Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen
510 S 8th St, Fernandina Beach, FL, 32034
Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen Menu
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Address :
510 S 8th St
Fernandina Beach, FL, 32034 - Phone (904) 310-6374
- Website https://www.undergroundkitchen.co
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Brad D.
Damn! The best food ever! I rarely leave reviews on yelp but I have to tell you this has to be some of the best tasting food ever. The flavor profile was amazing. We ordered French toast, biscuits and gravy, omelette and some soup that had so many types of meat I couldn't count. All the dishes were amazing. We literally will eat here everyday until we leave from vacation. Updated 1 week later: Not only was the food unbelievable... the owner Kenny is the nicest guy ever! We went 5 times in 1 week and had a unbelievable meal each time!
(5)Cathy C.
Our meal this evening was just fantastic. Every dish was perfectly prepared. Our favorites included delicious oysters with house-made hot sauce. The amazing pork belly was perfectly seasoned, crispy outside and tender inside, atop almond paste with cherries ; an wonderful flavor combo. The wild shrimp and grits was superb and the fried chicken was heavenly alongside warm tender drop biscuits. I wish I lived closer. We would love to sample the collards and other sides that looked so good on nearby tables. A great food find for us!
(5)Marc C.
Friendly staff and Kenny, the owner is one of the nicest folks one can ever meet. He made these delicious Gator Ribs which are full of flavor.
(5)T M.
We have done take out three times and eaten in twice. This food is amazing. The flavors are exceptional. Some of the most flavorful food I have ever eaten. Definitely the best restaurant in town.
(5)Keith R.
What a gem this place is. Food is amazing (spoiler, GET THE SHRIMP AND GRITS). Great service. Eclectic vibe. My wife and I are here on vacation, and so glad we found this place.
(5)Vanessa T.
Wow!! I had to write this review while the flavors are still dancing on my tongue!! This place is not scared to bring the heat!! I can't think of anywhere else that has such bold flavors as Gilbert's UK.... Started with sangria, The Beast- holy spicy, a sweet/ spicy white sangria with plenty of jalapeño...the Summer(?) - very pleasant sweet white, with strawberries and Rosemary...delish!! Apps- Pimento cheese tray and Beet and cheese salad....both excellent, fresh and light, and once again the huge kick of spice in the pimento cheese, it complimented the fresh veggies so good! Entrees- Fried Chicken...wow they have perfected their fried chicken recipe, perfectly crispy ,light breading, juicy on inside, tons of flavor Bbq sampler....huge platter of 5 different meats, including some more unusual ones: alligator ribs and shredded turkey....yum,yum, all tasted great the stand out to us was the sausage, excellent! Shrimp boil....this was the least favorite dish for me, it was good, but just not a favorite with all the other great things around Hot Chicken.....remember that fried chicken (up above) yea that doused in a flavorful,buttery, hot pepper sauce. I was kinda scared with it described as "fire hot" , but it was perfect....literally bursting with flavor with every bite!! After The Beast and the Hot Chicken, my nose was running a lil bit, but it was so worth it!! We enjoyed everything here, start to finish and so happy to be able to meet the Chef Kenny himself after lunch, this was really a treat and we will happily come back anytime were up in Fernandina Beach!!
(5)Ryan H.
This is true southern cooking with a contemporary twist. Great little restaurant especially for this area, great food, hefty portions, and good service. Decor is wonderfully done, bathroom is clean/spacious, and they take reservations. The food is not on the cheap side as you're looking around $20+ on every dinner entree. With an appetizer, two beers, $14 tip, and two dinner entrees our bill was $70ish. Craft beers will run you about $5 a piece with domestics at $4. The only major cons I came across on my first visit was they were out of sweetwater 420 beer, and they only had two killer whale beers left which both my date and I consumed. However, one beer was enough with all the food we ended up receiving. We had reservations at 5pm (that's all that was left) on a Saturday and the place was fairly empty for about 30 minutes then everyone started to show up. By the time we left the back area was filling up and the front area where we were sitting was pretty much filled out. Field Pea Hummus - Crackers, country bread, field pea hummus, grapes, carrots, peppers: Good appetizer if you like hummus. Not a whole lot of taste to the hummus, very mild, but good for dipping. Topped with plenty of olive oil and garnished. All the veggies were soaked and marinated in some marinade that had a strong dill pickle taste to it. In fact it seems as though a lot of Mr. Gilbert's dishes has that dill pickle taste/marinade in it. I'm not a fan of pickles, but this appetizer was still good and I did consume it. My date enjoyed it as well. Southern Noodles - Collard Green Pesto, Potato, Green Beans, Cotija Cheese My date got this entree. I don't have a lot to say about this, but if you read through the reviews you will get an idea of how great it is. For her protein she added