A Top 25 To Do List

Jacksonville Magazine publishes a Top 25 (and other notable eateries in the area)every year. I decided I needed to see how many places mentioned in the article I have yet to visit. I'll have to update when they post the 2010 edition in September.

Yet to try;
619 Ocean View
aqua grill
95 cordova
avile's
juliette's bistro
salt
blackstone grill
dwight's bistro
marker 32
mezza luna
nineteen
eleven south
ocean 60
beech street grill
espana
sarnelli's
sorbello's
joe's second street bistro
opus 39
present moment cafe
plae
bistro de leon
collage
the reef
blu grotto
river city brewing company
zaitoon
morton's
the row
capital grille
sorrento
beach road chicken dinners
chizu
o'steens
giovanni’s
charthouse
hilltop
homestead
wine cellar

Tried;
north beach bistro
bistro aix
mitchell's
shula's 347
roy's
bonefish
ruth chris
melting pot
13 gypsies
cantina laredo
b.b's
biscotti's
blue bamboo
azurea
orsay
pastiche
brick
lemongrass
chew
matthew's
29 south
thai garden
whitey's fish camp
bono's
ragtime

Full article
http://www.jacksonvillemag.com/pdfs/JM_46-57lo.pdf

The Trek to French Pantry

French Pantry on Urbanspoon

The Best Pizza & Salad You Probably Haven't Tried Yet

Arte Pizza on Urbanspoon

I love produce markets

Jacksonville has many produce markets and the costs are usually cheaper than your local grocery store. Here are just a few!


• Jacksonville Farmers Market (Beaver St.) pre-dawn to dusk, all 365 days of the year http://www.jaxfarmersmarket.com/default.asp
• Hemming Plaza Market 10am-2pm, Every Friday. (Subject to weather.) http://www.downtownjacksonville.org/things-to-do/downtown-vision-events/hemming-plaza-market
• St Johns Town Center Every Friday from 3pm -8pm http://www.sjtcfarmersmarket.com/Welcome.html
• Riverside Arts Market Saturday, April to December 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM http://www.riversideartsmarket.com/index.html
• Beaches Green Market Every Saturday 2- 5 PM http://beacheslocalfoodnetwork.web.officelive.com/greenmarket.aspx
• Mandarin Local Farmers Market at Whole Foods Market Sundays 2:00pm to 6:00pm http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/jacksonville/storecalendar.php
• Pecan Park Flea and Farmers Market (unsure of hours please contact them directly) http://www.pecanparkrvresort.com
• Fernandina Farmers Market Every Saturday, 9am - 1pm http://www.fernandinafarmersmarket.com/

Pinegrove Deli

This tiny place is in my neighborhood not even on the main drag it's been around I believe 40 years. The reason is it is GOOD! Not fancy, not big, just good and the owner and his family are so friendly. I have enjoyed everything I got there but today I tried the cuban.(insert harp chords)

I saw a chef who listed the cuban as an "interest" on Facebook and I said if he likes it that much it must be good. No lie I got the small version and was disappointed at the size then I unwrapped and saw the most amazing cuban. More meat then bread! Slow roasted pork oozing out the sides. Toasted on the outside but still soft and not hard. Genius! And the price with tax no drink, no sides $6.41 sweet

Ted's Montana Grill

I've been twice and got bison burgers both times. The burgers are great and the toppings are imaginative. Avocado, Monterey Jack, Green Chilis wonderful! However, both times it took 30 minutes+ to get our food. I will say the food is worth it but just don't go in expecting to eat quick and you'llbe fine.

High Tide

Nopales with mushrooms is all I have to say (in a soft taco). I can't get cactus anywhere else yum! I also got it with the medium salsa verde and churro beans to combat any blandness that I heard off. Yes they charge you extra for chips but so what they are good chips.

The torta looked great as well but I myself have not tried it plus I wasn't in the mood for all that bread.

My Wedding Menu -- Catering

- Coconut Curry Shrimp Rolled in Crushed Banana Chips and Macadamia Nuts
- Pulled Flank Steak with Caribbean Barbecue Sauce on Hawaiian Rolls
- Tangerine-Ginger Glazed Sides of Salmon with Snow Pea Jicama Slaw
- Key West Black Bean Salad with Hominy and Chick Peas
- Island Jerk Chicken Skewers with Mango Relish
- Citrus Scented Cous Cous with Mint, Sweet Corn, and Smoked Almonds

We also had passed assorted sushi a coworker of Matt's made for us.

One of my favorite restaurants, Pastiche did the Catering and they were awesome
http://www.mypastiche.com

Azurea @ One Ocean

I took my mom for her birthday the first week in April and we both got salads. I got the seared tuna grilled pineapple salad and my mom got the seafood cobb. Both generous portions and quality seafood plus we sat outside and the weather was awesome and I got a tan while eating which never hurts. The service was great and not stuffy @ all.

We also ordered a lot of room service the two times we stayed at the hotel. They do it all well from simple, grilled cheese and tomato soup to sophisticated, lobster benedict. I love bendicts and I was impressed to taste a hint of lime and cayenne in the hollandaise.

Save money on a vacation stay at One Ocean!

Orsay

My new favorite

Matt had the foie gras filet mignon and I had the rabbit enough said! We also were so very impressed with all the speciality cocktails. Especially the jalepeno pear margarita and the strawberry fields. We also had a fantastic raw bar sampler of calamari salad, raw oysters,poached shrimp & mussels. Worth every cent and dangerously within walking distance from the house! I want to go back soooo bad but am busy with wedding plans but after it is open season!

