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O’Steen’s Restaurant

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 [...]

The Hilltop

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 [...]

Giovanni’s Restaurant

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 [...]

Chizu Japanese Steak & Seafood House

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 [...]

Ragtime Tavern, Seafood & Grill

The taps at the city’s first micro-brewery/restaurant, Ragtime, 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. [...]

Whitey’s Fish Camp

Give the customer what he wants and you’ll be fine. That simple idea works at Whitey’s Fish Camp, a waterside landmark that satisfies hungry diners with oysters, stuffed flounder, steaks, pasta, chicken and more. The fish camp side has been around for more than 40 years, but it wasn’t until the late ‘80s that it [...]

MIXX

1161 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach (249-7787). Chef Toni Acireale prepares a “mix” of Italian favorites and Asian-inspired fare. Look for pulled pork sushi rolls, wood-fired pizzas, bacon-fried oysters, grilled house-made sausage and white chocolate pound cake. D, FB, LE, RA, TO, WA, $, all.