The Candy Apple Café & Cocktails
400 N Hogan St, Jacksonville, FL, 32202
The Candy Apple Café & Cocktails Menu
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Address :
400 N Hogan St
Jacksonville, FL, 32202 - Phone (904) 353-9717
- Website https://www.candyapplecafeandcocktails.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Tue, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Riece H.
Great from appetizer to dessert! My favorite side is by far the Mac and cheese! The restaurant itself has really cute decor and the food is upgraded southern classics! The cocktails are not stingy on the spirits and then you too it off with either a luscious dessert downstairs or upstairs in sweet petes! One of my faves in Jax!
(5)Tiffany H.
Went here last night after numerous people raved about it and I was not disappointed!! We had a fairly long wait and once we were seated it was a good 15 minutes before we were even brought any water. But they more than made up for it when they realized their error. Cocktails do not disappoint and I was so happy to see vodka drinks make with Titos-- my fave! The Bloody Mary was very good. We ordered the cheese tray appetizer and it was fantastic.. Great combo with fruit and candied nuts. It could have had more of the baguette slices. My entree I ordered the kale-quinoa salad.. Was really needing something lighter. It was wonderful! The kale was tender and had a fantastic dressing. I've heard rave reviews about the bacon Mac and cheese and their burgers. But they have fabulous vegetarian options too!
(5)Kerry C.
A friend took me here as a special treat and I'm so glad I had a chance to go. We didn't have reservations on a Saturday at lunch, but we were seated immediately. I love the decor, very elegant but I didn't feel as if I was under-dressed in jeans and a blouse. The waiter was prompt and courteous and made sure we were taken care of at all times. We started off with the cheese sampler plate (3 cheeses) and were thrilled with the presentation and the quality. My friend had the macaroni & cheese (candied bacon omitted on request, not a problem) and I had The Hogan (an omelet with a mushroom duxelle and fontina cheese). Both of us were more than satisfied with not only the amount of food but the quality. It was freaking fantastic. (We skipped dessert since we were planning on going to Sweet Pete's afterwards.) Will I come here again? I would definitely love to. The prices, though, are definitely a bit too high for my budget, but I do hope to take my husband and my daughter here for them to try. Maybe as a holiday treat? I sure hope so.
(4)Marie F.
I loved this place the first time I saw it. It's like the children in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book have grown up. So now their palettes don't just enjoy great sweets and ice cream, we've expanded to good food, cocktails, and live music. In sun dresses or after work blazers this place is sweet. Favorites (Food) Corn Beef Hash - true southern breakfast Bourbon Pecan Waffles - I wonder if there's American Honey in this. I don't care it's delicious. Candy Apple Bisque - tomato bisque but much better Flounder with Veggies - tasted like someone caught it by hand and cooked it up immediately. Favorites (Sweets) Banana Trifle - banana pudding on 1000 Sea Salt Caramels - so soft and delicious Red Bean Ice Cream - I tried everything they had these two were the absolute best! Coconut Chai Tea Ice Cream Favorites (Drinks) Ruby Red - perfect for brunch Hogan's Hero w/o Mint (I know I know I know it's not the same w/o mint (I think it's better)). Mimosa Popsicle - perfect for brunch It's extremely live during the monthly Art Walk Wednesdays. Plenty of happy dogs on the lower porch with a live band jamming til after 8pm. Stop in for happy hour before you stroll through some art or grab a nice ice cream cone to cool off the heat. And finally a great place to escape the dependable rain that always falls.
(4)Jim A.
Great place, the best escargot; it is done perfectly. Good drinks, great food. Love the music on the porch. Inside though gets very noisy, if they have a full restaurant not good for a dinner for two. Could not hear my wife talking.
(4)Stephanie L.
Delicious food!!!! The best atmosphere and amazing service! One of my favorites in Jax!
(5)Jennifer C.
This is a beautiful addition to downtown. The food is divine and the staff is truly amazing!!!!
(5)Debbie M.
My new favorite brunch spot. Loved the new location and menu selection. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Katrice S.
This review is way overdue but I'd be remiss if I didn't share with you Jacksonville's sweetest new destination. Located inside the historic Seminole Club building on Hogan street and I must say that this candy land is an exciting new addition to Jacksonville's urban core. It reminds me of a real-life Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory, which is kind of a dream come true! The decor is so bright and whimsical! You can't help but smile when you walk in. I can only imagine that this is a dream land for children (and adults)! The ice cream and dessert parlor has treats galore, making choosing an after dinner treat quite difficult. At least it was for me. Just to name a few, they've got cupcakes.... Cookies.... more cupcakes.... Pralines, which I absolutely LOVE...and candy apples, of course!!! Since their opening last winter, I've visited on several different occasions and each time I discover new things like these food-flavored candies! I've never heard of Thanksgiving, wasabi, or bacon-flavored gumballs. I can only imagine what the T.V. Dinner gumballs taste like. The next time I attend an event where gag gifts are in order, I know where I'll be heading for the perfect gift! Then there's this 30lb. gummy snake! You'd probably rack up a serious dental bill trying to tackle this bad boy! My fab find, however, was the chocolate high heel!!! I mean come on! It was love at first sight! The food is located on the first floor inside of The Candy Apple Cafe. The menu is full of French flare with Southern influences and they serve brunch, lunch, and dinner. A group of friends and I went for brunch and I had the pleasure of tasting the following dishes! Buttermilk Fried Chicken Served w/ Pink Peppercorn gravy, house fries, and collard greens. Very tasty! I thought it was plated beautifully. Candy Cherrywood Bacon If candied bacon is on any menu, the unspoken rule is that you MUST get it and there's nothing else I have to say about that! GET...THE...BACON! Lemon Ricotta Pancake Served with Strawberry Compote and Sweet Cream. This was everything you'd want a pancake to be, fluffy and delicious! Rock Shrimp and Grits Served with tomato relish. This was a friend's dish so I didn't get a chance to taste it. She told me it was a tad bit salty but good nonetheless. Southwest Crepe: Made with smoked sausage, pepperjack, spinach, avocado, and salsa fresca. YUM! Deviled Eggs: I don't believe I've ever had deviled eggs from a restaurant. These were all three flavors they offer. Traditional. Spicy hummus, and Cobb. It was just like homemade! Brunch with my friends in the Candy Apple Cafe was wonderful and it's like being a kid again when ever I go into Sweet Petes! Before I go I've got great news for all of you Jazz lovers! I recently found out that they will be having Sweet and Soulful Jazz Dinners on the 4th Friday of every month from now through November! This jazzy event includes a buffet style dinner, live comedy, dancing, and a cocktail. This is another fabulous thing to do in Jax!
(4)Stephen M.
The food was good and I loved the atmosphere, however, our waitress wasn't all that friendly.
(4)Jamie I.
A wonderful addition to the Downtown Jax dining scene. Candy Apple is pretty much always packed. Seriously. If you want to have lunch within an hour, you need to make a reservation or it will not happen. Working just a few blocks away, my friends and I have found ourselves visiting Candy Apple and Sweet Pete's as often as we can. The decor is super cute and service has always been great. Now, on to the food! The turkey Reuben with fries is a yummy lunch. Toasted bread piled high with shaved turkey and topped with sauce. It was so good I didn't want to stop eating. The sandwich is a tad messy so I knife and forked it. The fries were also really good. Obviously fresh and fried up to a crispy, artery clogging goodness. I ordered some Mac and cheese to go one afternoon when I was craving something homey and warm. Elbow noodles covered in a thick and creamy cream sauce fit the bill. They were out of candy bacon when I called, but I went ahead with my order and really enjoyed the lunch. Recently I had the cornmeal crusted flounder. I love they have the option for half portions! I ordered the half and got two small pieces of flounder on top of mashed potatoes with green beans and carrots. Everything was seasoned well. The fish was crispy and topped with a nice tartar sauce. the veggies still had a nice crunch and the potatoes were smooth and tasty. If you'r feeling drinks and snacks, try the corn dogs and sweet potato fries. The fries are battered and super crispy. The corn dogs are a small sausage and come out with a mustard dipping sauce. We also had some chicken and waffle bites that aren't on the menu - must have been a special I guess. As for the drinks - well - those I didn't like. They sound good but the execution was lacking for all of us. I found the drinks to be a little too tart, a little too pretentious, and just not that tasty. Maybe I have a horrible palette, but if I'm dropping $10 for a drink I want to enjoy it. They do have a full bar, so feel free to veer from the specialty cocktail menu and order your favorite drink. The Candy Apple Cafe is a welcome addition to downtown for a nice lunch in a fun atmosphere. Make some reservations and check it out!
(4)Devin A.
Not knowing what to expect, but recommended, I had high hopes for a great Sunday brunch. I wasn't disappointed at all. Though the description says "French", I'm not sure the Candy Apple Cafe & Cocktails hits that mark, but beyond that, it does a very good job on their food and creative cocktails. My brunch consisted of the corn beef hash, poached egg, and grits. All were prepared and seasoned well. The corn beef hash in particular was not the fried canned variety, but chunked corned beef, which created a much interesting texture to add to the overall good flavor. For my cocktail, I had the Rock Candy Old Fashioned. It was a good play on a standard drink, but be careful about eating the rock candy... it'll turn your teeth black :) The location was right in Hemming Park, and I loved the decor and layout of the restaurant and shops. It was cool seeing all of these vintage candies I had as a kid. Definitely a unique establishment and one I'd recommend and visit again.
(4)Elizabeth M.
