalho serve
sushi from a 28-foot sushi
bar, featuring fresh sashimi,
specialty rolls and teppa-
nyaki entrées. There’s also
a traditional menu of tem-
pura and teriyaki dishes
and a child’s menu. Chizu
was voted Best Japanese
Restaurant for 11 consecu-
tive years in Folio Weekly’s
Best of Jax readers poll.
Full bar. Open from 5 to
9:30 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday, and till 10 p.m.
on Friday and Saturday.
Crazy Sushi
4320 Deerwood Lake
Parkway, Ste. 202,
Southside, 998-9797
This cozy restaurant
serves a full sushi bar as
well as hibachi, sashimi,
katsu and tempura dishes.
Favorites are the Dynamite
roll, cold roll and spicy
Manhattan roll. Beer and
wine are served. Open
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday and Saturday,
and from noon to
10 p.m. Sunday.
Etto Japanese
Steak House
& Sushi Bar
915 Sawgrass Village
Drive, Ponte Vedra,
273-4344
Traditional Japanese cui-
sine includes fresh seafood,
steaks, deep-fried tempura
and fresh sushi and sashi-
mi. A kids’ menu is avail-
able and a full bar is
served. Open from 5 to 10
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, till 10:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Fuji Sushi
660 Commerce Center
Drive, Ste. 155, Regency,
722-9988
A quiet respite from the
hectic Regency shopping
scene, this modern sushi
restaurant serves tempura,
soups and entrées as well
as fresh sushi and sashimi.
Lunch specials include
Oyako Don — a bowl of
rice topped with chicken
cooked with egg and a veg-
etable — and a Bento box
dinner that includes sushi
or sashimi, teriyaki and a
tempura dish. Open from
11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
till 11 p.m. Friday and
Saturday and from noon to
10 p.m. on Sunday.
Fuji Sushi Japanese
Restaurant
10920 Baymeadows
Road, Ste. 30,
Baymeadows, 363-8888
Fuji Sushi offers fresh
sushi, steak, chicken,
tempura, teriyaki and
seafood. Beer and wine are
served. A children’s menu
is available. Open from 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Fusion Point
237 San Marco Ave., St.
Augustine, 823-1444
The theme is Japanese,
but the menu is fusion cui-
sine — a blend of Far East
favorites, vegetarian,
Japanese, Vietnamese,
Chinese, Korean and Thai.
The menu includes sushi
and is constantly changing,
and the urban design gives
the restaurant its contem-
porary flavor. Voted Best
Sushi Bar in Folio Weekly’s
Best of Jax readers poll in
2003, Fusion Point serves
beer and wine. Open daily
for dinner.
Ichiban
675 N. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
247-8228
Ichiban provides
three distinct dining
areas: the teppan or
hibachi tables, where
you can watch the
chef prepare your
food; the sushi bar;
and Western-style
seating with a menu
of tempura and
teriyaki dishes. Ichiban
also has a full-service bar
with selected fine wines,
including Japanese plum
wine. Open for dinner daily.
Ichiro Japanese
Steakhouse & Sushi
1780 Wells Road, Orange
Park, 269-8886
Ichiro serves traditional
Japanese cuisine as well as
sushi, hibachi, sashimi and
tempura. A full bar,
including sake, is served. A
children’s menu is offered.
Open for lunch from 11:30
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday, from noon
to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday; for dinner from
4:30 to 10 p.m., Sunday
through Thursday and
till 10:30 p.m. Friday
and Saturday.
Kabuki Japanese
Steakhouse and
Sushi Bar
1147 Amelia Place,
Fernandina Beach,
277-8782
Kabuki serves steaks,
chicken and seafood
entrées. Owner Steve
Wong also offers authentic
Japanese dishes and a 37-
item sushi bar. Watch the
ancient art of teppanyaki
cooking as the chef pre-
pares your meal in front of
you. (It’s John Travolta’s
favorite sushi spot when
he’s on the island.) For
dessert, there’s fried ice
cream and fried cheese-
cake, and a children’s menu
is available. Beer and wine
are served and sushi
take-out is also offered.
Open for dinner Tuesday
through Sunday.
Kan-Ki Japanese
Steakhouse &
Sushi Bar
4483 Southside Blvd.,
Tinseltown, 642-2626
11154 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 292-2400
Kan-Ki is a Japanese steak-
house and sushi bar with
14 teppanyaki tables, 10
sushi tables, a sushi bar
and a full liquor bar. The
menu includes steaks and
seafood. A children’s menu
is available, as well as sushi
takeout. Open weekdays
for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m., for dinner from 4:30
to 10 p.m., on weekends
from 4 to 10 p.m.
Outrageous CHUTZPAH!
Brittany Curtis
Server at Café Karibo on North Third
Street in Fernandina Beach
“One time, the Red Hat Ladies, 15 of
them, ate here, and one of them ate
someone else’s sandwich. We then fixed
the correct sandwich for her, and she ate
that, too, but she didn’t think she should have to pay for
either of them.”
Koi Japanese
Steakhouse
8358 Point Meadows
Drive, Ste. 12,
Baymeadows, 363-1990
This new, upscale
Japanese steakhouse offers
fresh sushi served in an
eclectic atmosphere, as
well as cuisine cooked right
before your eyes. Tepp-
anyaki tables and a full bar
are available. Open for
lunch from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. Monday through
Friday, for dinner from
4:45 to 10 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday, until
10:30 p.m. on Friday
and Saturday.
Koja Sushi
2 Independent Drive, The
Jacksonville Landing, Ste.
222, 350-9911
Koja Sushi II
9866 Baymeadows Road,
Ste. 8, Baymeadows,
232-4400
Owners John and Tom —
in the sushi game for more
than 10 years — offer
sushi, sashimi, Japanese,
Asian and Korean cuisine.
Hard-to-find items like jel-
lyfish salad and baby octo-
pus salad are available, and
Koja guarantees to always
have fatty tuna, white
tuna, yellowtail and sea
urchin in stock. Indoor and
outdoor dining and a full
bar is available. Open for
lunch and dinner from 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday,
from 5 to 11 p.m. on
Saturday and from 5 to
9:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Matsu Japanese
Steakhouse
1515 N. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
249-4290
Matsu Japanese Steak-
house has a large sushi
and sashimi bar, teppanya-
ki tables and a traditional
menu of seafood, steaks,
tempura, sukiyaki, yakitori
and teriyaki dishes. For
special occasions, the staff
provides entertainment by
singing Japanese songs. A
full bar is served. Open
for dinner daily, Sunday
for lunch.
Osaka Grill
Sushi Buffet
11701 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 886-7778
More than 150 items are
offered at this Chinese and
Japanese buffet, including
soups, spareribs, a sushi
bar, roast duck, ice cream
and more. A dine-in menu
is offered and children
younger than 12 dine at a
discount. Carry-out from
the buffet is available.
 B B B
:: A culinary café and market, Heirlooms in Mandarin serves dishes like the pesto alfredo tuna
panini and Brentwood pot roast sandwich inside, out on the terrace or prepared to go.
Osaka Buffet also has a
party room and catering is
available. Open from 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Saturday, from 11
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for
Sunday brunch, and from
4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
for dinner.
Otaki Japanese
Steakhouse
7860 Gate Parkway, Stes.
119-122, Southside,
854-0485
Otaki offers a sushi bar,
hibachi grill tables and fea-
tures an open kitchen. A
full bar is served with a
happy hour from 4:30 to
7:30 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday. A kids’ menu
and take-out are also
available. Open for lunch
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday through Friday, for
dinner from 4:30 to 9:30
p.m. Sunday through
Thursday and from
4:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday
and Saturday.
Sake House
824 Lomax St.,
Avondale, 301-1188
1507 Margaret St., Five
Points, 301-1188
Traditional Japanese cui-
sine and a wide variety of
fresh sushi, sashimi, tem-
pura, kiatsu, teriyaki and
hibachi are served in an
authentic Asian atmos-
phere. Beer, wine and sake
are served. Open from 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and
Saturday and from noon to
9 p.m. Sunday. A new
authentic tatami room,
with outside seating and
sake bar, is now open.
Sakura Japanese
Restaurant
9432 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 739-8282
This restaurant serves
Japanese cuisine with a
sushi bar, teppan table and
a Japanese dining room,
along with a full bar. Try
the popular Dragon and
Jaguar rolls or the teppan
dinner special for two.
Open from 11:30 a.m. to 2
p.m. for lunch, from 5 p.m.
to 10 p.m. for dinner
Sunday through Thursday;
from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
for lunch and from 5 p.m.
to 10:30 p.m. for dinner
Friday and Saturday.
Sekisui Lakewood
1550 University Blvd. W.,
Lakewood, 733-6777
Sekisui offers authentic
Japanese cuisine including
sushi, robata, grill, kushiya-
ki, teriyaki and tempura. A
full bar is served. Open
from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
for lunch, from 5 to 9:30
p.m. for dinner, daily.
Sushi Café
2025 Riverside Ave.,
Riverside, 384-2888
Authentic Japanese cuisine
is served near Five Points
at Sushi Café, which fea-
tures a variety of sushi,
including the popular Rock-
n-Roll and the Dynamite
Roll. Sushi Café, winner of
the 2005 Best of Jax
award for best sushi, also
offers tasty appetizers and
entrées like king salmon,
katsu and teriyaki. Beer
and wine are served. Open
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. for
lunch and dinner Monday
through Thursday and
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Sushi House
9810 Baymeadows Road,
Ste. 12, Baymeadows,
997-0966
With a wide assortment of
specialty rolls, sushi and
sashimi, this small restau-
rant was voted Best Sushi
in Folio Weekly’s Best of
Jax readers poll. Sushi
House has tempura, katsu,
teriyaki and hibachi
entrées. Beer and wine are
served. Dine in, take out or
have an order delivered.
Open for lunch and dinner
from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, and
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
on Sunday.
Sushi Rock
1950 San Marco Blvd.,
San Marco, 399-3305
This neon-lit sushi joint is
not your typical Japanese
restaurant. Sushi Rock
offers more than 30 types
of sushi with customer
favorites such as Jaguar
rolls, California rolls and
rock-‘n’-rolls. A menu of
traditional Japanese cuisine
is also available. Beer,
including three Japanese
labels, wine and sake are
served. Dine in or take out.
Reservations for large par-
ties are requested. Open
from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for
lunch and from 5 to 10:30
p.m. for dinner Monday
through Saturday, from 1:30
to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
Sushi & Subs
5800 Beach Blvd., St.
Nicholas, 858-7032
Sushi & Subs serves …
that’s right … sushi
and subs. Take-out is
available. Open from 9
a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Tama’s Sushi
Restaurant
106 First St., Beaches
Town Center, Neptune
Beach, 241-0099
This casual beach restau-
rant features a full sushi
bar and tempura, teriyaki
and katsu dishes. The
seafood combinations are
customer favorites. Beer,
wine and sake are served.
Sushi and takeout avail-
able. Open for dinner
Tuesday through Sunday.
Tokyo Japanese
Steak House
& Sushi Bar
12740 Atlantic Blvd.,
Queen’s Harbor, Ste. 103,
220-7665
Appetizers include eda-
mame (steamed Japanese
soybeans), gyoza (meat
and vegetable filled
dumplings) or beef
tataki (seared beef
strips served with
ponzu sauce). The
dinner menu
includes teriyaki
steak and a Tokyo
combination entrée
with shrimp, scallops
and salmon. Chefs
prepare your meal
before you at the
teppanyaki grill, and
the sushi bar offers
25 traditional sea-
food items and 35
sushi rolls. A chil-
dren’s menu is available,
and beer and wine are
served. Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Wasabi Buffet
1014 Margaret St., Ste. 1,
Five Points, 301-1199
More than 150 fresh items,
including sushi and sashimi,
are available daily on the
buffet. Beer and wine are
served and take-out is avail-
able. Open from 11 a.m. to
10 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, until 10:30 p.m.
on Friday and Saturday and
from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30
p.m. on Sunday for lunch
and dinner.
Wasabi
Japanese Buffet
9041 Southside Blvd.,
Ste. 138C, Southside,
363-9888
The ceiling-to-floor foun-
tain and strains of new-age
and Japanese music soothe
the soul at this Japanese
restaurant. Included in the
buffet price is all-you-can-
eat sushi and choice of two
items from the teppanyaki
grill (steak, shrimp, scallops,
salmon and chicken).
Customer favorites include
the Jaguar, dynamite, lob-
ster and soft-shell crab rolls.
Large parties are accommo-
dated in the party room. A
kids’ menu is available. The
restaurant is non-smoking,
however smoking is permit-
ted at the full bar. Open for
lunch and dinner daily.
Yo Sushi! Japanese
Restaurant
4375 Southside Blvd.,
Ste. 4, Tinseltown,
998-3868
Yo Sushi! strikes a balance
of fun, freshness and flavor
with sushi, hibachi, katsu,
teriyaki and tempura cui-
sine. Open for lunch from
11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and
dinner from 4:30 to 10
p.m. Monday through
Friday, from noon to 10
p.m. Saturday and from
noon to 9:30 p.m.
on Sunday.
Mexican &
Southwestern
Acapulco Mexican
Restaurant
12 Avenida Menendez,
St. Augustine, 808-9933
1835 U.S. 1, Stes.
Outrageous DRUNKS, PART II!
Chad Landenberger
Former Server at TGIFridays on Southside Boulevard,
Jacksonville
“When I first moved [to Jacksonville] I worked at TGI-
Fridays on Southside for a hot minute. Anyway, one night
the bartenders busted out the beer bong — seriously there
was a beer bong at Fridays — and people were getting
wasted. It was some girl’s bachelorette party, and the
bride-to-be started flashing people. It was funny, but
kind of gross.”
133-135, St. Augustine,
826-0191
This double-decker
Mexican restaurant over-
looks the Castillo de San
Marcos, and serves all of
the favorites, with more
than 76 options on the
menu. Customers enjoy
the chicken or beef fajitas
and the quesadillas. There
are also weekly specials.
Beer, including Mexican
beer, wine and margaritas
are served from the full
bar. Dine in or take out.
Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Burrito Gallery
& Bar
21 E. Adams St.,
Downtown Jacksonville,
598-2922
A popular spot for young
downtowners and business
lunchers, Burrito Gallery
serves Southwestern cui-
sine with an emphasis on
innovative burritos —
including ginger teriyaki
tofu, yellow curry chicken,
blackened mahi and the
more traditional steak and
chicken. Deli wraps, soups
and American salads are
also available. Local art is
on display. A full bar is
offered. Open for lunch
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday, for lunch and din-
ner from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday.
Café Spain
193 San Marco Ave., St.
Augustine, 823-8585
Discover the true taste of
Spain in St. Augustine.
Café Spain offers fresh fla-
vors for lunch and dinner in
a casual, comfortable
atmosphere. Specialties
include authentic tapas and
paella. Indoor and outdoor
dining are available.
Campeche Bay
Cantina
8120 Atlantic Blvd.,
Regency, 727-5050
127 N. First Ave.,
Jacksonville Beach,
249-3322
Campeche Bay has repeat-
edly won Folio Weekly’s
Best of Jax awards in the
categories of Best Mexican
Restaurant, Best Fajitas
and Best Margaritas.
Customers favor the chili
rellenos, crab enchiladas
and homemade tamales. In
the lounge there’s a full
bar, where the most popu-
lar beverage is the margari-
ta. There are two happy
hours every day and the
bar is open until 1:30 a.m.
The Regency location has
covered patio dining. Open
for dinner 5 to 9 p.m. daily,
till 10 p.m. on Friday
and Saturday.
Casa De Salas
8011 Merrill Road, Ste. 5,
Arlington, 744-1380
This family-owned-and-
operated restaurant serves
authentic Mexican cuisine
made with the freshest
ingredients. Daily lunch
specials, a kids’ menu,
take-out and beer and
wine are available. Open
from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday,
from noon to 8 p.m.
on Sunday for lunch
and dinner.
Castillo de Mexico
12620 Beach Blvd., Ste.
19, Southside, 998-7006
1222 S. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
339-0007
Castillo de Mexico has an
extensive menu and
authentic Mexican décor.
There is also a weekday
lunch buffet and a dinner
buffet Monday evening,
when customers dine by
candlelight. Beer and wine
are served; the Jax Beach
location has a full bar.
Open from 11 a.m. to 9
p.m. for lunch and
dinner daily.
Cha-Cha’s Mexican
Restaurant
9551 Baymeadows Road,
Ste. 21, Baymeadows,
737-9903
Owner Celso Alvarado
and his family run this
authentic Mexican restau-
rant. Alvarado’s uncle,
Jose Luis Rodriguez, pre-
pares your order. The
menu includes 26 combi-
nation dinners and a wide
variety of specialty dishes
including chalupas, fajitas,
enchiladas and burritos. A
 B B B
full bar is served, and mar-
garitas are the house spe-
cialty. Open for lunch and
dinner from 11 a.m. to 10
p.m. Monday through
Friday, from noon to 10
p.m. Saturday.
