Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Jacks and the Tavern and more

Three  new restaurants have recently opened on Marion Ave in downtown Punta Gorda: Jacks -- the long anticipated Charles Wallace venture (River City Grill), the Tavern, next to RCG,  another venture by Wallace, and one that seemingly  popped up like a genie out of thin air--Hookah, which is  further east on Marion.  

I plan to actually visit one of the three tonight. Thus far, I have only done drive-bys and listened to advance notices from neighbors.  I've heard raves on the Tavern for great sandwiches.   Hookah surprised everyone, and I haven't found anyone who has ventured there as yet.   I've heard some good reports on Jacks.  

From a glance, Jacks is an attractive looking place with a European, quoting the owner from a recent Punta Gorda Herald piece, "barista" feel,  similar to those combo bar/cafe/gelato places you find in Italy.  The bar itself spills onto Marion Ave. and is adorned with two large flat TV screens facing the street.  It bodes well that chef, Wayne Martin, was imported from Naples and the manager has mucho restaurant experience. Planning to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner (although right now limited to dinner), the large sprawling eatery offers window views of Marion from just about every seat.  

More on the food and the actual dining experience within a week.   

9 comments:

  1. Six of us ate at Jacks Monday night and ordered the early special $9.95. Good meal with soup or salad, entree and desert. Good friendly service.

    We will go back.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Downtown Hookah is great. Nice menu and the servings are large. I am familiar with Middle Eastern Cuisine, and this is some of the best that I have had anywhere. Try it, you'll like it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Downtown Hookah is great. Nice menu and the servings are large. The food is fantastic. It is some of the best Middle Eastern Cuisine that I have had anywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Been to Downtown Hooka and going tonight. You need reservations for outside sitting and they do have inside a/c sitting now. But the fun is outside. The food is great.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Had a terrific time, great food! HUGE entree portions adn app portions too! Just remember if you are in a large party, they only accept 4 separate checks for anyone!

    ReplyDelete
  6. downtown hookah is the greatest Mediterranean place around!

    ReplyDelete
  7. HORRIBLE SERVICE, RUDE, AND INSULTING. I'm Rick. My wife and I went to Jack's at 5:15 Saturday, Feb 26, 2011 to beat dinner crowd. We were seated in an area of about 10 tables. First issue. We ordered dinner and frozen daiquiris. At $5 a pop, not cheap, not too pricey. What we got was two glasses filled with reddish colored ice slush. NO strawberry flavor at all, and certainly no discernable alcohol. By 5:45, all the tables were full and we had no dinner. By 6:15, some of the tables seated after us had their dinners. By 6:30 ALL the other tables had food and we did not. We stood up to leave after I left money for the drinks. The "manager" came over, told us the food was "right here". I said all the others seated after us had theirs and we were leaving. He said, "DON'T TRY US AGAIN!", turned his back and walked away. My wife and I were insulted and angry. Other diners confirmed what the manager said. This place may or may not have good food..........but plan on WAITING FOREVER and BEING INSULTED. And my email address is rjjlpe@excite.com. My wife and I will gladly verify this.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Have been to Jacks many times and have always had a great meal with good service, I am therefore surprised at comments above....

    ReplyDelete
  9. ate at Jacks tonight. Very good food, and AWESOME service...

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to comment

Freedom Swim

Hey it's the Fourth of July in Punta Gorda Let's All Jump in the River

Hey it's Punta Gorda on the 4th of July -- and what do Punta Gordans do -- jump in the river?  Or not. Or maybe float across.  Or...