I want to start off by saying that I was invited back to the restaurant because of my previous experience. I think very highly of any restaurant that takes the opinions of its customers and does everything possible to fix the issues even when they are already very popular. Liz the owner contacted me around Easter and took all my constructive comments positively and after my most recent experience I can say they fixed a lot of their issues. I did wait a little less than 2 months to go back but I figured I would give them plenty of time to fix their issues. On my most recent visit I came in with my sister, brother in law, husband and daughter. My sister got their bourbon pecan waffle, my brother in law ordered the duval omelette, but got the monroe(however he didn't care because he said it was good), my husband got the chargrilled Angus burger, I got the buttermilk fried chicken, and I got my daughter the kids Mac and cheese. For appetizers we got the deviled eggs, candied bacon and their corn dogs. The deviled eggs were really good! I just wish they gave the option to make them all the same versus a combination of the three different types. The hummus deviled eggs were good but the Cobb deviled eggs were sooo good. Creamy, and the flavor and texture were good. The candied bacon was really good too. Maybe a tad on the darker side but it was not burnt. However the sweetness of the bacon was good. The corn dogs this time were really good. Coating on the dogs was completely even all the way around and the batter was crispy and airy all at the same time. My daughter actually ate them this time, and asked for more. The food was much better this time around. My buttermilk fried chicken was cooked perfectly and was not dry at all. The gravy it came with was on the side and that gravy sauce was really good. I probably could have used a second helping of the gravy sauce but I used a bit of self restraint. Instead of the sides listed on the menu I got their mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese. It was an up charge of just $2 but not worth it in my opinion. The Mac and cheese was a really small bowl and the potatoes were good but kind of lacked a little bit in flavor to give them the extra yum factor however the gravy that came with my chicken helped which is why I mentioned the extra helping of gravy. Gosh, thinking back I remind myself that, that gravy really was good. My daughters Mac and cheese and mine were really good this time. They were both served piping hot! Hot enough that the sauce did not have a chance to thicken yet which gave the impression that the Mac and cheese was just made! The sauce was on point! Creamy, cheesy and saucy! It really was good. My husband gave me some of his burger to try and oh my gawd!!!! It was beyond what I expected!! The burger was soo juicy that it squirt in my mouth, and the flavor was so good that my mouth watered around it. I don't even really like burgers but if they make their burgers like that every time then I can totally see myself going back for one. The flavor though!!!! It was really really good. Perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked! My sister got the bourbon pecan waffle and it lived up to its name. It was sweet and moist with flavor! Made me wish that they had a bourbon waffle and chicken dish on the menu because I would totally pay for that! My brother in laws omelette looked good too. He ordered the duval but after he was practically done with it, was when he realized that the one he ordered didn't have olives in it. Oh well because he said it was really good and he even finished the whole thing. We finished off brunch with two candy apples. We got rocky road and one with candied bacon on it. Both were really good. Full of toppings and I liked how they came out already cut up on plates. Service this time was better and our server was around when we needed her. We had our drinks filled and all of our needs met appropriately this time. This dining experience was much better than our first one. My only complaint though would be to the host staff. We were 4 adults and a toddler with a high chair. We were sat at a square table that fits four people. While we did fit physically at the table we were a bit cramped whenever appetizers and food came out. We figured the table that was for 5 people behind us was reserved. Well that table never got occupied the whole time we were there. However maybe I'll speak up next time, it's just I try to be courteous because I know that host staff have a system of seating people. I also want to point out that while some menu items are high in price, one needs to sit back and realize the location of the place, the overall dining experience and the quality of the food. After this visit I can honestly say that I felt I had a meal that was high quality. Overall, if candy apple cafe can keep up the awesome food and awesome service every time, then I will most definitely be back.
(5)Jo El S.
Anything that looks inspired by "The Night Circus" is a win in my book! The Candy Apple Cafe & Cocktails is also going on my "French Fry Fanatic" list for having the BEST Sweet Potato Fries I have had in America! This includes the Sweet Potato Fries in New England! The "Sweet Potato Frites" seemed battered in Tempura which gave them a really light and delicate crunch. The "Orange Sesame Cream" sauce it came with was the perfect addition and brought out the flavors in a marriage I never would have thought possible! It was so good!!!! The side of fries was $7 but it was the best part about my dinner! The "Petite Angus Burgers" were $8 and were described as having "Pommery Mustard Aioli, White Cheddar, and Cornichon." [ I just googled that the Cornichon is a little pickle on top of the slider.] When I saw the two doll-house sized sliders being delivered to me, I had to laugh. I joked with my brother, "See this tiny hamburger? It was $4." The Sliders were disappointing in the flavor department. While they were JUICY---I couldn't pick out a single flavor other than "meat" and "bread." Even trying to dip them into the Orange Cream sauce didn't help. The Lemonade was VERY good, if overly sweet, and a steal at $2! I was a little disappointed I didn't get it served with a "fun stripped straw," but this Yelper will live. Everyone at the table raved about their food and my mother mentioned his Meatloaf was the BEST he ever had!! I'm glad my family enjoyed their meal for Mother's Day. Why only 3 stars? For the price point I just wasn't "wow'ed" enough to return to dine. *MAYBE* we'll make it out for a Happy Hour one Wednesday night at a Sweet Pete's Porch Party but we'll see. Regardless, I am happy Sweet Pete's is in the neighborhood and wish the best of luck to the Candy Apple Cafe too!
(3)Adrianna L.
My girlfriend would visit this place daily if we lived in Jacksonville. I was on a business trip and wanted some dessert after a failed sushi dinner. I looked up dessert and saw this place. So we headed over. Walking up the front steps we knew we had a winner. There were colored velvet chairs on the porch, along with some odds and ends of a Willy Wonka theme. There are 3 floors. dining, dessert bar, and a lounge type area on the 3rd floor. And yes, you heard me right, a dessert bar. Inside this dessert bar is numerous types of candy. After an hour of eye candy, we decided to order a few candy apples. But before that, I ordered some corn dogs on a stick. IN LOVE. Now to the candy apple. WHOA. We ordered a rocky road one. The chocolate was amazing, so smooth. The caramel same situation. I recommend this place to anyone with a beating heart. So I guess that means all of you. Try it...Love it...Yelp it...
(5)Virginia M.
I loved this place so much I dined here twice in one week! The candied apple bacon, cheese plate, deviled eggs, asparagus and brie omelette,and crepes normandy were delicious! I want to return to try the glitter candied apple. The service was also exceptional. Great addition to downtown Jacksonville!
(5)Jorge M.
So wonderful to have a destination restaurant and candy shop in downtown Jacksonville. Food and service are top notch. You can't be in the place without smiling. I can't say enough good things.
(5)Mark B.
I went to the per opening festivities here before they opened. The place is a lot like willy wonkas candy land. I saw and was treated to some small tasting bits. Well today I took a wrong turn and ended up downtown and thought what the heck. I have read a lot of the reviews for the candy apple cafe and even entertained eating during my ventures downtown for artwork and Jaxon night market. They are normally packed and have live music. Today I stopped on around lunch. Never really eating here made the decision easy. I was looking at the menu and saw chicken cracklins. I had to question this and find out of they were just chunks of chicken or true cracklins. When my question was answered I ordered them quickly. Who doesn't fry chicken and eat the skin first. Me me me me. All the time and it is my most favorite pieces. They came out and were as delicious as I thought they would be. They added some franks hot sauce and some blue cheese drizzle to them and placed them onto a bed of slaw. It was a great dish in this southern heart. Not good for it but I haven't really done much good for the body either. I also asked my server and everyones else's bartender about their cornered beef. They make it and smoke it on site. I went with the reuben sandwich which came out very quickly. It was filled with real meat not the parts is parts slabs that are normally sliced and piled onto some bread. No but this one was real meat on rye toast with a fair amount of 1000's of islands dressing. It was a good sandwich and it made me want to remember it for the future. So like you are suppose to I ventured out across from the restaurant to the candy shops and had to buy some really bad for me stuff in a box. Oh yea I also had to sneak a peek at the chocolate factory too. The inner kid in my made so it's not my fault either.
(4)Jeniah J.
The food and service here are great. My coworker ordered eggs scrambled soft. I don't even know what that means, and apparently neither does the cook. She sent them back and the cook redid them. When the general manager saw what was being sent out the second time, he went in the kitchen and cooked a third set of eggs himself and the were exactly what she wanted. The candy shop and dessert bar in the same upfront spell disaster for those of us trying to watch our weight! I'm ashamed to discuss what purchases i made away from the lunch table! Let's just say these people really know how to make dessert! My sole complaint is that the waiter short changed me by over two dollars. I just counted that as his tip. I highly recommend making reservations before coming here. When we came it was packed and we were seated on the porch. Thankfully it was absolutely beautiful outside! If it's hot out, you do not want to be outside. Also, if you have trouble finding the place, it's practically under the skyway. They have valet parking and you can do a self guided tour to see the factory.
(5)Tom G.
What a waste of money and I mean a waste. I was taking the wife out for her sweet tooth when we decide to eat dinner also and that was my first mistake. I order the fried chicken dinner and received and over cooked planko hot mess. I was hoping the collard greens would save the day... Nope . I took my fork and scoop out a nice helping to savor only to find a long nasty disgusting hair in my greens. I told the waiter what happen and he offer me another bowl from the same nasty pot that's been stewing all day. A big no THANKS. I paid my bill and left what a waste of money. Save yours
(1)Jill C.
I have been hearing good things about The Candy Apple Café and Cocktails so I was pretty excited to try them out. They are located inside of Sweet Pete's along Hogan Street Downtown. The building is absolutely beautiful. It is an old house that has been completely renovated, and it's huge! The décor is bright, whimsical, and just plain fun! We grabbed a table and started checking out the menu. They were serving their lunch, brunch, and happy hour menu so we had a lot of options. We decided on the House Made Petite Corndogs for our appetizer, because any time I see a corndog on a menu it is happening! We all liked these. The batter was light and airy, and the mini hot dog inside had a nice smoky flavor. There were so many things on the menu that that I wanted, but in the end I decided on the Mac and Cheese with Candied Bacon. The mac and cheese was nice and creamy, but the candied bacon is what made this dish. It was sooooo good! I chopped it up and mixed it into the mac and cheese so that I would have some bacon with every bite. I got the whole portion, but I would've been fine with the half. The portion size was pretty big and that bowl was super deep! My husband got the Croque Moadame. He was very happy with his selection and was struggling to finish. He commented that the fries seemed never ending (not complaining!) The cup that they were in is deceiving. It looks small, but those fries are packed in there! My friend got the Chicken and Waffle off of the Brunch Menu. She said that it was really good and I was extremely jealous watching her eat it! My husband got a candy apple to go. It was their best seller, the Sea Salt Caramel Candy Bacon Apple. It took him a few days to eat, but he finally conquered it! After our meal we ventured upstairs to check out the dessert bar. There were lots of different desserts that looked ridiculously good, so we made sure to get some to go. I was a little disappointed to learn that they get their cupcakes from a bakery in Chicago instead of making them in house. But on the other hand, I love me some Chicago food so I will let that slide. Verdict: Liked it! We liked everything about this place and hope to be back soon. I would have liked the prices to be a little bit lower, but the quality of food and portion sizes were nice. With a candy shop/dessert bar surrounding the restaurant, you can't go wrong!
(4)Jeana L.