Columbia
Restaurant
98 St. George St., St.
Augustine, 824-3341
Located in the historic dis-
trict, Columbia Restaurant
serves authentic Spanish
dishes from original recipes
brought from Ybor City,
Spain, in 1905. Popular
lunch items include the
1905 salad, chicken and
yellow rice Ybor, and the
Cuban sandwich. For din-
ner, the specialty is paella,
but the filet mignon is also
a frequent order. The
restaurant has a fully
stocked bar. Columbia is
open from 11 a.m. to 9
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, from 11 a.m. to
10 p.m. Friday and
Saturday and from noon to
9 p.m. on Sunday.
Cruiser’s Grill
319 S. 23rd Ave. (Pablo
Plaza), Jacksonville
Beach, 270-0356
832 A1A N., Ste. 2, Ponte
Vedra Beach, 273-5446
This diner-style burger and
Tex Mex restaurant serves
fresh, casual fare including
half-pound burgers, fish
sandwiches, bean-and-
cheese nachos, quesadillas
(including spinach or veg-
gie), chicken-fried steak,
big salads and popular
cheddar fries. There’s
booth dining indoors or
outside on the deck. Beer,
wine and sangria are
served. Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Dona Maria’s
Cantina & Grill
1521 Margaret St., Five
Points, 356-0777
The Jacksonville Landing,
2 Independent Drive,
Ste. 102, 598-2696
This authentic Mexican
restaurant serves lunch
and dinner seven days a
week. The Buccaneer is a
favorite: two fillets of fish
with shrimp, served with a
special Mexican cheese
sauce. Tortillas are home-
made, and margaritas are
the specialty. A children’s
menu is available and a full
bar is featured.
El Potro
5871 University Blvd. W.,
Jacksonville, 733-0844
937 Arlington Road,
Arlington, 726-1663
7445 103rd St., Westside,
778-9320
11380 Beach Blvd.,
Southside, 564-9977
7200 Normandy Blvd.,
Northside, 378-9822
11565 N. Main St.,
Northside, 757-3437
1553 N. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
241-6910
Authentic Mexican cuisine
served by friendly, knowl-
edgeable staff. Daily spe-
cials and a Mexican buffet
are featured. Family-
friendly and casual. Open
for lunch and dinner, from
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
La Cocina
530 A1A Beach Blvd.,
Castillo Real Hotel, St.
Augustine Beach,
461-8288
This gardenside restaurant
located in Castillo Real
Hotel serves Mexican cui-
sine with Latin flair.
Owner Juan Solano brings
inflections of his native
Mexico to international
specialties including fresh
local fish, crab cakes, filet
mignon, Paella Valenciana
and nightly specials. Lunch
features hot and cold appe-
tizers, sandwiches, soups
and entrées. Beer and
wine are served. Open for
breakfast from 7 to 10:30
a.m., for lunch at 11 a.m.
Monday through Saturday,
and for dinner at 5 p.m.
Tuesday through Sunday.
La Cocina Mexican
Restaurant
3290 U.S. 1 S., St.
Augustine, 794-1610
La Cocina offers a New
World Latin fine dining
experience featuring local
seafood. Offsite catering is
available. Beer and wine
are served. Open for lunch
from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30
p.m., from 5 until 9 p.m.
for dinner Monday
through Saturday.
La Nopalera
Mexican Restaurant
14333 Beach Blvd.,
Intracoastal West,
992-1666
1930 Kingsley Ave.,
Orange Park, 276-2776
1571 C.R. 220, Ste. 100,
Fleming Island, 215-2223
1629 Hendricks Ave., San
Marco, 399-1768
11700 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 288-0175
8818 Atlantic Blvd.,
Arlington, 720-0106
8206 Philips Highway,
Southside, 732-9433
Everything is authentic
Mexican at these family-
owned-and-operated
restaurants, from the
décor to the menu. The
atmosphere is casual, and
don’t be alarmed to see the
server’s arms filled with
dinner plates — the bal-
ancing act is something to
behold. Tamales, fajitas
and pork tacos are cus-
tomer favorites. For
dessert, try flan or sopapil-
las. Beer, wine and margar-
itas are served. Open for
lunch and dinner daily. A
new, spacious La Nopalera
is now open at Baymead-
ows Junction, on the
corner of Baymeadows
and Philips Highway.
Los Toros Mexican
Restaurant
5210 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 367-8633
Los Toros creates authentic
Mexican fare, including faji-
tas and a selection of vege-
tarian dishes. A children’s
menu is available. The full
bar features margaritas.
Open for lunch and dinner
from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday,
from noon to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday and from noon to
10 p.m. Sunday.
The Mossfire Grill
1537 Margaret St.,
Riverside, 355-4434
Mossfire Grill serves an
upscale menu in a relaxed
atmosphere. Among the
choices are made-to-order
Southwestern dishes
including spinach con
queso, chicken tortilla soup
and a fresh veggie que-
sadilla. Mossfire also
cranks out grilled salmon,
pork loin, fresh tuna and
homemade crab cakes.
Desserts include chocolate
peanut butter and Key lime
pies. A children’s menu is
available. A full bar is
served, happy hour runs 3
to 7 p.m. Monday through
Saturday in an upstairs
lounge. Open from 11 a.m.
to 10 p.m. for lunch and
dinner Monday through
Thursday and Saturday, till
11 p.m. on Friday.
Olé Mexican
Restaurant
9921 Atlantic Blvd.,
Regency, 721-2131
1001 N. Main St.,
Northside, 356-3100
Olé serves innovative and
authentic Mexican fare,
including enchiladas
rancheros, fajitas, ensal-
adas, and the El Pancho
Villa buffet. A full bar, beer
and margaritas are fea-
tured and there’s an all-day
happy hour. A kids’ menu is
available, as is take-out.
Open from 11 a.m. to 10
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, till 2 a.m. Friday
and Saturday and till 9
p.m. on Sunday.
Pablo’s Mexican
Restaurant
12 N. Second St.,
Fernandina Beach,
261-0049
Located in the historic dis-
trict, Pablo’s is new to the
Fernandina beach dining
scene. The authentic menu
features carnitas, chimi-
changas and fajitas —
chicken, shrimp or steak,
as well as Mexicana and
vegetarian. A Los Amigos
Pequeños menu is available
for the kids. Open from 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Pepe’s Hacienda
y Restaurant
3615 DuPont Ave., Ste.
900, Lakewood, 636-8131
This restaurant includes an
ethnic grocery store.
Pepe’s offer authentic bur-
ritos, tortillas, seafood,
soups and fresh baked in-
house breads. A kids’ menu
is available. Open from 8
a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and
Saturday, and from 8 a.m.
to 9 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday.
Qdoba
Mexican Grill
1620 Margaret St., Ste.
105, Riverside, 381-8547
8635 Blanding Blvd.,
Orange Park, 777-1212
4624 Town Crossing
Drive, St. Johns Town
Center, 807-9161
Qdoba offers big burritos,
quesadillas, nachos, taco
salads and tacos — all fast
and fresh. Choose from
five salsas to complete any
dish. Beer is served. Open
for lunch and dinner from
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Tijuana Flats
9942 Old Baymeadows
Road, Baymeadows,
641-1090
725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 1,
Atlantic Beach, 242-0234
5907 Roosevelt Blvd.,
Ste. 100, Westside,
908-4343
13529 Beach Blvd.,
Intracoastal West,
223-0041
5635 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 737-9938
10111 San Jose Blvd., Ste.
16, Mandarin, 292-1599
This Tex-Mex menu fea-
tures a hot bar with rotat-
ing sauces to supply any
degree of heat. There’s no
microwave or freezer in
sight — everything is
prepared from fresh
ingredients. Open from
:: It’s all about the burger at Five Guys Famous Burgers & Fries. The staff at both locations —
Southside and St. Johns Town Center — bring a perfectionist’s bent to the classic meal.
10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday
and Saturday, till 11 p.m. on
Friday and from 11 a.m. to
9 p.m. Sunday.
Tio Loco’s Fresh
Mexican Grill
1120 S. 14th St.,
Fernandina Beach,
261-5404
Located in the movie the-
ater shopping center, Tio
Loco’s cooks up homemade
Mexican fare with a
California style in a fast-
paced atmosphere. Daily
specials, burritos and fajitas
are featured. Beer, wine
and margaritas are served.
A children’s menu is avail-
able and Latin cuisine is
served Friday and Saturday
nights. Delivery is available.
Open for lunch and dinner,
from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
every Monday through Fri-
day, and from noon to 9
p.m. Saturday, for the sum-
mer season. Hours may
change in the fall.
West Inn Cantina
3644 St. Johns Ave.,
Avondale, 389-1131
Casual West Inn Cantina
has expanded its authentic
Mexican menu to include
some American favorites.
Chef Alan’s signature dish-
es include honey-lime
chicken, pork carnitas and
crab-cake sandwiches.
Dine inside, on the patio or
call ahead and pick it up
from the drive-through.
The full bar features a
large beer and wine selec-
tion. (Everything at the
adjacent package store is
available in the restaurant.)
Open-mic night is featured
every Wednesday, Little
Green Men and Roger
That alternate on
Thursdays, and a rotating
roster of bands is featured
throughout the weekend.
Middle
Eastern
The Casbah of
Avondale
3628 St. Johns Ave.,
Avondale, 981-9966
Casbah serves Middle-
Eastern and Mediter-
ranean cuisine, including
falafel, lamb and swordfish
kabobs and Casbah pizzas.
Dine indoors, on the gar-
den patio or inside the
hookah lounge, where cus-
tomers can sit on ottomans
and eat at low tables. The
café serves African cof-
fees, imported beer and
wine selections. Belly
dancers perform Tuesday
and Thursday through
Saturday nights, and 3-
foot-tall hookah pipes are
available for smoking fla-
vored tobacco. Open daily,
from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., for
lunch and dinner.
Hala Sandwich
Shop & Bakery
1451 Atlantic Blvd.,
Neptune Beach,
249-2212
Hala specializes in authen-
tic Middle Eastern fav-
orites, including gyros,
shawarma, hummus,
tabouli, falafel, grape
leaves and Hala’s own
pita bread, made fresh
daily. Beer and wine are
served. Open from
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Palm Garden
Hookah Lounge
& Restaurant
6271 St. Augustine Road,
Ste. 29, Mandarin,
730-3686
Palm Garden serves
authentic Middle Eastern
cuisine including tabouli,
kabobs, falafel, hummus,
and fried and raw kibbie.
Flavorful hookahs and beer
and wine are available.
 B B B
Live entertainment featur-
ing a belly dancer is pre-
sented every Saturday.
Take-out is available. Open
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
till midnight Friday and till
2 a.m. on Saturday.
Sahara Café & Bar
10771 Beach Blvd., Ste.
110, Jacksonville,
338-9049
From the tiled floors and
bar to the padded and pil-
lowed lounge area, Sahara
exudes Mediterranean
style. Tile tables, beer and
wine, flavored hookahs and
hot tea in the lounge are
featured. Belly dancing is
also featured every week-
end. This family-owned-
and-operated restaurant
and bar offers a relaxed
atmosphere for families
and the college crowd.
Open daily at 4 p.m.
Neighborhood
Hangouts
A1A Ale Works
1 King St., St. Augustine,
829-2977
In the heart of downtown
overlooking the historic
Bridge of Lions, this brew
pub makes six varieties of
beer, plus its own root
beer. The menu is New
World cuisine specializing
in grilled seafood and fresh
fruits and vegetables. A
special dish, New World
Paella, features grilled
seafood over orzo, but reg-
ulars know that some of
the best dishes are the
daily blackboard specials.
Dine indoors or out on the
balcony. There’s a
full-service bar and live
entertainment Thursday
through Saturday evenings.
Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
A1A Crab Shack
5098 A1A S., St.
Augustine, 461-4480
Newly renovated, A1A
Crab Shack is a beach joint
with a Key West-style out-
side patio where diners
may smoke. Casual and
easy-going, there’s no
dress code. The menu
includes local seafood,
pasta dishes, chicken, big
fat burgers and Maryland-
style crab cakes. Beer and
wine are served.
AJ’s Bar & Grill
10244 Atlantic Blvd.,
Regency, 805-9060
AJ’s menu includes sand-
wiches, burgers, salads,
wings and steaks, and the
grill is open every day from
4 p.m. to 2 a.m. A full bar
is served, and AJ’s features
a weekday happy hour
along with video games
and pool tables, Karaoke
on Wednesday and a DJ
and live entertainment on
Friday and Saturday.
Angie’s Subs GS
1436 Beach Blvd.,
Jacksonville Beach,
246-2519
Home of the original baked
sub, Angie’s has been serv-
ing Italian-style subs for
more than 25 years. Dine
in the big dining room or
take your meal to-go. In
addition to hot, oven-baked
or cold subs, Angie’s offers
huge salads, a popular
lasagna and Angie’s blue-
ribbon iced tea. Angie’s
Subs is a 2002 winner of
Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax
readers poll for Best Sub
and Best Quick Lunch.
Beer and wine are served.
Open from 10 a.m. to
8 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Avenues
Sports Grill
12121 Philips Highway,
Southside, 292-4678
Serving deli sandwiches,
salads, burgers and chicken
wings. The driving range is
open. A full bar is available.
Open from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m. for lunch Monday
through Saturday.
Beachcomber
Restaurant
2 A St., St. Augustine
Beach, 471-3744
One of the few places in
Northeast Florida where
you actually eat on the
beach, this casual restau-
rant has been a favorite
with locals and visitors for
more than 20 years. A full
breakfast menu is served
(with huge pancakes). In
addition to daily specials,
there’s fresh local oysters,
seafood and Beach-
comber’s award-winning
chowder. Beachcomber is
the place for the Best
Burgers in St. Augustine,
according to Folio
Weekly’s Best of Jax read-
ers poll. Beer and wine are
served, open daily for
lunch and dinner. Breakfast
is served every morning
except Tuesday.
Beach Diner
501 Atlantic Blvd.,
Atlantic Beach, 249-6500
This locally owned diner
has a casual beach atmos-
phere with indoor and out-
door verandah seating.
The Southern comfort-
food includes fresh
seafood, sandwiches and
hot lunch specials like a
veggie plate, homestyle
meatloaf and fresh grilled
salmon. A children’s menu
is available. For beach
bums with an a.m.
appetite, cooked-to-order
breakfast is available all
day. Open daily from 6
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for
breakfast and lunch.
Beach Garden
Restaurant
860 A1A Beach Blvd., St.
Augustine, 471-2555
Located inside the Holiday
Inn, this tropical, casual
restaurant serves fresh
seafood, steaks, pastas,
sandwiches and salads. A
children’s menu is available.
A full breakfast is served
and a weekend breakfast
buffet is featured. There
are two full bars, one
indoors and one outside at
Crabbies Pool Bar (open
seasonally and serving a
light lunch). Scores Sports
Bar has a daily happy hour.
Open daily for dinner.
Beach Hut Café
1281 S. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
249-3516
Celebrating more than 19
years of service, Beach
Hut Café consistently
wins the Best Breakfast
category in Folio Weekly’s
Best of Jax readers poll.
The full breakfast menu is
served all day, but if you
want the early breakfast
special, arrive between 6
and 8 a.m. Monday
through Friday. Expect a
wait on weekends — this
place packs out. Open
daily from 6 a.m. to
2:30 p.m.
Benny’s
121 W. Forsyth St.
(Atlantic Place building),
634-1525
For 22 years, Benny’s has
been part of the down-
town breakfast and lunch
scene. Everything is made
from scratch, from soups
and salads to hot and cold
sandwiches. Customer
favorites include the taco
salad and the creamy pota-
to soup. Benny’s also offers
daily specials. On Wed-
nesday, the special is
spaghetti and meat sauce
with warm garlic bread
and a garden salad.
Catering is available and
the gift shop offers gour-
met chocolates. Open for
breakfast and lunch
Monday through Friday.
Billy’s Boat
House Grill
2321 Beach Blvd.,
Jacksonville Beach,
241-9771
Located at Beach Marine,
Billy’s Boat House Grill has
a view of the Intracoastal
Waterway and focuses on
fresh local seafood, hand-
trimmed steaks and a full
bar. Live entertainment is
featured Friday and
Saturday evenings and
Sunday mornings, weather
permitting. The weekend
breakfast includes Crabby
Eggs Benedict, breakfast
burritos, mimosas, bloody
Marys and screwdrivers.
The Boat House takes
reservations for large
groups and company func-
tions, and all menu items
are available for take-out.
:: New to Northeast Florida, Urban Flats in Ponte Vedra Beach serves a bistro-style menu, featuring
Old World flatbread and a wide selection of wines.
Open from 11 a.m. to close
Monday through Friday,
from 10 a.m. to close
Saturday and Sunday.
