Quote“I’m not leaving town. And I have a new project.â€
Keep those words in mind, Jacksonville foodies, when you read the next sentence.
After 13 years at Bistro Aix, executive chef and founding partner Tom Gray is leaving the San Marco restaurant he helped to open â€" and to make one of the city’s go-to restaurants for first dates, family nights out, friendly get togethers or simply a Friday lunch.
Gray, who wasn’t ready to talk in-depth about his new endeavor, did offer a couple of details on Monday. He plans to build and open a new restaurant next year at the St. Johns Town Center.
full article: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2012-11-26/chef-tom-gray-leaves-bistro-aix-plans-new-restaurant-st
Bistro AIX is a mess, and has been for years. The food sucks and the prices range between extortion and highway robbery, but on the bright side at least the service is also deplorable. Hope his amnesia over how to provide even halfway-decent food at a remotely fair price using servers who aren't arrogant cocks is cured by the time the new restaurant opens. Only thing I can think of is that his investors in the new one couldn't possibly have eaten at the old one.
It's like that Danny DeVito movie where he's the slumlord in New York, this guy should be sentenced to eat in his own restauraunt.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on November 27, 2012, 06:25:10 AM
Bistro AIX is a mess, and has been for years. The food sucks and the prices range between extortion and highway robbery, but on the bright side at least the service is also deplorable. Hope his amnesia over how to provide even halfway-decent food at a remotely fair price using servers who aren't arrogant cocks is cured by the time the new restaurant opens. Only thing I can think of is that his investors in the new one couldn't possibly have eaten at the old one.
It's like that Danny DeVito movie where he's the slumlord in New York, this guy should be sentenced to eat in his own restauraunt.
I never got around to eating there, for whatever reason. I think it was mainly due to me being poor when it opened (seriously) and then by the time I was back on my feet, it didn't occur to me, because none of my friends ever ate there.
So... the question I have is - was it ever any good? When it opened was it good and then did it start to suck over time, or was it always how you describe it?
Thats exactly what the Town Center needs, another restaurant.
My experiences there have been quite the opposite of Chris. Yea... the prices are a bit high... but I have always found the staff friendly and professional and the food well prepared. I hope they can find a suitable replacement for Chef Tom... :)
I went a few times to AIX (Thank you Teal Deals) and always had a good experience.
Always enjoy my time there. Ahi dish is excellent, so are the apps. Not my favorite lunch spot though.
Quote from: Adam W on November 27, 2012, 08:13:20 AM
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on November 27, 2012, 06:25:10 AM
Bistro AIX is a mess, and has been for years. The food sucks and the prices range between extortion and highway robbery, but on the bright side at least the service is also deplorable. Hope his amnesia over how to provide even halfway-decent food at a remotely fair price using servers who aren't arrogant cocks is cured by the time the new restaurant opens. Only thing I can think of is that his investors in the new one couldn't possibly have eaten at the old one.
It's like that Danny DeVito movie where he's the slumlord in New York, this guy should be sentenced to eat in his own restauraunt.
I never got around to eating there, for whatever reason. I think it was mainly due to me being poor when it opened (seriously) and then by the time I was back on my feet, it didn't occur to me, because none of my friends ever ate there.
So... the question I have is - was it ever any good? When it opened was it good and then did it start to suck over time, or was it always how you describe it?
It used to be phenomenal, I think that's partly why I'm so critical of it now, because it's fallen so far. And it's the same people who you know could do it right if they wanted to. Back around 2000/2001 through about 2006, it was phenomenal, then it just started declining after that. The last half-dozen times I went, the food was haphazardly prepared (cold fries with a hot sandwich, always something or another wrong like that), the prices have doubled, and they started playing games with the wine list, it used to be solid, now you can't get anything normal there. They've switched over to stocking nothing but those low-volume low-end California producers that yield a high profit margin for them, but are a terrible drinking experience. The servers suck, especially one named Nik, the last time I was there the entrees showed up and he still hadn't gotten silverware, I still got a sigh of disgust when he saw I took a set off another table. The menu is 90% the same as it was 12 years ago. All in all, they've basically quit trying.