If you're around the downtown area of Jacksonville and want to go somewhere nice to eat, Candy Apple Cafe is the place. Located on the first floor, very limited space so it's best to get there early or make a reservation. If you end up waiting, there's a chocolate shop you can browse around or go upstairs to Sweet Pete's Candy Shop. I got the Cornmeal Dusted Flounder which is $15 for a full plate. It consists of mashed potatoes layered with petite veggies which are steamed carrots and green beans and about 2 dusted flounders, topped with sauce gribiche (tastes like potato salad). Overall, it was delicious. The flounder was cooked very well and crispy. The veggies were cooked just right where it's half steamy and half crunchy. The potatoes were smooth and semi-thick (which is how I like them). Try it out! One of the best dishes I've tried. Did not regret it. :)
(5)Kendra B.
My new favorite place in Jacksonville!! Came here looking for a "fun" lunch spot. I don't have traditional weekends so Monday was my Saturday, even on a Monday this place was packed. Side note, they have a valet right in front of the restaurant. We were seated right away and had a nice table. It was extremely cold in there but I have found that all Florida restaurants are typically cold and always bring a sweater. The ambiance and decor were incredible. We started with the Popsicle mimosas and they were so good. Very fresh tasting and didn't seem like they used 2$ cheap champagne. We then had the watermelon drink, can't remember it's name but it was so tasty. For lunch I had the petite Angus sliders and petite corn dogs. Both were amazing but the sliders were so flavorful it left me wanting more. When I come back I will be ordering the full size burger. The candy store is fun and packed with childhood favorites. We sampled the Carmel and it was Devine. They also have an amazing event space on the third floor that was perfect size for a birthday party.
(5)Michael S.
Here for Sunday brunch hey Miss made my wife's eggs Benedict wife ordered eggs Benedict with Ham salmon on it twice. Probably won't be back for brunch
(2)Katy S.
Located in Sweet Pete's, The Candy Apple Cafe is a real treat. We came in for lunch last Saturday. There was a 45 minute wait, but it went by very quickly as we just shopped around the candy store while we waited. We were escorted to our table on the outside porch, which was the perfect atmosphere for a spring lunch outside. Our waitress was extremely prompt and got our drink orders in right away. I must say, the food was incredible here. I had the Candy Apple Bisque (which is basically tomato bisque). I really enjoyed the block of cheese floating in it and the freshness of the tomatoes. I also had a salad with pecans, goat cheese, and other veggies (can't remember the name) and it was very good. My husband ordered the fried chicken, which I really liked as it was a breast with no bones and my brother in law really enjoyed his Croque Monsieur. Honestly, we all enjoyed everything we got to eat and had a really good experience. A great experience in downtown Jax!
(5)Anna H.
My friends and I journeyed downtown Sunday to catch the last day of the soft opening for the Candy Apple Cafe. Sharing the same space with Sweet Pete's Candy shop it was one stop eating for all of us. Plus another one of Jacksonville' historic buildings has been saved, and transformed to a wondrous venue. The decor is colorful, fanciful and kid friendly. I large front porch, with comfortable wrap around chairs to sit and wait, look around or just take a nap after all the food and sweets. There are several outside tables if one chooses to dine on the porch, nice this time of year and on a Sat or Sunday when the carbon monoxide levels are low. LOL. Inside is part adult, part kid but both wander in and out of each others space quite nicely. First floor is for dining and offers a nice sized space with tables and booths and would easily accommodate a party of 10 or 15. On the other side of the first floor candies and other sweet goodies are there for your viewing and eating pleasure. Second floor houses the "Kid Zone, several nice spaces for private parties and to just turn the little beasts loose to run off all the sugar. There is a small shop that also offers the sweetest fuzzy candy theme pajamas, and I would have had a pair had my size been available. Nice for gift giving. Third floor allows more event space. My recommendation: put the children on the third floor, so the diners on the first floor do not have to wonder if the chandelier is going to hit the table from all the vibration. Let's get to the food and beverage. Full bar, although they told us the license was not ready yet, which I found strange. They were quite willing to sell me some Hennesy Gin but not a Vodka Martini.................what's that about? I opted for Wine. I do not remember seeing a wine list but I did not ask for one so no bounce no foul. Lets get to the food, since there were 5 of us we ordered a ton of food and shared all of it. First up Appetizers: Deviled Eggs, 3 flavors = 6 half's for only 6$$. Great presentation and very tasty, Candy Cherrywood Bacon, I did not taste this but everyone seemed to like the flavor. Main/Sides next. House Made Corned Beef Hash with Red Potatoes and 2 eggs and Everything toast, That was mine I can honestly say this is the best Corned Beef I have had outside of NYC. Not chopped or pulled there were beautiful large cubes of flavorful, spiced tender meat. Potatoes just enough of the fat from the meat gave a grand flavor. The toast never arrived until I asked for it, and I regretted it. Oily taste to the butter or what ever it was and bread was pretty tasteless. Southwest Crepe, stuffed with smoked, sausage, scrambled eggs, pepperjak, spinach avocado and dressed with salsa fresca. I did not taste this but the owner seemed to like it and the others at the table concurred. Rock Shrimp and Grits one of my favorite dishes to eat when I dine out. The grits were so salty, if it was my dish I would have sent it back, on the positive side the texture was wonderful and the shrimp taste was very noticeable. On to the Butter Milk Fried Chicken. This was the best presentation of all our dishes, it arrived with braised greens and house fries and a side of pink peppercorn gravy. I did taste the chicken. For sure a dish to own next time I return. The owner of that dish stated the fries were soggy and perhaps a little over greased. We decided the star of the meal was hands down the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. Light, sweet and tart all at the same time, with a nice topping of strawberry compote, and sweet cream. we all wanted to eat more of that dish. We also ordered two sides, one Mac N Cheese and the Sweet Potato Fries. Mac N Cheese gets a 1 in my book. It would need some serious changes for me to order it again. The Sweet Potato Fries on the other hand were a 5....Crispy, lightly salted.....want more. We were all to full to even consider desert but being a woman who plans for midnight I traveled up stairs and found the bakery. Wonderful array of tempting treats await the weak willed (me). I opted for the Red Velvet. It was a masterpiece sitting there in it's glass covered stand. One to go please. Sure enough I made it to midnight well 11:45 took the little jewel out and cut it in half.............WHAT? dry, stale, tasteless. I pulled a Gordon Ramsay spit it into the sink and disposed of the other half. Our server Latrese was great and in a few week will be even greater. She aimed to please and worked hard to keep us happy..........Thank You Latrese.
(4)Maya C.
I can't express how super excited I was about coming here. A new restaurant downtown and I'm like 10 minutes away? I'm there! The restaurant shares it's space with the new location of Sweet Pete's not far from City Hall, MOCA, the Main Library, and Hemming Plaza. A little bit of history on the building: it used to be called the Seminole Club built in the 1900s and was Jacksonville's oldest social club for men. My friends and I attended their soft opening the day before their grand opening to the public. The cafe is to the left while Sweet Pete's is to the right. I love the decor of the cafe, giant cherries on the bar and some tables, a turquoise, black and white color scheme, beautiful chandeliers, and large open windows. My friends and I got a booth in the corner near the windows. There were some disappointments when we asked about certain items, like candy apples (they had none for the cafe yet) and cocktails (they just got their liquor license so they weren't prepared yet) and the booming noise from upstairs (several birthday parties with kids running around) but I knew things would get better with time. Bring on the food!!! We took a while trying to decide what to eat. I had viewed the menu online and had made a decision beforehand but I changed my mind several times while there. I finally settled on the Deviled Eggs and Candy Cherrywood Bacon as appetizers. The Deviled Eggs came 3 ways: Traditional, Spicy Hummus, and Cobb. 6 slices for $6. If I had to pick a favorite it would be the Cobb. Why? Because of the Blue Cheese and Bacon in the filling. Delicious. The Candy Bacon was good as well. It tasted as if it was lightly coated with melted sugar and served with blue cheese and arugula I think. One friend ordered the Sweet Potato Frites served with Orange-Sesame Cream and that was fantastic. For entrees and sides, I personally got the Southwest Crepe. I wanted something light but savory and since several people had ordered the Mac N' Cheese and the Rock Shrimp and Grits I figured I go with something completely different. An order for Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, and Homemade Corned Beef Hash and Buttermilk Fried Chicken was also placed so the kitchen was going to have their hands full. In about 15-20 minutes, out comes our food. My Crepe was fannnnntastic as it was stuffed with Smoked Sausage, Pepper Jack, Spinach and topped with Salsa Fresca and Avocado. There was no skimping on Pepper Jack cheese here. Every bite had a nice fork-full. Going around the table, the Corned Beef Hash looked plain like it was missing something, we suggested something green like scallions, cilantro, or parsley. Nevertheless, it was good. I didn't try the Fried Chicken but I'm told it was good and it looked pretty. Pink Peppercorn gravy was on the side and it also had Braised Greens aka Collards and Fries, which my friend said were very greasy. The Rock Shrimp and Grits were kinda salty to me, from maybe a combination of the shrimp and the butter? Drink lotsa water with this. The Lemon Ricotta Pancakes was the best dish on our table. The sweet cream and the strawberry compote on top of it made these pancakes awesome. The Mac N' Cheese were very good and could probably go head-to-head against other Jax restaurants's Mac N' Cheese dishes. It's that good. After eating and sampling, we had no room for dessert so that'll have to wait for a return trip. We explored the Sweet Pete's side by going upstairs. There, a dessert bar exists with ice cream, cupcakes, cookies, and some beer. This 2nd floor is also were the event spaces are (as mentioned before, birthday parties were happening). There's also a viewing space to see down below in another area of the building were you can watch workers make the Sweet Pete's candy. I'm grateful I was able attend before the public. Our server Latrese was awesome. Would I be back? You betcha! Thinking about making reservations now!
(5)Mary N.
Best brunch in Jacksonville! This place is amazing and a must do. Ask for David the waiter, he made the whole experience even better!
(5)Sandy G.
Such a cute place!! My sister and I took her boys to the toddler class to make cookies and toured the candy factory. They loved it! Afterwards we had lunch on the patio. I had the turkey Reuben and it was delish. The turkey was fresh roasted an a marble rye and not overloaded with sauce. The kids menu is also fantastic. I will definitely be back without the kiddos to try some of their cocktails.
(5)Susan H.
