Amelia Island, Arlington, Ft. Caroline & Regency...21 Julington
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Bite By Bite by neighborhood Go Somewhere & Eat! ortheast Florida is a big place, with literally thousands of places to dine. But each neighborhood is its own N culinary microcosm, a reflection of the culture, habits and personalities of residents. Folio Weekly’s Bite By Bite by Neighborhood is your guide to discovering the region’s many food enclaves. Whether you’re looking to eat outside of your comfort zone or just want learn more about a local haunt, our comprehensive restaurant directory has all the details you need to find the meal you want. Also in this issue, you’ll find features on clean fish, an homage to food on a stick and a conversation with Folio Weekly food blogger Ashlee Wetherington. So load up the kids, fill up the tank and go sink your teeth into something a little different. Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach & Yulee . 16 Arlington, Ft. Caroline & Regency . 21 Avondale & Ortega . 25 Baymeadows . 26 The Beaches . 28 Downtown Jacksonville . 35 Fleming Island . 38 Intracoastal West . 40 Julington Creek & NW Saint Johns . 41 Orange Park & Middleburg . 45 Ponte Vedra Beach & NE St. Johns County . 46 Riverside, Five Points, Westside & Murray Hill . 48 St. Augustine & St. Augustine Beach . 50 St. Johns Town Center & Tinseltown . 56 San Jose & University (Lakewood) . 58 San Marco & Southbank . 58 R Southside . 60 E L P E O T Springfield & Northside . 62 A C I S S E J AMELIA ISLAND, BONITO GRILL fresh local seafood and steaks. Food 614 Centre St., 261-0508 and drink specials are featured, a full FERNANDINA Located in downtown Fernandina bar is served, and cold beer and wine BEACH & YULEE Beach, Bonito Grill serves fusion cui- are available. Open daily for dinner. (All restaurants are located in sine — American with an Asian Fernandina Beach unless influence — in a contemporary DICK’S WINGS otherwise noted.) atmosphere. A full bar is available, 474313 E. S.R. 200, 310-6945 and there’s an extensive wine list See Arlington. AMELIA ISLAND COFFEE and separate sushi area. Open daily. & ICE CREAM DOO WOP’S 50S DINER 207 Centre St., 321-2111 BRETT’S WATERWAY CAFÉ 1120 S. 14th St., 432-8400 This locals’ coffeehouse offers fresh 1 S. Front St., 261-2660 It’s the ’50s all over again: Dishes roasted coffees — by the cup or Brett’s is located on the water at the include the Chubby Checker (hash pound — as well as cappuccinos, foot of historic Centre Street and browns, eggs and a biscuit with frozen drinks, deli sandwiches, specializes in traditional Southern sausage gravy), the Blue Moon soups and 16 flavors of ice cream. hospitality in an upscale atmos- Burger and the You Ain’t Nothin But Open daily. phere. The menu features daily spe- a Hound Dog all-beef hot dog. Kids cials, fresh Florida seafood, aged are treated to Little Bopper Baskets ARTÉ PIZZA beef and a full bar. Open daily. of burgers, dogs and PB&J, and the 109 N. Third St., 277-1515 malt shop features shakes, ice The wood-fired oven at this busy, BRIGHT MORNINGS cream and root beer floats. Open for funky spot renders specialty pizzas 105 S. Third St., 491-1771 breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. like a traditional Napoli pizzeria, This small café is hidden behind topped with imported cheeses, Amelia SanJon Gallery. With indoor EIGHT SPORTS LOUNGE plum tomatoes and other fresh and outdoor dining, the café is open At The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia ingredients. Arté also serves for breakfast and lunch daily; Island, 4750 Amelia Island authentic Italian dishes like egg- closed Wed. Parkway, Amelia Island, 277-1100 plant parmigiana and caprese This contemporary sports lounge salad, and offers outside seating. CAFÉ 4750 features billiard tables and multiple Open daily. At The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia flat-screen TVs to occupy you while Island, 4750 Amelia Island you dig into classic sports-bar fare, BARBARA JEAN’S Parkway, Amelia Island, 277-1100 including burgers, wings and nachos. 960030 Gateway Blvd., Amelia This seaside bistro serves three Extensive beer and wine lists are Island, 277-3700 meals daily in a casual atmosphere offered, along with cocktails. Open See Ponte Vedra. with ocean views and Southern Mon.-Fri. for dinner, for lunch Sat. charm. Dine indoors or out on the and Sun. BAXTER’S RESTAURANT poolside veranda. Open daily. 