I never find myself in downtown Jacksonville, but today was one of those weird, rare occasions. Due to the lack of knowledge I have of downtown cuisine, I picked the first place I saw once I became hungry. Which thankfully was Midtown Deli and Cafe! I wasn't expecting much going in, just something quick to fill me up like a bagel, but much to my surprise there was a huge selection of sandwiches and burgers to select, as well as a breakfast menu that I was sadly too late to order from. From reading other reviews though, I'm assuming I missed the lunch rush because ten minutes after entering, I was pigging out on a delicious Cuban panini with a side of pasta salad. Definitely recommend it! The Cuban was filling and delicious, and the pasta salad was just as up to par. You can get it as a side, instead of chips, for a $1 upgrade and it's worth every penny. It's mixed with chunks of baked gouda and is soooo good-a! My sweet tea wasn't that sweet though, but I'm definitely one of those people that clumsily misread labels so don't possibly hold Midtown accountable for it, unless others happen agree with me, of course. I would definitely go back though, if I ever find myself downtown again that is haha. Staff was very friendly, shared a few laughs which is always great! But yes, stop by if you have the time!
(4)
Kerry C.
I have wanted to try this place for a while, but they are normally only open during the week when I don't have a chance to get downtown. Lately they've been open on Saturdays for Doctor Who viewing parties and had a special event last Saturday so we were able to attend. The cafe is very spacious and clean. They had a full menu available and some specials for the party. I had a Cuban panini, my daughter had the fried chicken wrap, and my husband had a Ruben. There was a bit of a wait for the food, but everything was made fresh to order, so I didn't mind. We were very pleased by the size and quality of the food. All 3 came with pickle spears and chips, but my husband upsized his for $1 extra to have potato salad. He said it was very good. For the price we paid, the sandwiches were worth it in quality and amount of fillings. I don't know what the service is like during the week, but if I had the chance to go, I would.
(4)
Kristopher T.
Two staples on the Mid-town menu are the Cheesesteak and the club. Very good food, but don't go there if you are looking for a quick lunch.
(4)
Mandie M.
Stopped in for a late lunch during my internship yesterday. Upon walking up to Midtown, I really liked their setup inside. There is tons of room and could be a great place for a get together of some kind. With the ample space and quiet, a lunch meeting could be had here with no worries of interruption or distraction. On top of being a deli, Midtown also has a bar. Given their business hours, though, I'm guessing that this may only come into play during ArtWalk or during special events. The menu is on the expensive side. I paid $9 for chicken salad and a drink. The ratio of chicken salad to regular salad items was very uneven. While I expected it to come out with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, I had hoped to have more than a "scoop" of chicken salad. If I wanted to add a second scoop, it would have been an additional charge of $2.99, thus increasing the price of my salad from $6.95 to almost $10. In comparison, I could order a bigger chicken salad at Soup's On for just $6. I have no qualms with the taste of the chicken salad, nor how fine the chicken is diced/minced. It was rather good, but if I'm going to pay $6.95 for chicken salad, I expect to have more chicken salad than what was served. I had taken a look at Midtown's Breakfast Menu, which is served during the weekday from 7 to 10 am, and I'd say that is fairly priced. While I understand that you need to price out your items so that you don't take a loss, maybe there's some other way to do so without taking away from a diner's experience? All in all, despite being disappointed in the portion size, my experience wasn't bad. I enjoyed sitting outside on the rather nice, breezy day after all the rain. I also have no qualms about the staff or the setup of the place. Unfortunately, though, I don't see myself returning to Midtown any time soon, except maybe for breakfast if I get downtown early enough in the day.
(3)
Bryan G.
Real bagels in the south! Perhaps not an anomaly to Jacksonville, but an aberration in New Orleans. This place had them in abundance. Midtown Cafe was the first place I went in Jacksonville after getting off of the greyhound. They lured me in with promises of cheap egg sandwiches and coffee. Located in what appears to be the business district of Jacksonville, it was pretty much deserted around 9:30a. The dude at the counter was friendly as hell. The coffee is decent and the egg sandwiches are NYCesque, which is exactly what I was looking for. Although this is more of a deli/diner than a laptop lined coffee shop, the staff was cool with me hanging and getting some work done during the morning lull. One final tip, for all there friendliness they have a fairly rigid 10a cut off for breakfast. I was lucky enough to slide in about 15 minutes shy of the deadline.
