1748 bakehouse- Everything they bake is done with love.
Tenley Dietrich- Watching a fellow local small business owner and how it’s grown is amazing. Tenley always keeps me fashionable and professional.
Dreamette- We go to Dreamette as a family tradition to celebrate report cards, a house sale, a clothing order, and more. Always remember to grab cash!
I just love supporting local!
Katie, here! These are my Top 3 picks for Waterfront Dining Restaurants in Jacksonville!
Caps on The Water- Caps is the perfect place to relax, enjoy beautiful views, and eat some really good food! Whether it’s oysters or the fresh catch, you will not be disappointed. While enjoying the balmy breeze, you’ve got to try the Refresher cocktail!
Julington Creek Fish Camp- This is a great spot for a quiet but fun atmosphere! Enjoy views of the river while starting off your meal with their delicious conch fritters or clam chowder. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Whitey’s Fish Camp- Come by boat on a sunny day to enjoy this casual restaurant and bar for lunch or dinner. If a good ‘ol fried shrimp basket is what you’re looking for, this is your spot! You may even catch some live music while you’re there!
I haven’t lived in Jacksonville long, we’re coming up on our 5th year Jacksonville anniversary. But even so, it’s the longest my husband and I have lived anywhere! In the almost 14 years since we got married we’ve lived in 3 states and had 10 addresses, and no, we’re not military. When we first moved to Jacksonville it took some getting used to. We were coming from the Gulf Coast of Florida and if you’ve been there, Sarasota specifically, you know it’s just different. At first Jacksonville felt so big, like I’d never get the hang of the neighborhoods, and honestly even now I still occasionally have to look at a map to get my bearings. In the short time it took to reach our first fall and winter in Jax, I was hooked. The weather completely sealed the deal for me and I absolutely love living here! You get just enough of cold and cool weather to miss the beach and just when you’re longing for hot beach days it warms up! It’s hard for me to choose 3 favorite things about living in Jacksonville but if I had to choose:
1. The Bridges. Follow me here for a second. With all the land that encompasses Jacksonville and the St. John’s River flowing through it, you’ve got to have several bridges to get around this large city. Jacksonville has 5 major bridges connecting its towns and I absolutely love them all. Depending on which bridge you’re on you get to see so much of our beautiful city! You can see the river, the waterways and marsh, the beautiful mansions on the water, boaters, fishermen! I could name a hundred reasons but my absolute favorite is going over the Dames Point bridge at sunset. The glistening water and views of Jacksonville are breathtaking and I am so thankful every time I go over that bridge that I live here.
2. Local Pride. Business owners and long-time Jax residents love it here! It’s no secret that Jacksonville is one of the biggest cities in the country, but did you know that because we have two major military bases we also have a huge revolving door of people coming and going? I think that makes us unique and those that are locals, including small business owners, are happy to stay for the long haul. The people of Jacksonville are proud to be here and support local businesses more than chain stores. That’s unique for a city so large and I’m happy to be a part of that local culture.
3. The Seafood. I’m a huge foodie – it’s my first love and passion. It takes skill to cook a great fish but also to supply it. My favorite seafood restaurant here is called Safe Harbor Seafood (https://www.safeharbor-seafood.com) and you can find me there at least once every 3 months. My family and I have been going there for about 4 years and they consistently serve fresh, local seafood time and time again. There is a plethora of wonderful seafood restaurants here in Jacksonville – we’re so close to the ocean you’d be hard pressed to find one that didn’t serve wonderful food. Our local fisheries take pride in their craft and providing our town with the best catch is something they have mastered.
Location- I love how far north that Jax is in Florida. It's easy to get anywhere down south, or if you head north, you can easily be in the mountains in NC or easily go for a weekend getaway on Jekyll Island, Savannah, or Charleston.
Seafood- I love seafood, and I love living in a place where there is so much FRESH seafood year round.
Local Hustle- I moved to Jax in 2004 and since then have seen the development of a ton of great, unique, locally owned businesses. When I moved here there weren't that many, and we would try to support them all. Now there are so many popping up, it's hard to support allll of them anymore, but thankfully enough like minded people have moved here and the local love is going around!
Initially I was strongly opposed to living anywhere but close to or inside the downtown historic districts. We fell in love with the charm and everything downtown living had to offer. Walkable restaurants, the beautiful Jacksonville skyline by the water and many other fun artsy things to do. However, as we began our home search we realized that as our family is changing, our needs are changing as well.
