A 20 dollar Burger and fries that was the same quality as McDonalds. Extra star for cool interior.

Reservation made two weeks in-advance. Requested dining room. Added in note - celebrating birthday! Arrive on time and host verifies our reservation, without any friendly chatter & seats us in bar area at a table. Bartender was our server in-between dishing drinks. He was doing his best ... but, felt a bit overwhelmed. $170 bill for 4 adults - could've spent a bit more attention on us. Meals were good. Nothing particularly remarkable. Grits were smooth. Shrimp good seasoning. Mahi was fresh catch. Burgers ok. No offer of a tea refill. And, zero acknowledgment of celebrating birthday. Why ask for occasion? Why offer notes section? Why ask about seating preferences? Just a bit of a letdown when two of the four of us had never eaten there before and all of us had not had dinner there beforehand. read more

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I really really wanted to be able to give this spot more stars. But I just can't based solely on the food we received last night. My daughter had given me tickets to the Carole King musical at the TU, and since it was her birthday, I decided to treat her to dinner before the show. Made reservations, even though we were going early. Didn't appear that we needed them, but it was nice to be sure. We were seated quickly and given water for the table. We both ordered a glass of wine (half price during happy hour). We opted for the Poutine as an appetizer as my daughter had never tried it before. It came out quickly, and was a large serving. Certainly big enough to share for more than 2! The fries were nice and hot and crispy. The gravy was poured on top. The cheese "curds" were not curds at all, but just one large mass of melted cheese. I'm used to the poutine having actual curds. It was good. Nothing really outstanding about it, but enjoyable. My daughter ordered the shrimp and grits, which I was also going to choose, but opted to do something different so we could share a bite or two. I ended up ordering the Steak Frites. As we had fries with the poutine, I opted to switch out for mashed potatoes. My daughter really liked her shrimp and grits. Creamy grits, with shrimp that were huge! The bacon lardon was a nice salty addition. I really did not care for my dish. The mashed potatoes looked odd. They were brown and not at all appetizing to look at, nor did they have a good flavor. They could have used a ton of salt, and not sure even that would have helped. They tasted like they had been sitting around for a bit. Disappointing. The steak was cooked properly to med-rare as I asked, but it also had very little flavor. Salt - what is wrong with adding salt while cooking? It just was so bland and even the sauce really had no flavor. For $42 it was a big let down for sure. Chloe, our server, was on point and very nice. She even brought out two small cheesecake bites for my daughter's birthday with a single candle. Very cute. Not sure I'll go back. Truly not that many things on the menu that would cause me to return. $100 dinner and left unimpressed. read more

Bellwether - Dinner with the oldest - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Hubby and I needed a place to celebrate 5year anniversary and decided to check out somewhere new for us. He's vegan so finding places for him to eat is a challenge let alone multiple options. Bellwether had many options for him to pick from. Reservation in hand we arrived in time and promptly seated. The had a happy hour going on so we got some cocktails and app. The app was falafel and boiled peanut hummus. I was seriously concerned it was going to be like peanut butter but it was very mild abd delicious. The falafel was hands down one of best have ever had. The cocktails were strong but not very large. Dinner ordered we chatted, sipped cocktails and watched people coming in. The dining room is modern and hip. There is a nice bar and a patio out front as well. Entrees arrived pretty quick and we were both very happy with our selections. Presentation was good, portions good and flavors were spot on. This isn't somewhere we would hit up every week but it's definitely going to be added to the date night rotation. read more

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Stopped by for a quick lunch. All got salads which were delicious! It was very quiet, not busy mid afternoon. Good music. read more

Bellwether - Bellwether Salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Mother and day lunch date and we was literally the only customer for a while but we got there pretty early. So we enjoyed the beautiful res and we sat next to bar. The drinks was goooood and the food was good also. The private restroom was a great and very clean. Our server was extremely friendly. We had a great experience read more

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The food was very overpriced! I spent $18 for tater tots that were supposed to be kimchi authentic. There was no kimchi just a frozen bag of tots placed in a fryer with melted cheese and horrible sauce. Salad was terrible, I asked for no onion as I have an allergy. Salad came with onion. My husband's shrimp with grits was cold and barely edible. "kimchi tots cheese curds, pork char siu, house kimchi, togarashi, scallions, sesame, gochujang aioli $18" NOT AS DESCRIBED ON MENU $120 dinner for food we couldn't eat. I won't be back!! They should pay me back . read more

