Either I was starving or the salad was really tasty. I'm thinking it was tasty and left me wishing I ordered a larger portion instead of the small amount that came with the ULTIMATE GRILLED CHEESE sandwich with bacon and tomato. The veggies and croutons were fresh and crisp with Red Wine Vinaigrette dressing. Mmmmm. The sandwich was great also. The decor has an historical feel. High ceilings. Nicely colored. Has a bar and television---which I would not have noticed had I not looked for it and that's a good thing. It was on but I didn't hear it. Light music played softly in the background. The restaurant is narrow but comfortable with enough room to move and not bump anyone. The atmosphere was calm and cozy. I love the little lamps on tables. Flowers on others. The waitress was great and not overbearing. She was interested in our happiness but not in our face every five minutes. We did not wait longer for our food. The experience was pleasant and I would definitely go there again. read more

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Great spot for lunch! The Mediterranean Mix salad was delicious and perfectly portioned for a light lunch. Our waitress was very nice and did a great job. The building was really cool and so was the interior decor. Go check it out! read more

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I felt like I was stepping into a small-town movie when I walked in here. It's so cute, quaint and cozy. I sat down for a sandwich and got the buffalo chicken grilled cheese. It was SO good. Tasted homemade and filled me right up. The high ceilings and the pastry case are only a few of the things that make this spot so cute and, dare I say, old fashioned. It feels like the little ice cream shop from It's a Wonderful Life...but make it a restaurant! The square right outside is storybook and I made sure to sit on the side of the table where I could see it. Absolutely visit Schiraz if you ever make your way to Jacksonville, IL! read more

We were in town for a wedding. Exploring was so much fun! Finding this gem downtown was way more than we expected. Daughter ordered Hummus and their Signature Salad. See photo. A beautiful spinach salad with Almonds, goat cheese, Blackberries and Strawberries, red onion with a poppy seed, cranberry vinaigrette that added an appreciated tang. Hummus scoop was served w/ kalamata olives, extra garlic, warm, luscious pita wedges and a dish of balsamic & oil! Tasty as it was, We couldn't eat it all. Suggest this as an appetizer for 4 or more. I ordered the board (aged mirror) advertised Lobster roll. It arrived on a Toasty bun with Celery, Chunky seafood and Red onion. It Rested a dill spear that imparted extra flavor to bun! Okay, I'm giving the educated guess that it was actually Crab salad. It was served with a Field green salad with radicchio, tomatoes, Buttery crunchy croutons w/ hint of sweetness, Fine cheese shreds & slivers red onion. I asked for Ranch which was just fine. We really enjoyed the atmosphere & friendly service. We had popped in earlier before we were ready for lunch & when we returned, they commented, "Well, we wondered if you'd come back!" And, boy was our bearded waiter cute & I've never yelped such a comment! Outside our window an Older couple was playing some serious scrabble. The cafe is on the downtown square, their restaurant in a beautifully renovated building. In many ways I was reminded of France. Sent from my iPhone read more

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The building itself is really pretty especially the Decor on the inside. I ordered the Italiano and my boyfriend ordered the Cuban. I got a side of tomato bisque with my panini. I ordered my Italiano Panini with ciabatta bread and it turned out amazing. It was super crunchy and I really liked it. The Cuban was recommended with sourdough bread. But the bread was kind of soggy. However the sandwich itself was still really good. The tomato bisque was great. I thought that the portion was enough to fill me up. It was our first time there and we didn't know how the paying system worked so I went up to the counter to pay. By that time it was really busy and our server seemed very frustrated. There were plates that were dirtied up by other customers sitting on the counter. But overall the food was great. read more