Conveniences- The convenience of living on the Northside near River City Marketplace as well as the developing town of Yulee is amazing! Grocery shopping has never been easier. Although I have utilized grocery delivery during the time of COVID, there are just some days you need to run to the store for something quick. Living on the Northside truly means quick shopping. Being 10 minutes from Yulee’s always empty Target and 7 minutes from all other stores and restaurants has been a total game changer for me and the way city living can be.
Entertainment- We chose a home community that has low CDD/HOA fees, however it is absolutely packed with fun things for the entire family, including a pool and splash pad for the toddlers. For the 4th of July, our community had a 30 minute Firework display, 3 food trucks (Funnel Cake!!) and family friendly social distanced celebration. They offer Panera Bread Coffee and Bagels every Tuesday for either to go or to stay and mingle and meet your neighbor. Every Friday they have a different food truck and once a month they have adult night out, where the kids are being watched at the community center, so the adults can come together. In addition to all these fun things in walking distance, you can drive for less than 10 minutes to the Jacksonville Zoo or drive 7 minutes the Catty Shack Ranch.
Accessibility – My husband’s family is in Georgia, and my family is in Tallahassee. One of my favorite places to shop is IKEA, and we do occasionally visit the mall. Traveling to all these places could not be any easier by living 3min from I-95 and 5 min from I-295. Regardless of where we want to go within Jacksonville, it is typically within a 30 min commute. Considering how much time we like spending at home this commute is totally worth it!
Restaurants – Initially, I was concerned on missing out on all the locally owned restaurants and shops, but to my surprise, these hidden gems do exist everywhere. From King Craw to the Jungle Bowl and Sun Sun Garden, local restaurants are present and thriving. Not to mention super delicious!
Community- Prior to making an offer on our home, we drove through the community at various times of day, and each time were pleasantly surprised by how many people were actively walking, talking, moving around their neighborhood. Kids riding on bicycles up to the community center to play ball, little kids learning to ride bikes in their cul de sacs, everyone looking out for each other and feeling safe. The feeling of “safe” is priceless. Being able to see my son go outside and walk over to the neighbor to play just warms my heart. Within the first week of us living here, we made more family friends than we have staying in any apartment we’ve ever lived in.
Now, living on the Northside checks all the boxes for our family, and to our surprise, at an amazingly affordable price point. We were able to afford our dream home at a fraction of the cost in comparison to anywhere else in the city. Believe me, we looked! Let me know if you want to connect on the Northside or if you’re looking in the area!
Danay lives in the Venetia/Ortega area with her husband and beloved otterhound. She's also expecting a baby boy soon! Danay definitely has a sweet tooth, so she's sharing her favorite places to satisfy your cravings in Jacksonville!
Dreamette - Such a classic! It's a favorite of my parents, and my grandparents before them, and the baby in my belly already loves it, too (I'm blaming him for the cravings, anyway). Originally named Creamette when it opened in the '40s, it's been a staple of my family for over 50 years; and I'm excited to add a fourth generation Dreamette junkie to the fold (when he's old enough, if my child doesn't love Dreamette - please make sure he wasn't switched at birth). I usually get a chocolate, peanut butter, and banana milkshake (it's not on the menu), but really everything is extraordinary. I don't know why their soft serve ice cream is so extra special; it just is.
Tuptim Thai - I LOVE mango sticky rice, and theirs is amazing! Along with everything else they serve. Eat a meal there, too, and don't feel bad if you order dessert first (wink wink).
Biscottis - Anything. Take the "tour" at the dessert window and just get any dessert. You will be so happy.
13 Gypsies or El Jefe for Tres Leches - They both probably have other great desserts, but I really don't care about anything else when an awesome Tres Leches is available.
The French Pantry - SO worth the wait in line (I have never not seen a long line) for dessert and food here! All the desserts I've tried are wonderful, but the Wedding Cake is my absolute favorite. The cookies have a special place in my heart, too, as my first encounter with The French Pantry was via a gift of cookies brought by the loveliest patient to the dental office I was then working for. Want someone to love you forever? Take them some French Pantry cookies. Warning- get enough cookies so that you don't eat every one of them on the way to the receiver of the cookie gift.
**Honorable mention/can't wait to try them: Mixed Fillings Pie Shop - I literally just found out today (while writing this list) that we have a new pie shop in Riverside! They are currently taking pick-up and delivery orders and will be fully open soon. My mouth is watering in anticipation. Move over cake, I'm ready for some PIE.
