Jacksonville's Hole in the Wall Restaurants, Part VI

Five more "hole in the wall" restaurants to try in Jacksonville.

Published June 27, 2014 in Hole in the Wall - MetroJacksonville.com

Taco salad. One with bacon and one without. Image Courtesy of Cleo's Sandwich Shop

Image Courtesy of Cleo's Sandwich Shop

Image Courtesy of Cleo's Sandwich Shop

Cleo's Sandwich Shop

Home of the best "Taco Salad in Town."

I was warned that I would be walking into a southern iteration of Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi"...Taco Salad Nazi?... and that I should only order a taco salad and banana pudding. The line was out of the door when I arrived. These sweet southern belles weren't as rude as I hoped. I purposely tested their propensity for snide remarks and asked, "Do you have any iced coffee?" They dutifully replied with what I like to call "government face," an expressionless, soul-sucking stare. One of them replied something like, "What do you think this is, a four-star hotel on a resort beach?"

I guess they don't know that iced coffee is sooo boogie. "Let them drink iced coffee!"

Definitely worth trying. The taco salads, they like to say, are "Americanized" to calm the nerves of some of their more hesitant customers, I suppose. They come in two sizes and they're loaded with lettuce, tomatoes, beef, whole pinto beans, and probably a bunch of other stuff that I didn't notice. There is also an option to add bacon, which I didn't know about at the time. Then it's all covered with their homemade ranch dressing. There is enough food in the large for two meals. It will get soggy, but who cares?

I was there with a friend who wouldn't dare try the taco salad even though he was told, "Honey, it's been Americanized." He ordered some sort of sausage dog. It looked good. I'm looking forward to trying some of their other menu options.

The tables inside fill up quickly but they have two, maybe three, screened in gazebos for outdoor seating.

Address:
1438 Eastport Rd
Jacksonville, FL 32218
Phone number (904) 757-7264

Yelp Profile
Urban Spoon Profile

This picture does not do the food justice...but it is what we ordered.

Image Courtesy of Mary L.

Image Courtesy of Andrew B.

Image Courtesy of Rosha P.

Image Courtesy of Mary L.

Nile Ethiopian Restaurant

I'm torn. The food was enjoyable and it was tasty. I just wish I there was more on my plate. Almost $40 (including tip) for a vegetarian dish of yellow lentils (less than a cup) and a lamb dish with no more than 2 ounces of lamb (the meat was a bit tough) and one delicious samosa (no drinks were ordered). It's been a long time since I had injera and that was a lot of fun to eat with our meal, but I ended up eating way more injera than anyone should, as the main entree was gone in ten bites.

The owner was quick to tell us that their "American" menu options (chicken fingers and such) were to cater to the surrounding neighborhood: mainly, the high school kids down the street. He was kind and sincerely cared about our experience. If you want the real flavors of Ethiopia, let them know to not hold back. They tend to go mild on the flavors, spices and heat because "Jacksonville." We requested additional heat on the side after we received our meals, and that made the entrees even more enjoyable.

If the lunch options are cheaper than their dinner menu, then I'll be going for lunch only. If not, it's going to take a deep longing for Ethiopian to have me back.

Address:
6715 Powers Ave Ste 3
Jacksonville, FL 32217
Phone number (904) 731-0005

Yelp Profile
Urban Spoon Profile

Image Courtesy of What's Cookin'

Image Courtesy of What's Cookin'

What's Cookin'

This place just opened. I don't think I saw one person in there under the age of 70. Imagine the demographic that at one time considered things like canned meat, you know, servable. That's what this place is. It's a throwback to the beginning of the 1950s boxed/canned/jarred food craze that continues to this day.

I'm a sucker for this kind of food.

So, some things, I think, were made fresh, but I have no idea what was prepackaged and what was freshly prepared. For instance, the beef and vegetable soup tasted legit. Not too salty, with robust flavors. But, that chicken fried mystery meat... I don't think that was a freshly-breaded thing. The mashed potatoes--I think those were made in-house. The dark brown glob of gravy reminiscent of an "Attack of the [fill in the blank]"-style horror film, I really hope they don't make that on site. It's too dangerous.

So, did I enjoy the food. Absolutely. I hate to say that I did. For what they were doing, the food was good. Plus, the proud 80-something old man who told me all about his sex life and the secret to long life (vegetarianism) and that he eats at What's Cookin two, maybe, three times a day wasn't a bad touch for my first experience.

I'll be back. Next round is for breakfast.

Address:
1921 Lane Ave S
Jacksonville, FL 32210
Phone number (904) 683-1306

Urban Spoon Profile

Soul Sister's Cafe

The seemingly self-appointed and charismatic greeter waived me in to the restaurant as I surveyed the storefront and surrounding area.

The inside is "bare bones," and I suppose that makes sense as Soul Sister's Cafe is what you would imagine a local neighborhood restaurant with a steady stream of foot traffic to be. Their customers live a block away and it seemed the only reason one would eat in the restaurant was because 1) they didn't feel like eating in their car before heading back to work or 2) like me, their house wasn't located within a one block radius of the establishment.

I am brave enough to try atypical menu items like neck-bones or gizzards or grilled pig's feet or chitlins. That's not true. I'm not brave enough for chitlins. I've been warned repeatedly by friends that chitlins are a family affair and should only be eaten when prepared by trusted and well-loved relatives.

On this day, however, I was more curious to see how they handled something as "simple" as chicken, so that's what I ordered: one chicken leg quarter, mac and cheese, and collards.

I enjoyed the meal, but I would be surprised if they do not use a microwave in the back. The mac and cheese, though flavorful, had a nuclear-type heat emanating from the center, and I was certainly determined to burn my tongue. The chicken was tender and flavorful. The seasonings had made their way through the meat. The collards were not soggy and had a slight crunch.

I'm looking forward to trying the neck-bones.

Address:
2957 Edison Ave
Jacksonville, FL 32254
(904) 329-4282

Article by Arash Kamiar
Arash@MetroJacksonville.com
@ArashWaiting

More "Hole in the Wall" restaurant articles on the next page.

Related "Hole in the Wall" Articles:

Jacksonville's Hole in the Wall Restaurants, Part 1

Jacksonville's Hole in the Wall Restaurants, Part 2

Jacksonville's Hole in the Wall Restaurants, Part 3

Jacksonville's Hole in the Wall Restaurants, Part 4

Jacksonville's Hole in the Wall Restaurants, Part 5

Jacksonville's Hole in the Wall Restaurants, Part 6

Jacksonville's Hole in the Wall Restaurants, Part 7

Check out Stephen Dare's "A Chef's List for Dining In Jacksonville."

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