Six Awesome Restaurants Opening in Downtown
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/3780311794_8CxC26F-L.jpg)
A restaurant revolution has engulfed downtown Jacksonville. Here are six awesome restaurants and dining scenes on their way to downtown's streets.
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-dec-six-awesome-restaurants-opening-in-downtown
You left out Candy Apples in Sweet Pete's. I went Saturday, and it and the rest of the building was packed.... on a Saturday!!! The food was really good, and really well presented.
Quote from: Murder_me_Rachel on December 23, 2014, 08:54:12 AM
Quote from: Metro Jacksonville on December 23, 2014, 03:00:03 AM
Six Awesome Restaurants Opening in Downtown
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/3780311794_8CxC26F-L.jpg)
A restaurant revolution has engulfed downtown Jacksonville. Here are six awesome restaurants and dining scenes on their way to downtown's streets.
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-dec-six-awesome-restaurants-opening-in-downtown (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-dec-six-awesome-restaurants-opening-in-downtown)
1. What is a "dining scene" and how can it be transported into downtown?
2. At what price success for these restaurants? I mean, i personally have not seen or experienced more people downtown dining on the weekends when I have come down for a meal, and the weekday workforce is fairly static, so if a new restaurant has success, i feel like it will be at the expense of other downtown establishments. I am not saying that's good or bad, just interested in everyone else's opinions on it. I know you cant keep the number of restaurants artificially low to protect them andIi feel like new, established names are a good thing, don't get me wrong, just curious how others see it.
Only speaking for myself - but I plan on traveling downtown for dinner / drinks on a much more regular basis when/if these listed restaurants open. I would feel a lot of people who live near the core (riverside / san marco, etc) would be of the same state of mind. A night out could easily change from BBs for dinner with a nightcap at Sidecar, to dinner at Cowford Chophouse with a nightcap at Dos Gatos.
Great news! (I would, however, reserve using the term "awesome" until they actually open and we see if such a superlative actually applies to each and every one.)
These restaurants aren't just going to compete for patrons of other downtown restaurants. People will begin to see Downtown as a legitimate night life district. A place where you can go and discover your options. Much like the town center, avondale, the beaches, etc. I have a feeling none of these restaurants will struggle, and the added foot traffic they bring to the neighborhood will be good for existing restaurants, not detrimental.
Quote from: Murder_me_Rachel on December 23, 2014, 08:54:12 AM
1. What is a "dining scene" and how can it be transported into downtown?
A scene can be considered a place of an occurrence or action or a sphere of activity or a certain type of setting or atmosphere. In the case of the row of restuarants opening adjacent to each other in Brooklyn Station.....all featuring shared outdoor dining space, you essentially have the beginnings of a "restaurant row" type of scene or atmosphere.
When you add what's happening at Unity Plaza and 220 Riverside, along with the street level dining/retail that will be a part of 200 Riverside (which fills that gap between 220 Riverside and Brooklyn Station), one could argue that a scene or atmosphere has been created. After all, that's four straight walkable blocks of dining/entertainment activity integrated with the surrounding streetscape.
Main Street - Ann Arbor, MI
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Learning-From/Ann-Arbor-MI/i-XNbffbD/0/L/P1230292-L.jpg)
Ocean Drive - South Beach
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Learning-From/Miami-Beach-2013/i-c24RjFW/0/L/DSCF0775-L.jpg)
King Street - Toronto, ON
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Learning-From/Toronto-June-2007/i-6cZ8r72/0/L/P1010324-L.jpg)
This is the stuff that people have been yearning for (continuous downtown development) so I don't wanna hear no crap about DT not growing. Downtown restaurants coming to fruition, the lowest gas prices in the state, and Jax unemployment the lowest since 2008, no one is killing my vibe. :)
So we're calling Brooklyn downtown now? Fine with me just clarifying.
This does sound very exciting when laid out like this. I hope more affordable housing options are on the way in downtown.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on December 23, 2014, 10:40:05 AM
So we're calling Brooklyn downtown now? Fine with me just clarifying.
