Queen of Sheba

Queen of Sheba is like the fabled city of Brigadoon, appearing for a short amount of time every few years and then vanishing without a trace. I first heard about the place many years back via word of mouth. Intrigued by the idea of Ethiopian cuisine, I tried numerous times over the years to track it down but could find nothing. The website still lists two former addresses; one on Bowden, one on Emerson, neither of which existed the few times I tried in vain to stop by. As you can imagine, I was quite overjoyed to find out that they had recently re-appeared off Atlantic and I resolved to stop by before the next scheduled vanishing.

Ethiopian cuisine is characterized by abundance of spiced meat and vegetable dishes; most in a thick, stew-like form similar in consistency to many of the heartier, lentil based curries of India. These dishes are eaten using pieces of injera, a unique, sourdough flatbread which is quite like a pancake in its consistency and texture but with a sour, doughy flavor. This is your only utensil.

The Queen of Sheba's location is sketchy enough to scare away more cautious diners and the decor is on par with many of my favorite ethnic dives around town. In these surrounds, it's easy to imagine that you're overseas in a less prosperous place and, for me at least, this is an essential component to the experience.

Being curious and wanting to try as much as I could, I fought the urge to try some amazing sounding dishes and settled on the meat platter. I can't remember the names of the items presented in the sampler but they probably wouldn't mean anything to you anyway. Beef, lamb, chicken were all present and in abundance though they were largely unrecognizable in their spicy, stewed form. Overall the sampler was rather good with a unique array of spices. Some of the dishes were quite unlike anything I'd tried before.

One great thing about the Queen of Sheba and Ethiopian cuisine in general is that there's always lots of vegetarian options. We ordered the Misir Wot: Split red lentils cooked in red pepper sauce. They were really good and pleasantly spicy. Despite being forever tempted by meat and veggie dishes when we dine out, I might not be able to resist this one on a return visit.

My one word of advice to anyone intrigued enough to visit would be to take it easy on the bread; it's very filling and causes a gastric sensation I'm not quite used to which can be unsettling for a first timer.

Our first sampling of Ethiopian food was quite the experience and I'm glad I finally caught up with the ever elusive Queen of Sheba. I love that we have a decent number of small places serving ethnic cuisines and I only wish there were more.




Queen of Sheba
10214 Atlantic Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32225
(904) 721-1001

13 Gypsies

What can be said about 13 Gypsies that hasn't already been said by a plethora of more qualified individuals? Once little known outside of its neighborhood, this tiny tapas restaurant is now perhaps Jacksonville's most famous restaurant thanks to an appearance on a Food Network show. As a result, foodies have been flocking to Riverside with their appetites and expectations and leaving with their opinions; or nothing at all if they neglected to make reservations.

Chef Howard, the heart and mind behind 13 Gypsies, has approached his art with a philosophy akin to that promoted by the slow food movement. Almost everything is prepared fresh daily and by hand if possible. Ingredients are purchased personally from local sources and many of the menu items come and go based on the seasons. So while you can't be sure that your favorite dish will be available upon your next visit, the freshness of your food is guaranteed.

Another alluring aspect of 13 Gypsies is the surprisingly small and fantastically cute dining area. With only a handful of tables inside and a couple out on the sidewalk, you're going to either face a wait or be turned away if you don't make reservations. But once seated, you understand how much more intimate of an experience the smaller dining quarters affords.

There's a noticeable Spanish theme to much of the food here owing to the chef's heritage and one could appropriately describe the place as a tapas bar, albeit with its own unique flair. Loving freshly made bread as much as I do, I was excited to see two types of bread available and promptly ordered both. The Spanish Peasant Bread was lightly toasted and had a pleasantly robust flavor, particularly for a white bread. However, the North African Flatbread was my favorite of the two; earthy with a slight hint of sourness.

