There are restaurants you try once, and then there are restaurants that quietly become part of your…read moreregular routine. For Susan and me, Green Papaya in St. Johns is definitely the latter. We've been dining here for more than two years, and every visit reminds us why it has earned a permanent place on our list of Favorite Tables Around Town. The atmosphere strikes a wonderful balance between upscale and comfortable. Whether you're planning a romantic date night, celebrating a special occasion, or simply craving exceptional sushi, Green Papaya delivers an experience that feels polished without ever feeling pretentious. We especially enjoy the side dining room, where the softer lighting creates an intimate setting that's perfect for lingering over dinner. We started this visit with the sampler appetizer, and it's one of the best ways to experience several favorites from the kitchen. The spring rolls were light and crispy, the coconut shrimp had just the right touch of sweetness, the chicken skewers were tender and flavorful, and the crab rangoon was rich, creamy, and perfectly fried. Susan couldn't pass up her favorite Tom Kha soup. If you enjoy bold flavors with a little heat, this soup is outstanding. The creamy coconut broth, fresh herbs, and spice create one of the most flavorful versions we've had anywhere. If you're sensitive to spice, just keep that in mind when ordering. Now let's talk about the sushi. As sushi lovers, we've worked our way through nearly every specialty roll on the menu over the years, and Green Papaya has never disappointed us. On this visit, the Tiger Roll earned one of our highest honors: our Best of the Best award. We don't hand that recognition out often. The Tiger Roll was beautifully presented and perfectly balanced. Every bite combined fresh fish, great texture, and layers of flavor that complemented each other instead of competing. It's the kind of roll you remember long after dinner is over and the one we'll recommend to anyone visiting for the first time. We also ordered the Tropical Roll with spicy scallops, mango, and white tuna. The sweetness of the mango softened the heat from the scallops beautifully, creating a combination that was refreshing, unique, and absolutely delicious. Service has always been friendly and attentive. One thing that makes Green Papaya a little different is the robot that helps deliver food throughout the restaurant. Our grandchildren absolutely love it, and it's always fun watching kids light up when it rolls by. For adults trying to enjoy a quiet conversation, it can occasionally be a little distracting, but it's certainly memorable and has become part of the restaurant's personality. Green Papaya isn't inexpensive, but quality sushi rarely is. The ingredients are fresh, the presentation is excellent, and the consistency keeps us coming back year after year. We'd much rather pay a little more for outstanding sushi than settle for something average. If you're looking for one of the best sushi restaurants in St. Johns, whether it's for date night, a celebration, or simply because you're craving outstanding sushi, Green Papaya deserves a visit. And when you go... Order the Tiger Roll. There's a reason it earned our Best of the Best award. You can also check out our photos to see why this has become one of our Favorite Tables Around Town.

Green Papaya Food Quality and Taste: 4/5…read more-Thai Egg Roll: 5/5 -Yummy Roll: 4/5 This was a great lunch. The egg rolls were super crunchy and the sushi roll was huge! I love anything with mango, so I had to get the yummy roll. This was a quick lunch for me, so I didn't try much. But there's a large menu with a variety of options. Service: 3/5 Service was fine. A little quick. Nothing particularly stands out, but it was completely fine. Atmosphere: 4/5 It's a nice atmosphere. Decor is nice. Music was nice and relaxing. Not too noisy. There's bar and restaurant seating to choose from. Value: 5/5 It was a nice value. Good serving sizes, nothing too expensive, and fast solid service. Opportunities for Learning: 3/5 This is a typical sushi restaurant. Many differ roles and combinations. So while not a whole lot to learn, you can learn something if you're looking.

food was perfect! and the atmosphere was so calm and wonderful! The one thing I do have to say that…read morebrought the rating down was a server named Allison, she was okay with making sure the food got out at a decent time but her attitude was real off :(

I love this restaurant for several reasons. First, the service is consistently superb -- the…read morewaitstaff are attentive without being intrusive and always seem genuinely invested in making sure I'm having a great experience. Second, the ambiance strikes the perfect balance: it feels elevated and polished, but never stuffy or overly formal. It's the kind of place where you feel comfortable whether you're dressed up or just coming in for a relaxed night out. Most importantly, the food is excellent -- and consistently so. That reliability matters. While I personally tend to prefer red sauces that are a little less acidic, I can absolutely get behind Poppy's marinara because the dish as a whole just works. Everything comes together beautifully. And the bread? Dangerous. I could happily eat it until I slip into a full carb coma.