If this sounds harsh, sorry, but they chose their market niche, not me. If I'm going to spend $300 on dinner, then it better be worth it. You're better off at other places now, Orsay and Joe's (not the crab shack) at the beach come to mind. Same price point but I've never had bad meals or bad service there.
No, not the Town Center! What's wrong with San Marco, St Nicholas, Riverside, Avondale or Springfield?
If you want me to visit on a regular basis put your new restaurant in one of these areas. I go to the Town Center only on occasion when I really need some thing from a chain store and only then I may eat at a chain restaurant such as Seasons 52.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on November 27, 2012, 08:55:47 AM
Quote from: Adam W on November 27, 2012, 08:13:20 AM
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on November 27, 2012, 06:25:10 AM
Bistro AIX is a mess, and has been for years. The food sucks and the prices range between extortion and highway robbery, but on the bright side at least the service is also deplorable. Hope his amnesia over how to provide even halfway-decent food at a remotely fair price using servers who aren't arrogant cocks is cured by the time the new restaurant opens. Only thing I can think of is that his investors in the new one couldn't possibly have eaten at the old one.
It's like that Danny DeVito movie where he's the slumlord in New York, this guy should be sentenced to eat in his own restauraunt.
I never got around to eating there, for whatever reason. I think it was mainly due to me being poor when it opened (seriously) and then by the time I was back on my feet, it didn't occur to me, because none of my friends ever ate there.
So... the question I have is - was it ever any good? When it opened was it good and then did it start to suck over time, or was it always how you describe it?
It used to be phenomenal, I think that's partly why I'm so critical of it now, because it's fallen so far. And it's the same people who you know could do it right if they wanted to. Back around 2000/2001 through about 2006, it was phenomenal, then it just started declining after that. The last half-dozen times I went, the food was haphazardly prepared (cold fries with a hot sandwich, always something or another wrong like that), the prices have doubled, and they started playing games with the wine list, it used to be solid, now you can't get anything normal there. They've switched over to stocking nothing but those low-volume low-end California producers that yield a high profit margin for them, but are a terrible drinking experience. The servers suck, especially one named Nik, the last time I was there the entrees showed up and he still hadn't gotten silverware, I still got a sigh of disgust when he saw I took a set off another table. The menu is 90% the same as it was 12 years ago. All in all, they've basically quit trying.
If this sounds harsh, sorry, but they chose their market niche, not me. If I'm going to spend $300 on dinner, then it better be worth it. You're better off at other places now, Orsay and Joe's (not the crab shack) at the beach come to mind. Same price point but I've never had bad meals or bad service there.
Couldn't agree more.
To their credit, I brought up the same critique Chris just explained to their general manager...and they gave me a $100 dollar gift card. I THOUGHT the card would last 3-4 lunches or 2 or so dinners. Wrong. A dinner for 2 cost me 170 dollars between steaks and wine. Haven't been back since. Place used to rock, went downhill. Last time I went they were using the bathroom area as a storage closet. And the waiters suck.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on November 27, 2012, 08:55:47 AM
Quote from: Adam W on November 27, 2012, 08:13:20 AM
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on November 27, 2012, 06:25:10 AM
Bistro AIX is a mess, and has been for years. The food sucks and the prices range between extortion and highway robbery, but on the bright side at least the service is also deplorable. Hope his amnesia over how to provide even halfway-decent food at a remotely fair price using servers who aren't arrogant cocks is cured by the time the new restaurant opens. Only thing I can think of is that his investors in the new one couldn't possibly have eaten at the old one.
It's like that Danny DeVito movie where he's the slumlord in New York, this guy should be sentenced to eat in his own restauraunt.
I never got around to eating there, for whatever reason. I think it was mainly due to me being poor when it opened (seriously) and then by the time I was back on my feet, it didn't occur to me, because none of my friends ever ate there.
