These are exciting times for the culinary scene in Jacksonville. In a city like this it can be hard to narrow down your selection of restaurants with so many to choose from so I decided to write about the places I keep coming back to. The places you can catch me on any night of the week that I’m not at home firing up the grill. So here it is the top nine hidden places to eat in Jax Beach!
Barbara Jeans
The Food: Down home southern cookin’ at its finest! Catfish, meatloaf and chicken fried steak are just a few of the delicious options they serve. Along with the menu they serve you 3 styles of fresh bread that is baked daily pumpkin, wheat rolls and sweet jalapeno cornbread. Seafood is a staple in florida and they do a pretty mean crab cake.
Location: Barbara Jeans is technically located in Ponte Vedra which is about 10 minutes south of Jax beach but if you’re looking for a top notch place to eat this is it.
Pro Tip: How’s the weather outside? If it’s comfortable take a seat on the back deck the view is amazing. If it’s hot out sit inside the sun here in Florida is strong.
Cinotti’s Bakery and Deli
The Food: You want to talk about simple breakfast food look no further. With a huge variety of fresh made donuts the options are endless and the best around. I’m a huge fan of judging donuts off the classic glazed and this one takes the cake. But lets not forget other outstanding flavors such as maple bacon, apple fritter and a coffee donut. Don’t worry if your not that into sweets they have a hole list of breakfast and lunch sandwiches.
It’s a Bakery: Lets not forget this is the best bakery around. If you need a sweet treat for an event look no further.
Pro Tip: Check to see if they have any seasonal donuts, in the fall pumpkin spice sells out like crazy. There closed on Mondays for a well deserved day of rest.
Safe Harbor
The Food: Straight forward no fuss seafood. My go to is the Captain Walters 3 way combo this gives you your choice of seafood and how you want each per-paired, along with a side of fries and hushpuppies a Friday afternoon doesn’t get much better than this. Other local favorites include Po Boys, Tacos and Steamed Shrimp. They also make a clam chowder that would give any seafood town a real run for their money.
The View: Both locations, Jax Beach and Mayport, have great waterfront views of the St Johns River. Jax Beach overlooks a very classy marina with water traffic that keeps you entertained but does not bring noise with it. Mayport’s view includes more fishing vessels and some pretty sweet water fowl. Who knows maybe you’ll see your food come in right off the boat.
Pro tip: Arrive early the line can be out the door. Oh and have the sweet tea its the best around!
Maple Street Biscuit Company
The Food: I haven’t used the word hipster yet in this blog so what better time than when we talk about Maple Street Biscuit Company. Freshly made biscuits with high quality chicken and house made sauces. This stuff is legit. My favorite is The Farmer with a flakey biscuit, fried chicken breast with applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese topped with house made apple butter. I could eat these all day.
Coffee: They make their own coffee here at Maple Street Biscuit Co. With multiple flavors and roast temperatures there’s something that will hit your caffeine palate.
Pro Tip: If you have some people to share them with the iced cinnamon pecan biscuits hit that sweet tooth perfectly. They close at 2pm.
Si Senor
The Food: I lived in SoCal for a number of years and have had some of the most authentic taco and Mexican food you can get in the States. This place brough all the flavors and recipes to Jacksonville making it the top contender for Mexican food. I always recommend getting carne asada taco as a base and then move from there.
Setting: Recently redone inside Si Senor went with a strong sense of heritage and even stronger use of color. Each chair is dedicated to a special hispanic person with their picture on it.
Pro Tip: Check out there salsa bar they have some amazing stuff for you to use. If you’re looking for Tex Mex go somewhere else this is real Mexican food.
Sushi One Two Three
The Food: New to the Jax Beach scene this Sushi restaurant is fantastic. They have all of the regular rolls your used to and some chef specialities that have us coming back to try more. My recommendations include the snow mountain roll, American girl roll and the A1A roll named after the main strip in Jax Beach.
Set Apart: One thing that set this sushi restaurant apart from others is the full bar. You can still get your sake and Sapporo which go well with the menu but some days you want something stronger and this place has it.
Pro Tip: Get on google maps and look for potential parking locations close. There are plenty and most only have a 5 minute walk.
V’s Pizza
The Food: Our go to Friday meal is to get to the beach and eat V’s pizza. This is brick oven made to order bubbly gooey deliciousness in a circle form. Our favorite from here is the carnivore pizza topped with all the meats you can handle. If you want to step outside of the pizza realm they have wood oven roasted chicken wings, meatballs and a variety of salads that are a knockout.
Full Bar: What makes this location even better is the full bar attached to the pizzaria. The bar’s name is Flask and Cannon and man can they make a good drink! As a bourbon fan I recommend the Old Fashioned but I’ll let you choose your beverage.
Pro Tip: Your a block from the beach at this one with plenty of parking in front of the pizzaria. When your done eating it is a great lead in to a walk on the beach.
Metro Diner
The Food: Classic comfort food and they don’t skimp on the portions. With choices like biscuits and sausage gravy, fried chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits it’s no wonder they’re saying is “It’s where the locals eat!” When I go I like to mix it up but I always seem to come back to the monte cristo they put this raspberry preserve on it that perfectly complements the saltiness and savoriness of the rest of the samwich.
Locations: There are 5 Metro Diners in the Jacksonville area including one at Jax Beach and Ponte Vedra which are the most local to the beach.
Pro Tip: Show up hungry and don’t make big food plans for a while.
Mambos Cuban Cafe
The Food: I’m not going to admit that I know what authentic Cuban food tastes like but I know when I eat something that tastes delicious. The menu includes simple foods such as Cuban sandwiches and wraps as well as dinner entrees with chicken, pork, steak or seafood. My goto here is the Masitas de Puerco Fritas which includes tender chunks of pork that is flash fried and drenched in their mojito sauce alongside some rice and beans
Renovations: They have been expanding their location and can handle larger parties now. Coming soon they will have a liquor license, bring on the mojitos!
Pro Tip: Get the guava and cheese empanadas basket to start, you’ll thank me.