So, from the beginning- there's free valet parking. If you don't feel like your car is valet worthy & you have some extra quarters, you can park around the block & feed a meter. (I didn't know about the valet parking until I walked up!) When you walk up its a beautiful old building w/ a huge porch - think Charleston SC. They seem to have kept a lot of the character that such an old building would have, great floors & staircases & molding around the doorways, Beyond that, it's like Willy Wonka decorated. It's adorable & whimsical. Perfect for creating atmosphere, lots of little touches throughout. As soon as I walked in someone greeted me & offered me a salted caramel treat. (Please & thank you!) Found my friend at a window seat, we had a nice view of the court house & park. It felt very metropolitan. I'm not sure if it was just loud from the different conversations but we had a difficult time hearing our server. And honestly, he didn't seem very interested in interacting w/ us. No eye contact or suggestions about the menu at all. He just mumbled "do you have any questions about the menu?" when he made it over to take our order. We ordered the sweet potato fries, which were very good! They're fried in tempura batter & come w/ an orange sesame sauce. Unusual pairing but it worked. I ordered lemon ricotta pancakes, which came out burnt and a good 5-10 minutes before my friends shrimp & grits. It was implied that I got a side w/ them (I was surprised & didn't think it did, but when the server asked "what would you like on the side?" I went w/ it. Imagine my surprise when I was charged for a side item on the receipt.) So I also got biscuits & gravy...which were also pretty dry & toasty. The biscuits had a light citrus/lemon flavor to them, and they were served w/ sausage gravy... It was an interesting combination, I wasn't crazy about it. My friend's shrimp & grits were covered in melted butter (at least 1-2 centimeters of standing butter over the entire dish) all she managed to eat was the shrimp. The food was ok at best. The service was a bit less so (we didn't get checked on after the meals were brought out, and it took forever to get the check.) The saving grace is the decor, and the dessert. On the 2nd floor you have a HUGE candy store! All of the employees in both candy stores were very welcoming & knowledgable about the products. There's a parlor with a nice view of downtown where you can sit, eat dessert, drink cocktails & play games. The 3rd floor is where they do classes & parties. It's an amazing space! Would def. consider hosting a group event here in the future...(for the candy/cocktails class for work groups or a bday party.) I would go back, but probably not for a meal. I'm glad that they're here & give some more life to downtown! And I love the whimsical dessert/candy aspect of it. Was pretty disappointed w/ the meal & service though.
(2)Debbie F.
I ordered the eggs and sausage. They were perfect as I watched my guest devour their fried chicken that I tasted and was overwhelmed with. The cheese board was very tasty with the candy bacon appetizer. Mmm
(4)Karen L.
Portion of the salad was a little disappointing, but my friend got a veggie burger and there was more than enough for the both of us. Very tasty food!
(5)Jaye T.
The decor is what strikes you first, so let's talk about that and also how I want to steal all of their furniture and light fixtures and walls and just live there forever. Wait, what? I mean... Uh... The Candy Apple is effin' adorable. It's cute, but not in a childish way and the bright colors of the furniture make a great visual balance against stark black and white floors. If all you wanted to do was live here, it's a great place. Five stars, done deal. If you want to eat here.... well, that's a different story. For the prices, I'd have honestly expected better food and certainly better service. I ordered the angus burger and it was a decent example of a burger... but I've had better at Five Guys and for half the price. However, I understand that half the cost of a meal out is the ambiance (okay, fine, sold) and service (well, let's talk about that). The downside of the adorable styling was that the restaurant itself was FREEZING. I get summer in Florida, but it was APRIL, so what the heck was up. This is a nit-picky thing, but I drink a lot of water, so it's kind of important to me: the water glasses are cute, but no for real, I'm an adult, where's the real glasses. As for the service..... Our waiter left (the restaurant; his shift was over, apparently) and didn't pass us off to anyone, so we sat, abandoned and ever-hungrier (never having ordered because he brought us water and left), for nearly thirty minutes before I flagged down the hostess as she was seating another table. The replacement server was fine, I guess, but fine doesn't make up for being discarded. To justify the prices and the meh service, their food needed to be fantastic and it really, really wasn't. It was fine and if you're hungry and don't want to wander farther from Hemming Plaza than line of sight, it's a fair choice. Overall, though, I'd recommend eating somewhere else, which is a shame, because it's *such* a cute place.
(2)Jay M.
The following review was published under my byline in the Florida Times-Union on Saturday, April 18, 2015. This is an original, unabridged version of that review. For more than a century, Downtown Jacksonville's historic Seminole Club was a hub of recreation for Jacksonville's elite. Today, the rest of us can consume the storied building's charms--of the architectural and culinary kind--with its transformation into the Candy Apple Café & Cocktails and Sweet Pete's. The restaurant, retail shop and event space opened in December in the shadows of the Skyway, City Hall and Hemming Park in the urban core. Enter through the porch-wrapped front door off Hogan Street and you'll find a buzzing scene. Veer right to Sweet Pete's retail store, or beeline left to Candy Apple's dining room. Upstairs you'll find more Sweet Pete's retail and a windowed vista into the candy factory. One level beyond that are classrooms and event space. But let's venture back down to the dining room. With garish décor cues--crystal chandeliers, stripes and solids--the scene is a mashup of "Alice in Wonderland" and "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," a multicolored menagerie of whimsical grandeur. In a nod to its heritage, black-and-white framed photos of downtown Jacksonville from the olden days ring the perimeter walls. The menu boasts of "anytime" brunch, lunch and dinner, with special dinner appetizers and entrees that rotate daily or every other day. My family tried it the Sunday before Easter, which coincided with Sweet Pete's egg hunt in Hemming and the Easter Bunny's arrival. As usual, we did a menu mashup of our own and began with two appetizers. The Artisan Cheese Board ($10 for two cheeses; $2 for each additional cheese) was a fun palette of candied walnuts, apricots, cranberries and figgy dip. Our featured cheeses were the creamy Georgia Red, tart and spicy Gorgonzola Piccante and buttery Point Reyes Toma. Angling for the sweet side of the menu, we tried the Candy Cherrywood Bacon ($6), three candied strips on wooden skewers atop mixed greens and gorgonzola crumbles. It was very tasty and a nice warmup for my sweet tooth, but barely enough for a couple to share. The Candy Apple Bisque ($5 for my half order; $7 for full-on bisque) was a mild-mannered mix of chunky tomatoes with a goat cheese kick. Entrée-wise, my gluten-intolerant wife had an easy go of the menu, with plentiful "GF" tags next to the gluten-absent items. She went for a half order of the Short Rib Meatloaf ($11; $16 for a full order), a beautiful presentation with tomato jam in a port reduction atop brown butter whipped potatoes and petite vegetables (in our case, green beans). The meat itself needed a pinch or two of salt to bring around the flavor, but otherwise it was a fine, substantial meal. My choice from the "Anytime Brunch" menu, the Rock Shrimp & Grits ($13), featured sautéed rock shrimp, a smaller variety, blended with grits from Alachua's Greenway Farms and finished with a chunky tomato and onion relish. It was a very creamy number on top of a brothy base, with nice zest provided by the tomato-onion garnish, which helped balance the flavor. You'll find dessert on another skinny menu, paired with craft cocktail and happy hour selections. Unfortunately, Candy Apple was fresh out of their signature gourmet candy apples ($9). Undeterred, I opted for a Banana Trifle Brûlée ($7). This oversized shot glass boasted layers of vanilla custard, banana bread and what appeared to be vanilla wafers, with a whipped topping. It's not sized for sharing but delicious sweet tooth satisfaction nonetheless, a classed-up banana pudding. Candy Apple also offers a full bar with craft (Intuition and Bold City) and crafty beers, 13 wines by the glass and 25 by the bottle, along with eight signature cocktails. Happy hours are Tuesday through Friday, 5 to 7 p.m. and feature discounted cocktails, house wine, Champagne, 2-for-1 local beers and food-beverage pairings. Candy Apple is a versatile setting for family brunch or lunchtime/after-hours getaways. Just save some room to browse Sweet Pete's across the foyer. It's a sweet addition to the welcome transformation happening in our urban core. The Candy Apple Café & Cocktails 400 North Hogan Street, Downtown (904) 353-9717 CandyAppleCafeandCocktai… Type of cuisine: French & Southern Fusion Hours: Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bar service: Full bar Children's menu: Yes Catering: Yes Reservations accepted: Highly recommended Price range: Appetizers, $5-10; brunch entrees, $7-13; lunch/dinner sandwiches and entrees, $8-17
(4)Jean L.
Been here 4 times and the menu hasn't changed much. I recommend a menu change. It's a great place for lunch but can get real noisy with all the kids running around sweet pete's.
(3)Jackie S.
LOVE LOVE this place! The quality of food and cute ambiance you get is well worth the price. Food ordered: Cheese grits were creamy and the right amount of flavor. The Hemming omelet was light and fluffy. Biscuits & Gravy were bomb.com Corned Beef Hash was good but reminded us more of a pot roast with an egg on top. Service: No reservations made and phone number was taken with a 10 minute wait. During the wait we decided to check out the candy store (which is awesome by the way). Never received a text for seating after 15 minutes but hostess saw us still waiting and quickly sat us in the outdoor seating. Waitress was nice and served us well. Food took awhile to come but how tasty it was we didn't mind. Note to future visitors: PARKING is limited so be aware. Don't get to excited and purchase prepackaged candy downstairs. They have a self serve with the same items in the candy store. =)
(5)Kelly C.
I really really really want to like this place. But every time I come here, I never know what to order because their menu is so limited and everything looks so meh. It's really disappointing. Because I like the atmosphere and I like the location and the people are nice and it's right next to Sweet Pete's and the drinks are strong/good, I SO want to like this place. Sigh. Also, as a friend pointed out, they should have a menu that matches their theme. The only thing remotely candy apple-like is the candy bacon appetizer. Oh and sweet potato fries, which duh it's naturally sweet. Anyhow, yeah, I dunno if I'd go back unless other people wanted to go. I would, however, recommend going at least once. As I mentioned, the idea and ambiance is pretty neat.
(3)Tracy D.
We were really disappointed. We came for dessert and there are plenty of gluten free options at the candy store. There were two GF options on the menu at the adjoining restaurant. They were out of one so we had no choice at all. We had the sea salt caramel bacon apple for $9 and didn't love it. Service was pretty good. However, there were so few GF options on the savory menu as well that we won't be back.
(2)Susan S.