So... the question I have is - was it ever any good? When it opened was it good and then did it start to suck over time, or was it always how you describe it?
It used to be phenomenal, I think that's partly why I'm so critical of it now, because it's fallen so far. And it's the same people who you know could do it right if they wanted to. Back around 2000/2001 through about 2006, it was phenomenal, then it just started declining after that. The last half-dozen times I went, the food was haphazardly prepared (cold fries with a hot sandwich, always something or another wrong like that), the prices have doubled, and they started playing games with the wine list, it used to be solid, now you can't get anything normal there. They've switched over to stocking nothing but those low-volume low-end California producers that yield a high profit margin for them, but are a terrible drinking experience. The servers suck, especially one named Nik, the last time I was there the entrees showed up and he still hadn't gotten silverware, I still got a sigh of disgust when he saw I took a set off another table. The menu is 90% the same as it was 12 years ago. All in all, they've basically quit trying.
If this sounds harsh, sorry, but they chose their market niche, not me. If I'm going to spend $300 on dinner, then it better be worth it. You're better off at other places now, Orsay and Joe's (not the crab shack) at the beach come to mind. Same price point but I've never had bad meals or bad service there.
Well, that's a shame. But the reason I asked was it at least means there is hope the new place will be good. I read the article and it appears he is looking to try a different style of cuisine as well, so that might be interesting.
As far as French restaurants go (I assume Aix is French or French-inspired, based on what I've read), I ate at JJ's Bistro at the Beach a couple years back and it was really good. I went back last year and it wasn't so great - the lamb tasted more like mutton and everything just seemed a lot less impressive (this was before I had switched to a veggie diet). I think maybe the location was suffering due to lack of business. I think maybe he has more than one location, so I don't know how his other place is (or if it is still open).
It says he plans to build a restaurant.... This better not be some terrible outparcel standalone building. If he incorporates his place into the existing shops, builds out the first floor of residential, or is part of a new wing of the faux main street, i'm almost ok with it. If this is another island floating in a sea of parking, you won't catch me there more than twice.
I am glad that he is bringing some local flavor to the TC, but it is a shame that he isn't choosing to build in the in town neighborhoods. I-10 rant starts now....
Couple things I noticed here. One, who spends $300/meal at Aix??? Were you feeding a family of 5? Second, why go to Aix for a steak? Hard to imagine spending $170/couple at Aix.
Chris has $100 lunches. A $300 dinner is a slow night. I would say a typical dinner for two there would run you about $130. I've had far better for less at a handful of restaurants in town.
Quote from: Roger904 on November 27, 2012, 09:06:30 AM
No, not the Town Center! What's wrong with San Marco, St Nicholas, Riverside, Avondale or Springfield?
If you want me to visit on a regular basis put your new restaurant in one of these areas. I go to the Town Center only on occasion when I really need some thing from a chain store and only then I may eat at a chain restaurant such as Seasons 52.
Yes! Because as we've seen from Mellow Mushroom, opening a restaurant in Avondale is a breeze!
Quote from: MEGATRON on November 27, 2012, 10:04:55 AM
Couple things I noticed here. One, who spends $300/meal at Aix??? Were you feeding a family of 5? Second, why go to Aix for a steak? Hard to imagine spending $170/couple at Aix.
Back when AIX was decent, they used to make one of the best steaks I've ever had. Like...as good as Bern's, Peter Luger's, etc. No longer....
I was surprised at the $170 figure as well. The 2 steaks alone were $90...
Reading this forum over time, I thought the only palaces you guys ate at were Carmines and Kickbacks.
Quote from: MEGATRON on November 27, 2012, 10:04:55 AM
Couple things I noticed here. One, who spends $300/meal at Aix??? Were you feeding a family of 5? Second, why go to Aix for a steak? Hard to imagine spending $170/couple at Aix.
