FOLIO
We’ve rounded up some of the notable restaurants on the Northbank of Downtown Jacksonville, Florida! For a complete list of all Downtown has to offer, including the Southbank and Brooklyn, go to DVI’s website. For dining hours, check the web or call, as these are subject to change.
20West Cafe 20 W. Adams St., 222-0695, fscj.edu/20-west-cafe Farm-to-table counter-service restaurant serving up breakfast and lunch.
Akel’s Delicatessen 21 W. Church St., 315 W. Forsyth St., 50 N. Laura St., 245 Riverside Ave. akelsdeli.com With four locations and New York flavor, you might mistake this family-owned-and-operated deli for an out-of-town franchise.
Azucena Corner Deli 100 E. Forsyth St., 626-7600, facebook.com/azucenacornerdeli/
Both a bar and a deli, you can find salads, cajun fries, and sandwiches to hit the spot day or night.
Bay Street Bar & Grill 119 E. Bay St., 419-3550, facebook.com/BayStreetBarAndGrill/ A great spot on The Elbow bar strip to get a casual bite. Nothing fancy, but decent bar food and thick cut fries to finish up an evening of drinking.
Bellwether 100 N. Laura St., 802-7745, bellwetherjax.com Downtown’s hip new hangout. Poutine, kimchi, as well as less exotic offerings like shoestring fries and a burger. They’ve got local beers AND a full bar, perfect for that post-work cocktail and a nibble, Tuesday through Friday, when they are open for dinner. Mondays they stay open just till 3 pm, closed Sundays, open Saturdays.
Big Pete’s Pizzeria 118 N. Julia St., 356-2680, bigpetes.net Specialty pizzas, substantial subs, salads, and other typical pizzeria foods in a casual atmosphere in The Landing. Claim to fame according to their website–they make every topping from scratch. They deliver!
BLK SHP at Intuition 929 E. Bay St., 683-7720, intuitionaleworks.com/food/ A bar with a Black Sheep menu and Intuition Ale? Yes please!
Brick Coffee House 214 N. Hogan St., 354-9945, brickcoffeehouse.com/#menu Coffee, breakfast and lunch. Known for great service, breakfast BLTs, and, by some accounts, the best coffee Downtown.
Burrito Gallery 21 E. Adams St., 598-2922, burritogallery.com It’s an art gallery that serves burritos, quesadillas, and tacos, with a bar in the back. Serving food late. Full Bar. Closed Sunday.
Burritos Puebla 440 W. Adams St., 442-3963, facebook.com/burritospuebla/ Mexican fare served right across from the courthouse. Portions are large and delish, but the kitchen is small, so there’s sometimes a bit of a wait. We hear it’s worth it!
Candy Apple Cafe & Cocktails 400 N. Hogan St., 376-7161, candyapplecafeandcocktails.com
Nifty cocktails, upscale dishes with southern flair–it’s a fun place to show off to out-of-towners, along with Sweet Pete’s in the same building. It’s also a great place to be a regular!
Casa Dora Italian Restaurant 108 E. Forsyth St., 356-8282, facebook.com/CasaDoraItalian/ This Italian joint has been around forever for a reason! Right near the Florida Theatre, it’s affordable and delish.
Chamblin’s Uptown Cafe 215 N. Laura St., 674-0868 This little cafe serves Green Mountain Coffee, a host of sandwiches and cool treats from their freezer case. You’ll also find lots of books past the cafe!
Cowford Chophouse 101 E. Bay St., 862-6464, cowfordchophouse.com The newest, but also most upscale place you’ll find Downtown, in a super-impressive, absolutely fabulous setting, whatever floor you chose to dine on. Rooftop has a great view!
D & G Deli and Grille 233 E. Bay St., 634-0328, dandgdeliandgrill.com They now serve beer and wine, along with their solid menu of wraps, salads, sandwiches, and breakfast fare. Breakfast and lunch only, Mondays through Saturday.
De Real Ting Cafe 128 W. Adams St., 633-9738, facebook.com/derealtingcafe/ While ostensibly a club, De Real Ting is also a source for some of the best Caribbean food in Jacksonville. Closed Sunday & Monday
Desert Rider Sandwich Shop 217 N. Hogan St., 353-5654 Super-beloved old-school sandwich shop with a fantastic potato salad. Lots of vintage Jax pictures on the walls too!
Element Bistro & Craft Bar 335 E. Bay St., 707-0474, elementjax.com Unlike many downtown restaurants which cater to the working crowd, Element Bistro serves the partiers, opening in the afternoon and closing at 2am, as befits their connection to Myth Nightclub. A different vibe every night, but consistently delectable eats.
Fionn MacCool’s 2 W. Independent Dr., 374-1547, fionnmacs.com/Pub/ Located at the Jacksonville Landing, this Irish pub boasts gourmet and casual dining. The menu features traditional Irish dishes like fish and chips and unique dishes, like their boxty. Serving late.
