For those looking for local crusine, this article mentions a few popular BBQ joints.
Slow means tastyQuoteJacksonville Business Journal - July 27, 2007
by Dolly PenlandCorrespondent
This area loves its barbecue, and at the height of summer, there's not much better eatin' than some of the down-home, real thing. While chain restaurants do a fine job, we've found a couple of mom-and-pop (mostly pop) places that make some outstanding barbecue, guaranteed to satisfy any meat eater.
Blackjack's Best BBQ on San Juan Avenue, between Blanding and Roosevelt boulevards, is best described as a backyard-cooking hobby that outgrew the yard.
"I was doing parties for 35 to 40 people and you can't fit that many people in the backyard," owner Rich Goldfarb said. "I was in dry cleaning, and my wife, Vita, is a teacher at Ed White High School. The restaurant was an accident."
Goldfarb sold his dry cleaning business about five years ago and opened Blackjack's in an old Skinner's Dairy building on Shirley Avenue. Blackjack's has outgrown that iconic little structure. The couple recently bought a larger, long-time barbecue location a few blocks away.
"It was called KC's until we took it over in September. Fred Cotten opened it in 1961. We changed it, put our name on it and do our own stuff."
Some of that stuff includes pork, ribs and chicken, as well as Cole Pepper's Blackjack BBQ Sauce, a collaboration between Goldfarb and Cole Pepper, WOKV sports director and noted BBQ fan.
"We have the best barbecue in town," Goldfarb said, adding that his 15-year-old daughter Robyn is becoming quite the pit boss. "I do all my own cooking. I still prepare them like when I was doing three slabs in the backyard for friends; the only difference is bigger containers."
Barbecue legend Fred Cotten had several locations around the city back in the day, so we'd be remiss not to mention the ever-popular Fred Cotten Barbeque on North Main, now owned by Billy Cowart. "If there's a barbecue place in town that can do a better rib than we can do, I haven't seen it," Cowart said. "We still do our own secret sauce, although there's several people who know how to make it. It's a mustard and vinegar sauce."
Cowart has changed the menu a bit, keeping the ribs, chicken and sliced pork, while adding items such as smoked turkey and fresh sausage.
"We make our sausage," he said. "About four years ago, I was losing about 300 pounds of rib trimmings a week. And the meat from the trimmings was fantastic. I had a good friend and I got him to see what we could do. He got to experimenting with sausages and finally he hit a flavor that I really liked."
Apparently the customers like it, too. "We have made the restaurant better, that's the truth."
Brown Brothers BBQ on King Street specializes in what it calls Authentic North Florida Barbecue. "All that meat is cooked start to finish on the pit, cooked nice and slow," said Manager Eric Markert. "It gives it a nice smoky flavor."
The pork and ribs are hands-down customer favorites. "I go through about 200 pounds of pork a day and 150 to 180 pounds of pork spare ribs a day," he said. "People compare me to [several chain restaurants] all the time and say they're never going back" because they prefer Brown Brothers.
Brown Brothers also has its own special sauces, including a mustard-based sauce. "It's from an old recipe that's been around [North Florida] for about 65 years," Markert said.
But for those who like spicy barbecue sauce, try what Markert calls "SMOG."
"That's for 'Sweet mother of God!' It's got heat."
jbjofftheclock@bizjournals.com
For more information:
Blackjack's BBQ
http://www.blackjacksbestbbq.com/ (http://www.blackjacksbestbbq.com/)
Brown Brothers BBQ
http://www.brownbrothersbbq.com/ (http://www.brownbrothersbbq.com/)
Fred Cotten BBQ
http://www.yellowbot.com/cotten-fred-barbecue-jacksonville-fl.html (http://www.yellowbot.com/cotten-fred-barbecue-jacksonville-fl.html)
Here's decent list of the BBQ joints in the area.
http://www.eujacksonville.com/pages/06-14-07/diningguide.htm
E
nice... I see I have a few places to try out.
Mojo's que is my favorite now. Beach location has ocassional live blues music.
http://www.mojobbq.com/mojokitchen/index.php
I haven't tried out the new Mojo's, but the old location is pretty good. I also have no complaints against Blackjack's, Cotten's, Jenkins, Jim Brown's and Down South BBQ in Ponte Vedra. I prefer those over the larger chains like Woody's, Bono's and Sonny's.
I like all those you named, Lake, including Mojo.
Don't bother with Woody's or Bono's unless you're going to the original.
