While on Amelia Island, I found a fantastic eatery called 29 South.  I’d heard good things and decided to check it out myself.  Unfortunately I didn’t have an opportunity to go for dinner (I wanted to try the chef’s burger: half Pound of Waygu Beef/Foie Gras Blend on a ButteredKaiser Topped with Summer Truffle Brie, Benton’s Country Ham and a Conner Farm Egg) and wound up there for brunch. 

It did not disappoint, though.  In fact, I was blown away by the unexpected. The menu items are insipired and live up to their mouthwatering descriptions.  Lobster corn dogs with spicy horseradish ketchup spiked with Ketel One vodka, blackstrap molasses laquered ribs with butter pickles, sweet tea-brined DelKat Family Farm pork chop on macaroni gratin with warm blackberry preserves are just a few examples…I finished brunch with a few bites of their coffee and doughnuts which are served as a glazed doughnut bread pudding with butterscotch drizzle and mocha ice cream. 

Some of the reviews I’ve read indicate poor service, but that wasn’t my experience at all.  I brought Abby with me and they seated us outside, with a dog bowl.  Granted it wasn’t a busy dinner night, but they couldn’t have been more friendly and the atmosphere was casual chic, never a hint of snobbery.  On top of that, they partner with area farms, create their menus around available product, and make every effort to select free-range/organic/natural ingredients.  Great food, cool location, sustainable, what’s not to love about 29 South!?

http://www.29southrestaurant.com/index.html

Farming Partners:
Conner Amazing Acres Farms – Hilliard FL
DelKat Family Farms – Hilliard FL
29 South Chef’s Garden – Out back
Sweet Grass Dairy – Thomasville GA
The Naked Bee Honey Farm-Saint Augustine
Painted Hills Ranch – Fossil Oregon
Springer Mountain Farm – Mt Airy GA
The Boys and Girls Club – Fernandina Beach
Marcho Farms – Harleysville PA

Voted “Best New Restaurant” Jacksonville 2006
Voted “Best of Jax” – 2006, 2007, 2008
Voted “Best Chef” Jacksonville 2007 & 2008
2009 “Snail of Approval”
2009“Spirit of Slow Food Award”

 2010 Florida Trend “Golden Spoon”