Taco Lu's

I have many favorite Mexican / Fresh Mex / Southwestern places but I have different things that I like at each place. I heard Taco Lu's was great but I was scared I love the Tacos from Burrito Gallery and I didn't want that to change. Good news I love the Taco Lu tacos (we got a couple of each kind to try at the table) but all the insides are totally different from Burrito Gallery. Taco Lu's is out of my way but if I need a bangin' shrimp or lamb taco I'm gonna make that drive stat.

Here is a summary of some of my favorites in the same genre
MossFire seared ahi tacos or buffalo shrimp toastada
Tijuana Flats Dos Tacos beef and black bean crunchy shell bjolts(jalenpeno, onion, lettuce, tomato, sour cream)I have no clue about that b
Burrito Gallery my new favorites are terayaki tofu (this comes in a burrito too!) or black bean tacos (also love the steak, carnitas and shrimp)
Cantina Laredo top shelf guac and the CAMARON POBLANO ASADA

Ruth's Chris Steak House

We love steak so when I took my husband here I knew it would be good. In fact it was great. The intense heat they use with the seasoning is excellent and also reminds me this is what they are know for, steak is in the name. I always get a filet mignon because the size and tenderness whenever I order steak and it was indeed wonderful. However we got a bit more imaginative with Matt's order. I asked them what cut of steak did they have that was different that not every place has. That my friend is when we learned of the Cowboy Ribeye. Oh my it is the ribeye with the bone in. It gives it such an intense great flavor. It was so awesome Matt wanted to pick up the bone and chew on it which I said he really should not do at this lovely establishment. However this is such a phenom that they had bone doggie bags so Matt could munch at home and then give said bone to our dog.

13 Gypsies

We went for Mandy's birthday soon after they opened. Just the girls and some wines and we all ordered different tapas to share. It was wonderful angry bull and blackened octopus were my favorites.

Now I get to pop in for lunch when I can and the double cow of hot roast beef is great. I also like whatever soup is cooking.

If you are set on going here you may want to make reservations (even for lunch) the place is tiny. It is worth it though and Kiki and Chef deliver very person service.

Matthew's

This is a great place and you should really treat yourself to the chef's tasting menu with the wine flight. You will drop some money but it will be very worth it. I suggest this too because not many places have a course menu with wines so it makes the experience. You can find other establishments that have the entrees in the same price range but go for it! It was a great experience. Our waiter and the sommelier were very knowledgable about the wine and the food.

Pattaya Thai Restaurant Try the dinner specialties

I had been here for lunch and found everything to be quite good. When I went for dinner I got a real treat. We ordered the house specialities offered on the first page of the menu. I had the shrimp pineapple curry bowl. So good! Served in a hollowed pineapple with an orchid to decorate shrimp, curry, pineapple, and red and green peppers. Wonderful and it didn't come with a bunch of rice to bog you down I am sure I could have asked for some but I didn't want it. My fiance also choose from this menu area. He got grilled shrimp and veggies. The shrimp were huge the veggies were great with a ginger sauce. Also no rice to bog us down. The entrees were more expensive but definately worth it.

Bb's

Rock Shrimp Salad + Calamari appetizer

Insanely wonderful! The asian touches in these two dishes are spot on. Without being too heavy even though the shrimp and calamari are both fried. Oh and the crossiant bread pudding is great I didn't even know I like bread pudding... I do now.

Arte Pizza Fernandina

THE BEST PIZZA EVER

I guess that depends on what you are looking for but me personally I like thin crust pizza my favorite in the area is Al's and Pizza Palace. They are good but this was so fantastic and authentic and wonderful. Super thin wood fired pizza they have a great menu but the two times I went I decided on the pizza of the day. The one time was for shrimpfest and I got a shrimp, lives and avocado pizza. Yummy! Next I went back a few weeks later and got a garlic, ricotta, meatball and pepperoni number. Super Yummy! I will be back for sure.

Green Lake Chinese Restaurant

Chinese usually takes a back seat to all of my asian favorites. It never seems fresh. Not true at Green lake the place is very small so I recommend take out. Everthing is fresh. Looks like a typical Chinese take out but I think you'll taste the difference.

West Inn Cantina This used to be my Cheers

Yes West Inn Cantina a home away from home. Live music Wed- Friday. A drive-thru package liquor store. Friendly wait staff and food that is way above the bar food standard. Fresh specials every night as well. Sit outside on the patio and you'll get less of a bar feel. Regulars always adorn the bar and for good reason. It is a place you want to keep coming back to. I met my boyfriend (now husband 4/11/09) there a year and a half ago and we now have a dog named Monty. (the place used be called Monty's and people still refer to it that way)

Bistro Aix A Mixed Bag

Everyone raves so I had to go. The first time I went I had the pear salad and escargot and maybe I wasn't feeling to great that day but I was not impressed. The pear was not ripe the dressing was undetectable and the escargot had a dirt flavor and was in a sweet instead of savory puff pastry. Yipes

However, Bistro Aix and I had a rematch two Saturdays ago and I was very pleased! Our whole party of 15 enjoyed their meals and that says something with all the picky eaters out there. I choose Salmon as my theme. I had the Salmon Tartare which was delicious followed by the smoked salmon, caviar and creme fraishe pizza. I only had two small sized pieces since it was so big and I was already full from the tartare. I ate it later and it was just as wonderful.

Despite my mixed experience I would go back but have not had the chance since finding so many other places to try.