5 Points

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 …

#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, , …

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. …

“I have this strange habit of coming up with the names of my pieces before I know what I’m going to create. Sometimes they live without names until long after they’re done. I just know I hear them speak before I see them. During the times I know their names, I write them somewhere. Knowing they’ll never be seen, I know where they are, hidden underneath layers and layers. I still know their names.” Local artist Maiya Elaine is an old soul with a vibrantly active young mind and body. Just like the artist herself, Maiya Elaine’s work is made …

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. …

Long-time Italian chef and restaurant owner Jerry Moran recently did a good deed for a dying man. His New York-style cheesecake has many fans, and when a customer learned that a terminal man in asked for NY cheesecake, they asked Moran if he could help. Moran hand-delivered the cheesecake to the hospital. His restaurant, , was located Downtown for many years but made the move to on Edgewood Avenue, a couple of years ago. The owners of  in are making use of the space next door, which used to be Pure Barre, by converting into a secondary restaurant space, this …

#EATUPJAX: Local Food News From the Folks at   is open at the Markets at Town Center, which is just south of the . The grocery chain, based out of Phoenix, provides shoppers with an organic and healthsome selection. This is their first in the Jacksonville area, but there are plans to open up a second on Beach Boulevard.  We’ve had quite a spate of specialty grocers opening in the Jacksonville area, places like Sprouts, something that the owners of  cites as the reason they’ll be closing all three of their locations. opened the first Native Sun here in Jacksonville …

Local Seafood Dishes Northeast Florida has a strong Southern food game, but we also shine when it comes to dishes from the water, sometimes from unexpected places. While places such as , , and others that specialize in seafood are local favorites, there are a number of from-the-water dishes that residents love, even in places that don’t have seafood front and center. At on the , there’s three dishes we recommend, depending on what you’re craving. For a lunch item we think their fish sandwich is a winner. It’s served in their bento box with their shoestring fries, which are …