(4)
Ryan H.
Very average food. I had the meatball sub which you can locate in the pictures. I'm not sure if it was made fresh, and I kind of think it was either microwaved or warmed up in some other way. While it wasn't terrible I found that for 11 bucks (plus past salad and drink) it wasn't at all worth it. The pasta salad is pretty decent though and I would get it again. Not sure what sauce they use to mix it in. I couldn't quite figure it out; something similar to mayonnaise. If I come back I would certainly not get the meatball sub again. I've had better elsewhere.
(3)
Vince C.
Pros: Overall Good Size Menu (although no Grilled Cheese); plenty of seating; Food Quality is Good; Portions are Good; Pricing is average. Cons: WAIT TIME! I waited 26 Minutes during my Lunch Break for a Chicken Panini and Fries. I Ain't Got No Time For That!!!
(2)
Caron S.
We stopped in for dinner on a Monday at 6:30 (open 7-7 M-F) and we were the only ones there which is understandable for a Monday evening downtown. A nice space that has a cozy bar area with full coffee service, wine and beer (happy hour daily), and plenty of seating. We grabbed two seats by the window. After debating several choices he selected the shrimp po'boy sandwich ($8.95) and side of fries ($1 upcharge) + soda ($1.82). I chose the Greek turkey wrap ($6.95 artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, pepperocini, black olives, cucumbers, red onions, lettuce, Mediterranean dressing, feta in a spinach tortilla) but asked for the turkey to be substituted with portobello mushrooms for Meatless Monday. Instead of the free bag of chips I upgraded to the ratatouille soup for $1 which was tasty. We ate our meals and then his basket of fries came out. My wrap was okay but the red onion was overpowering and I didn't taste any artichokes or olives. His po'boy was a hoagie roll (wish it had been warm, or toasted), some lettuce and tomato, spicy sauce and fried shrimp. A nice addition to the downtown scene but there are several other spots I enjoy more (olio, Chomp Chomp, Chamblin's Uptown, Akel's Deli, Fionn MacCools) for less money and better atmosphere. That said, I do want to return at some point to try the caprese panini.
(3)
Cynthia B.
Stopped in for a quick bite after work. Good portions and even greater prices. Will be back again!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Nicole Marie V.
I never find myself in downtown Jacksonville, but today was one of those weird, rare occasions. Due to the lack of knowledge I have of downtown cuisine, I picked the first place I saw once I became hungry. Which thankfully was Midtown Deli and Cafe! I wasn't expecting much going in, just something quick to fill me up like a bagel, but much to my surprise there was a huge selection of sandwiches and burgers to select, as well as a breakfast menu that I was sadly too late to order from. From reading other reviews though, I'm assuming I missed the lunch rush because ten minutes after entering, I was pigging out on a delicious Cuban panini with a side of pasta salad. Definitely recommend it! The Cuban was filling and delicious, and the pasta salad was just as up to par. You can get it as a side, instead of chips, for a $1 upgrade and it's worth every penny. It's mixed with chunks of baked gouda and is soooo good-a! My sweet tea wasn't that sweet though, but I'm definitely one of those people that clumsily misread labels so don't possibly hold Midtown accountable for it, unless others happen agree with me, of course. I would definitely go back though, if I ever find myself downtown again that is haha. Staff was very friendly, shared a few laughs which is always great! But yes, stop by if you have the time!
(4)Kerry C.
I have wanted to try this place for a while, but they are normally only open during the week when I don't have a chance to get downtown. Lately they've been open on Saturdays for Doctor Who viewing parties and had a special event last Saturday so we were able to attend. The cafe is very spacious and clean. They had a full menu available and some specials for the party. I had a Cuban panini, my daughter had the fried chicken wrap, and my husband had a Ruben. There was a bit of a wait for the food, but everything was made fresh to order, so I didn't mind. We were very pleased by the size and quality of the food. All 3 came with pickle spears and chips, but my husband upsized his for $1 extra to have potato salad. He said it was very good. For the price we paid, the sandwiches were worth it in quality and amount of fillings. I don't know what the service is like during the week, but if I had the chance to go, I would.
(4)Kristopher T.
Two staples on the Mid-town menu are the Cheesesteak and the club. Very good food, but don't go there if you are looking for a quick lunch.
(4)Mandie M.
