* First off, the Saint Urgeon Caviar is 100/10. It was buttery, rich, and not overly salty, just…read moreperfect. Pair it with the crème fraîche on either the toasted bread or the chips, and muah perfection! Personally, I preferred it with the chips since I found the toasted bread a little too salty. * The Tuna Carpaccio was a surprising 10/10. We sliced it into strips, making sure each bite had the comb crisps, basil aioli, yuzu aioli, Florida sterlet caviar, micro arugula, and mushrooms. Oh my god! the flavors were incredible. The tuna made each bite light and refreshing, while all the other ingredients layered together beautifully, revealing new flavors as you kept chewing. * The oysters were another 10/10. They were incredibly fresh, and pairing them with the sorbet created such a refreshing combination. The kimchi dropper was just okay, I was hoping for more heat. The mignonette dropper, though, was absolutely delicious and complemented the oysters perfectly. * The Charred Octopus gets a 9/10. The octopus was wonderfully tender, but I wished the chorizo flavor came through more. The fregola was fantastic, it was satisfying and filling without feeling too heavy. * The Mussels Frites earns an 8/10. The fries were perfectly seasoned and honestly one of my favorite parts of the dish. The mussels were good, but like the octopus, I expected a stronger chorizo flavor. * The Burgundy Escargot is a solid 10/10. Absolutely delicious! The rich bone marrow melted in your mouth, and it paired so well with the escargot. Such a creative combination that worked beautifully. * The outdoor seating was wonderful! Even though it was raining, it was still very comfortable thanks to the fans nearby, so it never felt hot or humid. The ambiance was elegant yet relaxing, making it the perfect spot for a romantic date night, a special birthday celebration, or any gathering with family and friends. The overall vibe made the experience even more memorable. Lastly, a special shout-out to our server, Colette! She was wonderful from start to finish! She was always cheerful, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. She took the time to explain the dishes, answered all of our questions with a smile, and made the entire dining experience even more enjoyable.

I cannot say enough great things about Brine. The experience at Brine is top-tier, from the food to…read morethe staff, everything is thoughtful and intentional. Somehow Brine has mastered the craft of being on a patio but still being comfortable and elevated. This restaurant is a true gem and worth every single penny. The chefs tasting did not miss a beat and I will be coming back next season to see what the chef crafts up.

What a nice outing... my son and I went to Manifest Distillery last night. This awesome place in…read moreDowntown Jacksonville makes the most outstanding potato vodka, bourbon, and gin. Several types of each. Truly excellent. They have a great drink menu featuring their products. Last night, Brine was there with a pop up of their fare. We had two different cold water raw oysters which were both outstanding and different in nature. Totally cleaned shells with delicious fresh taste. I had Crudo which was an incredible dish of yellow tail snapper. My son had Roasted Clams. The food was beautiful and wonderful flavors. The chefs were so fun to watch as they were meticulously careful on how they executed each dish. And their attention to detail paid off in outstanding food. Also, the bartender and the crew from Brine couldn't have been any more pleasant. I highly recommend both entities but especially when they operate as one.

I decided to give this place a shot while free for lunch one day and was pleasantly surprised. This…read morehas been my favorite restaurant of 2026 so far from the quality ingredients making up the food to the superb service offered by the staff. I got here as they opened on Sunday, and it got packed relatively quickly. I'd recommend having a reservation if you're planning to visit during busier timeframes like this. I was seated promptly by attentive staff, and quickly had both food and drink menus to begin ordering. I was looking for something tasty without being too heavy, and settled on the Little Hans Vienna Lager along with the 8 oz steak burger and fries. The beer had amazing flavor similar to Devil's Backbone Vienna Lager with a good, crisp finish. The burger meal, described with "Tillamook cheddar cheese, caramelized onion & bacon jam, beef fat aioli, grilled potato roll, truffle fries", was arguablely the best burger and fries I've ever had in my life. Everything tasted fresh, and the flavor of the wood-fired grill certainly complemented the meat. The house-made pickles were a great touch to add another layer of complexity to the burger. I could tell the fries were fresh cut and never frozen. The truffle oil made these even more amazing. The manager offered and brought a special sauce to try that they normally serve with their chicken chicken sandwich that was superbly tasty and tangy. More than impressed with my entree, I elected to try a desert and was recommended the S'mores pie by my waitress. The deliciously buttery crust was my favorite part of the ensemble and blended well with the savory chocolate filling topped with a toasted marshmallow. While a bit pricey for lunch compared to most places, I was more than satisfied with the offerings provided here and would love to visit Ember and Iron again. Give my number one choice of 2026 thus far some love!