My good friend had out of town visitors this week and really wanted to wow them with a nice dinner to kick off their trip..she chose The Candy Apple Cafe, and we were very pleased. The area of town is rough, and parking is a bummer..but as soon as you walk up to the porch, you forget all that and are instantly taken in by all the colors and decor..its really spectacular. While we waited for the rest of our party to arrive, we walked around the candy store..they have the most interesting fun items here..coconut curry cashews, liquor lollipops, chocolate covered potato chips, letters made of candy, gift baskets, and more and more..my head was spinning in a sugar high and i hadnt even sampled anything! When we all had arrived we were shown to our table..the colors and artwork and even the chairs are all so beautiful..we had a group of six and had a table with a banquette on one side and chairs on the other side..there was a large glass cherry in the center and we were surrounded by large windows and cheery paint colors..the linens are black and white checker print and the servers wear shirts that matched. We all took a moment to take in the drink menu first and decided on several different options that we later passed around the table for all to try..i personally had the Hogans Hero and it was delish..also at the table were a cherry pop, a hung jury, and a cowford punch..after all the tasting i enjoyed my drink the best! There is also a large variety of beers and wines available, as well as some happy hour offerings. Next we moved on to the appetizer menu where we found many different and fun options..for the table we had mini corn dogs, sweet potato fries, a cheese plate, and the star of the appetizer was the buffalo chicken cracklin..they take chicken skin and i guess bake it till its super crispy..then put hot sauce and blue cheese on it..it was a weird concept to read on a menu, but it was super tasty.. while munching happily and sipping cocktails, we were all also deciding what our entrees would be, and it was no easy feat! seeing that you can have brunch anytime was a game changer for most of us, but oddly no one went for it..at our table there was cornmeal dusted flounder, shortrib meatloaf, shrimp and grits, a reuben, a kale quinoa salad, a lamb special and for myself the sea bass special..the owner of the meatloaf was a little under enthused by it and left a majority on her plate..when the server, who was a bit lack luster, asked if she needed a box and she said no, nothing more was said, she never asked if it was because it wasnt good..everyone else really enjoyed thier food, and we all raved to each other..especially me..this sea bass was cooked perfectly with a light crunchy crust of some sort, and it was served on top of truffle whipped potatoes that were the best i have ever tasted..i rarely order potatoes when i go out to eat, because i had so many bad servings of boxed mush..this was NOT the case here..they were flavorful and amazing and served next to sauteed broccolini..all in all this meal was a hit! I wish i had taken pictures of all the empty plates, scraped clean! As the table was being cleared and we were all in a full state of bliss..the time came that we all knew coming to a place with candy apple in the name would come..the server asked ..are you ready for dessert? she had someone bring over an assortment of candy apples and advised us that they could all be sliced up for sharing..had i not been so full of my amazing meal, i may have partaken..instead we all opted to share one dessert, the chocolate torte with espresso buttercream..it was rich and velvety and sweet, perfect end to this wonderful meal.. i will be back to try the fried chicken, the mac and cheese and also the brunch options, and probably to do some shopping in the candy store..cant wait to enter this place again..its like willy wonka and alice in wonderland all in one!!
(4)Jerry B.
It was like another world. I was first greeted by a willy wonka look a like at the door. There was a little bit of a wait so we tried to explore sweet petes and got lost in the ultra colorful, super sweet smelling building. The food ended up being very good especially for the price. The whisky selection was top notch and I ate entirely to much chocolate.
(5)Ron E.
Ok my 1st and 2nd trip to this place was within the same week. Guess I liked it a lot. Great menu, food, drinks, service, and of course candy. Listen to the servers suggestions and you wont go wrong. Indoor and outdoor seating is available for those of us that enjoy the outdoors. Please save some room for a little something sweet. Those apples are ridiculously good. Take some time to explore the shop as there is a lot to look at. I really like how you can watch them make some of their products. Kids and adults alike love this place!
(5)Katherine H.
Fun and fanciful restaurant sitting inside Sweet Pete's candy shop in DTJax. For decades, this location was one of those fancy men's clubs before sitting vacant for another ten years. It's almost impossible to believe while dining here. Excellent place for cocktails and appetizers after work. I recommend the Factory Water- a woodsy gin and tonic, the deviled eggs and the escargot. Another thing I love about this place is that you can get brunch anytime, so their southwestern crepe makes for a delightful dinner. Word of cation: this place is a local favorite, so make reservations, you'll need them if you go during the lunch rush.
(5)Lisa S.
I really enjoyed the Candy Apple Cafe and will be back. The one thing that kept me from giving them a full 5 stars is the wait and "pretentiousness". We have tried to visit here sooner, but the long wait has discouraged us. When we went last Sunday for brunch we thought we were lucky as there were multiple tables open. However we were informed there would be an hour wait. Apparently all the vacant tables had reservations, a few of which were never filled during out entire meal. Fortunately we were able to sit at the bar and enjoy brunch. I tried the santafe crepes and they were amazing. My guest had the Duval omlette with biscuits and gravy on the side. Delicious. Also an honerable mention was the momosa, which was served mostly champagne and a splash of orange juice, just the way I like them.
(4)Vanessa T.
Love..Love...Love.... this place gets three loves from me, one for every wonderful floor. I was just blown away by how incredible this place is. I have been to the old Sweet Petes to take the kids to the candy making classes, which were always fun and the old place was really cool, but this new location......WOW!! Right when you walk in its just beautiful......decorated absolutely playful,stylish just beautiful!! Three levels of this, the top is a space for events...Weddings, baby showers, B Day parties. The second floor, has a store to buy gifts/candy, the Dessert Bar- all kinds of wonderful goodies in here, then more event space. The bottom floor is half candy shop, half restaurant.....both amaze.. It was very busy on Sunday and we put our names in for a table then just wandered around, there is plenty to look at and people watch, there were a ton of people in there. When we finally got our table we were starving, we ordered 2 apps: mini corndogs and sweet potato fries...both good, the batter on both of these was a light fluffy batter like tempura style. For lunch we got Croquet Madame- the grilled cheese and ham sandwich with a fried egg on top, and ruben with fries...both were very good...i was really looking forward to the candy apple for dessert tho....they were out of the sea salt candied bacon so we went with the rocky road apple......it was heavenly, perfectly sour apple, creamy caramel/chocolate, crunchy pecans, and homemade marshmallows....we all loved it! I am so proud that there is a place like this in Jacksonville, I really loved it!
(5)Saralyn G.
Great drinks and even better service! I ordered a drink that wasn't my favorite (not because of the way it was made, just because I don't care for bourbon all that much and probably shouldn't have ordered it in the first place) and upon noticing I wasn't drinking it much (although I was walking around the store), the bartender came and switched it out for something he knew I would like better. His keen eye for noticing customer satisfaction and his amazing skill at crafting cocktails was obvious. He and all the staff I encountered at Candy Apple and Sweet Pete's were courteous and helpful. Cheers to you Mr. Bartender! Prost! I will be back!
(5)Kristy A.
It's official I LOVE this place. Total web redemption for Candy Apple for me! My first review was based on trips in first week open and a couple weeks later. Today was my sixth time there since opening. My friend and I both ordered items we found problematic on previous visits and new items to try. We started with sweet potato frites and deviled eggs. I could eat the orange sesame cream that accompanies the frites on everything. The frites were tender and coated in a very light tempura. My favorite deviled egg was the spicy hummus and even my friend who first declined her share, once coaxed, loved it. We then moved on to entrees and sides that we had said we would not order again. I had the meatloaf with an extra side of greens and an extra of mac n cheese. My friend had the flounder. The meatloaf was juicy and perfectly seasoned. The Mac n cheese was creamy with plenty of fontina flavor and the fresh ground spice (peppery nutmeg?) was more pronounced than I remembered (that's a good thing). Flounder was equally delightful. The greens were the best I have ever had. Not too salty with big chunks of meat. I mixed bites of them with meatloaf or mac n cheese for wonderful variations of taste. The service was impeccable. Just a tip -make a reservation for the sun porch. Hey Candy Apple does the sun porch have a name? That would be a fun contest. Name the sun porch.
(5)Dennis D.
I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken. From the pictures I see its actual chicken pieces (drumstick, thigh, breast). The menu item did not say chicken tenders. What I got were two kid size chicken tenders on top of cold soggy French fries and they forgot the gravy that goes with it. Did I get the kids meal???! I was really disappointed. Did you all run out of chicken? And it was my birthday!!!
(2)Kathleen P.
Super impressed with the amount of work and care put into the look of this place. I read the article about the abandoned Seminole Club and they've done wonders with the place. Love the salted caramels from Sweet Pete's. Had a turkey Reuben today and was very happy. Fresh turkey, not too messy and not dry. It was full of flavor! Can't wait to bring my husband and daughter here!
(5)Hong N.
Only thing I got here was the golden candy apple cocktail. The apple slices was caramelized on one side. Which gave a nice crunch. The cocktail itself was kinda too apple sauce like. Our waitress was very nice . And the concept of the place is really nice. It's a nice place to take you kids
(4)Chelly S.
Some of the party thought the decor was smart while others thought it went against the historic character of the building and was tacky. Everyone reported that the food was quite good and that's what matters most. Oh yes and deafeningly loud.
(3)Lee H.
Fantastic atmosphere and good food at a fair price. The two for one local beer happy hour didn't hurt, either. The fried chicken over fries and greens is a solid menu selection, as is the mac-n-cheese. Be sure to stop in the candy store on the way out.
(5)Meghan B.
Food was very overrated. Not worth the wait or the price. Our food was cold and average at best.
(2)Jerry T.
This is everything I was hoping for and more. I live in downtown Jacksonville so the restaurant choices are slim. This place opened in the middle of Downtown, a place that needed some action, and I'm so excited to finally have a place for brunch, lunch, dinner, and happy hour! I went there today for brunch. The atmosphere is very welcoming. A mix of modern and artsy, but retains the comforting southern feel. My girlfriend and I sat inside, but there is also outdoor seating on the porch that we will try next time. I ordered the eggs benedict, and my girlfriend ordered an omelette with everything texas toast. Simple, but I feel like this is a good way to judge a place at first before branching out to their specialty entrees. Everything was delicious, cooked perfectly, and prepared nicely. It's a bit small plate, but that is needed in Jacksonville. Also, for small plate, it's very low price. Entrees were in the $10 range. We tried a dark chocolate sea salt caramel candy bacon apple. It's as good as it sounds! They have plenty other dessert choices which I'm looking forward to trying. Unfortunately we didn't try the specialty cocktails, but our mimosas and bloody marys were great! Overall, I'd definitely recommend this place. It is filling a major void that downtown Jacksonville has, and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Kristina K.