pulled turkey. She said she really enjoyed this and from smelling it across the table I can tell you that's what I plan to get when I return in the future. Looked and smelled delicious. GUK Sampler (BBQ Sampler) - Andouille Sausage, Pork Rib, Gator Rib, Pulled Pork, Pulled Turkey, BBQ Baked Beans, Half and Half BBQ Sauce This was my entree of choice as the waitress suggested it, and she said it was the popular choice among customers. The sausage was probably my favorite. Absolutely the best sausage I've ever had; so soft and cooked to perfection! It beats 4 rivers sausage and that's not an easy thing to do. BBQ Baked Beans were good as well and contained pulled pork chunks (I think- it had pulled meat in it). Pulled pork and turkey was also cooked very well. Between the latter the pulled pork won that battle I think. The pork rib was huge. By far the biggest one piece of rib I've ever had in my life. However, I enjoyed the gator rib slightly more so than the pork due to the crazy taste profile the gator rib had. The gator rib also had a slight dill pickle taste to it. It was sweet and spicy, but it didn't have a spicy kick to it and it also had a mustard aftertaste to it. I felt like I was tasting a million different flavors, but they all worked so well together. The half and half BBQ sauce was phenomenal. I was so caught up with eating everything that I forgot to actually use the sauce and only got a chance to use half of it towards the end of my meal. Definitely utilize that BBQ sauce it's awesome. Mac and Cheese side This was my only disappointment for the entire meal. It was good, but it wasn't what I think mac and cheese should be. Mac and cheese (to me) is smothered in cheese, gooey, soft, warm, and dripping with cheese. Not bad just wasn't my type of mac and cheese I suppose. It was mainly bread crumbs, green onions on top, and noodles with very little cheese sauce on the noodles. Not bad, but next time I think I'd go for a different side despite how much I love mac and cheese. I'll be back for sure.
(5)Mark B.
What can I say about Kenny Gilbert and his new venture Gilbert's UK or underground kitchen. I have been a fan of Kenny since he got (to me) screwed on Top Chef. He went home way too early. Then he opened up Nipper's at the beach and we went a few times. Then he left there and again to me the place went down hill. We even got to eat at a Pop Up Dinner that he did at Pom's Signature. It was a fabulous night and the food was amazing. Well he has finally come back to Florida and open Gilbert's UK an we had to go. Hop in the truck Lucy we are headed north. I know it just opened up yesterday but this is Kenny Gilbert. We walked in and the place has a nice vibe and a cool homey feel to it. You have sofas and comfy chairs in a waiting or seating area. I was waiting for grandma to come strolling out with hear apron on. We had reservations and the place was somewhat full. We were in between rushes the lady on the phone told me when I had to double check our reservations. I made them on open table and when I got them I thought how did that happen? Well we were seated and I looked over to next table and I saw a pork belly dish and after a bit of ease dropping I found our dinner dishes. We went with our neighbors whole menu the Alligator Ribs and the Pork Belly dish. Our neighbors heard what we ordered and told us we did well that both dishes were delicious. Then after we got ours our neighbor on the other side asked us what we got and ordered the same two dishes. Ok food the Ga Berkshire pork belly with collards hoppin john and sweet potato chow chow was absolutely amazing. The pork belly almost melted in your mouth but had a flavor that I would eat a bucket of it. The collards were definitely started last night cause good collards take time and these were that good. The whole dish was so yummy so filling and so full of southern goodness. Ok my dish, I have seen this menu and this dish caught my eye and my heart. I have cooked an eaten alligator ribs before and we just won't say how we got the meat. This meat was barbecued when a sauce that left me wondering what was in it. I make a mean bbq sauce but Kenny's sauce kicked my sauces Butt. It had a deep flavor and a kick that just slapped the back of your neck. This dish also came with some Carolina Gold rice porridge that was creamy and full of deliciousness. The brussel sprouts which is also my wife's favorite veg was well cooked and added a kind of soothing element to this dish. You know kind of knocked the heat down. That slapping in the back of your neck thing. We ended the night with a Coca Cola bread pudding with some dried cherries. Now this was good in my book but the cherries didn't sit well with the wife. She was quite happy to eat around it thou. Now this was a very nice evening in Fernandina but anywhere with my wife is a good time. This place is definately going onto our go to list when we are in the area. For sure.
(5)Cathy O.
Best BBQ my husband and I have ever eaten. Had andouille sausage sandwich and burnt end brisket sandwich. We test BBQ everywhere we go and this was the best ever! Too bad we live on the west coast.
(5)Tammy T.
Unbelievable food! The shrimp and grits were the best we've ever had. The biscuits were delicious. We topped it off with the GUK S'mores Creme Brûlée! Don't visit the island without going here. Reservations recommended.
(5)Tip R.
