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    El Taino Restaurant

    3.6 (76 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Debbie F.

    Thanks to FB events I saw El Taino was having a guest singer for Valentine's so I invited some friends and we joined for a early dinner. The singer had started so the restaurant had a energetic feeling already as I walked in.. The place was decorated all adorable for the occasion..red tablecloths and cute balloons. I ordered a chicken empanada and Sorullo de Maiz.. they are like corn fritters with cheese..sweet and perfectly cooked..my fav now..mmmm I had the Cubando sandwich which came with a nice side of crispy fries. The bread of the Cabano was melt in your mouth delicious.the sandwich was so big I took half home. El Taino has a Miami feel.Its full of family's, couples and friends. It felt more like I was at a party than just having dinner. The service was friendly and those around us also gracious. It's a fun spot and if you know me I like FUN!

    Julio C.

    Listen to the one star reviews! The customer service wasn't bad; the food however, was. I ordered Pernil with white rice and beans, amarillos and a pastel. The pastel was bland, so bland that I almost asked for hot sauce. The beans were okay, but if I've ate at 10 Puerto Rican restaurants, they would be ranked #11. The pernil? Unseasoned and tougher than a $2 steak bought in a Lowe's parking lot. The amarillos were burnt and tough and not sweet, and apparently they were also an extra cost, but appeared to be included as a side item with the meal. Also included in the meal was a 91¢ fee for using a card instead of cash. (I am pretty sure the menu price for my meal was $11.95 and I was charged $12.95.) I really don't like to drop negative reviews, but this place was bad. The charges for the amarillos and card fee were the toppers. ****update; I completely forgot they don't serve fountain drinks, so be prepared to pay $2 for a can of soda. In short, stay away from here, unless you want to overpay for bland, mediocre food. There are other Puerto Rican restaurants in the area that are a better option.

    Menu
    Edith L.

    First time here; nice small business, customer service was good & dinner was similar to home cooking! White rice, beans & creole sautéed steak! Thank you

    House frozen drink.
    Linda A.

    We recently had a delicious Saturday afternoon lunch here. The food was absolutely amazing. Hands down the best Cuban food we've had in Jax, and the staff was very pleasant. Unlike other reviews said, there was NO charge for using a card instead of cash. We had Pechuga de Pollo Salteada, sweet plantains and La Tripleta Taina sandwich. The portions were huge. Half of this sandwich is a full sandwich in most places. Everything was so tasty. I'd run in any time just for the beans and rice as a quick meal. It would be very helpful if you're even semi-fluent in Spanish because the staff didn't speak a lot of English, but that's ok because the menu explains most of what everything is. The frozen sangria was to die for, but it was actually a rum and passion fruit drink. I saw the frozen drink machine and our server said sangria. Again, no biggie to me and if my Spanish were better I could have asked more clearly. They do sell the drinks in packages, cookies you definitely won't find in Publix and Cuban bread all to go. We're originally from south Florida and have had plenty of allegedly Cuban food. This is the real deal and we will go back soon.

    Morcilla

    Súper rica la comida , muy bueno en general el restaurante , solo necesitarían un poquito mas rápido el servicio

    Mofongo & steak
    Jemiley D.

    Went here on a Sunday because puerto plata was closed, placed a to go order. Waited about an hour for my food. We asked for our drinks up front while we waited. There was a bug in my passion fruit juice, horrible customer service, unseasoned food. All I can say is, I wouldn't recommend to anyone and if you want a well seasoned steak or mofongo go to puerto plata. We threw our food out after the first bite.

    No seasoning on steak

    I order a mofongo de bistec the meal was horrible the steak had no seasoning looks like they cooked it with boiling water in the microwave and the mofongo had no salt. I called the store and to tell them about the serving and the just hung up on me.

    This was so good

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Good atmosphere customer service and Puerto Rican food. The owners are really attentive and love to make people feel welcome!!!!

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    7 years ago

    If you're looking for good quality Puerto Rican food, check this place out. Their food is delicious, highly recommend the trifongo.

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    Taverna Oceana - Baked oysters

    Taverna Oceana

    4.4(102 reviews)
    3.6 miSan Marco

    Rachel at the bar is absolutely wonderful. Watched her make drinks and she knows what she is doing…read more Asked her for dinner recommendations and with my "issues" she said the udon crabonara was perfect. She was not wrong. She even gave me some life advice. Never knew but will forever use. Lee was shucking the oysters and I got a dozen to start. No cocktail sauce. No mignonette. A sauce I have never seen. OMG. Kimchi vinaigrette. Great! Highly recommend! Taverna Oceana is a place I would absolutely return to. If you go I hope Rachel is at the bar and Lee shucks your oysters. They are what make the place!

