Jacksonville Magazine puts out its annual list at the end of each year. You can find the list with descriptions, reviews, pictures, prices, and menu items here:
Jacksonville Magazine Top 25 for 2010 (http://"http://www.jacksonvillemag.com/pdfs/JM_46-57lo.pdf")
They judge on cleanliness, pleasant decor, value, consistency, friendly service, and taste. The restaurants are in the urbanized Jacksonville area (the core, Southside, Northside, Beaches, Julington Creek, Orange Park, etc). St. Augustine, Amelia Island, and outlying areas are not included.
The 2010 List
1) 13 Gypsies in Avondale
Was featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners Drive Ins and Dives"
2) 619 Ocean View in Sawgrass Marriott, Ponte Vedra
3) Aqua Grill in Sawgrass Village, Ponte Vedra
4) b.b.'s in San Marco
Can attest to this...great desserts
5) Biscotti's in Avondale
Can attest to this...great desserts like b.b.'s and closest thing we have to a loud New York style restaurant
6) Bistro Aix in San Marco (Chef Tom Gray is widely known in the culinary world)
Can attest...one of the coolest/trendiest restaurants in town
7) Blackstone Grille in Julington Creek
8) Blue Bamboo on the Southside
9) Brick Restaurant in Avondale
I have had no problems in my time going there, but the food isn't exactly the most consistent...fun fun place though!
10) Chew Restaurant in Downtown
I have heard some great things about this one...Jonathan Insetta has two restaurants on this list...see Orsay
11) Dwight's Bistro in Jacksonville Beach
Decent...don't remember it much
12) Eleven South in Jacksonville Beach
13) Lemongrass Restaurant in Baymeadows
14) Marker 32 near Jacksonville Beach on the ICW
Decent, seemed kind of pricey when I went, but maybe it's worth it?
15) Matthew's in San Marco (consistently rated among the top in the state)
Experience varies here. Smaller portions for sure. Bring a fat wallet.
16) Meza Luna in Neptune Beach
Worthy.
17) Nineteen at the TPC Sawgrass (the former White House chef just acted as a guest chef there for a few days)
I'm dying to try this place out.
18) North Beach Bistro in Atlantic Beach
19) Ocean 60 in Atlantic Beach
All I know is that my parents and their 55-65 year old friends love this place, especially for the drinks.
20) Pastiche in Avondale
A worthy little secret. Very very small, but definitely very exquisite and has a lot of savory food (borderline sweet).
21) Restaurant Orsay in Avondale
Some say it's the best French in town, but I forgot about Pastiche. They are near each other and both are actually really really good. Pastiche caters.
22) River City Brewing Company in Downtown
Cliche, but this is one of my favorite restaurants in town. I have never been let down by the food or the service. The service may be the best I have experienced in Jacksonville and you can't beat the view.
23) The Row in Riverside
24) Sorrento near San Marco
25) Zaitoon Mediterranean Grille in Atlantic Beach
2009 Jacksonville Restaurant Hall of Fame Inductees:
-Beach Road Chicken Diners
I went to Episcopal...I ate here *a lot* LoL
-Bobo's Pit BBQ
(I don't think Jax has any good BBQ)
-Chart House Restaurant
We are fortunate to have one, but for such a place the crowd is absolutely tasteless.
-Chizu Japanese Steak and Seafood
-The Hilltop
-The Homestead
mmmmmmmmm, yummy...a Jacksonville staple since the 40s
-Giovanni's Restaurant
Heard it closed, but I guess not?
-O'Steen's Restaurant
-Ragtime Tavern and Seafood Grill
Used to go here more often when I was younger...very lively place
-Wine Cellar
Definitely a fixture...along with the old Grotto which is now closed I think
Amelia Island
-29 South
-Beech Street Grill
Best restaurant in Amelia Island methinks
-Espana
-Joe's 2nd Street Bistro
-PLAE
Orange Park
-Blu Grotto Trattoria and Pizzeria
-Sarnelli's Ristorante
Worthy of a mention
-Sorbello's
Also worthy of a mention
-Thai Garden
-Whitey's Fish Camp
Oh yea, a take your boat, all you can eat, fried and grilled seafood Jacksonville staple!
Saint Augustine
-Bistro de Leon
-Collage
-Opus 39
I have heard great things about it
-Present Moment Cafe
-The Reef
(Bye bye 95 Cordova, you were the best Saint Augustine had).