Box Seats on
Blanding
4329 Blanding Blvd.,
Westside, 908-7328
This sports bar features
American cuisine, including
wings, burgers, salads and
a wide variety of appetiz-
ers. There are TVs show-
ing sports events, and
darts and Karaoke are
offered on Tuesday nights.
Beer and wine are served.
Open from 11 a.m. to 2
a.m. daily. Live music is
featured on Thursday and
Friday nights.
Café Alcazar
25 Granada St. (in
Lightner Antique Mall),
St. Augustine, 824-7813
Dine in what was once the
world’s largest indoor
swimming pool, surround-
ed by Tiffany windows and
lit by the original street-
lights from the Bridge of
Lions (circa 1920). The
menu features specialty
salads and sandwiches,
crêpes, burritos and a large
selection of vegetarian
dishes. Daily specials are
offered. Beer and wine are
served. A guitarist plays
daily. Open from 11:30
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday.
Café Carmon
1986 San Marco Blvd.,
San Marco, 399-4488
Celebrating more than 20
years in business, this casu-
al joint features a contem-
porary atmosphere that
showcases innovative
American cuisine. Dine
inside or be seen out on
the patio while taking in
the sights of San Marco
Square. Beer and wine are
served. Open for lunch and
dinner Monday through
Saturday, and award-win-
ning desserts are served
until 11 p.m. on Friday and
Saturday. A Sunday
brunch is offered from 11
a.m. to 5 p.m.
Café on the Green
1000 PGA Tour Blvd.,
Sawgrass Marriott, Ponte
Vedra Beach, 285-7777
Perched beside the golf
course lagoon, overlooking
the 13th hole of the TPC
at Sawgrass Stadium
Course, this café offers
chef ’s specials, seafood
and fresh-fish dishes such
as grilled grouper and the
“Oh My Cobb” seafood
salad, as well as sandwich-
es and burgers. The
Sunday brunch — a Best
of Jax winner — has tradi-
tional brunch items as well
as smoked salmon, chef-
carved roast beef, salads
and desserts. Open at 6
a.m. Monday through
Saturday, and from 11:30
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for
Sunday brunch.
Cheeburger
Cheeburger
9902 Old Baymeadows
Road, Baymeadows,
996-9395
Choose from more than 25
burger and grilled chicken
toppings, 20 salad toppings
and 81 shake flavors, as
well as Black Angus beef
and fresh-cut fries and
rings. A kids’ menu is avail-
able. Open from 11 a.m. to
9 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday, till 9:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Christy’s Wings
and Things
5907 Merrill Road,
Arlington, 744-0329
With daily all-you-can-eat
specials, Christy’s caters to
the whole family. (No alco-
hol is served.) The wings
are served with 12 differ-
ent sauces. The menu also
includes chicken strips and
sub sandwiches with
homemade breads.
Appetizers are also fea-
tured, and a kids’ menu is
available. Open from 11
a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Cliff ’s Bar & Grill
3033 Monument Road,
Ste. 2, Arlington,
645-5162
Cliff ’s Bar & Grill
at the Beach
1401 Atlantic Blvd., Days
Inn, Neptune Beach,
249-2777
Cliff ’s Grill features
8-ounce burgers, wings,
seafood, salad, homemade
pizza and other daily spe-
cials. At the full bar, happy
hour is featured daily.
There’s NFL Sunday
Ticket on Sunday, and
Karaoke on Tuesday,
Thursday and Sunday. Live
music is featured on
Wednesday, Friday and
Saturday. Pool tables and
darts are available every
night. Open from 2 p.m. to
2 a.m. Monday through
Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2
a.m. Saturday and from 11
a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday.
Smoking permitted. Cliff ’s
at the Beach features
catering along with an
assortment of homemade
dishes like ale-battered
Mayport shrimp, brick-
oven pizza and sesame
seared ahi tuna. Beach
hours are from 4 p.m. to 2
a.m. Wednesday through
Friday, and from 2 p.m. to
2 a.m. on Saturday.
European Street
Restaurant
1704 San Marco Blvd.,
San Marco, 398-9500
2753 Park St., Riverside,
384-9999
5500 Beach Blvd.,
 B B B

Southside, 398-1717 (audience participation is

992 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville encouraged), this restaurant has
Beach, 249-3001 a complete menu of sandwiches,
With more than 130 imported steaks, seafood and pastas. The
beers, and 20 on tap, European baby lobster pasta is a customer
Street has frequently taken the favorite. The full-service bar has
Best Beer Selection category in a weekday happy hour. Monday
Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax readers through Wednesday is Karaoke
poll. The sandwich menu includes night. Open from 5 p.m. to 2
the classic Reuben, subs and a.m. for dinner Monday through
overstuffed sandwiches. The Saturday. Reservations
atmosphere is cozy, and the mar- are encouraged.
ket area offers interesting
imports. The Listening Room, at Hot Rods Jax
the San Marco location, features 630 Park St., Five Points,
local, regional and national artists 358-2888
every Thursday. Open daily from This new Five Points hotspot
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Outside seating serves up half-pound Angus burg-
is available at the San Marco, Park ers, deli-style sandwiches, salads,
Street and Jax Beach locations. hot dogs and veggie burgers. It’s
an oasis for the businessperson on
The Fox Restaurant a lunch break: outdoor seating is
3580 St. Johns Ave., Avondale, available on the enclosed, mist-
387-2669 fan cooled patio, there are six HD
Cozy and familiar, The Fox is one TVs, 42 bottled beers and a
of those places where you’re likely dozen ice-cold drafts. The daily
to see a friend or neighbor in the happy hour is held from 3 to 8
next booth. Owners Ian and p.m. Call your order in ahead of
Mary Chase offer fresh, diner- time and score it at their pick-up
style fare and homemade window. A kids’ menu is available
and a full bar is served. Open
desserts. Breakfast is served all
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday :: Size does matter: TC’S Subs & Smoothies in the Baymeadows area serves 12-inch subs, paninis and smoothies blended
day, along with Hot Plate Specials with fresh fruit.
and signature items such as burg- through Friday, from 3 p.m. to
ers, meatloaf and fried green midnight on Saturday and till 11
tomatoes. A Jacksonville land- p.m. on Sunday.
and their biggest seller. The menu steamed oysters, crab legs, ment includes live bands, DJs and
mark for 50 years, The Fox is includes homemade soups, sand- shrimp, burgers (a former Best of jazz. Dine inside or out on the
open daily. Metro Diner wiches, salads and appetizers Jax winner), steaks, ribs and daily oceanview deck upstairs. Serving
3302 Hendricks Ave., along with daily specials. There’s specials. A kids’ menu is available. from 3 to 10 p.m. Monday through
GiGi’s Restaurant San Marco, 398-3701 a full-service bar and live enter- The full bar features 24 draft Friday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
3130 Hartley Road (in the Metro Diner serves comfort food tainment daily from 1 p.m. to beers, and a happy hour from 4 to Saturday and Sunday (open till
Ramada Inn), 268-8080 with flair, along with full-service close. Dine indoors or out on the 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. 1 a.m. nightly).
GiGi’s serves a prime rib and crab catering and corporate lunch open-air decks under umbrella There’s live music nightly and 33
leg buffet on Friday and Saturday, delivery. Located in a historic tables and shade trees. Look for TVs for viewing sports. Open for Parkway Grille
1930s-era building, the diner is a the big mill wheel. Open from breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
and a blue-jean brunch from 11
neighborhood favorite for break-
5517 S. Fletcher Ave.,
a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. GiGi’s 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. for lunch and at 6 a.m. and the kitchen stays
fast (banana granola pancakes are Fernandina Beach, 277-6614
also offers a daily lunch buffet. dinner daily — 365 days a year — open till midnight.
a major draw), brunch and lunch. The Parkway Grille is a family-
The Ramada Conference Center and dinner is served till 10 p.m.
The Metro meatloaf, chicken pot owned-and-operated restaurant
is home to The Comedy Zone,
pie, turkey dinner and the Big Fish
Olde Bridge serving breakfast and lunch.
featuring national comedians
sandwich are popular choices
Murray Bros. Caddyshack Ice Cream & Deli Co. Owners Mike and Bobbe
Tuesday through Saturday, as well
along with a selection of daily
455 S. Legacy Trail, Ste. E106, 2 Fairfield Blvd., Ste. 2, Ponte Malcolm serve up dishes made
as a full appetizer menu and full World Golf Village, 940-3673 Vedra Beach, 273-0111 with fresh ingredients, including a
bar. The daily buffet is offered specials, fresh fish, fresh seafood
pasta, certified Black Angus Decorated in a “Caddyshack” This homegrown ice cream shop selection of Boar’s Head deli
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, theme with actor Bill Murray’s and deli offers sandwiches, salads meats. The atmosphere is bright,
and the Friday and Saturday night steaks and homemade soups.
Catering is available. Dine in or golf and family memorabilia, this and, of course, ice cream in a airy and casual. Open from
buffets are from 5 to 10 p.m. restaurant offers a water view funky setting. Lunch specials are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday
GiGi’s serves a full breakfast buf- take out. Open daily from 7 a.m.
to 2:30 p.m. and an All-American menu. available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Saturday.
fet every morning from 6:30 to Choose from fresh seafood, Monday through Friday. Take-out
9:30 a.m. steaks, barbecue and numerous and a kids’ menu are also avail- Rendezvous Restaurant
appetizers — and keep an eye out able. Open from noon to 9 p.m. 106 St. George St., 824-1090
for Bill, who’s been known to stop Monday through Saturday, and Beer is the specialty at this
by for a cold one. A full bar is from 1 to 9 p.m. on Sunday. German-style beer house, with
served, and there is a weekday more than 180 varieties from
Outrageous SCRAMBLE! happy hour. Open daily for lunch O’Steen’s around the world. Pair one with a
and dinner. hot or cold deli sandwich or a
205 Anastasia Blvd., St.
Balvinder Singh Augustine, 829-6974 salad plate. Lunch takeout orders
Manager at Taj, on Southside Murray’s Grille O’Steen’s has been packing a may be phoned ahead for fast
Boulevard, Jacksonville 463852 E. S.R. 200/A1A, Yulee, crowd for more than 42 years. service, and you may order beer
“Our whole entire restaurant was filled 261-2727 Seafood, daily specials, broiled to go — by the bottle or six-pack.
West of Amelia Island on S.R. and grilled chicken, and steak din- Nightly from 4 p.m. to close,
up with customers, and we ran out of Rendezvous’ happy hour offers
200, Murray’s serves steaks, ners with fresh vegetables are on
food. We had to fill up the buffet so we chicken, seafood and barbecue. beer specials. Open for lunch and
the menu. Homemade bread is
had to make up everything. We Sandwiches, soups and salads are served with every meal. At late lunch until 6 p.m. daily.
stretched it. We stretched it so far, we didn't know if it popular during the day, while at O’Steen’s, it’s no alcohol, no
would taste good or not. Everyone was hungry and waiting night the hand-cut steaks, shrimp smoking and no credit cards. Scarlett O’Hara’s
for food. Whatever was within reach, we grabbed. It was pasta, grouper Elizabeth and Open for lunch and dinner 70 Hypolita St., St. Augustine,
the craziest thing. We mixed chicken curry with vegetables homemade Key lime pie are Tuesday through Saturday, from 824-6535
among the most requested items. 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The menu this 1861 house fea-
and spinach, and called it chicken veg purji. And we took Serving lunch and dinner daily
tandoori chicken, lamb kabob and a couple of pieces of tures seafood, burgers, barbecue,
from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
shrimp and put it into a tomato cream sauce and called through Wednesday and till 10
Panama Hattie’s sandwiches, fried baskets, salads
361 A1A Beach Blvd., St. and appetizers. A full bar is
it tandoori masala. It was actually very good.” p.m. Thursday through Saturday. served, and there is a weekday
Augustine Beach, 471-2192 happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m.
Oasis Restaurant Located across A1A from the pier,
There is live entertainment
this two-story beach restaurant
Harmonious Monks The Mill Top Tavern & Deck serves the original Hattie burger
nightly and Karaoke on Sunday
4000 A1A and Ocean Trace and Monday. Open daily from 11
10550 Old St. Augustine Road, 19 1/2 St. George St., and sautéed calamari, as well as
a.m. to 1 a.m.
St. Augustine, 829-2329 Road, St. Augustine Beach, wings and Philly cheesesteaks,
Mandarin, 880-3040
A St. Augustine institution locat- 471-3424 fresh seafood, steamed or fried,
The waitstaff at Harmonious
ed in a historic 1884 building Just one block from the ocean, and pasta dishes. Happy hour is Southern Paradise
Monks serves and performs as 229 W. Forsyth St., Downtown
part of the live entertainment across from the Castillo de San The Oasis has a casual, beachy held from 4 to 7 p.m. daily and a
Thursday through Saturday. In Marcos, The Mill Top’s Ultimate atmosphere. The menu includes free buffet is offered from 4 to Jacksonville, 358-1082
addition to the interactive show Nachos are the signature dish — 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Entertain- This eatery in the center of
 B B B
Jacksonville features a full full children’s menu. Live Two Can Terry’s
breakfast menu and a hot entertainment is featured 80 Vilano Road, St.
lunch buffet with daily on Sunday afternoons. A
specials. Choose from weekday happy hour is Augustine, 819-9101
seafood, sandwich melts, Family-friendly and within
served from the full-serv-
fried baskets and dishes ice bar. Open daily for walking distance of the
such as meatloaf, lunch, dinner and late- beach, Two Can Terry’s
night dining. features fresh seafood,
burgers (the beef ’s
Outrageous DRUNKS, PART III! ground daily), crab
cakes and stuffed
mushrooms. A kids’
Macky Roland menu is available, as
Bartender at Mossfire Grill in well as take-out.
Five Points Beer and wine are
“[During] Florida-Georgia [festivities] served. Open from
last year, there were two tables of 11:30 a.m. to 8:30
p.m. Tuesday
Georgia fans. One was three guys, and through Saturday for
one was two girls. One of the guys went lunch and dinner, till
to go flirt with the girls, and next thing 4 p.m. Sunday.
you know, a Florida fan sitting next to them started yelling
at him, trying to start a fight with him. So I’m trying to stop Your Place
battle royale upstairs, breaking up a fight between two 5472 First Coast
tables full of Florida fans and a table full of three Georgia Highway, Ste. 8,
fans who were doing nothing but trying to flirt with a Fernandina Beach,
pretty girl. That’s all they were doing. I actually stood in 261-5000
the middle of them and was like, ‘Hey, this ends right now Located on Amelia
or you’re all gone.’ It was close. I really thought there Island and a locals’
favorite, Your Place
was going to be a fistfight in the middle of Mossfire. It serves Mediter-
was ridiculous.” ranean cuisine, as
well as paninis, deli
sandwiches and salads.
country-fried steak and Beer and wine are served.
chops along with a large Sweet-n-Savory Open from 11 a.m. to
selection of fresh veggies. 1143 S. Edgewood Ave., 10 p.m. daily.
Catering and delivery are Murray Hill, 389-2811
available. Open from 7 This Riverside restaurant
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday has it all: entrées, sides,
through Friday. spreads, salads, pastries, Peruvian
cakes, pies and éclairs.
Springfield Station Dinners-to-go are avail- Pisco’s Restaurant
Bar & Grill able, and catering and spe- 4131 Southside Blvd., Ste.
1544 N. Main St., cial-occasion cakes are 101, Southside, 646-3888
offered. Open from 8 a.m. This Peruvian restaurant
Jacksonville, 356-8877 to 6:30 p.m. Monday — a Jacksonville rarity —
Newly redesigned,
through Friday. offers ceviche, jalea, lomo
Springfield Station serves a
and pollo saltado, arroz
basic-with-a-twist-menu,
including barbecue, Angus T-Ray’s Burger con marisco, Inca Cola and
burgers, Philly cheesesteaks Station Peruvian wines. A chil-
202 S. Eighth St., dren’s menu is available
and breakfast anytime, as
and beer and wine are
well as Mexican cuisine. A Fernandina Beach, served. Open from 11:30
kids’ menu is available and 261-6310 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and
beer and wine are served. Located inside an actual Tuesday through Thursday
Open from 10 a.m. to mid- former service station, and from 11:30 a.m. to 10
night Tuesday through T-Ray’s won a Best Burger p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Sunday. Bocce ball is on Amelia Island award in
offered. Live jazz is fea- Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax
tured Thursday through readers poll. T-Ray’s also
Saturday. Springfield serves a grilled portabello Pizzerias
Station is 21 years old and mushroom burger, grilled
older after 8 p.m. and fried chicken, various Abe’s Pizza Grill
daily specials, a grouper 12192 Beach Blvd., Ste.
