On of the corner of 13th and University is Leonardo's Pizza By The Slice. As a matter of fact, Professor Rush would always use Leonardo's pizza as an example during his lectures! It's a small, run down place full of (and staffed with) "hipsters". Don't let the facade fool you...it's some of the best pizza you can get! You order at the counter, they put your slice through an oven to get the thin crust extra crispy and then throw it on a tray for you. It is delicious! And don't forget the garlic rolls and "sauce" (read: melted butter). (1245 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL (904) 375-2007)
We made it back to Jacksonville in time to meet up with friends for dinner at Salt Life Food Shack , a new place out at the beach. There was a really good crowd of people which offered plenty of people watching while waiting for our table. Despite the hour wait (maybe their whole "no reservations" thing goes with their laid back beach vibe?), the service was great, as were our drinks, and we all loved our meals. I had a seared ahi tuna salad which was loaded with perfectly cooked tuna, avocado, and a sesame dressing. They offer everything from typical raw bar fare and sushi to fried catch of the day. Everything seemed really fresh and simple but delicious. And as a side note, the prices are fantastic! We will definitely put this restaurant into our regular rotation. (1018 Third Street North, Jacksonville, FL 32250 (904) 372-4456)
On Sunday we paid a visit to the Museum of Science and History (MOSH) to see Narnia: The Exhibition. At just $10 for two people, it was a cheap way to spend the afternoon. Being the C.S. Lewis' fans that we are, we absolutely loved the Narnia exhibit. The were interactive displays, genuine film artifacts, and even a few of C.S. Lewis' personal belongings! We made our way through several other exhibits including the Florida Naturalist's Center with live animals and Currents of Time which took us through the history of Jacksonville. (1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL (904) 396-7062)
No weekend in Jacksonville is complete without a trip to Angie's Subs! This is a local hole-in-the-wall favorite run by surfers. It's in an old gas station (the coolers have recently been removed to accommodate more tables) right over the bridge on Beach Blvd. I'm pretty sure they got the tables and chairs from the side of the road, and you could spend hours looking at all of the random junk hanging on the walls like a sign that says "WHO'S SOCK IS THIS?" with a red sock stapled to it. 
I always get the regular turkey (read: blank slate to douse in their nectar-from-the-heavens Peruvian sauce) but I've heard all of their options are great! The sweet tea is kept in a giant old live well from an 80's fishing boat. There is a sign near it that says "If you find a fish scale in your sweet tea, well, it's an old fish scale." They go through 150 gallons of sweet tea a day...and they're only open for 5 hours! There is usually a line out the door so if you're in a hurry, I suggest you call ahead! (1436 Beach Blvd Jacksonville Bch, FL 32250, (904) 246-2519)We had dinner at another favorite, Barbara Jean's. There are five locations in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida but the one in Ponte Vedra on the intercoastal is my favorite. It's on a quiet road nestled between big beautiful homes each displaying their favorite college team flag proudly. They have a deck over the water for outside dining (I've never actually eaten inside) where you can watch the boats go by. Barbara Jean's claim to fame is their crab cakes but their fried chicken is near and dear to my heart (and my arteries!). You get a warm basket of breads with your meal (the pumpkin bread is delicious!) and you'd be crazy not to finish the night with a "chocolate stuff" like we did! (15 S Roscoe Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (904) 280-7522)
No comments:
Post a Comment