Wow! Best Italian food I've ever eaten... I had the meat lasagna. Great family-owned authentic…read moreItalian place in downtown Jax. Right next door to The Florida Theater. Got here after the pre-show rush and enjoyed a leisurely meal in a fairly empty restaurant. Wouldn't want to be here during a pre-show rush! Great blues guitar music on the speakers and personal service. What a great change from the modern plastic restaurants that are so prevalent these days! Would recommend to anyone!

We were a little caught off guard when we first walked in because the restaurant was completely…read moreempty, and for a second I wondered if we were in the right place. We decided to stay, and I'm glad we did. The gentleman who greeted and served us, who I believe may be the owner, had a very dry and particular sense of humor. The restaurant itself is quaint and old-school, with dim lighting, a small staff, and a real family-owned feel. We were told they've been here for about 32 years, which makes it feel like a little piece of downtown Jacksonville history. I chose this place based on the Yelp reviews, and the food did not disappoint. Everything came out hot and fresh, the presentation was beautiful, and both of our meals were delicious. We also tried the lemonade, which was served with fresh lemon slices and was good, although it didn't quite taste like traditional homemade lemonade to me. The only things that concerned me were seeing a few gnats and noticing an employee sweeping while wearing gloves, then handling the bread with what appeared to be the same gloves before returning to sweeping. That's definitely something I think should be addressed. Aside from those observations, I had no complaints about the food itself. It was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Casa Dora is definitely an interesting little downtown spot with a lot of history, and I would encourage people to check it out for themselves.

No way to explain why this was our first visit but it won't be our last. George was awesome from…read morethe time we walked in. The ambiance is so pretty and was a quiet slow dinner that we enjoyed. All of the food was delicious and tasted fresh. Finally an Italian restaurant serving Fra Diavolo and I don't need to ask for red pepper. It was actually spicy but in the best way, flavor max! My Teen enjoyed gnocchi and I also had a spinach salad with a housemade dressing that didn't get a pic. Dessert and coffee topped the meal off perfectly. Now I'm still on the hunt for a match to Venieros butter cookie with a chocolate drop but this restaurant will ease my homesick feeling for NY Italian food for a while. Thanks George! See you soon.

Excellent and inobtrusive service. Some of the best gnocchi I have ever eaten for lunch. Portion…read morewas perfect size for this dish. Atmosphere is quiet music, attention paid to details and a place that is historic, in our fast moving world, and knows how to deliver service with excellent food. If you have room, try any of the desserts!

When looking for a dinner spot, I noticed an opening on Open Table. I peeked at the menu, and…read moredecided to try out this location. I'm very glad as my server was very friendly, and the dining area was very cozy. What I Ordered: - 4oz Filet Mignon (Brussel Sprouts, Whipped Potatoes, Gorgonzola Butter, and Braised Shallot Sauce): Just the perfect amount of meat. With the amount of sides, I was absolutely stuffed and satisfied as the combination of flavors was perfection. - Dirty Vodka Martini with Blue Cheese-stuffed Olives: A perfect martini after a work day as I traveled to Jacksonville for work. I'd definitely return if I'm sent to Jacksonville for work, and would recommend for anyone living or visiting in the area.

We had high hopes for this spot. I know they claim their pasta is made fresh in house but didn't…read moretaste like any freshly made pasta I've ever had. Thick chewy noodles that stuck together. The Alfredo sauce was flavorless, watery and just all around awful. Soggy bland chicken parm. I even tried my friend's Lugo and he said it tasted like a boxed meal. To top it off the meatballs did not taste homemade and the table swore they were premade frozen. Sadly most of the party we were with didn't enjoy their meals but we were there for a birthday and all decided to keep it to ourselves. It wasn't a busy night and our poor server seemed all on her own for the most part. Dishes piled up and expected someone to come help her clear for the party or refill drinks. She did the best she could. The only redeemable dish is the pizza. The godfather pizza was great with crispy edges and full of flavor. Please just stick to pizza! Pleaaaaassssseeeee The food photographs well but oof I couldn't even eat my dish.

Excellent food and service.The ambiance was rustic. I ate…read moreate the bar and the bartenders name was Blair. He did an excellent job showing me the specials and served a very tasty Old Fashion and asked hiw I like my old Fationed with bourbon or rye. I choose knob creek rye. I then ordered the goat cheese bruschetta and then main course was the pork osso buca which was so tender and filled with flavor. For desert I had the limonchello mascarpone cake. It was also moist and very tasty. I'll be back to this restaurant.

