TINY FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS! We need a report!

[Ocklawaha]

Hey MetroJacksonville Team, we need to do a report every couple of months.  On the really tiny places to eat or enjoy in Jacksonville. Some of my own discovery's recently that are worth every effort to visit are as follow:

JAY'S FRIED CHICKEN AND SEAFOOD, at 21st. and Liberty Street, Springfield area.

Oh my God, the BEST baked beans I have ever eaten. The Chicken is in-expensive and has that real old south kitchen flavor. The Gizards, or seafood is among the best in the entire county, and I'll take an oath on that statement. Tiny little place in the hood, but even if your one of those folks that feels uneasy being the only white in sight. Relax brother, let me tell you JAY'S is family. The cleanest and best place for these dishes in town!!

Number Two? Not really number Two, but also a NUMBER ONE place, is Hughes Southern Cooking, on 3118 North Pearl. Wow, every dish that every Southern man or woman ever grew up with. Again, the same rule applies to friendly. The difference is that Hughes has been around and is well established in the community and Jay's is brand new and "in need of business". Word of mouth is filling seats in both places. Many professionals and City employees have discovered Hughes over the years, they come back again and again... no wonder. If my Good Wife Libby, Glorious, Diane and Gwynedd (folio's master investigator writer) wouldn't have dragged me kicking and crying out the door, I'd still be eating that Peach cobbler...

Another? Okay, it's your turn to tell me... two old places that once did business and were known as the working executive lunch or breakfast spots. TADS, was on Park in Brooklyn-Riverside at Forest Street. JTA tore it down for the new Forest Street project. I have memories of this fine place back into the 1950's... When Mr. T. A. Davis himself used to joke about "I'm TAD!"  Today, I understand it has been reincarnated somewhere out in the west side. Please oh please, someone go find it and give us a report. Is it still the business lunch place? Still the blue plate special? Still the best homemade burger in town? Where the hell is it?

Pat and Mikes? Another ghost? of the past? Once out on Edgewood at Cassett or some such location near the junction. About 1/2 truck stop, gravel lot and 1/2 fine dining. They had great Sunday after church meal specials and were still in business about 1983-4. Similar to a home grown Denny's + Steak n Shake, all in one.

Anybody remember the seafood at Prichetts? Kitchen? This was on the Cedar River at Blanding. I hear it burned about the time most of you were born. Maybe some of the old timers remember it. Great salads!

Lastly, LUM'S HOTDOGS, broiled in beer! Big old place on Blanding near Cedar Hills Center. Some kind of fine dogs and there for a million years then "Poof.... gone...."

Steak and Ale, Hooters, Denny's, Barnhills, BK, and Mickey D's are a dime a dozen, I want home grown food!
I want to read about these home grown and homemade and other often tiny places, come on y'all catch me up here, I'm looking for roots, home, pecan pie, fried chicken and my very own clogged arteries. I consider it an investment in eternity with a great flavor!

Ocklawaha

[Charles Hunter]

TAD's (or is it Tad's) is on Lane Avenue, not too far north of San Juan.  It is a free-standing place (in an old Clock Restaurant building) in front of a Sonny's in a strip center.  Have not eaten there yet, but intend to some day.

Pat and Mike's has closed, but has new owners, and is now called Monroe's Bar-B-Q.  It is on Highway Avenue a little bit east of Edgewood.  Good food, quick friendly service.  Only open for lunch inside, but has carryout for dinner.  And the inside is much cleaner than P&Ms was.

[lindab]

Ok, here's a couple for you in Riverside. Mickey's Wings on Stockton at Ernest Street. Drive-thru only. Not only good wings but great gizzards, fish, you name it. Served piping hot in those little paper containers with fries and hot sauce. Get your car in line at lunch time cause it's Yummy!

