Spliff’s Gastropub

Spliff’s Gastropub recently opened in Downtown Jax (next to the Cowford Chophouse construction). I visited on a Sunday for a Jacksonville Restaurant Reviews Foodie Adventure where we were given the opportunity to try a variety of menu items. Upon walking in, I immediately fell in love with the place. From the exposed brick to the art on the walls, this place was right up my alley. Then I went outside and nearly lost my mind. It was a photographer’s paradise! There were murals on every wall and there were tables as well as a stage for live music.  

1st Course – Cucumber Salad - Greenhouse-grown European cucumbers, organic tomatoes and onions topped with goat cheese then drizzled with a balsamic reduction.

2nd Course – Spliff’s Pockets-The Goodfella - A Flakey buttery pastry puff stuffed with pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, Romano cheese, sundried tomatoes, chopped basil and garlic then baked until golden brown. Served with our made in house Greek pasta salad.

I really liked this course. The pastry shell was reminiscent of a croissant and the filling was plentiful. It tasted like a hot pocket that was taken up a notch. I loved it!

3rd Course – Gourmet Grill Cheese- The Goat Boy - Butter Texas toast grilled cheese with tri-tip steak, caramelized onions, sweet peppers, provolone and goat cheese. Served with a side of our bowl of green salad with green goddess dressing. This course was a little lacking for me. I think that the idea was good, but the execution was off a bit. The bread was toasted too much and was hard to bite into, and the steak was a thick piece so I ended up using my fork and knife to cut it up. The flavor though, was outstanding.

4th Course – Mac and Cheese-The Cordon Bleu Dreams - One of our signature dishes, Grilled chicken, honey baked ham, Swiss cheese and broccoli, panko encrusted then baked to perfection.

I also really liked this course. The mac and cheese was rich and packed with flavor. I could have done without the broccoli, it seemed to overpower the dish, but that was just my personal preference. I can’t wait to go back and try some of their other mac and cheese options.

5th Course – Chef Inspired Chocolate Cake - A decedent chocolate cake made by our own pastry and head chef Casandra Romines. Dark, delicious and rich.

By the time the cake showed up, we were all stuffed! It was a very dense cake and we were given a huge piece so I only ate a little bit of it, but it had a good taste to it.

Verdict: Liked It

I definitely want to go back for the Spliff’s Pockets and the Mac and Cheese. I can see myself handing out there in the back of the place drinking a beer and indulging on some good food. Sounds like the perfect end to a hectic work day for me. I also really like their location. They are literally around the corner from the Florida Theatre so I can see this being a go-to place for some after show drinks in the near future!