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Stopped in for a cup of coffee and to reminisce on the days of the Three Legged Dog (former coffeehouse located in building). The coffee was descent. (Columbian blend), certainly better than Maxwell House and possibly the best served in Jacksonville at present, yet it is not locally roasted nor on par with what the former coffee house (Three Legged Dog) served. I ended up staying for lunch and tried a turkey avocado club on rye which was quite tasty. I also ordered the side salad which was a much larger portion than I had anticipated, and used fresh leafy greens (no cheap water-logged lettuce here.) Overall, tasty and moderately priced. A few "big picture" Suggestions: 1.) present local art, occasional music performances and periodicals/ magazines to heighten the sense of place, character and memorability of the cafe. 2.) provide free wifi -- particularly with 3 colleges in town, students need a place to go and study in the morning, afternoon and evening hours. I understand the need to preserve space during peak hours, but this could be fixed by designating specific areas (like the upstairs) for wifi users during these hours. 3.) strike a partnership with places like Our Town Books and local art galleries/ artisans. Small business stand much stronger and more resilient when working in partnership rather than alone. Get creative, get quirky! What is Schiraz's charming niche that will keep it going 20+ years from now? I highly recommend a visit! Go check it out, and keep the ideas and energy flowing behind this local borderline-landmark. read more

Schiraz - Housed in a beautiful, historic building. - Cafes Near Me - Jacksonville, Illinois

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Very nice establishment. Very classy and aesthetically pleasing. The service was very good and efficient. However, I ordered $3 cup of the soup of the day which was smaller than what I had thought a cup was. It seemed about the size of a double shot from a bar. The cup had about 4-5 bites total and I noticed a few hefty sized chunks of potato that took up a lot of room. Maybe the quality of seafood in the chowder was superb but it was drowned out by the minimal amount of soup and the mass amount of potatoes. I wouldn't get it again. 4 stars for being a very nice location with excellent staff. Deducted a star for the lack of seafood chowder I actually received. read more

Schiraz - The size of their "cup" of soup. Splenda packet for scale. (The packet is taller than the cup when standing) - Cafes Near Me - Jacksonville, Illinois

LOVED the inside of this place. Got a to go order and it was very good! Loved the chips and my panini!

Was here 3 years ago when it used to be the 3-Legged Dog. Schiraz, bad name, if you are going to spell something wrong the name of your restaurant shouldn't be it. Cuban sandwich I had was very good though, a little lacking in the "side salad" department. read more

Meh. Tomato bisque tasted like watered down tomato past. Not impressed. Hope they will put a little effort into their food otherwise, it's a total "thumbs down" for me. Still, I wish the all success. read more

There were four of us going for the first time. We really enjoyed the experience. I had the bone in pork shank and it was delicious. The Demi glaze sauce with mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus matched up perfectly. Also had the salad with Blue cheese and a cup of the tomato bisque soup. Yes I know I over did it. But I would go back anytime. read more

Schiraz - Bone end pork shank - Cafes Near Me - Jacksonville, Illinois

I am in Jacksonville occasionally, and have had the pleasure of eating here twice now. The food is wonderful! I couldn't believe they haven't been reviewed yet on Yelp. The restaurant is located right on the main town square, and has a small door you will miss if you aren't looking. Inside it is spacious and has a historic vibe- high vaulted ceilings, etc. The staff is friendly and efficient. The lunch options (sandwiches, salads, etc.) are reasonably priced, but the entrees are a bit much if you aren't out on a nice date (18-20+). On my most recent visit I had a bowl of the Tomato Bisque which was creamy, flavorful, and rich, and an appetizer of hummus. The generous dollop of hummus came with warmed pita bread, kalamata olives, balsamic vinegar, and chopped garlic. For $10 I was very satisfied and full for the rest of the afternoon. read more

The reviews are right in! This place was as good as advertised! I took the previous advice and went with the "special".... I don't normally like pastrami, but smothered in carmelized onions, cheese, a sweet/tangy sauce and good dark rye, it was outstanding. My wife ordered the portabella panini also and it was equally great. A rule of thumb for me is whenever a place advertises a family recipe, it in this case "grandmas" recipe, I try it. This was German potato salad...again not normally something I'd order, but again pleasantly surprised. Service was super as well as our poor server had ranked on the main floor and in the balcony, but never missed a beat! Stop in, you won't be disappointed. read more