Most of the sandwiches come on the peasant bread and are quite exquisite. Most of our party opted to share some tapas but on my next visit I think I'll have to go with a sandwich; the couple bites I had of the Grilled Cheese still beckon me to return.

The tapas we ordered included the Coconut Mango Curry Chicken, the Angry Bull (pan seared beef with pacheco sauce, crushed raw garlic, and peppercorns), and the Shrimp Piri-Piri (shrimp sauteed in a Portuguese ginger-lemon sauce). The Angry Bull had an extremely strong flavor, as you might imagine will all that garlic, but not overbearing in its small portion and was probably the most stand out dish. Those not used to tapas be warned, these are small dishes and one will not suffice for a meal. Regardless, they were all uniquely flavorful and were but a small selection of the wide variety of dishes on offer, all of which I'd love to eventually sample.

Congratulations to 13 Gypsies on their new found fame. And to all of you prospective patrons, I again have one suggestion: make a reservation.



13 Gypsies
887 Stockton St
Jacksonville, FL 32204
(904) 389-0330

Picasso's

You might think you're lost. Or maybe you think that you wandered onto the set of one of those post-apocalyptic movies. Perhaps it's just signs of the recession that make this hidden enclave of a strip mall just North of Whole Foods seem so desolate. In these strange surrounds you will find Picasso's, one of Jacksonville's oddest restaurants.

Jacksonville's restaurant scene has its share of strange. There's the amazing yet frightening Clark's Fish Camp, a true redneck utopia; the culture shock of Fu Hing Seafood Restaurant; and the highly disorienting atmosphere of Angie's Diner. Picasso's, despite the images conjured up by its namesake, isn't odd in such an overt way but a quick perusal of the menu sheds some light on its uniqueness.

Picasso's is a restaurant without culinary borders where Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Pot Pie sit together on the menu as do Shrimp and Grits and Fish and Chips. There's also three different styles of pizza: St. Louis, New York, and Mediterranean; with almost 60 available toppings. Rather than decide to stick to a particular style of cuisine or dabble in a few creative meals, the minds behind Picasso's have devoted themselves to cooking every meal they've ever enjoyed. This is not a bad thing.

Apparently it gets a bit busy much of the time but we managed to avoid the crowds on our lunch time visit. Unfortunately, we didn't bring much of an appetite with us so the breadth of our experience is lacking. One “Da” House Salad and one Kentucky Hot Brown were our sole items, slight in quantity but more than satisfactory in quality.

Da House Salad (romaine and iceberg lettuce, shaved red onions, pimientos, and artichoke hearts with a special, secret dressing)is delightfully balanced salad. Artichoke hearts are becoming more prevalent in salads these days but often they appear out of place amongst the other flavors; here they blended quite well. Juxtaposing the crisp, healthy salad was the Kentucky Hot Brown: an open faced turkey breast sandwich covered in a cheesy Mornay sauce, topped with applewood-smoked bacon and roasted tomato, sprinkled with paprika and fresh parmigiano-reggiano, and then baked until bubbling hot. Despite intending to order a light meal, I somehow ended up with this decadent mountain of calories and thoroughly enjoyed each deliciously waist-expanding bite.

Picasso's, much like the artist, is an oddity; a gathering place for meals that have no obvious connection. But if our little experience has anything to say, there does seem to be one common thread among them: quality. This is one place that bears repeat visits to get a full experience.



Picasso's
10503 San Jose Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32257
(904) 880-0811

The Back 40 Urban Cafe

Many great restaurants are hidden in plain sight, some are just plain hidden. Without performing a search on Urbanspoon, I would never have heard about St. Augustine's Back 40 Urban Cafe, nor would I have noticed it at all on the remote chance I happened to drive by. Not only is it located on Old Dixie Highway, a small road running parallel to US 1 at a point where most of the traffic is limited to residents of the area, but the restaurant looks like a house... because it was a house.

