Chew now open for dinner

[02roadking]

Now Open for Dinner!
Chew has finally opened its doors for dinner. We will be open Thursday through Saturday starting at 5:30pm. Walk-ins and reservations are welcome.

If you have any questions please call the restaurant at 904.355.3793

[stephElf]

Sad to say it - but minus 1 point for Chew.  I checked it out last night and was disappointed.

Full review here:

http://reviewjax.blogspot.com/2009/05/chew-restaurant-downtown-jacksonville.html

[Deuce]

Great review. I'll definitely go. It's a shame they f-ed up your dinner. I've always had a good lunch there and the service is great (which is 1/3 the equation). Perhaps they are still finding their dinner legs.

[stephElf]

Thnx! If I didn't work 30 minutes away I would definitely try them for lunch.
I wish they were open on Sat for lunch or Sun for brunch.

[ChriswUfGator]

I also shelled out $200 for a terrible meal a Chew for dinner, and won't be going back. They don't have it together at that place, at least for the price niche they're trying to occupy. The service wasn't up to par, the place has an attitude, and the food was bizarre. I mean, combinations of stuff that just does NOT go well together.

Here was my urbanspoon review:

I wanted to like this place...I really did. But it just didn't happen..

We started off with two bowls of lobster bisque, which really should be called "essence of lobster" bisque, because there was no lobster in it. What it did have, however, was big chunks of mango and orange. WTF? In a bisque? And trust me, it tasted just as funky as it sounds.

And the entrees weren't much better. My $25 roast chicken was dry and overcooked, and my partner's $28 tuna and noodle bowl was the same thing you can get at any Japanese restaurant for $10.
The service itself was passable, but definitely not great. It certainly wasn't very friendly either. In fact, the place itself generally has a palpable 'attitude'.

There were a couple bright spots, though. The wine list, for one. The bottle we had was very nice, and their selection is made up of unique boutique wines, it's not just your usual KJ or Frog's Leap. So I don't mind paying a bit more for something new, especially when it pays off, like it did this time. I plan on ordering a case of the Pinot we had with dinner, I liked it so much,

And the desserts were also a bright spot. My pecan cake with pecan ice cream was obviously homemade and was very tasty. The jasmine cheesecake was innovative and very tasty as well. Additionally, the decor of the place is nicely done, and the layout is also nice, leaving enough space between tables that you can carry a conversation amongst your table instead of carrying the next table's conversation (a' la BB's) .

Overall, though, I really doubt I'll go back. For one, their attitude is writing checks that their kitchen can't cash. For two, it's pretty clear that the owner has come up with some very creative dishes, and then delegated their execution to a cook staff that isn't quite up to the job. The pieces are definitely all there with this place, but they just aren't coming together that well, or at least they didn't during my visit.

Maybe I caught them on a off night, because I know they do have a very loyal following. But I just didn't see it during my visit.

[stephElf]

"layout is also nice, leaving enough space between tables that you can carry a conversation amongst your table instead of carrying the next table's conversation (a' la BB's) ."

I literally said the same exact thing to my husband.

One thing I completely forgot to mention... apparently last night was some sort of AIDS benefit that several restaurants were participating in.  Part of our check went to AIDS. Ok fine, great, who would have a problem with that? Not me... however, some dude (I guess running the benefit) comes over to our table... explains this to us and then leaves us an envelope telling us to fill out our info to win TPC tickets and that if we care to make an addt'l donation that would be great. WTF.  The server could have politely told us where part of check was going and that should have been the end of it.  And he left stickers for us to wear on our shirts... I'm not trying to be a biotch but I'm trying to have a nice dinner with my husband, go away.. and when I tell him I get free TPC tickets every year through work he still doesn't leave....

[stephElf]

and am I wrong or do they only offer wine?  not even 1 beer ?

[ChriswUfGator]

Yeah, charities across the board are getting really pushy lately. I guess people are donating less because of the economy, and they're trying to make up the shortfall.

The AIDS research support thing is a great idea, I would happily give money to that cause, and in fact I normally do donate annually. But if someone parked themselves at my dinner table and refused to leave me alone, then I'd probably have been just as annoyed as you were. That's annoying, no matter how good the cause is.

[TREE4309]

Steph, can you score me a pair of TPC tickets?  I'd be eternally grateful!  =)

[stephElf]

If I get them this year, they are all yours!

[BridgeTroll]

Awww man... ya beat me to it   Anybody else have tix?