Square One sandwich and more. You 10, Southside, 996-8858
1974 San Marco Blvd., won’t leave hungry. Open Traditional Italian dishes,
San Marco, 306-9004 from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. including lasagna, parmi-
This networking hub serves Monday through Friday, giana and pizza, as well as
dinner in the lounge or out- and Saturday from 8 a.m. hot and cold subs, pasta
side on the patio. A light to 1 p.m. Breakfast is and wings. A kids’ menu is
lounge menu is featured. served until 10:30 a.m. available and beer and
Happy hour is available at wine are served. Open
the full bar, and Square Tom & Betty’s from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
One boasts an extensive 4409 Roosevelt Blvd., Monday through Sat-
wine list. Entertainment is Westside, 387-3311 urday, from noon to
featured nightly. Open for After more than 25 years 10 p.m. Sunday.
dinner Monday through in business, Tom & Betty’s
Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and has become a Jacksonville Al’s Pizza
from 5 to 7 p.m. on institution. The car- 303 Atlantic Blvd.,
Saturday. The lounge is themed menu features Beaches Town Center,
open till 1 a.m. homestyle favorites like Atlantic Beach, 249-0002
tender pot roast, home- 635 A1A, Ponte Vedra
Sunset Grille made Salisbury steak and
421 A1A Beach Blvd., St. country-fried steak. The
Beach, 543-1494
Augustine Beach, full bar has a daily happy 14286 Beach Blvd., Ste.
471-5555 hour. Entertainment fea- 31, Intracoastal West,
This casual, Key West- tures live bands every 223-0991
style restaurant serves Friday and Karaoke every 1620 Margaret St., Ste.
fresh local seafood, steaks, Saturday. Catering avail- 201, Riverside, 388-8384
able. Open for lunch on
burgers and sandwiches.
Monday and for dinner
8060 Philips Highway,
Dine at a table or an open- Southside, 731-4300
air counter. Sunset Grille Tuesday through Saturday,
with nightly drink specials. For the 12th year in a row,
also has daily specials and a
:: With more than 100 wines and an extensive tapas menu, Tastings, A Wine Experience on the
Southbank offers plenty of good reasons to stop in.
Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax
readers poll has named Al’s
Pizza the best slice in
Jacksonville. Al’s offers a
selection of New York-
style pizzas as well as a
large selection of gourmet
pizzas like the BLT, white,
pesto and barbecue chick-
en. Popular items include
calzones, Italian entrées
and party trays to sate a
crowd. With a large selec-
tion of wine and imported
beer on the menu and at
the bar, Al’s is open daily
for lunch and dinner. A
new Al’s is now open at
Baymeadows Junction, at
the corner of Baymeadows
Road and Philips Highway.
Aron’s Pizza
650 Park Ave., Orange
Park, 269-1007
The menu at this family-
owned restaurant includes
lasagna, ziti, eggplant dish-
es and manicotti as well as
New York-style pizza. A
kids’ menu and take-out
are available. Beer and
wine are served. Open
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday and Saturday and till
9 p.m. on Sunday.
Big Pete’s Old
Style Pizzeria
118 N. Julia St.,
Downtown Jacksonville,
356-2680
Big Pete’s makes every-
thing from scratch, includ-
ing pizza, calzones, baked
ziti, lasagna, pasta,
sandwiches and wraps. Big
Pete’s also serves barbecue
and wings. Delivery and
in-office catering are
available. Open from 11
a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
Borrillo’s
Pizza & Subs
88 San Marco Ave., St.
Augustine, 829-1133
Voted Best Pizza in St.
Augustine six years in a
row in Folio Weekly’s Best
of Jax readers poll, this
New York-style pizzeria
serves an assortment of
hot and cold subs, pasta
dishes, pizzas by the pie or
slice, calzones and strom-
bolis. Family recipes are
used to make the dough,
pizza and marinara sauces.
Take-out is available.
Lunch and dinner are
served from 11:30 a.m. to
8:45 p.m. daily.
Brooklyn Pizza
11406 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 288-9211
13820 St. Augustine
Road, Bartram Park,
880-0020
8358 Point Meadows
Drive, Baymeadows,
322-7051
The owners are from
Brooklyn, N.Y., so it makes
sense that their Brooklyn
Special is a customer
favorite. Along with daily
dinner specials, the menu
features calzones, strom-
bolis, salads and desserts.
Try the white pizza or one
of the other pizza special-
ties. The restaurant is
smoke-free and alcohol-
free. Open Monday
through Saturday for lunch
and dinner.
Brucci’s Pizza,
Pasta, Paninis
880 A1A, Ste. 8, Ponte
Vedra Beach, 280-7677
540 S.R. 13, Ste. 10, Fruit
Cove, 287-8317
13500 Beach Blvd., Ste.
14, Intracoastal West,
223-6913
Located in the heart of
Ponte Vedra Beach,
Brucci’s offers authentic
New York-style pizza,
Italian pastas, paninis, sal-
ads and desserts served in
a family atmosphere. The
pizza dough is made fresh
daily. A children’s menu is
available. Beer and wine
are available. Open from 11
a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, from 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, to 9
p.m. Saturday and from 4
to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Chicago Pizza &
Sports Grill
8206 Philips Highway,
Southside, 731-9797
Popular Chicago-style
deep-dish pizzas, hot dogs
and Italian beef dishes are
offered by the Comastro
family from Chicago,
who’ve been serving up
authentic Windy City
favorites for more than 25
years. A full bar is served
and a children’s menu is
available. Open from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
East of
Chicago Pizza
2485 Monument Road,
Arlington, 641-0452
A popular pizza joint up
North, this place is the only
one of its kind in Florida.
East of Chicago features a
variety of deep pan pizzas,
via take-out or delivery.
Open from 11 a.m. to 10
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, until 11 p.m. on
Friday and Saturday.
Fox’s Pizza Den
4360 Palm Valley Road,
Ponte Vedra, 285-1292
In the heart of Palm Valley,
this family-owned-and-
operated restaurant serves
a wide variety of Italian
 B B B
cuisine. The Wedgie, a tra-
ditional sandwich served
on a pizza crust, is a Fox
favorite, and all sandwich-
es, pizzas and strombolis
are made to order.
Delivery is available to
Ponte Vedra and Palm
Valley residents, including
Sawgrass and The Plan-
tation. Beer and wine are
served. Open Monday
through Saturday, from 11
a.m. to 9 p.m. for lunch
and dinner.
Gino’s Pizzeria
Deli & Grill
1705 Hendricks Ave., San
Marco, 398-4425
Handmade New York-style
pizzas, calzones and
strombolis, salads (with
homemade house balsamic
vinaigrette dressing), pas-
tas and lasagna are offered
at this real New York
Italian pizzeria. Owned
and operated by a trans-
planted New York Italian,
Gino’s knows authentic.
Beer and wine are served
— there’s a daily happy
hour from 4 to 7 p.m. —
and a children’s menu is
available. Open from 11
a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, from 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday
and Saturday.
Jenk’s Pizzeria &
Italian Cuisine
2245 C.R. 210 W., Ste.
112, Jacksonville,
826-1555
10920 Baymeadows
Road, Ste. 3,
Baymeadows, 519-5005
Family-owned-and-operat-
ed, Jenk’s offers large subs
made with homemade
bread, New York-style piz-
zas, calzones, strombolis
and a wide variety of
Italian dishes. Take-out and
delivery are available. Beer
and wine are served. Open
for lunch and dinner from
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Saturday and from
noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Joseph’s Pizza and
Italian Restaurant
30 Ocean Blvd., Beaches
Town Center, Atlantic
Beach, 270-1122
7316 N. Main St.,
Northside, 765-0335
9802 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows Village,
642-3444
For 50 years, Joseph’s has
been a family-owned-and-
operated spot serving fine
Italian cuisine. Favorites
include hot pasta dishes,
gourmet pizzas, sandwiches
on homemade Italian bread,
seafood and veal entrées.
Slices of pizza and calzones
make for a quick lunch.
Beer and wine are served.
Catering and corporate
lunch deliveries are avail-
able. Open Tuesday through
Sunday for lunch and din-
ner. The Beaches location
has a pet-friendly patio.
Mangia Pizza!
525 S.R. 16, Ste. 103, St.
Augustine, 824-9411
Mangia Pizza! has an
expanded menu of special-
ty pizzas with gourmet
toppings, calzones, chicken
parmigiana, piccata and
marsala, eggplant rollantino
and stuffed and baked
pasta dishes. Several
sauces are paired with
spaghetti, fettuccini,
penne, tortellini and ravioli.
Beer and wine are served.
Open 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Monday through
Wednesday, till 9:30 p.m.
on Thursday and Friday, till
9 p.m. on Saturday and
from noon to 8 p.m.
on Sunday.
Melissa’s Pizza
725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 9,
Atlantic Beach, 241-7787
Melissa’s specialty pizzas
include alfredo, seafood
combo and shrimp. Also
lasagna, fettuccini alfredo
with shrimp and specialty
salads. Beer and wine are
served and a kids’ menu is
available. Open for lunch
and dinner from 11 a.m. to
11 p.m. daily.
Mellow Mushroom
Pizza Bakers
9734 Deer Lake Court,
Tinseltown, 997-1955
1800 Town Center Blvd.,
Fleming Island, 541-1999
This upbeat gourmet pizza
and sandwich restaurant
serves specialty hand-
tossed pizzas, hoagies, cal-
zones and salads. The
décor is psychedelic-chic
and the waitstaff would be
equally comfortable at
Bonnaroo. Pizzas range
from the Mighty Meaty to
vegetarian pizzas like the
Kosmic Karma (with sun-
dried tomatoes, spinach,
feta and swirls of pesto).
Mellow Mushroom also
offers 50 beers on tap and
bottled beers, wine and a
full bar. Happy hour is held
weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m.
and all day Sunday and
Monday. Live music is
featured on the patio
nightly. Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Moon River Pizza
925 S. 14th St.,
Fernandina Beach,
321-3400
1176 Edgewood Ave. S.,
Jacksonville, 389-4442
Local hot spot Moon River
Pizza treats customers like
family. At this edgy little
pizzeria, local artists deco-
rate the walls and rock
music accompanies the
meal. Northern-style piz-
zas are served by the pie
or the slice. Moon River’s
pizza is the Best Pizza on
Amelia Island, according to
Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax
readers poll. Customers
can choose from more
than 20 toppings on their
pizza as well as calzones
and large salads. Moon
River has a big selection of
imported beers and wine
served by the glass or bot-
tle. Dine in or take out;
lunch and dinner Monday
through Saturday.
Mulberri’s Pizza
Factory
7860 Gate Parkway, Ste.
107, 565-2600
This fast, casual pizzeria
offers gourmet pizzas, sal-
ads and the Pizzini sand-
wich, all made from fresh
ingredients featuring
Grande cheeses and Boar’s
Head meats. A kids’ menu
is available and beer and
wine are served. Open from
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, from 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and
Saturday. Mulberri’s will
re-open on Sundays starting
in September.
New York Brick
Oven Pizza
2225-B C.R. 220,
Middleburg, 278-1770
Owner Dan Dehart offers
pizza by the slice, calzones,
strombolis and homemade
baked dinners, including
lasagna and subs. The
pizzas are hand-tossed and
cooked in a brick oven.
Homemade desserts are
also on the menu, and
lunch specials are featured.
Open from 11 a.m. to 9
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, till 10 p.m. Friday
and Saturday and from 1 to
9 p.m. on Sunday.
Padrino’s Pizzeria &
Italian Restaurant
9680 Argyle Forest Blvd.,
Orange Park, 317-8282
Padrino’s offers homestyle
cooking, made-from-
scratch recipes and a
menu that includes three-
cheese lasagna, meatballs,
shrimp parmigiana and
pasta penne. Padrino’s spe-
cialty: alfredo sauce. A chil-
dren’s menu is available and
beer and wine are served.
Open from 10:30 a.m. to 9
p.m. Tuesday through
Thursday, till 10 p.m. Friday
through Sunday.
Peppe’s Pizzeria
& Deli
3787 Palm Valley Road,
273-0006
Peppe’s dinner entrées
include chicken, shrimp
and veal dishes, as well as
pasta, homemade Italian
dishes and traditional
hand-tossed and specialty
pizzas. Catering, a kids’
menu and take-out and
delivery are available. Beer
and wine are served. Open
from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
till 9:30 p.m. on Friday and
Saturday and till 8 p.m.
on Sunday.
Picasso’s Pizzeria
10601 San Jose Blvd.,
Ste. 207, Mandarin,
880-0811
Picasso’s specializes in
hand-tossed New York-
style pizza served by the
slice in a family atmos-
phere. Customers watch
as the pizzas are tossed,
then cooked in a brick
oven. The menu includes
calzones, homemade New
York-style cheesecake and
St. Louis-style pizzas —
thin-crusted with a special
cheese blend, as well as
pasta dishes and made-
from-scratch nightly spe-
cials. Beer and wine are
served. Open from 11 a.m.
to 9 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday and from 11:30
a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday
and Saturday.
Pizzalley’s
117 St. George St., St.
Augustine, 825-2627
This downtown St. Auggie
eatery offers hot pasta
dishes, subs and salads.
Ingredients are fresh and
the dough is made on the
premises. Vegetables and
meats are marinated and
fire-roasted. Check out the
Garbage Can pizza: a
supreme with everything.
Beer and wine are served.
Outdoor patio seating is
available. Open daily for
lunch and dinner.
Pizzalley’s
Chianti Room
60 Charlotte St., St.
Augustine, 825-4100
Sister restaurant to the St.
George Street location,
Pizzalley’s Chianti Room
serves homemade Italian
ristorante fare, including
veal, steak and lasagna, in
a warm Tuscany setting. A
full service bar is available.
Open at 11:30 a.m. daily.
Pizza Garden
& Pastabilities
1824 A1A S., St.
Augustine, 471-9455
Voted Best Pizza in St.
Augustine in Folio
Weekly’s Best of Jax read-
ers poll, family-owned-
and-operated Pizza
Garden offers freshly made
pizzas, calzones and
strombolis. Serving St.
Johns County since 1992,
Pizza Garden also has a full
dinner menu of Italian spe-
cialties, including lasagna,
wedding soup, veal and
seafood. Dine indoors or
out on the large deck. Live
music is presented on the
deck on weekends. A kids’
menu is available. Beer and
wine are served. Open
from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday through Thursday,
and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Pizza Palace
1526 King St., Riverside,
384-8722
1959 San Marco Blvd.,
San Marco, 399-8815
920 Margaret St.,
Five Points, 598-1212
116 Bartram Oaks Walk,
Julington Creek,
230-2171
Everything at family-
owned Pizza Palace is
homemade. Local faves
include spinach pizza, mar-
garita pizza, Greek pizza
and chicken-spinach cal-
zones. The palace also
serves up a variety of sal-
ads, like antipasto and
Caesar salad (without raw
eggs or anchovies in the
dressing). Dine in or take
out. Beer and wine are
served. Open for lunch and
dinner Monday through
Saturday; the San Marco
and Five Points locations
are open Sunday for
lunch and dinner. Coming
soon to San Jose and
Baymeadows area.
Prima Bella Pizzeria
9825-30 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 268-4529
At this carry-out and deliv-
ery pizza restaurant, the
staff makes the dough and
tops it with fresh ingredi-
ents. Open from 11 a.m. to
9 p.m. Monday through
Thurs-day, from 11 a.m. to
10 p.m. Friday and from 4
to 10 p.m. Saturday.
Renna’s Pizza
8642 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 730-9313
11111 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 292-2300
4624 Town Crossing
Drive, Ste. 125,
Southside, 565-1299
6001 Argyle Forest Blvd.,
Orange Park, 771-7677
840 Nautica Drive, Ste.
117, River City
Marketplace, 714-9210
This New York-style pizze-
ria also serves calzones,
strombolis, antipasto,
lasagna, parmigiana and
homemade breads, all
made from authentic Italian
recipes. Beer and wine are
served and a kids’ menu is
available. Buy by the slice
— they’re humongous — or
a full pie. Take-out and
delivery are available.
Royal Pizza Plus
3547 University Blvd. N.,
Arlington, 744-1555
Homemade Italian fare
includes wraps, subs, New
York-style pizzas, strombolis
and lunch specials, as well
as ravioli and lasagna at din-
ner. Take-out is available
and deliveries may be made
within a five-mile radius.
Open from 11 a.m. to 11
p.m. daily.
St. Johns
Pizza Grill
445 S.R. 13, Ste. 11 (at
Race Track Road), St.
Johns, 287-9900
In addition to brick-baked
pizzas, St. Johns serves up
deli sandwiches, hot Italian
entrées, wings and special-
ty subs. Everything is
homemade, from the soups
to the pizza dough. A kids’
menu is available. A full bar
is served. Open from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday
through Thursday, till 1
a.m. Friday and Saturday,
for lunch, dinner and
late night.
Salerno’s Ristorante
& Pizzeria
4765 Hodges Blvd., Ste.
7, Intracoastal West,
821-4350
Tricia and Giovanni, chil-
dren of the owners of Café
Andiamo and Tra Vini
Grille, recently opened this
casual family restaurant.
