Cool Moose Cafe

Let's dispense with the overindulgent introduction and cut straight to the chase. What's the number one quality that the Cool Moose Cafe possesses that sets it apart from all of the other diners around? The coffee.

I'll try to avoid going on yet another diatribe about the paltry quality of typical diner coffee because we all know it's garbage and we all know I'm a whiney coffee snob. The Cool Moose Cafe has a self-serve coffee bar with, if I remember correctly, around five different types on offer. True to my coffee snob nature, I don't indulge in the flavored varieties, so I'll only drink two of those five or six varities, but if flavored coffee is your thing then I'm sure you'll find them quite enjoyable. The regular coffee flavored coffee, particularly the house roast, is smooth in flavor, low in acidity, and doesn't taste like the beans were chargrilled.

For those of you out there that don't get all bent out of shape about coffee, you'll be pleased to hear that the food is also quite delicious; again, some of the best you can find on our diner scene. I definitely recommend the build-your-own omelette option for a superb tailor-made breakfast.

The huevos rancheros, though not quite traditional and more of a breakfast burrito, is also really good; one of the better breakfast burritos I've ever had. Make sure to check out the specials board for some interesting creations in lieu of the standard fare.

Above and beyond the coffee and food, the real reason I keep going back to the Cool Moose cafe is it's unparalleled atmosphere. Based on ambiance alone, Cool Moose is number one on my list for local diners and breakfast joints. So, if you're like I was and have resisted going for a long time due to some preconceived notion that it's just another diner then it's time to rectify that problem. Then again, I might need that table. Forget I said anything.



Cool Moose Cafe
2708 Park St
Jacksonville, FL 32205
(904) 381-4242

Lime Leaf Thai

Once in a while a restaurant comes along and takes a cuisine you love and exceeds your expectations of it by so much that your prior experiences with that particular cuisine are practically sullied; your memories lose that glow and all of those amazing meals you thought you had are now just mediocre.

I love Thai food but I try not to indulge too often as it can be quite rich. But the variety of flavors and the uniqueness of the dishes is hard to resist. Nevertheless, despite hearing of Lime Leaf's opening many months back, resist I did. After all, it's just another Thai restaurant, right?

Based on decor and ambiance alone, Lime Leaf is a prime location for an intimate meal that will surely impress. The minimalistic elegance perfectly suits it's location in Tapestry Park, Southside's newest little pocket of swank. But it's not the atmosphere that made our meal so wonderful, although it sure did help. What puts them ahead of the rest, in my humble opinion, is that Lime Leaf makes the most delicious Thai food I have ever tasted.

Again, I really love Thai cuisine but it can occasionally be a bit rich. A little too much oil or a sauce that's a touch too thick can exacerbate the post-meal lethargy. My dish at Lime Leaf, the Hot Peppers, was wonderfully balanced in flavor and consistency with its crisp vegetables, light sauce, and perfectly cooked chicken. I've had this very same dish elsewhere before and since, and I'm simultaneously delighted and sad to say that Lime Leaf's version is unparalleled in every way.

The fresh, veggie spring rolls were also some of the best I've ever tried. It's a bit of a shame that there are no vegetarian fried spring rolls but there are plenty of other vegetarian options on the menu; as with most Thai restaurants, the majority of dishes can be made with tofu instead of meat.

It's quite sad to consider passing up great old restaurants that have served me well in the past but with the vivid memories of that marvelous meal swirling around in my head, I know where I plan to go next time the Thai craving hits. That is, of course, unless someone introduces me to something that can top it.



Lime Leaf
‪9822 Tapestry Park Circle,‬
‪Jacksonville, FL‬‎
‪(904) 645-8568‬‎

Moon River Pizza

A great restaurant doesn't just make good food. And really, when was the last time that incredible service alone brought you back to a place for seconds? The combination of these two elements is critical but still isn't enough to elevate a restaurant above the ordinary. The key quality of a great restaurant is its ability to capture and reflect the atmosphere and culture of the borough in which it resides. From the decor and ambiance to the philosophy and attitude; anywhere that can play to the qualities of their surrounding environment will almost certainly find success in spite of the food.

When walking into Moon River Pizza one gets the overwhelming feeling that this, of all surrounding haunts, is the definitive Murray Hill restaurant. Paying homage to the intersection of the artistic and working class communities of New York, the template of the Murray Hill ideal, Moon River is as gritty and edgy as it is tasty.

