Dwights restaurant was the most wonderful experience for our couple of four. We came across this restaurant at 8:30 New Year's Eve we were booked at another venue that was a disaster and at a lost of what to at this late time everything was booked on a chance we called and they were able to take us. The food was exquisite the lobster was Devine the crab cakes to die for and the filet mignon was cooked to perfection. Our waiter was extremely pleasant. Dessert was also was beyond compare. Dwights turned Our New Years into a wonderful experience
My wife and I took a chance on Dwight's as our first-wedding-anniversary dinner destination, based on a plethora of glowing reviews from friends. It doesn't hurt that, as a restaurant reviewer, I'm a fan of off-the-beaten-path, hole-in-the-wall spots. And that's exactly what it looks like from the parking lot, which Dwight's shares with Cinotti's Bakery in a short strip center off Penman Road. Once you walk in, the overdose of mosaic wall tiles and cork-dressed bar give the main dining room an air of "this is where you go for a special occasion"-ness. It felt like we were in a medieval castle, with a very well-kept interior. Check your armor at the door! The everyday menu is one side of a laminated page; turn it over for Dwight's excellent wine list, with several vintages available by the glass (I would have liked to see more available for a la carte pours, though). It's beer and wine only here. On a separate sheet live Dwight's nightly specials. Our server, Will, was pleasant and helpful in shuttling queries to the kitchen to accommodate my wife's gluten-free diet. However I expected him to know more on his own, as he didn't seem to grasp the fact that "crouton" in the g-free world is a big-'ole red flag. Food quality is where Dwight's shines. The complimentary homemade sourdough bread was spot-on excellent. We split a Palm Salad ($9), a tasty conglomeration of tomatoes, black olives, blue cheese, hearts of palm with garlic, basil, mustard and sherry vinegar. It was tangy and full of Mediterranean flavor, and judging from the generosity of our "split plates," I can't imagine what the one-plate proportions would be. We modified a gluten-filled starter, Dwight's famed Crab Cakes ($19), to feature lobster, and the tender, chunky meat won't soon be forgotten. For entrees, my wife chose a special, the Bouillabaisse (mid $30s), with jumbo portions of shrimp, scallops, mussels and sea bass with potatoes in a delicious saffron broth. This will undoubtedly be the baseline for all future Bouillabaisses we consume, and a high bar it has set. My choice, the Sea Bass ($36) from the everyday menu, included a generous pan-seared filet served with a mustard and horseradish garnish, along with green beans and ravioli. I loved how the slightly crusted exterior so easily gave way to the creamy, melt-in-your-mouth meat beneath. When I made the reservation the weekend before, I neglected to tell the restaurant about our special occasion. Nevertheless, Will must have picked up on our conversation and delivered a Tiramisu, courtesy of the wait staff. A thoughtful gesture, for sure, right? Unfortunately, it wasn't the one gluten-free dessert on Dwight's menu, which put me in the awkward position of eating "our" dessert in front of my wife, and necessitating an order of creme brulee to even out the table. Both sweet treats were competent and tasty, but not over the top. Dwight's isn't cheap-date territory by any means. With most entrees in the mid-30s and starters and salads in the teens, and in spite of a Groupon that will save you $19, you'll be paying heartily for quality. Some middling service lapses notwithstanding (it was obvious that they tried), Dwight's is an excellent hole in the wall to celebrate great food and great company. We're glad we took the chance.
(4)
Lita H.
Very few best kept secrets, but this diamond in the rough is an excellent surprise! My husband made reservations for 2 on a Wednesday. Very romantic and the atmosphere was a step up from casual. Had the menu run down and a tough time deciding. We ate, ordered, ate, ordered and in no hurry. We opted to sit at the bar and watched Dwight and his son making magic with food. It was quite the experience and let me tell you: they were seeks me with the odd the menu samples. shhh. We watched around 7 pm groups coming in and enjoying the pastas, salads, and can I say that bread was heavenly awesome. I was disappointed I ate everything off my glass of Malbec, crab cake (truly the best I've had), filet mignon, ravioli side, Caesar salad (which I shared) with homemade croutons, pate, fresh caught fried fish, orzo paella like sample, that I could not fit in dessert. Well, I know what I'm getting next time and I'm making room for dessert. Dwight you had us at crab cakes and bread. Yum. Cheers! Chris and Lita
(5)
Rory D.
Very nice restaurant, upscale, a little pricey, but great ambience & service. Possibly the best filet mignon, rivaling Capital Grill & III Forks, in Jax. Small menu but everything was tasty. Excellent bread, bernaise, & espresso.
(4)
Alan L.
Enjoyed a great anniversary dinner here recently (they didn't know, we didn't mention it, so they weren't treating us special). The filet was one of the most tender and flavorful steaks we've had anywhere - medium rare for my wife, medium well for me - and both were perfect. Neither of us like blue cheese much but the blue cheese butter on the steaks was fantastic. I did a split plate with the filet and the Chilean seabass, which was perfectly pan fried in a light breading that was slightly crisp on the outside and perfectly flaky and buttery on the inside. The ravioli of the night was a mix of cheeses with pistachio nuts and it was outstanding. I'd go back to order a bowl of those alone (if I knew when they would be offered since it changes). Our server was friendly and very helpful for our first visit without hovering at all. We will definitely return.
(5)
Mari M.
Great experience! Had the best seat in the house! Watched Dwight do his thing in the kitchen. What a treat! Crab Cake was phenomenal!
(5)
Morgan H.
I feel like Dwight's is a hidden gem in Jacksonville Beach b/c its not located off of 3rd Street. That being said those who know of it obviously love it because you see the same folks in there often. We fell in love with the small, casual yet elegant feel that Dwight's has to offer. The food is exquisite! The service is exceptional! You definitely get what you pay for....and considering the fact that wining at Dwight's is not cheap, that's a very good thing. **You can bring in you own bottles of wine for a corking fee. ***Definitely make reservations if it's a special occasion.
