by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
The Homestead, also known as the Homestead House, is an eatery with a bit of Jacksonville Beach history. It’s nice to know that something that was built in the 1930s hasn’t been swallowed by condos or development. It’s just east of the Intercoastal on Beach. You might miss the sign because of the construction, but it’s just past Adventure Landing.
Besides great food and a long history, one reason people stop by The Homestead is because they want to know if the haunting stories are true. All manner of spooky tales and interesting lore gets passed around regarding the Homestead, especially since the Ghost Trackers investigated the place in 2002 and 2003. Most of the activity concerns sounds and voices on recording devices that the trackers placed in haunting hotspots.
Many of the hauntings take place in the old section of the restaurant, specifically by the fireplace and in the ladies room. Water has been mysteriously turned on in the bathrooms, lights turn off and on, plates have been broken when nobody was in the restaurant and menus have been found strewn about the floor by the cleaning crew. Folks still talk about the lady in white, who makes an appearance on the second floor. Restroom doors sometimes lock on their own and voices are heard when nobody is around.
There’s plenty of unsubstantiated lore concerning the place. Folks believe that Alpha Paynter was buried in the backyard, although there are records of her cremation. Whatever the case, it’s believed that she never really left the place, even after she died. There are also stories of two sucides that supposedly took place in the building. In the 1960s it’s said that a woman hung herself in the back of the restaurant. Ten years later her daughter is rumored to have also hung herself, this time in one of the storage closets.
Ownership of The homestead has shifted since the pine log building was constructed in 1934. Before it became a restaurant, it was a boarding house prior to the late 1940s. The original owner was Ms. Alpha O. Paynter, who sold the place to Preben and Nina Johansen in ’62. They, in turn, sold it to Carmen Macri who owned the place until it was bought by the daughter of the Johansens, and the owner of First Street Grille, Kathy Marvin.
The Homestead’s long history has made it a favorite of some of the old timers out at the Beach, but it’s also drawn a younger crowd for a few reasons. First, it has a great bar. In the old days it was nicknamed “the skinny bar” because there was so little room between the bar and the wall. They no longer have the dentist’s chair that made the Homestead the stuff of drinking legend. Patrons would sit in the chair as the shots were poured directly in. Today, the bar is called the “Coppertop” because of the copper on it. They still fix strong stuff with their full bar. I’m a fan of their Appletini, and I have to say: bring a designated driver. The Homestead barkeeps don’t mess around with weak stuff. The second draw of the younger crowd comes from former patrons of First Street Grille, who came over when the owners of First Street bought the Homestead.
You’ll still find loyal patrons from the old Homestead, despite the menu changes, because they’ve kept the signature items that kept folks coming back. Flip to the back of the menu for the Old Homestead favorites.
One of my all time favorites from the Southern Starter section has to be the Fried Green Tomatoes, which are kind of a bistro, global twist on an old Southern favorite. Encased with a light and crispy batter, these fried green tomatoes are accompanied by a red pepper puree and tangy goat cheese. The Fried Green Tomatoes and the Bayou Shrimp are the most popular starter items, though they are all delish. They are, in fact, strongest in their appetizers, a hard feat to manage when you consider how good all of their food is.
Do check out their specials, which are an adventure you’ll want to venture. I enjoyed savory lamb in a rich mint butter pecan sauce, as well as a lobster tortellini spinach bake, topped with a lovable smoked Gouda sauce. The lobster was a tad over cooked, but it was forgivable since the sauce and the three cheese tortellini were fairly brilliant, especially with a dash of lemon juice.
All the salads can be found under Lighter Fare. My pick is the Grilled Pear Spinach Salad. They pay attention to their salads, so if you love salads, do try at least one. The mix of textures, fresh vinaigrette and cheeses makes the section hard for me to pass up, even when I know I’ll be too full for the entrée.
While I’ve never swooned over any of the desserts at the Homestead, they are good, solid, homemade and down home fare, which will appeal to even the fussiest eater. The size of their cobbler makes it share-worthy, so have everybody grab a spoon!
If you find you like the food at The Homestead and are planning a big event, like a wedding or a party, you might want to look into hiring the affiliated catering service, called Shay T’s Concepts, run by Executive Chef Shane Cheshire and Teresa Brown-Pratt. With a far more diverse menu of selections, you can plan everything from a luau party to a very classic wedding. Call (904) 249-9660 to book or for details.
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