Metro Jacksonville

Living in Jacksonville => Dining => Topic started by: ben says on October 04, 2017, 01:08:05 PM

Title: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: ben says on October 04, 2017, 01:08:05 PM
Been out of sync/not paying attention/living elsewhere since the first of the year. While I miss my old favorites (13 Gypsies, Orsay, etc), I´m looking to see what else has sprung up since I left.

What are the new ´in´ restaurants that have opened this year? The only one I know about is Chef Howard´s new place on Stockton.

Any other places open that have knocked it out of the park?

Any word on this new Dim Sum place? (Don´t know the name, but heard we have one now!)

What new places are in your rotation now?

Any help much appreciated...headed back to JAX on Friday for a few weeks and would love to try as many new (legit!) places as possible.

Thx!
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: dp8541 on October 04, 2017, 01:09:50 PM
Bread and Board in 5 points
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Gambit80 on October 04, 2017, 01:50:29 PM
I'll second Bread and Board. Been there three times and everyone I have recommended to it has enjoyed it.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: JaxAvondale on October 04, 2017, 08:48:10 PM
Bread & Board would be my vote as well!
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: MusicMan on October 04, 2017, 10:08:47 PM
In San Marco Square, Town Hall (Tom Grey)  and Rue Saint Marc (Medure Brothers sponsor it).
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: ProjectMaximus on October 04, 2017, 11:56:40 PM
Quote from: ben says on October 04, 2017, 01:08:05 PM
Any word on this new Dim Sum place? (Don´t know the name, but heard we have one now!)

Tim Wah is ok. It's a solid 3/5 which would make it an after thought in most other cities but in Jax I am very grateful to have it. That said, contrary to what you implied and what many think, Jax has had legit dim sum on many occasions that I can remember, as far back as the 90s. The only probably is they come and go, usually lasting for months at a time.

In more recent years, Dim Sum Room by the Avenues Mall was legit the first half a year or so that they opened. When the original chef from Macau left (for reasons I won't state to avoid potential libel/slander) quality quickly went downhill. Then there was Bamboo Creek in Tinseltown which was fantastic around 2007-2008. I heard the owners had a fight, the restaurant ended up moving to that former Bennigans on Baymeadows and the dim sum was never the same (not sure if they even served it regularly after the move). Digging a little deeper, there was a place on San Jose that I recall from my middle school years in the 90s. I think it was Hing Long but maybe that was a different restaurant. And late 90s early 00s I remember a place at Regency, although it wasn't quite as good and the Chinese community was mixed in its support.

Back to the present...Tim Wah is worth going but not if you expect super high quality. It's decent, though a little unconventional. And of the three places you can get dim sum in Jax (Dim Sum Room and Silver Star being the other two) it's the only one I'd recommend.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: ben says on October 05, 2017, 04:46:44 AM
Good intel on Tim Wah @ProjectMaximus.

And thanks for the Bread & Board + San Marco recommendations.

Other than those here, I guess not a lot has opened up? Although 4-5 new restaurants is nothing to complain about I guess!

Did Crane Ramen ever open up, or is that still awhile away?

And how is Chef Howard´s new spot? Looks incredible.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: dp8541 on October 05, 2017, 08:39:26 AM
Crane Ramen (if that is the place in 5 points across from Sunray) has not opened yet but they are active in the build out right now.  Foo Dogs is very good - perfect to grab and go or for lunch.

Gilberts Social on southside blvd is very good for bbq / southern staples, although I think that opened up towards the end of 2016.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Live_Oak on October 05, 2017, 09:15:56 AM
Five Points Tavern in the old O'brothers spot is pretty good. I think it opened up at the end of last year.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Jomar on October 05, 2017, 09:56:39 AM
We've been really enjoying Crispy's at 8th and Main in Springfield.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: MusicMan on October 05, 2017, 10:05:44 AM
The Local.  Southern most part of San Marco/ San Jose.

Ate there once, and it was very good.

4578 San Jose Blvd.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Jim on October 05, 2017, 11:25:57 AM
Quote from: Live_Oak on October 05, 2017, 09:15:56 AM
Five Points Tavern in the old O'brothers spot is pretty good. I think it opened up at the end of last year.
I'll second this vote.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: jaxrox on November 30, 2017, 11:59:33 PM
Where is good dough? Haven't heard of that one.. I'm still learning ;)
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Tacachale on December 01, 2017, 08:35:01 AM
Quote from: jaxrox on November 30, 2017, 11:59:33 PM
Where is good dough? Haven't heard of that one.. I'm still learning ;)