It really isn't as hard as you'd think, they didn't used to be that way. But they are now. At $9 for a cocktail, $40 for a bottle of wine, $30 for a dinner entree, $10 or more for an appetizer, etc., you're up in that territory before you know it. I once ordered a grilled cheese sandwich, it was $14 and sucked. The thing looked like something my stoner cousin made after he ran out of everything but stale bread and kraft singles. I'm surprised this place doesn't have a pay toilet yet, I guess they'd have to move the mops and mop buckets out of the way to accomplish that. Judging by the effort they put into their food, that's probably too much work.
I go to Aix once a month. Love just about everything.
My money is on the restaurant being in the new "Nordstrom Wing".
I stay as far away from that contrivance as I can.
It literally makes me nauseous to see the LV at an glorified outdoor strip mall; And I wonder if any of these "high end" retailers knew that entire buildings downtown were available???
It seems to me that when it comes to "getting buisness" for the city from elsewhere- we know right where its going to end up- lining choice pockets.
If it made financial sense for those retailers to be downtown, they would be downtown.
Quote from: John P on November 27, 2012, 06:08:41 PM
I go to Aix once a month. Love just about everything.
Finally some sense. Place is delicious.
I'm personally glad there's no high-end restaurant coming Downtown right now, because IMO, it would fail miserably and scare off any other restaurants for many years. Need more residential DT before that will work. Otherwise, the restaurant would live and die by the shows at FL Theater & TU Performing Arts.
Quote from: JUGrad on November 27, 2012, 11:33:10 AM
Quote from: Roger904 on November 27, 2012, 09:06:30 AM
No, not the Town Center! What's wrong with San Marco, St Nicholas, Riverside, Avondale or Springfield?
If you want me to visit on a regular basis put your new restaurant in one of these areas. I go to the Town Center only on occasion when I really need some thing from a chain store and only then I may eat at a chain restaurant such as Seasons 52.
Yes! Because as we've seen from Mellow Mushroom, opening a restaurant in Avondale is a breeze!
touche
Quote from: downtownjag on November 28, 2012, 08:50:33 AM
I'm personally glad there's no high-end restaurant coming Downtown right now, because IMO, it would fail miserably and scare off any other restaurants for many years. Need more residential DT before that will work. Otherwise, the restaurant would live and die by the shows at FL Theater & TU Performing Arts.
I don't believe Aix was surviving based on shows at Jackrabbits or any programming in San Marco. It was doing business based off reputation (which may or may not have been deserved). It was on the radar of people throughout the city, which can't be said for most restaurants in the core.
I, personally, don't see the reason to pass by 13 Gypsies on my way to Aix, particularly if its a date night. Not to go all TC-bashing, but nobody (generalization!) likes going there because of the horrible setup (traffic) and parking difficulties. While it has all the good stores, if people abhor going to it, I highly doubt there will be much loyalty to it when the next big shopping center is developed. And doesn't this guy know the Core is where its at now? With the Black Sheep rooftop, the Core is beating the TC at its own nightlife game. OK I'm done.
Quote from: JaxJerry on November 27, 2012, 01:17:12 PM
Reading this forum over time, I thought the only palaces you guys ate at were Carmines and Kickbacks.
Hey, you're posting on the forums now, so you're "one of us." It's no longer "you guys" for you, its "us." And what would give you that impression? This would have been funny if you had said Kickbacks and Mellow.
Quote from: PeeJayEss on November 28, 2012, 09:14:25 AM
Quote from: JUGrad on November 27, 2012, 11:33:10 AM
Quote from: Roger904 on November 27, 2012, 09:06:30 AM
No, not the Town Center! What's wrong with San Marco, St Nicholas, Riverside, Avondale or Springfield?
If you want me to visit on a regular basis put your new restaurant in one of these areas. I go to the Town Center only on occasion when I really need some thing from a chain store and only then I may eat at a chain restaurant such as Seasons 52.