A Few of Jacksonville's Favorite Chain Restaurants
-Bonefish Grill
-Roy's (same Jax Beach shopping center as the above restaurant)
-Morton's Steakhouse (first time I had a souffle was here)
-Ruth's Chris (has never let me down)
-Melting Pot
-The Capital Grille
-Cantina Laredo
-Mitchell's Fish Market (this and the above 2 are at SJTC...a new popular restaurant place...and I can attest to all three)
-Shula's 347 (something else now)
A Couple Restaurants that Need to Be Mentioned Somewhere
-La Cena...easily the best Italian in town. Moderately expensive, small, and quaint. In downtown.
-Medure in Ponte Vedra (I mean if you're going to mention Matthew's, might as well)
-Salt...the restaurant at the Ritz Carlton and the only local restaurant to be awarded 5 stars (I know portions are really small, but someone else recently told me that food was over-seasoned...appropriate for the title I guess)
Tidbits, Interesting Facts, and Private Dining Experiences Everyone Should Try to Try
-Ponte Vedra Inn and Club's pastry chef made it very far on the first, and so far only season of Top Chef: Just Desserts. Her name is Erika Davis.
-The former White House chef was recently in town to guest chef at the TPC Sawgrass
-Former Top Chef contender and former head chef at Salt at the Ritz Carlton is back in town to open his first of an exclusive chain of upscale seafood/Carribean inspired restaurants.
-Some of the best chefs (some with storied histories) in town cook for Ponte Vedra, Florida Yacht Club, River Club, Epping Forest, Timucuana, and San Jose. Try to get a meal at any of these places when you can.
Now Add Your Own Reviews! :D
Two comments mainly based on comparisons...
1) Not sure how Ragtime's gets a mention, but even the St. Aug section leaves A1A Ale Works Out.
2) Not sure how Whitey's (which is FANTASTIC IMHO) gets a mention and Clark's (with a much more diverse menu and incomparable environment) get's left out.
Taverna, in San Marco Square, needs to be on this list. Great service, atmosphere and food. One of the few places in Jacksonville where you can get the european outdoor dining experience.
And on top of all that, the owners are very involved in the community and regularly donate food and time to charitable events.
http://www.tavernasanmarco.com/home.html (http://www.tavernasanmarco.com/home.html)
Both Giovanni's and The Homestead have closed.
And the newest version of The Homestead was terrible. Took some out of towners there this past October on a week night. There maybe three other tables in the place and our food took an hour. And the food was pretty mediocre at best. The owner blamed the road construction for the closure but the construction didn't seem to cause any lost business for Angie's Subs.
Not sure how 13 gypsies is first on the list? I mean their food's OK (well the sandwiches and risottos are anyway, the tapas is often poorly done with subpar ingredients) but to compare that to an Orsay or an AIX or a Taverna and say it's #1 is really something of a stretch. I just don't see it anyway. And ragtime? Seriously? Top 25? Home of the watered down cocktails and wilted lettuce? Something's hokey with this list, like some undisclosed advertising arrangements.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on January 07, 2011, 09:08:54 AM
Not sure how 13 gypsies is first on the list? I mean their food's OK (well the sandwiches and risottos are anyway, the tapas is often poorly done with subpar ingredients) but to compare that to an Orsay or an AIX or a Taverna and say it's #1 is really something of a stretch. I just don't see it anyway. And ragtime? Seriously? Top 25? Home of the watered down cocktails and wilted lettuce? Something's hokey with this list, like some undisclosed advertising arrangements.
I completely disagree...I think 13 Gypsies is the most unique restaurant we have in Jacksonville. I don't know where they source their ingredients...but I do think their menu is creative, and the food outstanding. Anytime I have out of town visitors I bring them here, and all agree, this restaurant could be in any major city in America.
I cannot, cannot believe The Brick made this list. I can't say more without going into a rant. On another note, while bb's and Biscotti's are good, I do not think they warrant being in the top 5. Maybe because I've been eating at these places for 10+ years, but they are starting to resemble The Brick for me, i.e. "For the love of god please update your menu". I don't think either restaurant would be a top 25 establishment in any city but Jacksonville.
I remember Marker 32 being amazing (back in the day). Went there recently, and I do believe they are overpriced, and pretty average.
River City Brewing Company? Really? Put them in ANY location but where they are, and I guarantee they wouldn't be so esteemed.