4919 First Coast Highway, Reservations recommended. ESPAÑA RESTAURANT Amelia Island, 277-4503 & TAPAS This upscale restaurant serves CAFÉ KARIBO 22 S. Fourth St., 261-7700 continental cuisine with a focus on 27 N. Third St., 277-5269 Owners Marina and Roberto Pestana certified Angus beef, seafood, veal Housed in a historic building in serve Old World Spanish and and lamb. A children’s menu is downtown Fernandina, Café Karibo Portuguese cuisine, including cara- available, a full bar is served, and serves eclectic cuisine, including coles (Andalusia-style escargot) and outdoor seating is available. Open sandwiches, big salads and home- gambas al jerez (shrimp and garlic, for dinner nightly. made desserts. Costa Rican coffee, sautéed with sherry and cream). The beer and wine are available, and tapas menu includes ceviche and BEECH STREET GRILL meals are served inside or out on homemade sangria. A kids’ menu is 801 Beech St., 277-3662 the oak-shaded patio. Open for available. Open daily. Located in a home built by Captain lunch on Mon., lunch and dinner Bell in 1889, this restaurant is Tue.-Sun. Live music is performed FALCON’S NEST known for its extensive wine list. every Sun. 6800 First Coast Highway, Beech Street has won multiple Best Amelia Island, 491-4242 of Jax awards and features daily CHEZ LEZAN BAKERY Located at Amelia Island Plantation, blackboard specials with a focus on COMPANY Falcon’s Nest offers the specialty regional dishes. A full bar is served 10145 Atlantic Ave., 491-4663 burgers, burritos, martinis, beer and and a Sun. brunch is offered. John European-style breads and pastries, wine. Airplane memorabilia deco- Springer plays piano Thur.-Sat. including croissants, muffins and rates this island nightspot. 21 or evenings. Dress is resort-casual. pies are baked daily. Most breads older after 9 p.m. Open Wed.-Sun. Open nightly. made at Chez Lezan are made with- out fat or sugar. Open daily. FANCY SUSHI JAPANESE BEEF O’BRADY’S FAMILY GRILL & SUSHI BAR SPORTS PUB CRAB TRAP 1478 Sadler Road, 261-9855 1916 S. 14th St., 261-0555 31 N. Second St., 261-4749 Hibachi, teppanyaki, teriyaki, katsu, See Julington Creek. For 30 years, family-owned-and- tempura and udon style dishes are operated Crab Trap has been serving all available, along with an extensive The crew at Bakery Moderne in Riverside serves up classic R E K pastries, artisanal O C R breads and sea- E T L sonal favorites. A W Bite By Bite CHOW TIME First rule of Bite Club: Always talk about Bite Club Ashlee Wetherington shlee Wetherington may be relatively new A.W.: The Bite Club was the result of collabo- Ato town, but she’s already got Northeast ration on how my blogging and passion for Floridians talking. Folio Weekly’s food blogger is food could best be utilized with Folio Weekly a self-taught chef, cookbook author and all- and area restaurants. Folio Weekly had been around culinary adventurer. She also hosts our considering the idea of creating a dining club Bite Club events, free tastings held at a differ- for foodies, but wasn’t sure how to start it, who ent local restaurant each month, and open would run it and how the details would work exclusively to Bite Club members (join online out. We knew a blog would be the best way for at biteclublog.com). So far, Bite Club events me to put up information in real time. We also have explored the new gastro-pub menu at thought a blog would be the best way for there Culhane’s Irish Pub, tasted the fresh, local to be interaction between members and me, cuisine of Sun Dog Steak & Seafood and leaving an open forum for food discussion. sampled the globally influenced dishes at North Once we came up with a concept, Beach Bistro. The next one will be at The Fish Culhane’s signed on to be our first host. We had Company Restaurant & Seafood Market in a few ideas for how events would work, but it is Atlantic Beach. really about what the restaurant wants it to be, Ashlee sat down recently to fill us in on her while keeping it centered on the food and the history as a food blogger, her Bite Club friends experience for members. and what really makes a great meal. F.W.: What goes on at Bite Club events? Folio Weekly: How did you become a food A.W.: Each event is a free dinner for about 50 writer? members that features a sampling of food and, Ashlee Wetherington: When I got married and sometimes, wine. I welcome all guests and tell moved out on my own, I was so excited to have them about Bite Club, then the owner or chef my own kitchen. I always loved cooking, and will tell Bite Clubbers why they chose to host knew when I was in my own place, I’d be able and a bit about the food they prepared. The to create fun dishes and try something new menus vary — some restaurants choose to fea- each night. I would tell friends and family about ture items off their menu, some choose to cre- a meal I made or I’d bake something for them, ate a special menu for the Bite Club.