Probably one of the best places to eat in Jacksonville. The historic building sets the scene for a lovely lunch & they stays rates serving dinner on weekends, I haven't tried that yet. Salads are large & are mixed greens, different soups each day are delicious. Recommend the tomato bisque, chicken tortilla, mushroom rice etc, haven't had a bad one yet. Cuban sandwhich is yummy so isn't the New York deli & the side salads they come up with. I almost always check out the sandwhich special & get it in a wrap. They use fresh ingredients. Avacado, greens etc. Kind & funny staff. Joey is fantastic & making suggestions. read more

I've been here several times now and have always been pleased. I love their specials.....Fish tacos or lobster roll. Great soups too. My son loves their individual pizzas. Nice atmosphere and reasonably priced. read more

Shiraz used to be a great place for lunch and Friday night pizza. Good Chefs have come and gone so the product lately is not the best. Really like the wait staff. read more

A colleague and I had lunch at Schiraz while in Jacksonville on business. The portabella panini was great. The restaurant is in a cool historic bank space with very high ceilings and balconies. The food was delicious and very affordable. read more

I really enjoy Shiraz. The atmosphere is casual but classy. Same for the food. It's definitely not your average burger 'n chicken plank place. The prices are reasonable, and it's usually not crowded. read more

Stopped in for a coffee and stepped inside one of the prettiest buildings I think I have seen since moving here. Ryan's suggestions in his review are spot on. I was in a rush that day and the place was empty. The two gentlemen working were chatty and sweet-wish I had more time to chit chat but I did not. Coffee was great. 4 stars for the atmosphere and service. read more

Just had the beef and gnocchi. It was wonderful!!! Couldn't finish it after eating a bunch of oyster with my wife. Wife had the trout and it was great, too. The beef and homemade gnocchi were very rich and flavorful. Tyler did a wonderful job!! read more

The atmosphere is very nice. Almost everything else sucks, especially the chai latte and potato salad. Using powder chai latte mix and vanilla milk should be illegal. Also if you put bacon in the potato salad, you should definitely include that on the menu. The southwest salads not bad and the goat cheese is pretty good, but I don't plan to go back. read more

The food is great. Coffee is excellent. Atmosphere is classic and cozy. And as a added bonus they just got WIFI.

Very disappointed because when we arrived at 2:30 they did want to serve us cause they were closing at 3. Business must be good to turn customers away. I suggest they update the sign on the building and the website. read more

Went to dinner the other night. Atmosphere was ok, a little too quiet for good conversation. Felt like you almost have to whisper. The food was good, taste-wise, but my main issue was with the price. I paid $8.50 for a panini that looked good on the menu but basically amounted to a glorified grilled cheese with a couple of thin slices of meat on it. Add $2 for a bag of chips I could get at any gas station and my meal-with a water instead of a real drink-came out to $10.50. I would expect to pay this much for food at a "real restaurant," but then I would expect to receive food that lived up to the cost. Unfortunately it wasn't quite there. I won't write Schiraz out completely-I haven't tried the dinner specials yet, some of which looked quite good-but I hope they can continue to improve. Overall, a good addition to the Jville food scene that just needs to make a few improvements to the menu or price adjustments to keep people coming. read more

Absolutely delightful! We had drinks, several appetizers, and the specials....simply great. Service was impeccable and the restaurant was extremely clean/comfortable. read more

Great place to go either with friends for a causal lunch or just to sit on your laptop to sip some coffee. Every time I go there I always have great service and the food is always up to standards too. The atmosphere is exceptional with the building and the location is great, being right downtown on the square. read more

This is a new restaurant by very seasoned and excellent owners! Everything is fresh and made to order. Great vegetarian options too. Very creative dishes and good portion size as well read more