Yes! Because as we've seen from Mellow Mushroom, opening a restaurant in Avondale is a breeze!
touche
Quote from: downtownjag on November 28, 2012, 08:50:33 AM
I'm personally glad there's no high-end restaurant coming Downtown right now, because IMO, it would fail miserably and scare off any other restaurants for many years. Need more residential DT before that will work. Otherwise, the restaurant would live and die by the shows at FL Theater & TU Performing Arts.
I don't believe Aix was surviving based on shows at Jackrabbits or any programming in San Marco. It was doing business based off reputation (which may or may not have been deserved). It was on the radar of people throughout the city, which can't be said for most restaurants in the core.
I, personally, don't see the reason to pass by 13 Gypsies on my way to Aix, particularly if its a date night. Not to go all TC-bashing, but nobody (generalization!) likes going there because of the horrible setup (traffic) and parking difficulties. While it has all the good stores, if people abhor going to it, I highly doubt there will be much loyalty to it when the next big shopping center is developed. And doesn't this guy know the Core is where its at now? With the Black Sheep rooftop, the Core is beating the TC at its own nightlife game. OK I'm done.
Quote from: JaxJerry on November 27, 2012, 01:17:12 PM
Reading this forum over time, I thought the only palaces you guys ate at were Carmines and Kickbacks.
Hey, you're posting on the forums now, so you're "one of us." It's no longer "you guys" for you, its "us." And what would give you that impression? This would have been funny if you had said Kickbacks and Mellow.
Although submarket boundary lines can some times be discreet (which this one is not), there's a huge difference between eating DT and eating in San Marco; not to mention the population disparity between the two submarkets.
There isn't much of a draw to DT currently at night, other than for events. Chew was rarely open at night, and that's not because ownership was lazy. There wasn't the demand for it. So it was closed, and Insetta more than "doubled-down" on a submarket with a considerably larger population base. Put Bistro DT and see how long it lasts.
Went to Bistro AIX once. The waiter highly recommended the scallops.
The plate came out with 4 scallops on it with what tasted almost like orange juice drizzled on it on small bed of rice. It was $27.
That was the end of AIX for me. No reason to go back.
I get the filet every time I go and it never dissapoints. Where is there a better filet in town?
Quote from: downtownjag on November 28, 2012, 09:39:08 AM
Although submarket boundary lines can some times be discreet (which this one is not), there's a huge difference between eating DT and eating in San Marco; not to mention the population disparity between the two submarkets.
There isn't much of a draw to DT currently at night, other than for events. Chew was rarely open at night, and that's not because ownership was lazy. There wasn't the demand for it. So it was closed, and Insetta more than "doubled-down" on a submarket with a considerably larger population base. Put Bistro DT and see how long it lasts.
Not sure I completely agree. Obviously, San Marco isn't downtown. That being said, when AIX moved into that location, that area was hardly considered San Marco by San Marco residents (I know, I grew up there and lived there for 20+ years). That area was considered grunge, if hardly "up and coming." People went to AIX because the owners were reputable and beacons in the local community. Furthermore, AIX was "new" to the Jacksonville food and nightlife scene. The ambiance, the food, everything. I have no doubt that if AIX opened downtown, it would be killing it still. Opening restaurants, especially in this town, is all about timing. AIX hit the timing mark perfectly.
Also, from what I remember of Chew, while they weren't really killing it weeknights, Thurs/Fri/Saturday at Chew downtown was packed. Also, I think Indochine is doing quite well being open Tues-Sat downtown.
Quote from: CityLife on November 28, 2012, 02:22:25 PM
I get the filet every time I go and it never dissapoints. Where is there a better filet in town?
Look up a few comments....completely agree. That filet beats anything I've eaten at Peter Luger's or Bern's or Ruths Chris.
Quote from: ben says on November 28, 2012, 02:25:39 PM
Quote from: downtownjag on November 28, 2012, 09:39:08 AM
Although submarket boundary lines can some times be discreet (which this one is not), there's a huge difference between eating DT and eating in San Marco; not to mention the population disparity between the two submarkets.