Haha. Just for today, we're working with the DIA's boundaries.
Lol, very well. It does sound better than "Four Awesome Restaurants Opening in Downtown"
This is awesome. Jacksonville is very weak in the steakhouse department, the millhouse is the only decent one and it's pretty far away.
Looking forward to some good steaks!
Not to mention maybe the most awesome place just opened. Candy Apple Cafe at Sweet Peet's is a destination standing on it's own. Yes downtown may not be "on Fire" but the match has been lit.
Sounds like I'm going to have to try this Candy Apple Cafe place out pretty soon!
The food is good the vibe is great.
I. Love. Food. Looking forward to trying these places out!
I think the best example of a local dining scene is Beaches Town Center in Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach. In just a few blocks, you have Ocean 60, Azurea (One Ocean), Flying Iguana, Ragtime, Mezza Luna, Poe's, North Beach Fish Camp, Sliders, Al's, Joseph's, Tama's Sushi, M Shack, Lillie's, and probably others I'm leaving out. Plus Pete's and Lemon Bar for partying. Its a true dining and entertainment destination that does fantastic business. There are a lot of reasons why Old Atlantic Beach is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Jax (tree canopy, quiet beach, architecture, minimal traffic, etc), but being in close proximity to the Town Center is definitely a big boost.
Similarly, I think a great downtown dining scene can be a big pull factor for residential development.
One of the big plusses the Beaches Town Center has is clustering. Having a continuous grouping of bars and restaurants makes its vibrancy instantly visible. Visitors can immediately tell it is a place worth checking out. Right now, Downtown is still a bit scattered, but hopefully the gaps will start to fill in. These new places are definitely a huge step in the right direction. They also appear to be the type of quality places that can draw people from all around the region for a night out. Exciting times for Downtown Jax.
I completely agree with the above comments regarding Atlantic Beach. It's my first recommendation for out-of-town visitors or when we've got friends in town. Spending a day at the beach, then biking up to the Atlantic Beach town center for dinner and live music is a damn good way to spend a Saturday or Sunday.
Quote from: coredumped on December 23, 2014, 11:49:05 AM
This is awesome. Jacksonville is very weak in the steakhouse department, the millhouse is the only decent one and it's pretty far away.
Looking forward to some good steaks!
you need to check out III Forks. The millhouse is a joke and borderline insulting to steak fans. Ruth (downtown location) was my top choice for a long time but III Forks has won me over. Every time I go there the place impresses me more.
Ruth's Chris downtown has gotten too crowded since Morton's closed. The last few times I've gone there it's been a lengthy wait. If I'm paying $400 for dinner, my tolerance for an hour long wait for a table tends to decrease. With reservations it improves somewhat, but not much. They're just busy lately. Where is III Forks now? That was the one who used to have a location in the Hyatt right?
III Forks is and always has been in Tapestry Park.
Then what was that one in the Hyatt? I can't remember but thought it was that one.
Not sure. I tried searching for ya last night but gave up.
Plaza III Steakhouse (http://www.plazaiiikcsteakhouse.com/), based out of Kansas City, was the one in the Hyatt. Speaking of the Hyatt, I'm surprised a restaurant hasn't opened in that space.
Love the Atlantic beach town center.
But I'll take 13 gypsies
Blind rabbit
Black sheep
Kickbacks
Carmine's
Lola's
Maple Street biscuit
Moon river (not trying to start anything)
Biscotti's
And bluefish
Up against anywhere in this town.
Quote from: JeffreyS on January 08, 2015, 11:12:50 AM
Love the Atlantic beach town center.
But I'll take 13 gypsies
Blind rabbit
Black sheep
Kickbacks
Carmine's
Lola's
Maple Street biscuit
Moon river (not trying to start anything)
Biscotti's
And bluefish
Up against anywhere in this town.
Black Sheep and Biscotti's are 2 miles apart. The places at the Beaches Town Center are 2 blocks apart.
