The perfect sandwich is a treat for the senses. In Jax, here are six spots where you’ll find perfection between slices of bread. by Jeffrey Spear It’s been said that a great sandwich is a work of art between two slices of bread. Whether it’s made with freshly baked loaves, expertly roasted meats, veggies straight from the garden, artisanal cheeses or fanciful condiments, a well-crafted sandwich is, most definitely, a sight to behold. And a dish to be savored. The best sandwiches need not be made by award-winning chefs creating culinary magic in high-priced restaurants. In Jacksonville, the bes ..read more

Sink your teeth into some Southern-fried eats from across the First Coast by Jeffrey Spear Whether you describe them as juicy, tender, crunchy, crispy, spicy, salty, delectable or finger-licking good, fried foods are a restaurant staple. Here in Jacksonville, with its Southern heritage and an ever-growing interest in nostalgic comfort foods, there are plenty of places to enjoy them all. The best ones seem to be the come-as-you-are, family-style chicken and seafood shacks that have stood the test of time. They’ve been serving up fresh, hot and tasty Southern favorites for decades. If you’ve no ..read more

Ordering a round or two at some of Jacksonville’s favorite watering holesby Jeffrey Spear One of America’s most beloved bars, visited weekly on 1980s prime-time television, was Cheers—the place “Where everybody knows your name… And they’re always glad you came.” Similarly, there are watering holes right here in Jacksonville that are equally cherished institutions. Whether described as dive bars, pubs, kitschy lounges or hipster retreats, here are some of the places that have won the hearts of locals and visitors alike. To begin, there are two joints that could not be more disparate yet equall ..read more

Northeast Florida is god’s country for those who like to dine & brine Jeffrey Spear contributed to this story Archeological evidence tells us that shrimp, oysters and other shellfish have been consumed by those residing in Northeast Florida for thousands of years, long before Spanish explorers arrived on our shores, Florida became a state, or Jacksonville was recognized as a city. In fact, a manmade structure on Fort George Island called a “shell ring” dates back to around 3600 B.C. In Arlington, there is an oyster shell midden that stands 25 feet high and covers more than 20 acres. Needl ..read more

The City’s growing Beer Scene serves delish eats, too by Jeffrey Spear Beer is the most consumed alcoholic beverage in America, giving rise to a growing number of craft breweries, taprooms and gastropubs across the country. In Northeast Florida, there are more than 30 registered breweries, the majority operating in and around Jacksonville. While many feature taprooms with a focus entirely on beer, occasionally hosting food trucks to round out their offerings, others maintain full-service restaurants with surprisingly innovative menus. As such, there are a few that deserve praise for their cre ..read more

Join us on a flavorful journey to a half-dozen Jax eateries where it’s always “Taco Tuesday” • by Jeffrey Spear It can be argued that tacos became widely popular in America with the founding of Taco Bell in 1962. Jumping ahead about fifty years, the growing popularity of tacos as “street food” and their increasing presence on social media has added to their desirability. At their core, tacos are an enjoyable, flavorful, inexpensive and casual hand-held food that inspires incredible culinary invention. Also, they go great with margaritas. In Jacksonville, there are several restaurants of note ..read more

Words and photos by Joshua Smith and Caron Streibich It’s easy to argue that the sandwich is the perfect food item. The countless combinations of breads, meats, sauces, veggies and spices are timelessly delicious. From the classic bacon, lettuce and tomato to a zesty banh mi stuffed with roasted pork, pickled daikon and cilantro, the variations on this culinary tune are endless, and more unique flavor combinations are created every day. Jacksonville Magazine recently embarked on a little tour of the local sandwich scene. Here’s some of what we found and ate. Gili’s Kitchen, Catering and Bake ..read more

New casual community gathering spot debuts in Springfield. By Delaney Akridge and Fabrizio Gowdy If you’ve recently driven through Springfield on a Saturday night, you may have noticed a lively scene at the corner of 4th and North Main streets. The setting is the new Main Street Food Park, a community gathering place for live music, food trucks and a variety of events. Main Street Food Park is the vision of Cherron Johnson, a nurse in the Navy Reserves, and Hector Zayas, Sr., a retired Navy vet. Hector moved to Springfield in 2016 and quickly fell in love with its close-knit feel, and it wasn ..read more

Diners are expected to pig out at St. Augustine brunch and breakfast favorite. A common gripe heard across the Northeast Florida dining scene is that there aren’t enough locally owned restaurants serving breakfast and brunch. Waffle Houses and Cracker Barrels? Sure, we’ve got plenty of those. But tasty morning eats that stray from the cookie-cutter menus of pancakes, toast and bacon? That’s a bit more difficult to procure. Fortunately, there are a handful of local joints that strive to elevate breakfast fare. In St. Augustine, Uptown Swinery has been elevating eggs and grits for some three y ..read more

Something new and improved added to Oldest City dining by John O’Mara photos by Derrick Haggerty As we’ve written many times before, the St. Augustine dining scene is an ever-evolving landscape. It became even bigger and tastier with the opening of River & Fort, a sister restaurant of Jacksonville’s River & Post, earlier this year. She debuted in mid-February and has garnered raves for its combination of casually sophisticated atmosphere and inventive but approachable American eats. Fried pickle hushpuppies ($11) share menu space with stuffed New York strip steak ($39) and craft cockt ..read more