Cinda’s Cellar
Hospitality: Taverna Oceana Delivers the Speed of a Diner with the Skill of Fine Dining
By Laura Riggs Sam and Kiley Efron opened Taverna in 2009 and have consistently won some of the best restaurant awards locally and nationally. The couple has brought a fresh perspective on Italian dining with seasonal menus focused on simple ingredients and an incredibly curated wine selection. Whether visiting for a special occasion, or an everyday meal, Taverna offers an upscale dining experience with an approachable atmosphere. It’s never pretentious and always inviting. Their second restaurant is no exception. Although it’s only...
read moreCongaree and Penn: A Craft-Farm Dining Experience
By Laura Riggs What started as a small rice farm in 2014 has quickly grown into an indispensable part of Jacksonville’s fine dining scene. Located 20 minutes northwest of downtown, Congaree and Penn thrives on their dedication to agriculture and culinary endeavors while inviting the community to enjoy both. Owners Scott and Lindsay Meyer decided early on to collaborate with restaurants to bring innovative flavors to Jacksonville while supporting the local food economy. Within a couple of years, they began hosting occasional chef-led dinners...
read moreBar Molino:
Enduring Favorites, Infusing Hospitality into Every Bite By Laura Riggs One of the hottest new restaurants in Jacksonville isn’t easy to find, parking is a challenge, and you may get stuck waiting for the dreaded San Marco train. Unless you actively seek out the opportunity to dine on unique flavors steeped in history, Bar Molino may never make it on your Resy list. Tucked away behind High Tide Burrito on Hendricks Avenue, this new concept is treating Jacksonville to old world Spanish tapas served with Southern hospitality. Although the...
read moreBELLWETHER: Enduring Favorites, Global Flavors, AND Exciting New Dishes
By Jeffrey Spear. Dining is always an adventure. Whether you’re looking for an exceptional mealtime experience, a few cocktails after work, a quick bite before showtime, or a comfortable place to connect with friends, you want to be well-fed and well looked after. Located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville near the corner of Laura and Forsyth Streets, Bellwether has you covered. For the uninitiated, Bellwether is part of the Black Sheep Restaurant Group, keeping company with Orsay and Black Sheep. While all three restaurants have earned...
read moreLemongrass Thai Bistro—An Enduring Legacy of Impressive Thai Cuisine
Lemongrass Thai Bistro, established in 2003, is one of those remarkable Jacksonville restaurants that has endured despite unprecedented challenges. When you consider its impeccably presented Thai cuisine, attentive service, and full-service bar with a focus on premium wines, it becomes easy to understand how this stalwart restaurant has maintained a loyal following for so many years and continues to impress newcomers.
read moreEmber & Iron —A Fiery New Dining Destination in St. Johns County
When it comes to well presented, enjoyable, and thoroughly delicious dining opportunities, there are lots of worthwhile destinations throughout Jacksonville. Considering it’s ranked among the fastest-growing cities in the United States, it’s not surprising that restaurants of note are beginning to pop up in some of the burgeoning communities in St. Johns County, especially along the east-west corridor along County Road 210 that stretches from Nocatee just east of the Atlantic Ocean over to Fruit Cove on the banks of the St. Johns River.
read moreLlama—A Remarkable Experience
Growing demand for newfound flavors and international cuisines are influencing the nature of restaurants throughout Northeast Florida. As detailed in the July/August issue of Arbus, Jacksonville has an incredibly diverse population, giving rise to a wide range of ethnically inspired restaurants that cater to these preferences. Of course, this trend is well established and growing just about everywhere you look, including in St. Augustine.
read moreCoop 303—Something Special at the Beach
The Beaches Town Center, straddling the neighborhoods of both Atlantic and Neptune Beach, has become one of Jacksonville’s most popular entertainment destinations. Filled with an eclectic assortment of restaurants, bars, and cafes, not to mention its proximity to the beach, this colorful setting has something to satisfy every craving. One of the more noteworthy establishments is Coop 303, probably best known for its dill pickle brined Fried Chicken Basket. If you haven’t been to Coop 303 in a while, things have changed—there’s more to this place than contemporary Southern cuisine.
read moreSouthern Grounds Steak Frites
Ingredients: 2 to 4 tenderloin steaks 6 to 8 ounces each (We use a hanging tenderloin which is not common at the grocery store.) kosher salt 3 tablespoons whole peppercorns 1 tablespoon butter 1 teaspoon olive oil Au Poivre Sauce: 1/4 cup minced shallot 1/2 teaspoon brown mustard 1/3 cup Padrillos Malbec 1 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme Directions: Remove the steaks from the refriger ator for at least 30 minutes and up to one hour prior to cooking. Sprinkle all sides with salt. ...
read moreThe Bearded Pig: Exceptional BBQ from Ribs to Zin
The Bearded Pig, the inspiration of tenured restaurateur Chad Munsey and architect turned pitmaster Michael Schmidt, has redefined the total customer experience as it fits into the BBQ genre in Jacksonville. “Our aim is to deliver certainty,” says Munsey. “Certainty that a guest always feels welcome and appreciated, the food is authentic and consistently fantastic, and the service is knowledgeable and fun. Michael and I may own this restaurant, but it belongs to our patrons. So, every decision we make is with the total customer experience in mind.”
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