We went for the BBQ express lunch on Labor day. Liked the concept & the grills outside grills smoking. Inside was casual, order at the counter. We sat in the front & enjoyed the music that was playing. I asked for a combo of Beef Brisket & Sausage. The cashier told me that it would be better to order the GUK Sampler (BBQ Sampler) - Andouille Sausage, Pork Rib, Pulled Pork, Beef brisket, BBQ Baked Beans, potato salad/ cole slaw. We also got the 2 bone rib sandwich & a side order of collard greens & Mac & cheese. They had beef ribs too but we didn't order them. The sausage was good, the pork spare ribs were very fatty. The rest just was ok. They have many different types of BBQ sauces. We didn't really care for any of them. The Mac & Cheese was very dry. The collard greens tasted like they had cinnamon in the them which we didn't expect or care for. The sweet iced tea was good & the sausage. Our bill was $35. If I go back, I will order a lb of beef brisket & a lb of sausage with some texas toast & bring some jenkins or bono's sauce. We left there & went to Tasty's for 2 Chocolate shakes.
(3)Robert H.
Great food and service. A little tight seating and loud, but the quality of the food is first rate. Had pulled pork which was great with a mustard sauce. Taste was a good change from the typical barbecue found around. Will be going again.
(4)Kathy C.
We've been wanting to try Gilbert's Underground Kitchen for a while and finally got a chance to try this past weekend. Wanting to beat the dinner crowd, we decided to go for an early 5:30 dinner and made the reservation. Walking in, there were a few tables, but otherwise pretty quiet. We were seated immediately in the back indoor area. I am glad we did an early dinner because the restaurant was quickly filled up by the time we got our food. The restaurant is very cute and has a nice and casual atmosphere. Sitting in the back area looking out into the patio, I can already picture in a nice cool autumn night, enjoying a few drinks and delicious dishes with family and friends. As for the food. WOW, just delicious. My sister also came with us, so between my husband, my sister and I, we ordered a bowl of Brunswick Stew (delicious), Skillet Cornbread & Drop Biscuit (pretty good), Sizzling Swine (Excellent!), Southern Noodle with Local Shrimp (yum), and the Brisket Special (awesome). For drinks, we ordered the Fernandina Beach Sunset, UK Seasonal, and Nurse Anna's Potion (all excellent). Lastly, to end the meal, we ordered KC's Banana Pudding and GUK S'mores (both a-ok for me). So as you can see, we ordered a lot of food. So we were fully stuffed and also took a bunch home for my poor brother-in-law who couldn't join us for dinner. I won't say that EVERYTHING is the best I've ever had. But I will tell you that several dishes blew my socks away. For example, the sizzling swine comes with a skillet (everything is good in a skillet) with melt-in-your-mouth pork belly and pulled pork, topped with a raw egg (everything is better with an egg) that you stir and cook upon arrival to your table. Soooo good!! I've not had a good experience with Brunswick Stew previously. But I thought, if there is a place that can redeem the name of this dish, GUK is probably about as good as it'll get. And sure enough, it did. The bowl was so packed with flavor, so hearty, and with a bit of a kick. I can just order that bowl and be done with dinner. The Southern Noodle surprised me in a very nice way. To be honest, I was trying to avoid ordering Southern Noodle, but my sister really wanted to try (we already made a deal to SHARE every dish). So we did. I am glad she convinced me. The reason I was shying away from it is because (unlike the Asian noodle in broth dishes I love) many noodle dishes actually are too heavy for me (purely personal preference). So I usually take two bites and that's it. The Southern Noodle was surprisingly light and packed full of flavor. The shrimp was perfectly cooked. So the whole dish is just a surprisingly delight. The brisket we ordered was also very good in that it was tender and delicious. The BBQ sauce was also quite good (I usually don't like BBQ sauce either). I can't NOT talk about the drinks either. These drinks we ordered were all very distinctive in flavors. For example, when the description in Fernandina Beach Sunset says mango and lychee. Yes, you will definitely taste them. They are all very delicious and refreshing. I wish I can pick a favorite, but I tried all three drinks and can see myself easily ordering any of them next time we go. There are tons of items we want to try. So we will probably be back soon.
(5)Fiorella G.
We absolutely loved this place. We found it by chance while visiting the Amelia Island Ferdinand Beach area. We were in the mood for something different and found it on yelp. As we pulled up in the neighborhood we were a little concerned as it's not the most commercial area around but this truly is a gem! It's owned by one of the contestants of Top Chef, Chef Gilbert. He's the one that actually prepared our meals and even came out to introduce himself. He was great and even offered to cater our wedding! He spent some time getting to know us and telling us about the restaurant. I got the southern noodles with the pulled smoked turkey. OMG so good! I didn't expect to like the collard pesto as much as I did. It was the perfect bowl of southern comfort yummy goodness! It was the right amount of blended pesto and larger pieces of green...the turkey was like a smoked turkey leg shredded and added the perfect amount of saltiness to the meal. We also had the omelette of the day...it came with hot sauce peanut potatoes that were so good. The potatoes were soaked in the sauce which had a kick to it but it was not overpowering at all. And the salad it came with had cornbread croutons...genius! The service was great too :). We will definitely come back if we are in the area.
(5)Daniel M.
