Mojo Kitchen in Jacksonville Beach

Ever been running errands and you catch a whiff of barbecue floating on the air that instantly sparks an insatiable craving? That happened to me not long ago, so when I finally had the opportunity to do something about that craving, Mojo Kitchen was the obvious choice. I had never been before, but virtually everyone I had talked to had raved about Mojo Kitchen, so I was excited to try it.

Not knowing a great deal about it, I didn’t really know what to expect about the atmosphere when we got to Mojo Kitchen, but I was very pleasantly surprised to find a really cool vibe. Themed around the blues and highlighting many of the legends of the art, Mojo Kitchen absolutely put me in the mood to kick back with a cold drink and listen to great music – a great start! What caught my attention first was the stage, no doubt a cool place to catch a live band.

Since it was a slower Monday afternoon, we were able to have our choice of tables in the dining area and were greeted quickly by our waiter, who was fun and helpful in helping us decide what to order. I opted for the lunch sized portion of the North Carolina pork (what I had been told was their specialty) with a side of sweet potato mash and green beans, while my friend ordered the two meat combo with beef brisket and chicken. As we settled in to wait for our lunches, I could tell this was going to be a meal that satisfied that craving I had for good barbecue.

In what seemed like a shorter than normal wait, our food arrived – and I realized just how much food came with the ‘smaller’ lunch portion. The North Carolina pork was absolutely perfect – falling apart and tasting of their homemade Carolina vinegar sauce, it definitely didn’t need any additional barbecue sauce whatsoever. I tried it with several of the barbecue sauces on the table, and found the Mojo seasoning to be excellent, the mustard sauce to be delightfully tangy, but the best by far was adding some additional vinegar sauce. I dug into the green beans next and was absolutely shocked to find that these were by far the best green beans I had ever had. When I ordered the side, I expected them to be fairly standard and boring, not a side that had a wonderful smoky flavor that I would be sure to order every time I walk through the door. In addition, the sweet potato mash did nothing to disappoint either, featuring the perfect consistency in the sweet potato as well as a nice swirl of brown sugar and nuts.

I was also lucky that my friend was willing to share what he had ordered as it initially looked like he would be protecting it from anyone trying to take it from him. The chicken was excellent with its smoky flavor and tender consistency, it really didn’t need any additional sauce at all, but the mojo sauce certainly didn’t hurt the flavor at all. But the clear winner of his dish was without a doubt the beef brisket, it was just tender enough to be perfectly chewy and exploded with flavor as soon as I took a bite. Once again, this meat absolutely didn’t need any additional sauce to be some of the best brisket I’ve ever had, I will definitely be adding the brisket to my order next time I go to Mojo Kitchen.

To me, Mojo Kitchen surpassed the expectations and hopes that I had going into my meal. Everything from the staff to the ambiance to the food was excellent and I am already looking forward to going back to enjoy more great barbecue! If you’re looking to satisfy that craving you get when you catch a whiff of barbecue wafting on the air, Mojo Kitchen is absolutely worth the trip – you won’t be disappointed.

Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery on Jacksonville's Southside

The reputation for Seven Bridges on Jacksonville’s Southside has been built around its microbrewery and quality craft beers, but I’ve also always heard that the food is also excellent. Situated in a great location near Tinseltown and not far removed from the St. John’s Town Center, you couldn’t ask for a better setting. Seven Bridges’ feel is very much that of the brew house with a long bar, clear views of the brewing process on the upper level, and very nice seating in the bar area, but also features a large dining area that consists of many comfortable booths.

Upon entering, we were greeted quickly and pleasantly, then escorted to our booth for the meal. I ordered the bruschetta as an appetizer while we waited for our meals, and ordered the Blue Crab Stuffed Chicken for my entrée while my friend ordered the Chicken Parmesan for hers. The bruschetta came quickly, and was excellent. It featured tomatoes, fresh basil, onion, garlic, and asiago cheese over toasted bread – exactly what I expected and very tasty.

Our entrees didn’t take as long as I may have expected, but I’m never opposed to a short wait when I’m hungry, so it was a pleasant surprise. My friend was gracious enough to let me try her Chicken Parmesan, which she was very happy with from the first bite. The chicken was sautéed very well and the house-made marinara sauce was excellent – I can definitely understand why she was so happy with her choice for dinner. Sadly, I wasn’t quite as thrilled about my choice when I started eating. I was well aware that the chicken would be breaded when I ordered it, but the taste was that of a combination of both over-cooking and old frying oil. The chicken breast was stuffed with artichokes and blue crab, which made for a tasty combination, then served over spinach and roma tomatoes and a side of rice pilaf, but I found myself having a difficult time getting past the exterior of the chicken to fully enjoy the meal.

I certainly cannot judge a restaurant based on one meal, and I’ve heard so many friends speak very highly of Seven Bridges, so I hope I just stopped in on an off-night. My friend enjoyed her meal very much, and even took a good portion of it home with her for leftovers, so I want to believe mine was just a fluke. The rest of the experience was very positive – the appetizer was great, the ambiance was very nice, the service was good (albeit a touch too attentive and bordering on babysitting at times), and the price was very much in line with what I expected. So before I pass judgment, I will definitely have to try Seven Bridges again – I hope it’s a better experience!

