Dining Hall of Fame
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 Jacksonville
Magazine has been covering the local restaurant scene for
25 years. We believe that our longevity and continuing
commitment to highlight the finest in First Coast dining
make us the authority when it comes to finding good things
to eat in the region. Established annual features like
our Top 25 Restaurants and the Best of Jacksonville are
among the most popular articles we compile each year. On
the occasion of our 25th anniversary year we elected to
raise the bar on our dedication to local foodie culture
by introducing Jacksonville Magazine's Dining Hall of Fame.
The inaugural class of 2009 includes ten true North Florida
dining landmarks, all of which have been open for at least
25 years. The Dining Hall of Fame will become a permanent
part of our website beginning September 1, 2009. A new
class of honorees will be inducted every September from
this point on.
The Class of 2009 is featured here in alphabetical order,
including select menu items, phone numbers and a link to
each establishment's website. Please note that the menu
items featured in each profile were gathered in August
2009, and may or may not be offered at the present time.
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Beach Road Chicken Dinners
4132 Atlantic Blvd., Arlington 398-7980
www.beachroadchickendinners.com
Time was when there was really only one road to take for
a direct route to the beach. And Beach Road Chicken was
the place to stop for a bite after a day at the shore.
That was back in the 1930s. But Beach Road keeps chugging
on, turning out thousands of pieces of crispy and golden
brown chicken every week. It's not fancy and her age is
showing, but few diners seem to mind, particularly when
$10 buys a Southern-fried feast. The four-piece meal comes
with fries, creamed peas, cole slaw, three biscuits and
gravy. You'll need extra napkins.
Appetizers/Sides: Onion rings, fried okra,
sweet corn nuggets, fried squash and cheese stuffed jalapeno
poppers, $2.57 each
Least Expensive Entrée: Fried livers and
gizzards combo, $8.60
Most Expensive Entrée: Beach Road Feast
For Two with four pieces of chicken, six shrimp, and two
pieces of fish served choice of fries, rice or mashed potatoes
plus cream peas, coles slaw and biscuits, $19-$24
Desserts: Assorted pies, each $2.50 per
slice
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Bono's Pit Bar-B-Q
4907 Beach Blvd., Southside, 398-4248
www.bonosbarbq.com
Few topics of discussion bring impassioned opinions to
the surface faster than barbecue. That magical combination
of heat, smoke and sauce was perfected at the city's original
Bono's way back in 1948. They've been preparing beef, pork,
chicken, turkey and sausage ever since, and the legendary
Harvey Green has been chopping meat behind the counter
since 1956. There are now more than a dozen Bono's in all,
but the first is still considered the best by "Q" aficionados
Appetizers/Sides: Smoked Azar sausage
served with cheddar cheese and crackers, $5; bar-b-q cheese
fries topped with choice of beef, pork or turkey, $7
Least Expensive Entrée: Smoked bar-b-q
chicken quarter with two sides and garlic toast, $7
Most Expensive Entrée: The Bono’s Feast
for four, medley of bar-b-q beef, pork, turkey, chicken,
sausage and St. Louis-style ribs served with choice of
two sides (baked beans, cole slaw, Brunswick stew, fries,
fried corn on the cob, green beans, mac and cheese and
sweet potatoes) and garlic toast, $45
Desserts: Homemade banana pudding, $2
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Chart House Restaurant
1501 Riverplace Blvd., Southbank, 398-3353
www.chart-house.com
The innovative architecture and interior design of the
waterfront restaurant turned heads when it opened its doors
more than 20 years ago. Today, it still ranks among the
region's most eye-pleasing restaurants, complete with postcard
views of the Downtown skyline. A string of Chart House
eateries stretches from coast to coast, each with a unique
appearance but a consistent menu laden with seared peppered
Ahi tuna, coconut crunchy shrimp, crab cakes and grilled
New York strip. The Mud Pie and Chocolate Lava Cake are
the stuff of dessert legend.
Appetizers: Crab, avocado and mango stack
with jumbo lump crabmeat tossed in remoulade, layered with
avocado and mango, $14; lobster spring rolls served with
a tangy mustard sauce, $11
Least Expensive Entrée: Parmesan and garlic
crusted rainbow trout on a bed of angel hair pasta with
fresh tomato basil sauce, $23
Most Expensive Entrée: Alaskan king crab
steamed, served with drawn butter and baked potato, $40
Desserts: Hot Chocolate lava cake, Godiva
chocolate liqueur cake with molten chocolate center, served
with Heath Bar crunch and vanilla ice cream, $10
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Chizu Japanese Steak & Seafood
House
1227 3rd St. S., Jacksonville Beach, 241-8455
She may not have been the city's first sushi restaurant,
but Chizu is certainly the oldest still in operation under
the same owner. At a time when many in the River City thought
raw fish was reserved for bait, the chefs at Chizu were
stuffing rolls with eel, shrimp, squid and other delights
from the sea. Sure, the interior could use a makeover.
But the action at the teppanyaki tables still sizzles,
including the mini volcano made from a stack of onion slices.
Sit on the floor in traditional Japanese fashion or at
a table, grab a fork or a pair of chopsticks—it all tastes
good.
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The Hilltop
2030 Wells Rd., Orange Park, 272-5959
For many in Clay County, a trip to The Hilltop is like
visiting a favorite relative, albeit a relative who prepares
a mean slow-roasted Black Angus prime rib and strawberry
shortcake for dessert. The Victorian mansion-like setting
has played host to literally thousands of birthday gatherings,
anniversary celebrations, wedding receptions, high school
prom dinners and more. The house specialty she crab soup
is a perennial best-seller.