For lunch, there’s a selec-
tion of sandwiches and
sliced pizza. The dinner
menu offers pasta, veal
and chicken entrées. Forty
wines are served by the
glass. For take-out, call
821-4351. Open daily for
lunch and dinner.
Tommy’s Brick
Oven Pizza
4160 Southside Blvd.,
Ste. 2, Southside,
565-1999
Tommy’s in the Tinseltown
area creates New York-
style thin crust, brick-oven
pizzas from handmade
dough, sauces and fresh
ingredients. Calzones,
strombolis, soups, dress-
ings, baked goods, salads
and sandwiches are made
fresh to order on premises,
using Thumann’s no-MSG
meats and Grande cheeses.
Beer and wine are served.
Curbside pick-up, delivery
and catering are available.
Open from 11 a.m. to 9:30
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, till 10:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday for
lunch and dinner.
Regional
The Armadillo Grill
& Oyster Bar
4768 Wade Place,
Fernandina Beach,
261-7765
Located just west of the
Shave Bridge, this new
addition to the Fernandina
Beach dining scene offers
inventive cuisine from
Chef Michael Escoe, like
almond-crusted grouper
fingers, lobster enchiladas,
ancho-and-cocoa-rubbed
Colorado lamb chops,
steaks and seafood.
Fantastic waterfront
 B B B
views, a full liquor bar and
a raw bar are featured. A
children’s menu and take-
out are available. Open for
lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3
p.m. Thursday through
Sunday, for dinner from 5
to 10 p.m. daily.
Barbara Jean’s
15 S. Roscoe Blvd., Ponte
Vedra Beach, 280-7522
960030 Gateway Blvd.,
Amelia Island, 277-3700
Barbara Jean’s offers
easy Southern din-
ing, including crab
cakes (the house
specialty), seafood,
sandwiches, meat-
loaf, chicken-fried
steak and 15 fresh
vegetables. An
entrée special and a
fresh fruit cobbler
special are offered
each day. Barbara
Jean’s also ships crab
cakes throughout
the country. This
time of year, regulars
come to watch the
snowbirds pilot their
boats up the Intracoastal
Waterway. Children’s
selections are available.
Dine indoors or outdoors.
A full bar is served. Open
from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday through Thursday
and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday for
lunch and dinner.
The Bridge Market
& Bistro
377 S. Roscoe Blvd.,
Palm Valley, 285-1154
Located right beside the
Palm Valley bridge on the
Intracoastal Waterway,
The Bridge serves an
eclectic menu with an
emphasis on New Orleans-
style flavors in an upscale
atmosphere. The seafood
is fresh and mostly local,
and the adjacent market
features local produce and
all-natural pastas and
sauces. Open from 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m. for lunch Tuesday
through Sunday, from 4 to
:: The Tavern & Fresh Grill, located at Royal St. Augustine Country Club in St. Augustine, serves
classic entrées in a picturesque setting.
9 p.m. for dinner on Copeland’s of
Sunday and Tuesday New Orleans
through Thursday, and
from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday 4310 Southside Blvd.,
and Saturday. Jacksonville, 998-4414
Copeland’s 80-item New
Orleans-themed menu has
Café 4750 a wide variety of authentic
4750 Amelia Island Creole, Cajun and
Parkway (The Ritz- New Orleans cuisine.
Carlton, Amelia Island), Copeland’s also has a full
bar and a happy hour from
Amelia Island, 277-1100
This seaside bistro serves 5 to 7 p.m. every Monday
three meals daily in a through Friday. Banquet
Outrageous ACCUSATIONS!
Pat Morrissey
Co-owner of Gypsy Cab Company on Anastasia Island,
St. Augustine
Not long ago, Pat received a letter from a woman who’d
visited the restaurant and eaten the restaurant’s signature
salad dressing. The Gypsy House dressing — a red wine
and garlic-dominated blend — is so popular they bottle
and sell it to go. But the woman who wrote Pat noted the
presence of nutritional yeast in the concoction, and blamed
it for her yeast infection. She asked for a financial
consideration. Pat discarded the letter.
comfortable, casual atmos- facilities and off-site cater-
phere. Dine indoors or out ing are available. Open
in the ocean breeze on the seven days a week for
terrace. A seafood buffet is lunch and dinner, and
featured on Friday evening. brunch is served on
Open daily from 6:30 a.m. Sunday from 10 a.m.
to 10 p.m. Reservations to 3 p.m.
are recommended.
Dolphin Depot
Channel Marker 71 704 N. First St.,
Restaurant Jacksonville Beach,
Barrier Island Inn, 7601 270-1424
A1A S., Crescent Beach, Located in the heart of
461-4288 Jacksonville Beach,
With a panoramic view of Dolphin Depot sits in what
the Intracoastal Waterway, was once a 1950s gas sta-
Channel Marker 71 serves tion. With an interior
local seafood, certified finished in mahogany, brass
Black Angus beef, Pearce’s and antiques, Dolphin
award-winning Maryland- Depot exudes funky
style crab cakes and pasta charm. Chef Larry Powell
dishes. Beer and wine are prepares upscale low-
available. Open for break- country cuisine like pear-
fast, lunch and dinner from and-sausage-stuffed quail,
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. pork osso bucco, salmon-
Wednesday through on-a-plank and the
Sunday. Located in Barrier Carolina smokehouse strip.
Island Inn. There are also as many as
50 chalkboard specials pre-
pared nightly. Beer and
wine are served, and reservations
are recommended. Open at 5:30
p.m. for dinner daily.
The Dunes
Cracker House
641 A1A Beach Blvd.,
St. Augustine Beach, 461-5725
With a rustic Florida-style atmos-
phere, The Dunes Cracker House
is a comfortable place to dine and
dance. Daily specials usually fea-
ture one seafood dish and one
beef or chicken dish. The Dunes
also has a children’s menu. Jazz is
featured from 5 to 8 p.m. on
Mondays, there’s a DJ on
Wednesday and Friday through
Sunday. Late-night dance music is
featured nightly. Happy hour is
held on Sunday nights. Open daily
at 3:30 p.m.
Outrageous PHOBIAS!
Cindy Stangby
Owner of Collage Global Dining on Hypolita Street,
St. Augustine
“We had a German lady insist that her server get on a
chair and check for bats in the rafters of the ceiling. Also
our sous chef decided to quit on New Year’s Eve last
year — which was interesting.”
Florida House Inn
& Restaurant
22 S. Third St., Fernandina
Beach, 261-3300
The oversized tables in this
restaurant are located in Florida’s
oldest inn (the dining room dates
to 1865). The dinner menu is à la
carte, featuring fresh local seafood
and steaks served in the court-
yard. Vegan and veggie dishes are
also available. There’s a courtyard
and a cozy English-style pub serv-
ing more than 100 domestic and
imported beers from around the
world, along with cocktails and
wine. Open for breakfast, lunch
and dinner daily. Groups (with
reservations) are welcome. Call
for daily menu.
Louisiana Deli
13554 Atlantic Blvd.,
Intracoastal West, 221-9309
This new deli offers authentic
Cajun cuisine, including muffalet-
tas, shrimp po’ boys, jambalaya,
sloppy roast beef. All dishes are
made to order, from scratch, with
fresh ingredients. Open from 11
a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through
Friday, till 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Marker 32
14549 Beach Blvd., Intracoastal
West, 223-1534
Located on the Intracoastal
Waterway, Marker 32 serves
regional New American cuisine
with an emphasis on fresh local
seafood. Chef Ben Groshell’s
menu changes seasonally and fea-
tures daily specials. Entrées
include chipotle-rubbed beef ten-
derloin, organic buckwheat pasta
and wild caught salmon with aro-
matic herb crust. The pastas,
breads and desserts are made
fresh on the premises. The full
bar features an extensive wine
list. Reservations are recom-
mended. Open for dinner from
5:30 to 10 p.m., Monday
through Saturday.
Monique’s Café
1540 Wells Road, Ste. 13,
Orange Park, 215-0199
Soul food is prepared the old-
fashioned Southern way at
Monique’s. Open for breakfast,
lunch and dinner from 7 a.m. to
9 p.m. daily.
River City
Brewing Company
835 Museum Circle, Southbank,
398-2299
River City Brewing Company is
situated on the Southbank
Riverwalk overlooking the St.
Johns River and downtown
Jacksonville. The menu offers
global flavor with fresh seafood,
steaks, pastas and daily chef ’s
creations. Dine in the enclosed
dining room or out on the marina
dining deck. A full bar is served.
Open for lunch and dinner
Monday through Saturday with
brunch buffet on Sunday.
Salt, The Grill at
The Ritz-Carlton
4750 Amelia Island Parkway
(The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia
Island), Amelia Island, 491-6746
The menu at Salt, The Grill fea-
tures the cuisine made with sim-
ple elements from the earth and
sea, properly seasoned, artfully
prepared and served in a contem-
porary coastal setting. The wine
list has more than 500 wines, and
cocktails are also available. The
Sunday brunch features caviar,
seafood omelet and carving sta-
tions and a dessert buffet. Open
Tuesday through Saturday, from 6
to 9:30 p.m., on Sunday from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations
are required.
The Verandah
Restaurant
6800 First Coast Highway,
Amelia Island Plantation,
Amelia Island, 261-6161
Set among the moss-draped oaks
of Racquet Park, this restaurant
features an extensive menu of
fresh local seafood, grilled New
York strip, pasta and chicken, and
The Verandah’s signature entrée,
Fernandina shrimp. A kids’ menu
is available. Reservations are
accepted. Open nightly at
5:30 p.m.
Seafood
Barnacle Bill’s Beachside
451 A1A Beach Blvd., St.
Augustine Beach, 471-2434
Barnacle Bill’s
Downtown
14 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine,
824-3663
For 26 years, this family restau-
rant has served up a menu of
fresh seafood, beef, gator tail and
entrée salads. The fried shrimp is
legendary, and customers enjoy
the award-winning Minorcan
clam chowder and the Dat’l Do It
products. A children’s menu and
take-out are available, and a full
bar is served. The Beachside loca-
tion, with a trendy South beach
art-deco theme, is open from
4:30 to 9 p.m. Downtown’s
Barnacle Bill’s is open from 11
a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Beachside Seafood
& Sandwich Co.
120 S. Third St., Jacksonville
Beach, 241-4880
A full seafood market, Beachside
also serves a lunch and dinner
menu of seafood baskets, fish
tacos, oyster baskets, sandwiches,
salads, hamburgers and Philly
cheesesteaks. There are a few
tables indoors and outdoors, and a
new open-air deck for outdoor
dining. Beer and wine are served
and take-out is available. Open
from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for lunch
and dinner Thursday through
Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday through Wednesday.
The Blue Crab
Crabhouse Restaurant
3057 Julington Creek Road,
Julington Creek, 260-2722
As the name suggests, fresh
Maryland-style steamed blue
crabs are a big deal at this seafood
restaurant, as are Snow and
Dungeness crabs and King crab
:: Located in a remodeled 1929 historic home, Preservation Tap & Chop House in Avondale pours more than 18 beers
on tap and serves Angus beef, chops and duck.
legs. Also featured are garlic
crabs, crab cakes, crab-stuffed
mushrooms, stuffed crabs, crab
pasta and shrimp, fish and
steamed or fried oysters. Dine
indoors or out on the covered
deck. A kids’ menu is available
and a full bar is served. Open
from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday, from 12:30 to
9 p.m. Sunday.
Bukkets Oceanfront
Grille & Baha
Beach Club
222 N. Oceanfront at First
Avenue, Jacksonville Beach,
246-7701
Bukkets Xpress
7159 Philips Highway, Ste. 1,
Southside, 296-9002
Known for wings, shrimp, buckets
of oysters and ice-cold beer,
Bukkets’ menu also features
seafood, burgers, salads and lots
of appetizers. Open-air casual
dining is offered right on the
boardwalk and pool tables and
arcade games are available.
There’s live entertainment on the
deck every weekend, weather
permitting. Open daily at 11 a.m.
for lunch, dinner and late-night
dining until 2 a.m. The Southside
location serves up the same menu
as the Beaches Bukkets, open
from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, with
a happy hour held from 5-8 p.m.
Monday through Friday that
includes 50-cent oysters, wings
and shrimp.
Chart House
1501 River Place Blvd.,
Southbank, 398-3353
Located on the Southbank of the
St. Johns River since 1982, this
restaurant serves fresh fish,
seafood, steaks and prime rib.
Chart House also features a salad
bar. A full bar is served. The
Chart House will open for lunch
for parties of 30 or more.
Reservations suggested, but not
required. Open from 5 to 10 p.m.
Sunday through Thursday, till 11
p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Clark’s Fish Camp
12903 Hood Landing Road,
Mandarin, 268-3474
Voted Best Fish Camp and Best
Gator Tail in Folio Weekly’s Best
of Jax readers poll, Clark’s menu
also features steak entrées, ribs,
daily all-you-can-eat catfish din-
ners and a three-pound prime rib.
Dine indoors, outdoors or in a
glass-enclosed room that provides
a great view of the creek. A full
bar is served. Open for lunch at
11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday,
for dinner at 4:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
Conch House Restaurant
at the Conch House
Marina Resort
57 Comares Ave., St.
Augustine, 829-8646 or
(800) 940-6256
Located at the Conch House
Marina Resort, this restaurant
offers indoor seating as well as
tables outdoors in Tiki huts built
over the water. Signature dishes
include butter rhum scallops, lob-
ster ravioli, Cancun chicken and
St. Augustine fried shrimp. The
full-service bar specializes in trop-
ical drinks — the margaritas are
the perfect warm weather com-
plement — and live entertain-
ment is featured Friday through
Reggae Sunday. Open from 11
a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 10
p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Crab Trap
31 N. Second St., Fernandina
Beach, 261-4749
For 27 years, Crab Trap has been
serving up fresh local seafood and
steaks. Family owned and operat-
ed, the Crab Trap slings Angus
beef and maybe even a few crabs.
Nightly food and drink specials
 B B B
are featured, and cold beer
and wine are always avail-
able. The restaurant can
accommodate private par-
ties and banquets. Open at
5 p.m. daily for dinner.
Creekside Dinery
160 Nix Boatyard Road,
St. Augustine, 829-6113
Featuring a Florida-style
outdoor deck overlooking
Gonzales Creek, Creekside
serves a variety of beef,
chicken and seafood dish-
es, with an emphasis on
low-country cooking. Live
entertainment and a full
bar are featured. Open for
dinner at 5 p.m. nightly.
Down Under
Restaurant
A1A at the Intracoastal
Waterway, Amelia Island,
261-1001
Located under the Thomas
J. Shave Bridge, Down
Under serves a variety of
local seafood and daily spe-
cials in a rustic atmos-
phere. Owned and operat-
ed by the McCarthy family
since 1982, the restaurant
offers lightly breaded fried
shrimp and baked, stuffed
grouper. For dessert,
there’s homemade Key
lime pie. A children’s menu
is offered, a full bar is
served, and the deck is
open on weekends. Open
Tuesday through Sunday
for dinner.
Eddie Bahama’s
Seafood & Spirits
314 N. First St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
241-3138
This casual island-style
restaurant offers fresh
local seafood and steaks,
ribs and chicken. Dine
inside or on the deck by
the Tiki bar. A full bar is
served, and a children’s
menu is available. Open at
5 p.m. Monday through
Friday for dinner, and noon
on Saturday and Sunday
for lunch and dinner.
Fins Seafood
on the Beach
2910 Atlantic Ave.,
Amelia Island, 277-0814
Beachfront dining at Fins
includes fresh shrimp, fish
and oysters, as well as half-
pound burgers served in an
island-y atmosphere. A full
bar is offered and a chil-
dren’s menu is available.
Open from 11:30 a.m. to
10 p.m. daily.
Florida
Cracker Café
81 St. George St., St.
Augustine, 829-0397
Situated in the heart of the
historic district, Florida
Cracker has a contempo-
rary dining room and out-
door garden dining.
Customer favorites include
the blackened scallops,
crab cake-stuffed shrimp
and Florida gator tail.
Children’s selections are
available, and beer and
wine are served. Open for
lunch from 11 a.m. to 4
p.m. daily, for dinner from
5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday.
Gene’s Seafood
Restaurant
11702 Beach Blvd.,
Southside, 997-9738
1249 Penman Road,
Jacksonville Beach,
241-9333
6132 Merrill Road,
Arlington, 744-2333
1571 University Blvd. W.,
448-9888
4000 St. Johns Ave.,
Avondale, 381-1414
Winner of the Best
Seafood category for seven
consecutive years in Folio
Weekly’s Best of Jax read-
ers poll, Gene’s menu is
extensive. Appetizers
include gator tail and cala-
mari, and the Cajun shrimp
and lobster pasta are cus-
tomer favorites. The menu
also offers steak and chick-
en entrées. The Arlington
location serves beer and
wine, and a full bar is
available at all other Gene’s
Seafood locations. Open at
11 a.m. for lunch and
dinner daily. Take-out
is available.