Great ambiance and service. The cocktails were very good as well. My partner ordered the Filet…read morewhich was a very good piece of meat. She ordered medium rare but it came out medium well. I ordered the rib eye medium. The rib eye was mostly fat. I expect some with this cut but it was too much. The side for both dishes were very good. We ordered the corn bread in cast iron and it was excellent. I hate giving bad reviews but I have to this time. We won't complain during the meal either. I apologize for this review but going out a meal is special and we expected more.

I finally tried Outback Crab Shack and enjoyed it. Fresh, quality seafood with excellent friendly…read moreservice (thanks Ashley). I look forward to returning again and again. The restaurant needs a sign on SR13, as it is easy to pass. I arrived on a Tuesday afternoon to a nearly full parking lot. Interestingly, there were very few folks there. They should expand the parking lot. I can't imagine finding parking during busy periods. The restaurant was large and nautically decorated, but not tacky. Outdoor deck was a nice size, with overhead fans that minimized the heat. Dining area and ladies' restroom were clean. Service was friendly, efficient, and enjoyable. As soon as I entered, I was greeted. Shortly thereafter, I was shown to a table, told the specials, and given time to place an order. The calamari dish was excellent -- dare I say better than Julington Creek. The Tuesday 20-Piece Shrimp Dinner w/ One Side ($19.99) was a great deal. Shrimp were served piping hot with tarter sauce, sweet chili sauce, and bang bang sauce. Shrimp Shack uses better seasoning on their fried shrimp. But Outback Crab Shack shrimp are huge; taste fresher; and can be served grilled, blackened, or fried. I prefer sides like hush puppies, vinegary slaw, or mac & cheese, but the side of fries were fresh, hot, and plentiful. I was too full for dessert. Maybe next time...

We haven't been back since they reopened, and BOY was it awesome. First of all the new building…read morelooks great and the staff was amazing. The entire vibe just felt great. I can't wait to go back. We ordered the Royal Red Shrimp that are the best I've had outside of Mississippi and Louisiana. Then had blackened grouper bites, conch fritters and the Lump Crab Stew. My absolute compliments to the chef. Everything was delicious. Like I said, can't wait to go back!

Stopped by The Turmeric Kitchen for lunch today while we were out adventuring and trying to dodge…read morethe rain. When we first walked in nobody else was there, so we were greeted immediately and given a nice booth. The inside surprised me... very cozy, nicely decorated and just fancy enough without feeling stuffy. There's also a bar outside, but we were there for the food. The lady who seated us told us about their $13.99 hot plate lunch special. We could order from the regular menu, but being able to sample a bunch of different things sounded like the way to go. I also really liked that the food is kept behind the counter where you can see everything and they build your plate for you. It isn't a buffet where everybody is reaching into the same trays. We started with their lentil soup, and I seriously wish they had given me a bigger bowl. Lots of flavor with a nice little kick. From the hot plate we tried butter chicken, Dal Makhni, samosa, Paneer Tikka, garlic naan, basmati rice, their Indian-style fried rice, grilled onions and peppers, along with the chutneys. The fried rice was especially good and had way more going on than the plain white rice. The stars for me were the Dal Makhni, samosa and butter chicken. The Dal Makhni honestly wasn't the prettiest thing on the bar until it was on my plate, and I probably wouldn't have picked it on my own, but I'm glad she suggested trying a little of everything because it was fantastic. Big flavor and a good kick. The butter chicken had a slightly sweet sauce but was packed with flavor. And that Paneer Tikka caught me completely off guard... buttery, lightly browned with such a good texture that I actually saved my last piece for the final bite. The chutneys were great too, especially with the samosa. The same lady who greeted us kept checking on us throughout the meal, and another lady who appeared to be helping prepare the food came over to see how everything was. We told her exactly what we were thinking... excellent. We also watched people behind us order from the regular menu and those portions were huge. I had a few doubts before we walked in, but between the food, the atmosphere and the service, those disappeared pretty quickly. We had seen the five star reviews and the recognition they've received locally, and after eating here I understand it. The lunch special gave us exactly what we wanted... a chance to try a little bit of everything and leave thinking, "Yeah, we need to come back and try more." Five stars from me.

