We just recently caught wind of a South side mainstay called Secret Garden Cafe (10095 Beach Boulevard), now located almost directly across from Rex the Beach Boulevard Dinosaur on Beach Boulevard at Peach Street. Here's a little history about the place from their website..."Michael and Zack acquired the Secret Garden Tea Room in Spring of 2000. It was located inside the Avonlea Antique Mall on Beach Boulevard. Having a vision to create a larger restaurant space and menu the fellas changed the name to Secret Garden Cafe and created a more full service setting offering a lunch that catered to a broader audience. In Fall of 2004 Avonlea announced it was moving to the Baymeadows area. Michael and Zack at this point had developed many relationships with their customer base and chose to build a new Secret Garden at its current residence on Beach Boulevard. In 2005 they opened the new location and began offering breakfast and lunch. Many of the current customers of the cafe have been long time regulars and remember it in its early years. Fast forward to 2009 and the restaurant has continued to blossom mostly in part to its troupe of wonderful employees and loyal customers who they extend many heartfelt thanks."
Gay owned and operated, the eatery is reminiscent of European Street, maybe a little more upscale. The atmosphere is very inviting and they offer an array of sandwiches, soups, salads, and delectable desserts. So far we've tried the Chicken Salad Sandwich - All white chicken prepared daily, with leaf lettuce, tomato and alfalfa sprouts served on grain bread ($7.95), the Smoked Turkey and Bacon - Smoked turkey, bacon, leaf lettuce, cheddar cheese and tomato served with herb aioli on grilled Italian bread ($8.50), the Alabama Meatloaf - Grilled and topped with cheddar cheese, barbeque sauce and coleslaw served on grilled Italian bread ($8.25), and the BLT Deluxe - Bacon, field greens, and crispy fried green tomatoes served with creamy tarragon dressing on a Ciabatta roll ($8.50). We also tried a side of the Sweet Potato Chips and a HUGE piece of Chocolate Cake. Trust us, everything was pretty darn fantastic. Check out the pics...
The restaurant also serves dinner on the first Saturday of each month from 4:30pm to 8:00pm. The menu for each monthly dinner is posted on their website. Stop on in, you won't be disappointed.
14 comments:
Brunch there is awesome, too. Their staff is amazing and the food is great.
I agree. The staff is very nice and attentive. Great atmosphere and excellent food.
The are open on Sundays for brunch only, and closed on Mondays ;-( I have been going here for years, when it was first opened in the Avonlea Antique Mall, it has always been one of my favorite spots to eat.
Hmmm, another review? I thought you guys gave up on these restaurant "reviews" after it was revealed that these are paid endorsements (you know, the whole comped meal thing).
Oh...So "PISS and VINEGAR" is back sniping again...so sorry you have nothing better to do than steep in jealousy and Negativity.
10:37, you are the one who sounds like p &v.
Free meals = free advertising. Jason and mark need to stop blogging under "anonymous". There should be a funeral for JC's lost credibility and web presence. These guys or girls, no one really knows who they are, deserve what they are getting. And i find it hard to believe anyone here would defend their "reviews" and silly, meaningless posts and subsequent blogs from their alcohol and drug fueled "friends". So many angry queens here, what a hoot!
"piss and vinegar", really? What, are you 90? My grandfather used that term.
spammmmmed, how funny.
How funny being spammed? Erm, I've personally always been a big fan of the comedy genius of Eddie Izzard, Chris Rock, Lee Evans and Jack Dee. Being spammed ranks pretty low on my "how funny" list. Whatever turns you on though...
I'm sorry, but I was not impressed. The service is slow. The food is just OK.
"alcohol and drug fueled "friends". "
Heyyyy.
You type that like its a bad thing.
(I'm NOT a 'fraidy cat hiding behind the anonymous tag.)
I SAW YOUR REMODELING SHOW ON TV. I WISH YOU THE BEST, AND I WILL EAT THERE ANYTIME I GO OUT FOR LUNCH. THE FOOD IS EXCELLENT THE WHOLE PLACE IS CLEAN AND ATMOSPHERE IS GREAT. THE WAITERS ARE VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL.
IGNORE THOSE NUTS THAT DON'T KNOW BETTER.
Never again! Pompous owner & clueless servers!
Went there for my grandmother in-law's 85th birthday (sweet woman), with my mother in-law and my wife. It seemed busy, but there were 5 tables open, 3 since we arrived. After about 20 minutes of standing around I approached the owner which was keeping himself away from everything by the kitchen counter. I asked nicely if there was a chance to be seated since the tables were available. He dismissed me with some attitude and saying that they knew what they were doing, which obviously they didn't. The staff seemed too scared to sit us, they had no host in front and one server seemed like he was trying to help but had no clue himself plus he had his own tables. Seemed they were scared to make any moves without approval. The server even snapped at Mimi (grandma). When they finally sat us at one of the empty tables that was available since we arrived (35 minutes later) we were quietly voicing our concerns when the owner came to our table and said "well you folks don't have to stay any longer". After that rudeness we decided to go. Not one rude comment from us, but very rude treatment from the staff. And Mimi was a regular at the restaurant! The food looked good but never got a taste and never will. The owner seemed to have the attitude that he was above all and that the customers were there for him and not the other way around. As a family we like to offer our support to our local non-chain restaurants but with an attitude like that no wonder they are losing the franchise battle. We wound up at the trusty Bahama Breeze with quick seating and a wonderful waitress (Nicole) who showed appreciation for our patronage. Go Bahama Breeze!
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