Harry’s Seafood Bar
and Grille
1018 N. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
247-8855
46 Avenida Menendez,
St. Augustine, 824-7765
4495 Roosevelt Blvd.,
Ste. 410, Westside,
387-0304
This New Orleans-style
eatery features fresh
seafood, steaks and
authentic dishes from
Louisiana. Signature items
are the jambalaya and the
etouffée, along with the
popular blackened shrimp.
Harry’s also serves wings,
pasta dishes, daily specials
and a soup of the day.
There is a full-service bar
with a daily happy hour.
Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Hurricane Patty’s
at Oyster Creek
69 Lewis Blvd., St.
Augustine, 827-1822
A casual waterfront dining
establishment, Hurricane
Patty’s offers lunch specials
and nightly dinners.
Located at Oyster Creek
Marina east of U.S. 1, this
restaurant offers dining
indoors or out on the deck.
Theme nights and a full
bar are featured. Open at
11 a.m. daily for lunch and
dinner. Dock space is avail-
able for boaters.
Kingfish Grill
252 Yacht Club Drive,
St. Augustine, 824-2111
Located at Camachee
Cove Marina, off A1A at
the west end of the Vilano
bridge, Kingfish Grill offers
casual waterside dining
indoors and out on the
deck. The menu features a
fresh daily catch, house
specialties and sushi, and a
kids’ menu is available. A
full bar is served, and
weekly live entertainment
is featured in the summer.
Open from 11:30 a.m. to 9
p.m. Sunday through
Thursday, till 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Lunch and dinner are
served all day.
LuLu’s Waterfront
Grille
301 N. Roscoe Blvd.,
Ponte Vedra Beach,
285-0139
Located right on the
Intracoastal Waterway,
LuLu’s can be reached by
land or water. The menu
offers fresh seafood, hand-
cut steaks, burgers, soups,
pasta and specialty salads.
A full bar is served. Dine
indoors or out on the
screened waterfront
porch. A kids’ menu and
take-out are available.
Open daily from 11 a.m. to
10 p.m., with a Sunday à
la carte brunch from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mandarin Ale
House & Raw Bar
11112 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 292-0003
Southside Ale
House & Raw Bar
9711 Deer Lake Court,
Southside, 565-2882
Regency Ale House
& Raw Bar
9541 Regency Square
Blvd. S., Regency,
720-0551
Orange Park Ale
House & Raw Bar
1756 Wells Road, Ste. A,
Orange Park, 278-4600
Ale Houses specialize in
generous portions and
friendly service in a nauti-
cal atmosphere. Customer
favorites include fresh fish,
specialty pastas, and fresh
oysters and clams. There
are 32 draft beer varieties
with draft specials. TVs,
pool tables and video
games provide entertain-
ment. Open from 11 a.m.
to 2 a.m. daily for lunch,
dinner and late night.
The Marina
Restaurant
4378 Ocean St.,
Mayport, 246-4911
Located inside Safe
Harbor Seafood Market in
the historic Mayport fish-
ing village, this casual spot
serves fresh-from-the-dock
local seafood (you can see
many items on ice),

including fried shrimp and
fish, seared or grilled
seafood. Dine inside or out
on the covered patio. Beer
and wine are available, as
is a kids’ menu. Open for
lunch and dinner from 10
a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
through Saturday.
O.C. White’s
118 Avenida Menendez,
St. Augustine, 824-0808
The spirits here aren’t just
the bottled kind. O.C.
White’s, built in 1791, is
reputed to be haunted.
Overlooking the city mari-
na and the Bridge of Lions,
O.C. White’s serves fresh
local seafood, steak and
sautéed specialties. Chef ’s
specials include homemade
crab cakes and an award-
winning chowder. A full
bar, with a wine selection,
martinis and tropical
drinks, is available. Live
music is featured nightly in
the tropical courtyard.
Dinner is served nightly,
with lunch and Sunday
brunch served seasonally.
Outdoor dining is featured
on the patio. Open from 4
to 10 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, till 11 p.m.
Friday, from 11 a.m. to
10 p.m. Saturday and
from 9:30 a.m. to
10 p.m. Sunday.
Parsons’ Seafood
Restaurant
904 S. Sixth Ave.,
Jacksonville Beach,
249-0608
The Parsons folks are
known for their seafood
restaurants, which origi-
nated in Mayport. The
family-style restaurant has
three separate dining
rooms, an outdoor patio
and an extensive menu of
seafood as well as steaks
and chicken. Shrimp sand-
wiches are popular for
lunch, as is the popular
combo seafood platter for
dinner. A children’s menu is
available and the full bar
offers daily happy hour
specials. Open for lunch
and dinner daily.
Ragtime Tavern
& Seafood Grill
207 Atlantic Blvd.,
Beaches Town Center,
Atlantic Beach, 241-7877
Open 24 years, this
acclaimed seafood restau-
rant has received numer-
ous awards in Folio
Weekly’s Best of Jax read-
ers poll (most recently for
Best Brew Pub and Best
Bar to Network). Menu
items include the black-
ened snapper, the sesame
tuna and the Ragtime
shrimp. The customer
favorite from the Taproom
brewery is Red Brick Ale.
There is a full-service bar
with happy hour Monday
through Friday and live
entertainment Wednesday
through Sunday. Priority
seating is now available.
Open for lunch and dinner
daily and Sunday brunch.
The Reef
4100 Coastal Highway,
Vilano Beach, 824-8008
At this casual oceanfront
restaurant (among the few
remaining), there is an
ocean view from every
table as well as outdoor
dining on the deck. The
menu features fresh local
:: Gino’s Pizzeria
Deli & Grill serves
handmade, New York-
style pizzas, calzones
and strombolis at its
cozy Hendricks Avenue
digs in San Marco.
seafood, steak and daily
chef specials. A full bar,
with a happy hour, is
served. The banquet
room, which seats up to
90, is available by reserva-
tion. Live entertainment is
featured on weekends.
Open daily from 11:30 a.m.
to 9 p.m. for lunch and din-
ner. A Sunday buffet
champagne brunch is
served from 11 a.m. to
2:30 p.m.
St. Johns Seafood
& Steaks
9825 San Jose Blvd., Ste.
1, Jacksonville, 338-9349
14444 Beach Blvd., Ste.
2, Intracoastal West,
992-4543
1403 Dunn Ave., Ste. 21,
Northside, 696-1023
1161 Lane Ave. S.,
Westside, 378-5050
7546 Beach Blvd.,
Regency, 721-4888
7001 Merrill Road, Ste.
42, Arlington, 745-0304
This casual, family-orient-
ed restaurant specializes in
seafood and certified
Angus steaks. The shrimp
entrées are popular, as are
the all-you-can-eat spe-
cials, offered daily. Seniors
and children may select
from special menus. A full
bar is served. Open for
lunch and dinner daily.
Salt Water
Cowboys
299 Dondanville Road,
St. Augustine Beach,
471-2332
This 40-year-old restaurant
is swimming with old
Florida charm in a
 B B B
turn-of-the-century fish Seafood Galore shrimp dinner and the
camp surrounded by salt- 1589 Atlantic Blvd., blackened or grilled fish.
water marshes. Specializing Dine inside or on the
in local seafood, particularly Tradewinds Plaza, enclosed porch overlooking
fresh fish and shrimp, and Neptune Beach, the St. Johns River.
ribs and chicken, Salt Water 241-7400 Adjacent to the dining
Cowboys serves dinner Fresh Mayport seafood is room is Cap’n Ray’s Model
seven days a week. Open the daily fare, served fried, Boat Museum, featuring
from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday broiled, steamed or black- more than 200 models. A
through Thursday, till 10 ened. Under new owner- full bar is served. Open for
p.m. Friday and Saturday. ship, Seafood Galore also lunch and dinner daily.
serves broiled or blackened
The Sandollar chicken and steaks along Sliders
Restaurant with all-you-can-eat lunch Seafood Grille
specials and daily dinner
and Marina specials. A children’s menu 218 First St., Beaches
9716 Heckscher Drive, is featured, and the full bar Town Center, Neptune
Fort George Island, stocks an array of libations. Beach, 246-0881
251-2449 Open at 11 a.m. daily. Sliders offers a beach-
Steaks and seafood are the casual atmosphere and has
big sellers at the Sandollar. Seafood Kitchen a bias toward fresh fish.
Chef/owner Harry 31 Royal Palm Drive (off Customer favorites include
Mangini offers a seasonal fish tacos and the gumbo
Atlantic Boulevard), dinner. Fresh oysters,
menu and daily specials.
Customers love the snow Atlantic Beach, 241-8470 steamed or raw, are also a
crab legs, the fresh fish and Serving up seafood for big hit, and the dessert
shellfish dishes inside or more than 20 years in menu features Key lime pie
out on the deck. The full- Atlantic Beach, Seafood and ice cream sandwiches.
service bar features a daily Kitchen offers reliable Beer and wine are served.
happy hour, and there’s live meals in a no-frills atmos- Thursday’s Happy Oyster
entertainment on week- phere. The emphasis is on Hour offers oysters,
ends, weather permitting. fresh local seafood pre- steamed crab clusters and
Open daily for lunch pared to order, with a wide shrimp specials as well as
and dinner. variety of dishes available. beer specials. Open until 9
Open from 11 a.m. to p.m. Monday through
10 p.m. daily. Thursday, until 10 p.m.
Santa Maria
Friday, from 4 to 10 p.m.
135 Avenida Menendez, Sharky’s Saturday and from 4 to 9
St. Augustine, 829-6578 Shrimp Shack p.m. Sunday.
Seafood combinations and
surf-and-turf entrées are 2450 U.S. 1, St.
on the menu at this St. Augustine, 794-2088 South Beach Grill
Augustine institution, It’s counter service and 45 Cubbedge Road,
which has been serving low prices at this casual Crescent Beach,
customers at this built- eatery. Select from a menu 471-8700
over-the-bayfront restau- that includes 19 types of Located on A1A, one block
rant since 1954. A full- grilled and fried shrimp, south of S.R. 206, South
service bar is offered. fresh seafood platters, Beach Grill offers casual
oceanfront dining and fresh
local seafood. Customer
favorites include Black
Angus burgers, black-
Outrageous DISGUISES! ened fish wraps, crab
cakes and blue crab
Art Jennette chowder along with
Owner of Checker Barbecue on St. fried fish and shrimp.
Dine indoors or out-
Augustine Road, Jacksonville
doors on the beach-
“Once, we smoked [a pig] over our open front deck. A full bar
pit at Checker for a birthday party at the is served, and there’s
Heckscher Drive Community Club about a weekday happy
a year ago. Everybody loved it. There hour from 4:30 p.m.
was a banana for the penis and small [South American] to 6 p.m. Catering is
coconuts for the balls and black grapes for the genitals. available. Open from
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
They fought over the banana. You pulled back one of the for lunch and
legs, and it was hanging there.” dinner daily.

Hors d’oeuvres and cock- shrimp salad, clam rolls and

tails are also served at the
Fisherman’s Wharf
Lounge, an open-air porch.
A children’s menu is avail-
able. Open for lunch and
dinner daily, for dinner only
at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Sea Fair
1 Anastasia Blvd., St.
Augustine, 824-2316
Located across the Bridge
of Lions from the historic
district, the Sea Fair is the
oldest family-owned-and-
operated restaurant in St.
Augustine. Menu items
include seafood, fresh fish,
steaks, prime rib and chick-
en. There are also daily
specials and a salad bar.
Dine indoors or out on the
deck. A full bar is served.
Open for dinner daily.
chowders. There are also
burgers, Garden Burgers,
hot dogs and fish-‘n’-chips.
Dine indoors or outside
(where smoking is
allowed). Beer and wine
are served. Open for lunch
and dinner daily.
Singleton’s
Seafood Shack
4728 Ocean St.,
Mayport, 246-4442
Just steps from the
Mayport ferry, this family-
style restaurant has been
serving seafood since the
’60s. Their chowder
received the Best
Chowder award in Folio
Weekly’s Best of Jax read-
ers poll. Other customer
favorites include the fried
The Surf
3199 S. Fletcher
Ave., Fernandina Beach,
261-5711
A rare oceanfront dining
experience is still possible at
The Surf, inside or out on
the deck. The menu fea-
tures steaks, fresh fish, oys-
ters, shrimp and nightly
specials. The Surf also fea-
tures salads, wraps, burg-
ers, seafood baskets and an
all-you-can-eat wing special
on Wednesday and Sunday,
as well as a lobster special
on Sunday. Take-out is
available. Open for lunch
and dinner at 11 a.m. daily.
Entertainment nightly and
weekend afternoons.

:: Sophisticated and urbane, Galangal Restaurant in the new Nocatee area infuses modern Thai cuisine with
Hawaiian flavors.
Whitey’s Fish Camp
2032 C.R. 220, Orange Park,
269-4198
Whitey’s has indoor and out-
door waterfront dining on the
banks of Swimming Pen Creek.
A repeat winner in the Best
Catfish category of Folio
Weekly’s Best of Jax readers
poll, Whitey’s all-you-can-eat-
all-the-time catfish dinners are
popular. This authentic fish
camp also serves gator tail, frog
legs and turtle, as well as tradi-
tional meals and daily specials.
A full-service bar and an out-
door Tiki bar. Open for lunch
Tuesday through Sunday,
dinner daily.
Spanish
Café Spain
193 San Marco Ave., St.
Augustine, 823-8585
Café Spain offers fresh flavors
for lunch and dinner in a casual,
comfortable atmosphere.
Specialties include authentic
tapas and paella, along with a
fruit-filled sangria, made-to-
order by the pitcher. Flamenco
dancing is featured on the
weekends. Indoor and outdoor
dining are available.
España Restaurant
& Tapas
22 S. Fourth St., Fernandina
Beach, 261-7700
España has a quaint, cozy,
friendly atmosphere and offers
a new menu featuring tradition-
al Spanish and Portuguese dish-
es, including tapas and paellas.
Beer and wine are served and a
kids’ menu is available. Open
from 5 to 10 p.m. daily.
Sangria House
4320 Deerwood Lake
Parkway, Ste. 203, Southside,
646-2977
Cool and cozy even in the noon
Southside sun, Sangria House
is as refreshing as its liquid
namesake. Serving genuine
Spanish tapas, sandwiches and
desserts to a soundtrack of The
Smiths, The Cure and Depeche
Mode, is a cool, young staff
with just enough tattooed flesh
to stand out in the cookie-cut-
ter Tinseltown area. It’s one of
the few places in Jacksonville to
get a decent empanada, and, as
you might have guessed, their
homemade sangria is really
good. Open from 11 a.m. to 9
p.m. Tuesday through Thursday,
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday
and Saturday and from noon to
9 p.m. Sunday.
Specialty &
Dinner Theater
Alhambra
Dinner Theatre
12000 Beach Blvd., Southside,
641-1212
Alhambra features buffet dining
followed by musical and come-
dy shows produced by Tod
Booth. Reservations are sug-
gested to guarantee seating.
The dress code is coat-request-
ed. A full bar is served.
Wheelchair accessible, and
banquet facilities are available.
Dinner and performances are
Tuesday through Sunday
evenings, along with a Saturday
and Sunday matinee perform-
ances. Discounts are available
with purchase of season tickets.
The Melting Pot
7860 Gate Parkway, Ste. 101,
Southside, 642-4900
This interactive dining
experience gives diners a
chance to slow down and
reconnect over fondue. Start
with a cheese fondue and a
salad, progress to an entrée —
filet mignon, ahi tuna, shrimp,
chicken, vegetables, lobster —
and finish up with chocolate
fondue dessert. A full bar is
served and a children’s menu is
available. Open from 5 to 10
p.m. Monday through Thurs-
day, till 11 p.m. Friday and
Saturday and from 4 to 10 p.m.
on Sunday.
Native Sun Natural
Foods Market Deli
10000 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 260-6950
11030 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 269-2791
Native Sun Natural
Foods Café
Brooks Health & Fitness,
10423 Centurion Parkway,
Southside
Fresh, natural ingredients mean
healthful choices for breakfast,
lunch and dinner, including
fruits and veggies, meats,
soups, wraps, salads, sides,
entrées and desserts. Choose
from more than 200 organic
and all-natural items. Outdoor
seating is available. The
Mandarin and Baymeadows
locations are open from 8 a.m.
to 8 p.m. Monday through
Saturday, the Brooks’ location is
open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
Pepper Rama
4555 Shirley Ave., Avondale,
384-9635
Mark and Diane Warren have
opened this hot-sauce shop fea-
turing more than 1,500 sauces
— 600 of which are hot — and
offering a taster bar. The shop
also serves up sandwiches and
wraps, including grilled chicken,
turkey bacon and chicken salad.