    I attended a private Galentine's prayer brunch at Taverna Oceana in San Marco, and the experience…read morewas top notch from beginning to end. The private space was perfect for a noon gathering. It was naturally lit, clean, and bright making the room feel intimate but not cramped. There was no overwhelming music, just a subtle hostess playlist in the background that allowed us to talk comfortably and enjoy the moment without competing with noise. The restaurant smelled clean and fresh. Not overly bleached, not heavy with fragrance. Just well kept. Temperature is a big one for me. I'm always cold and typically bring a sweater everywhere. I was completely comfortable the entire time, which honestly impressed me. The staff was exceptional. Dakota struck the perfect balance of attentiveness. Present, warm, and responsive without hovering. Managing a group of about 20 women is no small task, and everything flowed smoothly. Now the food. Not a single complaint from a table full of women, that's huge! I made it my business to ask around and every response was great. I ordered the blue crab eggs Benedict with the parmesan truffle fries and everything was wonderful. My friend ordered the prime rib sandwich and it was a generous portion and she loved it. Pricing felt appropriate for the quality and overall experience. I'll absolutely be returning with my husband soon, and I would confidently recommend Taverna Oceana for private gatherings, celebrations, or simply a well-executed brunch in San Marco.

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    Stonewood Grill & Tavern

    Stonewood Grill & Tavern

    4.1(392 reviews)
    4.3 miSouthside
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    What a wonderful dinner at STONEWOOD GRILL AND TAVERN on March 3, 2026. Our waitress was EXCELLENT…read more- ALISA. The Lemon Drop Martinis were so delicious and refreshing! The Tuesday night specials were the perfect portions and bothe the Tenderloin Tips/Shrimp and the Salmon/Shrimp were prepared to perfection. Will be back soon!

    Stonewood Grill continues to be a longtime favorite in the New Tampa/Tampa Palms area. We met…read morefriends there for our reservation at 6:00 p.m., and from start to finish, both the service and the food were excellent. We began with the spinach dip and house-made chips, along with the steak and cauliflower flatbread. Both appetizers were flavorful. The flatbread was slightly overdone -- the crust a bit too chewy -- but when we mentioned it, the staff handled it immediately and graciously removed it from our bill. That level of responsiveness says a lot about their commitment to customer satisfaction. My wife and I started sharing a wedge salad and French onion soup -- both perfectly prepared and full of flavor. Around the table, the entrées included the Blackened Chicken Pasta, Peach Bourbon Pork Chop, Chicken Pot Pie, and the B.L.A.S.T. Stack (smoked salmon, bacon, avocado, and tomato). Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their selections. Our server, Angela, was outstanding -- attentive without hovering and always there exactly when we needed her. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with a comfortable noise level that made conversation easy. Stonewood remains a dependable spot for a great meal and an enjoyable evening. We'll definitely be back.

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    Stonewood Grill & Tavern - Ginger and Rye Martini

    Ginger and Rye Martini

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    Juicy Seafood Truck

    Juicy Seafood Truck

    4.6(8 reviews)
    2.1 miSouthside

    I made a silly mistake of paying to go to the Seafood Festival and the lines were horrendous. Every…read moresingle food truck had massive lines. I picked Juicy for the steam bag and they had fried shrimp for John. 40 people deep- I joined the line and it crawled. I can't even complain about the food truck- because it just was mass pandemonium. We got there within the first hour of the festival and I just couldn't imagine any of the food trucks having food all the way till 8pm. When it came time for me to order- they were talking about halting orders, but the one guy wasn't told and he took my order. Then- full stop. Oh boy. The line, woof. I waited about another 20 minutes to get my food. It was crazy loud and hard to hear anything- so I stood in the blazing sun, right in front of the table to make sure I could hear them when they called my name. The food- 20 fried shrimp with 2 side- I got french fries and corn on the cobb for John and he was stuffed and happy. He didn't finish the corn! My seafood steam bag was the shrimp and snow crab bag- in hind sight, I should have just done shrimp- it would have been easier to eat. It was super loaded with sausage, had corn on the cob and potatoes. Everything was delicious. I didn't finish the sausage or potatoes- but I threw it all in a box and took it home. The event sucked- but the food from the only food truck I braved the line for- was delicious. I hope to find them anywhere else to try them again!

