Restaurants

The Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau puts out an annual guide that contains a complete list of restaurants. For more choices, check listings in the "Shorelines" and "Go" sections of Friday's Florida Times-Union (www.jacksonville.com) and in FolioWeekly (www.folioweekly.com), the free local alternative paper available at restaurants, hotels, and nightspots all over town. I've concentrated here on restaurants in downtown Jacksonville and at the beaches.

In Downtown Jacksonville

Southbank Riverwalk is the city's up-and-coming mecca for eating out. In addition to B.B.'s and the River City Brewing Company, both reviewed below, the area has riverfront branches of Ruth's Chris Steak House, in the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront, 1201 Riverplace Blvd. (tel. 904/396-6200); Morton's of Chicago, 1510 Riverplace Blvd. (tel. 904/399-3933); and the Wine Cellar, 1314 Prudential Dr. (tel. 904/398-8989), which offers very good continental fare and has a wine list to justify its name.

You'll also find a plethora of good cafes and restaurants in the San Marco Square and Avondale neighborhoods, perfect for breaking up your shopping excursions.

Don't forget that on the north side of the river, Jacksonville Landing has several full-service restaurants and an inexpensive food court with outdoor seating.

At the Beaches

In addition to the Ragtime Tavern & Taproom , you'll find several dining (and drinking) choices in the brick storefronts of Town Center, the old-time beach village at the end of Atlantic Boulevard. Among the best is the oceanfront Plantains, in the Sea Turtle Inn.