This past Sunday two friends and I checked out Candy Apple Cafe for brunch and we were absolutely thrilled with the experience. We weren't entirely sure about the parking situation (we had seen the post on here about not parking in the lot next door) so we parked a few blocks away but that wasn't a big deal. There is street parking right out front and when we arrived (sometime between 10 and 10:30 I think?) there were some open spots close by. When we sat down the restaurant was pretty empty and we were seating near the large windows at the front. The place is really fun and colorful (our waitress called it "Willy Wonka meets Tim Burton" which fit perfectly). The menu (for both brunch and lunch/dinner) was more extensive than I would have expected but every item sounded fantastic. My friends started with the biscuits and gravy as an appetizer. I'm not one for gravy on biscuits but I tried a bite and it was very tasty. I ordered the Hemming omelet (3 eggs, bacon, ham, caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese) and a side of house potatoes. The omelet was fantastic, a little salty for my taste but given the bacon AND ham, totally understandable. The potatoes were okay, I guess I was expecting more of a home fry type potato, they were just lightly seasoned roasted potatoes, nothing special. The other girls ordered the Standard and the bourbon pecan waffles. I tried a bit of the waffles and (as someone who doesn't really like maple syrup), they were fantastic. They were even topped with what was clearly homemade whip cream. We also ordered cocktails (they've set up a place that makes ordering a cocktail before 11am on a Sunday feel very acceptable). I got the Cowford punch (rum, brandy, lemon juice, orange juice, and Oleo Saccharum) and really enjoyed it. The girls with me got a Hogan's hero (described by Ashley as "a tropical vacation" and a very cherry pop (not my taste but she liked it!). Our waitress was fantastic, she came around enough to take care of anything we might need but didn't hover (nice considering how empty the place was). By the time we left the restaurant was a lot busier. If you want a more quiet experience, you should definitely arrive before 11am. We also saw an ad for their Wednesday night porch parties, which sound really fun. I am looking forward to going back for lunch or dinner or just drinks.
(5)Erika C.
The ambiance inside this large, old plantation-style house was whimsical and Wonka-esque. I had the sweet potato fries with the sesame dip as well as the candy cherrywood bacon. The fries were thick and very good, but the bacon was excellent. The bourbon pecan waffles were good, but I didn't taste much of the bourbon in the syrup. The pecans were in the waffle batter. I feel that there are better dishes on the menu, namely the fried chicken that was on my friend's plate. Service was adequate as there were a moderate amount of people in the dining room. We didn't get a refill for our water and I ordered the 8 grain toast and out came the everything toast. Other than this, it was a good experience!
(3)Karen P.
I ordered the rock shrimp and grits and I felt like I was transported to heaven! Absolutely delicious. I would go back again and again just to have that on a weekly basis. The atmosphere was eclectic and trendy, the service was pleasant. Too bad I live in Chicago. I dined with 3 other people and they were equally happy with their lunch. Kudos. The icing on the cake is the partnership with the Sweet Petes next door. Lunch and then candy=awesome
(5)Danielle D.
Had a team outing for lunch. Very impressed with the atmosphere. It tied in nicely with the candy theme of sweet Pete's. The decor was beautiful, whimsical and modern . The Menu was also inventive. The drinks had a fun play an candy and the meals were an enhanced takes on classics with a lot of homemade sauces and touches. A friend of mine is vegan and the chef created something offmenu specifically for his needs and he was very impressed with the creation. Homemade lemonade was awesome and the service was attentive. There is a variety of seating and a great sun parlor to enjoy the view of the plaza outside. Will definitely be back.
(5)Brittany C.
The Candy Apple Cafe is a cool and fun place, and the food is excellent! I absolutely love the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant. I ordered the bourbon pecan waffle with a side order of eggs and it was delicious! The waiter was very attentive and helpful with any questions we had about the menu. It was my first time eating here and I will most definitely be back! I am rating four stars just because it took over 30 minutes for our food to come out while other tables that had come in way after us were getting their food. Other than that the whole experience was great!
(4)Stephanie H.
This place is over-hyped. The menu is small and honestly boring after the first 2 times of going. Daily specials would be a good idea.
(2)Jeremy K.
Candy Apple Cafe was a refreshing experience in Jacksonville. The restaurant is in an old restored building next to Hemming Plaza. It is a great combination of an exciting location and atmosphere. The place is spacious and adjoins to Sweet Pete's. I had their burger and sweet potato fries. Both were delicious. The server was also attentive very helpful. After eating we were able to walk over to Sweet Pete's and get some quality local candy (I love their sea salt caramels). Check this place out!
(4)Jamie B.
Love this place. It was our second time. The atmosphere is fun! It is a bit loud. If it's nice outside try sitting on the porch. Both times our servers were knowledgable and friendly. This visit was for my mother in laws birthday. They were so nice as to put a candle in the center of the Apple so we could sing to her then they removed it and cut it for us and brought it back. She loved it. I do have a complaint. Both times we wanted to try the caramel apple with bacon and they did not have it. Actually they only had the rocky road this time and it was right when they opened. I have reached out via Instagram to ask why. I would think since the Apple is their theme they would have all flavors available most of the time. The caramel for the apples I understand is made by Sweet Pete's. The food is amazing. I had the fried chicken and I must say it was crispy and perfectly seasoned. The collards were just like my moms with a nice smoky vinegar pop. The mashed potatoes were good...a bit thick but tasty. My mother in law got the same dish but with fries. The fries are good but a little soft. My husband got the angus burger and loved it. Father in law went for the short rib meatloaf which was tasty. Our appetizer was the sweet potato fries man was that a good decision. They have a tempura coating and the sauce is so good!!!!!!! We are meeting friends there this Friday and can't wait to try something new. On our previous trip we had the chicken skins (just try them) and the corn dogs with beer cheese dip. We also had an old fashion with rock candy stick and a Seminole club. One last thing. I suggest reservations. Otherwise their is typically a wait! Have fun!
(4)Lilly C.
I recently went to Candy Apple Cafe for brunch with some girlfriends. Since its a newer place you need reservations if you want a table on the weekends. We didn't make reservations but got there early enough to get a seat at the bar. The bar staff was friendly and quick with our service. I got a fluffy, delicious crepe and I changed the cheese to goat cheese. It was well cooked and I would get it again. The mimosas were served cold and fresh. We also tried the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Strawberry Compete & sweet cream they fluffy and delicious. The decor in the place is very cute and it has a fun vibe. I would like to go back for lunch or dinner to try out the rest of the food.
(4)Daniel S.
Their food is delicious. The service is polite and quick. The decor is great. But the noise level is unbearable! The rooms echo like crazy, and both times I've been here it was way too loud to enjoy the meal. The walls, floor and ceiling just echo everything, and makes even normal conversations from tables around you very loud, but the big parties are much worse. I wouldn't recommend this place unless they get some better noise dampening. The food is delicious though, especially the veggie burger, so hopefully they can figure out something with the noise situation.
(2)Joseph G.
The food is okay. Definitely trying for 5-star dining but not always coming through with flavors. The service and experience of dining were definitely 5-star. Desserts were obviously exceptional!
(3)Mark P.
Get the old fashion but don't leave the candy in too long unless you like it sweet. It's yummy!
(4)Chrissi C.
There are a lot of great things about this place, awesome decor, complimentary valet, interesting menu, amazing candy shop. I've been twice so far for lunch during the week. The first time I had the Kale salad, it was amazing!!! Big bowl full of kale with amazing cheese and dressing. The service was very slow though. It took forever to get our drink order, and get our food. We actually had them bring the check as soon as our food came out. We were there nearly and hour and a half. We went during lunch time and it was a bit busy but not crazy and I had a salad and my friend had the slider appetizer so it shouldn't have taken too long. But the food was delish and they brought my friend a free cupcake for her birthday. The second time was more disappointing we went towards the end of lunch so a lot of the restaurant was emptying out but it still took forever to get our food. I got the candied bacon for the table and it was good. I wanted to try another salad since the Kale was so good. Got the full size bacon lardon salad. This was a pretty sad salad for an $11 entree. 3 large bibb lettuce leaves with bacon and hearts of palm sprinkled on top. It was tasty but would have been more suited as an appetizer or side salad. Definitely not filling or substantial enough for a meal. My friends burgers were overcooked. So we waited forever for sub par food. I really like this place and would like to try more of their unique food. Just can't during work lunch breaks unless they get a little quicker with the service.
(4)Oly C.
To begin, I AM a little bitter that they left Springfield. We only went to the cafe once, and it was a pretty huge fail. I'm vegan, so I ordered their beet burger (the only other option was a veggie wrap but our server raved about the vegan dessert options). I honestly have huge guilt for not saying something at the time, but it was hands down one of the worst things I've ever eaten. We'd been out all day so I didn't want to cause a fuss, but I eventually asked for mustard for the very dry, flavorless patty and had myself a mustard sandwich. I was looking forward to the dessert options, only it turned out there wasn't any that day...The building is super cute, but the constant crowds or huge groups of visiting kids make it impossible to shop in peace. I know I shouldn't complain about them being successful, but I've been by several times and just gave up when confronted by the noise and elbows. I really miss being able to pop in for a snack once (ok..sometimes twice) a week.
(2)Angie D.
Love the space with the big chairs and board games out on the table to play. The Thai ginger ice cream was such a clean fresh taste, I wanted more. I had a Dippin dot cupcake and could tell it was home made. This is a great spot for any type of hangout, date night etc.
(4)B I.
Very interesting place. It was not too busy and we went for brunch being downtown anyway. It was not busy but were initially told it would be 30 minutes and we would have to sit outside. We talked to another gentleman because I didn't want to wait outside and wait 30 minutes and somehow We managed to get a table within five minutes there were plenty of tables open. The waitstaff was real nice and the food was maybe better than average. Decor was very nice. Looking to earn some brownie points with your wife and girlfriend take them here. All the females looked extremely happy, most of the guys looked unimpressed and out of place.
(4)Brittany M.
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest man." -Willy Wonka. This is just one of the many Wonka quotes you will find sprinkled throughout this whimsical candy store. Located on the first floor of Pete's Candy Shop is the Candy Apple Cafe. This cafe is fun, inviting and really does make you feel like A KID IN A CANDY SHOP! The cafe itself has a large variety of food including cheese plates, shrimp and grits as well as traditional brunch and lunch options. I highly suggest ordering the Rock Shrimp Crepe if you are in the mood to spice up your life! The only suggestion I have is the time management skills the staff portrays. I have been twice and the wait times for drinks and food were entirely too long each time. I suggest going if you have time on your hands and no worries in the world!