(5)
Sonia T.
Expensive but well worth every penny! I ate everything on my plate. We were kind of disappointed we didnt have leftovers. But we will be back for more! I loved the variety of items that were included with the entrees.
(5)
Lara R.
Incredibly over priced for very average if not sub par food. Tried it once. Will not return. Service was great. But if the food is not good, what good does it do? Pun intended. I believe jax tastes are getting more refined, yet this place is the example of what will be left in the dust in a few years of culinary progress.
(1)
Natalie B.
Dwight's Bistro is indicative of dining gems in Jax. It is owned and operated by a chef and it's located in a very unassuming strip mall in Jax Beach. Like other hidden gems, don't be thrown by the location! It is all about food and spot on, smooth and friendly service. Upon entry, you are greeted by a quaint Mediterranean dining room and low lighting. Definitely make reservations as the place is space challenged :) We were greeted by our server who asked if it was our first time dining with them. He took the time to review the menu and provide recommendations. He also brought over delicious bread, made in house by Dwight himself. After his suggestions and our deliberations, we selected crabcakes for an appetizer. The crabcakes were meaty and barely had any filler. Considering my hubby and I are both Chesapeake Bay born, we are pretty picky about our crabcakes. These were some of the best I have had--lump crabmeat all the way! Our server brought over 2 bottles of homemade hot sauce, made by their bartender. It was a nice compliment to the meaty and sweet crab meat. For our entrees, my hubby had the filet while I selected the duck with a mango glaze. We must have been so excited about ordering our food that we missed the part when our server let us know our meals came with homemade ravioli! Chef Dwight makes this as well. It was a marcona almond ravioli, which was unexpected but an extremely surprising delight! Our entrees were generous in size. In fact, I brought a half of my half duck home. The duck was rich and the sweet mango glaze was to my liking. Hubby's steak was prepared perfectly. Both our entrees came with a mix of seasonal veggies. Before I forget, the wine list was great. It wasn't a book in its size, but the selections were made by someone who really appreciates wine. The dessert selections were probably the least impressive of the meal. However the blackberry tort that we ordered was a pleasant way to end the evening. On our way out, we saw Chef Dwight, cooking away in the small kitchen. Love knowing that he was personally involved in the preparation of our meal! Now it is pricey. We dined here on a Groupon. However, I think it is well worth it for a special occasion!
(5)
Sam C.
My favorite restuarant in the area and a top 10 fav rest of all time. Dwight is always there to greet you and knows all of his regulars, including me (which I'm always an out of town guest). The filet, chopped salad, lobster appetizer, and sea bass are the best meals on the menu. The crab cakes and palm salad as well as the veal are all acceptional as well.
(5)
Celia W.
I must post this. I never post bad things...but this must be said. I've had several people say "go to Dwight's Bistro for dinner..they are great". Not my experience. Several years ago, five couples from my neighborhood all went to a Christmas dinner together at Dwight's. One of our dear friends had a heart attack about 15 minutes after we sat down. There were two ER docs in our group. They immediately started CPR. My girlfriends and I all held hands and started praying. What does Dwight's staff do? 1. They never asked if they could help. We yelled for them to call 911. 2. They told us we were disturbing their other guests. One of the other guests was visibly upset by what was going on. 3.Once our friend finally left in the ambulance...the server (I use that term loosely) asked me who was going to pay the bill. We had a $75 bill for appetizers. I paid it...as I'm crying. Not once did they say hope all would be ok. not once did anyone ever call to find out what happened (they had our credit card info it wouldn't have been difficult to find us). Our friend died that night. Not that they caused his death in any way...but they absolutely made the situation worse. Worst treatment ever.
(1)
sovia l.
Cari S. pretty much hit the nail on the head with her review. My fiance and I went there for dinner one night - no special occasion. Just cause and we consider ourselves foodies and love trying out new places. Plus we had a $30 Groupon coupon which nowhere near covered one person's meal. Again, we were excited to go b/c of all the great reviews we'd read and heard. Plus, there just aren't enough privately owned restaurants in Jax and so it's always nice to find a local gem. I'll get to the point about the most important part of the meal - the food. Not worth it! You get fresh bread which was good. We started off with the palm salad which I thought was really tasty but agree it's a little pricey for what it is. For our entrees, my fiance got the sea bass, the special - it was a seriously small portion and it just wasn't a good piece of fish b/c it wasn't buttery like sea bass normally is. The side of vegetables were ridiculous too - he too got the half cob of corn which we thought was weird. It looked like bad hotel or buffet food. And it was over $30. I got the pasta carbonara - again looking forward to it b/c who doesn't love pasta - plus they make their pastas in house. Another disappointment. The pasta definitely tasted fresh - but not all that great and the carbonara was so greasy, you could the pools of fat. The only good thing about this was the portion size for the money. The second most important part of the meal, the service. Horrible! I seriously think our waitress was on drugs or something because she was totally out there. She was really friendly - just wasn't with it at all. It took her a while to acknowledge us once we were seated. And we were so hungry we asked for extra bread while we waited for our entrees. She didn't bring it out until much later in the meal AFTER we'd asked a runner to get us more bread. So we had two baskets of bread taking up all the room on this small two top. What really topped things off for us was that at the end of our meal when we got our check, she comped us the wine b/c we had to wait a while before she took our order. We thought that we so nice! Then we gave her our Groupon and credit card to pay. Well, when we got our final bill, she had charged us for the wine even though she just said she was comping us for it. We thought that was in really poor taste. Oh, and for whatever reason, she gave my fiance two pens to sign the bill?!? We enjoy fine dining and have no qualms paying the price when it's worth it. It's not worth it at Dwight's - sorry.
(1)
Amanda W.
