Stumbled upon Brine on a rare kid-free night with my husband and couldn't have picked a better…read morespot. We arrived just in time for happy hour and were warmly greeted right away. We initially asked for indoor seating, but after seeing how cozy the space was, we happily switched to outdoor seating since the weather was perfect. We ordered two of each oyster, and they were fresh, salty, and incredibly smooth. We also decided to try the baked oysters--something my husband doesn't usually go for--but they ended up being his favorite. So much so that we ordered another round. Overall, it was a fantastic night and a great experience. We'll definitely be back.

In the early 80s, when video games were all the rage, I remember hearing about a song about a video…read moregame. Like any good kid back then wanting to hear a particular song, I listened to my FM radio nonstop, waiting patiently to hear this crazy song called "Pac-Man Fever!" Sadly I don't ever recall actually hearing it on my favorite station. Hearing about new things is much easier now. Social media and the internet overwhelm me with what the algorithms think I want to see and learn about. And most of the time those crazy programs and their internet overlords are spot on! Take, for instance, a rather new restaurant in San Marco focusing on seafood. Shellfish and caviar to be specific. A few months ago all of my feeds were filled with information about a new place in town - Brine. Obviously, my wife and I, loving all things related with food, knew that we needed to try it. Well, today was that day. First, know that the parking lot is down a dead end street that looks spooky. Keep going. I didn't and ended up parking in the larger lot where La Napolera is located. The restaurant is tiny. Our server told us that the space was used to sell smoothies. Or perhaps it was a phone booth. Regardless it's intimate. And the food is fantastic! Colette our server was fantastic. Bubbly, helpful and definitely gave off the vibe that she was happy to be there, helping us enjoy our meal. She was great and I can't say enough good things about her. We opted to try the tasting menu. It's an option when you book online. We also chose to sit at the counter. An island of 4 seats that look at the other diners sitting at the tables inside. It's odd and Colette told us that the owners were planning on building an expanded space in the near future. The tasting menu is a seven course meal. If desired, you can choose to add a wine pairing. We got one wine pairing that we split - it was more than enough and the Brine folks were kind enough to put the wine into two glasses. As for the courses we had for our meal? Course 1 Champagne PEI oysters Each oyster included a different topping. There was butter. And chorizo. And caviar. Each was delicious and very different. A perfect way to start the meal. The champagne was also a great. Course 2 Riesling Yellow tail (hamachi) crudo with pineapple. The pineapple was prepared three ways. And while the wine was very dry and minerally (is that a word?) it worked PERFECTLY with the sweetness of the pineapple. To me this pairing worked the best. Course 3 Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand Tuna tartar with aioli on a fried panko crusted seaweed cracker. The tuna flavor was delicate and worked well on top of the seaweed cracker. Again, the wine worked very well with the flavors of the fish. Course 4 Chanin blanc Salad with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, vinaigrette and butter and mashed potato and potato crisps. Lettuce and mashed potatoes? I don't know how. I don't know why. But it works. Really, really well. They're like mad scientists at Brine and they may be building a monster out of body parts. But darn it the potato/salad combo was fantastic! Course 5 Oaked Chardonnay Lobster cannelloni This was probably my favorite dish. The lobster filling was awesome and I literally wanted to fill a cup with the sauce and drink it through a straw. If you're not going to try the tasting menu I would highly recommend this for an entree. Course 6 Waygu shortrib and scallops and parsnips Ochetti langhe nebbiolo The scallops are sliced thin, which I liked a lot. The shortrib was good. I like parsnip, but I felt that its flavor overshadowed the flavors of the beef and the scallop. It's a tasty dish, but wasn't my favorite. Course 7 Cheesecake bread pudding with bourbon ice cream Chocolate pearls chocolate marscapone orange chocolate cake Solera 1847 Creme dulce Sherry Colette brought us two different desserts to try instead of each of us having the same. Both were fantastic. I think I liked the chocolate cake one more while my wife really enjoyed the cheesecake. The sherry was fine but didn't really add anything to the desserts. Course 8 (extra) Sugar cookie with vanilla ice cream and caviar. This was an extra treat that they brought. A cookie ice cream sandwich with caviar on it. Again, why does it work? I don't get it! But it was super tasty. We were both really full by this point but ate it all! Each course isn't a huge, but by the end we were stuffed. And splitting the wine was a good way let us drive home! The tasting menu is a great way to try Brine and the many of the flavor combinations they're putting together. It's not an inexpensive meal. But we knew that going in. The cost may turn some people off, but this was a fantastic meal with some wonderful staff. I don't play video games too much anymore. And I don't remember the Pac Man song. But I love food, and I know that if you do as well you'll love Brine!

