TAPS BAR & GRILL 2220 C.R. 210 W., Ste. 314, St. Johns, 819-1554 1605 C.R. 220, Fleming Island, 278-9421 This restaurant offers more than 50 premium domestic and imported beers on tap along with a full bar. The menu features starters, burgers, sandwiches, entrees and a kids’ selection, all prepared to order with fresh ingredients. And there are lots of TVs for watching sports. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
TASTY’S FRESH BURGERS & FRIES 710 Centre St., Fernandina Beach, 321-0409 Located in historic downtown Fernandina Beach, Tasty’s offers a fresh alternative to fast food, using a proprietary blend of fresh meat, hand-cut fries, homemade sauces and soups and hand-spun shakes. Beer and wine are served. A kids’ menu and take-out are available. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
TOM & BETTY’S 4409 Roosevelt Blvd., Avondale, 387-3311 After 30-plus years in business, Tom & Betty’s is a Jacksonville institution. The car-themed menu features big sandwiches, burgers and homestyle favorites like pot roast. The full bar offers a daily happy hour featuring dollar drafts. Live bands perform every Fri,. and karaoke is held every Sat. Open for lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat.
Fionn Maccool’s Irish Pub brings the flavors of the Emerald Isle to Jacksonville Beach, where they just relocated to a new home on North Third Street.
T-RAY’S BURGER STATION 202 S. Eighth St., Fernandina Beach, 261-6310 This hidden gem is actually located inside an old gas station, but it doesn’t escape the notice of tourists or locals. T-Ray’s won Best Burger (again!) on Amelia Island in Folio Weekly’s 2011 Best of Jax readers poll, and is famous on the island for its blue plate specials. Go for the food, stay for the gossip. Open for breakfast and lunch Mon.-Sat.
UNCLE DUBS KITCHEN & KOFFEE 12400 Yellow Bluff Rd., Ste. 201, Northside, 619-2970 Owned by former Terry Parker pitching star Wade Koutnik, the newly opened Uncle Dubs serves biscuits and gravy, pancakes, burritos, pulled pork and French dip with mac and cheese, always made with fresh ingredients and served by a super-friendly staff. Open for breakfast and lunch daily.
PIZZERIAS ABE’S PIZZA GRILL 12192 Beach Blvd., Ste. 3, Jacksonville, 645-0460 The original Abe’s Pizza offers traditional Italian dishes, including lasagna, parmigiana and pizza, as well as hot and cold subs, pasta and wings. A kids’ menu, and take-out and delivery are available. Beer and wine are served. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
AL’S PIZZA 303 Atlantic Blvd., Beaches Town Center, Atlantic Beach, 249-0002 11190 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin, 260-4115 635 A1A, Ponte Vedra Beach, 543-1494 14286 Beach Blvd., Ste. 31, Intracoastal, 223-0991 1620 Margaret St., Ste. 201, Riverside, 388-8384 8060 Philips Hwy., Baymeadows Junction, 731-4300 For the 17th year in a row, Folio Weekly readers have named Al’s as the source of the Best Pizza in our annual Best of Jax poll. Celebrating more than 20 years and six locations — soon to be a seventh in St. Augustine — Al’s offers a selection of New York-style and gourmet pizzas. Wine and beer are served. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
ARON’S PIZZA 650 Park Ave., Orange Park, 269-1007 The menu at this family-owned restaurant includes eggplant dishes and manicotti as well as New York-style pizza. A kids’ menu and take-out are available. Beer and wine are served. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
ARTÉ PIZZA 109 N. Third St., Fernandina Beach, 277-1515 The wood-fired oven at this busy, funky spot renders specialty pizzas like a traditional Napoli pizzeria, topped with imported cheeses, plum tomatoes and other fresh ingredients. Arté also serves authentic Italian dishes like eggplant parmigiana and caprese salad, and offers outside seating. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
BIG PETE’S OLD STYLE PIZZERIA 118 N. Julia St., Downtown, 356-2680
operated pizzeria, which uses fresh, quality ingredients for its pies. Open Tue.-Sun. for dinner.
Big Pete’s makes everything from scratch, including pizza, calzones, baked ziti and wraps. Big Pete’s also serves barbecue and wings. Delivery is available. Open for lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.
FOX’S PIZZA DEN 4360 Palm Valley Rd., Ponte Vedra, 285-1292
BORRILLO’S PIZZA & SUBS 88 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, 829-1133
In the heart of Palm Valley, this family-owned-and-operated restaurant serves The Wedgie, a traditional sandwich served on a pizza crust, and sandwiches, pizzas and stromboli made to order. Delivery is available. Beer and wine are served. Open for lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat.
