(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/1725111101_xkw4QRM-M.jpg)
The old Cafe 331/Sweet Lady Blue restaurant at 331 W Forsyth Street is being converted into a new restaurant called The Bank BBQ. The interior has already been gutted out. According to https://buildinginspections.coj.net/, a few mechanical permits are now active.
This could be cool if they do a nice build out! 331 always felt kinda half-assed just due to the budgetary restraints the previous owners had. Hoping these folks have some $$$!
The interior has been striped to the bone....kitchen, walls, and everything. Whatever is going in will be completely new.
Will be nice to have a decent sit down BBQ place in downtown. Jenkins is good but not very inviting to dine in.
Drove down Forsyth today and there were for sale signs in the windows. Looks like they're closed for good.
Counter service, overpiced and underwhelming BBQ. Hard to justify when the Bearded Pig is a Skyway ride away.
Bearded Pig was underwhelming the ONE time I went. Has it improved?
I really enjoy their brisket sandwich and Mac and cheese.
Quote from: MusicMan on May 19, 2018, 06:52:00 PM
Bearded Pig was underwhelming the ONE time I went. Has it improved?
Every time I've gone it's been as good as advertised. It's my go to spot before I go to the baseball grounds to catch a game.
OK my fav is Gilbert Social but I will make it a point to go again.
I miss the old "mom and pop" BBQ places we used to have. There are few left and the chains make it tough to compete. What we have now is your generic places that are all about the same. Pre-packaged sauce, reheated meat, and nothing that stands out as unique. Much the same as most Mexican places. Same old stuff at every Mexican place in the US. Mushy hamburger meat, cheese, and salt, microwaved to a perfect cool temperature.
Try Jenkins, Cottens, The Pig, Jerome Brown's, etc. Luckily, we still have are fair share of long-time local bbq joints.
^Bonos, the pig, Monroe's and mojo are all local and smoke their meats daily. Just because they don't look like a hole in the wall doesn't mean they aren't good.
Thanks guys, but I've tried all of these. Bono's was pretty good back in the early 60s, but like the others not what I'm talking about. All of these places except the Pig on Lem Turner would be 3rd-4th string then. Taylor's BBQ on W. Church, Tally Ho on N. Main, and several others put those to shame. No, the décor doesn't add anything to the quality. Mojo's isn't close to being in the same league. Cotton's/Jenkin's is the best mentioned.
Quote from: MusicMan on May 20, 2018, 10:01:38 AM
OK my fav is Gilbert Social but I will make it a point to go again.
Mine as well. Can't wait for Chef Gilbert to open up his new place in the old Il Desco.
OK First I have heard about that. WHEN?
Don't know yet. They just started clearing out the place a few days ago. As soon as I hear something, I'll post it.
Quote from: riverside_mail on May 20, 2018, 05:33:30 PM
Quote from: MusicMan on May 20, 2018, 10:01:38 AM
OK my fav is Gilbert Social but I will make it a point to go again.
Mine as well. Can't wait for Chef Gilbert to open up his new place in the old Il Desco.
Any idea what kind of food they will serve? I'm not familiar with Chef Gibert's style.
I have only tried Gilberts Social on Southside (very good - think of it as fancier southern comfort food), but his spot in Amelia has great reviews (Gilberts underground) and he just opened a spot at the beach as well.
If he is opening a bbq place on king street it should do very well. Mojos is really the only bbq option in the riverside area.
http://www.undergroundkitchen.co/all-day/ (Amelia)
http://www.gilbertssocial.co/new-page/ (Southside)
https://www.gilbertshotchicken.com/all-day-menu/ (Jax Beach)
Quote from: riverside_mail on May 20, 2018, 05:33:30 PM
Quote from: MusicMan on May 20, 2018, 10:01:38 AM
OK my fav is Gilbert Social but I will make it a point to go again.
Mine as well. Can't wait for Chef Gilbert to open up his new place in the old Il Desco.
That man moves quick when it comes to opening restaurants. Hopefully he has a better pulse of the neighborhood than Forking Amazing/Il Desco did.
A Hattie B's Hot Chicken opening in Atlanta mid June (near where I live)-