It's been a few years since my last visit to Taverna, so I was excited to give it another try. Starting with the positives: [[HIGHLIGHT]]the space is absolutely gorgeous[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], 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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Our table for two felt cramped, especially since it was positioned directly against a wooden divider[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. [[HIGHLIGHT]]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[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. 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. read more

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Deliciousness is an understatement. Amazing fettuccini Alfredo made from scratch with some protein in 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. read more

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Food: for apps we shared the marinated olives (great) and patatas bravas (great). for mains, we shared the night's special which was a redfish (standout dish of the night, incredible), filet mignon (my groups least favorite, slightly overcooked and overall forgettable), fettuccine (delightful). for dessert we split a tiramisu cheesecake (disappointing, would not describe as tiramisu flavored) and the house made strawberry gelato (incredible, and it came with one of their almond house made cookies which we then promptly ordered a cookie plate in addition). Cocktails were ok, my salt & vinegar martini was not salty or vinegary enough for my liking. Service: friendly waiter. I think it was a busy Saturday night because there were long wait times for apps and then again for our entrees; our dirty plates took a while to clear off the table. Ambiance: [[HIGHLIGHT]]sat outside on the sidewalk which was perfect for the weather and less noisy than inside[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

TAVERNA - Salt & vinegar martini - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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During a business trip to Jacksonville, stumbled upon this fabulous restaurant. Steak and fries with an espresso martini. My steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked- fries were crispy and flavorful. Service was really good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cool vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking can be a challenge. read more

TAVERNA - STEAK FRITES - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

We stopped into Taverna recently and had only been to Taverna once before which was for a quick drink prior to meeting friends elsewhere so we were looking forward to it. I ordered the Sicilan Seafood Stew which you can add spaghetti to for $5, but I decided against. There was a decent amount of seafood in it. I liked it but didn't love it, which might be user error. I'm not the worlds biggest tomato fan and I knew there would be some in there but I don't think I expected as many as there were. I found myself really digging around tomatoes to find the seafood I really wanted. The garlic bread on the side was really good and great for dipping in the broth. My wife ordered the Soppressata Pizza almost out of curiosty due to the fried egg. She really liked it! She thought there was a good mix of all the promised toppings and she liked the fried egg as much as she hoped she would. I rarely comment on what our dining companions order but it's worth noting that our friend ordered the Fungi Pizza which she loved as well. I mention that because the 2 pizzas seemed to be the star of the table so I think if we go back, I'll try one of those. read more

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I've been to taverna for so many different reasons from Sunday brunch to celebrating high school graduation. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have the best ambiance for a little bit fancier of an occasion.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is delicious and on the more expensive side but well worth it. Our waiters have always been great. Our last visit, Bruce did a phenomenal job. His recommendations were perfect and he took great care of us. read more

TAVERNA - STEAK FRITES - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

My wife and I have been going here for so many special occasions and they always make it special. We took our friend and 11 others for her birthday last Friday and the service was exceptional! Young lady served us (don't know her name I'm sorry! Brown hair maybe Asian?) and she was so kind. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's clean and classic inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food and drinks are always amazing! Thanks taverna! read more

TAVERNA - HOUSE-MADE RAVIOLI - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Taverna in San Marco was a wonderful dining experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is cozy, romantic, and welcoming, making it perfect for either a date night or a relaxed dinner with family and friends.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started with an Italian Chardonnay, truffle fries, and a charcuterie board, which were all excellent. For the main course, I had the Bolognese, and it was absolutely delicious, a flavorful. The service was outstanding from start to finish. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made us feel genuinely welcome throughout the evening. read more

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This was a work dinner and we tried multiple appetizers. The brocollini ans truffle fries were the favorites. We did not enjoy the calamari which wasn't fried and honestly I couldn't get past the look of it. All the pastas are made in house and the ravioli was perfection, the mushrooms were cooked in some kind of sauce that I could have poured on anything. The salmon skin was crispy and probably the best I have had in a long time. Their dessert menu had all kinds of choices that are made from scratch including an ice cream sandwich made with homemade chocolate chip cookies that my coworkers raved about. I ordered the waitress suggestion which was a hazelnut espresso chocolate cake and it was divine. It was moist, and had just the right amount of hazelnut. I thought it may be too much espresso but it wasn't. It was a large portion and we shared it, I would go back just for that chocolate cake. Service was fast even for our large group read more

