Metro Jacksonville

Living in Jacksonville => Dining => Restaurants => Topic started by: Metro Jacksonville on June 18, 2015, 01:30:02 PM

Title: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: Metro Jacksonville on June 18, 2015, 01:30:02 PM
Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Dining/Il-desco/i-JgJGDrT/0/L/il-Desco-Modern-Italian-COLOR-L.jpg)

MAF Restaurant Group, LLC and Forking Amazing Restaurants, LLC are proud to announce the name of the restaurant will be “IL DESCO”. IL DESCO is an Italian phrase meaning “the dinner table.” The concept behind IL DESCO will focus on recreating the dining experience people have with friends, family, and loved ones around the dinner table.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-jun-peles-on-king-street-becomes-il-desco
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: Rob68 on June 19, 2015, 08:05:44 AM
Wonderful but if they continue to not be able to make a plate of homemade pasta i wont be going back twice. I do hope they have a new chef because the last one couldnt make fresh past to save their lives..yuck..over prices and tiny...good luck to them though..i alway thought the space was beautiful and the concept right on but the food was just so so.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: blizz01 on June 19, 2015, 08:10:50 AM
Hope the new signage is at least half as cool as Pele's - that neon flame really made the corner pop at night.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: JeffreyS on June 19, 2015, 09:16:00 AM
I liked the logo as well. Even though it looked like the Girl Scouts logo on fire.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: jaxlore on June 19, 2015, 09:18:58 AM
Really another Italian place how creative.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: mtraininjax on June 19, 2015, 10:44:34 AM
QuoteReally another Italian place how creative.

Geez, critical before they even open?

Its not just another "Italian" its a better experience than eating "unlimited breadsticks" at a new Olive Garden. The only real sad thing will be that "Mayor" Alvin will not have the entourage and flashing cameras when it reopens, which really pulls at my heart string....after all, he put Avondale on the map with all his visits to the restaurants along St. Johns Avenue.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: aaapolito on June 19, 2015, 11:27:41 AM
I will certainly give this place a shot, but will temper my expectations because there really are no good Italian restaurants in Jax, unfortunately. 

Hopefully this place can fill the void! 
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: BoldCityRealist on June 23, 2015, 10:51:12 AM
What Pele's lacked was consistent leadership in the back and front of house. Hopefully the new investment group can provide the stable management needed to make a restaurant such as this thrive and put out a consistent product, and hire a staff dedicated to that. I think Orsay and Bistro Aix have this nailed down.

Oh, and bring back that unlimited mimosa brunch. :D
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: jaxlore on June 23, 2015, 10:58:47 AM
Sorry for my lack of enthusiasm, here's to hoping they will change my mind.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: MusicMan on June 23, 2015, 11:54:35 AM
Isn't Primi Piatti still open? They have managed to keep it afloat for a couple of years serving exactly this type of food, but without the pizza.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: E_Dubya on June 24, 2015, 09:36:12 AM
The most important question is this: Will there still be $10 all you can drink Bloody Marys and Mimosas for brunch?
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: camarocane on June 24, 2015, 02:15:54 PM
If thats all you want, go up the street to Blind Rabbit.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: Live_Oak on November 03, 2015, 01:50:53 PM
Opening date set for November 12.

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/morning-edition/2015/11/il-desco-to-open-in-former-peles-wood-fire-space.html
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: PeeJayEss on November 04, 2015, 08:56:38 AM
Quote from: aaapolito on June 19, 2015, 11:27:41 AM
I will certainly give this place a shot, but will temper my expectations because there really are no good Italian restaurants in Jax, unfortunately.

Oh geez! There's always someone that doesn't think any restaurant can live up to the nostalgia of their mother's (or grandmother's) Old World cooking.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: InnerCityPressure on November 04, 2015, 09:04:27 AM
Quote from: PeeJayEss on November 04, 2015, 08:56:38 AM
Quote from: aaapolito on June 19, 2015, 11:27:41 AM
I will certainly give this place a shot, but will temper my expectations because there really are no good Italian restaurants in Jax, unfortunately.

Oh geez! There's always someone that doesn't think any restaurant can live up to the nostalgia of their mother's (or grandmother's) Old World cooking.

And if you come from a Mediterranean family, you would know it to be the absolute truth.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: aaapolito on November 04, 2015, 09:12:09 AM
Quote from: InnerCityPressure on November 04, 2015, 09:04:27 AM
Quote from: PeeJayEss on November 04, 2015, 08:56:38 AM
Quote from: aaapolito on June 19, 2015, 11:27:41 AM
I will certainly give this place a shot, but will temper my expectations because there really are no good Italian restaurants in Jax, unfortunately.

Oh geez! There's always someone that doesn't think any restaurant can live up to the nostalgia of their mother's (or grandmother's) Old World cooking.

And if you come from a Mediterranean family, you would know it to be the absolute truth.

Glad I didn't even have to respond since others obviously feel the same way.  Like I said, I'll try it for sure. 

And I hope that this place is good!
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: Adam White on November 04, 2015, 09:13:53 AM
Quote from: InnerCityPressure on November 04, 2015, 09:04:27 AM
Quote from: PeeJayEss on November 04, 2015, 08:56:38 AM
Quote from: aaapolito on June 19, 2015, 11:27:41 AM
I will certainly give this place a shot, but will temper my expectations because there really are no good Italian restaurants in Jax, unfortunately.