    Ah....some pictures have meats and sides in a container with the sauce. I think since I ordered…read morebreaded fish, I didn't get it like that. In hindsight, I regret that slightly. The fish seems fresh, but it's just a tad softer than I'd like. Without the broth, the sausage is pretty much regular hot dog sausage and isn't particularly impressive. The coleslaw is also just normal. I almost want to give it five stars anyways because it's fantastic value. You get a lot of food for your money, especially considering it's seafood. I appreciate the generous amount of tartar sauce too; many places are kinda stingy with tartar sauce. I'll have to try other stuff on the menu when I see this again.

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    Juicy Seafood Truck
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    Casa Iberica - Tapas de tomate

    Casa Iberica

    4.4(46 reviews)
    2.3 miSouthside

    The young lady was very attentive. The food was great! The salad tasted so fresh. The batatas…read morebravas were amazing! Definitely coming back!

    My wife and I arrived just after 5pm on a Saturday night. The place was totally empty (which is…read moreseldom a good sign for me). Very unassuming store from. Inside was open and pleasant. The music was a loop of calypso with the most annoying, nightmare inducing AI video I've ever seen. But I digress... The Food... my wife had a Cuban sandwich special which came with a guava smoothie (?) she also ordered a side of Yuca Frita. The insides of the sandwich were good but totally overtaken by the bread which was dry and too crumbly. But the thing that sums up this visit was the Yuca Fries...$4 for (I kid you not) THREE yuca fries! Yes, I said 3 little yuca fries on a small plate for $4!!!! I had the Vaca Frita with Yuca con Mojo and grilled veggies. The meat was dry but the flavors of all were pretty good. Ended the meal with "Cuban" coffee which was NOT Cuban coffee but what tasted like unsweetened instant espresso. And a flaN which was the highlight of the meal. Good portion, fresh and delicious. I was told this place had been open for 2 years. Hard to believe. Maybe we came at a bad time but I wouldn't expect a place like this to last six months. Oh, the server was pleasant enough. I don't think she knew just how bad things are. I'd give this place 1 star if not for the fact the flavors were okay. Oh yes, almost forgot...the bill for this lackluster of an experience was $58 including tip!! (Did I mention we drank water? Drink prices were incredibly overpriced). And finally, a terrible case of heartburn accompanied me for the rest of the evening. My wife and I grew up in South Florida so we kinda know what this food should taste like. Lots of decent to good Cuban restaurants in northeast Florida. This is not one of them. Needless to say, we won't be back!

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    Gemma Fish + Oyster

    Gemma Fish + Oyster

    4.3(263 reviews)
    3.6 miSan Marco

    Short review of Gemma since we just stopped in for an app and drinks. Pleasantly surprised, enough…read morethat I'll be back for more apps and drinks. We ordered the hummus plate, which came with plenty of colorful vegetables. Definitely enough for 4 people. To drink, I ordered the Nice Coconuts, which reminded me of a pina colada. This would be an amazing summer drink, so the second Jacksonville goes back up to 80 degrees I'd highly recommend ordering this to celebrate. The names of the other drinks -- the ex wife, pool boy, etc -- are so fun that we just couldn't decide which to get! We sat on the rooftop, which we were told us first come first serve. I'm a sucker for a rooftop, and we enjoyed this one (shoutout to the heat lamps). Will be back to Gemma once it warms up. Gemma San Marco, Jax, FL Hummus, Nice Coconuts

    Gemma is just GORGEOUS. I love everything about the decor and the ambiance and style here…read more I've been to dinner and a couple of happy hours, and it's just fun to be in this place. The dinner was just okay, but it was when they first opened and were getting their bearings. We loved the cocktails and dessert, the boys loved their shellfish dishes (RIP for me), and my girlfriend and I were iffy on the burger and fries. It was just dry and the bun was completely overdone so it was hard to bite through. Happy hour is honestly my jam. Much more reasonably priced, great drinks and great service. I haven't spent time on the rooftop but have heard mixed things. Service the few times I've been has been solid. I'm a big happy hour girl and sitting at the bar, yapping with small plates and drinks is just always a good time. I would give dinner another try, I just haven't been back because there are so many places in Jax.

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    El Taino Restaurant - latin - Updated May 2026

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