• Former Jacksonville Bar Association President Kelly Mathis and his wife have a Cuban restaurant in San Marco called the Black Bean. Mathis wants everyone to know he won’t be doing any of the cooking.From Daily Record
Has anyone seen this place yet?
Yes...it took over the Moe's that was in San Marco.
I have not been yet...
Yes, I have been. Made a post about it a while back.
had the black bean salad was tasty and fresh. really want to try the veggie cuban.
I had one of their variations of the cuban sandwich. I seemed more bbq-ish, but none the less it was good and I plan on returning to sample other items on the menu.
It's pretty tasty. Been there a couple times. You are right on the "Bbqish" thing. But it's still quite delicious. Not horribly comfortable with the amount of raw onions they put on some of the sandwiches. Bring breath mints.
Went there yesterday. Everyone enjoyed the meal. Had the veggie cuban was good but could have had a little more pizazz, will try the black bean burger next! Twice fried plantains were good!
I reviewed the restaurant on Yelp. Click here for the review and link (http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-black-bean-cuban-cuisine-jacksonville).
I ate there after working on a new piece of art for a client.
(http://budgetmediapro.smugmug.com/Travel/Florida/Florida/Doors-of-San-Marco/934031635_GpFQ9-L.jpg) (http://budgetmediapro.smugmug.com/Travel/Florida/Florida/12911571_Mjvzp#934031635_GpFQ9-A-LB)
I had two bad experiences here, once it took over 30 minutes to get our food, another time it was 20+ minutes and the food quality was totally inconsistent to the last time I was there. I would to give them another try, will have to convince the work crew though.
I've been a few times. The food takes forever to get out, but when it does, it's delicious. The island fries are well seasoned and delicious. I've had the Cuban sandwich twice, and it has been great both times. Other sandwiches i've had have been hit or miss. A couple have been potentially over cooked.
Don't go here if you're in a rush, but if you have some time check it out. Calling in your order is the best.
I have been there a couple of times. They are a sister restaurant to one in Tally. I liked it a lot and it is about time we get more and more Cuban food here. Only problem is that you can't get any Cuban coffee there. I have had several of the sandwiches and have not had any issue with it taking to long. I guess I got lucky.
QuoteOnly problem is that you can't get any Cuban coffee there.
Where can you get Cuban coffee in Jax? Lived in Tampa for years and started every day with cafe con leche and hot buttered Cuban bread. Heaven!
I would guess Havana Jax and there was a Cuban Coffee place that opened in the old Barnie's coffee space at Regency Square Mall I believe.
if you want good cuban coffee in Jax, get yourself an old school stovetop espresso percolator, a can of bustelo, a box of raw sugar, steam some milk and brew it yourself at home. I'd like to think I make the best in town, but my kitchen isn't large enough for all of you. sorry. btw, i also make the best mojitos in town as well.
Quote from: JaxNative68 on July 29, 2010, 04:50:07 PM
if you want good cuban coffee in Jax, get yourself an old school stovetop espresso percolator, a can of bustelo, a box of raw sugar, steam some milk and brew it yourself at home. I'd like to think I make the best in town, but my kitchen isn't large enough for all of you. sorry. btw, i also make the best mojitos in town as well.
I'll take your mojito challenge.
Let me know where and when :) and bring make sure you bring cab fare, because you wont be able to walk or drive away :O
Look out, Jax! Rockstar is a professional and really, really good at what he does.
I've got some real key lime juice from my tree's crop last year frozen to contribute.
Unfortunately, despite my efforts to protect it, it froze last winter after the harvest. Am planting a new one this winter.
I look forward to the challenge. I may not be a professional mixer, but I am a professional drinker, and have come up with a mojito recipe that blows anything away in the MetroJax area. Anyone who has had them, has never been able to enjoy them away from my house. It's a curse, but one I'm willing to bear, and my friends are glad that I do.
Quote from: JaxNative68 on August 03, 2010, 11:33:57 PM
I look forward to the challenge. I may not be a professional mixer, but I am a professional drinker, and have come up with a mojito recipe that blows anything away in the MetroJax area. Anyone who has had them, has never been able to enjoy them away from my house. It's a curse, but one I'm willing to bear, and my friends are glad that I do.
I'll be working the day/Happy Hour shift tomorrow (Thursday) @ Dos Gatos, 4-8pm. Come try one and tell me what you think.
Tuesdays and Thursdays I coach youth baseball after work, and I try not to pull the Morris Buttermaker prior to coaching children. Any other weekdays than these?
Need an impartial judge for the mojito showdown?
Quote from: JaxNative68 on August 04, 2010, 05:01:05 PM
Tuesdays and Thursdays I coach youth baseball after work, and I try not to pull the Morris Buttermaker prior to coaching children. Any other weekdays than these?
Your civic mindedness is making me thirsty....let me check my schedule... and @billy, happy to have a fair minded judge on board, be there when it happens!
I am out of town at present , but I hope to be back in the metro area mid August....
I didn't realize it was to be a showdown, but if it is, am I allowed to bring my own ingredients and get behind the bar?
Quote from: JaxNative68 on August 05, 2010, 11:53:28 AM
I didn't realize it was to be a showdown, but if it is, am I allowed to bring my own ingredients and get behind the bar?
It's not...I think @billy wanted to be in on any mojito madness that we had going... come down and try one of mine. We'll compare notes. If yours is really that good, I promise I can show you how to make it even better. And your legend will grow amongst your friends! LoL!!!
Besides, I have an extensive rum collection as well as all of the fresh ingredients...so unless you're using something exotic (which I probably have), we should be able to replicate yours as well...
Who doesn't want to be involved with mojito madness?
I make my own simple syrup and doctor my rum with a secret ingredient, which would be hard to replicate on the outside. I make the traditional mojito and I also make a variety of flavored mojitos at times to mix things up.
Let me know your schedule next week, so I can sample my competition and maybe share my secrets to make yours even better :) but will want profit sharing in boost of mojito sales
What was that place in 5 points that had Cuban coffee? They closed down about a year ago or so...
RS: This week?
Quote from: JaxNative68 on August 03, 2010, 11:33:57 PM
I look forward to the challenge. I may not be a professional mixer, but I am a professional drinker, and have come up with a mojito recipe that blows anything away in the MetroJax area. Anyone who has had them, has never been able to enjoy them away from my house. It's a curse, but one I'm willing to bear, and my friends are glad that I do.
Professional drinker! How did you swing that? Sweet!
The question is, how do you relax at the end of a long hard work workday?
I am but a gifted amateur.
What was it Dean Martin said?
" I feel sorry for people who don't drink.
They wake up in the morning and that's as good as they're going to feel all day..."
sorry, a self-proclaimed professional (glorified amateur) is more like it.
Still waiting on RockStars' schedule this week.
Please sir, don't destroy my dream!
my schedules up in the air
Quote from: JaxNative68 on August 09, 2010, 05:52:25 PM
sorry, a self-proclaimed professional (glorified amateur) is more like it.
Still waiting on RockStars' schedule this week.
I'm behind the bar Monday night from 9, Thursday from 8 and Friday from 5.
I want a ringside seat to this showdown! Isn't there another downtown pub crawl slated for this Thursday?
Quote from: Ethylene on August 10, 2010, 12:26:11 PM
Isn't there another downtown pub crawl slated for this Thursday?
I believe that is the one not affiliaed with MetroJacksonville
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 10, 2010, 01:09:28 PM
Quote from: Ethylene on August 10, 2010, 12:26:11 PM
Isn't there another downtown pub crawl slated for this Thursday?
I believe that is the one not affiliaed with MetroJacksonville
And that would be...?