If you like Asian fusion with a side of American, you'd like this place. Unfortunately the happy hour food menu catered more towards KimChi, burgers, and an open palette. The drink happy our was amazing. I guess I was so hungry that I didn't picture my burger on gluten free bun. It was so good. Fries were good also. Service was fast bc there wasn't a wait. Ambiance was quiet and in intimate, I could hear what my sister said. Def overpriced. 3 start for sophistication * I also realised they're maybe more food options, but we weren't looking to spend $30 on a plate. Also, feed the meter. read more

Bellwether - Pina colada margarita - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Came here before a concert at daily's place, we had a reservation for 5 and were sat right away! Service was great - quick, efficient, and friendly! The food was amazing! Not pictured are dishes our friends got; can't remember what they ordered but I know there wasn't a single item that any of us disliked! Very cool place with great food and great service! I can't wait to go back to try other menu items, but will definitely be ordering the poutine! read more

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The service, food, and atmosphere are always amazing. I love the poutine. You can't go wrong with any of the drinks. The short rib is great. The prices have been going up but nice treat every now and then. read more

I've had this place on my list "to visit" for some time now. Decided to have lunch with friends today and give it a try. I'm glad I did. It's located downtown so bring your quarters if you are visiting during the week day. (The meters have text to pay options as well). Unfortunately I decided to travel there whike it was raining outside. Besides that once I got inside the aesthetics of the restaurant were really nice. Clean and modern feel. It's a nice size. With sectioned off areas. There was more than enough room to remove a chair from the table and accommodate my child's stroller. Now the food...I ordered the steak frites. For some reason I thought this was a steak cut into fry like pieces (should have paid more attention to previously posted pics), it was a whole steak with chimichuri sauce on top with a side of fries with ketchup and a mayo based sauce. The fries were fried just right. I was unpleasantly surprised by the steak. By the looks of it I just knew I wouldn't need sauce. I was wrong. Even with the house sauce I still needed something else. The steak itself was flavorless which was unfortunate cause it was cooked to perfect temperature. I asked for A1 but they don't have it so the waitress brought me a hot sauce. I eneded up dipping the steak in all 3 sauces to eat it. Now dessert was the opposite. I ordered the cheesecake rangoons. What a great spin on cheesecake! They come with a caramel and cranberry sauce. A-Maze-ING! Fried perfectly and the inside cheesecake filling was the right amount of warmth to turn a bad day, good. I got a picture of the short ribs one of my friends ordered. She pretty much cleaned her plate so I take it, it was good. The other dessert we ordered was the cinnamon toast bread pudding. The peaches on the side were so fresh and had a rich flavor as if they were soaked in something. The bread pudding itself was flavorful. There are other dishes I would like to try so I'm sure I'll be back read more

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There were hits and misses for me on the food. Vegan smashed potatoes were the best ! The aioli had a sour cream taste and the potatoes were delish with the sundried tomatoes. I want to eat that again asap. Popcorn plant based "chickn" had a great texture of crisp and chew but flavor was mild. I also do not prefer mustard with that. Maybe a barbecue or spice would have helped. Cornbread was a bit dry too. The mocktail crafted for me was delicious but they charged me more than what an alcohol beverage was during happy hour so that hurt a bit. The macaroons of the day WON blueberry pB and J flavor. My Little wants these. Definitely a lot of the good things that Black sheep had. The place is pretty and ambiance inside was pleasant on a hot day. The crowd built slowly so I know a good arrival time for Friday. Service was all STAR rated - Thanks Elle! And Morgan remembered me from my frequent Black Sheep visits. I will be back. read more

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We had tickets for Aladdin at the Jacksonville Center for Performing Arts so we stopped at Bellwether for dinner before the show. It's in walking distance which is ideal. I highly recommend making a reservation before going - there is not a lot of space and it was pretty busy when we arrived. I waffled between 4 or 5 stars but eventually settled on 4 for a few reasons. Drink service was really slow- especially when the restaurant was essentially empty by the end of our dinner. It too 10-15 min to get drinks for even something as simple as a glass of wine for my "catch of the day". The wine arrived after I'd already finished my meal despite ordering it right before the entrees arrived. I also noticed some inconsistencies in their cocktails. I ordered an asylum which was very good and arrived ungarnished. My husband ordered the same thing about 20 min later and his came garnished and was much stronger. I did order during happy hour so maybe that was why? We were also charged full price for both despite one of us ordering during HH. Not a huge deal. Food was good. Loved the fries with sheep sauce and kimchi tots. I had the catch of the day and unfortunately for me got a fish bone in the first bite. My dinner mates all very much enjoyed their meals. Overall- I'd still go back and give them another try. read more

