Mojo's coming to avondale strip

thekillingwax · June 19, 2011, 04:27:39 AM

I haven't been to Mojo in a long time- their prices have gotten kinda out of hand- the "whole hog" combo plate is $30, that's beyond nuts- it's not much more food than combo platters at other places, it just comes with more sides. It's a different style of barbeque but at the Pig you can get a whole chicken, a whole slab of ribs, two large sides and pulled beef and pork for $35.

I'm happy they're successful and can provide jobs and all that but it's just not my scene. They have some cool ideas on the menu but when I'm in the mood for bbq, I just want the meat, not music and a bar or whatever else and I guess that's why I'm not willing to pay for it either.

north miami · June 19, 2011, 11:46:29 AM

Mojo may have created septic problem affecting neighboring merchants.Biscottis working valiantly on this,including COJ.

RWNeal · June 20, 2011, 11:41:58 AM

We finally went there yesterday at lunchtime. Overall it was a good experience - the prices were a couple of bucks more per item than the University location (I don't know if they've gone up as well) but the food quality was as good as usual and the service was excellent. No issues with overly salty food.

danno · June 20, 2011, 04:51:49 PM

I find their fries to be salty so I ususaly ask for no salt then salt them myself

CG7 · June 20, 2011, 04:57:26 PM

I've eaten there 4 times (3 minute walk from my house), but I enjoyed the food more at the beach location.

floridaforester · June 20, 2011, 10:40:12 PM

Finally went there yesterday with my father and father-in-law. I wasn't disappointed. 5 of us ate plenty o'food with several of their spiked teas and lots of to-go for lunch the next day for less than $80. Damn good pulled pork + sweet tea and the sandwiches are quite generous. I'm not even a huge bbq fan either. Will def be back for the atmosphere, service and good food for a reasonable price.

danno · July 03, 2011, 08:37:53 AM

Went the Avondale location for the first time on Friday for a late lunch. Got there around three and the place was empty. SHould have known better that to go to alomst any resturant at that time of day. It seems that the staff could have cared less that we were there. We asked the hostess who sat us for a high chair for our little girl. We stood at the tale for 5 minutes, tried looking to see where the high chairs were and say her in the corner on the phone. The overall feeling from anybody who we interacted with was that it was a bother that we were there.

Thought I would try a side I havent seen at Mojos, dirty rice. It was bland and tasted a bit lilke rice-a-roni, without the roni. Half way through our meal the music got real loud, Led Zeplin, I tried to complain to the waitress over the nosie, she said she would find out what was going on, a manager came over and said they were testing the sound system. That continued for the rest of our meal. It took forever to find our waitress to get our check. I had to break up the conversation that 6 employees were having at the end of the bar so someone could find our waitress to get our check.

I will stick to the original location as I have always received outstanding service no matter what time of day. Also the new location seemed to be missing some atmosphere, then again it may have been because nobody was there. I love their BBQ but it almost seemed they were going for style over substance with this new location.

north miami · July 03, 2011, 09:45:25 PM

Too bad no one walked up to the Plate,so to speak,to defend Avondale Strip Center from.........Strip Center influence!

ben says · July 04, 2011, 05:42:13 PM

Anyone else think the front of the new Mojo's is nondescript and...ugly? I can't even tell what the place is from ten feet away. Is that the best they could have done with the existing building?

north miami · July 05, 2011, 09:31:49 AM

Quote from: ben says on July 04, 2011, 05:42:13 PM
Anyone else think the front of the new Mojo's is nondescript and...ugly? I can't even tell what the place is from ten feet away. Is that the best they could have done with the existing building?

Mojo's could be viewed as a collective middle finger thrust towards The Shoppes of Avondale.

danno · July 05, 2011, 09:57:08 AM

It is pretty ugly from the outside... Looks like a bunker.

ChriswUfGator · July 05, 2011, 10:27:58 AM

We've been to Mojos several times now, since it's an easy 10 minute walk from my house. Had some very negative experiences with this place the last 2 times we went. The place started off O.K., but the original (and obviously pre-trained) staff is now all mostly gone and has been replaced by a bunch of giggly/bitchy high-school and college-aged girls, who get visibly annoyed at you if they have to take any time away from socializing with each other to actually 'serve' those annoying 'customers.'

Twice, I've had to argue to get a table other than the one right next to the bathroom or the one right next to the front door, despite the restaurant being mostly empty, because most of the tables were sitting dirty and un-bussed obviously for long before we got there. The whole time we were there, most of the staff was standing around socializing with each other, taking cigarette breaks, talking on their phones, etc., they weren't even bothering to bus the dirty tables until someone asked for that table, then they acted irritated that they had to clean a table because you didn't want to eat next to the door or the bathroom. I also second the other poster who said that you have to get up from your table and go over and interrupt social hour to get the check or condiments, as I had that same experience.

The food's OK, but until they get the service squared away I don't think I'll be back. There are too many good barbeque places around Jacksonville to deal with rude and/or non-existent service, and the barbeque itself is not much to write home about, it's pretty average. Better than Sonny's, about on par with Bono's, and not quite as good as Sticky Fingers was. But more expensive than all of them. And doesn't hold a candle to Fred Cotton or any of the independent barbeque places in town.

blazer · July 05, 2011, 02:49:58 PM

I went for the first time about a week and a half ago when I had family in town. I enjoyed my pulled chicken sandwich, but my sisters did not like their BLFGT sandwiches. The collard greens left a lot to be desired and they should change the name of their cheese grits to garlic grits because all i could taste was garlic with no hint of cheese.

Called in a to-go order a few days later and was put on hold for 15 min before I hung up. I thought they were probably really busy. I called back and got my order in right away. She must have forgotten I was on hold. When I showed up 15 min later to pick up my food, the place was mostly empty.

acme54321 · July 05, 2011, 02:59:18 PM

Yep we've been a few times but have since gone back to the Lakewood location. Better food and service. The bitchy hipster college girl types at Avondale get annoying.

Gators312 · July 05, 2011, 03:39:15 PM

Luckily I haven't had any of the bad experiences some have shared here. I have taken my little one every time, she loves their veggies. The staff has been friendly and helpful. I did notice a better overall experience when they opened, but this happens at most restaurants as they work out the kinks.

I really have gotten to like the Burnt Ends (although they don't hold a candle to Kansas City's). That is really the only unique thing there to me, otherwise food is on par with most BBQ in town, just a bit more pricey.

It's a nice change to have BBQ in the area, but definitely nothing special to make it my goto or sole BBQ choice.