We visited Town Hall for brunch for the first time and were absolutely impressed. From the food and…read moredrinks to the service, everything exceeded our expectations. We sat at the bar, where Patrick took great care of us. Every recommendation he made was spot-on, and the drinks he crafted were outstanding. Patrick was attentive, friendly, and welcoming, and the rest of the staff was just as wonderful. The Cuban sandwich was one of the best I've ever had, and the bananas foster bread pudding was absolutely incredible. Needless to say, we'll be back this Sunday! A 10/10 experience, and I highly recommend Town Hall to anyone looking for a great brunch spot.

Came here tonight for a date night with my fiance with big expectations but unfortunately the…read moreweren't met :( When we entered the service was prompt and the atmosphere was great! The overall restaurant looked clean and great for a date night. We weren't feeling too hungry so we ordered the following based on the waitress and our friend's recommendations: 1) Crispy Brussels sprouts 2) Duck Fat Corn Bread 3) House made pasta + sugo The crispy brussels sprouts were a bit undercooked and lacked flavor but if you prefer a less crispy Brussel sprout dish I would recommend it over the duck fat corn bread. The duck fat corn bread was disappointing. It was an odd combination of flavors that did not mix very well. The corn bread was mushy and the crisp Napa cabbage with the random ranch/spicy sauce combo did not pair well and left my mouth feeling confused. I had high expectations for their house made pasta as they had a pasta maker out for viewing. The pasta was overcooked and every bite was an interesting mix of flavors...some bites salty...some bites unseasoned. There was barely any meat present and overall we ended up not finishing our meal and wrapping up the night. The only good thing we had was the homemade soda that I did not get a picture of but I believe was the hibiscus one. Overall I would recommend this place for drinks but not dinner.

The District is a special place. It's not just a restaurant but a destination. From the apps and…read moredrink menu to the desserts , its an awesome experience. The wait staff is very attentive and the owner is very genuine and committed about what they do for their customers. We would recommend this restaurant to anyone who would love to experience a dining delight!

We ate on the patio for Mother's Day and had a wonderful experience. The fried chicken with the…read morebread pudding french toast was absolutely delicious. Our server was very attentive. We also enjoyed listening to the live music.

Deliciousness is an understatement. Amazing fettuccini Alfredo made from scratch with some protein…read morein the side. Their pastry chef made the most delicious summer berry coffee cafe which I paired with a cappuccino. Hands down the best Italian restaurant in Jacksonville FL.

It's been a few years since my last visit to Taverna, so I was excited to give it another try…read more Starting with the positives: the space is absolutely gorgeous, and the service was impeccable from start to finish. We loved the gambas al ajillo -- the shrimp had great flavor and just the right amount of heat -- and the grilled sourdough was perfect for soaking up every bit of the delicious sauce. A few things fell short, though. Our table for two felt cramped, especially since it was positioned directly against a wooden divider. I was facing the back of the restaurant, so as right-hander, sitting up against the wall felt awkward and made the space feel even tighter. I'm a huge fan of seafood stews and almost always order them when I see one on the menu, so I was looking forward to the Sicilian Stew. While the overall flavor was good, it leaned a bit too salty for my taste. More disappointing was the fish itself -- it seemed cooked down and stirred into the broth to the point where it acted more like a thickener than a distinct part of the dish. I would have preferred visible pieces of fish with more texture and presence. Overall, the staff was warm and attentive, the service was excellent, and the food arrived promptly. Despite a few drawbacks, I'd still be open to giving Taverna another try in the future.

Prospect is typically a 5 star experience. I've been frequenting there since I moved to Riverside…read moreand I still let people know that it's one of the best brunch and Happy Hour experiences in the area. We went this past Friday and while they had the same great food (with one exception), same decor and vibe, it seemed as if the typically impeccable service was staring to slip. The staff was in a great mood, seemed to be having a party and maybe that was some of the issue. Drinks not filled, food brought out a different points when we asked for it to be brought together etc. One of the guests requested their sauce on the side and it came right on top of her cold steak. We had to constantly grab anyone who worked there to get help and get served or drink refills. Very atypical of Prospect. I'm reviewing again to be constructive. I still love Prospect and I need them to be the excellent experience they have always been. I'm truly hoping this was a one off afternoon.

Overall good experience, we had Gleb and he did an amazing job trying to keep up but it seems like…read morethey were slammed yesterday. At one point the inside bartender had to shut down/stop taking orders because they were so behind. They did the best they could just dont think they were equipped to handle the Saturday night rush that came in. Food and drinks were really good, I'll be back but maybe not on the weekends.