Pepper Rama houses the art
venue the Gallery of Visionary
Art, staging one-person shows
by local artists. Open from 11
a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through
Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. Saturday. Closed Tuesdays
and Sundays.
San Marco Theatre
1996 San Marco Blvd., San
Marco, 396-4845
San Marco Theatre, a historic
movie house, offers pizza, beer
and wine, subs, nachos, ice
cream and shakes to adventur-
ous moviegoers. The theater
shows first-run and art films,
and is also home to Subter-
ranean Cinema’s midnight
movie series.
Sportsbars,
Wings, Oysters
Bogey Grille
150 Valley Circle, 285-5524
This family-friendly sports bar
offers casual fare, including
wings, quesadillas, chicken,
crab cakes and burgers. A full
bar and a kids’ menu are avail-
able. Open from 11 a.m. to
midnight daily.
Box Seats
Village Square
2245 Plantation Center Drive,
Fleming Island, 637-0152
This family-owned-and-operat-
ed sports bar serves daily lunch
specials including pork chops
with gravy and mashed
potatoes. Box Seats has an
event every night, including
Karaoke, Texas Hold ’Em, trivia
or darts. A full-service bar is
served. Take-out and delivery
are available. Open from 10
a.m. to midnight Sunday
through Thursday, till 2 a.m. on
Friday and Saturday for lunch
and dinner.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Grill & Bar
9550 Baymeadows Road, Ste.
10, Baymeadows, 448-1293
311 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 10,
Orange Park, 213-0293
Along with wings fixed up with
sauces ranging from smilin’ —
sweet barbecue — to screamin’
— blazin’ or wild — BWW
serves up wraps, buffalitos,
sandwiches, burgers and ribs. A
kids’ menu is available and a full
bar is served. Open from 11
a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through
Friday, till midnight on Sunday.
Cheers Sports
Bar & Grill
11475 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 262-4337
1580 Wells Road, Orange
Park, 269-4855
This sports bar serves appetiz-
ers, sandwiches and hot entrées,
including the grilled chicken
wings. The Mandarin location
has expanded its menu with
steaks and sizzle platters. On
Tuesdays, from 3 to 11 p.m.,
Cheers features 35-cent wings.
Mondays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays feature happy hour
specials from 3 to 7 p.m. The full
bar offers a daily happy hour. In
addition to pool tables and video
games, Cheers has plenty of
 B B B
TVs for viewing sports and
playing NTN-Trivia. Open
for lunch and dinner from
noon to 9 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday.
Dick’s Wings
9119 Merrill Road, Ste.
19, Arlington, 745-9300
1004 Dunn Ave.,
Northside, 757-7727
7749 Normandy Blvd.,
Westside, 781-1466
1540 Wells Road, Orange
Park, 269-2122
3540 U.S. 17 S., Green
Cove Springs, 284-7772
1610 University Blvd. W.,
Lakewood, 448-2110
10391 Old St. Augustine
Road, Mandarin,
880-7087
100 Gateway Circle, Ste.
103, NW St. Johns,
824-3793
4010 U.S. 1 S., St.
Augustine, 794-4429
474313 E. S.R. 200,
Fernandina Beach,
491-3469
4800 First Coast
Highway, Fernandina
Beach, 491-5525
2434 Mayport Road,
Atlantic Beach, 270-8988
410 N. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
247-3730
14286 Beach Blvd.,
Intracoastal West,
223-0115
9720 Deer Lake Court,
Tinseltown, 996-8117
5972 San Juan Ave.,
Westside, 693-9258
Sporting a NASCAR
atmosphere, Dick’s Wings
is family-friendly and popu-
lar with racing aficionados
and wings nuts. Dick’s
claims 365 varieties and
flavors of wings. The menu
also features half-pound
burgers, chicken sandwich-
es, ribs and salads. Beer
and wine are served, and
take-out is available. Open
daily for lunch and dinner.
Eight
4750 Amelia Island
Parkway (The Ritz-
Carlton, Amelia Island),
Amelia Island, 277-1100
Contemporary sports
lounge offers multiple flat
screen TVs for watching
the games, as well as bil-
liards. The menu features
classic sports bar fare
including burgers, sandwich-
es, chicken wings and
nachos. Extensive beer and
wine lists and cocktails are
available. Eight is open
Monday through Friday
from 4 p.m. to midnight and
on Saturday and Sunday
from noon to midnight.
Falcon’s Nest
6800 First Coast
Highway, Amelia Island
Plantation, Amelia Island,
261-6161
This popular night spot
serves wings, burgers
and bar food. A full
bar is served and live
entertainment is featured.
Open from 5 p.m. to 12:30
a.m. daily.
Jerry’s Sports Grille
13170 Atlantic Blvd., Ste.
22, Intracoastal West,
220-6766
This family sports grill’s
menu includes wings, ham-
burgers, ahi tuna and
steaks. A full bar is avail-
able as well as a kids’
menu. Featuring NFL
Package and ESPN Game
Day during football season.
Open from 11 a.m. till late
Monday through Friday, at
10 a.m. Saturday and at 9
a.m. on Sunday.
Kickbacks
910 King St., Riverside,
388-9551
This casual spot serves
wings, wraps, sandwiches
and steaks — and serves
the full menu right up till
closing time. There’s live
music five nights a week
and 14” flatscreen TVs dot
the landscape. A full bar is
available. A kids’ menu is
offered and outdoor seat-
ing available. Open for
lunch and dinner from 11
a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
Lillian’s Sports
Bar & Grill
5393 Roosevelt Blvd.,
Venetia Plaza, 388-4220
This family sports bar
serves wings, burgers, sal-
ads and sandwiches.
Banquet room available.
Open for lunch and dinner,
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday through
Wednesday, from 11 a.m.
to midnight Thursday
through Saturday. Happy
hour is from 2 to 7 p.m.
daily, from 2 p.m. to close
on Thursday.
The Mudville Grille
120 W. Adams St.,
Downtown Jacksonville,
353-0052
3105 Beach Blvd., St.
Nicholas, 398-4326
1301 Monument Road,
Ste. 1, Arlington,
722-0008
The original St. Nicholas
location has a family-
oriented sports restaurant
on one side and a contem-
porary lounge on the other
side for Karaoke on Wed-
nesday. (Separating the
sports bar and lounge is a
small billiard room.) The
menu is American cuisine,
which includes steaks,
wings, and hot and cold
sandwiches and daily spe-
cials. Oysters, crab legs
and steamed shrimp are
available as well. There are
big-screen TVs and three
satellite dishes for sports
fans. A full bar is served.
Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
MVP’s Sports Grille
12777 Atlantic Blvd., Ste.
5, Intracoastal West,
221-1090
MVP’s offers wings, burg-
ers and salads in a sporty
atmosphere. Nightly dinner
specials are featured, as
well as blackened mahi
atop a zesty Greek salad.
A kids’ menu is available,
and a full bar is served.
Karaoke is held every
Tuesday and Thursday
night. Live music is fea-
tured Friday and Saturday.
Sports are shown on 22
TVs, including an 81” DLP
and a 52” LCD. Open from
11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
Opie’s Wings,
Oysters & More
2141 Loch Rane Blvd.,
Orange Park, 272-7829
Opie’s serves a variety of
wings, oysters, clams,
burgers and steak in a fam-
ily atmosphere. A full bar, a
raw bar, a kids’ menu and
take-out are available.
There’s live entertainment
on Wednesday and Friday
nights. Open from 11 a.m.
to 10 p.m. daily, noon to
9 p.m. Sunday.
Park Avenue
Billiards
1580 Park Ave., Orange
Park, 215-1557
The lunch special includes
a sandwich, chips, soda
and one hour of pool. Park
Avenue Billiards has 24 bil-
liard tables, dartboards,
video games and coin
tables. The grill menu
includes burgers, hot dogs,
sandwiches and fries. Beer,
wine and wine coolers are
served. Open every day,
24 hours a day.
Player’s Grille
4456 Hendricks Ave.,
San Marco, 448-6670
A sports bar and a grill,
Players serves burgers and
wings, teriyaki stir fry and
homemade soups. A full
bar is offered. Wing spe-
cials are offered after 2
p.m. on Monday, Tuesday
evenings kids eat for half-
price, Wednesday is ladies
night and Texas Hold ’Em
poker, Thursday is trivia
night and Friday is seafood
night. A game room is
available for the kids (TV
monitored, so parents can
watch from the restau-
rant). TVs are featured in
all the booths. Open daily
at 11 a.m.
Players Grille
1605 C.R. 220, Ste. 145,
Fleming Island, 264-4633
Located on Fleming Island,
Players Grille serves local
favorites, including hand-cut
steaks, wings, burgers and
gator tail. A full bar is avail-
able, as well as a kids’ menu
and lunch specials. More
than 50 TVs and a game
room are available. Open
from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Monday through Saturday,
till midnight Sunday.
Reefer’s
9551 Baymeadows Road,
737-6300
Reefer’s is an oyster bar
offering oyster specials, as
well as pool tables and live
music Thursday through
Saturdays. A full bar is
served and take-out and
delivery are available.
Open from 11 a.m. till
2 a.m. daily.
The Roadhouse
231 Blanding Blvd.,
Orange Park, 264-0611
The Roadhouse has been
around for nearly 30 years,
serving deli sandwiches,
wings, burgers and que-
sadillas. Along with several
pool tables, dartboards and
TVs (including two big
screens), there is live enter-
tainment Thursday through
Saturday nights. A full-
service bar is available with
more than 75 imported
beers. The Roadhouse has
cigars and cigar accessories
at its adjacent package
store. Open from 11 a.m. to
2 a.m. Monday through
Saturday for lunch, dinner
and late-night snacks and
from noon to midnight
on Sunday.
Ronnie’s Wings,
Oysters and More
232 Walnut St., Green
Cove Springs, 284-4728
Serving a variety of sea-
food, steaks and wings in a
family atmosphere, Ron-
nie’s offers daily specials.
Friendly service and house
specialties keep loyal cus-
tomers coming back.
Banquet facilities are avail-
able and there’s boat
access as well.
Savannah’s Sports
Bar & Grill
7001 Merrill Road,
Arlington, 762-9099
Savannah’s serves a variety
of wings, sandwiches,
burgers and quesadillas.
Beer and wine are served
and take-out is available.
Open 4 to 9 p.m. daily.
Sneakers
Sports Grille
111 Beach Blvd.,
Jacksonville Beach,
482-1000
8133 Point Meadows
Drive, Baymeadows,
519-0509
Sneaker’s has a full bar
(with more than 20 beers
on tap), a happy hour that
runs from 5 to 7 p.m.
Monday through Friday,
TV screens covering entire
walls and cheerleaders
serving the food. Sneakers
is known for huge chicken
wings, buffalo chicken
Caesar salad, Cajun honey
barbecue ribs and a 12-
ounce prime rib. Open
from 11 a.m. to midnight
Sunday through Thursday,
and from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Soho Sports Grille
923 University Blvd. N.,
Arlington, 743-8776
Combining the vibe of a
New York café with a
South Beach bistro, Soho
offers creative pizza and
other dishes made with
fresh ingredients. A full bar
is available. Open from 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch
Monday through Friday,
from 6 p.m. to midnight on
Monday, from 8 p.m. to
midnight on Wednesday,
and from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
on Friday.
Spare Time
Bar & Grille
1728 N. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
246-8099
This beach hangout spe-
cializes in fresh local
seafood, steaks, burgers,
pasta and ethnic special-
ties. Daily specials are also
offered. A children’s menu
is available and a full bar is
served. Open from 11 a.m.
to 2 a.m. Live music is pre-
sented nearly every night.
Turn 4 Wings
2245 C.R. 210, Ste. 109,
Julington Creek,
829-8181
A family-friendly restau-
rant with a racing theme,
Turn 4 Wings offers
numerous flavors of wings,
plus sandwiches, burgers,
salads and lots of appetiz-
ers. Big-screen TVs are
tuned to sporting events
and children can play the
video games. Beer and
wine are served. Open
daily for lunch and dinner.
Ker’s WingHouse
Bar & Grill
9750 Deer Lake Court,
Tinseltown, 493-9464
Ker’s WingHouse Bar &
Grill blends a fun-filled
atmosphere with sports
bar-style. The menu
includes oversized entrées,
burgers, giant salads and
the unique skinless baked
WingHouse naked wings.
A full bar is available and
sports memorabilia adorns
the walls. Open from 11
a.m. to midnight Monday
through Thursday, from
11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday
and Saturday and till
11 p.m. Sunday.
Steakhouses
Benny’s Steak
& Seafood
The Jacksonville Landing,
2 Independent Drive,
301-1014
155 Hampton Point
Drive, Julington Creek,
230-5495
This steak-and-seafood
house serves a Continental
cuisine with such signature
dishes as the Filet Christian.
Open from 11 a.m. to 10
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, from 11 a.m. to
11 p.m. Friday and Sat-
urday for lunch and dinner.
A full bar is served and a
children’s menu is available.
Benny’s has just opened a
new spot near South
Hampton Country Club.
JD’s Chophouse
96098 Lofton Square
Court, Yulee, 277-4243
Located just off Amelia
Island, this steakhouse
offers steaks, chops,
seafood and pasta in a
casual setting. JD’s also
serves a full bar. A chil-
dren’s menu is available.
Open from 11:30 a.m. to
12:30 a.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Mackenzie’s
Steakhouse &
Piano Bar
100 Sawgrass Village,
Ponte Vedra Beach,
543-9143
Dine in an upscale steak-
house with a piano bar, a
clubby atmosphere and
leather booths. Specialties
include a two-pound cow-
boy ribeye, lollipop lamb-
chops and Alaskan King
crablegs. Outside water-
front dining is offered on
the lakeside terrace, and a
full bar and late night menu
are served. Open for lunch
from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday
and for dinner from 5 to 10
p.m. Sunday through
Thursday, and till 10:30
p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Millhouse
Steakhouse
1341 Airport Road,
Northside, 741-8722
This locally-owned-and-
operated steakhouse is a
favorite among Northside
folks, serving only prime
and choice steaks from the
signature broiler. The
menu includes seafood,
chicken, pasta dishes and
Millhouse gorgonzola, a
specialty, as well as home-
made desserts. A full bar
and a children’s menu are
available. Open from 4 to
10:30 p.m. Monday
through Thursday and
Saturday, till 1:30 a.m.
Fri-day — when live
acoustic music is presented
— and from 4 to 10 p.m.
on Sunday.
Morton’s, The
Steakhouse
1510 Riverplace Blvd.,
Downtown Jacksonville,
399-3933
Morton’s, The Steakhouse
specializes in generous por-
tions of USDA prime aged
beef as well as fresh fish,
lobster and chicken
entrées. Customer
favorites include broiled
sea scallops wrapped in
bacon, jumbo lump crab
cakes, live Maine lobster
and hot Godiva chocolate
 B B B
cake. The animated tableside
menu presentation features every
item, including fresh veggies,
described by the server. A full
bar, including an extensive wine
list, is served, and take-out is
available. Every Monday through
Sunday, the bar opens at 5 p.m.
Dinner is served from 5:30 to
11:00 p.m. daily and from 5 to
10 p.m. Sunday.
Omaha Steakhouse
9300 Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 739-6633
Featuring an indoor atrium, the
Embassy Suites Hotel’s restau-
rant offers a Continental menu
with a variety of steaks, seafood
and sandwiches. The signature
24-ounce porterhouse is a popu-
lar order. Desserts include crème
brûlée. There’s also a full-service
bar. Banquet facilities are avail-
able. Open for lunch and
dinner daily.
Plaza III The Steakhouse
225 E. Coastline Drive,
Downtown Jacksonville,
598-0234
A Kansas City tradition, Plaza III
offers award-winning steaks,
USDA prime, as well as prime rib.
Private rooms, patio and restau-
rant dining are available, as well as
a full bar, including more than 250
wines. Happy hour is held 5 to 7
p.m. daily. A children’s menu is
available. Open from 11:30 a.m. to
10 p.m. Monday through Friday,
from 4:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday and
from 4:30 to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Preservation Tap
& Chop House
3951 St. Johns Ave., Avondale,
387-5700
New to the upscale Avondale
area, this New York-style chop-
house pours more than 18 beers
on tap and serves Angus beef,
chops, fish, chicken and duck in a
’30s-era ambience. Located in a
remodeled 1929 historic home,
the restaurant combines big-city
steakhouse cuisine with Southern
hospitality. Specialties include
fried green tomatoes with goat
cheese and collard greens gratin.
Outdoor dining is available on the
covered terrace. A full bar is
served, as well as an extensive
wine list. Open for dinner at 5
p.m. nightly and at 11 a.m. on
Saturday and Sunday for a week-
end brunch. Reservations
are suggested.
Ruth’s Chris
Steak House
1201 Riverplace Blvd.,
Southbank, 396-6200
814 A1A, Ste. 103, Ponte Vedra
Beach, 285-0014
A Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax win-
ner for Best Restaurant and Best
Steaks, Ruth’s Chris serves
Midwestern custom-aged U.S.
