Culinary Discoveries Worth the Trip

Along with a full bar, Fore Score Golf Tavern offers a variety of flat bread pizzas, wings, sandwiches and signature smash burgers. Photo by Cole LoCurto.

If you feel like you’ve exhausted all the culinary options in your neighborhood, take heart. Given the size and ongoing development of Northeast Florida, there are bound to be a few overlooked and undiscovered markets, bars and restaurants that offer deliciously exciting experiences. We've found some dining offerings in emerging communities, and others slightly off the beaten path. Collectively, they offer new ingredients for your pantry, convenient carry out meals and exciting destinations for cocktails and cuisine.

New to the Green Cove Springs dining scene, The Turmeric Kitchen is an informal setting where you can enjoy the distinctive flavors of authentic Indian cuisine. Conveniently housed in a former gas station on Highway 17, this is a come-as-you-are, casual experience offering traditional dishes prepared with modern culinary techniques. Dine in, take out, or just catch a game at the outdoor bar and patio.

Fore Score Golf Tavern, located in the Palms at Gate Parkway center, appeals to golf enthusiasts and locals in pursuit of good times along with an elevated yet casual dining option. Eager to enhance your swing? Book a little time in one of their Full Swing golf simulators. Their bar menu is comprehensive, including flat bread pizzas, wings, a spectacular, three-tiered 12 martini tower, hot honey BLT sliders and signature smash burgers.

Despite its remote location on State Road 13 in Orangedale, Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ is one of northeast Florida's premier destinations for barbecue. While brisket is their most popular offering, ribs run a close second. Set under a canopy of towering trees dripping with Spanish moss and a view of the St. Johns River, this place has the look, feel and flavor of authentic regional BBQ.

With booming consumer interest in global flavors and a growing ethnic community, Romashka Euro Deli and Bakery has found its niche in St. Johns County on the fast-growing County Road 210 corridor. Their aisles overflow with foods imported from Russia, Ukraine and surrounding countries, including fresh and frozen ethnic specialties, jams, deli meats, marinated seafoods, cheeses, confectionery and more.

For an even more extensive selection with primarily Asian specialties, head to RD International Market and Food Court on Beach Boulevard near Hogan Road. This market boasts the largest selection of fresh and frozen seafood in Jacksonville, an expansive range of fresh produce and aisles brimming with imported foods from around the world. Dine in or take out from their food court featuring Chinese, Thai, Lao and African cuisines as well as an on-premises Chinese bakery.