I will start by saying that the service is excellent in every aspect, from the warm welcome by the host, to my server Jen who was genuinely friendly, courteous and knowledgeable of the menu. The space is cozy, the plates are made out of tin? Very unexpected but cute, different and unique. Sadly we never saw the chef make his way around the tables.. Our table of 5ppl ordered the shrimp and crab boil (corn, potato, anduille sausage and lots of butter and crab seasoning) this pot was made to be share for 4 ppl, go figure we ordered just for one person..OMG The shrimp and grits with sausage was so heavenly, truly a must have either as a shared appetizer or as a main course. The shrimp were well seasoned, the grits were just perfectly cooked, and the sauce at the bottom was all so good! We also ordered the alligator ribs and the short ribs, given that both were good but it was so much meat that we were full. No complaints here..just happy stomachs and happy taste buds. The watermelon salad with mint, red onions and tomato was refreshing and light, as for the drinks i ordered some kind of spicey tequila drink with mint but it was not to my liking. Had to send it back and ask for them to make it sweet and even at that i only had a couple of sips. We had the key lime bread pudding, not bad but not great; could have done without it for sure. My heart was already set on ice cream at Fantastic fudge in downtown historical Jacksonville, which is a must have if you are in the area. The last but more annoying part of dinner is the fact that there are so many flies in the dinning room; this is just a complete turn off. We were killing flies throughout dinner, why? They need to do a better job at handling the fly problem, that alone was very dissapointing. Parking cod be an issue depending on the time for dinner, lucky for me one last spot was available when we got in at 6:15pm.
(4)Sarah P.
Came 7/12 after church, 1st let me saw the decor is very unique and the servers are very nice and know what's on the menu and what the specials are. They are not pushy for you to get one. I am visiting from Texas and had the fried chicken sandwich hot(spicy), came with pickled veggies and a white Alabama BBQ sauce. Let me say I love spicy food, and the taste of this fried chicken was spicy but not to spicy where it ruins the taste. Very good!!! My grandparents ordered the brisket omelette with salsa verde on top, peanut potatoes, and baby kale salad. The potatoes were amazing, had a little kick to them! My grandmother had the biscuits and gravy, came with 2 eggs on top. (Needed a little garnish with it) (fruit perhaps, pickled peach hahaha) but it was still very good! The food here is not like food you cook at home, it very fresh and out of the box meals! Presentation is beautiful as well! Will be back next time I'm in Florida!
(5)Maya C.
Fan-Fernandina-tastic! Huge props to Anna H. and Anthony N. for turning me on to this place. Since my friend and I were spending the weekend in Fernandina we decided ahead of time that we were going to go here for brunch Sunday morning. The place is located on the main strip heading to downtown Amelia Island. Our reservation was for 11:30, got there without any traffic holdups from the Shrimp Festival, and we were able to get a spot right in front of the building. We were greeted immediately when we walked in and we decided to sit outside in the back of the building because it was a beautiful day. I didn't realize that they had a special menu for the Shrimp Festival which meant limited items but thankfully what I had traveled up for was still on the menu: Southern Noodles. Seeing the photos of it made me drool. It's a pasta dish of course with Collard Green Pesto, Potato, Green Beans, topped with Cotija Cheese and I decided to add BBQ Alligator Rib meat to it. Holy crap it was good. So good, I couldn't eat it all and took some home. My friend ordered the Smoked Turkey Cornbread Hash with Poached Eggs, Brussel Sprouts, and Datil Pepper Mash Hollandaise. That dish tasted like Thanksgiving. I really enjoyed the flavor overload that my taste buds were experiencing. In fact, when my friend got up to use the restroom, I ate some more bites of her dish (don't tell her though hahaha). For dessert, we shared the Coca Cola Chocolate Bread Pudding. Let me tell you that this was the perfect way to end our meal. If you are ever in Fernandina make sure that you stop by for the best meal of your life. I promise!
(5)Adam J.
I've never been turned away from a place at 6:30 on a Thursday for not having a reservation. Party of 3 turned away without an option to wait. And the host (didn't catch his name) was abrupt and rude. And based on reading other reviews below the FOH staff have done this before. Very disappointing... We were really looking forward to dinner here while visiting Amelia Island.
(1)Ray B.
I've been very anxiously awaiting to drive up from JAX to the Underground Kitchen. From the reviews and the pics posted, I knew we'd be in for a treat! We dined there last night. The German pop up menu interested us. We sat in the intimate back porch. It truly felt like I was in Kenny's home and he was cooking just for us! The service was outstanding, as well. We actually ordered one of everything on the German menu. Chicken Schnitzel, House made Bratwurst, Spaetzle, warm German Potato Salad with Crispy Pork Belly, and an AMAZING Roasted Beet Salad served with cured ham, Cambozola Cheese, walnuts and pea tendrils. Although this pop up menu purposely strayed away from the traditional Southern cuisine, it illustatrated the Chef's versatility and ability to create delicious food, not matched by most places. We did also indulge in his Coca Cola Bread Pudding, and his Banana's Foster Pecan Cobbler - more scores! And while it may sound unusual to talk about the coffee, it was worthy of being served at Cafe du Mond. We'll be going back to try his regular menu, and I see his Brunch in our not too distant future. Having lived on the island for 4 years, I'm very familiar with all of the restaurant offerings here. If you're an out-of-towner visiting the island, or a local, do yourself a favor and eat at here. Kenny has a winner here, and we can't wait for his downtown JAX restaurant to open.