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The food was excellent as was the service! A wide variety of delicious options were available for our family dinner of seven. The wine selection provided a wide selection for those who were interested as were cocktails and beer. Our evening was going along very well until a table of rather boisterous customers arrived and basically "stole the show" by filling the dining area with loud laughter and commentary. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall the cuisine was wonderful and our waiter was attentive; however, the noise level was really "off the charts" ... until the noisy table finally left the restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Take out order Food was fabulous even after a 15min car ride home in to go container. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambience whilst picking up meal was a hybrid of what could be described as relaxed upscale. Affluence at leisure. Lighting set the mood.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The aroma from the kitchen screamed we care about flavor and pleasing the palate. Food did not disappoint. Will be coming back to celebrate with the gf later. Only getting 4/5 stars because I didn't get the full in restaurant experience. read more

5 stars (because 10 isn't an option!) My friend and I popped into Taverna for a light dinner before an event, and it ended up being the kind of experience that reminds you why hospitality still matters. We started with the patatas bravas, which were perfectly crispy and absolutely hit the spot. A+ on the texture, flavor, and presentation. Bonus points for the bleu cheese stuffed olives--if you're a martini lover, these are a must-try. For mains, I ordered the Caesar salad with salmon (yes to the full anchovies, always), and my friend had the pear salad with chicken. Both were fresh, flavorful, and beautifully plated... until a food runner (in a moment we all dread) dropped the tray. Plates shattered. Food gone. A true dinner disaster moment. BUT. The way the staff handled it? Flawless. The runner immediately called it in to the kitchen for a rush on replacements while calmly cleaning up the scene. Another employee from Oceana heard the commotion and swooped over to help too! The manager checked on us multiple times, was incredibly kind, and even brought us each a glass of Prosecco as a thoughtful apology. The grace, professionalism, and genuine care they showed turned what could have been an awkward experience into one of the most memorable (in the best way). The food was great, the vibe was warm and inviting, but it's the people at Taverna who truly made the night. If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. read more

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The wait was about two hours on a busy Saturday night, though my wife made the reservation beforehand so I could be wrong on the estimate. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were seated outside, where the patio heaters were very hot, but the server wouldn't adjust them because another guest liked it that way.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered fries and olives for appetizers. I had the fettuccine with chicken, and my wife had the steamed mussels and clams, both of which were very good. For dessert, my wife had an espresso with ice cream, and she also thought it was very good. The service was inconsistent; the bar was busy, and our server took a while to get our tickets. Overall, it's worth checking out if you're in the mood for Italian-inspired food. read more

TAVERNA - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Came here to celebrate Mother's Day. Made a 9:30 PM reservation but came early and was able to sit at a table at 9:00 PM. Service can be a bit slow when it's busy but servers are pleasant. Highlights - bolognese, margherita pizza Pleasantly surprised - Roasted pear salad, roasted calamari Disappointed - tiramisu It's not the traditional tiramisu with dusting of cocoa powder. It was dry and hard. read more

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We arrived around 9:30pm on a Friday night, about 30 minutes before closing time. We'd looked at the menu ahead of time so we had a good idea of what we'd wanted, but we waited over 20 minutes for a server to come to our table. I eventually had to flag down one of the staff and ask that someone come to take our order. Once our server was assigned, she was great! We had the fettuccine, Caesar salad, and the patatas bravas. The pattatas were fantastic, and the pasta was absolutely divine. The Caesar salad was very good as well, but we hadn't noticed that there were two little fish on top as a garnish so we had a good giggle at one another about that. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was beautiful, but it was very loud... not a place for a dinner date where you'd like to chat with one another very easily.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] However, the food was so good that you'll likely end up quietly enjoying every bite! If we were in town for more than the weekend, we would probably go again... it was truly that good. read more

