Last week was a little hectic on the travel front! I kicked it off with an overnight trip to Boston, Massachusetts, for work, and then I spent the weekend in Jacksonville, Florida. I can’t say it was a relaxing weekend – eight hours of driving isn’t exactly how I wind down – but I was happy to be there to celebrate my friend Chelsea. Even if it was a different type of celebrating compared to her Austin, Texas, bachelorette… 😉
So I got to Jacksonville on Friday and checked into my hotel, located in the Regency area of the city. Note: I have since learned this generally where you want to stay when in Jax, but it was close to the bridal shower. Before leaving, I had asked Aaron, who you may recall from this Iceland incident, where to eat. He grew up in the area and still has family there. While he gave a few restaurant recommendations, he said, “Cantina Louie is one of my favorite slow casual Mexican [restaurants].”
If you recall my love for local Mexican restaurants, as evidenced in my Tampa and St. Pete restaurant roundups, you know that was enough to win me over. After settling in at the hotel and a quick catch-up with Liz – I had to catch her up on New Zealand planning – I made the quick drive over to Cantina Louie.
Founded in 2014, Cantina Louie now has 11 locations. These are predominantly in Jacksonville and the surrounding area, including Daytona Beach and St. Augustine. Outside the east coast of Florida, they also have restaurants open in Matthews and Asheville, NC. Per their website, they pride themselves in “offering products of the highest quality with an ambiance that is a perfect fit for any occasion.”
Well, I can attest, on a Friday night, they were bopping. I waited about twenty minutes to get my table for one (they texted me, so I walked around their plaza while waiting), and then sat down. The waitstaff was quick and attentive, and I was able to enjoy a complimentary basket of chips while I scoped out the menu.
Y’all, it is expansive. I had a hard time narrowing it down because everything sounded so good, but I ultimately went with the mango avocado shrimp salad. When I ordered, my server recommended I go with the fried shrimp rather than blackened. She was right. This salad (more like a rice bowl) was huge and delicious. If I thought it would have reheated well, I probably would have brought part of it home.
If good food wasn’t enough, the vibe was casual and fun, the perfect place to go out with family, friends, or in my case, yourself. There is a lot of great decor and artwork to enjoy; my favorite was probably their take on Princess Leia. If you happen to find a Cantina Louie’s by you, I’d absolutely say you should stop in for a bite (or ten).
And if you’re looking for other places to eat in Jacksonville, Aaron and other shower attendees also recommended:
- The Fish Company
- Sid and Linda’s Seafood Market
- Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery
- Palm Valley Fish Camp (technically in Ponte Vedra, but apparently worth the drive)