Good Food Company - Thumbs Up (Jacksonville: live, restaurant, bill)

[GadgetRick]

So my wife took me out for dinner last night to celebrate my upcoming birthday (not much to celebrate as I get older ). Anyway, she wanted to try something we don't do all of the time. So she found Good Food Company. They're on Atlantic in the strip where Big Air is. I didn't even know there was another restaurant in there so it was quite a surprise.

The place reminds me of the many smaller places up in the NE (where I'm from) which aren't chains. A little more expensive than say, an Outback (but not by much) and a more, "mature," menu if you know what I mean.

We started with their onion soup and some calamari. The onion soup was super hot (too hot, IMO) but tasted good. Was a little too buttery but still had a nice flavor to it. The calamari was just plain awesome. Perfectly-cooked, not too small, not too big and not heavy breading like so many places around here like to use. Just plain right.

I had a NY Strip with summer vegetables, red potato mashed and a mushroom cognac (got that on the side as I hate mushrooms but my wife said it was great). My wife got Lamb chops with mint vinagarette and fresh spinach tossed with red onions, tomatoes and feta. The lamb chops were pistachio crusted.

My steak was cooked perfectly. They used basil to season the steak--something I do--although they used a little too much for my taste. But it wasn't unpleasant.

My wife loved the lamb, was cooked perfectly and was delicious (in her words).

We had a bottle of zinfandel with dinner and had dessert--she had a blueberry bread pudding and I had their chocolate brownie with peanut butter icing. She loved the bread pudding. The brownie was good but had a crust on top and was HUGE! The brownie is enough for a family of 4 to be quite honest (it was only $6).

Anyway, our bill came to $125, which, considering we had a bottle of wine, isn't bad at all (the bottle of wine was $58).

Service was good (no complaints) but I can't say it was excellent. Again, no complaints but it could have been a little better in a few minor areas. Nothing to keep us from giving a nice tip for sure.

Was very nice eating there, was a mix of people (old and young). Not a bad atmosphere either. Sort of industrial but not in-your-face industrial.

Overall, we really liked it and plan to go back. The best part is it's about 5 minutes from where we live.

If you're looking for a nice date night place (you could bring kids there but it's really not that kind of place), this isn't a bad spot to go. If you're trying to impress that someone special, this is not a bad place for that sort of thing (for here in Jacksonville) without spending twice as much at a place like Ruth's Chris.

Just thought I'd pass along a good spot to have dinner (or lunch).

[bobsim]

Thanks Rick,

Now I'm starving...

Happy Birthday old man and many more!

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by bobsim

Thanks Rick,

Now I'm starving...

Happy Birthday old man and many more!

Thanks. i'm getting old but it sure beats the alternative.