Gators Dockside Oak Leaf

09/17/10

A Decent Football Hangout for Jax Westsiders

by DH2010 at Citysearch

I went to Gator's the first time because it is a restaurant in the category of Sports Pub and I had a non-locally televised game to watch. It's well-appointed with TV sets and plays all the football games, except when the Jags are blacked out. It can get quite crowded so don't arrive at the last minute in the evenings or on Sundays just before kickoff. Clean, well-lit, spacious atmosphere is their strong suit. Happy, laid-back patrons seem to abound whenever I'm there.

For the person who said they had "the best wings in town (103rd St location)," you apparently either don't get around much, you have mediocre standards for wings, you work there, or you just like throwing cliches around. Their wings are passable but not large or even distinctive (like Buffalo Wild Wings), pricey though. Their menu variety is admirable, something for everyone in my opinion. They have some REALLY big burgers that WILL fill you up.

There are 2 or 3 pool tables and a few arcade games which come in handy during halftime or waiting for your meal to arrive. I've never experienced a delay in service nor incompetent/rude waiters. I suppose if you did experience it at a restaurant, you probably would race home to report it in a review as if it were the norm for that restaurant. Bartending staff during my visits have been politie and prompt with orders.

To summarize, Gators is not the pinnacle of 5-star dining but considering it's niche in the pub-style restaurant world, and it's convenient location for Jacksonville Westsiders, and Northern Orange Parkers, it is good enough that you'll be glad you didn't try to drive any great distances in other directions to try and beat it. For pro and college football game days, it's the place to be (if you're there early). My grade fluctuates between dozens of visits, from a B to an A-.