J Alexander's at the St. John's Town Center

I’ve been to J Alexander’s several times, and this restaurant keeps pulling me back in every time. Between the great wine menu, the appetizers, and some extremely tasty food at a price-point that’s on par with just about anything else at the trendy St. John’s Town Center, J Alexander’s is ‘upscale comfort food’ with some of the best ambiance around.

The first time I was there, I had gone for lunch and wanted something slightly lighter, so I chose the Thai Kai Salad – not realizing the size of the portions. What came was tremendous both in taste and in size, proving to be more than I was able to handle in one sitting. This salad consisted of chicken over mixed greens and peanuts, tossed in a cilantro vinaigrette and topped with a Thai peanut sauce that worked perfectly together. My friend had ordered the Rotisserie Chicken Cobb Salad, which featured chicken, bacon, bleu cheese, tomatoes, egg, avocado, and a bleu cheese dressing. He also had difficulty finishing the enormous salad, but raved about the taste and the combination of flavors. Another friend ordered the Old-Fashioned Cheeseburger, which featured a hand-ground patty, all the fixings, and topped with Tillamook Cheddar cheese. He was astounded by the size of the burger, but also thoroughly enjoyed the great taste – even to the point of talking about it weeks later! His meal also included one of their specialty sides – the homemade mac and cheese. If you’re a lover of mac & cheese, then I HIGHLY recommend giving this a try, you may never order it anywhere it else. And while it’s not on the menu, be sure to ask for the croissants as an appetizer – you won’t be disappointed!

On my most recent trip, I opted for the Grilled Pork Tenderloin that I’d been craving since I had been there the previous time – it sounded fantastic! This was an in-house cured pork tenderloin, covered in a Thai ‘bang-bang’ sauce and what might have been the largest pile of ‘smashed potatoes’ I’ve seen in quite some time. The pork tenderloin itself was seasoned perfectly, with just the right touch of peppery spices, then was draped in a sweet and somewhat-spicy Thai chili sauce that I couldn’t get enough of! Part of me was slightly embarrassed to finish all of the pork tenderloin, but it was done so well that I just couldn’t stop myself – it was THAT good.

J Alexander’s is a place that combines excellent ‘upscale comfort food’ (as I like to call it) with a fantastic fresh fish menu, a great wine list, and ambiance that is absolutely perfect for a nice lunch or a great date. I’m happy to consider this one of my go-to spots at the Town Center – I hope you’ll take the time to check it out and enjoy everything the menu has to offer!

Salt Life Food Shack in Jacksonville Beach

Everyone has seen the Salt Life logo countless times on cars, trucks, and shirts around Jacksonville for so long that it only seems appropriate that there be a restaurant to go with it. From the moment I walked in, I knew this was the type of place that truly fits at the beach, where you can come as you are and just enjoy good food and a good time. The colors (predominantly blue, turquoise and white) are very calming, putting you in the mood to kick back and personify the meaning of ‘Salt Life’.

Seated at a high-top on a somewhat crowded Friday afternoon, I could see just about every walk of life enjoying the Salt Life Food Shack. From doctors in their scrubs to business professionals to those of us straight from the beach with sand on our toes, all were welcomed with a smile and the smell of great food. I remembered the high recommendation of the Hawaiian Shrimp Bowl from a friend who had previously had the pleasure and ordered it, even though several other menu items were jumping off the page – a good sign in my opinion! My friend ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad, and another joined me in ordering the Hawaiian Shrimp Bowl, even though I had recommended the Caliche’s Poke Bowl to them based on what I’d heard from others who had previously dined there.

I was pleasantly surprised how quickly our orders arrived, but was even more happy with the taste of my dish. A combination of squash, zucchini, onions, peppers, and pineapple sautéed in a soy-ginger glaze, with shrimp, spinach, and avocado served over sticky rice – what a treat! At times, it was a bit of a chore to eat with chopsticks, but highly worth it! My friend who ordered the same dish agreed that they had made an excellent choice in their meal, both of us were very satisfied with both the taste and the portion size – I even brought some home. Our other friend was very happy with the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad, which consisted of fresh ahi tuna, tossed with lettuce, tomato, avocado, cabbage, carrots, and toasted almonds in an Asian sesame-soy dressing. Being allergic to fish, I was not able to share, but both friends assured me that the taste was excellent and all components worked perfectly together – so I’ll just have to take their word for it!

Overall, I was very pleased with Salt Life Food Shack. Our service was great, the waitress treated us very well and our wait was considerably shorter than I’d have expected. The price-point was exactly in-line with what I’d have expected to pay at a fairly trendy spot near the beach, so I feel like I got my money’s worth out of our lunch, and was very pleased with the quality. Salt Life Food Shack is definitely the type of place I’d stop for any occasion, whether it be on a sunny afternoon coming from the beach or a Friday night before going out when I want a nice meal – Salt Life has it all! They truly epitomize the lifestyle – Eat, Drink, and Be Salty!