I has been a while since I have been to Taverna but I was very happy we made it back. We had an event in the morning in the San Marco area and after the event we were pretty hungry since we did not have breakfast. We walked around for a little but but had to wait till 11am for most places to open and once that happened Taverna it was. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I had forgotten how nice it was inside and what a nice bar they have.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Once seated we checked out the menu and they got a lot going on and there drink menu was also very appealing. To drink I started with the Whiskey Sour which is something I don't normally get but boy am I glad I did. This was so good and had so much flavor. Think of a bourbon based margarita but way better. I will be having more of these. Ashley also ordered the Patatas Bravas for a appetizer and they were also very good. They had a lot of seasoning and the aioli it comes with is great. I will say though this would lead to potato overload later. Since it was lunch I was in the mood for a sandwich and they had a lot of great sounding options, but one of course stuck out and when I see something like it it's always a must for me. That sandwich was the Short Rib Sandwich. This Short Rib Sandwich comes with pulled Short Rib, Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, Arugula, Truffle Cream, Provolone, Gruyere, on Toasted Sourdough. How is that not a must. For my side I also of course had to upgrade to the Parmesan Truffle Fries and of course it come with the aioli as well. The Short Rib Sandwich as good but not as rich as I was expecting it to be. The Short Rib itself also was lacking in flavor. Still good but could have been better and when the sandwich starts at $28 I just expected more. I was say it was very big too so that's also a plus. We will for sure be coming back to Taverna in San Marco just the good food and amazing atmosphere. read more

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Had the bolognese and it was great. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Sat outside and enjoyed the evening with a group from work and enjoyed the company and discussions.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff ensured we had all we needed and did a great job. read more

TAVERNA - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

This gorgeous restaurant is located in San Marco! Oceana serves a variety of unique dishes, and I highly recommend booking a reservation during happy hour. it's the perfect time to sample a wide selection of their menu at amazing prices. We tried several dishes, and each was incredible in its own way. Oceana also offers delicious handcrafted cocktails and mocktails, making it a great spot for the whole family. We especially appreciated the large variety of gluten-free options. The restaurant layout is another highlight. You can enjoy your meal on the outdoor patio, in the indoor dining area, at the bar, or at the oyster bar. They also have a beautiful private room, perfect for group gatherings. What We Tried - Blood Orange Margarita - Classic Martini - Kimchi Brussels Sprouts - Oysters - Tuna Poke - Insalata di Mare - Lobster Burrata - Caviar Service In our opinion they have the: Best oysters in Jacksonville Best Brussels sprouts in Jacksonville A special shoutout to Mathew, who provided us with outstanding service. He knew the menu inside and out and gave us excellent recommendations. We've already RSVP'd for our next visit--I can't wait to try the mussels and clams dish! Oceana Tavern 1986 San Marco Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32207 United States read more

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Place is cute! Great atmosphere, low lights, big booths so you feel nice and cozy. Drinks were soooo good. The food was also very yum!! Prices were pretty average for nowadays, however the burrata caprese should definitely NOT be $18. Very average sized appetizer, it was just enough for just my partner and I, I can't imagine it being enough for more than 2. My pizza was great, and the pasta was also yum. Our server was a little weird, she seemed out of place and a little lost at all times. Drinks were quick but the food took a minute to come out- good thing we had good company! Overall it's yum, but a little pricey and servers are awkward. read more

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Horrible experience from start to finish. We waited over an hour for our entrees after ordering. When the food finally arrived, one of the entrees was completely wrong. The manager eventually came out, but instead of taking responsibility and handling with some basic customer service, he offered some weak excuse and blamed to the server, who really sucked at his job. Too many good restaurants out there to waste time and money on a place like this. Won't go back. read more

My husband and I were already in town so we decided to grab some lunch it had been a few years since we had both been to Taverna so we decided to stop in. At first, I was a little disappointed that they didn't have brunch on a Saturday. However, the lunch menu is super tasty so I wasn't disappointed for long. I started off by ordering the potatoes brava, which were very good. I especially love the dipping sauce. Then for my lunch, I ordered a half portion or lunch portion of the ravioli, and because I was craving eggs I decided to add a fried egg to my ravioli dish, which was surprisingly a very nice addition. I originally was gonna get the full portion of ravioli, but was so happy that I decided to go with the half portion because that alone was super filling and I ended up taking two of my ravioli home with me. Our waiter was incredibly nice and helped make recommendations as we needed them. I did order a drink, and after some consideration, I decided to go with the pistachio espresso martini. It wasn't as pistachio forward as I wanted it to be, but it was still a very good martini and I would absolutely get it again. Taverna is a staple restaurant in San Marco to me so I know we will definitely be back soon. read more