Gina's Deli and Michael's Deli. Family run little tiny places where they really feed you. Gina's is on the end of Five Points shops on Post Street, across the street from the parking lot of the Riverside Presbyterian church. Michael's is just past Judson's on Barrs Street one block from St. Vincent's Hospital. Full of doctors and nurses at lunchtime. Same menu in each place. Fried fish sandwich, fries  and cherry limeade, oh my! Three way salads - more than two people can eat of your choice of pasta salad, potato salad, fruit salad, chicken, tuna, cucumber and tomato, carrot and raisin. All kinds of sandwiches, hot lentil soup on cold days. Baklava to finish off the meal and you too. Be sure to take someone else because you won't be able to eat it all.

[James]

I've eaten at Tad's, but only breakfast.  Anytime I play golf at Hyde Park, it is less than a mile away, so I always eat there, never a complaint, great quick service, an obvious "local" crowd, I always see people being called by name and last time I was there, one of the servers brought a bday card to one of the guys eating there 

[Ocklawaha]

Charles, I didn't know Pat and Mikes had fallen into disrepair, guess age, location or other factors came into play. As I recall it, way back in say 1967, It was butt ugly. I don't think it ever had a paved parking lot. It resembled something of an old Sambos on Crack... Kind of like a giant Walgreens with those huge windows all around 3 sides, and typical cheap little tables and booths scattered all over the dining area. It was once clean as could be though...

My dad was a civilian Navy Exchange Commander for the SE region. He bought a new 59 Sedan de Ville, all white. He had a black trilby hat that he used when he drove that car anywhere. Mostly he kept it stored away as his toy. Pat and Mikes was one of those trips. We lived in Ortega, so after church on Sunday, we'd flip a coin and decide to go to Trout's, Pat and Mikes or sometimes Prichetts Kitchen. Another member of our little church was Will Butts, owner and developer of about 1/2 of the mobile home or travel trailer business in the City up to that time. Will and Dad were great friends, so Will went out and bought a brand new 59 Sedan de Ville, all black! He searched all over town before Rosenblooms or some similar store came up with a White Trilby hat to wear when he was driving. Every Sunday, it was a contest over who was paying the bill, Dad or Will. It became very complex, with lots of bribes and money under and over the table to the wait staff... each trying to outdo the other, and all for fun. Pat and Mikes as well as the other two mentioned here were all in on the game. It was win-win for everyone and the whole restaurant would sometimes get involved in some scheme or joke. Lot's of fond memories...

Come on Y'all, get those magic fingers opening up you own tales of tiny food places. I want to know where the "Soul Food" of Jacksonville has gone.

Ocklawaha

[Ocklawaha]

So James, where is Tad's? Landmarks? Roads? Is it still worth the effort to go? Homemade pies?

Ocklawaha

[James]

Tad's is at 1921 Lane Ave at the corner of Hyde Grove and Lane in front of Sonny's bbq.  It is just north of San Juan close to Salty's Seafood and Uncle Charlie's.  I found a couple of reviews online that all talked about how great the lunch and dinner was, homecooking, etc...but all I can personally attest to is the excellent breakfast.  We used to have a few families that always went to Tad's after church on Sunday and raved about the great wait staff and affordable food.  The fact that I can break 100 at Hyde Park has nothing to do with the ease of the course and everything to do with Tad's breakfast!  I think they have a glass cabinet upfront, that may have homemade pies in it, but couldn't tell you for sure, I'd highly recommend it. 

[Driven1]

Professor Plum's Playhouse!!!  delicious and entertaining!!!

[Galois]

If you are near Beach Blvd, be sure to try out Angie's Subs. It is next to Adventure Landing. If you are on the westside on Edgewood there is a place called LunchBreak (2851 Edgewood Ave N Ste 1
Jacksonville, FL 32254 ) it is very clean and delicious and moderately priced compared to the other places on Edgewood.

[copperfiend]

Angie's is good. I also like the Beach Hut Cafe on Third Street.

[downtownparks]

Russ Does Sandwich shop on Tallyrand is an institution. Ann's, across the street from Russ Does, is the ugly little step sister to Russ's