Housed in the Highlands Center strip mall on the north side of Jacksonville, just a short distance from I-95, this restaurant offers patrons a pleasant and tasty dining experience. Comfortable booths and a friendly staff enhance a menu that includes such options as honey chicken, General Chow chicken, Mandarin beef and a host of combination plates.

Formerly known as Buddha's Belly, Buddha Thai Bistro is absolute heaven for lovers of the Asian cuisine. The service is excellent and the prices reasonable, but neither of these is the best aspect of the restaurant. One of the main reasons it is so popular is the fact that it caters to vegans as well, and not just through a few dishes; there is a complete section of the menu dedicated to vegan dishes. The regular menu features, apart from the eternal favorite Pad Thai, delectable offerings like golden citrus chicken, Siamese fried rice and kalua ribs.

After a hot day on the beach get fresh with One Hot Cookie. It's as easy as one, two, three. Step One…select a dough: chocolate chip, brownie or vanilla. Step two… top it off by choosing from a wide variety of toppings, you name it they've got it. Step Three…Your One Hot Cookie is freshly baked in less than a minute. Now, you can have it A La Mode with homemade ice cream or with a shake or beverage. Want a little food, with your dessert? One Hot Cookie also offers lunch with a choice of wraps, Italian Ciabatta, Boar's Head Deli Sandwiches or Smokin' Hot Subs. One Hot Cookie Café offers outdoor dining or in door dining with television and free Internet access. Located one block off of Atlantic and just a short distance from the beach.

A meal at Morton's includes juicy steaks, fine wine and great cigars. Begin with a Double Porterhouse Steak, Baked Boston Scrod or Cajun Ribeye Steak and end with Chocolate Velvet Cake or New York Cheesecake. Don't forget to wash it down with wine-you get to choose from a list of 175. The restaurant is also available for parties and business meetings. On specific days you'll get to savor complimentary Filet Mignon sandwiches and cheap Martinis as it's 'Mortini Night'. Don't miss it!

Located on the Intercoastal Waterway, it offers American-style cuisine with everything from burgers and fries to fresh catch of the day. Boaters can dock alongside at convenient boat slips. Tall glass windows expand the view for diners. Menu options range from chicken wings to steaks and seafood. Sandwiches include po' boys stacked high with your favorite fried seafood, chicken sandwiches and hamburgers. You will also find an array of ribs, steaks, some chicken and seafood dishes and dinner salads. A full service bar is on the left near the entrance.

Step inside the Thai Room and you are whisked away to the exotic Orient. Fresh meats and seafood are prepared as spicy as you choose and served alongside crispy noodles or steamed rice. The exotic fragrances will make your mouth water as you wait. Fans of Thai cuisine have come to expect a little fire with their food and the Thai Room delivers, if you like. Try the Crab Rangoon or Pad Thai stir fry. Other traditional Thai dishes are served with your choice of beef, chicken, pork, shrimp or tofu. Open Monday to Friday from 11a-2p, and from 5p onwards from Monday to Saturday.

Al's creates, without question, some of the best pizza in the Jacksonville Beaches Area. They also serve a wide variety of mouth-watering Italian cuisine, from calzones to manicotti. This is a fun, casual place for dining. A few outdoor tables provide a shady spot to eat and people-watch. The style is definitely funky with its bold shapes, bright colors and modern lighting. Citrus-colored booths and tables furnish the dining floor. A large painted mural decorates one dining area wall. See the website for additional locations.

Located at Tapestry Park and in close proximity to restaurants like III Forks, Corner Bistro & Wine Bar is known for its American fare and extensive wine selection. If you're here for a quick bite, the buffalo chicken sandwich and smoked salmon wrap are ideal. Entrées like the Bistro Cavatappi and andouille crusted white fish are perfect for those looking for a filling meal. At the Sunday brunch, served between 10a and 3p, you can enjoy scrumptious omelets, quiches and entrées like crab cake Benedict. Happy Hour is between 3p and 7p, Sunday through Thursday.

Although it is located at the Ramada Conference Center Jacksonville, GiGi's patrons are not limited to guests at the hotel. The Crab Leg and Prime Rib buffets attract hordes of hungry people every Friday and Saturday evening. The Blue Jean Sunday brunch served between 11a and 2p is also hugely popular. Children up to ten years of age are eligible for discounts at these feasts.

Authentic Italian fare with a home-cooked flavor is what you get at Enza's Italian Restaurant. Located at the Mandarin Landing Shopping Center, this restaurant serves you some delightful dishes in large portions. Cold appetizers like beef carpaccio and hot ones like calamari fritti set the tone perfectly, and the dishes that follow are just as satisfying. The baked dinners like the ziti, lasagna and cannelloni are delicious, as are the varieties of pasta. Happy Hour is between 4p and 7p, Tuesday through Friday. The banquet room can be hired for private events.