(5)Joy L.
Our waiter ordered a bunch of stuff for the table to share and everything was outstanding... Hot chicken, fried chicken, pimento cheese. The banana pudding was gone in seconds. Everyone was stuffed. Highly recommend for groups. We went with 5 people, but the restaurant can comfortably fit larger parties. Thank you, Gilbert!
(5)Jenny S.
Amazing!! My husband had the bbq sampler the gator ribs were phenomenal. I had shrimp and grits that were the best I've had! Service was great. Was very low key and chill.
(5)David D.
My wife and I went to Gilbert's for my birthday and what a meal we had. We started with the drop biscuits and cornbread with pickled veggies. Moved on to the Brunswick stew that had alligator rib, pork, and turkey. This was amazing. She had the pulled pork plate with three sides and I had the southern noodles with alligator rib meat. The meat was cooked with a citrus mop sauce and was very tender. This was such a unique dish and was exactly the kind of meal I look for. We also got sides of field peas and collard greens. The collards were to die for. Even our two sangrias were unique and unlike any you'd find elsewhere. If you are looking for a place with great southern favors this is it. Our only complaint of the night was that the front of the restaurant where we sat was very warm. The ac needs to be turned down a bit. Luckily the food was so good that I'll remember that instead of the temp. Thanks again for a great birthday dinner.
(5)Anna H.
Chef Kenny Gilbert has a great bio/resume, and I encourage those of you reading this to go the web site and take a look. When I learned he was opening a restaurant in my location I was over the moon. But alas the best laid plans and all that tripe, he moved on before I was able to make the voyage to sample his food. Well the stars aligned and he is back in my area. I gathered up two of my favorite food explorers and off we went to Sunday brunch. The space is what appears to be a remodeled small house. Once inside, decor is a cross between causal southern and shabby sheek. A few tables up front, couch space to sit while you wait for your table or just to have a glass of wine or Sangria and the host desk. There are additional tables once you pass through the double doors, as well as outside space. Please note dishes are served family style, good for families and better for foodies. We can order tons of food and share. As always we started with wine and Sangria while we decided. Our first choice was the Deviled Egg Parfait. Our server explained it is served layered in the parfait glass. When it arrived it was more like a deconstructed dish, the egg was separated and mixed together with a tasty dressing, then layered into the glass, topped with Tasso Ham, Onion Jam and Redneck Caviar ( a dollop of Whole Grain Mustard) with beautiful toasted slices of country bread. Presentation was outstanding. This brings a whole level of newness to the egg experience. Next up Shrimp and Grits, this is one of my all time favorite dishes and I try it any time I see it on the menu. The shrimp is local as are most of the produce used in the restaurant. The garnish a Black Pepper Queso with oven dried tomatoes and crispy Andouille it was a delightful dish, but a little bland for me. I would certainly order this again but request my shrimp be blackened. One of the dishes I was curious about the Southern Noodles, the pasta is bucatini at thicker pasta with a small hole that runs done the length of the shaft. The gift of this meal was the dressing A collard green pesto, yes collard greens!!! This was mixed with halved fingerlings potatoes, green beans and Cotija Cheese. One of the best pasta dishes I ever remember eating. Well we still were not done, so how about the Chicken Sliders, covered in a Jack Daniels Honey Mustard sauce, spicy pickled onions and greens, house potato salad. Having exhausted our wants we moved on desires, first up, Coca Cola Chocolate Bread pudding/sour cream chocolate icing/dried cherry preserves and just in case a side of soft ice cream. Add to that Della's Sweet Potato Pie Turnover/ buttermilk glaze/ blackberries and more soft ice cream. I would make the 78 mile round trip any day of the week to return and dine here. They do offer a Charcuterie Board of the day on the dinner menu, as well as Beef Short Ribs and GA Berkshire Pork Belly. I would advise reservations, due to size.
(5)Inland O.
walked in an hour before they close.. saw two open tables.. was turned away?! im staying at the omni.. i drove out because I didn't want to eat at the resort.. I'm one person... offer to seat me at the bar.. maybe ask if I want to take something to go (ok, maybe they don't do take out), but get creative.. I'm hungry, take my money and feed me... I'll probably never be on Amelia island again... and sad I didn't get a chance to eat at your establishment, you were my 1st choice and the feeling wasn't mutual.
(1)Ginny W.
We enjoyed our dinner! The tables are a little close! But other than that we had a nice time!