(3)Martha G.
Came here with friends prior to an event. The restaurant and the adjoining candy store made me feel like I had just walked into Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory. The Victorian building is amazing and the décor is genius. I had the shrimp and grits. The shrimps were rock shrimps and they tasted like lobster. Yummy! My friends had the Mac 'N Cheese with candied bacon, and the short ribs. Everyone said their food was delicious. The cocktails weren't bad either. ;-) The only negative, and I wont ding them for this, is the parking. Because of the location, a refurbished Victorian home, on property parking is limited. However, there's parking on the street that surround the restaurant. I will definitely back to try other dishes and to continued to be amazed by the décor.
(5)Miranda R.
We had dinner on a Thursday night during Jaxson's Night Market (read "very crowded"), a group of 6 with reservations. Our reservations were at 7:30 and we were seated a little bit after 8, but the food and atmosphere were worth the wait. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable, everyone was very happy with their food, and venturing through the candy store for some sweets between courses was an added bonus. Adult beverage service to the table was slow, though we were served very quickly straight from the bar while we waited for our table. I would definitely recommend The Candy Apple Cafe.
(4)Rose L.
We loved it. My flounder was great. Greens were the best I've had out! Others had scallops and said it was fabulous. One had corned beef sandwich and liked it too. Waitress good. Even explored Sweet Petes.......then got to meet him in person. Decor fun and different. The only thing to say is that maybe after a bit of substantial profits they will do something about ceiling to help noise level. Sooo loud. But i would bring someone there for a fun surprise.
(4)Ginger H.
A great find! This restaurant is one that can please the grown ups and the kids too. We had the fried chicken, which was moist and tender on a bed of collard greens, and the Mac-n-cheese with candied bacon and a salad. All so good. Our daughter loved the kids' Mac-n-cheese, and I loved the kids menu pricing. Enjoyed 2-for1 happy hour pricing on local beer as well! The ambiance is fun, and feels like a special place without breaking the budget. We'll be back!
(5)Justin R.
Overall, the porch is perfect. The food is good, and the cocktails are bad. Despite overlooking a concentration of Jacksonville's homeless population, The Candy Apple Cafe porch could be among Jacksonville's best places to eat and drink outside. Past the porch, the decor parallels the decadence offered in the menu. As you walk into the restaurant, your eyes will be assaulted by blue walls contrasted by black-and-white horizontal stripes. Over-sized cherries punctuate the room with red. While bulky chairs, thickly framed photography and crystal-adorned chandeliers make the space feel crowded -- even when it's nearly empty. The room is full of interesting choices, and I assume Juicy Couture inspired most of the decorating decisions. The cocktails are not worth drinking. You're better off drinking from the beer and wine list. We found two cocktails particularly harsh. The Very Cherry Pop should include a diabetes warning label; it's insanely sweet. And the Cowford Punch shares a nearly indistinguishable resemblance to a screwdriver. If you're going with wine, the cheese board is curated at a good price point, and if you're going with beer, you won't be disappointed by the petite corn dogs.
(3)Mark M.
The short rib meatloaf was to die for. The deviled eggs were very good. I usually don't like sweet with my bacon -- but the candied bacon was tasty. First time here -- we'll DEFINITELY be back! The wife was equally impressed -- which ain't easy, TRUST ME.
(5)Peggy S.
We went for dinner with another couple. We love Sweet Pete's candy, and we were so excited to try out the Candy Apple! My expectations were low because it's brand new, and I was unsure exactly what to expect from their french & southern fusion description. Everything was delicious! Way better than I expected. I had a side of their mac & cheese and the arugula salad. I'm a mac & cheese snob, and I'm telling you it was great! The salad was super delicious, too. My husband and other friend got cocktails. Being 5 months pregnant, I sadly couldn't partake. One of the cocktails had rock candy in it! They looked beautiful and both guys said they were yummy. My husband got the meatloaf. It was tasty and really smoky. After dinner we strolled upstairs to the dessert bar where there were cookies and all kinds of ice cream!! Did I mention I'm currently pregnant? Hence the excitement for both cookies AND ice cream. I had to try both. I got a salted toffee butterscotch cookie (oh yeah!) and a small thai coconut ice cream. Everything was perfect and it was a truly wonderful meal. I recommend everyone try it out. If you thought the old Sweet Pete's looked like something from Willy Wonka, just wait until you see this place! The decor is so much fun and so adorable.
(5)Ashley L.
Pretty good food. Didn't love the buffalo chicken skin. That was a little weird. I think they have a lot of potential and will try again. Happy to see them downtown.
(3)Melonie C.
Such a great atmosphere! It's great for kids and adults!
(5)Kimberly W.
Cute spot, ok food, good cocktails
(3)Kathryn B.
Absolutely delicious. Much-needed Breath of fresh air for the downtown Jax area. Warm and welcoming, yet hip and cool. Obviously family friendly with a dessert bar and the fun yet sophisticated atmosphere, mixed with a younger feel. Knowledgeable 20-30 something's would look forward to its eclectic drink menu, it's array of food choices from turns on great southern dishes to a beautiful Sea Scallops appetizer. Which I immediately ordered upon hearing the specials. They were so large, one was too undercooked for my taste. But they refired it and it came back a few minutes later - perfect! I also had the shrimp crepe. This was an almost unbearably perfect dish. I wanted to savor every single bite. No lumping flavors together here!! Each bite offered the taste of fresh rock shrimp perfectly seasoned with the spinach & creme Fraiche. I'm writing and dreaming about it the day after. The collared greens! Wow. Delicious! We had the butter lettuce salad which is perfect. Light w grapefruit and I'd prefer without bacon but the bacon makes sense. Salt and sweet. Beautiful. For dessert - surprised I wasn't as impressed due to the name. The apple layered tart(the real name I'm not sure of) was served cold. Very cold. My friends and I with about 50 years of restaurant experience between the 3 of us, thought it should have been served at least room temperature. But just because it wasn't our vision for this dessert so be it, we enjoyed it as is. A chocolate tiered crisp dessert was the favorite of the two. My friend LOVED it. I thought it was good. Both desserts were served with gorgeous fresh berries and fresh whipped cream which finished both desserts perfectly. Lastly, our server was Chelsea. She was an exceptional server. Professional, sweet, informative, and efficient. An asset to this restaurant. Thank you for the wonderful time! We will Most definitely be back many times!!
(4)Marina A.
I first went to The Candy Apple Cafe' & Cocktails at the beginning of the week for a birthday lunch for a friend. I had my goddaughter and family come into to town and I made reservations to go again at the end of the week. The food is great and the atmosphere is so much fun! I will continue to go back!
(5)Todd W.
Sold to us by a friend who said its the best southern food she's had. Sorry but she clearly hasn't had real southern food! The meatloaf is pretty good (wife let me sample some). The chicken is largely void of taste other than black pepper from the gravy. Collards are simply average. The Mac and cheese is another highlight but overall this is merely average fare. Service is great though!
(3)Jennifer M.
What a neat place to go! Walking around the candy store waiting on our table, was just a treat, They have all kinds of desserts, candies, chocolates, whatever you can think of, they probably have it. We didn't have entrees at the restaurant, but had some apps and cocktails instead. And of course, a dessert because you just have to. We tried the cheese board and the sweet potato frites. The fig spread that came with the cheese was unique and very flavorful and the sesame orange sauce that accompanied the fries, was just to die for. The fries were battered in tempura which made them extra tasty. For dessert we tried the apple crepe dish which was excellent with the caramel sauce. The cocktails were unique and delicious too!!! Can't wait to go back and try an entree.
(5)Michael A.
We ate here a couple of times while we were manning a Creator booth and the One Spark event. The menu is limited but everything we tried was very good and reasonably priced. One evening I had the Croque Monsieur, a baked ham and cheese stuffed croissant like roll. It was excellent. The salads and veggies are also good. Our server on both visits was Chelsea and she did a wonderful job and was very pleasant to chat with. The prime feature in this building is Sweet Pete's Candy Shop, three stories of confections!
(4)James P.
Simply delicious with a very friendly staff. Have eaten there a few times and always left extremely happy. I was able to perform there as well for an event upstairs and the venue was lovely. Everyone was very accommodating and professional. I highly recommend The Candy Apple Cafe and Sweet Pete's!
(5)Michelle M.
I ate lunch at Candy Apple with 3 friends. I called ahead and made reservations for 1:00 and they were ready for us when we arrived and we were able to sit down immediately. I recommend making reservations ahead of time because it is usually very busy. I ordered a Croque Madame with fries and it was delicious! The bread was thick, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. There was just a little bechamel on the bread so it wasn't a messy sandwich, but there was enough bechamel to infuse the sandwich with a delicious flavor. Cheese was melted over the top of some ham, and it was crowned with a soft fried egg. I would definitely order this dish again. One of my friends had a Veggie Burger. It looked really thick, and she said it was delicious as well. Another friend ordered a traditional burger and was happy with her meal as well. So now for the bad news (and why I couldn't give them 5 stars). One of my friends ordered the soup du jour and biscuits. The Soup du Jour was said to be roasted poblano peppers and chicken. There was no chicken in the soup at all, the color of the soup was really unappetizing, and the flavor was terrible! I thought perhaps the server would notice she hadn't eaten but a couple spoonfuls of soup and ask her about it, but the server was oblivious. I felt a little bad for her, but not too bad considering we were going to the candy store and the dessert bar next. She did say the biscuits were good, too. The biscuits looked like they had been baked and then pan fried to give them a little crunchy texture.
(4)Dena B.
I loved eating at the Candy Apple Cafe! We started with the bacon which was sweet and salty, crispy perfection! We also had the corn dogs which were cute and a great appetizer portion. I had the croque monsieur sandwich for lunch and I really enjoyed it although my all-time favorite croque monsieur is the one at La Madeleine restaurants. I had some of my son's mac n cheese and thought it was really good! Nothing like the craft mac n cheese some restaurants serve. Overall I loved this restaurant! I will be back again! The atmosphere was so cute and classy, and yet I didn't feel bad bringing my 4 year old to lunch (it is in a candy store afterall).
(5)James M.