There are some fantastic dining and drinking establishments in R/A, but still not nearly as cohesive, clustered, and walkable as the Beaches Town Center.
That's very true and particularly for out of town visitors the clustered shops with proximity to the beach are fantastic.
I guess the five points, first block or the shops of Avondale would be more comparable and of those alone are as good as BTC.
You guys don't like the fabulous cluster of Brio, Seasons 52, Cantina Laredo, J Alexanders, Mitchell's, and Capital Grille?? ;D ;D ;D I'd include Moxie but that's a local joint so no telling the quality there.
Moxie is great. Capital Grill and cantina Laredo both have a meal that I love.
Since the foreclosure of the Barnett Building, is the Laura Street Trio off the table as well? The Bullbrier?
On a related thread, Scottie Schwartz friend said BullBrier is a couple of years away, basically pending/contingent on a finished product in
the two tall towers (both currently vacant and awaiting ??????????) adjacent to Marble Bank.
If the Laura Trio magically broke ground today, you're still looking at probably three years of construction....meaning a mid 2018 opening. So yes, at least a few years indeed.
With only 6,000 - 10,000 residents in downtown Jacksonville, I am being realistic in saying.....this "restaurant revolution" is going to take longer than you think.
Gilbert South is out......
QuoteChef Kenny Gilbert has decided against opening a restaurant in the vacant building at 120 E. Forsyth St., next to the Florida Theatre.
Gilbert had said last December that he intended to put Gilbert South, a Southern-themed restaurant, on the first floor of the building.
But he said Thursday that it's not going to work out.
He showed the building to investors, he said, who loved it, but no one was willing to put the money up.
He does have one investor who wants to partner with him on a restaurant in Jacksonville, but not downtown.
"He said downtown is still not ready," Gilbert said, "and he's waiting to see more development there."
He did say he's planning a restaurant somewhere in Jacksonville, but can't say where yet.
Mike Langton, who paid $450,000 for the building last year, said he has two more prospects considering the space.
http://jacksonville.com/business/2015-08-08/story/sunday-business-notebook-bass-pro-shops-still-plans-north-st-johns
^ I heard last week there may be another interested party for the space on Forsyth Street
Quote from: mtraininjax on July 03, 2015, 03:24:36 AM
With only 6,000 - 10,000 residents in downtown Jacksonville, I am being realistic in saying.....this "restaurant revolution" is going to take longer than you think.
I wouldn't bet on that, people will drive 30 miles for a good restaurant, downtown or otherwise. Put another way Alachua, Florida, population 9,378 is home to 15 restaurants at least 5 of which rate 4 stars or more. Likewise St. Augustine Beach, population 6,607 has many, fine restaurants. With the population of our metro, any truly good restaurant downtown should be a smashing success.
QuoteWith the population of our metro, any truly good restaurant downtown should be a smashing success.
We shall see, downtown is still plagued by a number of problems that suburbanites don't care to indulge in. Many great restaurants go under in Jax, in great locations, because owners are.......idiots.
Quote from: Ocklawaha on August 09, 2015, 07:43:34 PM
Quote from: mtraininjax on July 03, 2015, 03:24:36 AM
With only 6,000 - 10,000 residents in downtown Jacksonville, I am being realistic in saying.....this "restaurant revolution" is going to take longer than you think.
I wouldn't bet on that, people will drive 30 miles for a good restaurant, downtown or otherwise. Put another way Alachua, Florida, population 9,378 is home to 15 restaurants at least 5 of which rate 4 stars or more. Likewise St. Augustine Beach, population 6,607 has many, fine restaurants. With the population of our metro, any truly good restaurant downtown should be a smashing success.
Well the DT population isn't anywhere close to 6,000 let alone 10,000. If it were actually 10,000 we wouldn't be lamenting about how dead it is there.
A restaurant with a stellar reputation can draw from a big radius but that usually doesn't happen with start-ups, but instead places that have been around a long time, and thus their reputation has grown over a long period.
DT can develop into a restaurant district but it doesn't happen overnight, and it takes several innovative restaurants to build that following.