Angie's Subs

Angie's Subs is a Jacksonville legend. Listed as the #1 Jacksonville restaurant on Urbanspoon for quite some time and boasting a cult-like following, the motivation to investigate the hype was far too strong to resist. Please excuse my cynicism but any place that is as popular as Angie's Subs inspires a strong sense of doubt within a person such as myself. Can so many people be wrong? Absolutely. Look at the majority of popular restaurants out there, look at the food people eat; most of it is garbage. So with a healthy dose of skepticism and a hearty appetite, we pulled off Beach Boulevard and up to what looked like a run down convenience store.

Angie's is a frightening place for the uninitiated. Beyond the shockingly run-down facade, the interior is packed to the brim with beach people, fluorescent lights, a staff of 100 or so teenagers, and sand. The beach is miles away and the floor is covered in sand. I don't think I'd be too harsh in calling the place, endearingly, a dump. Not just a hole-in-the-wall but a certified dive.

To say the experience was uncomfortable would be a slight understatement. For starters, we both have the skin tone of anemic albinos and the fluorescent lights only accentuated the sickliness of our pallid complexions. Additionally, if you've never been there before (and it's hard to hide it if you haven't) they shout at you.

Verbally assaulted, blind, and disoriented, we managed to order our food and then squeeze into one of the packed tables. Then we waited. And we waited. We waited for what felt like forever.

But then the food came. What more can I say other than they really are absolutely amazing sandwichs. Sub sandwiches are always a let down for me. Too much bread with bland fillings in meager proportions. This was quite the opposite. So good that I'm craving one right now; salivating on my keyboard. Is it the perfectly toasted bread (and the fact that there isn't an overabundance of it)? Perhaps the ample portions of delicious fillings. This was simply the best sub I've ever had. Ever.

So the hype is merited. The food was unforgettably delicious. And do know, the criticisms are all in good fun. The best restaurants around are typically hole-in-the-walls and Angie's just takes this ideal to an extreme. I'll definitely be heading back when I'm in the area but perhaps I'll call in my order ahead of time.

Angie's Subs (on myspace)
1436 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville Bch, FL 32250-3410
(904) 246-2519

PK Noodles

To prepare for our impending voyage to Vietnam, we tried to go to the Saigon Bistro one Sunday but it wasn't open. Now, unfortunately, it's completely closed so don't have that experience to look forward to. We then tried to go somewhere else despite one member of our expedition suggesting PK Noodles due to some initial prejudices. What prejudices, you ask? Well, PK Noodles just sounds like the name of a chain and, although I'm not opposed to chains, I just prefer to seek out the smaller, unknown restaurants with the hopes of uncovering some sort of hidden treasure.

So PK Noodle sounds like a chain. It is not. It also, based solely on the name, sounds rather boring. Again, it is not.

The full name is actually Pho King Noodles and if this had been made clear to me when I'd first heard of the place a couple months back then I'd have rushed over immediately. Screw the acronym, this could pull crowds.

But there was a crowd there anyway so apparently they don't need to rely on the awesome name to bring in business. Lot's of young people, perhaps due to its proximity to FCCJ, or perhaps because they're immature like me and can't pass up the opportunity to eat at a place called Pho King Noodles. Maybe it's neither. Maybe the reason that there were so many people there was, as I soon discovered, that the food is really, really good (and really, really inexpensive).

For starters we shared a plate of the Whole Shrimp Egg Rolls. More like whole egg roll shrimps, these deliciously decadent starters are effectively one giant prawn encased in an egg roll shell. I could gladly eat far too many of these.

Having only experienced Vietnamese food at Pho Cali, I wanted to branch out a bit and try something different for my main course but the allure of Pho and the #30 (Chicken in chili pepper and lemongrass sauce, Pho Cali's #32) were quite strong. At one point I was set on ordering the House Special (baked egg, shredded skin, grilled pork, and fried eggs with rice) but ultimately, with one ordering that and the other two ordering the number #30, I made a hasty, last-second decision and went with the #32: well done beef and pork in a spicy soup.

Immediately regretted my order because I suspected it might be something akin to hot and sour soup which tastes like urine (at least that's what I imagine urine might taste like). However, my fears were put to rest after taking my first hesitant sip. Forking delicious. The soup itself was akin to a thinner but spicier Pho broth and both of the meats were really nice.

The house special did look good and the bites of the spicy chicken I snuck were rather tasty as well. But I was immensely satisfied with my impulsive decision and now will find it difficult to return and try something new. And return I will, particularly considering the food is not only delicious and of good quality, but the price is also rather meager for the great portions you get.

Whether you go for the food or just so you can tell your friends that you ate some Pho King Noodles for lunch, you won't be disappointed. Just don't go on Monday, they'll be closed. Check out their website for some more mouthwatering shots of their food if mine haven't been enough to convince you.

PK Noodles (Pho King Noodles)
11925 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32246
(904) 646-0707

Tue-Sat 11am-9pm
Sun 11am-8pm

Hightide Burrito Company

San Marco spawned a fast-food restaurant, who would have thought? But true to the area, they modeled themselves after one of the most chic and delicious fast food joints to hit the scene: Chipotle. The Hightide Burrito Company, created by Alejandro Juarez, a UNF graduate, prides itself on using only fresh, quality ingredients, some familiar, some not so well known here in the US. Being avid fans of well-crafted burritos and needing some filling food after an evening visit to the San Marco Theatre, we eagerly pulled into Hightide to assess the situation.

Walking through the door, Chipotle clone is the resounding conclusion. But not so fast there, buckaroo, these guys have definitely got a leg up on the competition. Much like their big-chain counterpart, you order your burrito by selecting the main filling (typically a meat) and then telling the construction crew what other ingredients you'd like as you get to them. But while the process is identical and many of the ingredients are standard, there are a few surprises thrown in.

First off, as a vegetarian option they offer Nopales: Seasoned cactus leaves sliced then sautéed with mushrooms, onions, corn and Poblano peppers. There's also fish, which still isn't standard among the big competitors. One thing that got me super excited was the option of whole wheat tortillas. All of the tortillas are made fresh at the restaurant, as many other restaurants do these days, but nobody else (as far as I know) offers whole wheat tortillas. Purists may scoff but these things are delicious and I'd never choose a bleached flour or corn tortilla ever again given the choice. In addition to the standard burrito / taco / salad options, you can also get a Torta: A freshly baked roll (telera bread) lightly buttered and grilled, then stuffed with your choice of protein, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole and mayo. Sounds delicious.

The ingredients are indeed fresh and very tasty. Overall I'd have to say that I enjoyed this burrito more than all that I've experienced from their big competitors and the build-your-own method gives them some edge over the other small, quality places around town. The tacos looked pretty good but I'm not going to make any comparisons since we all know where the best place for tacos is. Oh, and the chips are good too. I typically neglect to eat the corn chips at any restaurant except in times of great hunger but I couldn't stop myself from cramming these little, freshly-fried wedges of decadence in my mouth, despite my own best intentions.

In addition to making delicious food with fresh ingredients, Hightide also strives to be environmentally conscious and community minded. The best place to see evidence of these ideals is the bathroom. Seriously. Dual flush toilets (I really want one of these), responsive automatic sinks, and an amazing hand dryer made by Dyson.

But despite the amazing bathroom facilities, my reason for going back would still be that tasty burrito. Now, if only they were closer, I might have no reason to ever go back to Chipotle.

Hightide Burrito Company
1538 Hendricks Avenue,
Jacksonville, Florida 32207
904-683-7396

Monday-Saturday 11-10PM
Sunday 11:30-6PM