Kind of stuck between a 3 and 4, but the service makes it a 4. We had the cornmeal crusted fish (flounder? The Missus had it), the cheese plate, and the short rib meatloaf. My meatloaf was very tasty, with an interesting texture due to the short rib. It came with some root vegetables and mashed potatoes--all very good! Missus liked her fish, but would only give it a 3/5. Cheese plate was very good, and even better for the price point. Also had a root beer flavored whiskey cocktail, which wasn't the best. Also ordered a side of the Mac and cheese, which the server forgot, though she was on point with everything else. Ah well. May still go back for breakfast. Room is really stunning. Cheerful and colorful, yet still a bit romantic. At one point, I asked someone if they ever stay open after 8, even on the weekend, and they said no. Not trying to call out anyone, but, without saying the person's reason for them not staying open later, this neighborhood could still use a place that stays open late, particularly with a show in town down the street with a lot of surely hungry audiences--and actors--looking for a bit post show. Just a thought.
(4)Vincent C.
Great food, great people, great space. Candy Apple had wonderful service. We ordered the shrimp crepe app which was savory and had a bit of crunch to it. We also shared the breaded grouper, which was somewhat flaky on one side a little crunch on the bottom. Mashed potatoes hugged the filet underneath. Delicious.
(5)Jeffery M.
Great place for kids to walk around and see this big converted building w/ many floors of fun stuff to see. Parking is a little hard, but worth the effort. The inside huge and very family oriented. 3 floors, but they have an elevator if needed. Several different themes: ice cream, candy, coffee...all kinds of goodies.
(5)Jan B.
Food was delicious! Service OK - ordered second bottle of wine, entrees came and waited some time after that. Unfortunately we also came to hear Chris Thomas play and inside the restaurant you can't hear the music on the porch at all. Scallops dinner out of this world good, as was the Reuben and sliders. Meatloaf and deviled eggs - just so so. Also the decor is soooo fun! We will be back.
(4)Mary H.
Very limited menu, overpriced, bad service, extremely loud. After lunch, we bought a selection of chocolates and they tasted stale. The decor is cute, but that's really all I can say positive about this place.
(1)M G.
a jolly experience...good food, good prices, extremely fun, colorful environment. A really tasty vegiburger
(4)Jen C.
Came here for lunch a few weeks ago and were very impressed. I had the mac and cheese with bacon; the mac and cheese was so-so, but the bacon was wonderful. My co-worker had a hamburger and fries, both of which were wonderful. The wait and seating situation was a bit confusing and the service was very, very slow for a weekday lunch hour. The ambiance was great and the candy store was a lot of fun.
(4)Stacy B.
The food was excellent. The service left so much to be desired as it was slow and sporadic. The server seemed preoccupied. No, it was not crowded. My son asked for a tea refill 3 times before another waiter brought it. I had 130 (late lunch) reservations and I had to leave my son with the money for the check at 250 because the server was MIA. We had requested the ticket 10 minutes prior. I have family coming in town next week and this would be a nice stop if we don't have anywhere else to go . I'll never do lunch if I have to go back to work.
(3)Lonnie V.
This place feels like the gift shop you are forced through when you get off a roller coaster. The food was served nearly cold and everything was pricey. Lunch for two adults and three kids cost $65 (includes four cupcakes). If the food was served hot I would have given it three stars. I'm not in any hurry to go back.
(2)Susan G.
I was with a very large party (about 25 or so), and we still had good service. I tried the beet/kale salad, and the shrimp and grits, and both were delicious! Would definitely recommend!
(5)Deb M.
Love this place. But don't go without a reservation or you will have to wait about an hour for a table. It can get quite noisy because of the kids, so if you are looking for a quiet place to hold a meeting- this is not it! Service is great and quick. Menu is on the Southern Style. Fried Chicken and the Reuben are two of my favorites. Don't miss the Parlor upstairs where they have milkshakes, cookies, cupcakes etc ( even gluten free). The barrels of candy will thrill any child and the old fashioned candy- Clarks, O'Henry, Sugar Daddy, Fizzies will thrill the adults. Downstairs the chocolate candy will delight you, but the Salted Caramels are my favorite. Great place to buy hostess gifts. It's an experience!
(5)Brittney S.
I took my dad here for Fathers' day brunch without a reservation. Initially I thought that may have been a mistake but we were able to find seats at the bar almost immediately. We had delicious cocktails and candied bacon to start and it was all pretty impressive. He had eggs benedict which was perfect, great hollandaise. I had the corned beef hash; it was slightly sweet and very salty but quite rich and tasty. My mom ordered the rock shrimp crepe of which she loved the flavor but had come out cold. Surely it cooled down while waiting on the other orders with piping hot eggs but I assume the timing was just off. It was a busy service but the bartender was kind enough to take the entree off of our bill without being asked. The rest of the menu sounded amazing and I live right around the corner so I'll certainly be back to explore their other offerings.
(4)Judith H.
Thursday brunch was wonderful. We had our granddaughters with us and our server and his trainee did a fantastic job. We all loved what we ordered. The bourbon pecan waffle is delicious!
(5)Jeff T.
Amazing! Fantastic! Yummy! We went for lunch on a Saturday. You can enjoy lunch or brunch. Food, Service & Atmosphere is great!
(5)Steve S.
This is one of our new favorite places. There is nothing like this in Jacksonville. This is a fantastic experience for children and adults alike. The ambiance is awesome and the food is great. Treat yourself to this amazing experience!!!
(5)Ipeachi P.
My son has egg & daily allergy so I was worried there wouldn't be anything for him to eat. Our server made sure our order was egg & daily free for my son. Food was great. Service was awesome. The decor was whimsical but not too much. Great over all experience.
(5)Brett M.
The service was a bit on the slow side, but I'll liken it to being a Monday morning at around 10:45. It took awhile for my partner and I's food to come out, but it ended up being delicious. She got the Shrimp and Grits, which she said was about as good as it gets. I had the French Toast, and, while extremely sweet, it was very good. The atmosphere along with the multiple candy shops in the building make this place worth a second visit.
(4)Geni C.
Love this place. It is something you need to experience. Has the Willie Wonka thing going on and has great food and adult beverages. Candied bacon and a rock candy old fashion
(4)Erika H.
Great fun place! Food was excellent and the ambience was unique and adorable. Place was filled with business people at lunch with the occasional mom and kids. Service was excellent and I will be back to try out their dinner as well as their brunch.
(5)Barb O.
Awful. I ordered a salad that had bad meat and the lettuce was brown. The meat just clumps of meat rolled. Smelled funny and I could not even swallow.
(1)Bill N.
Get the insulin shot ready as soon as you walk in the sugar is flowing three levels of it in fact... great place!! unique for sure. I had probably one of the best Ruben sandwiches to date. I wasn't real keen on the fries. Granted they look like they are fresh cut and seasoned rather well but I am not a fan of the soggy texture. My wife ordered her sandwich plain and it came loaded with condiments. I like what they have done to preserve the building and retain its history. It was convenient to use the complimentary valet service but find it rather odd that the parking lot is 3 blocks away. MAKE RESERVATIONS!!!!
(4)M D.
Beautiful decor, beautiful food presentation, and delicious food and drinks. Great for a family brunch, lunch, or girls night out in the evening. In line with all of Sweet Pete's, it's unique and magical. We love coming here and it's also a big hit when we have visitors.
(4)Sandra R.
This was my first visit to The Candy Apple Cafe, but it certainly won't be my last!!! The place was fascinating and the food hot and delicious!! Can't wait to go back. I just wish that they had valet parking on the weekend also.
(5)Dian W.
A very fun and colorful place! Food was good as was the service. The ambiance is over the top. Free valet parking makes it easy to enjoy a downtown restaurant.
(5)Mitch M.
Food/price are average. Table included 2 omelets and 1 Eggs Benedict. Excellent service and whimsical atmosphere. Best to make a reservation if you want a seat during peak times.
(3)Karen A.
First time at the Candy Apple Café! It was great...food, service and atmosphere!
(5)Ed M.
Stopped in on a Thursday evening. Not too crowded. Very good service. I had the meat loaf and my wife had the flounder. Both of us liked it a lot. After the meal we headed up to the Dessert Bar. They were out of a number of things, but still we each found something we liked, a walnut brownie and their Drizzle, think Hostess cupcake.Reasonably priced. So nice to have a place like this downtown.
(4)Dave F.
I waited a while before going to Candy Apple Cafe so it would have had time to work the kinks out. However, I don't feel that has quite happened yet. I went for dinner and I do think the food was good. I had a piece of fish (the server said it was the special and when I got the bill I was a little surprised it cost twice that of the other entrees: $30. Next time I'll ask!). The fish was quite good though, cooked just right. The meatloaf was tasty but not extraordinary. Mostly, I think the Cafe needs to decide what it is. When you go to dinner in the evening and are buying $11 drinks and paying $50-75 for dinner, you expect a certain ambience in the restaurant. This still feels like a lunch cafe: very loud, the lights were glaringly bright and the service was pretty shaky. (We waited 10-15 minutes to get a candy apple for dessert. How long does it take to slice an apple?). There was a hired photographer next to us taking social media photos of drinks being made at the bar. Really? Is this a workspace studio or somewhere you want people to relax and enjoy their food? Curiously, management was in the room pacing like tigers--but didn't seem to address anything that a customer might find important. Customers seem pretty low on the priority list. I do hope management makes some changes to up the game. Sophistication isn't that hard to achieve: 5 watt lightbulbs over the bar would help immensely. I'll probably go back for the food, but only at lunch or breakfast. As a dinner spot, it's not yet up to snuff.
(3)Edward S.
AMAZING. Unique, fun, and hip decor. Cafe w full bar with amazing drink list and delicious food. Great Reuben. Others in my group liked the Eggs Benedict, deconstructed salad, and rock shrimp crepe. Perhaps the best part is the on site candy store, upstairs dessert bar, and candy factory w viewing areas.
(5)Laura C.
I gave it 3 stars because the atmosphere was adorable and the staff was friendly and helpful. I went with my husband and another couple from out of town. I had the croque madame which is a sandwich with a fried egg on top it was actually very tasty it came with one side which were french fries those were served ice cold. (they did send me a fresh serving that was hot). My friend ordered the eggs Benedict which she enjoyed. However, our husbands ordered the challah french toast that had to be returned 3 times. Once because it came out ice cold the second time they gave us a vinegar dressing instead of a maple syrup. Apparently the french toast is brushed with a vinegar base it has a very awkward taste. Nobody in our party liked it. The manager was extremely cordial and apologetic and he removed the french toast from the bill. All in all I would definitely recommend you to try the place its upbeat and fun, however i would suggest it more for lunch instead of breakfast or brunch.
(3)