Despite its old Southern charm, the small wooden cottage is easy to ignore and one is liable to question their judgment when approaching the porch. But once inside, doubts and concerns all quickly evaporated. The layout of the restaurant retains the structure of a house. When business is slow you can choose from an array of empty rooms, each with their own individual color schemes and ambiance. The atmosphere and tone are warm and welcoming, truly engendering an at-home level of comfort. For such a small place, the menu is relatively large and varied with an emphasis on fresh, healthy food and leaning towards Southern and Southwestern inspired cuisine.

Forever unable to resist the allure of fish tacos, I ordered the Ollie Tacos (lightly seasoned mahi topped with shredded cheese lettuce, salsa, cilantro and cilantro white sauce). I've eaten many a fish taco at restaurants across the globe and I must say that these were truly some of the most delicious I've ever had. The meat had a perfect flavor and consistency, the accompanying vegetables were crisp and fresh, and the sides were delightful in their own right. The Vegetarian 3 Bean Chili was far better balanced in flavor than many others I've tasted; neither weak nor overly spiced with a good consistency. Not being able to see even the smallest amount of food go to waste, I cleaned up what was left of the amazing Shrimp Curry Salad; best dressing ever, and that's coming from someone who routinely refuses salad dressings all together.

There's an incredible number of options to choose from for such a low-key place and, if our meal is anything to go by, the more well known places around town have something to be afraid of. There are a handful of truly superb restaurants in St. Augustine and the Back 40 Urban Cafe is the unknown champion among them. Delightful food made with fresh ingredients and served in an intriguing old house with a unique atmosphere. A real hidden gem and yet another reminder that there are some incredible places to eat and things to do around the area that are just waiting to be found by anybody willing to do a little searching.

The Back 40 Urban Cafe
40 South Dixie Highway
St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 824-0227

Panda House

"Chinese" food. We all know it's not authentic, that it's not real Chinese cuisine but that doesn't mean it can't be good. Even at it's worst, sometimes you just find yourself craving some indeterminate fried creature slathered in a soy based sauce and served with enough calories in the form of fried rice to keep you going for a full week.

I've always found the fast food Chinese restaurants a little distasteful. I mean, it's all fast food but I appreciate the illusion of authenticity put forth by tiny little hole-in-the-walls with names like the Lucky Dragon and the Golden Buddha. One such place is Panda House on Gate Parkway.

Affectionately called The House in order to avoid confusing it with that other Panda place over by the Town Center, this little restaurant embodies everything you've grown to love about Chinese take-outs. Bad lighting, a little griminess, one person who can speak English, and food made fast upon order. Please, don't read me wrong and assume any sarcasm in tone, I sincerely appreciate these qualities in certain restaurants and the overall ambiance they create. If you want uniformly sterile and banal experiences, go to one of the large franchises. If you don't mind a bit of grit or perhaps even enjoy it, then the local dive is the place to be. And besides, they're nowhere near as dirty or awkward as some of the great little restaurants I've visited in third world countries.

But enough of my grandstanding, how about the food? Much of what you'd expect, I'd say, perhaps even a notch up from the typical Chinese take-out. I had been craving sesame chicken for over a month and this really hit the spot. Satisfying when fresh and, as an added bonus, it was even good the next day.

Sometimes the craving hits you and, while it may not come that often, it's impossible to fight. When the time comes, here's one place you can go… or not; they also deliver.




Panda House
7643 S Gate Pkwy
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 642-6333

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

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

JJ's Liberty Bistro

Having enjoyed such an incredible lunch at The French Pantry, it was only logical that we seek out an authentic French experience (as in owned and operated by a French expatriate) in hopes of another amazing experience (besides, it was a weekend and The French Pantry was closed). This quest lead us to JJ's Liberty Bistro in Ponte Vedra. Although we'd passed JJ's Bistro de Paris on Gate Parkway many times and had wanted to try it for a while, we though it better to visit the Ponte Vedra restaurant first because it is the original and is where owner-operator JJ himself works.

