The Homestead Restaurant, Jacksonville Beach

We took a party of 5 for the Thanksgiving Holiday and the food was cold, mushy, overcooked, or undercooked. This is not the Homestead you read about on their web page! The food and prices DO NOT line up.

My family & I had not been to the Homestead in a few years and were sorry to hear it was closing. Fortunately for them they were able to reopen after a day (I believe). When deciding what to do for dinner tonight, we all agreed some good fried chicken and biscuits would be great. We were promptly seated and a very nice young waiter took our drink orders. After what seemed like a long wait, he took our dinner orders. We all opted for the chicken buffet. The chicken was nice and crispy, but there were several back pieces in the tray (you know bones, skin and no meat). I had to check 3 times before I got a breast. Peas & rice were ok. Biscuits and corn muffins had no serving utensil; the biscuits were not at all like they used to taste. Very fake butter tasting, which I guess went well with the margarine instead of real butter. I suspect they were either canned or poor quality frozen ones. For the price they are charging, we expected better quality. And it really wasn't a fun place to be. I really hate to see a Beach landmark disappear, but I won’t go there again.

everything is always excelant we will miss the great food and the great people who have worked there for so long .thank all of you. we hope you open somewhere else.

My husband and I had our wedding reception here. I have been going to The Homestead since I moved to Florida in '98. I have just found out that it is closing it's doors and I am absolutely stunned. Anytime I ride by it, it's always busy. They have excellent food and the people are always wonderful! I am very sad. Last night is the 13th of August. :(

After the people from 1st street grill bought the Homestead, they totally ruined the home style atmosphere. The food is terrible and over priced. You would have loved this place 10 years ago.

Very good chef. Changes up the menu regularly. Can't go wrong with the Low Country cooking. I've eaten there twice and will continue to dine there periodically.

We found ourselves unexpectedly in Jacksonville and were in search of good fried chicken. Homestead was recommended and we tried it. The food was great. It was a ?wednesday? night, and had all you could eat of oysters and hush puppies in the bar and back area. We passed on that -- it was very packed and overcrowded -- but the restaurant section was able to seat us right away and everything we ordered was awesome. If we are again in Jacksonville, we will definitely return to the Homestead.

The food was excellent home cookin'! We had a group of 13 and they accomodated us with no problem on a Friday night. Our server was attentive and knowledgable!

I was dragged here by a friend who kept working this place up that it really fell hard when I got there. The portions were pretty small, and the ambiance the night I went was very stuffy and boring. The food really surprised me, I ordered a lettuce wedge, which was small and warm. I also ordered some type of shrimp dinner I forgot the name. The shrimp was completely flavorless, it looked great but was in a watery sauce that I guess was supposed to have flavor but didn't(I tried a spoofull). Worst of all the one side I recieved, rice, was raw, I don't know about most people but I don't like crunchy rice. Oh yes I forgot I also recieved crunch several times with the shrimp since they were so poorly deshelled, and cleaned(feet still on, shells half on half off, and veins just scooted to the side.) I thought I could redeem the meal with dessert, lets just say it looked like someone in the kitchen thought it would be cool to let their kids make and assemble the dessert.(A dry, poorly presented choclate cake mess) I WILL NEVER GO BACK, surprisingly everyone that has said so many positive thigs to me refer to years prior, so maybe it is the new ownership that has changed it for the worse. This was not southern cooking.

My husband and I used to go to The Homestead alot before this new owner. The food was great etc..The new owners (who also used to own 1st Street Grill before they sold it for condo space,) changed 90% of the The Homestead's old menu from the southern syle menu. We feel that this restaurant has been ruined. We have tried this place 3 times now since the new ownership and it's gotten no better. The prime rib (the Homestead used to have the best in Jacksonville) was horrible and half the serving size that it used to be. I ordered the crab cakes for an appetizer that was still runny and uncooked in the middle.(I sent it back) We've tried this place for the last time now. What a shame such a great place had to change for the worse. I would not recommend this place to ANYONE.