The other day I was in a discussion about the food in Little Havana in Miami. I was asked if I had…read moreever tried the Guava Turnovers at 1928 Cuban Bistro - St Johns a mile or 2 away. I said I hadn't but I was going to stop there on the way home and try it. I was told they run out alot but make more over the course of the day. I stopped and grabbed the last 3 they had left. They were still warm when I got home. The turnovers were delicious. Very buttery with the perfect amount of guava paste. I usually go to a location a few times before reviewing the restaurant but the turnovers were so good I'm reviewing them after 1 taste. I highly recommend plus It's closer then going to Miami or taking a cruise to get these delicious goodies. I can't wait to dive into the menu next. The location was spotlessly clean and the employee who helped me could not have been nicer or more pleasant. Great place so far.

I know I've done a review on on 1928 Cuban Bistro before but I just have to do one again! It is…read morealways fantastic and it's always consistent and the food is outstanding! Everyone who works there has a smile on her face and they're so happy to help. The restaurant is very clean and it's certainly a gem here in St. John's County. We love coming here!

Beautiful new Fancy Sushi close to our home off 210. Great food and service. I had teriyaki chicken…read moreone night and tonight shrimp teriyaki with soup, salad and white rice. They also have fried rice. The hibachi dishes are more but also have noodles in addition to the above. Our server was Sydney both nights. Very sweet and a joy!

I have visited their original spot in Bartram, near Durbin Park, and since they opened this beach…read morewalk location, I had to try it! The interior decor is nice and clean. We ordered the Futomaki, Rainbow Roll, and another roll, and I enjoyed all of them. The new place is smaller than the Bartram one, but if you're nearby, definitely check it out! Karen, my server, was very friendly, and I enjoyed chatting with her.

Colorful, Trendy & Delicious Every Time!…read more This spot is such a vibe it's trendy, colorful, and full of energy! The service is always great, friendly and on point. Bonus points for the robot server it's such a fun, futuristic touch that adds to the experience. We've tried several of the boil pots, and they never disappoint, super flavorful, generously portioned, and perfect for sharing. The presentation is beautiful, and the crispy tart appetizer? A total must-have. We've been here multiple times now and always leave full and happy. Definitely one of our go-to places!

Super solid restaurant me and my mom tried out. Nothing that blew my socks off but no complaints…read moreeither!

My favorite takeout Chinese spot on this side of town hands down. They have the best egg drop…read morewonton soup and hot and sour soup. Anytime I get a cold or just simply want a nice soup this is my spot. I have been going here for yearssssss! The staff is always so nice and there is honestly nothing bad on the menu. The general tso and broccoli in garlic sauce are some of my personal favs!

I've ordered from Beijing Cafe many times and it's been good in the past but tonight I found a…read morepiece of metal in my fried rice. Mistakes happen but I will certainly not be eating here again any time soon. I threw out the rest of my food so that's wasted food and money.

Grumpy's absolutely delivered. I had the fried chicken Benedict with pancakes on the side, and…read morewhew... you're gonna need to be rolled out of there when you're done. The fried chicken was crispy, the Benedict was packed with flavor, and the pancakes were the size of hubcaps. The hash browns were excellent too. Service was friendly and fast, and the atmosphere had that classic hometown breakfast spot feel where everyone seems happy to be there. Great food, huge portions, and prices that won't make you grumpy. We'll definitely be back.

