Best Food in Town

[ben says]

Perfect timing:

Restaurant guide Zagat launches Jacksonville survey

In what cold be a first, Zagat has launched one of its "featured surveys" for Jacksonville-area restaurants

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2012-03-27/restaurant-guide-zagat-launches-jacksonville-survey
http://www.zagat.com/vote

Cool. Just voted/registered.

[WmNussbaum]

Jacksonville isn't an overly pretentious place -

Isn't that like saying Attilla the Hun wasn't overly nice?

[fsujax]

I just voted as well.

[JaxJerry]

So tell us, JJ, which of all the listed places have you been to?

Almost all.  I dine with some frequency at Orsay and the French Pantry.  The Tasting Room in St. Augustine is out of my normal routine, but I've been before.  I've been to Primi Patti many times.  I keep going hoping I can keep them in business because I always fear the lack of traffic there except on the weekends is going to put them under, but they seem to be real survivors.  I think lunch at 'town is a great value.  Taverna is great and I've been often.  I don't much care for Indochine but have been with others when its their call where to dine.  The Casbah has its novelty factor although its a bit dated now I think.  I like 13 Gypsies and its in my 'hood but ever since the Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives thing, I haven't found it worth the hassle of making a reservation several days out just for their fare.  Don't get me wrong, I like to dine at almost every place mentioned.  I just think the real point was s that while we have to thing hard to name more than one dining establishment in each category, NYC has a lot of  of each in every neighborhood at all price points .

My kid lives in Brooklyn, NY (hipster ground zero).  I get up there at least 5-6 times per year and one of the hardest things I have to do while there is to decide where to eat, so many choices, and not all expensive.  For example, there are at least 5 great Neapolitan style pizza joints (Paulie Gee's, Roberta's, etc) close by.  Not to mention great cheese shops, butcher shops and the like for dining in.   We don't need to compare ourselves to something that's not like us, we just need to celebrate and patronise what we have!

JaxJerry

[Tacachale]

I think the thing to get at is there's a considerable distance between "New York-level foodie culture" and "only chains". We're neither, and we have many terrific restaurants of various specialties.

[blizz01]

Seems silly to compare ourselves to New York.  That's like asking who has better beaches, Alabama or California?

[The Compound]

The topic is "best food in town", not the US.

[mtraininjax]

So many options in Jax - if you want bland to go Orlando, that's darden-topia. Nothing but national chians.

OMG, you obviously have not been on Mills or been to Winter Park. Seriously!

Bistro Aix? Are you for real? Their service sucks, the food has gone seriously down hill, and they now use their hallway to the restrooms as their storage lockers. The only real French cuisine is Orsay, hands down, best food in Jax, period.

What, no Seafood on the list? Geez, with all the Outback jabs and Cheesecake discussions, you might as well put Jacksonville as an exit off an interstate. However, there are so many great places to go, many suggested, but I will stay with what I know and love in my 'hood.

Pastiche - wonderful assortment of Americana foods. Great setting too.
Bluefish - Best scallops in Jacksonville, period.
'town - Amazing Sunday brunch, always running out of items on the brunch menu, its that good.
Mojo #4 - Best BBQ, and I mean real BBQ, not that S On a Shingle stuff they serve at other places.
Casbah - Great middle eastern food and lively spirits.
The Fox - Best weekday breakfast in Avondale, and Ian is a hoot!

Singletons at the beach is best for real rustic seafood. Beaches Seafood on 3rd street is fantastic with their Oyster shooters. Who hasn't been to Ragtime, Sliders, or Mezza Luna at the beach. Forget the chains, get out and support your locals. These folks deserve your patronage for the years and years of great food and dishes.

[downtownjag]

So many options in Jax - if you want bland to go Orlando, that's darden-topia. Nothing but national chians.

OMG, you obviously have not been on Mills or been to Winter Park. Seriously!

Bistro Aix? Are you for real? Their service sucks, the food has gone seriously down hill, and they now use their hallway to the restrooms as their storage lockers. The only real French cuisine is Orsay, hands down, best food in Jax, period.

What, no Seafood on the list? Geez, with all the Outback jabs and Cheesecake discussions, you might as well put Jacksonville as an exit off an interstate. However, there are so many great places to go, many suggested, but I will stay with what I know and love in my 'hood.

Pastiche - wonderful assortment of Americana foods. Great setting too.
Bluefish - Best scallops in Jacksonville, period.
'town - Amazing Sunday brunch, always running out of items on the brunch menu, its that good.
Mojo #4 - Best BBQ, and I mean real BBQ, not that S On a Shingle stuff they serve at other places.
Casbah - Great middle eastern food and lively spirits.
The Fox - Best weekday breakfast in Avondale, and Ian is a hoot!

Singletons at the beach is best for real rustic seafood. Beaches Seafood on 3rd street is fantastic with their Oyster shooters. Who hasn't been to Ragtime, Sliders, or Mezza Luna at the beach. Forget the chains, get out and support your locals. These folks deserve your patronage for the years and years of great food and dishes.

Sounds like someone didn't have a good time at Bistro... wah.  There food is very good and the atmosphere is great.  I've also never had a problem with service there.

[Adam W]

The only real French cuisine is Orsay, hands down, best food in Jax, period.

Weird. I find Orsay to be really, really disappointing. I preferred Crush. I don't know if Orsay is the best French food in Jacksonville (it may well be), but it certainly isn't great French food. I guess that's what makes horse races, though.

I've never tried Bistro Aix.

There was a good French restaurant near Ponte Vedra called JJs. I really liked it the first time I went (in 2010), but I went back last summer and was really disappointed.

[blandman]

I saw an article in the Jacksonville Business Journal about the "Top 20" restaurants in Jax which they compiled by somehow averaging Urbanspoon and Yelp reviews.  Is there another website that Jaxsonians use to find restaurants/bars?  I've found these kind of threads on this site by far the most helpful.  I was shocked to see how few reviews even the top restaurants had on Yelp (none above 100!).  Is there somewhere else people can look? 

My vote, though already mentioned:  The Tasting Room (not sure it counts for Jax).

[blizz01]

Perfect timing:
Making sure that this doesn't get lost in the shuffle....
Restaurant guide Zagat launches Jacksonville survey
Quote
In what cold be a first, Zagat has launched one of its "featured surveys" for Jacksonville-area restaurants

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2012-03-27/restaurant-guide-zagat-launches-jacksonville-survey
http://www.zagat.com/vote

[Gators312]

So many options in Jax - if you want bland to go Orlando, that's darden-topia. Nothing but national chians.

The Fox - Best weekday breakfast in Avondale, and Ian is a hoot!

What Ian is doing at Chomp Chomp is quite special in my opinion, really like what they are doing there.

[I-10east]

A Taste of Heaven soul food (103rd & Firestone) is probably the most slept on soul food place in Jax; It will give any in town a run for their money.

[floridaforester]

I would have to add Blue Bamboo (Asian fusion) to the list as well.  Chef Dennis Chan is fantastic.  Def try the Singapore Street Noodles.

For country cooking, try Checker BBQ on old St. Augustine Rd.  Art Jennette is a riot and will have you in stitches.  Try the trailer trash special-  pulled pork sandwich, 15 fresh Mayport shrimp, fried green tomatoes and a side for $8.  Its at least 2 meals.  Can't  beat that deal.

For Vietnamese, either Pho Ha Noi on Blanding (fabulous Bhan Mi sandwiches-only $2.50) or Cali Pho @ University & I-95.