My 13 yr old son and I had a date and he has always wanted to come he since my husband and I told him about it years ago. He ordered the home made angel hair Puntanesca with anchovies after we has escargot then the Apple pie crisp with vanilla ice cream. I ordered the special, Jax Bch Bully ( bouillabaisse), it was fabulous! Sea bass, sea scallops, shrimp and mussels. Delicious broth with saffron. Fabulous as always.
(5)
Chris F.
The food and service were good. I brought a very nice bottle of wine which I traditionally share with the server. Shortly after opening the wine, he returned with three glasses for the himself, the owner and someone else who also wanted a sample. I didn't mind sharing however they still charged me a cork fee which I thought was in bad taste given that the wine is valued at over $100 a bottle.
(3)
Michael M.
Another fantastic meal, service impeccable. The homemade pasta worth the drive. Almost like going to my late Grandmother's when I order the ravioli.
(4)
Michelle Q.
This is one of the best meals/experiences to date. It is deceptively hidden in a strip mall but the decor inside is absolutely darling. Went here for birthday dinner while on vacation and we were delighted with everything: staff, decor, wine list and the gourmet food. Escargot for appetizer, ceaser salad, ravioli of the day and mixed grill. The chef in this restaurant has the rare blend of skill and selection. Every selection was carefully presented and each bite was a burst of flavor. If you are in Jax this is a must visit. Staff were courteous and service was excellent.
(5)
Monica S.
Before Dwight add the additions of 2 rooms to this little hole in the wall spot, I had the fortunate and unique experience of having the entire restaurant closed down for our specific 'deep pocketed' party. Dwight himself made up an 8 course tasting menu each with a well thought out pairing of wine. This, no doubt, was at incredible expense to the folks hosting this lengthy, delicious and intoxicating gathering, as Dwight's food is very eclectic and expensive! (Sometimes it pays to know the right people!) There was no planned menu as Dwight just cooks what he gets fresh that day and is directed to create what he likes based on those ingredients spur of the moment. That awesome creative mentality is still true today for Dwight's menu. Although there are some 'staples', such as his renown Crab Cakes and Pan Cooked Foie Gras appetizers, I always order from the non-menu specials when I patronize Dwight's restaurant today. I know these are the dishes that will have been created with the freshest ingredients and most passion! The service is always good here, the wine list impeccable and the food uncompromisingly eclectic and amazing. Note: Make sure you have your Platinum card when you go as Dwight's IS expensive. Dinner for 2 could cost you well over $100.00 with aps and drinks. Don't even bother finding something specific on the online menu as a more amazing dish will no doubtably await you the evening you go into the restaurant. But the menu will give you price points for that nights dinner.
(5)
Matt B.
I heard a lot of hype about this place prior to going. After dining there once, I find it overrated. I just don't feel that the price point is warranted. The food is really good, but not great. I like off the beaten path, but not a such at high price for a seemingly cheap location. I could deal with the prices if the place was located in a prime location at the beach, but not some hole-in-the-wall place in the middle of nowhere. Giovanni's or Mezza Luna are a better value, but if paying a premium for hidden gems is your thing, it's great.
(3)
C M.
Came here for our anniversary and enjoyed every minute. It's a hole in the wall spot in a small plaza. When you go in the decor is eclectic, with tile work on the walls and wine corks lining the ceiling. Our waiter was Will, who was awesome! Very professional and knew the menu well, he seems to have been there for awhile. We started with the escargot which was buttery, garlicky delicious. Tad on the oily side so if you prefer creamier sauces this is not for you. The bread was soft and yummy. My husband had the Jax Beach Bouillabaisse which was a special of the day. I had bouillabaisse at another restaurant and didn't like how it was all one note--tomato. Dwights version had wonderful depth to its flavor and kept us going back for more. My husband couldn't stop slurping up the sauce (with a spoon of course-we try to keep it classy). I ordered the lamb chops which were cooked to perfection. Both entree came with a side of ravioli, very nice. For dessert, we had the tiramisu (which Will brought out for free as a surprise!). Amazing. The chocolate sauce alone on the plate was mouth watering. Overall we had a great experience and would definitely recommend. Would make a reservation.
(5)
Matt P.
Great food, awesome atmosphere....gotta appreciate a place where the guy with his name on the sign stops by your table. Ravioli and their salads are unbelievable. Highly recommend. This is as local as it gets.
(5)
Mary Margaret P.
Just finished another wonderful dinner at this little off-the-beaten-path restaurant. The food was wonderful. B & I shared the delicious crab cake appetizer; he had the sea bass & I had pasta carbonara, both tasty. Our waiter Paul was very attentive & friendly, as was everyone else including Dwight, the owner. Thanks for a memorable birthday dinner.
(5)
Diana M.
I was happily surprised by this restaurant! We bought a "deck" of cards with deals to 52 Jax restaurants and this was one of them. I don't know if we ever would have found this place on our own. We came in without reservations and sat at the bar - which I'm still confused over as more than half the tables were empty when we sat down and still empty when we left. That aside, the food was awesome and it was hard to make a selection from the menu! I wish I would have ordered a full meal of their ravioli of the day, I had a bite of the one my husband got as a side and it was delish!!
(4)
Susan M.
Order the excellent crab cakes or the creative homemade pasta, if you want the best Dwight's Bistro has to offer. Consistency may be the hobgoblin of small minds, but it is the hallmark of great restaurants. Unfortunately, Dwight's execution is inconsistent. I love escargot prepared in the traditional French manner, but garlic butter is essential to the dish. Substituting olive oil just makes this appetizer well...oily. Also, while the wait staff speaks in hushed tones about the just baked bread, it has a too soft texture similar to supermarket loaves. Service is just okay-in the midst of talking to us about the specials the waiter scurried away to take a colleague's question. So, to sum up, okay if you find yourself on Penman Road and order carefully.