Grumpy's Restaurant chain is a RECOGNIZABLE Jacksonville breakfast-to-lunch spot. I am easily…read morestarting to notice that each location is different. This time I was in St. Johns off of 210. This location has the Grumpy's name but does not have the Grumpy's taste and it RUINED my mother-daughter outing. Walking into the restaurant it has that welcome back feeling of being inside in a Grumpy's spot. The decor is modern farmhouse. The lollipop bouquet is the cutest and WARMEST invite into this spot. As all Grumpy's, the menu is full of American classics. My daughter and I had a short-stack. I couldn't resist adding the Roasted Turkey plate. My drink choice was hot chocolate. I knew something was OFF when I received the hot chocolate..."where's the chocolate drizzle? why does it taste like it's water based?" The waiter let me know it's the waiters choice on how it is served. *INSERT EYE ROLL* When the meal came it was easy to see the Turkey plate was MISSING items and looked like it had been sitting (I mean sitting gravy has look of non-movement). The waiter tried to COMFORT me by saying it was under a warm plate but after I questioned where were the cranberries and stuffing...she then responded with an OH! The Kitchen manager offered to bring out a different dish. Now for the pancake, at FIRST BITE my daughter says "I taste the batter" *insert the disappointed DEEP SIGH* The owner asked if he could remake our meals. Truthfully, this was the THIRD complaint so it was a big NO THANK YOU! He then offered to comp the hot chocolate and one of the meals. I boxed the turkey dinner just to get home and it to have the taste of excessive old oil. :-( smh! Not only did it make for an UNENJOYABLE outing with my daughter. It also made my hype about Grumpy's being the best place for brunch a complete LIE. I give them 1-star for being Grumpy's and 1-star for attempting to RESOLVE. This location needs to get host training, hospitality reenforcement, and a kitchen with care because BAE-BEEEE it's a miss me wit'it For spot the difference in my added pictures Image 1 (before) and Image 2 (after): * Dinner roll added Image 2 * Cranberry sauce added Image 2 * Bread Stuffing side item added Image 2 * Mash Potato on plate Image 1 * Mash Potatoin bowl Image 2 * Plate looks fuller Image 2

Hubs & son love wings. I do not. They're messy, and I don't usually like to eat chicken skin…read more Bonchon may have changed my mind. Visiting my son & DIL this past weekend, both of my son's dining suggestions were wing-focused. But my vegetarian DIL (she eats some seafood) seemed to be more interested in Bonchon than the other potential spot, so I took her side to make our choice. I can usually find something to eat on any menu, in spite of my immature palette, and Bonchon was no exception. In fact, there are several other things I want to try now! We started with the Korean Cucumber Salad & Bao Buns with Pork Belly. No one that knows me will be surprised that the cucumber salad was much too hot for me. But here is something unexpected... I loved the cole slaw on the Bao Bun, and the sauces were complementary enough that the spice level was fine for me. I would definitely order the Bao Buns again, and try the other meats. For my meal, I ordered the Bibimbap with Bulgogi, and really enjoyed it. Their marinated beef was very tasty, and of course I love an egg on just about anything. Another (non)shock, I did not care for the Bibimbap Sauce because it was rather hot; I appreciated that it was served on the side. Hubs said the mushrooms & caramelized onions were very good, but I didn't eat either. Then I tried a Classic Crunch drumstick, and fell in love! Yes, I bit into it like y'all do, and ate the skin, too. What a delicious piece of chicken! I didn't even need a dipping sauce (& I can't remember what the boys chose anyway). My son insisted that I'd enjoy a Korean BBQ wing also, and I'm sure I would, but I was already getting full. Next time! Also for my next visit, my DIL got a Mopo Corndog as her appetizer (though she also ate a lot of the cucumber salad), and it looked amazing! The name was confusing (to me), but there is no hot dog inside, so I want to try one. Fried mozzarella & potato cubes! They have two versions, so of course I want to try both; although I'm rather skeptical about the sugar-cinnamon coating, I'm anticipating an unexpectedly delicious bite. Service was fantastic, although they weren't very busy yet on this Saturday evening. Our server was very attentive & friendly, and none of us waited for a new drink or refill. My son & DIL evidently visit often, so I'm sure we'll return. I wish we had a Bonchon location closer to us!

Food is excellent. Only issue is they sometimes don't put enough sauce on the chicken.read more