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Back 40 Urban Cafe

4.4 (383 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

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BACK 40 URBAN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Back 40 Urban Cafe

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Back 40 Urban -- storefront
L L.

Cute curb appeal and pretty interior with Key West vibe. Charm continues with very kind and helpful waitress, and she adds a star to my rating, but the food was just not at all worth visiting a restaurant to eat, let alone pay for it. My husband's Cuban was a 3, he says. My bowl was a 1, and my kid's mac n cheese was also a 1. Cuban was prepared like street food, which is great; that's how it should be done. My bowl with Jerk chicken was super bland and felt like they really skimped on quality ingredients, and only included cheap cheese, cheap canned jalapeños, rice (dirt cheap), beans (also dirt cheap), and a very pale tomato. The "jerk chicken" had an extremely watered-down mild herbalness, which I would not call Jerk. The flavors were just not intuitively following any specific culinary profile other than someone's favorite order at a California strip mall bowl shop. No Caribbean flavor palate, nor Mex cuisine, not even health shop-Cali flavor, just quirky and not good. I could not have been more disappointed and sorry I ever listened to reviews. Yuk! My kid's kid meal was soupy mac and cheese, worse than boxed. I was surprised the side of mandarins were canned, gross. My kid didn't even know mandarins came in a can. Yes, with sugar syrup, but it's cheap! Why go to a restaurant to pay for food I can cook BETTER at home? And I make non-boxed mac-n-cheese, and buy non-canned mandarins, so it would be tons better. This is just a joke to serve this in a restaurant. We left before dessert because it had already plummeted as far downhill as it could go. Tried to leave a decent tip for kind service (not the waitress's fault the food sucks), but as far as I'm concerned the cook robbed me of $52; it was absolutely TERRIBLE FOOD!

Dining room
Don C.

Service and ambiance is fine. The food seems a bit Mexican. It was ok. We may need to give it another try. Oh and the menu sometimes doesn't list all the ingredients in a dish so my friend was picking something out of his meal. That's a peeve of mine I tend to ask "no chunky tomatoes, mayo or capers?" Depends on where I am eating

Key lime pie
Wayne M.

Overall we enjoyed dining here for dinner. Parking was easy although I almost drove past them, and the service was excellent, very friendly. We tried the chips and salsa and pretzel apps. Both were very good. The poke bowl was missing the wasabi sauce and I had to go ask if something was wrong because the dish was so dry and not spicy at all. The sauce was ok but not hot like wasabi should be. The Island bowl with blackened grouper was okay, but lacking real flavor. Sante Fe chicken kind of bland. Key lime pie was pretty good. The house location is cozy enough but I feel like it could use a little more warmth. While the food was okay it didn't live up to our expectations, and the missing component to a dish seems odd. We probably won't be back but other may enjoy the dishes more than we did. It is definitely worth a try.

Inside - art work for sale - A booth with pastel green vinyl seats and a red tabletop is situated in a corner, with yellow walls decorated with framed landscape paintings.
Ruth B.

First time and super happy I dined here! Unfortunately no photos of the food, I was hungry and dug right in. Three of us shared the sweet potato quesadilla - delish. I had a black bean and brown rice bowl- I added mojo shredded pork- super tasty and big enough for two to share. Hubby had ahi tuna salad- he cleaned his bowl. Friend had two diff types of tacos which she killed. We all enjoyed wine which were still in happy hour for $1 off. Desert was a warm brownie topped with coffee ice cream and toasted walnuts- YUMMY!!! Menu has many Mexican inspired dishes but this t a Mexican restaurant. Good tunes playing and the vibe is just super chill. I will definitely go back- and I can't wait. There is seating both indoors and outdoors.

Tasty tacos.   Especially the jerk chicken
Mark H.

This place is great. Unassuming and casual in an old house. Really good food and nice people serving it. I don't live close but glad I found this place. Highly recommended

Front entrance
Steve D.

We are always on the hunt for a locally owned restaurant to try out. We stumbled on the Back 40 on the way to another destination. So glad we did. We ordered a grouper taco and a cuban sandwich. Both were delicious. If you're in St Augustine, you really should check this place out.

Taco steak & pork
Rich G.

Saturday lunch/early dinner - after 3 pm $1.00 off beers and $3.50 tacos. Great value. Good service good food - small place worth a visit. Parking in front and in back.

Alicia S.

Wow, wow, wow! What else can I say. A special little place that makes you feel at home. Cozy, whimsical and bright! The food was to die for the service was top notch and extremely charming. Will def be returning! Highly recommended 5 Stars All the Way!

wet burrito
Luis D.

