Food + Drink

By Ambar Ramirez   That’s right. The moment we have all been waiting for is here. Sugar Factory American Brasserie is opening its newest location right here in Jacksonville.     Don’t let the name confuse you. While both Sugar Factory and Cheesecake Factory carry “factory” in their name and both sell sweets, food, and (of course) drinks, Sugar Factory offers an entirely different experience once you walk through those glass-paneled doors.   Sugar Factory Brasserie has locations spread across across the country and around the world (Dubai being just one example), and by the time you read this, Jacksonville residents …

Arlington Cliff’s Bar & Grill cliffsbarandgrill.com Rice + Noodles Korean Restaurant riceandnoodles.net Tabouleh Cafe taboulehcafe.com Beaches Angie’s Subs facebook.com/angiessubs Azurea at One Ocean azurearestaurant.com Barbara Jean’s on the Water barbarajeansonthewater.com Coop 303 coop303.com Engine 15 Brewing Company engine15.com The Fish Company Restaurant and Oyster Bar thefishcojax.com Flying Iguana Taqueria & Tequila Bar flyingiguana.com The G.O.A.T. Tapas & Bar Marker 32 marker32.com Mezzaluna mezzalunajax.com North Beach Fish Camp thenorthbeachfishcamp.com Palm Valley Fish Camp palmvalleyfishcamp.com Poe’s Tavern poestavern.com Ragtime Tavern ragtimetavern.com Safe Harbor Seafood Market and Restaurant safeharbor-seafood.com Salt Life Food Shack saltlifefoodshack.com Singleton’s Seafood Shack singletonsseafood.com TacoLu tacolu.com Valley Smoke BBQ …

Ever wonder what Girl Scout cookie tastes best with a hefe-weizen, a doppelbock or a brown ale? Fortunately for you, Ambar, Carmen and Kerry put their tastebuds (and gag reflexes) on the line to find out as part of the Inaugural “Folio” Girl Scout Cookie/Beer Pairing and Tasting Office Party.    We scoured the internet for pairing suggestions (Girl Scout cookies and beer are a thing, if you don’t know) and also consulted the experts at European Street Cafe in Riverside to come up with the pairings below. As for the findings, you’ll have to watch and see.   Adventurefuls: …

Arlington  Rice + Noodles Korean Restaurant https://www.riceandnoodles.net/   Tabouleh Cafe https://taboulehcafe.com/   Beaches Angie’s Subs https://www.facebook.com/angiessubs/   Azurea at One Ocean https://www.azurearestaurant.com/   Barbara Jean’s on the Water https://barbarajeansonthewater.com/   Engine 15 Brewing Company  https://www.engine15.com/   The Fish Company Restaurant and Oyster Bar https://www.thefishcojax.com/   Marker 32 https://marker32.com/   Mezzaluna https://mezzalunajax.com/   North Beach Fish Camp https://thenorthbeachfishcamp.com/   Palm Valley Fish Camp https://palmvalleyfishcamp.com/   Poe’s Tavern https://www.poestavern.com/location/poes-tavern-atlantic-beach-fl/   Ragtime Tavern https://www.ragtimetavern.com/   Safe Harbor Seafood Market and Restaurant https://www.safeharbor-seafood.com/   Salt Life Food Shack https://www.saltlifefoodshack.com/   Singleton’s Seafood Shack https://singletonsseafood.com/   TacoLu https://www.tacolu.com/   Downtown The Bread and Board https://thebreadandboard.com/ …

Best Ramen: Domu There are only a few of its kind: two in Orlando and one in Jacksonville near St. Johns Town Center. With homemade sake and unique dishes like Cheezus (that, quite literally, tastes like it was sent from the heavens), it’s no wonder Domu is so popular. But it’s those homemade ramen noodles that made it Jacksonville’s choice for Best Ramen. The homey, neighborhood restaurant started in the year 2016 in Orlando by chef/owner Sean “Sonny” Nguyen. His goal was to provide a restaurant and bar that combind traditional Japanese techniques with modern-day methods. Needless to say, he …

Best Cheap Thrill When You’re Broke: Keg and Coin Listen, we’ve all been young and broke. Well, some of us still are. So living in an up-and-coming city where the price of living can’t seem to slow down, finding a fun AND affordable place to hang out is a rarity. Keg and Coin, located in Riverside, checks off all of the boxes for a cheap thrill. Creating a nostalgic atmosphere with old-school arcade games, themed party nights and kitschy decor, Keg & Coin also appeals to all ages, especially those who appreciate an awesome happy hour. Draft beer for $3? …

Arlington Cliff’s Bar and Grille Live music, Friday and Saturday cliffsbarandgrill.com   Beaches/Ponte Vedra Gusto Live music throughout the week gustojax.com   Lemon Bar & Grille Live music throughout the week lemonbarjax.com   Lynch’s Irish Pub Live music all week lynchsirishpub.com   Mango’s Karaoke, Sunday and Wednesday mangosjaxbeach.com   Mavi’s Waterfront Bar & Grill Live music, Friday–Sunday mavijax.com   Monkey’s Uncle Tavern DJ, Tuesdays; live music, Thursday, Friday and Sunday; karaoke, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday monkeysuncletavern.com   Palm Valley Outdoors Bar and Grill Live music, Friday–Sunday palmvalleyoutdoors.com   The Ritz Lounge DJs and dancing, Friday–Sunday theritzlounge.com   The Shim Sham …

Words by Rob Nicholson The traditions of Thanksgiving dinner haven’t gone away completely, but in the last few years, the world has certainly changed and more than anyone would have ever thought. The days of spending several days in the kitchen to get ready for a meal that will get eaten in 15-20 minutes have been falling by the wayside for years. Fortunately, restaurants, retailers and caterers have realized the need and offer fully prepared meals you just heat and eat. As expected, offerings vary but are typically served family style. Some packages can be personalized and even come with …

Words By Ambar Ramirez   Located behind a row of businesses in Riverside, through a path filled with greenery and florals, one will find the pie shop, Mixed Fillings. Though you may not see it immediately in passing, you’ll definitely be able to smell it. It’s as if Chef Natasha Burton places a freshly baked pie on the windowsill, allowing the aromas to attract hungry passer-byers.    It all started when Burton got an Easy-Bake-Oven for Christmas when she was just five years old. It was when the light blew out in the toy oven, that the light within turned …

Words by Molly Britt A rated list of holiday boozy drinks for those fun adults at the party (and maybe a mocktail or two for those who say no to alcohol) Apple Cider Mimosa  5/5 stars (can also be made as a mocktail)   Dip the rim of your champagne glass (or plastic glasses for you “oops” types) into gold sprinkles or a spice of your choice (think cinnamon, not thyme)   Fill your glass halfway with apple cider (we won’t tell if you pour a little less; we like our mimosas like we like our stockings on Christmas Day …