Appetizers: Escargot broiled in garlic
butter, wine and herbs, stuffed in mushoom caps, $8; pork
skewers of grilled tenderloin marinated in brandy cider
jus served with apple chutney, $8; Marinated and grilled
portabella mushroom stuffed with spinach and ricotta on
puff pastry with melted cheddar and baby Swiss, $7
Least Expensive Entrée: Grilled pork chop
topped with maple flavored apple chutney, served with potato
and vegetable, $14
Most Expensive Entrée: Grilled, boneless
New York strip loin and stuffed grouper, served with potato
and vegetable, $28
Chef's Favorite: Mixed grill of filet
mignon, pork and chicken skewers with fire-roasted red
and yellow peppers, onions and tomatoes, served with potato
and vegetable, $20
Desserts: Strawberry pound cake topped
with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, $6; traditional
carrot cake topped with cream cheese frosting, $6
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The Homestead Restaurant
1712 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, 247-6820
www.homesteadrestaurant.us
The famed Copper Top Bar at the Homestead is enough to
make the restaurant worthy of induction. First opened in
the late 1940s, the Homestead has soldiered on through
ownership changes and economic hardships. Yet, the establishment
remains true to its culinary roots. Fried chicken, country
fried steak, chicken and dumplings-we hope she never goes
away.
Appetizers: Southern fried green tomatoes
with mozzarella cheese, $7; New Zealand mussels in a caper
meuniere sauce, $8; calamari with chipotle ranch sauce,
$9
Least Expensive Entrée: Country fried
steak, mashed potatoes and country gravy, $12
Most Expensive Entrée: Seafood platter
with fish fillets, shrimp, oysters, onion rings and coleslaw,
$18
Desserts: Apple pie with ice cream, $5;
chocolate peanut butter brownie with ice cream, $5.50;
mango Key lime pie, $4
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Giovanni’s Restaurant
1161 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, 249-7787
www.giovannirestaurant.com
Over the last 30 years, a lot has changed at Giovanni's
and a lot has stayed exactly the same. The location and
presence of the Acireale family are the same. The restaurant
itself has expanded like some of the waistlines of longtime
fans of the Beaches landmark. Never been? Picture a plate
of veal scalloppini topped with prosciutto, spinach and
mozzarella, baked and finished with a light mushroom cream
sauce. Sound good? The rest of the menu is even better.
Appetizers: Grilled asparagus with prosciutto
di parma and gorgonzola cheese laced with extra virgin
olive oil, $12; mussels with white wine, garlic or fresh
tomato, $10
Least Expensive Entrée: Canneloni fiorentina,
fresh pasta stuffed with ground chicken, veal spinach,
mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese and ricotta cheese served
over a beschiamella cream sauce topped with olive oil poached
cherry tomatoes and shaved parmigiano reggianno, $18
Most Expensive Entrée: Filet mignon grilled
and served with a gorgonzola fondue, accompanied with basil
fries and grilled vegetables, $30
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O'Steen's Restaurant
205 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, 829-6974
What does it mean when you see a bench full of people waiting
outside of this Hwy. A1A landmark? Simple. O'Steen's is
open. The place is small, it fills up fast, and it's a
cash-only enterprise. Most diners wait for the fried shrimp.
They'll sell you a small portion, but don't kid yourself.
The 24-piece order is what you want. Oh, and don’t pass
on a cup of the peppery Minorcan clam chowder.
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Ragtime Tavern Seafood & Grill
207 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-7877
The taps at the city's first micro-brewery/restaurant started
flowing at a time when Michael Jackson's Thriller topped
the charts—for the first time. Since the early '80s, the
Beaches gathering spot has attracted a loyal following
because of its Cajun-inspired eats, good-times atmosphere
and homemade beers including Dolphin's Breath Lager, Red
Brick Ale and A. Strange Stout.
Appetizers: Brie cheese brushed with butter,
topped with toasted almonds and baked till bubbly, served
with fresh fruit and French bread, $10; crispy fried Louisiana
chicken wings coated in spicy sauce, served with celery
and bleu cheese dressing, $8-$12
Least Expensive Entrée: Ragtime shrimp—fresh,
local caught shrimp, rolled in flaked coconut and fried,
served with honey mustard sauce and red beans and rice
and vegetables, $13.50
Most Expensive Entrée: Grilled 8 oz. New
York strip with two crab cakes served with house steak
sauce and accompanied by mashed potatoes and vegetables,
$25
Desserts: Classic New Orleans-style beignets
flash fried and rolled in confection sugar, $3.50; white
chocolate sun-dried cherry bread pudding served warm and
topped with shaved white chocolate, $6
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Wine Cellar
1314 Prudential Dr., Southbank, 398-8989
The Downtown skyline as seen from the Wine Cellar's front
door has evolved quite a bit since the Southbank restaurant
first opened in 1974. The establishment continues to adapt
to changing tastes while holding onto its classic Continental
style and flavors. A meal of crispy seared roast duckling
finished with a Grand Marnier peppercorn sauce, served
in the enclosed garden room is River City fine dining at
its best. The wine list, as would be expected, remains
among the most extensive in the region.
Appetizers/Sides: Creole style crab and
lobster bisque, $9; steak tartare with capers, red onion,
Dijon mustard and crostini, $12
Least Expensive Entrée: Breast of chicken
stuffed with prosciutto, asparagus and Monterey jack cheese
lightly breaded, deep fried and served with a roasted red
pepper and garlic cream sauce, $21 Most Expensive Entrée:
Fried or broiled cold water lobster tail and grilled filet
mignon with Beanaise sauce, potato and vegetable du jour,
$57
Desserts: Selection of cheeses and fruit
paired with a glass of 2002 Hardys Botrytis Semillon, $16
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