There isn't much of a draw to DT currently at night, other than for events. Chew was rarely open at night, and that's not because ownership was lazy. There wasn't the demand for it. So it was closed, and Insetta more than "doubled-down" on a submarket with a considerably larger population base. Put Bistro DT and see how long it lasts.
Not sure I completely agree. Obviously, San Marco isn't downtown. That being said, when AIX moved into that location, that area was hardly considered San Marco by San Marco residents (I know, I grew up there and lived there for 20+ years). That area was considered grunge, if hardly "up and coming." People went to AIX because the owners were reputable and beacons in the local community. Furthermore, AIX was "new" to the Jacksonville food and nightlife scene. The ambiance, the food, everything. I have no doubt that if AIX opened downtown, it would be killing it still. Opening restaurants, especially in this town, is all about timing. AIX hit the timing mark perfectly.
Also, from what I remember of Chew, while they weren't really killing it weeknights, Thurs/Fri/Saturday at Chew downtown was packed. Also, I think Indochine is doing quite well being open Tues-Sat downtown.
Quote from: CityLife on November 28, 2012, 02:22:25 PM
I get the filet every time I go and it never dissapoints. Where is there a better filet in town?
Look up a few comments....completely agree. That filet beats anything I've eaten at Peter Luger's or Bern's or Ruths Chris.
Seconded. I'm no steak guru or anything, but I'll take it over Bern's, Ruth's Chris, Morton's too. I've eaten at one of Hubert Keller's places and their filets are pretty similar. Which is pretty darn impressive by Jax standards. Speaking of which, my wife's grandparents are foodies of some sort and lived in NYC most of their life. They were shocked at how good Bistro's filet was.
That said, I've never been all that impressed with their other stuff and service, so I can see where people may be coming from.
A foodie wouldn't order the filet; the ribeye being the true steak lover's choice.
Bistro Aix makes good money in a very average location. The "over the top" negative commentary that passes for restaurant review in this thread is plain ridiculous. Their French onion soup is best I've had, calamari is crispy and hot. Very popular and established eatery. Haters go elsewhere, Aix will do just fine without you.
Quote from: duvalbill on November 28, 2012, 03:50:08 PM
A foodie wouldn't order the filet; the ribeye being the true steak lover's choice.
There's a difference between a foodie and a steak lover. There's also the fact that Bistro doesn't serve Ribeye....
Quote from: MusicMan on November 28, 2012, 03:52:42 PM
Bistro Aix makes good money in a very average location. The "over the top" negative commentary that passes for restaurant review in this thread is plain ridiculous. Their French onion soup is best I've had, calamari is crispy and hot. Very popular and established eatery. Haters go elsewhere, Aix will do just fine without you.
But will it do just fine without Gray?
Quote from: MusicMan on November 28, 2012, 03:52:42 PM
Their French onion soup is best I've had, calamari is crispy and hot.
Your standards for calamari are staggering. Please, do tell what other places around town serve this 5 star "crispy and hot" delicacy?
The French onion soup really is that good.
Captain, You tell me where it's better and I'll go give it a try.
Quote from: MusicMan on November 28, 2012, 03:52:42 PM
The "over the top" negative commentary that passes for restaurant review in this thread is plain ridiculous. Their French onion soup is best I've had, calamari is crispy and hot. Very popular and established eatery. Haters go elsewhere, Aix will do just fine without you.
As I recall, that's the same thing you said about my take on Pele's, wasn't it?
You're like the canary in the culinary coalmine. Aspiring restaurant owners ought to hire you as a consultant, just to see whether or not you like it, if it garners your positive review, they know they can pack it in right there, save the half-million dollars, and go home.
What's next, your stalwart defense of the Kapok Tree? The French Quarter? I hear the filet's awesome at Burt & Jack's.
Interpretations will vary- please gentlemen, be civil!!
