Metro Jacksonville

Living in Jacksonville => Dining => Topic started by: thelakelander on June 19, 2020, 07:40:35 AM

Title: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: thelakelander on June 19, 2020, 07:40:35 AM
Quote(https://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Business/Soul-Food-Restaurants/i-GQbTLFL/0/d7d4904e/L/20190929_123917-L.jpg)

In honor of Juneteenth, here are ten black owned authentic and locally operated soul food restaurants in Jacksonville. If you see a soul food establishment you'd recommend that is not listed, let us know!

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/ten-soul-food-restaurants-in-jacksonville/
Title: Re: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: downtownbrown on June 19, 2020, 09:03:18 AM
fantastic article and info.  Jacksonville could and should really brand itself around these gems.  Name another authentically homegrown resource in Jax.  Visit Jax ought to build a Soul Food Trail and market the hell out of it.  As a foodie destination, we've been looking for love in all the wrong places.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: JaxAvondale on June 19, 2020, 09:45:07 AM
Missing from this list is Grenville Kitchen is missing from this list. Great vegan restaurant!
Title: Re: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: Wacca Pilatka on June 19, 2020, 10:34:48 AM
Quote from: downtownbrown on June 19, 2020, 09:03:18 AM
fantastic article and info.  Jacksonville could and should really brand itself around these gems.  Name another authentically homegrown resource in Jax.  Visit Jax ought to build a Soul Food Trail and market the hell out of it.  As a foodie destination, we've been looking for love in all the wrong places.

Thanks!

Strongly agree.  Visitors often comment on how good the soul food options in Jacksonville are, including the comedian Katt Williams, who rhapsodized about Soul Food Bistro during his last national TV special.
Title: Re: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: thelakelander on June 19, 2020, 10:44:21 AM
^It makes sense. We're the freaking epicenter! This hit me like a rock sitting in Charleston a few years back, eating overpriced soul food that was way below the quality of the authentic stuff you can find all over Jax. It's definitely a part of our historic identity that we can do a much better job of marketing as opposed to focusing on gimmicks.
Title: Re: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: downtownbrown on June 19, 2020, 11:11:34 AM
yes.  The Grey in Savannah, a great restaurant that is trendy and upscale, but with soul food roots, is awesome.  But not strictly authentic. 

Somebody get on this, will ya?
Title: Re: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: thelakelander on June 19, 2020, 11:20:36 AM
You're the second person I've heard mention the Grey. I'll have to check it out next time I'm up in Savannah.
Title: Re: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: downtownbrown on June 19, 2020, 11:24:40 AM
check out Chef's Table on Netflix.  Season 6 episode 1.  Went up after watching it and met the developer behind the effort.  Called the Grey because it's an old Greyhouse bus station that they pay great homage to in the decor. 

Go right now. After you watch the episode.
Title: Re: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: thelakelander on June 19, 2020, 11:36:12 AM
Aww, I've walked past it. Last time up, I stayed in a hotel about a block south of it. I assumed it was a bar and not a restaurant.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Savannah/i-3XwBS2S/0/06b8ca2e/X2/20181215_172719-X2.jpg)
Title: Re: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: downtownbrown on June 19, 2020, 11:43:37 AM
that window is to the bar.  Restaurant and bigger bar in the back.  Very cool place.
Title: Re: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: downtownbrown on June 19, 2020, 01:22:52 PM
https://thegreyrestaurant.com/dinner/
Title: Re: Ten Soul Food Restaurants in Jacksonville
Post by: jaxlongtimer on June 19, 2020, 09:58:52 PM
Quote from: downtownbrown on June 19, 2020, 11:24:40 AM
check out Chef's Table on Netflix.  Season 6 episode 1.  Went up after watching it and met the developer behind the effort.  Called the Grey because it's an old Greyhouse bus station that they pay great homage to in the decor. 

Go right now. After you watch the episode.

The Grey was #1 in "New Restaurants" on the Southern Living rankings I posted on this thread from a few weeks ago:  https://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,36239.msg502587.html#msg502587 (https://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,36239.msg502587.html#msg502587)

Compare the fate of Savannah's Greyhound station to that of ours:  A nationally recognized restaurant vs. an illegally constructed parking lot!  This says it all about Downtown and our failure to preserve older buildings.