(3)Megan Dabaker S.
Had an AMAZING DINING EXPERIENCE on Monday with my husband and another couple. GUK exceeded my expectations in the following (SERVICE, FRESHNESS/ QUALITY, CLEANLINESS, ATTENTION TO DETAIL. Can't remember our servers name but she was tall with dark color hair. Being that is was our first GUK experience we had lots of questions that's patiently answered and did not make us feel as though we annoyed her. She new the menu back and forth and everything that she recommended was EXTREMELY well with my soul. Upon leaving the establishment we passed by the kitchen and noticed Chef Kenny in the kitchen "getting his hands dirty". So I asked the guy can he grab the chef and surprisingly he said yes. Meeting Chef Kenny was the cherry on top. THE MOST DOWN TO EARTH CELEBRITY CHEF ON THE PLANET. He "chopped it up " with us for few moments (pun intended) and even took picture with my crew! So OVERALL great evening out and ready to go back again.
(5)Linda B.
What a fabulous dinner! Really comfortable interesting choices in decor. A bit snugly for my taste, but fortunately we were blessed with nice folks on both sides of us. Our server Tiffany was super southern guide thru this scrumptious southern menu. Honey choose the pork belly of course. We were certainly not disappointed with this dish at all! I'm not always a fan of collards but seriously with mixture of the hoppin john and the sweet potato chow chow it was the ideal paring of sweet/sour/bitter yumminess. The BBQ alligator rib dish was the star of the show for me. I'm a fan of any dish which incorporates Brussel sprouts, but this one hit it out of the park. The creamy porridge with the spicy bite of the citrus mop on the alligator meat was so bowl licking good! The desert we choose was really tasty but I personally didn't care for the cherries on the bottom of the coca cola chocolate bread pudding. This is now a go to spot in Fernandina for sure. Thanks to chef Kenny Gilbert for a scrumptious southern meal, absolutely nothing like my momma ever cooked!
(5)Candice R.
Best barbecue we have eaten in forever! Chef Kenny Gilbert is the best :) the brisket was off the chain good. Yummy yummy yummy! Relaxing atmosphere. Great food. Take out or eat in. Your choice. Bring the kids! Bring your friends. So good! !
(5)Keith C.
We had dinner here on 6/1. It is a very casual, low key place. The chef encourages sharing and the portions are large. My wife started with the baby kale salad and I had the onion soup. The soup was a unique style for me, not French style and it was interesting but I probably wouldn't order it again. The cheese was slightly burned, over-powering the other flavors. For big plates we had the Shrimp & Grits and the Organic Fried Chicken. Both were excellent and enough for two people. I ordered the Peach Cobbler and it was delicious but the top was somewhat burned. Perhaps they need to back off the broiler. We would definitely return as the food is both delicious and interesting. And...we used a great Yelp deal here!
(4)Meanole M.
Great meal. Had the alligator ribs. My wife had the shrimp and grits. Both were amazing. Will definitely be coming back.
(5)Anthony N.
First of all, I want to point out that the Gerard fella is a fraud. You want to talk crap about a restaurant but you don't show any proof. No photos no nothing. Plus it looks like he made the account just to bash a restaurant he probably hasn't even stepped into. He probably went for an interview and didn't get the job. Poor Gerard W. Let's go to the meat and potatoes. I heard a bout Kenny opening this restaurant a couple of weeks ago through Instagram and Facebook. So I have been keeping an eye and waiting for the restaurant t open. Still kinda in a soft opening phase I saw that the restaurant was going to be open this past weekend for brunch. I love me some brunch. I looked online and peeped the menu. It was very intriguing, so living in Jacksonville, I trekked about 40 minutes north on a empty stomach looking to hopefully enjoy some good eats. Me being the foodie photographer, I had my camera ready. We got there early, so it gave me time to take pictures in the restaurant inside and out. Once we walked up we were even greeted right at the door. We felt very welcoming. Once you walk in you get a nice calm vibe. You have a waiting area/lounge to the left and dining area to your right. The dining area in this area of the restaurant is more comforting and laid back. They have some sofas and chairs, and a couple of tables set for couples. Once you walk into the back area of the restaurant you get to the main dining room. This area will be a big hit in the summer. It's pretty much like a covered back patio dining room. You can feel the southern vibe throughout. It was modern southern mixed with old school southern. The music went with that. A little blues and jazz both oldies and new were playing over the speakers. Food was really good. We got the 1/2 fried organic chicken, Macaroni and cheese and the Elm Street Grilled Cheese. I liked the mac and cheese. It was the perfect consistency for me. Not to soupy but yet not to dry. But what bothered me was the price. It's always something that has bothered me about restaurants. I know mac and cheese is simple to make but hard to perfect. But do I think it was 8 dollars worthy. Meh, don't get me wrong it was good. Inside my head I know I am counting pennies, but hey I digress. The fried chicken was so damn crispy on the edges and moist on the inside. Whatever seasonings they use for the batter...Mmmmm! It's been awhile since I have tasted drop biscuits. But Mmm I dropped them right in my mouth. Very fresh and light. Tasted very good. The Grilled Cheese was also very good. Pork Belly, Gouda and Green Tomato Jalapeno Jam. Damn son that is a match made in heaven. The bread was crispy the pork belly had tons of flavor, cheese was oozing and the jam gave it a good kick. We were all really happy. House datil pepper hot sauce was a good addition to toss on the greens and fried chicken. I also loved how the greens weren't doused in vinegar. I don't like to much vinegar in my greens. Service was great. Hostess sat us, Ryan our waiter came to the table and greeted us. Told us about any specials. catch of the day and if we wanted any drinks to start our meal. I am guessing one fella was the general manager. He was also making sure we were having a good experience. So the staff all around from beginning to end was attentive but yet at the same time we weren't feeling rushed. I definitely will come back to visit. I want to try their lunch menu. Them gator ribs looks really enticing. I like having a favorite restaurant out of town. So you know when you want to get out of Jacksonville for a day or two, you can have a spot to just relax and feel like your 100 miles away from home. This place might be it. Oops also forgot about the Lychee Fruit, Mango Kumquat Sangia. Mmmmm really good!!!