Hendricks Ave in San Marco. It's a good donut shop.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: lastdaysoffla on December 03, 2017, 07:16:42 PM
foo dog curry traders on Stockton is really good, I had never really had curry before, but I always like what I get there. Still working through the menu..  ;D
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Snaketoz on December 03, 2017, 09:13:30 PM
It may take diners awhile to get past the name-Foo Dog Curry Traders.  Doesn't inspire me to go there and dine.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: jaxrox on December 04, 2017, 11:10:31 AM
I can see where the name foo dog curry might be seen as negative lol..unless they get a lot of word of mouth positive reviews, and get flooded with good reviews on Google and Yelp and Facebook, maybe they ought to consider changing names? Supposedly that internet review stuff can make or break some smaller businesses? Just my two cents
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Snaketoz on December 04, 2017, 11:31:26 AM
Quote from: jaxrox on December 04, 2017, 11:10:31 AM
I can see where the name foo dog curry might be seen as negative lol..unless they get a lot of word of mouth positive reviews, and get flooded with good reviews on Google and Yelp and Facebook, maybe they ought to consider changing names? Supposedly that internet review stuff can make or break some smaller businesses? Just my two cents
Maybe they should change it to Wong's Cat Chow Mein Café.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Tacachale on December 04, 2017, 11:48:33 AM
Quote from: Snaketoz on December 03, 2017, 09:13:30 PM
It may take diners awhile to get past the name-Foo Dog Curry Traders.  Doesn't inspire me to go there and dine.

"Foo dogs" are these guys, which are Chinese in origin but used in various parts of Asia.

(http://islandbeerclub.com/gallery/FfooDog%20pr.jpg)

The name probably would have made more sense if their logo or sign or whatever actually had a foo dog. Most people who know what a foo dog is would probably think Chinese rather than South or Southeast Asian. And of course, many people don't know what it is, especially without seeing it.

But, the restaurant is very good and definitely worth checking out if you like curry.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Adam White on December 04, 2017, 03:05:12 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on December 04, 2017, 11:48:33 AM
Quote from: Snaketoz on December 03, 2017, 09:13:30 PM
It may take diners awhile to get past the name-Foo Dog Curry Traders.  Doesn't inspire me to go there and dine.

"Foo dogs" are these guys, which are Chinese in origin but used in various parts of Asia.

(http://islandbeerclub.com/gallery/FfooDog%20pr.jpg)

The name probably would have made more sense if their logo or sign or whatever actually had a foo dog. Most people who know what a foo dog is would probably think Chinese rather than South or Southeast Asian. And of course, many people don't know what it is, especially without seeing it.

But, the restaurant is very good and definitely worth checking out if you like curry.

Those are lions. I know some people call them 'foo dogs' but still...
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Tacachale on December 04, 2017, 03:30:22 PM
Quote from: Adam White on December 04, 2017, 03:05:12 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on December 04, 2017, 11:48:33 AM
Quote from: Snaketoz on December 03, 2017, 09:13:30 PM
It may take diners awhile to get past the name-Foo Dog Curry Traders.  Doesn't inspire me to go there and dine.

"Foo dogs" are these guys, which are Chinese in origin but used in various parts of Asia.

(http://islandbeerclub.com/gallery/FfooDog%20pr.jpg)

The name probably would have made more sense if their logo or sign or whatever actually had a foo dog. Most people who know what a foo dog is would probably think Chinese rather than South or Southeast Asian. And of course, many people don't know what it is, especially without seeing it.

But, the restaurant is very good and definitely worth checking out if you like curry.

Those are lions. I know some people call them 'foo dogs' but still...

Depends on where you are. In Japan, they're dogs. Whatever they are, they're what the restaurant called "Foo Dog" is named after.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: BridgeTroll on December 04, 2017, 03:32:02 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_guardian_lions
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Adam White on December 05, 2017, 04:14:21 AM
Quote from: Tacachale on December 04, 2017, 03:30:22 PM
Quote from: Adam White on December 04, 2017, 03:05:12 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on December 04, 2017, 11:48:33 AM
Quote from: Snaketoz on December 03, 2017, 09:13:30 PM
It may take diners awhile to get past the name-Foo Dog Curry Traders.  Doesn't inspire me to go there and dine.

"Foo dogs" are these guys, which are Chinese in origin but used in various parts of Asia.

(http://islandbeerclub.com/gallery/FfooDog%20pr.jpg)

The name probably would have made more sense if their logo or sign or whatever actually had a foo dog. Most people who know what a foo dog is would probably think Chinese rather than South or Southeast Asian. And of course, many people don't know what it is, especially without seeing it.

But, the restaurant is very good and definitely worth checking out if you like curry.

Those are lions. I know some people call them 'foo dogs' but still...

Depends on where you are. In Japan, they're dogs. Whatever they are, they're what the restaurant called "Foo Dog" is named after.

The picture you posted looks like Chinese lions to me. Not the Japanese ones (which are Lion Dogs or something). In any event, I think "foo dog" is a dumb name, for both a lion and a restaurant. But yeah, that's the reason for the restaurant's name.

In their defence, they do sell Japanese curry (apparently) - but Japan is not a big curry country and "foo dogs" seem like the wrong mascot for a curry house.
Title: Re: 2017´s best restaurants?
Post by: Tacachale on December 05, 2017, 11:05:15 AM
^Well, we've been talking about the name on the forum since yesterday, so there's that.