Happy Grilled Cheese 219 N. Hogan St., 451-0126 facebook.com/thehappygrilledcheese/ If you loved their food truck, good news, they’ve gone to the brick and opened up a Downtown location. Everything grilled cheese! Just lunch, closed weekends.
Hemming Park Cafe 135 W. Monroe St., 515-5098, hemmingpark.org Located in Hemming Park, the Hemming Park Cafe is a great place to get a taste of Downtown Jacksonville. Different food trucks come by everyday to offer unique cuisines to Hemming Park Cafe, where visitors can sip on coffee from Vagabond Coffee’s food truck while enjoying live music from the stage.
Indochine 21 E. Adam St. Suite 200, 598-5303, indochinejax.com Located above Burrito Gallery, Indochine serves dishes inspired by Thai and Southeast Asian cuisine, featuring soups, noodles, rice, and curry options. They also provide catering, delivery, and accommodations for semi-private parties.
Jacksonville Sports Tavern 234 A Philip Randolph Blvd. 367-3547 Located next door to the Veterans Memorial Arena and across the street from the Baseball Grounds this place is a roomy, relaxed game-day spot with a pool table for beer, sandwiches, burgers & other bar bites. Saturday-Sunday: 3-10pm. Open 3 hours before any major event at the Sports Center.
Jenkins Quality Barbecue 830 N. Pearl St., 353-6388, jenkinsqualitybarbecue.com Jenkins has a place where you can sit down, but they’re most known for their take-home chicken in a bag. They sell them by half or whole, slather them in the Jenkins mustard-based sauce and stick them in a bag with several slices of bread. It looks terrible, but tastes great. Natives also love their finely minced slaw and buy the Jenkins Sauce to take home.
JL Trent’s Downtown Cafe 200 W. Forsyth St., 353-8155, jltrents.com Local fried seafood fare. They’ve been around over 20 years near NAS Jacksonville, so if you love them, and you’re closer to Downtown consider yourself informed! This branch is closed on weekends and only open for lunch on weekdays.
Juliette’s 245 Water St., 791-4995 Located in the Omni hotel, this stylish bistro offers elevated American cuisine with Southern flair.
Kazu Sushi Burrito 117 W. Adams St., 438-5020, kazusushiburrito.com A homegrown chain where the specialty is an uncut fat sushi roll, aka sushi burrito. Their poke bowls are pretty fabulous, too.
Morton’s Steakhouse 225 E. Coastline Dr., 354-4350, mortons.com Morton’s Steakhouse is located in the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. For over 30 years, the Chicago-based steakhouse has focused on quality, consistency, and genuine hospitality. Morton’s serves fresh, succulent seafood and USDA prime-aged steak. Open everyday for dinner at 5pm. Bar opens at 4pm.
The Magnificat Cafe 231 N. Laura St., 353-3588, magnificatcafe.com With an atmosphere inspired by Paris and a chef born and educated in France, this cafe is authentically French. The menu offers soups, salads and sandwiches inspired by traditional French cuisine. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast and lunch only.
NOLA MOCA 333 N. Laura St., 224-0113, mocajacksonville.unf.edu/eat/ This upscale restaurant inside the Museum of Contemporary Art offers innovative seasonal lunch and dinner from a Le-Cordon-Bleu-trained chef. Do try the full bar. Always open during Art Walks. Check the website for hours.
Olio Market 301 E. Bay St., 356-7100, oliomarket.com With soups, salads, sandwiches, and great breakfasts, Olio emphasizes organic and locally sustainable products in their menus. They also offer craft beers and wines, as well as off-site catering and accommodations for private parties. Closed Sunday and Saturday.
Spliff’s Gastropub 15 N. Ocean St., 844-5000, spliffsgastropub.com Spliff’s offers what they call “Gourmet Comfort Food.” There’s an entire section of the menu devoted just to mac and cheese variations. The Buval Dirty Bird Chicken sandwich comes highly recommended. Beer, of course, since it’s gastropub! Late service, closed Sundays.
Super Food and Brew 11 E. Forsyth St., 723-1180 facebook.com/superfoodandbrew/ This health-conscious restaurant is a standout for Downtown diners, and their superfood already has its super fans! Lots of salad options and veggie-based bowls where you can add a meat, fish or tofu.
Tossgreen 76 S. Laura St., 574-9905 A healthy mix of modern cuisine with traditional elements: the 4-step menu gives an array of stimulating combinations. Salads, wraps, bowls, burritos, and fresh juices. Weekdays, 7am-4pm.
The Court Urban Food Park 32 S. Hogan St., facebook.com/TheCourtUrbanFoodPark/ Located adjacent to the Suntrust Tower’s parking garage along Hogan Street between Forsyth Street and Independent Drive, The Court features a rotating lineup of food trucks Monday through Friday. Check their Facebook for a list of each day’s trucks.
Zodiac Bar and Grill 120 W. Adams St., 354-8283, thezodiacbarandgrill.com The Zodiac Bar and Grill features a menu serving Mediterranean cuisine, interspersed with American favorites. The restaurant also provides live music, a full bar, and an espresso bar.
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