Back 40 Urban Cafe was a real nice surprise. My wife had some family in town and they asked us to choose a restaurant to meet and have dinner at. My wife chose this spot and we had never heard of it or gotten a recommendation. We pulled in around 6pm and we got lucky because we got the last parking spot. Parking can be a bit tricky here. We had a group of six people and I think that Back 40 can accommodate a group of eight. Back 40 consists of four or so rooms of various sizes that accommodate different size groups. The front room might be the warmest and has some cups, mugs, and shirts for sale. The room we were in was right next to the kitchen and was super cold. I don't really blame Back 40 though since it was frigid outside. To start our meal we ordered the chips and queso and chips and salsa. The queso was super heavy, but tasty. For our entrees, I ordered the wet burrito and my wife ordered black bean tacos. The food came out super quick. We hadn't even finished eating our chips and our food came out for all six of us in about 15 minutes. My wet burrito was HUGE! I hadn't seen a wet burrito on a restaurant menu on the east coast ever. My wife really liked her tacos too. The staff was very good and kept checking in on our table. Our bill was pretty reasonable. I would definitely come back to eat here. It is a nice cozy spot.

Drinks
Suzie L.

Delicious food We had dinner here on a Tuesday night to take advantage of the Tuesday date night special - 2 drinks, 2 main meals and a dessert to share for $25. The food was delicious, and we enjoyed every mouthful. We each ordered a salad - curry shrimp and Thai chicken and peanut - and they came with lots of tasty fresh ingredients and house made dressing. The mud pie we ordered for dessert was a real winner too - chocolate brownie topped with toasted walnuts, coffee ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce. There were lots of other great things on the menu too and most of the customers were regulars!

Jerk Chicken Nachos

I dont know what happened to this place. Well, maybe its the new owners. But the food does not taste the same and surely does not look the same. This was my second time going since years. Ive seen the same lady worked like a dog. But lets focus on the fact that the black beans taste like ham. I do not eat pork. Regardless, i feel like thats odd. They never tasted this way before. The presentation is HORRENDOUS. It looks like a child throw food in a box and shook it up. (Also i asked for extra cheese and this is what i got) A couple years ago, I totally loved this spot. Not so much anymore :/

Barbecue chicken quesadilla
Deborah L.

When we lived in Saint Augustine, this was our go to lunch place. Now that we're visiting, it's nice to see that it's only expanded. The food is so good and staff are so friendly. Don't forget to ask for Datt'l pepper sauce. It's a pepper indigenous to this area and it's so good!! One of the things I love about this restaurant is that the food is so fresh. They also have a good vegetarian offering. But they have enough meat as well for my carnivorous husband! If you're looking for upscale, keep looking! But if you're looking for Saint Augustine local food and people, this is it.

Ahi Tuna Tacos
Tim T.

Never (never) had a bad meal at this St Augustine dining establishment. Love Back 40 Urban Cafe. Today I had lunch before a meeting downtown. Had the Ahi Tuna taco with pasta and it was amazing! Locals know all about this spot but visitors to our nations oldest city take note: This place rocks!!! Go here and enjoy!

A restaurant's front porch features a blue door, ceiling fans, a chalkboard sign for happy hour, and a neon 'Open' sign illuminated at night.

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6 months ago

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1 year ago

Cute, lowkey spot! Really nice service and the food was pretty good! We were a large party on Christmas Day and they really accommodated us.

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De Leon Cocina - Black bean arepas, tostones

De Leon Cocina

(172 reviews)

$$

Everything about De Leon Cocina is five star. They have traditional, vegan, and gluten free…read moreoptions. I am vegetarian and had the black bean arepas and tostones. The arepas were perfectly crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The beans were simultaneously simple and complex. The sauce that comes with them was a perfect match. The tostones were large and crispy - not overly dense nor mushy. The music and overall ambiance was chef's kiss. I am excited to go back soon!

My wife and I took my mom, who was visiting from So Cal, to Saint Augustine. We got on the Old…read moreTrolley Tour (informative but overpriced) and decided to head out to De Leon Cocina for lunch. We got off the trolley at Stop 20, National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, and were going to walk to the restaurant. Unbeknownst to us, there was no crosswalk to cross the busy Ponce de Leon boulevard. Mom isn't as spry as she once was so we didn't risk crossing without a crosswalk, so we had to walk another 1/4 or so to the nearest crosswalk then doubled back to the restaurant. Located in the The Ponce St. Augustine hotel, the restaurant is just to the left of the main doors. We had to wait a bit to get seated as the lone server had to clean a table first. Service was slow. I ordered the Bistec a Caballo (medium), my wife tried their Pork de Leon with fries and my mom opted for the Inca bowl. Did I say service was slow? Our orders weren't synched up. My order and my wife's sandwich were served first and we had to wait a few minutes before my mom's dish was served. My wife liked her sandwich and fries although she thought the shredded pork was a bit dry. My mom liked the flavors of her dish, with tender cuts of meat and smoky soy sauce flavor. The Bistec a Caballo had decent flavors BUT that steak was tough, even ordered medium. I felt like I was cutting through shoe leather cutting it with the serrated knife. Slow service and a tough steak bumped our rating down. We just couldn't overlook the quality and/or preparation of my steak, even with good flavors. Lunch for 3 came out to just over $67 with tip. Oh yeah, they add a surcharge for credit card payments.