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Taverna is in our neighborhood and has always been a place where we enjoy going. Recently I went with my DH and DD for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. We were seated promptly and we had a nice table. We ordered the Burrata Caprese which was deliciously fresh. The burrata in particular was creamy with a lovely mild flavor. A great way to start our meal! My DD and I ordered the Steak Frites. The steak was flavorful and the fries were crisp and hot, but it was the truffle bordelaise sauce that was a *revelation!* Seriously... we could have handled an extra bowl of that sauce! Not only did it bring out the flavors in the steak, but we dipped our fries in it and wow was that good!! For dessert we opted for the Cookie Plate. The biscotti and the chocolate chip cookie were delicious, but it was the Pignoli cookie that was the star! read more

TAVERNA - STEAK FRITES - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Another amazing meal and time at taverna! This place never lets me down. The special was Steak - 14 oz porcini rubbed ribeye, horseradish mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, mushroom + leek Marsala, demi-glace. The mushroom and leek Marsala was so flavorful, so delicious!! Also pictured is the fettuccine with scallops, a little pricey for a pasta dish but worth every penny! read more

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The food and service never disappoints. I discovered Taverna in 2021 after moving back to Jacksonville and it is a true gem in San Marco. From their cocktails and appetizers, especially their desserts, there's truly something incredible on the menu for everyone in the family. read more

TAVERNA - FUNGI - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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We got to Taverna 30 minutes before Happy hour started, oh well. The hostess and waitress were there to guide us through our first dining experience at Taverna. There is outdoor seating available but we choose to eat inside. 2 glasses of white moscato, please. The wine went down so smooth. Wifey had the risotto and I had the shrimp gambia. So aamazing. Next, I had the bolofnese with broccolini. I would have rather had the broccolini but no worries, everything was frsh and hot. I topped the afternoon with one drink from the Happy hour menu. Wifey got the chipwich for dessert. It was an epic afternoon witha hefty price tag for lunch. Next time I will be 1 minte after 4 pm tobget my drink on. I like going to restaurants during the afternoon, less crowds. It was not perfection but it is amust try! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Beautiful atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Super sweet waiter, great food. Wish I ordered the pasta but my food (white fish special) was still amazing! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute spot, nice outside seating selection also![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Very yummy food here! I loved my pasta, it was a good size and the goat cheese was a nice touch. Our waitress was nice as well. We got seated in the back room and we're right next to a loud, big party. My seat was also right against them so it wasn't the best spot. Everything else was great. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a nice Italian restaurant with great service, good ambience, and tasty food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The waitress I had was so sweet and attentive to our table. She checked back in lots of times, but not too much. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I've sat inside and outside, but I love being outside next to the heaters.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]In the center of San Marco square, it is the perfect people watching spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] As for food, the truffle fries are a must try. read more

A rough visit tonight, our first visit here (we live outside of Jacksonville). We had reservations for 6pm, arriving a few moments early. We had to wait a bit, not more than 5 minutes, for them to check to see if our table was available. We were quickly greeted by our server, who was very nice, but that's where everything slowed down. Drinks from the bar took 10 minutes, appetizers (ricotta spread and a wedge salad) took 20. We had put our food order in with the appetizers, but an hour later, they still had not emerged. We asked our server to check in the food and she went off to the kitchen to find out. The table next to us had the manager stop by, and like us, they had a show to attend at 8pm. They were assured it would only be 15 or so more minutes. I knew we didn't have that sort of time to wait. I went to find our server or the manager and upon finding the manager, he assured me it would only be 15 more minutes, but he asked where we were sitting to check to make sure. He promised to come by the table to chat with us. When I returned to the table, our server was there and said the same, it would take 15 minutes. At this point, we were out of time so I asked that they cancel our entrees and bring us the bill, which they did. The manager stopped by, apologized profusely (he was really kind, tbh he just had a rough night in the kitchen, I summized) and stated that he had removed the appetizer from our check. He also asked that we give them another chance, which I stated I would. The food we had was good, and I'm sure the rest would have been too had we had the time to wait. I gave three starts for the good food (that we had) and the kind and attentive staff. Restaurants can have a bad night, and this seemed to be one of them, so not need to rate any lower. read more