Without a doubt, Moon River is the most aesthetically in-tune pizza joint in town , just take a look at the menu. In concordance with their artistic proclivities, they also do some of the most non-traditional things with their pies, like offering white cheddar cheese in lieu of mozzarella. While this may be enough to make an Italian cry, I'm of the opinion that a good sharp cheddar cheese on the top of a pizza is just about the most delicious thing you can do to a pizza.

Despite this, we decided to go with a traditional pizza using the inferior cheese. The Vegetarian is topped with tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onions, olives and fresh garlic; all in great abundance. Quite an extraordinary example of a pizza indeed but next time we're definitely going to need to try The Pizza: spinach, mushrooms, garlic, and white cheddar cheese.

Anyone who reads regularly knows of my overbearing beer snobbery and Moon River gets a thumbs up for having some good quality brews on tap. Therefore, the next time you're in the mood for beer and pizza, do yourself a favor; don't think Domino's and Bud, think Moon River. You might absorb a little culture while you're at it.



Moon River Pizza
1176 Edgewood Avenue South
Jacksonville, FL 32205-0815
(904) 389-4442

twitter

We're on twitter now. Follow us @findingfl to hear about select events and happenings around town:

http://twitter.com/findingfl

J P Henley's

Bars, bars, bars… they're everywhere. A good pub, on the other hand, is a bit harder to find around these parts. I am, of course, eternally grateful for the existence of Kickbacks but sometimes a person needs a change of venue without having to sacrifice quality.

Just down the road in St. Augustine, the pub scene is far more bountiful. There are some great little haunts in the Nation's Oldest City but none captures my heart quite like J P Henley's does. First off, I must admit a slight bit of impartiality as they do have my favorite beer on tap there: the unparalleled Franziskaner Dunkelweizen. Please, if you enjoy a good beer and have never tried a dunkelweizen, do yourself a favor and run out to Total Wine and pick one of these glorious beverages up. Or, better yet, stop by J P Henley's, because if you're not as impressed by the dunkelweizen as I am, there are around fifty other beers on tap and a couple hundred different bottles, almost all of which are good quality craft brews or imports. There's also over a hundred different wines from around the world for all of you oenophiles out there.

But even if you're not in the mood for a drink, Henley's is still great for a bite to eat. Appetizers that exude culture (baked brie: delicious, decadent and dignified), a great selection of fresh salads, and some gourmet sandwiches. To top it all off, Henley's has one of the most relaxing atmospheres around; even when there's a crowd it's still relatively low key. Enjoy, just don't blame me if it turns you off your local sport's bar… ok, blame me, just don't expect any reparations.



J P Henley's
10 Marine Street
St Augustine, FL 32084-4407
(904) 829-3337

Primi Piatti

There are no Olive Gardens in Italy. In fact, I don't remember seeing any big chain restaurants in Italy. It's not that there weren't any, it's just that given the incredible number of unique restaurants and cafes, there was no impetus to even pay any attention to large commercial ventures. The food itself was almost consistently amazing and far more varied than one would be lead to believe coming from the US.

That's because, back here in the States, Italian food has all but lost its meaning where "Italian Restaurant" loosely translates to pasta and/or pizza with a glass of wine. There are, however, some authentically Italian restaurants in our area run by authentically Italian people that serve authentically good Italian food. One such example is Riverside's Primi Piatti.

Apparently the menu used to be even more authentic but slight concessions were made in order to attract business. Regardless, the food here is quite exquisite and the dear lady has even gone so far to say that the meal we enjoyed is the best she's had in years. For a starter I had the Spinach Salad: spinach, red onions, almonds, and a creamy gorgonzola dressing. I don't typically like dressing on salads but this particular one was incredible. A lovely salad indeed, well worth the horrendous breath you end up with after eating the onions and gorgonzola.

For our main courses we ordered the the Spinach and Garlic Ravioli, a special, and the Chicken Primi: chicken sauteed in artichokes, fresh herbs, and a black truffle and brandy cream sauce. I've been emphatically assured that the ravioli was "the best ravioli I've had in my entire life" but I'm unable to corroborate because I didn't get to try any for that very reason. I did, however, enjoy my chicken primi so much that I used what little remaining bread there was to sop up the last traces of the sauce.

I've read a few complaints about the prices at Primi Piatti but I can only counter with the old adage that you pay for quality. If you add the bill to the distinguished decor and low lighting, you've got the perfect place to take a date for a romantic meal that's sure to impress. I know I'll be convinced to go back, especially if they keep me informed about when they'll be serving the spinach and garlic ravioli.



Primi Piatti
2722 Park Street
Jacksonville, FL 32205-7608
(904) 389-5545