(2)
Arable M.
We truly enjoy the experience of dining at Dwight's. We always look forward to an evening out at Dwight's when visiting the Jax area. The food is amazing.
We visited Dwight's for the first time this evening, after hearing good things about it. Unfortunately, the food ranged from poor to mediocre. The vegetables were cafeteria quality, the pasta sauce was tasteless, and the wine was grossly overpriced for the quality. Regrettably, the table service was terrible. Our server's manner ranged from unprofessionally chatty to pretentious and condescending. He failed to handle the most basic tasks in a professional or competent manner, from introducing the specials and menu items, to answering questions, taking orders, and managing the table (removing unnecessary cutlery and dirty plates, etc.). It would be unfair to expect high-end service from what is merely an upscale, mid-range restaurant. However, competency, quality, and hospitality are basic components of any well-run establishment, and on these fronts Dwight's falls short.
(1)
Becky S.
Dinner at Dwight's is always a mixed bag. The food is always great -- but the service is usually terrible! On our last 2 visits this has been the case. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, I've enjoyed everything I've had here. Their prices are a little steep for dinner/dessert/wine -- even their corking fee is higher than most high end restaurants at $20 per bottle. Again the only thing that makes the prices hard to stomach is the crummy wait staff who seem to act like it is an imposition for them to wait on you. I have heard that if you come and sit at the bar the service is much better -- usually by Dwight himself -- so I would recommend that if you've never been to hopefully avoid the service issue. Definitely worth trying, just be prepared you might get a waiter with an attitude!!
(3)
Suzi R.
This was a great dinner. Pharm rep so we got to try a bit of everything - for free! Seared Ahi: a little aggressively seasoned for my taste but it was cooked well and delicious. I love this dish in general and great to have the pickled ginger on the side Crab cake: Ton of crab, not a lot of filler. Great sear, tender and fabulous sauce. No complaints. Ravioli: hand made. Pine nuts in the sauce. This was silky and delicious Sea bass: some of the best I've had. This couldn't have been tastier or cooked better! Filet minion: this was a little disappointing. I ordered medium and it was definitely over. Tiny portion but I think that was just because of the meal set up. Overall, it was a beautiful intimate setting and I could tell Dwight really cares about his customers and his food. I checked out the prices tho and I don't know if I would be jumping to return based on that alone. If the prices were lower it would be on my radar for sure but $30 plus entrees is a stretch.
(4)
Caron B.
Was expecting more. The escargot was good. The meals were unfortunately quite bland and we were sorely disappointed in the vegetables prepared as sides. We were served a quarter of a corn on the cob! How are we to be expected to eat this? I assumed that for $30+ a plate that we were eating in a fine dining establishment. I was served three jumbo prawn scampi style but they were just eh. The creme brulee was scorched although the custard was fine. I'm not sure how people have given this place such great reviews unless they've never actually experienced fine dining.
(2)
Jeff H.
Dwight's is one of those rare gems that is an owner/operator restaurant. The location is a bit off the beaten patch and in a little strip-mall off of Penman. The interior indeed has a Mediterranean flair with some beautiful tiling and a warm feeling. I will preface the review by saying my particular server was not what you would expect in a fine dining server. I was glad to know that this wasn't the norm since the table behind me had "Chuck" who was amazing. They have a very homey written menu with items that change. I started with the Escargot which was excellent. I selected a nice glass of Pinto Noir to go with it and it was very good. I ordered the Mixed Grill (Lamb, Quail, Fish, & Tenderloin of Beef). I really have to recommend this - it was perfection. I asked for a second glass of the Pinot because I was enjoying it and nothing else on the BTG wine menu jumped out at me. The East-Coast server came back and said they were out - and instead of asking what I wanted to replace it with said he would bring something. He brought me one of the worst Shiraz's I've ever had. One sip and no more - again the bring and not ask and it was not much better. Their desert for the evening was Flan and had the caramelized top was consistency were heavenly! Again I want to emphasize the the food was wonderful and the only mar on the experience was this particular server. I'm definitely going back - ans asking for Chuck.
(4)
dan c.
I would give this 4.5 stars if I could. It's a dual-personality sort of place - mostly white shirted, professional wait staff with an occasional flake (see other reviews). Diners are either quietly enjoying a special meal out or they are laughing loudly at the bar after too much sun & chardonnay. Hard to figure out. But in our experience, the food has been consistently delicious and very solid. Not a lot of fancy or trendy options, but good. My steak was every bit as tender and flavorful as I've had at Ruth's Chris or other top steak houses. Salads are massive and pricy, which I don't understand, and not too different from what you can put together at home, so instead start your meal with one of the appetizer specials - always good.
(4)
Tim M.
Extremely disappointed! We went with a party of five to Dwights as I had not been there in a long time. Was shocked when I saw the menu prices - prices were in line with a top New York City restaurant but the food or atmosphere (back street strip mall) was'nt. I paid $27.00 for a plate of 4 ravioli which were average at best. My wife and sister split an entree of crabcakes which cost $34.00 and UNBELIEVABLY they charged an additional $7.00 sharing fee. Lastly we brought our own wine as we often do and keeping with the overpriced theme of this place they charge a $20.00 corkage fee per bottle. Total bill was was (are you sitting down?) -- $309.00. Suffice it to say we will NEVER go back.
(1)
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Address :1527 Penman Rd
Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Joy B.
Dwights restaurant was the most wonderful experience for our couple of four. We came across this restaurant at 8:30 New Year's Eve we were booked at another venue that was a disaster and at a lost of what to at this late time everything was booked on a chance we called and they were able to take us. The food was exquisite the lobster was Devine the crab cakes to die for and the filet mignon was cooked to perfection. Our waiter was extremely pleasant. Dessert was also was beyond compare. Dwights turned Our New Years into a wonderful experience
(5)Robert T.
