Nearly a year ago we posted our 2nd list of restaurants flying under the radar in Jacksonville. These are the places we eat when we take off our reviewing pants. Try these places. Support local restaurateurs who’re working hard everyday for the love of good food!
Ariana Kabob [CLOSED]
Address: 10916 Atlantic Boulevard, #6 Jacksonville, Florida 32225
Phone: 904-565-0019
Website: www.arianakabobandgrill.com
Ariana Kabob is the best restaurant in Jax that no one has ever heard of. Ariana’s specialty is Afghani food, but it also offers a nice fusion of Greek, Turkish, and Pakistani influences. We’ve loved nearly everything we’ve tried there from the middle eastern staples chicken and lamb schwarma’s to their amazing eggplant dish banjan borani. If you’re a fan of rose water make sure to try their unique dessert dish ferny.
Hole in the Wall 3 – Ariana Kabob Qibili Palau
Tea Haus [CLOSED]
Address: 353 6th Ave South. Jacksonville Beach, FL
Phone: 904 803 1407
Website: www.teahausjax.com
Serving an entirely gluten free and vegan menu, Tea Haus somehow finds a way to make healthy taste delicious. Grab a bite to eat in the store or choose a dish from their grab and go case. While they haven’t converted us to veganism they sure have made eating our veggies a whole lot more fun. In addition to delicious food Tea Haus also offers great teas, cold pressed juice and an entire holistic wellness suite in the building.
Hole in the Wall 3 – Tea Haus Honey Rose Tea
Tres Leches [CLOSED]
Address: 869 Stockton St, Jacksonville, FL 32204
Phone: (904) 551-4375
Websites: www.treslecheseatery.com
Tres Leches was one of our earliest reviews and is still a huge favorite of ours. Chef Irene Sweda cooks from the heart as she blends Venezuelan favorites and Spanish cuisine learned from her Chef father who cooked in Spain for decades. For the best chicken empanada in Jax, killer paella, amazing arepas and so much more head over to Tres Leches.
Hole in the Wall 3 – Tres Leches Chicken Empanada
A&J’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream [CLOSED]
Address: 469 Atlantic Blvd #5, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Phone: (904) 372-7174
Website: https://www.facebook.com/oldfashionedicecream
They say the cutting edge in cooking today is going back to using techniques of the past. AJ’s takes our ice cream back to the old school with every single flavor made in a 1920’s wooden barrel with traditional techniques. They actually had a bidding war with a museum to get it! If you’d like to experience ice cream the way it used to be made along with some delicious new school flavor head over to AJ’s for a treat.
Hole in the Wall 3 – Tea Haus Smores Brownie
Las Antillas [CLOSED]
Address: 3807-B Southside Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32216
Phone: (904) 338-0188
Website: No website
Las Antillas is the equivalent of showing up at your Puerto Rican grandmother’s house for dinner. This place is incredibly authentic with huge portions and reasonable prices. There’s nothing fancy, just great home cooked Puerto Rican food. Expect dishes any gringo could love like lechon(roast pork) and arroz con pollo(chicken and rice) as well as traditional Puerto Rican dishes you don’t often find elsewhere in town like Cuajito(Pig Stomach) and goat. The lechon is so good we can hardly bring ourselves to order anything else.
This is without a doubt the best place to go in Jacksonville for fresh, authentic Middle Eastern, Afghani, Pakistani fusion. It’s always prepared exactly the same every single time I go there, always fresh, and always delicious. The owners are extremely nice, friendly and take great pride in their restaurant. We need more restaurants like this in Jacksonville! Be sure to try the Banjon Borani next time you go. I normally get the Shawarma Platter, but I’ve recently discovered this dish and it is excellent!
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