Newcomers to the Jacksonville Restaurant Scene

[ben says]

Blue Orchid is described as the "first truly authentic" Thai place in JAX? Menu looks like every other Thai place in JAX. Not to mention that the sweet+sour sauce looks identical to Tamarinds (if you've had it once you can recognize that sauce from a mile away).

The article describes it as "bringing truly authentic upscale Thai cuisine." We weren't saying that they're the first authentic Thai just that they were the first to attempt authentic Thai fine dining. The environment and decor is definitely befitting of an upscale or fine dining restaurant. Their menu offers all of the basics and then dishes you're only likely to find at Thai fine dining like lobster pad Thai served in an egg envelope $35, chaw mooung(flower buds app $13) and gaeng ta lay(seafood paradise $35).

Thx for the clarification. Although in that case, I'd almost consider Indochine 'the first' in that regard.

I think Pom's predated Indochine and was pretty close to 'fine dining' - at the very least it was 'upscale'.

Good point! Forgot about that.

[02roadking]

I'd like to add another restaurant  http://www.gilbertssocial.co/ to the landscape. Opened just a few days ago in what I believe to be the old Big Johns Wing place near Hogan and Southside.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/gilberts-social-jacksonville

[JaxRestaurantReviews]

I'd like to add another restaurant  http://www.gilbertssocial.co/ to the landscape. Opened just a few days ago in what I believe to be the old Big Johns Wing place near Hogan and Southside.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/gilberts-social-jacksonville

Gilbert's will be on the next list. This list was created prior to their announcement that they were opening. They got the place open remarkably quickly.