As always the food was superb and the atmosphere is excellent. Had the crab cakes (phenomenal) and the Carbonara as an entrée. Our server was a little less than excited to help us and was more concerned with his table of 6 than making sure we had everything we needed. Even with the less than normal service the meal was wonderful and we will come back!
(4)Jay M.
My wife and I took a chance on Dwight's as our first-wedding-anniversary dinner destination, based on a plethora of glowing reviews from friends. It doesn't hurt that, as a restaurant reviewer, I'm a fan of off-the-beaten-path, hole-in-the-wall spots. And that's exactly what it looks like from the parking lot, which Dwight's shares with Cinotti's Bakery in a short strip center off Penman Road. Once you walk in, the overdose of mosaic wall tiles and cork-dressed bar give the main dining room an air of "this is where you go for a special occasion"-ness. It felt like we were in a medieval castle, with a very well-kept interior. Check your armor at the door! The everyday menu is one side of a laminated page; turn it over for Dwight's excellent wine list, with several vintages available by the glass (I would have liked to see more available for a la carte pours, though). It's beer and wine only here. On a separate sheet live Dwight's nightly specials. Our server, Will, was pleasant and helpful in shuttling queries to the kitchen to accommodate my wife's gluten-free diet. However I expected him to know more on his own, as he didn't seem to grasp the fact that "crouton" in the g-free world is a big-'ole red flag. Food quality is where Dwight's shines. The complimentary homemade sourdough bread was spot-on excellent. We split a Palm Salad ($9), a tasty conglomeration of tomatoes, black olives, blue cheese, hearts of palm with garlic, basil, mustard and sherry vinegar. It was tangy and full of Mediterranean flavor, and judging from the generosity of our "split plates," I can't imagine what the one-plate proportions would be. We modified a gluten-filled starter, Dwight's famed Crab Cakes ($19), to feature lobster, and the tender, chunky meat won't soon be forgotten. For entrees, my wife chose a special, the Bouillabaisse (mid $30s), with jumbo portions of shrimp, scallops, mussels and sea bass with potatoes in a delicious saffron broth. This will undoubtedly be the baseline for all future Bouillabaisses we consume, and a high bar it has set. My choice, the Sea Bass ($36) from the everyday menu, included a generous pan-seared filet served with a mustard and horseradish garnish, along with green beans and ravioli. I loved how the slightly crusted exterior so easily gave way to the creamy, melt-in-your-mouth meat beneath. When I made the reservation the weekend before, I neglected to tell the restaurant about our special occasion. Nevertheless, Will must have picked up on our conversation and delivered a Tiramisu, courtesy of the wait staff. A thoughtful gesture, for sure, right? Unfortunately, it wasn't the one gluten-free dessert on Dwight's menu, which put me in the awkward position of eating "our" dessert in front of my wife, and necessitating an order of creme brulee to even out the table. Both sweet treats were competent and tasty, but not over the top. Dwight's isn't cheap-date territory by any means. With most entrees in the mid-30s and starters and salads in the teens, and in spite of a Groupon that will save you $19, you'll be paying heartily for quality. Some middling service lapses notwithstanding (it was obvious that they tried), Dwight's is an excellent hole in the wall to celebrate great food and great company. We're glad we took the chance.
(4)Lita H.
Very few best kept secrets, but this diamond in the rough is an excellent surprise! My husband made reservations for 2 on a Wednesday. Very romantic and the atmosphere was a step up from casual. Had the menu run down and a tough time deciding. We ate, ordered, ate, ordered and in no hurry. We opted to sit at the bar and watched Dwight and his son making magic with food. It was quite the experience and let me tell you: they were seeks me with the odd the menu samples. shhh. We watched around 7 pm groups coming in and enjoying the pastas, salads, and can I say that bread was heavenly awesome. I was disappointed I ate everything off my glass of Malbec, crab cake (truly the best I've had), filet mignon, ravioli side, Caesar salad (which I shared) with homemade croutons, pate, fresh caught fried fish, orzo paella like sample, that I could not fit in dessert. Well, I know what I'm getting next time and I'm making room for dessert. Dwight you had us at crab cakes and bread. Yum. Cheers! Chris and Lita
(5)Rory D.
Very nice restaurant, upscale, a little pricey, but great ambience & service. Possibly the best filet mignon, rivaling Capital Grill & III Forks, in Jax. Small menu but everything was tasty. Excellent bread, bernaise, & espresso.
(4)Alan L.
Enjoyed a great anniversary dinner here recently (they didn't know, we didn't mention it, so they weren't treating us special). The filet was one of the most tender and flavorful steaks we've had anywhere - medium rare for my wife, medium well for me - and both were perfect. Neither of us like blue cheese much but the blue cheese butter on the steaks was fantastic. I did a split plate with the filet and the Chilean seabass, which was perfectly pan fried in a light breading that was slightly crisp on the outside and perfectly flaky and buttery on the inside. The ravioli of the night was a mix of cheeses with pistachio nuts and it was outstanding. I'd go back to order a bowl of those alone (if I knew when they would be offered since it changes). Our server was friendly and very helpful for our first visit without hovering at all. We will definitely return.
(5)Mari M.
Great experience! Had the best seat in the house! Watched Dwight do his thing in the kitchen. What a treat! Crab Cake was phenomenal!
(5)Morgan H.
I feel like Dwight's is a hidden gem in Jacksonville Beach b/c its not located off of 3rd Street. That being said those who know of it obviously love it because you see the same folks in there often. We fell in love with the small, casual yet elegant feel that Dwight's has to offer. The food is exquisite! The service is exceptional! You definitely get what you pay for....and considering the fact that wining at Dwight's is not cheap, that's a very good thing. **You can bring in you own bottles of wine for a corking fee. ***Definitely make reservations if it's a special occasion.
