Mandaloun Mediterranean Restaurant on Jacksonville's Southside

I've lived in this neighborhood for too long to not have tried Mandaloun before! My date and I were welcomed enthusiastically and shown exceptional customer service throughout dinner.

(Pics borrowed from another user review)

For a starter, we shared the Baba Ghanouj, which was excellent, and Fattoush, which had a dressing that was out of this world! For dinner, I ordered the mixed grill (skewers of lamb, beef and chicken) and had a very difficult time choosing which was my favorite meat of the three, all were perfectly cooked and very flavorful. My date ordered the Chicken Shawarma, and while I didn't have plate envy, the couple bites I tried told me it was a dish I wouldn't hesitate to order in the future. To finish our meal, we shared Baklava that was excellent - just the right size for a good taste.

Overall, we were very pleased and will not hesitate to go back soon. From the exceptional service, to the generous portions, to the outstanding food, I absolutely recommend Mandaloun.

UrbanSpoon link for Mandaloun

(originally posted on May 4, 2010)

Burrito Gallery Express in Jax Beach

Burrito Gallery Express certainly isn't going to win any awards for the ambiance or how well it's advertised, but the food is top notch. I stumbled upon it after hearing it had opened at the beach and was very happy I found it.

Since I was only looking for a light lunch, I ordered two tacos - the shrimp taco and the carnitas taco, both fantastic! The shrimp taco, albeit a little messy, was very well done with a generous amount of shrimp. The carnitas taco was very tasty and the pork was done perfectly. The staff was very pleasant and got my order out in a reasonable amount of time.

While it may not have the atmosphere of Burrito Gallery downtown, it's still the same menu with tasty food done right. I can't wait to go back and enjoy the rest of the menu!!

Burrito Gallery Express can be found near the corner of A1A and 13th Street N in Jacksonville Beach.

UrbanSpoon Link for Burrito Gallery Express

Lolita's Pupuseria

I remember seeing a show on the Food Network that featured pupusas, but had never tried them until a couple days ago when a friend who had traveled to El Salvador asked for help making them. Ours turned out pretty well, but let's just say that Lolita's made them MUCH better!

What is a Pupusa?

The staff was fantastic, I was greeted very quickly and warmly and given a great overview of the menu. Naturally, I had many questions about what to order, how much to order, etc., and all were answered perfectly.

(a great pic borrowed from another user of a pupusa with curdito and tomato sauce)

Upon recommendation, I ordered 3 pupusas - one with chicharrones and queso, one with queso and jalapenos, and the last with queso and loroco (an edible Central American flower) that were topped with tomato sauce and curtido (a kind of spicy coleslaw). It's hard to say which was my favorite of the 3, each were very good! If I had to pick one, I'd say the queso and loroco was my favorite - it had such a different taste that really stood out!

(another great pic borrowed from another user of the inside of the restaurant)

In addition to the food, the staff was wonderful! They were very warm and treated me like a valued guest. Coupled with a nice family atmosphere, this was a great Sunday lunch - I will definitely be going back soon and will be bringing friends!

Check out Lolita's Pupuseria on Jacksonville's Southside near the corner of San Jose Blvd and Loretto Rd.

UrbanSpoon Page for Lolita's Pupuseria

Let's Get Started!

Everyone loves a good meal. This blog will be dedicated to highlighting the best in dining around Jacksonville. Whether it's a fancy dinner or a small diner, I will be exploring the tastiest eats around town.