by jon bosworth jaxvillain@yahoo.com
“Things have been really changing on the dining front down here and we saw this as an opportunity to promote dining downtown,” said Pamela Elms, the Director of Marketing for Downtown Vision Inc.
The truth is that our metropolis is starting to truly thrive, and a good deal of that can be blamed on Downtown Vision Inc. (DVI), an organization with a mission to get people from all over Jacksonville to re-discover the city’s heart. There’s never been a better excuse to explore downtown than the new EatUp Downtown event. Fifteen of downtown’s premiere restaurants are participating in the EatUp Downtown event and all have agreed to provide a three-course dinner for the set price of $25 per person from August 20th until August 26th.
All you have to do is go to eatupdowntown.com, peruse the participating restaurants by exploring their dining week menus, then call to make your reservation. You can pick just one night or you can make a reservation at a different restaurant for each night of the dining week.
“It’s not only about coming downtown and enjoying great food, it’s really about showcasing downtown and all of the great things there is to do.”
From a delightful stroll on the Riverwalk to the symphony and movies at MOCA, DVI has also included a list of activities on eatupdowntown.com that are going on during dining week so you can take in the whole downtown experience. Call (904) 451-3344 during the week between 9 am and 5 pm for more details.
In the Jacksonville Landing. 904-301-1014
Select a seafood appetizer and follow it up with a delicious salad before finishing your dinner with a New York Strip, the Pan Seared Salmon, the Chicken Picatta or one of their other selections. Benny’s also has a spectacular view of the St. John’s River.
In the Jacksonville Landing. 904-674-6715
Start with Fried Catfish Tails or some popcorn shrimp and finish with a classic Créole dish such as Shrimp Étouffée, Seafood Jambalaya or Southern Shrimp and Grits, among other options. Pick your night carefully and you can enjoy some of the best live music around after dinner.
333 North Laura St. 904-366-6911 ext. 231
A little known treasure downtown, Café Nola is inside of the Museum of Contemporary Art and for dining week they are serving everything from their Goat Cheese Bundle appetizer to their Jerk Pork Chop entrée, among others. At Nola, you can finish with an outstanding dessert such as the Chocolate Anglaise Pyramid with Fresh Berries or the Coconut & Golden Raisin Rice Pudding with Toasted Almonds.
117 West Adams St. 904-355-3793
Fried Green Tomatoes, Chorizo and Mussels and Filet Mignon are just a few of the options in this urban chic restaurant with contemporary décor and an intimate dining room. They are also serving desserts, so save room for the Praline Crème Brûlée with blackberry compote and almond brittle or the Soft Ginger Cake with sage anglaise.
In the Jacksonville Landing. 904-356-5400
Enjoy some casual American appetizers, then move on to the Wings or Crab Legs and finish with a Chocolate Layer Mousse Cake or Key Lime Pie. The view of the river is outstanding, but many prefer the other view that Hooters prides itself on.
Inside the Omni Hotel. 904-355-6664
Juliette’s is a Jacksonville tradition for foodies that have lived here a while. Enjoy Andean Style Shrimp and Sweet Corn Chowder to start then move on to Malbec-Braised Beef Short Ribs or Grilled Patagonian Salmon and finish with Bread Pudding Spiked with Dulce de Leche or Caramelized Bananas and Vanilla Ice Cream.
In the Jacksonville Landing. 904-350-9911
Start with a simple soup or seaweed salad and then move on to one of their pan-Asian fusion dishes or sushi and finish with Green Tea Ice Cream. Koja has the best view at the Landing, so sit outside!
225 East Coastline Dr. 904-598-0234
Start with the Seafood Bisque or their signature steak soup and then enjoy a classic Filet Mignon. They’ll throw in your non-alcoholic beverage and treat you to their Crème Brûlée in the end.
835 Museum Circle. 904-398-2299
On the Southbank, River City is a Jacksonville stalwart. Start with a soup or salad and then try your tastebuds on their Seafood Trio Pasta, a smooth lobster sherry cream sauce with crab, shrimp, crawfish, spinach and tomato topped with asiago cheese and finish with cheesecake. Enjoy the view.
1004 Hendricks Ave. 904-396-8088
Straddling the line between the Southbank and San Marco, Simon’s features a rich array of dishes. Just listen to this selection: Panko crusted goat cheese fried and served over organic greens with sun dried tomatoes and walnuts with an imported balsamic vinaigrette. A Roquefort Stuffed Pork Medallion wrapped in applewood smoked bacon and served with exotic mushroom bread pudding and a medley of vegetables. Need I even mention the Chocolate Rasberry Cake?
1515 Prudential Dr. 904-346-0605
Simply delicious. Start with your own choice of wine and then savor it with the Antipasto Salad, which features chopped romaine, salami, sopressata, asiago and provolone with aged balsamic vinaigrette. Finish with chocolate truffles.
In the Jacksonville Landing. 904-353-8464
First, get a martini. Then enjoy some Sweet Potato Nachos and a Twisted Skewer Platter. Mmm.
1314 Prudential Dr. 904-398-8989
Just steps away from the river, the Wine Cellar is a classic Jacksonville destination. Start with the chef’s soup du jour and move on to the Tenderloin of Beef Tips, marinated in teriyaki and ginger, grilled and finished with black peppercorn demi-glace, served with potato mash and topped with crispy onions. Don’t be afraid to indulge in the Raspberry Iced Soufflé with Fresh Berries.
Inside the Hyatt Riverfront. 904-634-4540
The newest to the Jacksonville culinary scene, Trellises serves you French Onion Soup followed by their Grilled Chicken and Penne Pasta (sautéed with sun-dried tomatoes, pancetta, mushrooms and pesto sauce) and they finish you off with Key Lime Pie.
Inside the Jacksonville Landing. 904-355-0064
Keep it traditional with the catch-of-the-day served Milano (stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella cheese and spinach, then baked and topped with sun-dried tomatoes, basil and artichoke cream sauce), which is served with baked potato and veggie du jour, or try the Blackened Chicken with Mango Salsa for something a little different.
|
EU Critic’s Choice Awards