Enjoyed this spot. They've got an outdoor bar, which is nice. I had the saag dal, which was…read moretasty. Very big portion with some very buttery rice. Rich and creamy dish. I got it at a level 2 spice, which wasn't very spicy. Also had the hibuscus iced tea, which was very enjoyable. Server was very accommodating.

We ordered the Texas brisket and the avocado/tomato egg white bagels with a lemonade. They were…read moreout of one of our bagels so had to substitute. Lemonade was good, sandwiches were ok. Hot and fresh, just nothing special. Outside additional seating would be nice, as it is rather cramped inside with the ordering line running right next to tables where folks are sitting. Lower carb options would be a plus.

Friendly service however the quality of the food was not the best. I had Einstein bagels for the…read morefirst time at the location off of beach blvd and Hodges a few weeks ago and it was SO good I was blown away! Ordered the same items at the Fleming location recently and it was a totally different experience, food was not good.

After seeing several posts of @ch3fjames, we finally took the plunge and visited Derita Italian…read moreDeli on a Friday afternoon as they only serve the Cheesesteak on certain days and thankfully, Friday is one of them. It definitely lived up to our expectations! The beef was juicy, the portions were huge, and the bread was soft! It was delicious! We also tried the DDD aka Derita Deli Deluxe which is one of their Chicken Cutlet Sandwiches. It includes eggplant, prosciutto de Parma, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, broccoli rabe, long hot peppers, and balsamic glaze. Phew! Tons of ingredients, I liked it but it lacks seasoning, mainly salt, lol. Overall, we enjoyed both sandwiches and we can't wait to go back and try the other items on their menu.

I had the DDD sandwich, and it was absolutely the best sandwich I've had since moving here from New…read moreJersey eight years ago. I just happened to be in the area, decided to stop in, and I'm so glad I did. My order was ready exactly when promised, and from the first bite, it exceeded every expectation. The combination of the crispy chicken cutlet, perfectly cooked eggplant, fresh mozzarella, and broccoli rabe came together in the ultimate flavor combination. Every bite was packed with incredible taste, and all the ingredients worked together perfectly. If you're looking for an authentic, unforgettable sandwich, this is it. I'll definitely be making the drive back for another one.

Love everything about this place from the decor to the food and the drinks…read more Had great service with Javier as our server who was attentive and fast with getting our drinks and food. He had a great sense of humor as well, we will be back!

We were regulars. Not anymore…read more An hour for food. Hair in the sour cream. Then the POS system crashed and instead of a heads-up, we got told to drive to an ATM, hand over our card number, or just... wait indefinitely. Rude staff. Zero apology. Zero concession. Just excuse after excuse. If you've been loyal to this place, don't expect it to be returned. We're done.

Stopped be here with friends for breakfast an coffee. They only have drip coffee and flavored…read morecreamer but it was good and so was the food. Service was friendly and fast they let me pick a table off to the side. It has a chill fun vibe.