The Columbia - The Melanie

The Columbia

(2.3k reviews)

$$

We stopped in for dinner and sat at the bar. What a great visit. Thanks to Carolyn, it felt like we…read morevisited a family member for dinner. The food was delicious. Do not forget to have dessert and coffee, both were worth the calories.

Cheryl and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary today with dinner at Columbia Restaurant in…read moreSt. Augustine, and I can honestly say it was one of those afternoons where everything just came together exactly the way you hope it will. We had made reservations ahead of time, and when we arrived, we were seated immediately. That set the tone right away, no waiting, no stress, just walking in and being welcomed like the day actually mattered, which of course it did to us. Our waiter, Elijah, was outstanding. He struck that perfect balance, attentive without hovering, always nearby when we needed something, but never interrupting the flow of our dinner. You can tell when someone takes real pride in their work, and that's exactly how he came across. It made a difference. For dinner, I ordered the Shrimp Salteado, and Cheryl had the Chicken Salteado. Both dishes were excellent, rich with flavor, perfectly cooked, and exactly what you want from the Columbia's Spanish-Cuban style. My shrimp was tender and well-seasoned, and Cheryl's chicken had that same depth of flavor that makes you slow down and really enjoy each bite. Nothing felt rushed, nothing felt off, just consistently great food from start to finish. What makes the experience even more meaningful is the history you're sitting inside. The Columbia isn't just another restaurant, it's part of Florida's story. It was founded in 1905 by Casimiro Hernandez Sr. in Ybor City and has grown into Florida's oldest continuously operated restaurant. Knowing that you're dining in a place with that kind of legacy, where generations of families have gathered for celebrations, adds something you can't really replicate anywhere else. As we sat there together, celebrating 31 years of marriage, it just felt right. The atmosphere, the service, the food, it all lined up with the moment. Everyone we encountered was attentive and genuinely kind, and that consistency is what turns a good dinner into a memorable one. For us, it wasn't just a meal. It was the kind of experience you hope for on an anniversary, one where you can relax, reflect, and just enjoy being together. And today, the Columbia delivered that perfectly.

Tropi Cali Food Truck - Jerk chicken riblets. So tender and delicious delicious delicious. My husband is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu and loves them.

Tropi Cali Food Truck

(13 reviews)

$$

Read the reviews for this place, was hungry wanting something different so my hubby drove us there…read more Walked up, a nice gentleman greeted us, told him we're newbies and asked what he would recommend for a burrito, he recommended the jerk burrito which I obliged and my hubby ordered the Baja beef, we also ordered the jerk chicken riblets. Couldn't wait to taste as a young friendly lady completes our order. Friendly man and friendly pretty lady- I wanna slap you both cuz this food is so damn good!!! Riblets- couldn't stop eating them and will return to get more while I'm still here and some for the road home to Atlanta, Ga. Burritos- are large and very good, again we will be getting more tomorrow or Wednesday for sure. I took pictures of the riblets but not the burritos, but will when I return. I hope this food is low in fat if not I'm going to have to walk this off.

Stopped for a quick bite before we headed for our scheduled boat ride downtown…read more We were greeted pleasantly by the chef who walked us through their short menu. We ordered the jerk chicken platter and 12 jerk chicken riblets. Brief conversation later, we leaned the chef was from NJ too and was a surf instructor at the Asbury park beach. We got talking for a bit. Now for the food, the first bite was quite a pleasant surprise and we thoroughly enjoyed the food. I love the coconut shavings on the jerk chicken, took it another level. The rice platter was great - Spanish rice, jerk chicken, chips, fresh guacamole, avocados and fried plaintains. Quite filling. Overall, I loved the food and their simple menu. They have a table or two right next to the truck. It's the same place as GameStop's parking lot. Quite a truck, hard to miss. Will definitely recommend!

Back 40 Urban Cafe - caribbean - Updated May 2026

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