Woody's original is at Atlantic and University.....although they now cook in a closed pit, and IMO, I don't think it's as good.
The original Bono's is on Beach Blvd. (west of University Blvd.) just west of the Hart Expressway overpass.
I am not a bar-b-que expert but I have heard good things about
Jenkins Quality Barbecue
830 N Pearl St (904) 353-6388
If you haven’t been to Jenkins Quality Barbecue, you are missing out on a Jacksonville tradition. Jenkins has a place where you can sit down, but they’re most known for their take-home chicken in a bag. They sell them by half or whole, slather them in the Jenkins mustard-based sauce and stick them in a bag with several slices of bread. It looks terrible, but tastes great. Jacksonville natives also love their finely-minced slaw and the Jenkins Sauce for their home barbecues.
Looking at the menu http://www.jenkinsqualitybarbecue.com/menu.htm it seems they have the traditional down home style.
I have been seeing the MOJO ads in folio and that place looks cool too.
Update: Jerome Brown's BBQ is moving into the old Guthrie's Chicken spot in Springfield, across the street from 9th & Main.
There is definately no lack of good quality BBQ in Jacksonville. There are so many good places. I remember going to Fred Cottens on Main St when I was a little kid. To this day it is still good. Jenkins is also great, especially for those of us living in Downtown and Springfield.
Jerome Brown's BBQ, across from 9th & Main in Springfield is now open.
Mojo is my fav.
I agree with Copperfiend. If you want some super-succulent turkey, you HAVE to go to Mojo (University and San Jose, I believe). Seriously, they have huge portions and I've never gotten a crusty, dried out piece of meat ever.
Quote from: thelakelander on January 02, 2008, 09:39:11 PM
Jerome Brown's BBQ, across from 9th & Main in Springfield is now open.
Tried the pork on a bun with some baked beans for lunch today. It was ok. Nothing to write home about. The hot lunch buffet table @ 5.95 looked pretty good though.
Hey Everyone! Is Smokey Bones still open in Jacksonville?
Yes. I just had a beef brisket sandwich from there this past weekend.
GO VEGETARIAN!
Would have to say that Mojo is still tops! They just opened another location in Fleming Island. They seem to take the best from all regions - especially in the sauces; but there are subtle touches as well - they even have the glass bottles of Cheerwine and Sun Drop (Carolina sodas) & Shiner Bock (nice Texas brew). It can get pricier than the Bonos, Sonnys & Woodys in the area, but there are some real gems within the menu: if on a budget (who's not these days?) - for under $7 you can order off of the app. menu & get the pulled pork sliders, split them with another & be stuffed (small buns, but overflowing with the good stuff). Enough - I'm going right now.......
Mojo's is the best in town by far. Woody's, Bono's, Sonny's = crap.
I wouldnt say Sonnys, Bono's and woodys is crap.
Ours unexpectedly closed in Tallahassee a little over a year ago... I was under the impression that they all had. Was there ever an interruption in business?
Yeah... I rather enjoy Sonny's as a 2nd or 3rd option. Do you all have Famous Daves?
Quote from: Eazy E on July 01, 2008, 10:37:53 AM
GO VEGETARIAN!
They all have vegetable items... sweet corn, cole slaw, okra, fries, baked potato... go on in have some... You may sneak in a rib or two... ;D
Quote from: adamh0903 on July 01, 2008, 10:54:47 AM
I wouldnt say Sonnys, Bono's and woodys is crap.
Maybe I'm a BBQ snob, but I know I make much better BBQ than any of those places. Hopefully, you'll agree that in comparison to Mojo those other places are crap.
Is Jacksonville at a point in which it can claim their "own" style? Given the abundance of choices around town & the expectations within, it has certainly become a staple. I know that when I go out of town BBQ is often in the rotation & I'm always finding myself comparing it to JAX. Furthermore, when out of town guests visit me, JAX BBQ seems to be on their short list as well. I'm not ready to qualify JAX in the Memphis or St. Louis echelon, however, there certainly seems to be some validity.
C'mon bono's isn't awful! It's a hair above woodys in my opinion. I always get the pulled pork sammich from bonos with the spicy mustard and i'm never disappointed, not bad for a chain bbq place.
Bono's doesn't hold a candle to cottons or jerome browns though.
Has anyone had any good experiences or an opinion about brown boys or hickory chips in Riverside? I've eaten at both places once and I haven't had the overwhelming urge to return, but maybe I didn't order the right thing.
Also, I have a confession to make. I'm a Jacksonville native and have never had jenkins. Sad but true...