This was terrible. A cover charge just to sit down. They didn't have the ingredients for multiple…read more"specialty cocktails". Sub-par food... actually, the food was terrible. I had the Salmon and it came right out of the Morton's box. My husband had the wings (and we had to stop on the way home for tummy medicine). Then we got the check and there were $36 worth of "fees". Our bills was $144 for $40 worth of food and drinks. Absolutely ridiculous. So disappointed. In hind sight, we should have been tipped off that we were the only people in there. The fees are shameful. I would not recommend this place. At all. For anything. The band was good tho.

Food is great ambiance is amazing and so was the music and the service. Awesome I will go again in…read morethe near future.

100% on the pricier side, but I think pretty worth it if you're coming for a special occasion!…read more Parking isn't too bad. I think they have valet, but there's also free street parking and a little lot across the street. But definitely plan to come a little early to find a spot if you have a reservation. The service really is top tier. All the workers were super friendly and super helpful. I haven't had too much experience with fine dining, but I was taken aback and impressed that they even gave me a little side table to put my purse on. And the food itself is really delicious! Starting off with the bread and butter, I'm kind of sad they only gave us one piece each, but I also know if they gave us more, I would have gotten full off of that alone. You get to pick what kind of bread you want from a selection of focaccia, ciabatta, etc. And they're so soft but with a good chew. The butter was also so good. It was super olive oil forward, so it really reminded me of like the bread and olive oil with spices you get at other spots. But solid version of that, while still being super soft and spreadable. I was also super impressed with the hokkaido scallops. Not only were the scallops huge, but it was perfectly cooked all the way through. They had the crispy edges, but the inside wasn't rubbery or chewy. That paired with the creamed corn and charred corn - so so good.

Matthew's is one of my favorite restaurants in town! Definitely call ahead and let them know if…read moreyou're having a special event because they will make sure you feel extra special. Reservations aren't required but helpful. The bar area is pretty casual so if you just feel like popping in because you're in the neighborhood but you're not sure if you're dressed well enough... like you can totally stop in and hang in there because their espresso martinis are one of my favorites! And their happy hour is definitely the best time go. We normally go for the different Chef's tasting adventures which are coursed out meals with or without wine pairings... Just because it's fun to be surprised and try new things sometimes. They try to accommodate all allergies and you can always order things "on the side" if you're not sure about it which I love because I can be picky... sometimes ;) If I order off the menu, I normally order either their seasonal preparation of the scallops or the aged steak because the toppings and salts that come with their steak are amazing! And if you only order one thing on their menu... make sure it's the souffle! Their souffle is always cooked perfectly to order no matter what flavor they are serving and the creme anglaise that they always serve it with is so silky and completes it just perfectly. Overall, I would definitely recommend giving this restaurant a try and highly suggest it for your more intimate special occasions.

Really unique space in spring field area. Lots of couches around or you can sit at the bar. Also…read morehave a cute patio in the back! The menu is via QR code that takes you to their website and you can find wines, cocktails (with wine) and some beers. I tried the wine flight (Riesling, Cab Sav and an employees choice) which was delicious and a great way to try multiple options to find what you like. Also tried the frozen strawberry frozen marg which I unfortunately did not enjoy. It didn't have a lot of strawberry flavor, it tastes more like cherry medicine. Do want to mention that when it gets busy, it may be hard to find parking and the area is pretty sketchy (I didn't feel safe parking far and having to walk over. One time a homeless guy was yelling at me when I was walking on the sidewalk), so just be mindful and careful if you do park far and having to walk.

If you're looking for a spot that perfectly blends great drinks, good vibes, and a little bit of…read moremagic look no further than Juice . I stopped by during one of their vinyl events and instantly fell in love with the atmosphere. First things first... the Pink Pony Club cocktail WOW. It was perfectly balanced, flavorful, and dangerously easy to sip. Not too strong, not too sweet... just right. The kind of drink that makes you immediately consider ordering a second (or third ). At some point my stomach reminded me that it is requiring fuel, so I ordered one of their gourmet glizzys and went with the Chicago Glizzy. Let me tell you... absolutely amazing. Bold, delicious, and somehow both indulgent and elevated at the same time. The overall vibe is what truly makes this place special. The patio, glowing with soft lights, feels like the perfect place to unwind under the stars , while the indoor space gives off a cozy library-meets-speakeasy feel that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile. The crowd was warm and welcoming, the energy was positive, and the staff were friendly with excellent service from start to finish. Bonus highlight: I even met a new friend while I was there always a sign you've found a great spot . I'm already looking forward to my next visit so I can spend even more time soaking it all in. Highly recommend if you want good drinks, great food, and unforgettable vibes .