The one place you would send a visitor...

[PeeJayEss]

The old Underbelly was always my go-to 'cool' place.
13 Gypsies, without a doubt. Coolest restaurant in the city, in my opinion.
If it is anywhere within an hour, probably Cap's.
Everybody that drinks beer loves Kickbacks.
Something quick: BG or Chomp Chomp
Big Spender: Orsay (delicious and upscale without being stuffy or baby portioned)
For the view: Skyline (lunch), RCBC (warm weekend/night), Foxy Lady (hope to try within the next couple weeks).
BBQ: If I don't want to speak with them or it's late, Mojo #4. I'd probably go Fred Cotton over Jenkins for ambiance. Plus its friendly and not too crowded. And you get more food. My palate is not refined enough to tell the difference, however.
Breakfast: Maple Street as long as they don't have a heart problem, Cool Moose has always been my first, Biscottis (the Fox is all hype!), Uptown, Crazy Egg, Metro if we get up real early (never)
All you can eat lunch: Crazy Egg, Checkers BBQ (if we don't mind going to the hospital after)
Mexicans: Mr Taco or Pepe's (ambiance)
Cocktails: Dos (as if there were any doubt)
Hammertime: Monty's, Yesterdays, Sherwoods, King St (if already hammered)
At the beach: Culhane's, Salt Life,

It does seem like Jenkins is doing very good business. You certainly have to wait long enough for the food.

[ben says]

It does seem like Jenkins is doing very good business. You certainly have to wait long enough for the food.

Maybe downtown. I can't remember the last time I saw more than 1-2 cares at the Emerson location.

[thelakelander]

The last time I went to Emerson, there was a line of 6 waiting.  During my wait, there probably were no more than 2-3 cars in the parking lot at one time.  It seems that most only pick up at that location.

[TheCat]

Jenkins: I don't mind the atmosphere I mind the food. I think it's terrible. Hole in the wall shops that sell crabs, I'm all in.

[thelakelander]

No place is for everyone.

[Tacachale]

Yeah, it depends on who you're entertaining. I guess it depends on how you'd like to balance local color and quality of food and atmosphere. If you want to give them something they probably would only get in Jax I'd do Checkers BBQ on Old St. Augustine on a weekend when the chef does North Florida cracker cooking. Otherwise, local BBQ (yes like Jenkins), good seafood like Safe Harbor or Two Dudes, or any place that serves a camel rider would be good local color options. If you're looking for high quality food I'd go with Black Sheep or Orsay if they want fancy, or Chomp Chomp or Burrito Gallery if they don't. If they're more interested in beer then Kickbacks is the place, or any of our breweries.

[blizz01]

Sitting upstairs/outside @ Acapulco Mexican Restaurant in St. Augustine or in the trees @ Conch House (since we seem to have expanded the radius a little) - can't say the food is great at either, but the vibe is nice.

[coredumped]

I don't think this town has a single breakfast joint that blows me away.

Well, it's hard to screw up bacon, eggs and toast. There's to magic to using a toaster so I can see what you mean. However, I would highly recommend Grinders Cafe on Atlantic. They make some GREAT omelets and they're reasonably priced on just about everything.
http://www.grinderscafejax.com/

[ben says]

I don't think this town has a single breakfast joint that blows me away.

Well, it's hard to screw up bacon, eggs and toast. There's to magic to using a toaster so I can see what you mean. However, I would highly recommend Grinders Cafe on Atlantic. They make some GREAT omelets and they're reasonably priced on just about everything.
http://www.grinderscafejax.com/

I agree: it's hard to screw up bacon, eggs, and toast. That being said, there's a difference in not screwing something up, and doing something truly exceptional/inventive. Exceptional: nobody does grits better than Insetta. I wish he was open 7 days a week for breakfast. Inventive: had a great trip up to Asheville last week...talk about breakfast! Tupelo Honey..wow. Sweet potato pancakes, all sorts of hashes, homemade poptarts!

[ben says]

Also, the thread is called "The one place you would..." On food alone, I guess 13 Gypsies. Everyone I've brought there, from New Orleans, San Fran, NYC, all say the same thing: this place could succeed in any major city in world. Really great Spanish food, and the less-than-Spanish items, like the risotto, even blew my Sicilian mother-in-law away.