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Went yesterday for lunch. Everyone got their food before us, especially the people who came after us. Took 40 minutes for food. Saw the same food we ordered go to tables who sat and ordered after us. Food came out wrong. Ordered chicken and got tofu. To fix it they brought out chicken 10 minutes later in a to go bowl. read more

My husband and I had read the great reviews for Bellwether and since it was our last night in Jacksonville, we decided to try it out for dinner last night. We are so happy we did!! We made a reservation and were seated as soon as we walked in. Our server came to the table right away and took our drink order. I ordered the Negroni and my husband ordered the Boulevardier. The drinks came out about 5 minutes later and they were delicious. They tasted exactly as they should, slightly sweet, slightly bitter and just the right strength. I ordered the shrimp and grits and my husband ordered the oxtail ragu for our meals. We're not big eaters, so we didn't bother with appetizers. We're very glad we didn't as we would never have been able to eat everything. The shrimp and grits was amazing!! The arbol chili cream was to die for; so smooth and with just a slight hint of heat. The grits were so tasty and the shrimp was cooked to perfection with a nice hint of smokiness. The bread and butter jalapenos added a tiny bit of sweet heat and the bacon lardons just gave it that little bit of extra richness. My husband's oxtail ragu was also fabulous. The housemade fettucine was just slightly al dente, the oxtail flavour was so meaty and delicious and the fried sage on top just gave it that extra something. Our server was very attentive and so friendly and just topped off the whole experience. If we're in Jacksonville in the future we will most definitely be back! read more

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Food was amazing and our server was attentive and very friendly. I would def recommend this as a must dine. read more

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Loved the chicken sandwich with pimento. Only downside was that half of the sandwich didn't get much pimento but would totally go back and try again or something new. Reminds me of the old Black Sheep inside as far as decor goes co-worker said I should've tried the burgers but those aren't my fave. read more

This is a gem if you happen to find it! Decor and atmosphere is perfect! They did a good job. I stumbled upon this place one late rainy evening and I am so glad I did! I sat at the bar where the staff was very accommodating. I ordered the short ribs that came with kimchi, which I have never really tried but trusted they knew, it was absolutely amazing! Go out of your way and try this place, you will not be disappointed at all! Can't wait to go back and explore the menu fully! read more

Hidden gem in downtown Jax. During the week opened for lunch and dinner for working class. Dinner only on weekends. Funky & cool vibe, great bar and outdoor seating. Happy hour 4-7, nice menu with drink & food specials. We had appetizers, soup, salad and burger. Highly recommend. read more

Made reservations at 5:30 . Food was so good and service was too . The smashed cucumber Salad and mushroom Soup I had was 10/10 !! My husband had the steak and fries he also loved his meal . We will be returning next time we are in Jacksonville !! read more

Delicious food. Friendly service, lively ambiance. A bit on the slower and more expensive side for lunch/portions, but good quality, fun for special occasions. read more

The menu at Bellwether looked great and the reviews were really good. So when this place was suggested for dinner, I was all in. We arrived around 6:30 on a weeknight without reservations and the dining room was quite full. After a brief wait, we were seated in the back dining room next to the kitchen. We started with the korean fried broccoli and house soup which had carrot, ginger, coconut milk and cilantro oil. While the broccoli came highly recommended by our waitress, it was very thick and the flavor got monotonous after a couple of spoonfuls. The broccoli didn't fare much better as the batter was thin and lacked crispness and the sauce tasted like an uninspired hot sauce at the bottom of the dish. I've had great versions of fried veggies but this one unfortunately didn't come close to those. This dish needed more attention and pizzazz. Two of the three of us got the short rib, which came with smashed potatoes, charred broccoli, fried okra, and a smoked tomato gravy. The other dinner got the salmon. The short rib was cooked beautifully. It was so tender that my fork could just pull it apart. If it had been seasoned well, it would've been excellent. The other items on the plate were not very good. The gravy was more of a thick sauce that was off putting both in color and flavor, the okra breading just fell off when I cut it, and the potatoes needed salt. This version of their broccoli tasted dry. The salmon was also well cooked but lacked flavor. We asked for lemon to try to enhance the flavor. Our waitress overheard us mentioning an upcoming birthday and she surprised the birthday girl with their hummingbird cake, which was delicious. This was the best thing that we tasted all night. It was a spin on the traditional coconut, pineapple, banana cake as it was presented as a dome with the frosting inside and covered with coconut. This meal at Bellwether just didn't do it for me but I'm assuming that other items on the menu fare better than what we tried. read more

