The one place you would send a visitor...

[TheCat]

Nothing brings us closer and nothing divides us more than restaurant opinions. Which restaurant is the first place a Jacksonville transplant or visitor should eat?

[sandyshoes]

Probably to Safe Harbor Seafood Restaurant for some real Mayport shrimp and fresh seafood at the beach in Florida.  They came all this way, right? 

[blizz01]

Metro Diner.  Honorable mention to 13 Gypsies.

[thelakelander]

Depends on the visitor and what their preferences may be.  I've taken visitors to a range of places.....from Jenkins BBQ and Soul Food Bistro to 13 Gypsies, Bold Bean Coffee and Al's Pizza.  Heck, had one childhood friend come to visit, who's still hooked on video games, so I directed him to Dave & Busters.

[TheCat]

I just visited Maple Street for the first time and I enjoyed it. I know it's ridiculous to say but I don't "feel" like it's unhealthy. The food is so rich and filling I had to took half my biscuit home. I'd take someone there.

Bold Bean for sure.

Chomp Chomp, probably.

Jenkins...never. It's one of the most disappointing cultural relics of our city.

Metro Diner, Kickbacks & Fox Diner all fall into a category of "if we have to."

Safe Harbor, though I have been there many times to buy seafood I have never ordered  a meal. So funny to me, that we live on the Ocean and most of our seafood comes from China.

[ben says]

Bold Bean for coffee, French Pantry for lunch, Orsay for happy hour, 13 Gypsies for food, Black Sheep for rooftop after-dinner drinks.

I don't think this town has a single breakfast joint that blows me away.

[thelakelander]

Jenkins...never. It's one of the most disappointing cultural relics of our city.

It's not for everyone, especially some of the foodies here.  However, when you're coming from across the tracks and decor, atmosphere, and presentation don't mean much, it's okay.  I deal with a pretty diverse crowd, so for me, it simply boils down to who I'm entertaining and what their preferences may be.

With that said, I've always thought Jenkins could have larger across the board appeal if they developed a "flagship" location with a decent atmosphere, decor and service.

[Shwaz]

Too hard to nail down just one place... so here's my list 

Breakfast: Metro Diner
Lunch: Mojo #4
Drink before dinner: Blacksheep Rooftop
Dinner: Orsay (Salty Fig - close 2nd)
Post dinner cocktails: Dos Gatos

2am gluttony: Hot Dog lady on King St.

[fsujax]

What?? I love Jenkins, the rib sandwich! oh yes. When I lived in Atlanta, I worked with people who knew about Jenkins in Jax.

[thelakelander]

Speaking of Jenkins and who you're entertaining, I threw a family reunion in downtown a few years back and I had Beach Road Chicken cater the weekend's opening night.  Some complained that they could cook a better meal and make better bread pudding.  However, what they really wanted was locally caught garlic crabs.  We ended up going to a hole in the wall garlic crab spot in Brentwood and buying enough crabs for a boil to feed 75 people.  They couldn't have been more happier.

[fsujax]

i have made mention to Jenkins that they could upgrade their restaurants a little and make it more of an attraction, but then again that may take away from the experience for some.

[thelakelander]

I've always thought they could keep their existing restaurants just like they are but consider opening a "flagship" location in a place like the Landing, which would have more appeal and visibility to segments of the population that don't hit.  However,  it's their business and I guess how it operates works for them.  After all, how long have they been around now?

[MEGATRON]

La Nopalera

[ben says]

La Nopalera

really?!

[MEGATRON]

La Nopalera

really?!

Yeah, unless the visitor did not like mexican, then maybe I'd take them to Longhorn if the line is not too long.