Probably the BEST BIRTHDAY so far that I could wish or ask for. Thank you god for everything that…read moreyou have given me in life. Having said that what an awesome way to end my birthday with this amazing dinner that I had at this place. One of the best Italian restaurants in Jacksonville I must say. As soon as me and my wife walked in to the restaurant we were greeted and sat right away. The ambiance of this restaurant is truly amazing and very Italian vibe. We were greeted by our server MORGAN who was fantastic from beginning to the end. She suggested some incredible stuff that as a vegetarian I tried and was just amazing. For drinks we had mojito and pinacolada which was nice and refreshing. For appetiser we were recommended with Pomodoro Caprese which was amazing especially their Pesto sauce. For my entree she suggested me Luingini Josephine which was unique and nice pasta. Morgan surprised me with a dessert which was very kind of her. Overall this family owned small business is an amazing must try Italian restaurant. I can't wait to back and try more stuff. I highly recommend this restaurant.

We were staying directly across the street from this place and decided to give it a try. Service…read morewas fantastic. My wife got the Iberico Pork and it was amazing. I had the halibut special and it was tasty. You pretty much need a reservation especially for the weekend. Definitely worth a try.

I recently dined at Eleven South to celebrate a friend's birthday, and we had a wonderful…read moreexperience. Our waiter was exceptionally attentive, and the laid-back atmosphere was perfect for the occasion. I thoroughly enjoyed the Gold Beet & Goat Cheese salad--the presentation was so beautiful that I dove right in before taking a picture! The Grilled Spanish Octopus and the Limoncello Mousse Cake were also outstanding ( pictured).They consistently deliver great food and service.

I love this place! From the outside, it's a nondescript restaurant in a strip mall. Once inside…read morehowever, Mandola's does a great job of bringing you into the family. The Host guided us toward the front counter where we could order, and I thought the cashier was asking whether we were first time visitors just to be kind... It seems however that he started a process of the restaurants owners (Mr. Mandola himself) and employees coming over to our table, welcoming us and asking if there was anything we needed. Ultimately, we were given a complimentary dessert, we were showed a history of the business and the owners' restaurant experiences over the past 50+ years. What a first class experience for just a quick lunch. As far as the food, the pizza was wonderful! We got a meat lovers pizza, and as we found, the semolina flour rather than all-purpose flour keeps the crust hearty enough to carry all the ingredients. Drinks are self-serve, and the desserts are a must - The cannoli and tiramisu were the best we've had! Pricing is quite reasonable for all that we received. There are both lunch or dinner portions available, and since we just split a pizza, the price was certainly less than $20 per person all in. From the beautiful location inside to the amazing service experience, the wonderful food and reasonable pricing, we will certainly be back at Mandolas soon.

The quality of the food has steadily declined since the last time I ate here…read more The chicken was dry and chewy. The Spaghettini Ortolano didn't have much flavor. The Meatballs were juicy and moist but the marinara sauce was way too tart without much other flavor. Wouldn't order again. The garlic parmesan dressing was the best thing they had on the mista salad. If this is their standard now, I would not return.

Cataluna brings a little Miami energy to Jacksonville, and it's such a fun change of pace…read more The vibe is definitely the main draw here. It feels lively, a little upscale, and perfect when you want something more than just a regular night out. The cocktail menu alone is an experience. It's basically a whole book, with tons of craft options depending on your mood or vibe for the night. The small bites are great for sharing and make it easy to snack while you work your way through the drinks. They also host really fun entertainment nights, which adds to the whole experience and keeps the energy up. This is a great spot for a date night or a night out when you want something that feels a little more exciting. If you're looking for a Miami-style night without leaving Jax, this is the place.

Loved the ambiance of the restaurant. It's a perfect date night restaurant to go to. I was a little…read moredisappointed and when we went to the restaurant they said that there was going to be live jazz music, but there was no live jazz music. Service was fantastic our waiter was wonderful. They were able to accommodate a party of 12 but I would say it was a bit tight since we had to sit on the couch area. Parking is great, it's in a plaza

I didn't think Mezza Luna could get any better, but tonight outdid what we had last time!…read more We brought an 8 people group and everyone raved at how good their meal was! The lasagna and the pizza was to die for! I would come back just for a pizza and a bottle of wine. will 100% be back soon!

Great ambience with live music. Can get loud. Parking can be tricky but has complimentary valet…read moreparking. Complimentary bread with olive oil was good but small portion (one per person). Great cocktails. Cacio e pepe is delicious. Calamari was not too salty. Disappointed by the tiramisu. Comes in a cup as a deconstructed version. The ratio of ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, and espresso seemed off.