16. The Pig Bbq
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (904) 783-1606
Address: 5456 Normandy Blvd.
Description: It ain’t pretty, but The Pig makes some of the best damn BBQ in the city. Insiders tout it as the best hole-in-the-wall you’ll ever find, and a few locals even claim to know The Pig’s secret sauce recipe. If they’re right, it’s made from white vinegar, salt, mustard (the wet yellow kind), chili powder, thyme, and black pepper in equal proportions. Or just come in and try it for yourself. The BBQ is so good that locals are willing to forgive the less-than-tony location.
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Address: 5310 Lenox Ave.
18. Billy C’S Fred Cotten Bar-B-Q
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (904) 356-8274
Address: 2623 North Main St.
Description: For some of the best barbecue in Jacksonville, Billy C’s Fred Cotton Bar-B-Q is worth the trip. Located in a small, smoky storefront on Main Street, just north of Downtown proper, Fred Cotten’s has been serving the city’s decision makers and construction workers alike for more than 60 years. It’s not unusual to see a mayor or former mayor munching on a pork rib sandwich, while a crew of utility workers sits at the next table. Open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Closed Sunday.
19. Burrito Gallery
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (904) 598-2922
Address: 21 East Adams St.
Description: “Local artwork and burritos. How can you go wrong?” says Jacksonville community affairs Insider Jennifer Chapman who frequents this Mexican hole-in-the-wall when business takes her across the Main Street Bridge. Busy-busy-busy at traditional lunchtimes, this Mexican eatery caters to the Downtown business crowd but is a fairly easy destination for folks coming from the Southbank, Riverside, or Avondale. Take advantage of the patio out back and spend some time checking out the art while you’re in line, but don’t get too distracted as the line moves fast. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every other day. Closed Sunday.
20. Cafe Nola
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (904) 366-6911, ext.231
Address: 33 North Laura St.
Description: Word has it from the crowd of local politicos and up-and-comers crowding the café that the haricot verts is the best appetizer on the menu. This eatery, located in the lobby of the Museum of Contemporary Art on Hemming Plaza, draws a who’s-who of Downtown movers and shakers with homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches. It’s the ideal place to schedule a lunch with clients or get a bite after viewing the museum’s excellent collection of contemporary art. Open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and on Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner. Café Nola also opens for dinner during First Wednesday Art Walks. Reservations suggested.
21. Chew
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (904) 355-3793
Address: 117 W Adams St.
Description: Stop by Chew for a little bit of hipness on Adams Street. Often recommended as a great first-date spot, the restaurant makes good on their claim to offer attentive service, thoughtful surroundings, and great food at reasonable prices. Ingredients, when possible, are made in-house or sourced locally. For a real taste treat, try the Black Mission Prosciutto salad or the Short Rib Sliders. Open for lunch weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner Thursday and Friday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
22. De Real Ting Cafe
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (904) 466-9777
Address: 6850 Arlington Expressway
Description: This super-Insider Caribbean restaurant serves island specialties like jerk or curried chicken, jerk shrimp, conch fritters, Jamaican patties, steamed red snapper, and roasted fish. For something different, try the yummy curried goat. The menu also lists oxtail, but I have yet to find someone who has given it a try. The Arlington Expressway location serves a daily lunch special and several vegetarian dishes, as well as beer and wine, and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; on Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and on Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. The West Adams Street location has a full bar but is only open Thursday through Saturday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. when rumor has it the owner sometimes brings in live jazz. Both locations are closed Sunday and Monday.
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Address: 212 North Laura St.
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Address: 100 East Adams St.
25. Uptown Market – Springfield
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (904) 355-0734
Address: 1303 North Main St. (at 3rd Street)
Description: Historic Springfield just got even more hip with the Uptown Market, a delicious destination for breakfast. Think poached eggs with Applewood smoked bacon, spinach and artichoke frittatas, and thick slabs of French toast dipped in their own vanilla batter. Need I say more? Open every day for breakfast and lunch.
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1019 Hendricks Ave.
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Address: 4132 Atlantic Blvd.
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1440 San Marco Blvd.
29. The French Pantry
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (904) 730-8696
Address: 6301 Powers Ave.
Description: Bucking the notion that location has anything to do with popularity, The French Pantry is so sought after for lunch that devotees are known to plan their afternoons to avoid the peak. Plunked down in the center of an industrial area, the eatery specializes in crusty bread and sandwiches made from dreamy combinations of international cheeses and gourmet meats. Widely touted as “the best lunch in Jacksonville,” the shop is only open on weekdays, and only from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., so plan your visit wisely. Community seating is the rule, so expect to wait your turn and share a table. Do yourself a favor and make sure there’s and extra notch on your belt as the sandwiches are huge.
30. Hala Café & Bakery
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (904) 288-8890
Address: 9735 Old Saint Augustine Rd.
Description: The go-to place for all things Middle Eastern, Hala Café and the adjacent store on University Boulevard South serve up hummus, tabouli, and lamb shank to die for. The lunch buffet provides great value with a steaming array of hot items and a fresh complement of cold salads, all made fresh daily. What the locations lack in ambience they more than make up for in taste and authenticity. Call ahead or drop in for take-out orders. Open for lunch and dinner. The retail store, which stocks not only foods but also other regional items like hookahs and Middle-Eastern drums, is worth a visit just for the experience. Both restaurants are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; the adjacent retail store (University Boulevard only) is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.