Hungry for good eats? Try these 30 award-winning Jacksonville-area restaurants

Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
·4 min read
Restaurant Orsay recently was listed as one of the most romantic restaurants in the state in the 2023 Best of Florida directory.
Restaurant Orsay recently was listed as one of the most romantic restaurants in the state in the 2023 Best of Florida directory.

Be it barbecue, steak, artisan pies, sushi or more, the Jacksonville area has some of the best restaurants in the state, according to a recently released poll of diners.

At least 30 local restaurants recently were named statewide or regional winners in the 2023 Best of Florida — described on its website as "an annual roundup of the best products and services" found across Florida.

Among the restaurants making the list are Restaurant Orsay, Mixed Fillings Pie Shop, Hovan Gourmet Mediterranean and TimWah Dim Sum.

The business directory is from the Guide to Florida, a publication of StoryRoad, a content marketing firm near Atlanta, its website shows.

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Anyone can nominate a business to get them on the Best of Florida ballot, according to the selection process outlined on the Guide to Florida website.

Readers of The Guide to Florida vote throughout the year for the products and services they like and want to see receive Best of Florida annual awards

"The votes are tabulated and compiled along with our editor’s picks" to determine the winners.

Jacksonville-area winners include:

Statewide winners

Cowford Chophouse, 101 E. Bay St., downtown Jacksonville.
Cowford Chophouse, 101 E. Bay St., downtown Jacksonville.

  • Bagels: Bagels R' Us, 14185 Beach Blvd #4 in Jacksonville's Intracoastal West area, (904) 223-9333

  • Steakhouse: Cowford Chophouse, 101 E Bay St. in downtown Jacksonville, (904) 862-6464

  • Delicatessen: D'Aleo Italian Deli, 2445 U.S. 1 S in St. Augustine, (904) 794-7672

  • Latin Restaurant: Empanada Factory Latin Fusion, 8060 Philips Highway in Jacksonville's Brierwood neighborhood, (904) 374-8939

  • Specialty Restaurant: Jax Beach Brunch Haus, 610 3rd St. S., Jacksonville Beach, (904) 945-4287

  • Indian Restaurant: JaxSpice, 311 3rd St, N in Jacksonville Beach, (904) 853-6217

  • Diner: Johnny Angel's, 3546 St. Johns Bluff Road S. in Jacksonville's Intracoastal West area, (904) 997-9850

  • Food Truck: Krackers Boiled Peanuts, Callahan, (904) 690-0329

  • Cajun Restaurant: Mackies Munchies, 868 Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park, (904) 458-4246

  • BBQ Joint: Mojo Old City BBQ, 5 Cordova St. in St. Augustine, (904) 342-5264

  • Pizza Joint: Pie95, 1510 King St. in Jacksonville's historic Riverside neighborhood, (904) 683-7357

  • Caribbean Restaurant: Pink Salt Restaurant + Wine Bar, 1430 San Marco Blvd. in Jacksonville's San Marco neighborhood, (904) 551-4289

  • Romantic Restaurant: Restaurant Orsay, 3630 Park St. in Jacksonville's Avondale neighborhood, (904) 381-0909

  • Pizza Joint: Serafina's Pizzeria, 4125 Race Track Road in Saint Johns, (904) 217-7310

  • Candy Store: Sweet Petes, 400 N. Hogan St. in downtown Jacksonville, (904) 643-4172

  • Mexican Restaurant: Tequilas Mexican Restaurant, 10915 Baymeadows Road in Jacksonville's Baymeadows neighborhood, (904) 363-1365

  • Donut Bakeries: The Donut Shoppe, 535 University Blvd. N. in Jacksonville's Arlington neighborhood, (904) 743-1844

  • Cupcake Bakeries: Wicked Batter Cafe, 6000 Lake Gray Blvd. in Jacksonville's Westside neighborhood, (904) 374-2487

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Regional winners

Award-winning Mixed Fillings Pie Shop in the Five Points neighborhood of Jacksonville.
Award-winning Mixed Fillings Pie Shop in the Five Points neighborhood of Jacksonville.

  • Bakeries: Mixed Fillings Pie Shop, 1049 Park St. in Jacksonville's Five Points, (904) 619-6455

  • Chinese Restaurant: TimWah Dim Sum, 8358 Point Meadows Drive in Jacksonville's Baymeadows neighborhood, (904) 329-3676

  • Food Truck: Hot Dog House Fl, 2990 S. 8th St. (Outside Turner Ace Hardware) in Fernandina Beach, (904) 654-4534

  • Frozen Yogurt Shop: Island Time Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, 306 Centre St. n Fernandina Beach, (904) 432-7147

  • Greek Restaurant: Hovan Gourmet Mediterranean, 2005 Park St. in Jacksonville's Five Points neighborhood, (904) 381-9394

  • Ice Cream Parlor: Dreamette, 3646 Post St. in Jacksonville's Murray Hill neighborhood, (904) 388-2558

  • International Bakery: European Bakery, 8650 Old Kings Road #3 in Jacksonville's Brierwood neighborhood, (904) 551-9685

  • Japanese Restaurant: Nori Restaurant, 304 Ashourian Ave., Unit 101-102, St. Augustine, (904) 789-6674

  • Juice & Smoothie Shop: Kairos Jax, 13423 Beach Blvd., Suite 204 in Jacksonville's Intracoastal West area, (904) 307-0833

  • Mexican Restaurant: Taqueria CINco, 809 Lomax St. in Jacksonville's Five Points neighborhood, (904) 312-9113

  • Soul Food: Soul Food Bistro, 5310 Lenox Ave., Suite 1 in Jacksonville's Normandy neighborhood, (904) 394-0860

  • Thai Restaurant: Thai Spice Kitchen, 6426 Bowden Road on Jacksonville's Southside, (904) 508-0731

  • Vegetarian Restaurant: The Walrus, 948 Edgewood Ave. S in Jacksonville's Murray Hill neighborhood, (904) 902-2459

Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Best restaurants in Florida include 30 from Jacksonville in new poll