Stopped in for a late lunch during my internship yesterday. Upon walking up to Midtown, I really liked their setup inside. There is tons of room and could be a great place for a get together of some kind. With the ample space and quiet, a lunch meeting could be had here with no worries of interruption or distraction. On top of being a deli, Midtown also has a bar. Given their business hours, though, I'm guessing that this may only come into play during ArtWalk or during special events. The menu is on the expensive side. I paid $9 for chicken salad and a drink. The ratio of chicken salad to regular salad items was very uneven. While I expected it to come out with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, I had hoped to have more than a "scoop" of chicken salad. If I wanted to add a second scoop, it would have been an additional charge of $2.99, thus increasing the price of my salad from $6.95 to almost $10. In comparison, I could order a bigger chicken salad at Soup's On for just $6. I have no qualms with the taste of the chicken salad, nor how fine the chicken is diced/minced. It was rather good, but if I'm going to pay $6.95 for chicken salad, I expect to have more chicken salad than what was served. I had taken a look at Midtown's Breakfast Menu, which is served during the weekday from 7 to 10 am, and I'd say that is fairly priced. While I understand that you need to price out your items so that you don't take a loss, maybe there's some other way to do so without taking away from a diner's experience? All in all, despite being disappointed in the portion size, my experience wasn't bad. I enjoyed sitting outside on the rather nice, breezy day after all the rain. I also have no qualms about the staff or the setup of the place. Unfortunately, though, I don't see myself returning to Midtown any time soon, except maybe for breakfast if I get downtown early enough in the day.
(3)Bryan G.
Real bagels in the south! Perhaps not an anomaly to Jacksonville, but an aberration in New Orleans. This place had them in abundance. Midtown Cafe was the first place I went in Jacksonville after getting off of the greyhound. They lured me in with promises of cheap egg sandwiches and coffee. Located in what appears to be the business district of Jacksonville, it was pretty much deserted around 9:30a. The dude at the counter was friendly as hell. The coffee is decent and the egg sandwiches are NYCesque, which is exactly what I was looking for. Although this is more of a deli/diner than a laptop lined coffee shop, the staff was cool with me hanging and getting some work done during the morning lull. One final tip, for all there friendliness they have a fairly rigid 10a cut off for breakfast. I was lucky enough to slide in about 15 minutes shy of the deadline.
(4)Ryan H.
Very average food. I had the meatball sub which you can locate in the pictures. I'm not sure if it was made fresh, and I kind of think it was either microwaved or warmed up in some other way. While it wasn't terrible I found that for 11 bucks (plus past salad and drink) it wasn't at all worth it. The pasta salad is pretty decent though and I would get it again. Not sure what sauce they use to mix it in. I couldn't quite figure it out; something similar to mayonnaise. If I come back I would certainly not get the meatball sub again. I've had better elsewhere.
(3)Vince C.
Pros: Overall Good Size Menu (although no Grilled Cheese); plenty of seating; Food Quality is Good; Portions are Good; Pricing is average. Cons: WAIT TIME! I waited 26 Minutes during my Lunch Break for a Chicken Panini and Fries. I Ain't Got No Time For That!!!
(2)Caron S.
We stopped in for dinner on a Monday at 6:30 (open 7-7 M-F) and we were the only ones there which is understandable for a Monday evening downtown. A nice space that has a cozy bar area with full coffee service, wine and beer (happy hour daily), and plenty of seating. We grabbed two seats by the window. After debating several choices he selected the shrimp po'boy sandwich ($8.95) and side of fries ($1 upcharge) + soda ($1.82). I chose the Greek turkey wrap ($6.95 artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, pepperocini, black olives, cucumbers, red onions, lettuce, Mediterranean dressing, feta in a spinach tortilla) but asked for the turkey to be substituted with portobello mushrooms for Meatless Monday. Instead of the free bag of chips I upgraded to the ratatouille soup for $1 which was tasty. We ate our meals and then his basket of fries came out. My wrap was okay but the red onion was overpowering and I didn't taste any artichokes or olives. His po'boy was a hoagie roll (wish it had been warm, or toasted), some lettuce and tomato, spicy sauce and fried shrimp. A nice addition to the downtown scene but there are several other spots I enjoy more (olio, Chomp Chomp, Chamblin's Uptown, Akel's Deli, Fionn MacCools) for less money and better atmosphere. That said, I do want to return at some point to try the caprese panini.
(3)Cynthia B.
Stopped in for a quick bite after work. Good portions and even greater prices. Will be back again!
(4)