Food for thought!
This list was never intended to rank restaurants from 1 to 25; it is simply a list of the top 25 in no particular order. I think 13 Gypsies deserves its mention. Agree with many of the others, but Taverna should be there and the Brick should not. Not sure exactly what the "2009 Hall of Fame Inductees" represents but while I agree that the quality of Ragtime's food has declined it was certainly a pioneering bar/restaurant when it opened and has hung in there for many years!
UGH, River City Brewing, Really!?
That is the worst restaurant in the Downtown/SanMarco/Avondale/Riverside area.
I have NEVER had good food or service there. The service has always been horrible, and the management is very rude.
The ONLY thing going for it is the location.
Quote from: Miss Fixit on January 07, 2011, 09:26:02 AM
This list was never intended to rank restaurants from 1 to 25; it is simply a list of the top 25 in no particular order. I think 13 Gypsies deserves its mention. Agree with many of the others, but Taverna should be there and the Brick should not. Not sure exactly what the "2009 Hall of Fame Inductees" represents but while I agree that the quality of Ragtime's food has declined it was certainly a pioneering bar/restaurant when it opened and has hung in there for many years!
Oops, didn't realize it wasn't a 1-25 ranking. Regardless, I agree...The Brick needs off, and needs off quickly. And I don't mean to be overtly negative, but jeez, what a sad state of affairs this town's food scene is in when places like bb's and Biscotti's (essentially the same place) are in a top 25 list. Being busy and trendy, while maintaining the same menu for 10+ years, isn't a sign of anything good!
Quote from: The Compound on January 07, 2011, 09:31:55 AM
UGH, River City Brewing, Really!?
That is the worst restaurant in the Downtown/SanMarco/Avondale/Riverside area.
I have NEVER had good food or service there. The service has always been horrible, and the management is very rude.
The ONLY thing going for it is the location.
Amen.
Honestly, the food makes me gag. Wouldn't go there if you paid me. Terrible vibes too, like I'm stuck in some horrible early to mid 90's restaurant. Oy.
^^^Trendy and modern it is not, but I have never had a bad experience there. One time food came out wrong, and it was fixed immediately with the utmost courtesy. Maybe I got lucky.
Just a sidenote, I did not make the list and it isn't ranked from 1-25...it's alphabetical. I agree a few restaurants (especially the Brick and there are a few I haven't even heard of) could be taken off and perhaps a few others added. I, too, don't know what the Inductees are, I just put them out there straight from Jacksonville Magazine.
Also, we are talking about Jacksonville's restaurants and food scene here. Of course it is dismal compared to Atlanta, DC, Miami, or New York. We don't have rich chefs with rich investors who are going to front for some modern restaurant that seats at least 100 and has a daily changing menu of only the finest ingredients prepared by Tom Colicchio or Jean-Georges Vongerichten. I still think we could do worse, though.
I think 'town should definitely be on the list.
Quote from: ben says on January 07, 2011, 09:32:53 AM
Oops, didn't realize it wasn't a 1-25 ranking. Regardless, I agree...The Brick needs off, and needs off quickly. And I don't mean to be overtly negative, but jeez, what a sad state of affairs this town's food scene is in when places like bb's and Biscotti's (essentially the same place) are in a top 25 list. Being busy and trendy, while maintaining the same menu for 10+ years, isn't a sign of anything good!
What's even worse, is that both restaurants are better known for their desserts and not their food. Their desserts were purchased from french pantry and sheila's cakes for the last decade, until they opened their bakery in MH. I don't go in there much anymore, so I can't tell you the ratio of in-house desserts to buy-out desserts today, but it used to be 100% buy-out.
^^Agree with both the last two statements.
And I hate when people beat about the same statements over and over again, but the food scene here is something can change overnight. It's OK to compare our food scene with others, because unlike the downtown issue, these things are malleable. Look how many great restaurants have popped up in the past few years. 13 Gypsies, 'town, etc. A little comparison is healthy.
Quote from: simms3 on January 07, 2011, 10:36:29 AM
Also, we are talking about Jacksonville's restaurants and food scene here. Of course it is dismal compared to Atlanta, DC, Miami, or New York. We don't have rich chefs with rich investors who are going to front for some modern restaurant that seats at least 100 and has a daily changing menu of only the finest ingredients prepared by Tom Colicchio or Jean-Georges Vongerichten. I still think we could do worse, though.
hahahahaha. Not to bust on you simms, but really? We have some fantastic restaurants here that do exactly what you're talking about, Orsay and Taverna come to mind first, because I've eaten at both for their Farm-to-Table dinners. I think you'd be surprised at the freshness and the quality of ingredients that you would find at some of the independents.