The best thing about this place would have been location and indoor ambience. However, food is MEDIOCRE & service HORRIBLE. My first impression when I walked through the door was UPSCAL but I was disappointed with the wait time of receiving food, UNATTENTIVE waitress, and BLASÉ taste entree. I did not leave here thinking I should add this place to my regular eatery spots. Crème Brûlée grapefruit is absolutely AMAZING. it's conceptual and executed well. The combination of crunchy sugar and the meat of the grapefruit. This would be the only reason to return. Smoked Chicken Salad sandwich was my least favorite. The bread was a bit over toasted so it crumbled as I bit through. The chicken chunks are unpleasant and bombarding while chewing. All of the flavors came to me separately. Just NOT GOOD. This place would have to do better with bring the dining experience together for me to consider again. I think there are other places in San Marco to choose over them. read more

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I'm a frequent Taverna diner as the service and food are always great. I had brunch there for the first time Sunday and it was lovely. Our server, Emily, was professional, friendly and accurate. Highly recommend. read more

I have to walk into this place because it was attached to the restaurant. I really wanted to dine in at. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I was really looking forward to having seafood pasta from the other location, but it was super crowded on a Tuesday at 4 PM which is wild, but there must be a reason.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'll have to try it next time, but this taverna next-door had a different menu and I requested something similar to a seafood pasta request, but it would've merely cost me $60 for the dish if so, and I wasn't sure if it was going to be the same. So I decided to get a scallop and risotto entree from their menu. It looked delicious from the yelp pictures and on Google. As soon as the dish had arrived, I immediately smelled the strong ammonia smell from the seafood, of course the scallops. I tried to ignore it and give it a chance, but as soon as I bit into it, it was very strong on the ammonia taste and fishy smell. Of course I just had told myself I would never complain about a dish at a restaurant, but this so happen to be unbearable to eat. I didn't want to get food poisoning. My server and staff and manager were awesome and outstanding. I just blame the restaurant owner for the training and absolute Inadequate inventory control of dishes I had experienced. I hope to have this review help them monitor food much better than what I've experienced and have more success afterwards. read more

TAVERNA - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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The food was delicious, I had the shrimp scampi and my date had the salmon. The salmon was top notch with a crispy skin and lentils. The shrimp of the scampi were very large. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I will say it was rather loud in the restaurant so if you're looking for a quiet location, this might not be the spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The food goes beyond delightful and exquisite far more than the human palate can ever experiance

Food was absolutely great! From the appetizers to the main dishes. Not a usual dessert person, but the crème brûlée was fantastic. Worth the price. Will go back for date night. read more

TAVERNA - Sicilian seafood stew SAUTEED MUSSELS AND CLAMS - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Went for an afternoon lunch with some girlfriends and had such a great time! I tried the watermelon salad and an iced latte, both were a 10/10. The watermelon salad was especially refreshing and flavorful. Our server was super entertaining and added to the fun vibe. Highly recommend! read more

In on a Saturday afternoon mid day. Not very busy. Got seated quickly. My wife asked for parm truffle fries, $16 for a less than average serving, mushroom ravioli which had a cheese inside and some mushrooms in the cream based sauce, $30. Bland would be a good description. I had the Salsiccia pizza, $24. Another very bland pizza. A $5 Coke , a $5 Jade Tea. Bill totaled $86 with tax! A swing and a miss but the server, Rachel, was attentive and efficient read more

went here awhile back for Happy hour. This was after my wife and I had an excellent dining experience (also happy hour) at their new restaurante next door (Oceana). NO complaints. Excellent service, friendly staff, nice ambiance, deliciously crafted cocktails, and a small but nice happy hour food menu. Will be back again for more happy hours or even dine in during dinner. Thanks for having us. read more

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Arguably one of the best brunch spots in Jax. Long warm and cozy bar with fantastic drinks and service. Their espresso martinis are a ten-out-of-ten! Their crab cake eggs Benedict are fantastic. If you're a carnivore, check out their hanger steak and eggs; a home run on a plate. If you're in to great food at reasonable prices, Taverna is your go-to! read more

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First time trying Taverna out. After hearing so many great things I had to try it. Everyone was right!! EXCELLENT!! We ordered Brussels sprouts and Burrata caprese as an appetizer. For the main course I went with the house made ravioli, add shrimp for an additional charge. Great flavors! Dessert was amazing we got overly excited for the chocolate mousse cake and took a bit before the picture, then I ordered their evening special of butterscotch pudding, and I cleaned the whole bowl. To top off dessert I ordered a pistachio espresso martini and it was delicious but not too sweet. Staff was friendly and quick to help suggest meals and drinks. Lighting is low but sets the mood perf for a date night. read more

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