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Matthew's - San Marco

At a Glance

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From , former About.com Guide

Matthew's - San Marco

Matthew's is located in a restored 1920s bank building in historic San Marco.

Photo © Matthew Medure
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It's Jacksonville's only AAA Four-Diamond, Mobil Four-Star restaurant. Matthew's in San Marco was Chef Matthew Medure's first entrepreneurial venture. Success came practically overnight, prompting a second eatery, Restaurant Medure, in Ponte Vedra Beach in nearby St. Johns County. He's planning a third for downtown Jacksonville.

Location & Hours

Matthew's is located at 2107 Hendricks Avenue near historic San Marco Square and is open for dinner only, 5:30-10:00 p.m.

Price Range

First and second course items range from $8 for cucumber wrapped romaine, sun-dried tomato, olive and reggiano to $18 for the "Hudson Valley" foie gras with onion confit and saffron marmalade. Main courses run $22 for organic chicken breast with roasted garlic gnocchi and parmesan cream emulsion to $36 for prime beef tenderloin with smoked cheddar risotto and shiitake meat jus. Desserts go up to $14 for a selection of artisan cheeses with Tuscan flatbread.

If you're dining with a group, choose one of Matthew's tasting menus, which offer an array of items for sharing. $99 with wines, $69 without.

Details

  • Sleek, upscale, European interior housed in a restored 1920s bank building;
  • Open kitchen;
  • Outdoor patio seating featuring a fountain and canopies of jasmine;
  • New lounge and tapas bar;
  • Wine cellar with up to 2,000 bottles;
  • Staff sommelier;
  • Ceiling-installed Aura Music system playing hand-selected tunes;
  • Reservations can be made online.

Guide Review

One of Florida's most renowned chefs, Matthew Medure's innovative recipes are borne of his own personal travels around the world. Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian flavors are evident, as are those of those of traditional Southern comfort food with a European kick.

Medure graduated from the Pennsylvania Institute for Culinary Arts in 1990. The school nominated him for the James Beard Perrier Jouet "Rising Star Chef of the Year" in 1996 and 1997. He came to prominence locally while working at The Grill Room at the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island, earning the coveted AAA Five Diamond Award. He opened Matthew's in Jacksonville's San Marco district in 1997. Quick success prompted the opening of Restaurant Medure in nearby Ponte Vedra Beach.

Top dishes include the seared blue crab cake with lobster coulis and purple potato caper relish ($14) and the sika venison loin with foie gras, candied sweet potato, black truffle and au jus ($31). A favorite finisher is the warm blueberry pound cake with blueberry compote ($9).

Matthew's boasts one of the area's most extensive wine lists with labels from more than 10 countries and a newly designed wine cellar that holds up to 2,000 bottles.

The Lounge is Matthew's newest addition. Tasty items on the Tapas Bar Bites Menu include sauteed escargot with Himalayan truffles and creamy parmesan emulsion ($10.50), or brillat savarin with spiced walnuts and fresh lavender honey ($6.50). Be sure to try Matthew's Signature Strawberry Martini made with Grand Marnier marinated strawberries and Hangar 1 Mandarin Blossom Infused Vodka ($14).

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