JJ's Bistro, which is far cuter on the inside than its strip mall location implies, goes beyond the scope of a regular restaurant. It doubles as a wine, cheese, and baked goods store and you'd be hard pressed to find as much variety and quality elsewhere (especially in the cheese department). For some reason or another, I wasn't feeling up to having a drink on the day of our visit but I wish I had been in the mood for wine at the time because they have an incredible selection and I'd love to go back and give a few a try.

As you would expect in all cultured restaurants (at least those that represent cultures where it is customary) we were given some bread to nosh on before the meal. My expectations for bread have been exceedingly high lately and, much to my relief, I was not disappointed.

The salad nicoise: sping mix with tomato, hard boiled egg, fresh tuna, green beans, red potatoes. kalamata olives, and anchovies, was beyond wonderful. Light yet filling and incredibly delicious. The anchovies are optional but I'd highly recommend their inclusion. Their saltiness and pungency compliment the crispness of the other ingredients. The sliver of quiche I was given to try was good and the mere fact that I was given only a small portion to try speaks volumes. I can't vouch for the onion soup although I take it on good authority that it too was delicious. I did, however, get to try the cheese that stuck to the outside of the bowl and I'd gladly embarrass my wife again to pick away at that delicious glue.

Breaking with convention, we actually indulged in a dessert: a macaroon. I must say, even as a habitual dessert avoider, it was quite divine and I can imagine it would please even the most notorious confection snob.

As an added bonus, JJ himself came and talked to us (he seems to chat up much of the clientele) for a bit about some upcoming wine dinner events. He's a stand up guy; passionate, knowledgeable and engaging.

The wine dinners sound fascinating and I'd definitely like to try one in the near future. I'll be sure to post about upcoming events in case any of you are likewise interested in attending.



JJ's Liberty Bistro
330 SR A1A N
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
(904) 273-7980

The French Pantry

Some secrets are hard to keep. It's so tempting to be selfish and leave this stone unturned but, alas, I found out about this hidden treasure from the almighty Urbanspoon anyway so I guess there's no harm in enlightening a few more people.

On a street you'd probably never think to turn down and hidden in what looks like a warehouse (although it may be easy to spot due to the massive line of eager patrons), is a real anomaly within Jacksonville's dining landscape, The French Pantry. I had no idea this place existed until I became actively involved with and reliant upon Urbanspoon to share and discover great places to eat around town. As of now, The French Pantry is #6 on Jacksonville's Best 100 Restaurants. At the time I first saw it on that list it was a little higher and was the only entry in at least the top 15 that I had never heard of. The glowing reviews and enticing menu put it at the top of my list of places to visit but the hours of operation, Weekdays from 11am to 2:15pm, meant that months passed when I had no opportunity to go or, on a rare holiday, I tragically forgot.

But on a recent holiday we decided to try this hidden marvel and judge its awesomeness for ourselves. Despite it being fairly close to home and the directions being quite clear, it was a little hard to spot at first until we saw the enormous line of people waiting outside. We were in line for approximately 45 minutes, maybe an hour. Regardless, it was a long time. I was told that, because it was a holiday, it was a bit busier than usual but a wait is to be expected. Under normal circumstances it would have been easy to complain about such a situation but those were definitely not normal circumstances. We were, after all, at the doors to Jacksonville's best kept secret.

Betraying the unappealing, government warehouse look of the exterior, The interior of The French Pantry is, for lack of a better term, terrifically cute. It's almost like walking into a country cottage and when you're inside you truly forget the incongruous external surroundings. As you slowly make your way to the counter you have plenty of time to look over the large menus by the door and drool over the wonderful looking desserts. Even in the face of my general dislike of sweet things and confections, I was incredibly tempted to sample some or all of the cakes.