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We were attending a show and wanted a restaurant close to Veterans Arena, and Bellwether came up in my Yelp searches. We walked up and the interior of the restaurant was comfortable and industrial/farmy. We didn't make reservations, so we sat at a table at the bar. After looking over their menu, they had a good happy hour special. Blair our server was fantastic. He went over the menu and happy hour specials, as well as the bar menu. I ordered my standard lemon drop martini to start and we ordered a poutine for the table to share. The lemon drop was off the chain delicious. Sweet and tart. Our poutine came out and looked cheesy am delicious, then a server poured the gravy on top, that's what dreams are made of kids. The fires were crisp and hot, the cheese was ooey and gooey, and the brown gravy was flavorful. There were also chunks of corned beef mixed in that were tender and delicious. For my entree I ordered a small portion of the gnocchi carbonara. When this came out, they were the largest gnochhis I've ever seen and our server said that they are hand rolled every day. I bit into the gnocchi, and it was a pillow of awesomeness. Light, fluffy, delicious, perfectly done and the carbonara sauce was AMAZING. Pros: -awesome server -great variety on the menu -gnocchi were delicious -happy hour specials were great Cons: -none Tips: -try the gnocchi read more

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Came in for a date after artwork March 2 2022. The staff was friendly and attentive. The wine was solid. We didn't order apps. The main courses were well cooked. I asked for my potato soup without the truffle oil and it was really good! Light and airy not heavy like many potato soups are! The burger was well cooked. My dinner companion ordered their steak medium well (thankfully the kitchen cooked it more on the low medium side so it wasn't a hockey puck). We also got dessert which I normally don't so and that was nice too. The only thing I didn't get was the theme. The Bellwether. There menu has everything from Korean staples to Vegan to a steak to an Irish staple soup. read more

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I enjoyed my time here. The food and atmosphere were ok. I had curry soup, burger, cucumber salad. My friends had fish and shrimp n' grits. All was fine. Bellwether is downtown and parking is a bit difficult to find at times. Service was attentive yet a little slow; but we had no where to be. (I could see how this might be a problem if you were on a schedule.) I guess the only thing I was confused with is what is this restaurant trying to be. It feels like it wants to be..... a creative-gastro, fancy, yet a simplistic hangout venue. The food kind of reflects that unformed vibe. If I was already downtown needing a place to eat before seeing a show, or lived near this place, I'd stop in. However, it's not a place I'd travel across town to visit or a place I'd recommend to friends for an elevated evening. It's like what a former reviewer said... "Meals were good. Nothing particularly remarkable." read more

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Thank you Sarah-Michael K for your yelp review!! Her advice was key to trying out the restaurant. As she informed, the leek potato soup was dreamy. Every drop! The poutine was fantastic too. We went heavy on the beef; 2 double burgers, steak frites and short rib. None disappointed! My daughter had the steak frites, which she liked, but she tasted the Sheep Burger and exclaimed "I'm coming back for that!" One area of opportunity- dessert. We had the Rangoon and the macaroon; they were just ok. But as good as everything else was, bellwether needs to step it up to match the rest of the meal! Big shoutout to Brianna who served us gracefully! read more

Bellwether - Short Rib w/ cheesy grits & kimchi:) How they make that perfect square???! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

I don't get to downtown as much as I'd like, but we're heading to the Cirque du Soleil: Axel show so I took the opportunity to finally check out @bellwetherjax for the very first time. It did not disappoint. . Poutine with crispy shoestring fries, cheese curds, smoked meat, and brown gravy. Crunchy and salty in all the right places . Crispy skin salmon with Job's tears, sugar snap peas, mushrooms, and radish. Perfectly cooked salmon with a gorgeous skin that contrasted nicely with it's flakey flesh. Job's tears are new for me. They kind of look like black-eyed peas, but are actually a millet. They were hearty and filling. . Duck leg confit with pickled mushroom risotto. Deep and rich with just the right amount of acid in the mushrooms to offset the richness of the dish read more

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Bellwether was a quick stop for us on our way to see a show at TU Center on a Thursday night, where we received excellent service and thoroughly enjoyed the two appetizers and drinks we had. We were struggling to find a second shareable that didn't have one thing that concerned me about my boyfriend eating it, and the server recommended the fried broccoli and it was sooooo good. We also really loved the poutine with the perfect mix of everything. read more