LOL
What we should be arguing about is why a chef that has been in the proximity, as he has, would choose a venue in the TC over DT- when he has previously been a part of a community that "came up"around him. (not in a heliocentric way, but a growing forest kind of way)
That is what needs to be answered- What was appealing/incentivized about the choice to leave the urban environment?
Why choose to "change" that aspect of his buisness? Especially when it is no secret that DT needs more...anything?
Quote from: ben says on November 28, 2012, 02:25:39 PM
Quote from: downtownjag on November 28, 2012, 09:39:08 AM
Although submarket boundary lines can some times be discreet (which this one is not), there's a huge difference between eating DT and eating in San Marco; not to mention the population disparity between the two submarkets.
There isn't much of a draw to DT currently at night, other than for events. Chew was rarely open at night, and that's not because ownership was lazy. There wasn't the demand for it. So it was closed, and Insetta more than "doubled-down" on a submarket with a considerably larger population base. Put Bistro DT and see how long it lasts.
Not sure I completely agree. Obviously, San Marco isn't downtown. That being said, when AIX moved into that location, that area was hardly considered San Marco by San Marco residents (I know, I grew up there and lived there for 20+ years). That area was considered grunge, if hardly "up and coming."
True, Ben. I remember that area being in the badlands on the edge of San Marco. Kind of scary. Wasn't there a strip bar over there at one time, or am I remembering that wrong? Anyway, the area certainly has come a long way in the last 10 years or so.
Quote from: Adam W on November 29, 2012, 02:31:17 AM
True, Ben. I remember that area being in the badlands on the edge of San Marco. Kind of scary. Wasn't there a strip bar over there at one time, or am I remembering that wrong? Anyway, the area certainly has come a long way in the last 10 years or so.
I have the same memories. Don't remember the name of it though.
I think there was a strip club over there around the same time that Wormans was where European St is now
Quote from: ben says on November 29, 2012, 08:13:18 AM
Quote from: Adam W on November 29, 2012, 02:31:17 AM
True, Ben. I remember that area being in the badlands on the edge of San Marco. Kind of scary. Wasn't there a strip bar over there at one time, or am I remembering that wrong? Anyway, the area certainly has come a long way in the last 10 years or so.
I have the same memories. Don't remember the name of it though.
I think there was a strip club over there around the same time that Wormans was where European St is now
There used to be a strip club called the "Golden Nugget" over there in a warehouse-style building. It was replaced by a food-court style building that that had a cheeky name referring to the previous use of the site ("Oral Explosion" or something like that). It has since closed, but clearly the area has come a long way since back in the day, and it will continue when the streetscaping is complete.
I've always had phenomenal food at Bistro Aix, not that I've been there as much as some of our more monied and sophisticated posters.
Chris, I thought you were an attorney. If that is true, surely you can draw a relatively accurate conclusion based on the overwhelming amount of evidence in this case:
Aix has been a consistent moneymaker for years in a questionable location.
It has a large following of enthusiastic customers and is busy all week long.
It has won praise and awards from folks in the industry.
Therefore it sucks? Once again, thank you for your profound and well thought out commentary.
Quote from: MusicMan on November 29, 2012, 10:44:52 AM
Chris, I thought you were an attorney. If that is true, surely you can draw a relatively accurate conclusion based on the overwhelming amount of evidence in this case:
Aix has been a consistent moneymaker for years in a questionable location.
It has a large following of enthusiastic customers and is busy all week long.
It has won praise and awards from folks in the industry.
Therefore it sucks? Once again, thank you for your profound and well thought out commentary.
Wow. I read it as - Started off really great, has been in decline since, gets by mostly from reputation alone. Now it sucks.
N-RNWestsider:
So if someone told you the Jaguars are a great team does that mean you believe them, or would you look at their record and recent playoff history to draw your own conclusions?