(5)Sonia T.
Expensive but well worth every penny! I ate everything on my plate. We were kind of disappointed we didnt have leftovers. But we will be back for more! I loved the variety of items that were included with the entrees.
(5)Lara R.
Incredibly over priced for very average if not sub par food. Tried it once. Will not return. Service was great. But if the food is not good, what good does it do? Pun intended. I believe jax tastes are getting more refined, yet this place is the example of what will be left in the dust in a few years of culinary progress.
(1)Natalie B.
Dwight's Bistro is indicative of dining gems in Jax. It is owned and operated by a chef and it's located in a very unassuming strip mall in Jax Beach. Like other hidden gems, don't be thrown by the location! It is all about food and spot on, smooth and friendly service. Upon entry, you are greeted by a quaint Mediterranean dining room and low lighting. Definitely make reservations as the place is space challenged :) We were greeted by our server who asked if it was our first time dining with them. He took the time to review the menu and provide recommendations. He also brought over delicious bread, made in house by Dwight himself. After his suggestions and our deliberations, we selected crabcakes for an appetizer. The crabcakes were meaty and barely had any filler. Considering my hubby and I are both Chesapeake Bay born, we are pretty picky about our crabcakes. These were some of the best I have had--lump crabmeat all the way! Our server brought over 2 bottles of homemade hot sauce, made by their bartender. It was a nice compliment to the meaty and sweet crab meat. For our entrees, my hubby had the filet while I selected the duck with a mango glaze. We must have been so excited about ordering our food that we missed the part when our server let us know our meals came with homemade ravioli! Chef Dwight makes this as well. It was a marcona almond ravioli, which was unexpected but an extremely surprising delight! Our entrees were generous in size. In fact, I brought a half of my half duck home. The duck was rich and the sweet mango glaze was to my liking. Hubby's steak was prepared perfectly. Both our entrees came with a mix of seasonal veggies. Before I forget, the wine list was great. It wasn't a book in its size, but the selections were made by someone who really appreciates wine. The dessert selections were probably the least impressive of the meal. However the blackberry tort that we ordered was a pleasant way to end the evening. On our way out, we saw Chef Dwight, cooking away in the small kitchen. Love knowing that he was personally involved in the preparation of our meal! Now it is pricey. We dined here on a Groupon. However, I think it is well worth it for a special occasion!
(5)Sam C.
My favorite restuarant in the area and a top 10 fav rest of all time. Dwight is always there to greet you and knows all of his regulars, including me (which I'm always an out of town guest). The filet, chopped salad, lobster appetizer, and sea bass are the best meals on the menu. The crab cakes and palm salad as well as the veal are all acceptional as well.
(5)Celia W.
I must post this. I never post bad things...but this must be said. I've had several people say "go to Dwight's Bistro for dinner..they are great". Not my experience. Several years ago, five couples from my neighborhood all went to a Christmas dinner together at Dwight's. One of our dear friends had a heart attack about 15 minutes after we sat down. There were two ER docs in our group. They immediately started CPR. My girlfriends and I all held hands and started praying. What does Dwight's staff do? 1. They never asked if they could help. We yelled for them to call 911. 2. They told us we were disturbing their other guests. One of the other guests was visibly upset by what was going on. 3.Once our friend finally left in the ambulance...the server (I use that term loosely) asked me who was going to pay the bill. We had a $75 bill for appetizers. I paid it...as I'm crying. Not once did they say hope all would be ok. not once did anyone ever call to find out what happened (they had our credit card info it wouldn't have been difficult to find us). Our friend died that night. Not that they caused his death in any way...but they absolutely made the situation worse. Worst treatment ever.
(1)sovia l.
Cari S. pretty much hit the nail on the head with her review. My fiance and I went there for dinner one night - no special occasion. Just cause and we consider ourselves foodies and love trying out new places. Plus we had a $30 Groupon coupon which nowhere near covered one person's meal. Again, we were excited to go b/c of all the great reviews we'd read and heard. Plus, there just aren't enough privately owned restaurants in Jax and so it's always nice to find a local gem. I'll get to the point about the most important part of the meal - the food. Not worth it! You get fresh bread which was good. We started off with the palm salad which I thought was really tasty but agree it's a little pricey for what it is. For our entrees, my fiance got the sea bass, the special - it was a seriously small portion and it just wasn't a good piece of fish b/c it wasn't buttery like sea bass normally is. The side of vegetables were ridiculous too - he too got the half cob of corn which we thought was weird. It looked like bad hotel or buffet food. And it was over $30. I got the pasta carbonara - again looking forward to it b/c who doesn't love pasta - plus they make their pastas in house. Another disappointment. The pasta definitely tasted fresh - but not all that great and the carbonara was so greasy, you could the pools of fat. The only good thing about this was the portion size for the money. The second most important part of the meal, the service. Horrible! I seriously think our waitress was on drugs or something because she was totally out there. She was really friendly - just wasn't with it at all. It took her a while to acknowledge us once we were seated. And we were so hungry we asked for extra bread while we waited for our entrees. She didn't bring it out until much later in the meal AFTER we'd asked a runner to get us more bread. So we had two baskets of bread taking up all the room on this small two top. What really topped things off for us was that at the end of our meal when we got our check, she comped us the wine b/c we had to wait a while before she took our order. We thought that we so nice! Then we gave her our Groupon and credit card to pay. Well, when we got our final bill, she had charged us for the wine even though she just said she was comping us for it. We thought that was in really poor taste. Oh, and for whatever reason, she gave my fiance two pens to sign the bill?!? We enjoy fine dining and have no qualms paying the price when it's worth it. It's not worth it at Dwight's - sorry.
(1)Amanda W.