Bellwether - a glass of water and a drink on a table - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Food is always good. Tried the burger today where I usually get the half chicken. Burger is smash style and was really good. Fries are crispy and remind me of McDonald's in size. Ceasar has a strong homemade taste (in a good way.) Carolyn J was my server tonight (02/09/23 at about 6:30) and she was working hard even dealing with a difficult table who she tried valiantly to explain smash style burger to. They were rude. She handled it well. read more

Wow! This is one of the best hidden places in Jacksonville! We went here just cause I had to go downtown to court and boy were we surprised by how good the food, service and ambiance is at this restaurant. I got the steak of course and my wife went for the burger and both were amazing. Totally recommend this place, my only comply is too many fries with the steak if that counts! Hahaha. read more

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Whoa! Where have you been my whole life?! This place has curb side valet parking, a sophisticated interior, delicious- award-winning cocktails & excellent food! We made it for Happy Hour and stayed for Dinner! The drinks were carefully crafted and delicious! The appetizers were great- I particularly liked the Korean fried broccoli (crispy with a kick)! I ordered the deconstructed chicken pot pie dish; which was delicious! The only thing I would ask for next time is a little extra gravy. So tasty! The chicken was cooked perfectly, the dumpling chunks were my favorite and it came with all of the vegetables :-) A great place for a fun Happy Hour, dinner or lunch downtown! read more

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I really liked the atmosphere...and the AC! We were seated in the bar area and it was bright and open. I really liked the wood choices against the stark white. Very modern and clean while still being inviting. We just got apps and a couple of beers. I really enjoyed my pimiento cheese but not the crackers it came with (I ate the hell out of them, though). The cheese was topped with boiled hot peanuts but not enough, so I ended up ordering more nuts. I'm so glad I did. They were really the highlight for me! My friend works downtown and she described some of their other options...I'm going to have to get back to try more! read more

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I feel that there food and beer is very good! I think that the help acts a little snarky. I have been given the worse tables as it's very loud even though I had a reservation in the private room. If you are gluten free there are many options. Great place to go before a concert. read more

If I could eat here twice everyday I probably would! Today I had the Poutine and bell wether burger, single. The Poutine tho... omg I've never had fries so good, so many flavors, soo cheesy and salty like I like it!! The burger is on point once again! Clean environment and friendly staff! read more

Bellwether - Poutine - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

I must say they have one of the best burgers in downtown. The atmosphere is unique and they have a large selection of drinks. If you're looking for a place for lunch during the week or an evening out this place can answer the mail on both. Overall the staff were friendly and the service was great even during a busy lunch rush. read more

Food and drinks were spot, service was great. Overall great vibe and decor are great. I highly recommend. Ask for Jen to be your server.

Bellwether is new-ish addition to downtown, I believe about 1 year old if I recall correctly. Part of the Black Sheep family, they've done a great job of creating a classy yet casual bar that's great for groups of friends, coworkers, or couples. With a minimalistic interior design, Bellwether is tucked away between many other places on the street, making it easy to walk by. Unique hours right now: Monday open for lunch Tuesday open for Happy Hour Rest of the week open normal hours (might be closed on Sundays, confirm via website) - Great happy hour. - Excellent alcohol selection. - Awesome bartender, Blair, who is quite knowledgeable of the area and local eateries/breweries. - Perfectly placed TVs above the bar make Bellwether the prime spot to watch sports games (if it's open until your game ends). Would definitely recommend dropping by for a drink or to watch a game! read more

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Food and service always good. Somewhat limited menu but focused on what they do so they can do it right every time.

Lovely spot, dress up or down, but it is linen napkins. The Bartenders know their craft. Terrific bourbon selection. Menu has something for everyone from meat eaters to Vegans. All fresh, lovely restaurant, visually relaxing. Evidently the Shrimp and Grits is IT, we saw several orders come out. read more

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Lovely dinner at Bellwether! My coworker and I were in town for work and after an event, really wanted to grab dinner. We came within a half hour of closing, but the bellwether staff welcomed us with open arms! The staff was incredibly hospitable and nice, which is always appreciated. I ordered the duck confit truffle risotto - the duck was SO tender, skin so tasty, and the risotto the perfect amount of truffle and cheese. It was the best way to end a very busy day of event planning and traveling! My coworker got the catch of the day, which featured a spring succotash underneath that he really enjoyed. We also split the trio of dips - the standouts being the whipped feta and the pimento cheese. All different flavors, but certainly hit the spot. We walked from our event venue though there was plenty of on street parking. Highly recommend and hope to also grab a drink next time I find myself there! read more

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