Quote from: blizz01 on July 01, 2008, 11:02:50 AM
Is Jacksonville at a point in which it can claim their "own" style? Given the abundance of choices around town & the expectations within, it has certainly become a staple. I know that when I go out of town BBQ is often in the rotation & I'm always finding myself comparing it to JAX. Furthermore, when out of town guests visit me, JAX BBQ seems to be on their short list as well. I'm not ready to qualify JAX in the Memphis or St. Louis echelon, however, there certainly seems to be some validity.
I think Jacksonville does have its own unique BarBQ style. The Jacksonville style sauce is mustard based and can be either thick (like Woody's or Jenkin's) or runny (like Fred Cotten's). Because of the influx of people from other regions, we have all sorts of BarBQ available but I would say that the mustard based sauce is our distinguishing local characteristic. Jacksonville is therefore in the mustard belt which stretches all the way to South Carolina as opposed areas where tomato based sauce (TN for example) or vinegar based sauce (NC) predominate.
Having just visited TX, I can say with 100% definity that Bo, No's nothing about BBQ (that was a play on words for those that may not have gotten the funny). True though. I thought that BBQ was supposed to naturally be stringy and tough on the ends...and so dry you have to completely cover it in sugary bbq sauce until I ate at Risky's in downtown Fort Worth. 3 words, Oh...MAW...GAWD!!! Like heaven wrapped in angels, covered with fairy dust.
As Riversidegator mentioned, we do have our own style of BBQ. It can be found at local spots like Jenkins, Jerome Browns and Fred Cottens.
QuoteHas anyone had any good experiences or an opinion about brown boys or hickory chips in Riverside? I've eaten at both places once and hasn't had the overwhelming urge to return, but maybe I didn't order the right thing.
I stopped by Hickory Chips the other week for ribs, but they had a limited menu that day (chicken and hot dogs) and they don't take credit cards anymore.
So... when I visit Jax next time... I'm supossed to go to Moho's? What type of prices are we talking here?
Here's a link to the Mojo's BBQ menu:
http://www.mojobbq.com/
http://mojobbq.com/mojobbq/food.html#view
Quote from: thelakelander on July 02, 2008, 02:51:56 PM
Here's a link to the Mojo's BBQ menu:
http://www.mojobbq.com/
http://mojobbq.com/mojobbq/food.html#view
Any idea as to when the location at the St. John's Town Center is opening?
Give me Jenkins any day of the week. I used to work downtown in the old JEA building, formerly the old Independece life building, opposite the ambassador hotel. Could walk to Jenkins for lunch. One my most memorable experiences, went in ordered a rib sandwich, was chatting with some of the other customers. One of the employees walked out of the kitchen and yelled who had the rib sandwich. The lady who took my order yelled out "Its the white guys out front". Which was an easy way to distinguish me from the rest of the patrons 8)
Jenkins is by far the best for Ribs ONLY. DO NOT get any side items there as they are disgusting.
Bono's is and has been a Jacksonville staple for many many years. Im 34 and used to eat it as a kid.
There are two fairly new BBQ joints in Riverside, Hickory Chips (which Ive heard is good) next to Normans and European street on Park street and Brown Bros. BBQ on King street near where the old King Street Grocery used to be (thank GOD that place closed). Brown Bros. is pretty good.
I was really disappointed in the Mojo's on University.
I had the pulled pork platter with Texas Toast, cheddar grits and collard greens. I will admit the pulled pork was tasty, but everything else was pretty lackluster and cold.
I went to the Bono's at Bartram for lunch last week with a friend and got the same thing except Mac n Cheese vs. grits and thoroughly enjoyed all of it a lot more...
Still need to check out Jenkin's though...
If you go to Jenkins be prepared to wait like 30 minutes and also be prepared to have the most delicious ribs that have ever touched your lips. I do want to stress again DO NOT BUY ANY SIDES.
I really like Crim's on 5208 Ricker Rd. (904) 771-5757 http://www.realpagessites.com/crimsbarbq/ (http://www.realpagessites.com/crimsbarbq/)
Our office did a potluck where we all chipped in money. We had people from down the hall wanting some from just the smell. It was amazing. I've heard he made his start with the Super Bowl and him cratering for both teams.
Switch Hitter huh, thats hot.
I went to the Monroe's Smokehouse BBQ on Edgewood and Highway avenue yesterday and the Beef brisket was really good.