(4)Andrea A.
A friend of mine who visits town often told me he's been wanting to try this place, so when I was there I decided to stop in. I don't watch Top Chef so I didn't know about the back story. Just wanted some good food. And it was good. Just not as good as I wanted it to be. Started with the biscuits and skillet cornbread. They were fine. If I'm comparing it to the skillet cornbread at cask n larder in Orlando it's not even close. The butter and jam were the best parts. Highly recommend those. For dinner I got shrimp and grits and Mac n cheese. My fav part of the grits was the sausage -- there wasn't enough of it for my tastes. The shrimp was good but the grits were just ok. A little too gloopy for me. The Mac n cheese also was ok. Not enough creaminess and the crumbled bread topping didn't add the pop I expected. But the biggest disappointment was dessert. I ordered the bananas foster pecan cobbler with toffee sauce. The dessert jumped out at me before we sat down so I was excited to eat it. Then it arrived. It wasn't warm or flaming. On the first bite, I detected no banana or pecan at all. I got a spoonful of chocolate. The toffee sauce was all over the plate. Nothing on the actual dessert. And that's a shame because that sauce was pretty terrific. I sat outside and it was dark so I didn't detect its presence until after a few spoonfuls of blah dessert. I was so sad. I wanted it to be so good and it just wasn't. The waiter asked me how I liked it and I told him the truth. He then said the chef had been fired and I wasn't sure if he was joking or making me feel bad about complaining. He said the dessert had received complaints that week for the reasons I mentioned. And that just made me angry. Why not a) tell the chef to make it the right way or b) dissuade me from ordering it and point me in another direction? He offered to get me another dessert and was apologetic but at that point I didn't want anything else. I wanted a properly prepared bananas foster! I went with a group of people and they gave me a hard time for complaining and "getting somebody fired" but I polled the table and they agreed a 3 star review was in order -- and they didn't have dessert.
(3)Liz S.
Ok- been wanting to try Kenny's place for some time. Everything is wonderful!! Try the Hoppin' John and collards - delish!
(5)Rim H.
We had an 8:30 reservation last night. Apparently that is too late. Over an hour for dinner to be served. Server ignored us for the last 1/2 hour. No drink refills, offer of dessert and had to ask for our check. Tables were being cleared and candles blown out while we were the only remaining party in the back. Food is pretty good, but miserable service. Will not be back.
(2)Jacob K.
Both my wife and I decided to try Underground tonight. We drove an hour from Orange Park for dinner; unfortunately, there was a dinner rehearsal and was seated in the lobby. We were served raw fried chicken(it was still clucking) and my wife decided not continue our dinner. Although the staff comped the meal and was apologetic, we didn't expect that lack of excellence. We are big fans of you on Top Chef and wanted to experience Underground, but ended up leaving very disappointed. My wife thinks very highly of you and perhaps we might try it again if you are there without any big dinner parties.
(1)John T.
The fried chicken is "slap yo mamma" good. My Southern born and raised Grandma would approve. Served hot out of the fryer so be careful or you will scorch the top of your mouth. Got to pour on the "made in house" Datil Pepper hot sauce on it for the full effect. You can share the chicken because it is a half chicken cut into the traditional pieces. I had the bourbon pecan pie with soft serve for dessert. A different take on the southern recipe I grew up with but deliciously made with molasses so it has a rich flavor and dark color. You may want to share this because you get a mini pie cut in half served on a plank and the half is satisfying. You may want to add more soft serve if you share because the flavor of the ice cream compliment the flavor of the pie. The staff was helpful and friendly and we had a wonderful meal there. Book reservations on Open Table to assure seating because it can get busy.
(5)Jennifer M.
