Food + Drink

Cheba Hut recently opened their first East Coast location in . I was invited out to meet with the owner Dusty and try the food. Having zero knowledge of the brand before they contacted me, I was intrigued by their business once I read that they are a “Marijuana Themed Sandwich Shop.” What did that mean? I needed to know. So I dug into the business a little bit and realized that the theme is just that, a theme. As much as some of you might want it to be, the food is not marijuana infused. The menu items are …

Cocktails at Hawkers Hawkers has some new fall cocktails available and I was one of the lucky few invited out for a cocktail making class to celebrate. Our class was held at the location, but the new cocktails can also be ordered at their location, which was recently expanded to add a wraparound bar and a few extra tables.   We started the night by making 2 of their new cocktails: G-N-TEA: Smoky and herbal. Chai-infused Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish gin, apple cider simple tonic, smoked cinnamon. Jingle Juice: Light and festive. RumHaven, REÀL coconut, pineapple juice, house sake, prosecco This was such …

While it’s true that we have many different types of cuisines in Jacksonville, you will only find one Canadian restaurant, The Stuffed Beaver. Located on the corner of Oak and Barrs St in , everything about this place screams “Canada!” The décor includes a giant Canadian map where people can mark where they are from, a wall of photos showing famous actors from Canada, and a stuffed beaver in the corner, naturally. If you look closely, you will also see a very familiar face adoring the photo wall, the owner Paryse Watson. You might be surprised to learn that Paryse …

#EATUPJAX is a monthly column featuring restaurant openings, closings, new locations and other food news in the local Jacksonville food scene brought to you by   on the is now closed. If you still have gift cards or turkey orders, they will be honored at ’s restaurant, Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen.  Craving some vegan and gluten-free? This November, coming to 311 West Ashley Street near the Duval County courthouse in , is Grenville Kitchen. They’ll be serving pastries, soups, salads, and Caribbean-inspired cuisine. The most intriguing of their selections: the voxtail, a vegan version of an oxtail.  The super-swanky Downtown eatery, , …

“Steel Cut Oats. Egg whites, with Mozzarella cheese. Turkey bacon, but not crispy. Fresh watermelon and Midnight Beauty grapes. Orange juice with pomegranate, and a little brown sugar on the side.” Sitting on the patio of a local coffee shop, Chef Nina G rattles ’s daily breakfast off of the top of her head ecstatically, without fumbling. She dives into Fournette’s lunch and dinner preference with vigor, barely allowing me to get a word in. She’s elated to discuss the menu, but I’m more interested in how she became a personal chef for some of the ’ most popular athletes. …

Can I say I’m stoked about the decor of a restaurant? The building was briefly home to MLG after moved out. They drained all the color out of the place, opting for stark black and white instead. They tried being whimsical with menu item names, but it just didn’t work. I think the color has to be coming back with the 10/Six Grille, an Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant. Best of all, they aren’t going Disney with it, sticking instead to the original inspiration of the actual source material which is trippy enough that I think the fun will be back. …

Those in search of Jacksonville’s best Ramen should head towards a strip mall near the intracoastal. That’s where you’ll find Karai Ramen Bistro. Chef and Owner Levi Broadwell has been perfecting his recipes all around Jacksonville for the past six years. His career started in Central Florida when he was just 15 years old. For years his mother worked in a Chinese restaurant, and from the age of nine he would frequently visit her there. Levi would beg the chef to teach him about cooking but would always get told he was too young. Undeterred, he would spend his time …

Down in the heart of on Lomax St is where you will find Jacksonville’s newest taco shop, Taqueria Cinco. Nestled into a tiny spot between Bakery Ribault and Wells Fargo, it’s easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it. We went in on a Sunday afternoon to give them a try. First impression, this place is tinyyyyy. But don’t let that deter you, they offer outdoor tables in addition to the indoor ones. The interior seating has about 5-6 tables all along the wall opposite the kitchen, with the exterior having many more tables spread out across the patio. …

Upon walking into you are immediately transported back in time. A time of bootleggers roaming the streets on horseback and speakeasies that require a secret password or have a hidden back-alley entrance. Buchner’s, is easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it (or even if you are!). Located in the back of in , this is quite literally a hidden gem. Once inside, it’s all too easy to forget that you are in Jacksonville. From the exposed brick walls to the uniquely retro wallpaper, this place is one of a kind. Jason Grimes, the owner of Buchner’s Bierhalle, named …