The reason that these restaurants aren't well known nationally (yet) is because their head chefs are still in the kitchen preparing food and writing menus. When do you think the last time Colicchio left the set of Top Chef to put on his apron? I doubt that he could tell you 4 items on the menu in any of his a dozen or more restaurants, and we're not talking the daily specials.
went to Chew for lunch today it was really awesome! the place was packed. Felt like I was in the big city.
WTF? Where's Krystal's?
OCKLAWAHA
I'd like to see French Pantry on the list....
And Indochine. Not since Pom's shut down has Jacksonville had such well prepared Thai food.
Orange Park
Blu Grotto Trattoria and Pizzeria
Sorry, Blu Grotto is closed and has since been replaced with yet another sports bar, God help us...
Quote from: ben says on January 07, 2011, 01:27:41 PM
I'd like to see French Pantry on the list....
And Indochine. Not since Pom's shut down has Jacksonville had such well prepared Thai food.
I'd put Ruan Thai over Indochine. Both might be too new to make the list. French Pantry should definitely be on there.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on January 07, 2011, 01:44:04 PM
Quote from: ben says on January 07, 2011, 01:27:41 PM
I'd like to see French Pantry on the list....
And Indochine. Not since Pom's shut down has Jacksonville had such well prepared Thai food.
I'd put Ruan Thai over Indochine. Both might be too new to make the list. French Pantry should definitely be on there.
I like Tuptim Thai over Ruan Thai.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on January 07, 2011, 11:05:36 AM
hahahahaha. Not to bust on you simms, but really? We have some fantastic restaurants here that do exactly what you're talking about, Orsay and Taverna come to mind first, because I've eaten at both for their Farm-to-Table dinners. I think you'd be surprised at the freshness and the quality of ingredients that you would find at some of the independents.
The reason that these restaurants aren't well known nationally (yet) is because their head chefs are still in the kitchen preparing food and writing menus. When do you think the last time Colicchio left the set of Top Chef to put on his apron? I doubt that he could tell you 4 items on the menu in any of his a dozen or more restaurants, and we're not talking the daily specials.
I ate at 'town and was not impressed, nor could I find where their ingredients came from. Don't get me started because I have already discussed my experience there in another thread, but I would be willing to give them a second chance.
Also, believe me, we may have some good restaurants (I ate out A LOT when I grew up there and eat out A LOT every time I come home), but we won't find the same recognition or often the same quality you can find in other, larger cities. Atlanta's food scene can't even find the same recognition as Miami's, where notherners fly for a day just to eat at some of the restaurants (and skip over Atlanta). Also, no, we don't have many major investors sitting around like larger, much wealthier cities. Our whole city is a reflection of that, though it does very well when compared to similarly sized metros.
Also, while we have some superb restaurants (some of which were
too new to be included on their list, some of our best chefs work at the private clubs and not in the restaurants. I'll be looking forward to the day that Jacksonville is large enough to sustain several really nice hotels that have restaurants open to the public. That's where much of the best dining lays in all of the larger cities.
Bottom line is that we have lots of fresh, moderately priced, local restaurants here in town, and lots of cheap eats, but we don't have the demographics or size or tourist appeal to sustain a noteworthy fine dining scene here. There are only a few restaurants that serve really fine dishes that are meant for special occasions, and these dishes can be found with much greater abundance in many other cities, which is why you see more famous chefs/Top Chefs from a select few cities. We also don't have the same "sophisticated" big city crowd that larger, more cosmopolitan cities have. Heck, most places in town are shut down by 9, and where I live I don't even eat dinner until 10 or 11 and many restaurants are open til 1 or 2.
The restaurants here have to be moderately priced or they'll price themselves out of the market. So in that aspect, you're correct, we just don't have enough people living here willing to pay those price points (>$50/entree), but you have to ask yourself this, "Why does a 10 oz filet in NYC cost $72 and when I get it here it's only $35?" It's not that they grow magic cows, it's just about charging what your clientele is comfortable paying.