But finally we made it to the counter and put in our order: one Portabello Panini and one Rare Beef and Boursin Sandwich. Clocking in at an average of $9 per sandwich, one is inclined to get a bit of sticker shock but, as an added bonus, you get a basket of bread with some olive oil and herb dipping sauce to hold you over while you anxiously await your sandwich. But sandwich or not, I wouldn't have felt too hard done to had I just paid $9 for the bread and dipping oil. That was honestly some of the best bread I have ever tasted. Not-so-coincidentally, the French Pantry is also a wholesale bakery, supplying amazing bread to some of the area's restaurants, hotels, and country clubs but there's nothing like eating it fresh from the source. If you're as blown away as I was, considering picking up a loaf or five to take home.

Despite feeling wholly satisfied with our pre-meal, the sandwiches finally arrived and it was time to see if the appetizer was a fitting prelude and all the praise was well warranted. Now, I've eaten some pretty incredible sandwiches over the years and throughout the world but none that I can remember have been quite as impeccable as what was placed on the table before me at The French Pantry. Fresh, delicious ingredients on amazing bread, all in a perfectly balanced combination. Both sandwiches were delightful and far too much to finish in one sitting and even after a day they still held up.

I would gladly eat at The French Pantry every day but, unfortunately, that's not an option. Again, they're only open weekday lunches from 11am to 2:15pm and you're likely to confront long lines and crowds but it's worth every grueling minute. A true hidden gem, an anomaly in this region. Justifiably a little pricier than what you're used to but also far more delicious than you could imagine. I cannot wait until the next time.



The French Pantry
6301 Powers Ave
Jacksonville, FL 32217
(904) 730-8696

Espeto

A Brazilian Steakhouse is not the type of place to visit on a whim, you've got to prepare. At least, this is what I'd been [rightly] led to expect. For years I heard the tales of these mythical restaurants where succulent morsels of meat are in infinite supply, a buffet on steroids, a carnivore's ideal restaurant.

Finally gathering the courage to give one a try, we figured Avondale's Espeto seemed like a good place for our first experience. If you get there during the daylight and are fortunate enough to get seated alongside the large windows, the view of the water is quite nice and looks particularly glorious during colorful sunset.

The salad bar is quite delicious. There are a few real treats like the spinach-strawberry salad (a favorite of mine, I must have eaten a couple pounds of it), Waldorf salad, and a mango salad. If you just eat the salad bar there's still a hefty $19 charge but, even so, I'd seriously consider going back for some more of those three aforementioned delights.

But really, if you're going to a Brazilian Steakhouse and you're not a vegetarian who has been reluctantly dragged along by her husband, you're probably interested in the endless meat. When you sign up for the Full Service Rodizio you're given a coaster sized card. One side is green and says "Yes Please" while the other side is red and reads "No Thanks". Initially this doesn't seem too important but when the meat starts flowing you'll quickly learn the value of this little token. Men with large knives and even larger slabs of meat are constantly stopping by to offer you a slice of any one of fourteen different cuts of meat. I tried to sample them all but it became a bit too much. My favorites would probably be the Rib Eye, juicy and full of flavor, and the Leg of Lamb, because I do love lamb, particularly when there's a little bit of charring involved.

The wait staff and the Gauchos were all incredibly friendly. But considering the size and razor sharpness of the knives they were wielding, I can't help but think that there may have been something a little sinister behind those smiles.

Ultimately, after what was certainly far too much food, I succumbed to the inevitable meat overload. Defeated, I flipped my card from the green to red side both in the physical sense and in a metaphorical sense as it pertains to my life in general. The food was great and the experience unique but due to the insane amounts of meat I consumed I vowed to seriously limit my meat intake; reverting to vegetarianism not seeming like such a strange idea anymore. I picked up my plate and went back for some more of the spinach and strawberry salad, a wonderful dessert and the shape of my future diet.



Espeto Brazilian Steak House
4000 Saint Johns Ave Ste 40
Jacksonville, FL 32205
(904) 388-4884