John Zappas’ New York-style restaurant serves an assortment of hot and cold subs, pasta dishes, pizzas by the pie or slice. Take-out is available, and beer and wine are served. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
JENK’S PIZZERIA & ITALIAN CUISINE 2245 C.R. 210 W., Ste. 112, Julington, 826-1555
BROOKLYN PIZZA 11406 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin, 288-9211 13820 St. Augustine Rd., Bartram Park, 880-0020
Family-owned-and-operated Jenk’s offers subs, New York-style pizzas, calzones and a variety of Italian dishes. Take-out and delivery are available. Beer and wine are served. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
The owners are from Brooklyn, N.Y., so it makes sense that the Brooklyn Special Pizza is a customer favorite. The menu features calzones, white pizza and homestyle lasagna. Beer and wine are served at the Mandarin location. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
JOSEPH’S PIZZA AND ITALIAN RESTAURANT 30 Ocean Blvd., Beaches Town Center, Atlantic Beach, 270-1122 7316 N. Main St., Northside, 765-0335
BRUCCI’S PIZZA, PASTA, PANINIS 880 A1A, Ste. 8, Ponte Vedra Beach, 280-7677 540 S.R. 13, Ste. 10, Fruit Cove, 287-8317 13500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 36, Intracoastal, 223-6913
For 53 years, Joseph’s has been family-owned-andoperated. In addition to hot pasta dishes, gourmet pizzas and veal entrées, Joseph’s offers an extensive beer and wine selection. Open Tue.-Sun. for lunch and dinner, open Mon. from Memorial Day to Labor Day at the beach.
With three locations in Northeast Florida, Brucci’s offers authentic New York-style pizza, Italian pastas and desserts in a family atmosphere. A kids’ menu is available, and for the adults, there’s beer and wine. Happy hour is held Mon.Fri. Open for lunch Mon.-Sat.; dinner daily.
CARMELO’S MARKETPLACE & PIZZERIA 146 King St., St. Augustine, 494-6658 A 2011 Best of Jax winner for Best Pizza in St. Aug, this pizzeria is located adjacent to a gas station, and has become a favorite destination for locals. In addition to New York-style brick-oven-baked pizza, Carmelo’s offers fresh baked sub rolls, Boars Head meats and cheeses, strombolis and Wifi. Beer and wine are served. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
CHICAGO PIZZA & SPORTS GRILL 406 Old Hard Rd., Ste. 106, Fleming Island, 213-7779 320 N. First St., Jax Beach, 270-8565 The Jacksonville Landing, Downtown, 354-7747 Chicago-style deep-dish pizzas, hot dogs and Italian beef dishes are offered by the Comastro family from Chicago, who’ve been serving up Windy City favorites for 25-plus years. They “import” ingredients all the way from exotic, far-away Illinois — talk about authentic. A full bar is served, and a kids’ menu is available. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
DAVINCI’S PIZZA 469 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-2001
LIBRETTO’S PIZZERIA & ITALIAN KITCHEN 4880 Big Island Dr., Ste. 1, St. Johns Town Center, 402-8888 Authentic NYC pizzeria brings Big Apple crust, cheese and sauce to Jax. Libretto’s serves third-generation family-style Italian classics, fresh-from-the-oven calzones, and desserts in a casual, comfy setting. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS BITE CLUB CERTIFIED! 1018 Third St. N., Ste. 2, Jax Beach, 241-5600 9734 Deer Lake Court, Ste. 1, Tinseltown, 997-1955 1800 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island, 541-1999
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This psychedelic restaurant serves gourmet pizzas, hoagies and salads. Pies range from the Mighty Meaty to vegetarian pizzas like the Kosmic Karma. Mellow Mushroom offers 35 beers on tap and a full bar. Happy hour is held all day, every day. Live music is featured at all three locations. A 2011 Best of Jax winner for Best Restaurant, Bar and Pizza in OP/ Fleming Island. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
MIKEY’S PIZZA & ITALIAN RESTAURANT 7544 Beach Blvd., Southside, 721-7333 Family-owned for 35 years, Mikey’s serves Old New Yorkstyle thin-crust pizzas, pasta, chicken and seafood dishes. An Italian lunch buffet is offered. Take-out and delivery (within three miles) are available. Open for lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat.
DaVinci’s customers are loyal to this family-owned-and-
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