The recognition probably won't come anytime soon, either. 13G had a bit of lime-light, but it was aimed at the soccer moms watching Food Network, not for the real 'food critics.' I haven't been since the airing of the show, because I'm too sketchy to make a reservation, but when I ate there regularly (2-3 a month) I always found the food to be exceptional, and never have had a bad experience. The other restaurants in town are starting to carve their niches, but like you said, some have only been around for just around 2 years (I'm looking at you Orsay.)
The other problem that hinders Jacksonville in the recognition is lack of a 'food identity' so-to-speak. Miami has Modern Chic, the Pacific Northwest has Earthy, Las Vegas has Over-Indulgence, Chicago has Old School Gangster, New York has Inherent Pretentiousness. Jacksonville has....... Lubi's? I know it's unfair to compare our town with the others mentioned, but you get my point.
If there's better middl eastern food in JaX than Wafaa and Mikes cafe on Main st then I'd like to see it!
I wasn't referring to steak dinners, necessarily (little variation here). I agree with you, but I think the "identities" you give for the other areas are more cultural identities and not food identities. At the top, chefs have identities over places. I don't really think Miami has a "food identity" like Maryland, Maine, MA, MO, and Texas do, but I think Miami has a lot of good chefs specializing in various aspects of cuisine, and they in turn attract good sous chefs and investors. There is a demand for that there, though, with wealthy retirees, wealthy gays and Latin Americans, celebrities, and lots of wealthy tourists/travelers and second homeowners.
A couple from Ponte Vedra came up to Atlanta to escape for a couple days, and they took me out to eat one night while here. They took me to Restaurant Eugene, run by Linton Hopkins, nominated by James Beard Foundation as the best chef in the Southeast. Every item on the menu was made from scratch from ingredients from within 100 miles of Atlanta, and the sources were named at each item. From various TarTar dishes to rabbit to various Foei Gras dishes to Sweetbreads, etc. His next door restaurant is called Holman & Finch, and features America's best burger (voted #1). He serves only 5 or so a night and only after 10 o'clock, because if he served to order, everyone would order the burger and his good sous chefs would leave (who wants to grill burgers all night long?).
By the way, little Birmingham, AL has considerable food/chef/beverage recognition in the Southeast. Tom Gray of Bistro Aix is really one of the only nationally known chefs in Jax aside from Erika Davis (Top Chef: Just Desserts season 1, Ponte Vedra), Matthew Medure (James Beard Rising Star in 1996, 1997, and Matthews in San Marco, a AAA 5 Diamond restaurant), Guy Leroy (Wolfgang Puck's college roommate, Brasserie in Jax Beach), and Kenny Gilbert (Top Chef season 7, The Grill/Salt at Ritz Carlton, a AAA 5 Diamond restaurant, Nipper's in Jax Beach).
Personally, I'd like to see Jonathan Insetta become our own little version of a celebrity chef. Atlanta has Panos Karatassos, who is arguably one of the biggest and best restauranteurs in the country. He has a new French restaurant, an Italian restaurant next door to me (all heart healthy dishes because the exec chef had a heart attack, LoL), a glitzy restaurant, a diner, a Greek restaurant, a SW style restaurant (one of my favorites in Atl...Nava), and the list goes on.
Insetta is a different style for sure, but it looks like he is attempting bigger projects now, and he has proven he has the food/menu down.
Quote from: ben says on January 07, 2011, 01:27:41 PM
I'd like to see French Pantry on the list....
And Indochine. Not since Pom's shut down has Jacksonville had such well prepared Thai food.
Have you tried Thai Garden in Orange Park? It is wonderful.
I see lemongrass on the list. Has it improved a lot or is this just a bad list?
Quote from: letters and numbers on January 07, 2011, 03:08:01 PM
If there's better middl eastern food in JaX than Wafaa and Mikes cafe on Main st then I'd like to see it!
I drive past it 4-5 times a week and have never stopped by, but I'm guessing from your post that I should make an exception.
I wish we had better restaurants on the river. I think downtown Jacksonville is beautiful at night. Whenever guests come to visit, I struggle to think of a nice, high quality, non chain restaurant on the river. Ruth's C is good but I'm not always interested in dropping a few hundred dollars on Mom. I wish we had more retail development along the river so that a place like Chew, Indochine, or Blue Bamboo could potentially open. The riverfront is mostly residential and business. I hope that as we look to how land is developed along the river this is taken into consideration. For example, if a new convention center is built on the old courthouse site, there must be options for river-fronting restaurants.