I went to Gilbert's UK yesterday for lunch and had the 1/2 Jerk Chicken which came with Brussels Sprouts slaw, Potato Salad and Baked Beans. The Jerk chicken was really good. It was tender, moist, and spicy - just like I like it. I enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the Brussels Sprouts Slaw - it had the right balance of sweetness and acidity. The potato salad had a little too much vinegar for me. I did not sample the Baked Beans as I don't eat pork - however according to my friends, it was the non-Southern (unsweetened) version of Baked Beans. I plan to go again in the near future to sample dinner. The best part of the meal was Kenny came to our table to greet us and took pictures. He was very personable.
(4)Mimi I.
I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I agreed to drive out to Fernandina Beach for dinner. Let me tell you...the drive was worth it! The food was amazing. I had their oysters and the garlic seafood boil. Let's start with the oysters...I don't have the menu on me so I can't tell you what was all in it but whatever it was, it was an explosion of flavors and tasted so heavenly. For the main course, the garlic seafood was perfect! The seasoning the way it was prepared was on point. Can't wait to go back! It is so worth the drive.
(5)K V.
Probably our 2nd best meal on the island after LuLu's-- the fried chicken was phenomenal but too spicy for my wife's tastes. Dishes served family style and they do serve a lot of food-- I think our 1/2 pound each of crablegs, shrimp, and crawfish had closer to a pound of each... and then a sausage, some corn on the cob, and potatoes thrown in as well. Good stuff-- I'd go again!
(4)Misty O.
I will keep this short and sweet: run, don't walk to Gilberts. Simply amazing, drove from Jacksonville and not a single regret!!
(5)Kristin S.
Used a yelp deal and went on date night to this refreshingly different southern restaurant. I had southern noodles, he got a brisket burgers with a side of potato wedges from the Pop up menu that appears weekly. Everything was yummy and unique. Next time I have to try the bbq dishes!
(5)Carl B.
Me and my family had the pleasure of dining at Gilbert's Underground Kitchen tonight. First off I called earlier in the day to reserve a table. I was told that the earliest time was later in the evening at 9pm being this is the first official week. Having a small child I decided that I would just wait a couple of weeks before I tried to get another earlier reservation. Well about 30 minutes later an employee called me back and said there was an opening at 6pm. Never in all my experiences have I had a restaurant take that initiative and all back to offer me a reservation at the time that I wanted. I was pretty much sold right there. We arrived at 6, the place is a small quaint establishment, nice vibe and comfortable. I loved the blues type atmosphere .The staff was very friendly. The dining room sits about 30 or 30. The food...... AMAZING... My wife had the Shrimp and Grits. On her first bite she just closed her eyes and shook her head. I asked her "That Good?" she just shook her head yes. My 4 year old had the Roast and buttered noodles and that Roast was simply the best Ive ever tasted, tender and seasoned perfectly. Yes I stole a piece from my daughter so sue me lol. I had the Hangar Steak with the grilled Mayport Shrimp on a bed of Cornbread dressing and scallions. The steak was cooked to perfection, tender and juicy. The Dressing rivaled my grandmothers, And trust me that is high praise. The portions are plentiful and the prices are reasonable for the the experience that you will receive. Another plus is that kids under 6 eat free, a very nice surprise. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable. Overall this was truly a great experience and me and my family are looking forward to our next visit.
(5)Aimee J.
We came in tonight with our two kids (15 and 3.5) looking forward to our meal. Based on reviews we had chosen to eat at Gilbert's before we even left Texas. Unfortunately the service didn't meet expectations. We didn't actually get seated so we have no basis for a review of the food. We were asked by the man seating people if we had a reservation. We did not and were turned away, saying they had no room for someone without a reservation. I decided to call a bit later and ask if reservations were required and I was clearly told they are not. What a huge disappointment. Our 3 year old actually cried as we left because she was looking forward to having dinner at Gilbert's.
(1)Shapechanger V.
Best food on the island. Not even close. It's laughable how much better Gilbert's is compared to the other restaurants. Great service. Great drinks. Everything was top notch. Try the alligator ribs. Out of sight!
(5)Pam F.
This new restaurant has great food and a nice, comfortable atmosphere. Menu is Southern with fried chicken, shrimp and grits, etc. But think upscale, not greasy. Portions are ample and meant to share. Servers were attentive. We enjoyed everything. Dessert was chocolate cake!
(5)Jon L.
We spotted this place by chance. The shrimp and grits were fabulous as was the watermelon and tomato salad. We topped it off with key lime bread pudding and a chocolate tart. We'd make another trip to Amelia Island just to come here.
(5)Barbara R.
Drove by Gilbert's Underground Kitchen on our way into Fernandina Beach. My husband & I were so glad we did. It was excellent! The food, service & atmosphere were fresh, trendy & amazing. No liquor license but they serve beer, wine & a number of wine drinks. We had the fried chicken & now alligator ribs, beer, sangria & the key lime bread pudding.
(5)