My 13 yr old son and I had a date and he has always wanted to come he since my husband and I told him about it years ago. He ordered the home made angel hair Puntanesca with anchovies after we has escargot then the Apple pie crisp with vanilla ice cream. I ordered the special, Jax Bch Bully ( bouillabaisse), it was fabulous! Sea bass, sea scallops, shrimp and mussels. Delicious broth with saffron. Fabulous as always.
(5)Chris F.
The food and service were good. I brought a very nice bottle of wine which I traditionally share with the server. Shortly after opening the wine, he returned with three glasses for the himself, the owner and someone else who also wanted a sample. I didn't mind sharing however they still charged me a cork fee which I thought was in bad taste given that the wine is valued at over $100 a bottle.
(3)Michael M.
Another fantastic meal, service impeccable. The homemade pasta worth the drive. Almost like going to my late Grandmother's when I order the ravioli.
(4)Michelle Q.
This is one of the best meals/experiences to date. It is deceptively hidden in a strip mall but the decor inside is absolutely darling. Went here for birthday dinner while on vacation and we were delighted with everything: staff, decor, wine list and the gourmet food. Escargot for appetizer, ceaser salad, ravioli of the day and mixed grill. The chef in this restaurant has the rare blend of skill and selection. Every selection was carefully presented and each bite was a burst of flavor. If you are in Jax this is a must visit. Staff were courteous and service was excellent.
(5)Monica S.
Before Dwight add the additions of 2 rooms to this little hole in the wall spot, I had the fortunate and unique experience of having the entire restaurant closed down for our specific 'deep pocketed' party. Dwight himself made up an 8 course tasting menu each with a well thought out pairing of wine. This, no doubt, was at incredible expense to the folks hosting this lengthy, delicious and intoxicating gathering, as Dwight's food is very eclectic and expensive! (Sometimes it pays to know the right people!) There was no planned menu as Dwight just cooks what he gets fresh that day and is directed to create what he likes based on those ingredients spur of the moment. That awesome creative mentality is still true today for Dwight's menu. Although there are some 'staples', such as his renown Crab Cakes and Pan Cooked Foie Gras appetizers, I always order from the non-menu specials when I patronize Dwight's restaurant today. I know these are the dishes that will have been created with the freshest ingredients and most passion! The service is always good here, the wine list impeccable and the food uncompromisingly eclectic and amazing. Note: Make sure you have your Platinum card when you go as Dwight's IS expensive. Dinner for 2 could cost you well over $100.00 with aps and drinks. Don't even bother finding something specific on the online menu as a more amazing dish will no doubtably await you the evening you go into the restaurant. But the menu will give you price points for that nights dinner.
(5)Matt B.
I heard a lot of hype about this place prior to going. After dining there once, I find it overrated. I just don't feel that the price point is warranted. The food is really good, but not great. I like off the beaten path, but not a such at high price for a seemingly cheap location. I could deal with the prices if the place was located in a prime location at the beach, but not some hole-in-the-wall place in the middle of nowhere. Giovanni's or Mezza Luna are a better value, but if paying a premium for hidden gems is your thing, it's great.
(3)C M.
Came here for our anniversary and enjoyed every minute. It's a hole in the wall spot in a small plaza. When you go in the decor is eclectic, with tile work on the walls and wine corks lining the ceiling. Our waiter was Will, who was awesome! Very professional and knew the menu well, he seems to have been there for awhile. We started with the escargot which was buttery, garlicky delicious. Tad on the oily side so if you prefer creamier sauces this is not for you. The bread was soft and yummy. My husband had the Jax Beach Bouillabaisse which was a special of the day. I had bouillabaisse at another restaurant and didn't like how it was all one note--tomato. Dwights version had wonderful depth to its flavor and kept us going back for more. My husband couldn't stop slurping up the sauce (with a spoon of course-we try to keep it classy). I ordered the lamb chops which were cooked to perfection. Both entree came with a side of ravioli, very nice. For dessert, we had the tiramisu (which Will brought out for free as a surprise!). Amazing. The chocolate sauce alone on the plate was mouth watering. Overall we had a great experience and would definitely recommend. Would make a reservation.
(5)Matt P.
Great food, awesome atmosphere....gotta appreciate a place where the guy with his name on the sign stops by your table. Ravioli and their salads are unbelievable. Highly recommend. This is as local as it gets.
(5)Mary Margaret P.
Just finished another wonderful dinner at this little off-the-beaten-path restaurant. The food was wonderful. B & I shared the delicious crab cake appetizer; he had the sea bass & I had pasta carbonara, both tasty. Our waiter Paul was very attentive & friendly, as was everyone else including Dwight, the owner. Thanks for a memorable birthday dinner.
(5)Diana M.
I was happily surprised by this restaurant! We bought a "deck" of cards with deals to 52 Jax restaurants and this was one of them. I don't know if we ever would have found this place on our own. We came in without reservations and sat at the bar - which I'm still confused over as more than half the tables were empty when we sat down and still empty when we left. That aside, the food was awesome and it was hard to make a selection from the menu! I wish I would have ordered a full meal of their ravioli of the day, I had a bite of the one my husband got as a side and it was delish!!
(4)Susan M.
Order the excellent crab cakes or the creative homemade pasta, if you want the best Dwight's Bistro has to offer. Consistency may be the hobgoblin of small minds, but it is the hallmark of great restaurants. Unfortunately, Dwight's execution is inconsistent. I love escargot prepared in the traditional French manner, but garlic butter is essential to the dish. Substituting olive oil just makes this appetizer well...oily. Also, while the wait staff speaks in hushed tones about the just baked bread, it has a too soft texture similar to supermarket loaves. Service is just okay-in the midst of talking to us about the specials the waiter scurried away to take a colleague's question. So, to sum up, okay if you find yourself on Penman Road and order carefully.
(2)Arable M.
We truly enjoy the experience of dining at Dwight's. We always look forward to an evening out at Dwight's when visiting the Jax area. The food is amazing.
