1436 Beach Boulevard
By some accounts, Angie’s serves the best subs in the area. It’s certainly a popular Beaches spot for lunch.
691 North First Street, Jacksonville Beach (904) 270-0025
A beachfront, on-site hotel and a staff dedicated to detail are just a few of the plusses. To sample their cuisine, just head to the restaurant where the Casa Marina’s imaginative Chefs design and serve “New Beach Cuisine” daily, highlighting the best of local seafood, produce and specialty ingredients with an international flair for flavor and style.
1307 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach (904) 270-2666. 1266 S. Third St. 249-8704.
This is where they first fired up their barbeque pit in the late forties. Although there are many Bono’s throughout Jacksonville, natives prefer the original restaurant, called Lou Bono’s.
100 First Street, Neptune Beach, FL (904) 270-8940
The island inspired food at Caribbee Key has become an important part of the Neptune Beach culture. Fried food, fresh Caribbean flavor and grilled meat contribute to the fare at the Key. It’s hard to miss the many colored bar and grill, which borrows the colorful-but-weathered motif from the Caribbean islands. You can sit outside and enjoy the sunlight and an ocean breeze, or you can go to their upstairs bar, where they keep the windows open
1401 Atlantic Boulevard, Neptune Beach, inside the Days Inn 249-2777
This Cliff’s is a bit more upscale than the location on Monument Road. Ahi tuna is a common enough dish these days, but Chef Nguyen’s presentation makes it special. The pickled ginger slaw served with it is an outstanding counter-taste to the other flavors. Drinkers will like the reasonably priced basket of homemade chips sprinkled with asiago and bleu cheese. If you’re into rich appetizers, try the scrumptious baked goat’s cheese served in tomato fondue with decidedly crispy slices of bread.
967 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach. 249-9595
We have to recommend the corned beef and cabbage as well the leek and potato soup. If you’re lucky you might see one of the four Culhane sisters, who run the pub. These delightful ladies hail from county Cork out of Ireland. If you speak to Michelle, Aine, Mary Jane or Lynda—you’ll know it because that musical Irish lilt is unmistakable.
1451 Atlantic Boulevard, Jax Beach 249-2212
This authentically Middle Eastern shop and bakery has terrific vegan/vegetarian options on the dinner menu and often includes tasty veggie items on their buffet. Eat hummous and tabouli with Hala’s freshly made pita bread.
1712 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach (904) 249-9660
The Homestead, also known as the Homestead House, is an eatery with a bit of Jacksonville Beach history. It’s nice to know that something that was built in the 1930’s hasn’t been swallowed by condos or development. Try their Fried Green Tomatoes, which are kind of a bistro, global twist on an old Southern favorite. Encased with a light and crispy batter, these fried green tomatoes are accompanied by a red pepper puree and tangy goat cheese. The Fried Green Tomatoes and the Bayou Shrimp are the most popular starter items, though they are all delish.
30 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach (904) 270-1122
Besides a great pizza pie, they also serve an appetizer called Joseph’s Brushetta, which adds a little zing to the Classic Brushetta by adding jalapeño peppers. While Joseph’s has three locations in the First Coast area, the Atlantic Beach location is the only one that serves genuine Italian gelato.
1013 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach (904) 246-6024
Try the tasty So-Cal Soft Tacos, with your choice of refried beans, beef, chicken, fish or shrimp. The Mayport Shrimp tacos are especially good, served with a side of salsa and sour cream. The fried banana peppers are one of the more unusual and popular side items on the menu. Lightly dusted with a breading, you can still see the yellow of the pepper showing through. It’s a tart choice that’s just a little off the bar food beaten path.
1500 Beach Blvd. 247-6636
For the best pulled pork in the Jacksonville area and live nighttime entertainment, try Mojo’s Blues Kitchen. The platters are plenty, even if you have a substantial appetite. Both the barbeque platters and Southern platters come with two homemade side items and bread. The Southern platters come with the wonderfully sweet, yet spicy, jalapeño cornbread. Texas toast comes with all the barbeque platters.
60 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach. 247-0060
One of the bistro’s trademark dishes is a whole fried fish, dusted in a light cornmeal, perfectly scored (so you can lift the fish right off the bone), and served with yucca fries, a Napa cabbage salad and a brandy citrus dipping sauce. Martini’s, upscale bistro fare and art are the three things they serve up at Ocean 60. If you want to peruse the art at the bistro, make sure you request a table on the martini bar side, where they have a rotating gallery.
207 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach. 241-7877
With their own micro-brewery and food with an ‘Orleans flair, this is one of the most popular eateries on Atlantic Beach. It’s a big place with cozy booths and lots of levels, giving it a sense of intimacy. Expect live music on the weekends and some fiery Cajun food. Try New Orleans favorites like jambalaya, red beans & rice and blackened fish. They’ve got a decent coconut shrimp appetizer and if you’ve got a taste for Asian style cuisine, try the delish seared tuna appetizer. Come for the beer, stay for the food.
1312 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach (904) 247-6820 maxsrestaurant.us
Serving world-class global cuisine. A nouveau, boutique-outside sort of place with a lot of renown and a decent menu to follow up the accolades.
100 Sawgrass Village (904) 568-6349
This classic American steakhouse has an exquisite piano bar and elegant, but golf-course casual, dining area and even patio dining. Serving upscale food at moderate prices, they have much more than terrific steaks. Eat lunch or dinner here.
110 North First Street, Neptune Beach, Florida
While much of the menu pays homage to the Italian roots of Mezza Luna, with a focus on Mediterranean style cuisine, there are plenty of dishes that trend toward the fusion or world cuisine that has become popular in the last ten years. Wine aficionados ordering dinner at Mezza Luna will love the extensive wine list and those who enjoy mixed drinks will be glad of the full bar.
528 First St. North, Jax Beach 246-1580
It’s a Brazilian steakhouse that features, meat, meat and more meat. With more than 14 superb cuts of meat carved before your very eyes, its a meat lovers dream. In fact, it’s kind of like a buffet, except that you just sit there and they continue to bring you more meat. Drinks and desserts are separate from the $29 all-the-meat-you-can-eat price.
1286 S. Third Street, Jax Beach (904) 249-8444
It’s everything you want from Thai food in a swanky atmosphere. If you try nothing else at this fashionable Thai restaurant, let it be the pan-seared Chilean sea bass.
363 Atlantic Blvd., Stes. 7 & 8, Atlantic Beach (904)246-2441
This natural foods grocery is also a top lunch choice for area vegetarians and other natural foodies. They offer all sorts of sandwiches and salads to appeal to the organic meat eater or the conscientious vegan.
330 A1A N.(904) 280-5515
Located inside a fashionable strip mall, the atmosphere skates the edge of high-end, while still being comfortably casual, with interesting black and white seaside prints adorning the walls. Urban Flats serves wine on tap, which keeps the wines fresher than those simply poured and re-corked. The sophisticated flatbreads served here, are of course, the reason most people choose to chow down here. The unique combinations of toppings on the menu are kitchen tested, and it’s easy to order an already built flat, but you can in fact add or subtract items, building your own flat, much like toppings and sauces on a pizza.
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