Eggs and veggies were cooked to perfection hash browns were very good. Favorite pancakes of all…read morebreakfast restaurants in St johns great taste and texture

There are certain moments during a meal when you taste something and immediately have to stop and…read moreask, "What did the chef do differently here?" That happened to us at Al Dente's in St. Johns when we tasted the sauce accompanying their short ribs. We have eaten at Al Dente's many times, so we weren't discovering the restaurant for the first time. It has already earned a place among our favorite local restaurants. But on this visit, we came in for a full Culinary Duo review, and the kitchen prepared a tasting that went well beyond what we expected. And somehow, a restaurant we already knew managed to surprise us all over again. We started with the calamari, which is noticeably different from the traditional calamari plate. Al Dente's uses the prime rings without the tentacles, then sautés them with sliced peppers. The result is tender, flavorful calamari with a cleaner and more consistent bite from beginning to end. We were told that when the calamari is featured during happy hour, it can sell out. After tasting it, we understand why. The quality of the calamari and the simplicity of the preparation allow the seafood to remain the focus of the dish. It impressed us enough to earn one of our Culinary Duo Best of the Best Dish Awards. The gnocchi is another longtime favorite and Best of the Best winner. Al Dente's sautés it and finishes it with a white wine bath, creating the texture that has kept us coming back for it over the years. It is a great example of how a little extra technique can make a familiar Italian dish memorable. Then came the dish that may have surprised us the most, the short ribs. We will admit that short ribs are not normally something we get particularly excited about. Too often, the meat is served with too little sauce, leaving you wishing there was something more to bring the entire plate together. Al Dente's completely changed that for us. The beef was exceptionally tender and practically fell apart. But it was the sauce that immediately caught our attention. It had a wonderful subtle sweetness that was different enough that we had to ask what the kitchen was doing. The answer was port. Using port gives the mushroom sauce a slightly sweeter, richer character that works beautifully with the beef. Add decadent mashed potatoes loaded with butter, garlic, and herbs, and you have the kind of comfort food that makes you want to slow down and enjoy every bite. Sautéed zucchini and yellow squash added freshness and helped balance the richness of the plate. The short ribs became our third Best of the Best selection from Al Dente's. Next came the salmon with lobster ravioli, and this was another example of the kitchen going beyond what was necessary. The salmon was a substantial, thick cut, beautifully cooked, moist, and wonderfully tender. It was paired with lobster ravioli and a wine sauce, which would have made a very good dish by itself. But they didn't stop there. They added actual chunks of lobster claw meat over the salmon and ravioli. We love that. If you are going to serve lobster ravioli, there is something special about seeing and tasting real pieces of lobster on the plate as well. It reinforces the featured ingredient and turns what could have been a familiar seafood pasta combination into something much more memorable. The beef tenderloin medallions followed, accompanied by seasonal vegetables and a white truffle mushroom risotto that deserves almost as much attention as the beef. The risotto combined mushrooms, cream, Parmesan, truffles, and white truffle oil, creating a rich, earthy flavor that complemented the tenderloin beautifully. Risotto can easily become an obligatory side dish, but this one was clearly treated as an important part of the plate. Creamy, savory, and full of truffle character, it was an excellent partner for the medallions. One thing we particularly enjoy about Al Dente's is that the tenderloin is offered as a nightly special and the preparation can change. Guests may encounter different interpretations, including Gorgonzola, Marsala, or au poivre. For regular diners like us, that flexibility makes returning a little more interesting because there can always be something different coming out of the kitchen. By this point, we thought the meal was finished. Then the chef surprised us with a Dubai chocolate pistachio tart. It arrived beautifully plated with chocolate drizzle and whipped cream. This is definitely a dessert for anyone who loves rich flavors. A few bites were enough for us because it was incredibly decadent, but the combination of pistachio and dark chocolate was fantastic. It was a fitting ending to an impressive tasting. What stayed with us most about this visit was not simply one great plate. It was the consistency across the entire meal. The calamari showed how ingredient selection can change a familiar appetizer. The gnocchi demonstrated technique. The short ribs showed how one thoughtful change to a sauce can comp

Calamari appetizer is crispy, pairs with 2 sauces, both are good!…read more The mussels appetizer is full of flavors, tangy, creamy, very generous portion for an appetizer. My next favorite is clams appetizer, also big plate and the clams are so fresh & juicy, cooked in white wine!! So so good! Definitely worth a try! Overall.. great ambiance; inviting & casual atmosphere!