The Stake S.
Yelp
This place is awesome. That's the short review. Go get some. Great flavor and value. If you're interested in more, read further.
Atmosphere. I walked into this place, and it felt like you're walking into history. There are so many cool things around to look at. If you're a Navy buff, it's like a museum. The seating is quiet and comfortable. Everything I saw was spotless clean. So ambiance gets a 5/5.
Service. The owner was manning the register when my friend and I walked in. He greets you in a way that makes you feel instantly at home. Not overly nice like "customer service voice." It's more like you stepped in your uncles house, and he just asked if you ate yet. The way it works, you pay at the counter, and they do the rest. Bringing food, clearing plates. The food came out in a timely manner and was obviously all fresh. You can just tell by the smells, the textures, and flavors. None of this was made by chef mic lol.
Food.
The Sando. I got a sandwich called the MK50. Holy cow, was there so much flavor going on. A little bit on the spicy side. I am a spice nut, I am that person who orders the hottest thing on the menu most places. That said, this had a little heat, but more importantly, a lot of flavor. There is a beautifully seasoned smokey sausage as the centerpiece of this sandwich. Then there's hell fire pork, which is a spicy umami ground pork that adds a nice depth of texture and flavor. Add some remoulade sauce to add some creamy and more savory. A cheese sauce to add a little comfort food flair to a super savory sandwich. A lite refreshing slaw, scallion, and fried garlic to add crunch and a punch of flavor. Finally, the bread, it's big but light and fluffy. Overall, the MK50 has a lot going on, and it's all well thought out. It was easily one of my favorite sandwiches I have ever had.
The Chicken. The star of the show at this amazing hidden gem. I got a 2 piece and some biscuits. When my teeth first sunk into the wing I got, I actually paused mid-bite as I was wowed by the amount of flavor I just had. It's not over breaded. It's not fried too hard or too soft. Seasoned to perfection. The juices tasted like an amazing chicken stock. It wasn't just grease. Fried golden brown perfection. I will also add that this delicacy came in at about half the price of your average fast food chicken. That's the only way anything at this place could be compared to anything fast food. The fried biscuits are little tringle pillows covered in butter and honey. The best method we found was to rip a piece of chicken off and place it on the biscuits, then take a bite. Together, they make a truly simple but special experience.
So, to wrap up. I am so glad I stopped by this place for lunch. Hands down best chicken in jax. That sandwich is something to write home about. All of this combined with it being a locally owned and operated business. I can not recommend this place high enough. Get there before this place blows up when people find out it's there.