(5)Paul M.
We went on a Friday night; atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable with low volume background ballads. Hostess set a 4 foot stand next to our table for purses and jackets--a first for us. Starters range from $11 to $28, Salads from $8 to $11, Pastas from $19 to $22, Entrees from $29 to $39. Service was excellent. We know Lobstah (catch the Maine accent) from living in Maine and having a son who is a lobsterman. We were delighted to find the Lobster Starter OUTSTANDING. Mixed Cheese Starter was delicious with a surprise cube of honeycomb in the center. We skipped the Entrée, having, instead, a Baby Spinach Salad and a Chopped Salad--both were very good. We will go there again.
(5)A. B.
We visited Dwight's for the first time this evening, after hearing good things about it. Unfortunately, the food ranged from poor to mediocre. The vegetables were cafeteria quality, the pasta sauce was tasteless, and the wine was grossly overpriced for the quality. Regrettably, the table service was terrible. Our server's manner ranged from unprofessionally chatty to pretentious and condescending. He failed to handle the most basic tasks in a professional or competent manner, from introducing the specials and menu items, to answering questions, taking orders, and managing the table (removing unnecessary cutlery and dirty plates, etc.). It would be unfair to expect high-end service from what is merely an upscale, mid-range restaurant. However, competency, quality, and hospitality are basic components of any well-run establishment, and on these fronts Dwight's falls short.
(1)Becky S.
Dinner at Dwight's is always a mixed bag. The food is always great -- but the service is usually terrible! On our last 2 visits this has been the case. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, I've enjoyed everything I've had here. Their prices are a little steep for dinner/dessert/wine -- even their corking fee is higher than most high end restaurants at $20 per bottle. Again the only thing that makes the prices hard to stomach is the crummy wait staff who seem to act like it is an imposition for them to wait on you. I have heard that if you come and sit at the bar the service is much better -- usually by Dwight himself -- so I would recommend that if you've never been to hopefully avoid the service issue. Definitely worth trying, just be prepared you might get a waiter with an attitude!!
(3)Suzi R.
This was a great dinner. Pharm rep so we got to try a bit of everything - for free! Seared Ahi: a little aggressively seasoned for my taste but it was cooked well and delicious. I love this dish in general and great to have the pickled ginger on the side Crab cake: Ton of crab, not a lot of filler. Great sear, tender and fabulous sauce. No complaints. Ravioli: hand made. Pine nuts in the sauce. This was silky and delicious Sea bass: some of the best I've had. This couldn't have been tastier or cooked better! Filet minion: this was a little disappointing. I ordered medium and it was definitely over. Tiny portion but I think that was just because of the meal set up. Overall, it was a beautiful intimate setting and I could tell Dwight really cares about his customers and his food. I checked out the prices tho and I don't know if I would be jumping to return based on that alone. If the prices were lower it would be on my radar for sure but $30 plus entrees is a stretch.
(4)Caron B.
Was expecting more. The escargot was good. The meals were unfortunately quite bland and we were sorely disappointed in the vegetables prepared as sides. We were served a quarter of a corn on the cob! How are we to be expected to eat this? I assumed that for $30+ a plate that we were eating in a fine dining establishment. I was served three jumbo prawn scampi style but they were just eh. The creme brulee was scorched although the custard was fine. I'm not sure how people have given this place such great reviews unless they've never actually experienced fine dining.
(2)Jeff H.
Dwight's is one of those rare gems that is an owner/operator restaurant. The location is a bit off the beaten patch and in a little strip-mall off of Penman. The interior indeed has a Mediterranean flair with some beautiful tiling and a warm feeling. I will preface the review by saying my particular server was not what you would expect in a fine dining server. I was glad to know that this wasn't the norm since the table behind me had "Chuck" who was amazing. They have a very homey written menu with items that change. I started with the Escargot which was excellent. I selected a nice glass of Pinto Noir to go with it and it was very good. I ordered the Mixed Grill (Lamb, Quail, Fish, & Tenderloin of Beef). I really have to recommend this - it was perfection. I asked for a second glass of the Pinot because I was enjoying it and nothing else on the BTG wine menu jumped out at me. The East-Coast server came back and said they were out - and instead of asking what I wanted to replace it with said he would bring something. He brought me one of the worst Shiraz's I've ever had. One sip and no more - again the bring and not ask and it was not much better. Their desert for the evening was Flan and had the caramelized top was consistency were heavenly! Again I want to emphasize the the food was wonderful and the only mar on the experience was this particular server. I'm definitely going back - ans asking for Chuck.
(4)dan c.
I would give this 4.5 stars if I could. It's a dual-personality sort of place - mostly white shirted, professional wait staff with an occasional flake (see other reviews). Diners are either quietly enjoying a special meal out or they are laughing loudly at the bar after too much sun & chardonnay. Hard to figure out. But in our experience, the food has been consistently delicious and very solid. Not a lot of fancy or trendy options, but good. My steak was every bit as tender and flavorful as I've had at Ruth's Chris or other top steak houses. Salads are massive and pricy, which I don't understand, and not too different from what you can put together at home, so instead start your meal with one of the appetizer specials - always good.
(4)Tim M.
Extremely disappointed! We went with a party of five to Dwights as I had not been there in a long time. Was shocked when I saw the menu prices - prices were in line with a top New York City restaurant but the food or atmosphere (back street strip mall) was'nt. I paid $27.00 for a plate of 4 ravioli which were average at best. My wife and sister split an entree of crabcakes which cost $34.00 and UNBELIEVABLY they charged an additional $7.00 sharing fee. Lastly we brought our own wine as we often do and keeping with the overpriced theme of this place they charge a $20.00 corkage fee per bottle. Total bill was was (are you sitting down?) -- $309.00. Suffice it to say we will NEVER go back.
(1)