If it is still there, Cracker's in Julington Creek is very good. My all time local favorite BBQ place is long gone however. Shiver's in St. Augustine, which is now just a vacant lot, used to have the best South Carolina Style BBQ hash around...complete with cole slaw on the bun. I do have to agree with a previous writer, when it comes to overall BBQ, Texas is hard to beat!
Mojo's is a great BBQ joint. I frequent the beaches location quite often. There is only one place that I prefer and that is Blue's BBQ. Blue's is a little shack just off exit 3 on 95 in Georgia. It's been closed for about a month for renovations which due to its size should have only taken about a day but..... If your ever passing by and hungry, I recommend strongly. I have been to Neely's (owners on food network) and it doesn't hold a candle.
Quote from: David on July 01, 2008, 12:20:24 PM
Also, I have a confession to make. I'm a Jacksonville native and have never had Jenkins Quality Barbeque. Sad but true...
(Lil John voice) WHAAAAAAAAT!!!! Man Ive been eating Jenkins since a kid, I think I first had it when I was six or seven I just turned 29 today(9-10-79)!!! My lil brother just Fed Ex'd me 2 bottles of Jenkins BBQ sauce. I hit both of the spots near King & Park, the Brown Brothers had a lot of fat on the bone, I like that soft muscle meat, but not too soft where it is falling off the bone, I want to remove the meat with my teeth. Bono's is ok, Gorgees on Cassat & Normandy is pretty good to. Mojo's and Jenkins are about a tie, Jenkins meat is softer plus they have that famous "Smoke Signal", but MoJo has way better presentation.
Does anyone remember a great place (at least, I thought it was great as a kid) called The Red Barn that used to be on Wesconnett years ago? Some of my earlier Jacksonville memories included going there with my grandfather in the eighties - they used to have live music too. In the sixties, my grandfather actually owned a BBQ place on Cassat called Old Smokey, but with the influx of car dealerships moving in at the time the temptation was too great & he sold off his property on that strip.
Tried Monroes Smokehouse on Highway Ave this weekend for the first time and was impressed. The Ribs and Brisket were outstanding, and the sides, Mac & Cheese, Greens were excellent. Also the Banana Split pie was outstanding as well.
I do love monroe's barbecue .
MMMMMMMMMMMojo's!!!!!!!
Jenkin's searves up a good plate as well.
I'll try Monroe's. Sounds good.
Quote from: cayohueso on September 05, 2008, 03:00:11 PM...........If it is still there, Cracker's in Julington Creek is very good. ...........
Crackers sold out the Fruit Cove store. Pictures of the dead animals are gone or covered up. Store is still there. They've changed some. Crackers can be found somewhere on Hwy 16 near the outlet mall.
Mojo's is still my fav. Nice atmosphere and great food. Monroes is kind of shabby but the food is great and the staff are really nice people.
Has anyone been to Q in San Marco?
Drove down Saint Johns Avenue earlier today and construction is underway on the new Mojo location.
Not a BBQ buff and there’s plenty of places mentioned that haven’t been to, but so far Mojo’s wins it for me for these reasons:
They have the several sauce varieties at every table
Ribs, falling off the bone, good
Good draft beer selections
They have collard greens (you’d be surprised how many places I’ve been to that don’t carry this)
Napkin dispenser at every table (I hate when some places don’t do this. BBQ is messy ALWAYS, don’t be chinsey with the napkins)
Quote from: Bewler on January 11, 2011, 05:43:19 PM
Not a BBQ buff and there’s plenty of places mentioned that haven’t been to, but so far Mojo’s wins it for me for these reasons:
They have the several sauce varieties at every table
Ribs, falling off the bone, good
Good draft beer selections
They have collard greens (you’d be surprised how many places I’ve been to that don’t carry this)
Napkin dispenser at every table (I hate when some places don’t do this. BBQ is messy ALWAYS, don’t be chinsey with the napkins)
Monroe's hits the mark on all of your points.
Quote from: AntigoneStarr on January 11, 2011, 03:48:24 PM
Has anyone been to Q in San Marco?
Nothing to write home about.... Mojos is 5 min down the road and blows the Q out of the water.
Jenkins has always been my favorite, but reading all these comments about Mojo's makes me want to try it.
K C BBQ on SanJuan, po'dunk and delicious. now gone and missed. new home to a bakery, dessert first
KC's always had really good Brunswick Stew. I miss that one too. Monroe's is very good and pretty quick. Good sides too. Jenkin's tends to cook on pallett wood. Avoid at all costs.