Dorothy's Downtown

A Bright & Beautiful Dining Experience at Dorothy’s Downtown I had lunch at Dorothy’s Downtown and everything was absolutely amazing! My guest ordered the Salmon And Grits with the Cajun gravy sauce. She squeezed the lemon that comes with the dish on her salmon and ate every single bite, saying it was really, really good. I had the Chicken And Waffles and wow. The waffles were mouthwatering, soft inside with a perfect crisp edge, and the chicken was astounding… seasoned beautifully and cooked just right. I drizzled the hot honey over it, made myself a little sandwich, and it was the perfect start to a busy day. Chef himself came out to greet us and was so respectful, kind, and genuinely loving. That moment made my whole day🥹 We sat on the front patio, which made it even better! The perfect bright, warm, & sunny day to enjoy great food and conversation. The hostess, Rebecca, was magnificent and graceful. The Expo, Matt, didn’t hesitate when I asked for a little extra syrup and powdered sugar, such great energy! And our server, Alli, was attentive and kind, staying on top of drink refills and check-ins. We came in early, about 30 minutes after they opened, and honestly, that’s one of the best times to visit. The staff isn’t too packed yet, so you get a calm, personal experience and your food comes out quickly and fresh. Later in the day, they get busier (which says a lot about how good they are!), but the morning hours give you that cozy, peaceful vibe where you really get to soak in the Dorothy’s magic✨🌷🌞 This whole experience was worth a decorative scrapbook memory ❤️ Thank you, Dorothy’s Downtown, for making this such a memorable day!

First time visiting & I will be back!! The ambiance was very beautiful and it was definitely a vibe. Tori was our waitress who provided stellar service. The food was delicious and had great presentation...I only wish that my crab cakes were cooked a little more and not so mushy. I came home and put it in the air fryer and it definitely tasted better 😋

Let me tell yall about Athan and Ashley! This is our one year wedding anniversary and we are from our of town/state. Athan took such good care of us. We didn't really want for anything. Drinks always full and everything came in a timely manner. And for dessert Ashley made the banana fosters flambe and she did her thing and was so engaged with us while she made it. It was so fun having her make it in front of us. They both came to check how everything was going and came to see empty plates. Everything was delicious. I had the lamb chops and my wife had he gumbo and fried chicken. Everything was absolutely amazing and we've added Dorothys to our list of places to come back to when we're in Jacksonville!

Very esthetically pleasing place. Indoor and outdoor seating. However the host is extremely unpleasant, almost as if you don’t have a reservation you’re a bother to be there, and apparently the bar isn’t self seated the host has to decide if you can sit there too, even if there’s a ton of seats open and the restaurant isn’t crowded. If a reservation is required that’s understandable, but to act as if showing up without reservation is a crime was a a little weird. For me, the host’s energy kinda tainted the first impression. But I digress. The stuffed shrimp are really good though, as well as the crab cakes and the smash burger…the fries and sauce that come with it are kinda elite 😋 the devil eggs are supposed to have a garlic aioli but I don’t think the garlic or the aioli was in the room with us, this was actually my least favorite dish very just bland filling even the chive and bacon on top couldn’t save it. The lamb chops, though they do give you a generous portion had great flavor they just weren’t cooked properly, the outside was chard the inside was undercooked…however the mash potatoes under them were really yummy. Now that margarita of theirs is something special!!! 10/10 definitely recommend that. I also liked that they had a great wine selection! If I came back it’d be for drinks stuffed shrimp and crab cakes.

Food, service and the atmosphere were all very pleasing! The gumbo was absolutely amazing. Kudos to the chef and for their seasoning, it was just the best! Also the beignets literally melted in your mouth! I will, however, make a comment about the cocktail; fantasy Island. I believe was the name. I saw another review that had similar feelings. Based on the description, I was definitely not expecting what came out. It did have an awesome flavor. My server did a great job talking about the 24 hour process, but it was still underwhelming based on what I was expecting. We will definitely return!

Went with my husband for a Sunday date. The restaurant was pretty packed.We had reservations and were sat quick. Our server was good and the atmosphere was real chic and nice! We saw the "owner" in basketball shorts and a t-shirt-not realizing it was him- bringing dishes out to tables around us. We noticed he didn't make any small talk to the tables he delivered food to, nor acknowledged his other patrons in that area. It was just odd that as an owner, he showcased a lack of pride through his appearance and lack of gratitude to people who intentionally went to dine at his establishment. We ordered: Deviled Eggs- Flavors weren't there. Just tasted mustardy, bland, and they were cold like they went through a flash freeze. Short Rib Hash- Short rib was tender but lacked any flavor or seasoning. The potatoes could have used 5-7 minutes more cook time because they tasted like they were likely blanched. Creole Pasta- Too much creamy sauce for my taste. Didn’t taste any creola spices but tasted like a bag of frozen pre-made pasta tossd in a pan, with added milk and cream. Vibes were cool, but would we go back... that's questionable.

The food is what really stood out though. Everything we ordered had a lot of flavor and didn’t feel generic at all. The shrimp & grits were rich and really satisfying, and the fried chicken was crispy on the outside but still juicy inside. You can tell they actually care about how the food tastes, not just how it looks. We also tried a couple starters, and those were just as good, definitely worth not skipping. The shrimp and grits Portions were solid too, so you leave full without feeling like you overpaid. Service was great, friendly, quick, and not awkward or pushy, which I always appreciate.

Me and my daughter are visiting family here in Jacksonville from New York, and my cousin took us to brunch at Dorothy’s. Let me just say—it was delicious! Everything we ordered was a 10/10: the boudin balls, voodoo balls, chicken & waffles, shrimp & grits, and the fried salmon. Every bite made me feel like I was right back in Louisiana (I lived there for 5 years), and Chef Marvin nailed that authentic flavor. The drinks were great too—we had the Spanglish and the sweet tea, both perfect with the meal. Our server, Cora, was amazing (Cora, if you see this, heyyyyyy 👋🏽). Overall, Dorothy’s gets 5 stars from me. Highly recommend if you’re in Jacksonville and want real Louisiana vibes with top-notch food and service. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to Chef Marvin!

First time here and I will definitely come back. I love the interior design! The server was so sweet and informative. We all loved our meals! They should charge more for their clarified margarita and Mai Tai drinks they were so delicious and made with love. Highly recommend the short rib dish!

The food and service at Dorothy’s Downtown is magnificent. I came to Dorothy’s for my best friends birthday and was craving the salmon and grits so bad I had to Come back two weeks later! My server Cassidy was so sweet and accommodating she had my order as soon as I came in! Ale was my server the first time I came in and she was super knowledgeable about the restaurant and made excellent food recommendations. Kyle the bar manager is amazing and hospitable. He checked on my and joked with me multiple times during my visit! Please come to Dorothy’s and ask for these amazing people. Try the Voodoo balls!!