Prime beef, cooked in 1,800-
degree broilers designed and built
for the restaurant. Fresh seafood
and live Maine lobster are also on
the menu. A full bar is served
with an extensive selection of
wines. Reservations suggested.
Open from 5 to 10:30 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, till 11
p.m. on Friday and Saturday and
till 9:30 p.m. Sunday for dinner.
Steak and Ale
8225 Dixie Ellis Trail,
Baymeadows, 731-8111
8406 Blanding Blvd., Orange
Park, 772-0926
Affordable dining in a casual
steakhouse atmosphere, Steak &
Ale serves signature steak and
prime rib entrées. Fresh catch
specials, chicken and seafood
entrées are also available. A full
bar and value lunch menu are
available, and the restaurant
accommodates large parties with
advance notice. Open for
lunch and dinner daily. Call
for reservations.
Texas Roadhouse
550 Blanding Blvd., Orange
Park, 213-1000
Texas Roadhouse specializes in
steaks and ribs, but the menu also
features seafood, prime rib, chops
and chicken entrées. The atmos-
phere is casual and family friend-
ly. Kids order from their own
menu. Daily specials are featured.
The full-service bar offers a daily
happy hour, ice-cold beer and leg-
endary margaritas. Open from 4
to 10 p.m. Monday through
Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 10
p.m. Thursday and Sunday, and
till 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
:: Authentic
Japanese cuisine is
the order of the day
at Sushi Café in
Riverside.
Tree Steak House
11362 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 1,
Mandarin, 262-0006
725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 6,
Atlantic Beach, 241-5600
Customers select cuts of beef
tableside. The ribeye is a customer
favorite, but the dinner menu
includes prime rib, New York strip,
filet mignon and fresh catch of the
day. There is also a salad bar. The
full-service bar has an extensive
wine list. Banquet facilities (for up
to 50 people) are available for
meetings and private parties.
Reservations are accepted; limited
reservations on weekends. Open
for dinner daily.
Sweet Spots
Chez Lezan
Bakery Company
10141 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina
Beach, 491-4663
European-style breads and pas-
tries are baked daily, including
croissants, muffins and pies. Most
breads made here have no fat or
oil. Open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday through Friday and 6
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday
and Sunday.
Coastal Traders
56-1/2 San Marco Ave., St.
Augustine, 829-1686
This unique shop serves specialty
espresso drinks and fruit smooth-
ies in St. Augustine’s antique dis-
trict, and provides a pleasant
respite from frenzied antiquing. A
coastal atmosphere and imported
Indonesian furniture and gifts are
featured. The espresso bar and
gift store are open from 9:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m. Monday through
Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. Sunday.
Edgewood Bakery
1012 S. Edgewood Ave., Murray
Hill, 389-8054
For 60 years, Edgewood Bakery
has been serving fresh breakfast
pastries, Danish, cookies, petit
fours, pies and desserts. The line
is long on Saturday mornings, but
the wait is worth it. Artisan
breads, rolls and custom-decorat-
ed cakes are also featured. Carrot
cake and cheese pecan Danish
are favorites. A new espresso and
pastry café is open. Open from
6:50 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
through Friday, and from 6:50
a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Catering
is available, as well as a banquet
hall for large celebrations.
Edible Arrangements
4160 Southside Blvd.,
Tinseltown, 674-0000
13760 St. Augustine Road, Ste.
117, Mandarin, 262-6632
3651 St. Johns Ave.,
Avondale, 384-5217
6001 Argyle Forest Blvd.,
Ste. 17, Westside, 317-2333
2156 S. Third St., Pablo Plaza,
Jacksonville Beach, 249-0500
With several new locations
throughout Northeast Florida, this
spot offers freshly prepared fruit in
baskets and ceramic containers,
hand-crafted to look like floral
bouquets. Gourmet chocolate-
dipped strawberries and apples,
gift-boxed, are also offered.
Delivery is available. Open from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday, till 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Florida Creamery
4000 St. Johns Ave., 384-1284
Florida Creamery serves ice
cream, hot dogs, popcorn, hot
fudge sundaes, banana splits,
smoothies and razzle. Open from
8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Funari’s Italian
Creamery
9475 Philips Highway, Ste. 4,
Southside, 519-1962
1232 Beach Blvd., Beach Plaza,
Jacksonville Beach, 247-7787
Gelato is Italian for ice cream,
and Funari’s Italian Creamery has
the real thing. Made-fresh-daily
gelato, sorbetto, and a full espres-
so and coffee bar are featured.
Open from noon to 10 p.m.
weekdays and from noon to 11
p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Great Harvest
Bread Co.
1614 University Blvd. W.,
Lakewood, 73BREAD
(732-7323)
Great Harvest is a community
bakery that uses natural ingredi-
ents to handcraft breads and
other bakery items. The company
mills its own wheat berries into
flour every day. Open from 7
a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through
Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
on Saturday.
Let Them Eat Cake!
3647 Park St., Riverside,
389-2122
This artisan bakery serves a daily
selection of freshly baked cookies,
cakes and desserts. Customer
orders and small batches are
offered. Open from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. Tuesday through Friday,
from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
3 Sisters’ Chocolate
Bar & Bakery
9965 San Jose Blvd.,
Mandarin, 262-9122
3 Sisters’ in Mandarin offers
decadent handmade chocolate
confections, treats and cakes, all
handmade from ingredients from
around the world. The
family-owned-and-operated
chocolate shop offers original
creations including the Becca
Bar, PB Sam Bars, Super-Gooey-
To-Die-For-Brownie, over-the-
top 5-inch high cupcakes and hot
and cold liquid chocolate drinks.
Open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, till 10
p.m. Friday, and from 10 a.m. to
6 p.m. Saturday.
Thai
Asian Paradise
302 S.R. 312, Riverside Center,
St. Augustine, 824-6461
Asian Paradise serves Southeast
Asian cuisine — Thai, Cambo-
dian and vegetarian — in a comfy,
casual atmosphere. Dishes can be
made to order, spicy or mild.
Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday through Saturday.
Aurathai
1173 S. Edgewood Ave.,
Murray Hill, 389-8424
Authentic Thai cuisine is served
up by the owners of Taste of
Thai. Featured menu items
include whole fried snapper,
served with mixed vegetables and
a choice of sauces, coconut
chicken soup. A daily revolving
choice of desserts, and beer, wine
and sake are also offered. Open
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch
Monday through Friday, from 5 to
9 p.m. for dinner Monday through
Thursday, and a late-night menu
is offered until midnight on Friday
and Saturday.
Galangal Restaurant
145 Hilden Road, Nocatee,
827-1150
New Galangal offers modern
Thai cuisine infused with
Hawaiian flavors, including
lemongrass-and-Thai-chili-crust-
ed filet mignon and grilled Panang
pork tenderloin, served in a
sophisticated, relaxing atmos-
phere. Sushi and desserts are
made to order. Open from 5 to 10
p.m. Monday through Thursday,
till 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Lemongrass
9846 Old Baymeadows Road,
Baymeadows, 645-9911
Elevating the lunch scene in
Baymeadows, Lemongrass serves
innovative Thai cuisine in a hip,
metropolitan atmosphere. Chef
Aphayasane’s creations include
whole fried snapper with pineap-
ple curry reduction and twin lob-
ster tails with ginger-and-garlic
sauce, but the customer favorite is
— without question — “The
Amazing.” Lunch and dinner can
be busy; reservations are recom-
mended. An extensive beer and
wine selection is served. Open for
lunch Monday through Friday, din-
ner Monday through Saturday.
Old Siam
1716 N. Third St., Jacksonville
Beach, 247-7763
Old Siam serves authentic Thai
cuisine and a wine selection that
complements the spicy yet subtle
flavors. Beer and wine are
available. Take-out is available.
Open from 5 to 10 p.m. for
dinner nightly.
 B B B
Pattaya Thai Grille
9551 Baymeadows Road,
Ste. 1, Baymeadows,
646-9506
A multiple-time winner of
Best Thai Restaurant in
Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax
readers poll, Pattaya Thai
has a spacious dining room
and a variety of new menu
items, including curries,
seafood, noodles, soups and
salads. A large video screen
displays the open Thai
kitchen, so you can watch
your order being prepared
by a family of chefs with 20
years spent mastering Thai
cuisine. An extensive menu
of traditional Thai, vegetari-
an and new-Thai is avail-
able. Open from 11 a.m. to
2:30 p.m. for lunch Monday
through Friday, from 5 to
9:30 p.m. for dinner Mon-
day through Thursday, from
5 to 10 p.m. Friday and
Saturday, closed Sunday.
Pom’s Thai Bistro
1974 San Marco Blvd.,
San Marco, 338-0269
This upscale Thai restau-
rant turns staples like filets
and sea bass into works of
art. Traditional yet eclectic
dishes are offered. Beer and
wine are available. Open
from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
for lunch Monday through
Friday, for dinner from 5:30
to 10 p.m. Monday through
Friday and until 10:30 p.m.
on Saturday.
Siam Thai Cuisine
1540 Wells Road, Ste. 91,
Orange Park, 264-2177
Siam Thai offers a variety
of traditional and authentic
Thai dishes, including pad-
Thai shrimp, a thin noodle
with eggs, jumbo shrimp,
bean sprouts, chives,
peanuts and lime. Seafood
selections include fried
whole red snapper with
red curry or sweet-and-
sour sauce, soft shell crab
and salmon with ginger
sauce. Vegetarian dishes
are available. Beer and
wine are served and
take-out is available. Open
from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30
:: Joe’s Old City Grille in St. Augustine specializes in global variety and hometown favorites.
p.m. for lunch and from 5
to 9 p.m. for dinner,
Monday through Saturday.
Sala Thai
10769 Beach Blvd., Ste.
10, Southside, 641-8384
Sit at a booth decorated
like a thatched-roof hut
and order from a varied
Thai menu. House special-
ties change weekly. Cust-
omer favorites include the
pad Thai and the snapper
fillet. For dessert, there’s
the mango rice or the
coconut ice cream. Dine in
or take out. Beer and wine
are served. Open for lunch
Monday through Friday
and dinner daily.
Taste of Thai
4317 S. University Blvd.,
Jacksonville, 737-9009
This unassuming store-
front serves up some of
the city’s most authentic
Thai food in a welcoming,
family atmosphere. With
quick, affordable lunches,
it’s becoming a destination
for businesspeople who
want more than just fast
food. Open daily from 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch.
Dinner is served from
5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday.
Thai Café
1177 Park Ave., Ste. 4,
Jacksonville, 541-0204
A traditional Thai restau-
rant combined with a chef
from Thailand make for
authentic Thai dishes.
Open from 10:30 a.m. to
9:30 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, from 10:30 a.m.
to 10 p.m. Friday and from
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.
Thai Garden
10 Blanding Blvd., Ste. B,
Orange Park, 272-8434
Thai Garden offers tradi-
tional Thai. All items are
cooked to order using fresh
ingredients. Customer
favorites include yellow
curry with lamb and crispy
fried whole snapper with
special sauce. Fine wines
and imported and domestic
beers are available. Open
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
every Monday through
Friday, for dinner from 5
p.m. to 9:30 p.m. every
Sunday through Thursday
and from 5 to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Reservations are accepted.
Thai Palace
9965 San Jose Blvd., Ste.
35, Mandarin, 880-5363
This family-owned restau-
rant is a favorite for busi-
ness lunches and date din-
ners alike, featuring spe-
cialties like the excited
chicken, shrimp himapan
and many curry dishes. A
customer favorite is sweet
Thai tea, and desserts
include ice cream and Thai
custard. Beer and wine are
served. Dine-in or take-
out. Reservations for large
parties are recommended.
Open Monday through
Friday for lunch and daily
for dinner.
Thai Room
1286 S. Third St.,
Jacksonville Beach,
249-8444
A popular restaurant with
Beach locals, Thai Room
serves an extensive menu
of traditional Thai food in a
relaxed setting. Chef
Venith Yatajao prepares
crispy duck, snapper ladna,
noodles of the drunk with
shrimp and pan-seared
Chilean sea bass with
green curry reduction. The
wine list features more
than 30 wines by the glass,
and beer is also served.
Dine in or take out. Open
for lunch Monday through
Friday, for dinner from 5 to
9:30 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, from 5 to 10:30
p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Vegetarian
Heartworks Bakery
820 Lomax St., Riverside,
355-6210
This cozy Five Points bak-
ery offers specialty baked
goods and serves organic
coffees, Turtle Island
organic wraps and
sandwiches, as well as the
legendary carrot dog.
Open from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m. Tuesday through
Friday. Brunch is served
from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
on Saturday and from 10
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Dinner is served from 6 to
9 p.m. Thursday and
Friday. Closed Monday.

The Manatee Café

525 S.R. 16, Ste. 106, St.
Augustine, 826-0210
The Manatee Café serves
organic, vegetarian meals
— everything from carrot
juice to scrambled tofu.
Owner/chef Cheryl
Crosley prepares veggie
omelets, veggie pitas, burri-
tos, tofu Reubens, miso and
vegetable soup, hummus
and tabouli. Breakfast items
are available throughout the
day. The Health Food
Market offers the same
ingredients used in the
cafe’s meals. Open from 8
a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday
through Saturday, and from
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Closed on Wednesdays.
The Present
Moment Café
224 W. King St., St.
Augustine, 827-4499
A new addition to the revi-
talized West King Street
business district, The
Present Moment Cafe is
reshaping the Oldest City’s
culinary landscape. The all-
raw, organic menu is also
all-vegan and all vegetari-
an, but you’d hardly know
it from the breadth of
choices. Selections include
pizza, pastas, hummus and
milkshakes — all prepared
without meat, dairy or
benefit of an oven. Beer
and organic wines are also
served. Take-out is avail-
able. Open for lunch from
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday, and for
dinner from 5 to 9 p.m.
Tuesday through Thursday,
till 10 p.m. Friday
and Saturday.
Wine Bars
The Grape
10281 Midtown Parkway,
Ste. 119, St. Johns Town
Center, 642-7111
Wine experts at this
restaurant and wine retail
shop say that taste is all
that counts, and they
prove it by offering more
than 145 wines, along with
a tapas menu of gourmet
fare to pair with the wine
list. The wine bar is open
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday through Thursday,
till midnight Friday and
Saturday and from noon to
8 p.m. on Sunday.
:: Players Grille in Fleming Island serves local favorites,
including hand-cut steaks, wings, burgers and gator tail.
The Grotto
2012 San Marco Blvd.,
San Marco, 398-0726
The Grotto is the perfect
place to stop for before- or
after-dinner drinks. Serving
a varied tapas menu, this
cozy, upscale wine bar fea-
tures a wine list with more
than 75 wines by the glass.
Open from 11 a.m. to 11
p.m. Tuesday and Wed-
nesday, from 11 a.m. to
midnight Thursday through
Saturday; closed Sunday
and Monday. Wine
tastings from 6 to 8 p.m.
every Thursday.
Island Girl Wine
& Cigar Bar
7860 Gate Parkway, Ste.
115, 854-6060
Island Girl has an upscale
tropical atmosphere, with a
walk-in humidor. This
smoking establishment pairs
appetizers and desserts with
more than 50 wines and
ports by the glass. More
than 220 wines by the bot-
tle as well as draft and bot-
tled beer are also available.
Open from noon to mid-
night daily.
Simon’s A Wine Bar
1004 Hendricks Ave.,
Southbank, 396-8088
A former Folio Weekly’s
Best of Jax winner,
Simon’s serves more than
750 wines and beers to
compliment dinners, appe-
tizers or desserts in a
casual, upscale atmos-
phere. Specialties include
crab cakes, cheesecake
and, of course, wines. Live
jazz is featured Thursday
through Saturday. Open
from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Tuesday through Saturday.
The Tasting Room,
Wine and Tapas
25 Cuna Street, St.
Augustine, 810-2400
This upscale tapas joint
fuses foodie passions with
an extensive and eclectic
wine list, boasting more
than 300. Owned by the
same folks who run the
acclaimed Opus 39, The
Tasting Room is the Oldest
City’s newest hotspot.
Open from 1:30 to 11 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday.
Tastings, A Wine
Experience
1515 Prudential Drive,
Southbank, 346-0605
Tastings offers a sampling
of more than 100 wines, as
well as an extensive tapas
menu. Space for private
parties is available. Beer is
served also. Open from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, till 1 a.m.
Friday and Saturday, and
from 2 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Tini Martini Bar
The Casablanca Inn, 24
Avenida Menendez, St.
Augustine, 829-0928
Though not technically a
wine bar — they specialize
in martinis, of course —
Tini Martini has a wide-
enough variety of fine
wines to qualify here.
Served along with those
are 28 beers and more
than 30 vodkas and a full
bar. Open daily from mid-
day to late night.