MusicMan, let's say you paid your first visit to a generally well-acclaimed restaurant. Now let's say you received lousy service, and the food you were served was undercooked and overpriced. But hey, you've still heard so many good things about this place, so you decide to give it another chance. So you go again, order something different, and are served by a different person. Still, your experience was the same as the last: the food was dry and the server treated you with barely concealed apathy. Now, do you draw your own conclusions, or do you believe the hype and decide it's still a good place, even if your visits there have been terrible?
In that specific circumstance I would probably not go back.
However if the events you described happened in a place that was packed and the vast majority of other customers seemed to be enjoying themselves, I would probably speak with waistaff and management about
my experience, trying to figure out if it was "just me" or is everybody getting lousy food and service. I've been a customer of Aix since 2006 and have never had a bad time. I can tell you it is a successful restaurant, not what Chris described. That is a fact regardless of his or my opinion. The vast majority of successful restaurants either have a phenomenal location (which there is agreement on, this is fair location at best) or provide an experience
(food plus service plus value) to the majority of their customers that warrants a return trip or an endorsement. Aix may have upset a few but their success over the years is evidence that those negative experiences are few and far between.
Last time I went there for dinner, 2 people, apps, pizza, cocktails... it wasn't even close to $100. And, the food was actually really good.
I haven't had their entrees in quite some time, but I remember them being pretty damned good.
As far as I'm concerned, it's decent food that's never come close to making me go broke. Never had bad service there, either.
I'll still go, mostly in hopes of seeing new menu items. That's been the downfall of so many places around, in my opinion. They stick to the same "country club menu".
And if another restaurant puts a beet "carpaccio" on a appetizer menu, or something else incredibly similarly beet-related, I may no longer eat out of my house again.
Love, Love, Love one of the better Restaurants in jacksonville.
Have gone to Bistro for New Year's and it was great. Go there for lunch love it. Have never had anything i did'nt like there.
From the French Onion Soup for lunch to the Mussels, and Salmon Caviar Pizza for dinner it is all amazing.
I love it so much I give gift cert. from them away for the holidays.
Being a recovering Chef Tom employee/Bistro Aix crony I have this to say. When I was in the kitchen, the quality of food was paramount, it was absolutely the most important. The execution was to be without flaw. The imagination behind these dishes was seriously lacking. Tom tends to, as a great chef should, lean on his staff to help flesh out the details of his menu. His Executive Sous Chef Zeke, who will likely take over "The Beast" if he doesn't make the transition with Tom, is much better at involving his staff in the creation of a plate. That being said, Tom is such an egomaniac at times that the idea that a staff member would be able to arrange a plate in a more appealing manner, let along compose one. But I digress. The quality of food and service at Aix has seriously declined over the years, the plates are unimaginative, and joyless. The wine list which used to be stacked with awesome stuff is a shell of it's former self. The wait staff, who have always been a group of pretend wine snob, drug addled, and self important bunch of prats (save for a few, all of whom I hope have moved on to much better things), are some of the worst in the city. You can't handle 4 tables? I can handle 4 tables and still manage to cook their food, get it together guys. I have on a few occasions sat at my table with an empty wine glass, dried up cocktail, or melted soft drink so many times, it amazes me. My food is always respectable I suppose because when I go for dinner or lunch there is usually someone I know preparing it and I make a point to say hello to them and ask how they're doing, it lets them know I'm there and to please take care of my food, I suppose this is where I have a slight advantage. All in all, as a fellow chef, I hope Tom's new venture is a success, we never want to see our own fail miserably...well sometimes. I am positive that his choice to build at the town center is money motivated, I'm also positive that there are a slew of investors behind this new place as there were with "The Beast" 9 if I remember correctly, that's a lot of ways to split a dollar. Being at the Town Center ensures that the place will do business, after all, it is Tom Gray, the mastermind behind one of Jacksonville's most well known eateries. I'll stop in and try it out when it opens, offer my critique, which will be met with that grin he gets on his face when he doesn't like what he's being told, and I'll probably stop in from time to time to see how it's going, but other than that, I'll stick to eating at places where the food is inspired and joyful, fun to look at and delicious for my soul.