Oh geez! There's always someone that doesn't think any restaurant can live up to the nostalgia of their mother's (or grandmother's) Old World cooking.

And if you come from a Mediterranean family, you would know it to be the absolute truth.

I think it's a load of tosh, really. I'm not saying Jacksonville has good Italian restaurants, but what qualifies as "good" is quite subjective. As is what qualifies as "Italian," apparently. And every Tony out there who is distantly "Italian" has an opinion.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: mtraininjax on November 04, 2015, 11:10:10 AM
It will be nice to have some competition as compared to Prima Piatti.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: Sentient on November 09, 2015, 10:36:31 AM
Curious to see how they do...  I think the big problem Pele had was price/volume combo...  Westsiders are not keen on $18 small pizzas.

http://www.ildescojax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/ildesco-dinner-web-v2.pdf

Menu looks tasty but you are looking at $60 a head for app, mid point main or pizza and a drink, tax, tip...  a higher price than similar in NYC or SFO...
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: aaapolito on November 18, 2015, 07:49:00 AM
I went to Il Desco with a group of 12 last night.  The food was good and so was the service (except for a few minor bumps, which are totally understandable given that it's only been open for less than one week).

The burrata was good as far as what we can all expect from burrata here in the US.  My linguine with clams was a really good version of this dish.  The pasta was fresh and the clam sauce was nice and simple.  Plus, I got a very good number of clams.  Some places skimp on the clams, but this place did not.

The design on the inside is pretty well done too. 

I'll definitely go back to try more things on the menu.

Best of luck to this new place.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: camarocane on November 18, 2015, 08:47:28 AM
Good news, we certainly will try this place in the near future.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: mtraininjax on November 18, 2015, 03:14:33 PM
Place was bustling Saturday night. One word of advice, use the Reservation system online at OpenTable on weekends here, for a while. They were turning away anyone Sat night without a reservation until 9:30 pm.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: InnerCityPressure on November 19, 2015, 10:58:42 AM
Quote from: Adam White on November 04, 2015, 09:13:53 AM
Quote from: InnerCityPressure on November 04, 2015, 09:04:27 AM
Quote from: PeeJayEss on November 04, 2015, 08:56:38 AM
Quote from: aaapolito on June 19, 2015, 11:27:41 AM
I will certainly give this place a shot, but will temper my expectations because there really are no good Italian restaurants in Jax, unfortunately.

Oh geez! There's always someone that doesn't think any restaurant can live up to the nostalgia of their mother's (or grandmother's) Old World cooking.

And if you come from a Mediterranean family, you would know it to be the absolute truth.

I think it's a load of tosh, really. I'm not saying Jacksonville has good Italian restaurants, but what qualifies as "good" is quite subjective. As is what qualifies as "Italian," apparently. And every Tony out there who is distantly "Italian" has an opinion.

I wouldn't expect a "White" to have any clue what I am talking about   8)
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: Adam White on November 19, 2015, 11:25:34 AM
Quote from: InnerCityPressure on November 19, 2015, 10:58:42 AM
Quote from: Adam White on November 04, 2015, 09:13:53 AM
Quote from: InnerCityPressure on November 04, 2015, 09:04:27 AM
Quote from: PeeJayEss on November 04, 2015, 08:56:38 AM
Quote from: aaapolito on June 19, 2015, 11:27:41 AM
I will certainly give this place a shot, but will temper my expectations because there really are no good Italian restaurants in Jax, unfortunately.

Oh geez! There's always someone that doesn't think any restaurant can live up to the nostalgia of their mother's (or grandmother's) Old World cooking.

And if you come from a Mediterranean family, you would know it to be the absolute truth.

I think it's a load of tosh, really. I'm not saying Jacksonville has good Italian restaurants, but what qualifies as "good" is quite subjective. As is what qualifies as "Italian," apparently. And every Tony out there who is distantly "Italian" has an opinion.

I wouldn't expect a "White" to have any clue what I am talking about   8)

Sure thing, "Goldie" :)
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: BridgeTroll on July 30, 2018, 10:15:31 AM
Next up... Two Dudes Seafood Restaurant...  Good luck dudes... 8)
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: wanderson91 on July 30, 2018, 10:40:03 AM
Oh wow, they're expanding? That's awesome for them, I really enjoy their food!
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: RiversideRambler on July 30, 2018, 12:08:13 PM
I'm not familiar with their other locations so I don't how well they fit with the neighborhood. This is a prime location in Riverside and I'd hate to see it become cursed with regular turnover.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: BridgeTroll on July 30, 2018, 12:29:39 PM
http://www.twodudesrestaurant.com/
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: Crabernacle on August 01, 2018, 09:30:45 AM
Maybe it's because I'm on mobile, but that website is... something.
Title: Re: Pele's on King Street Becomes Il Desco
Post by: acme54321 on August 01, 2018, 11:44:07 AM
Quote from: Crabernacle on August 01, 2018, 09:30:45 AM
Maybe it's because I'm on mobile, but that website is... something.

It's something on a PC too ;D