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Surprisingly, this was my first visit to Cool Moose. I lived in Avondale in 2002 and have been meaning to visit since then. For some reason (not that this would have been a bad thing), I was expecting it to be small and have a very light menu - maybe some bagels, muffins and a few light sandwiches. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into a space with 2 rather good sizes rooms full of people. People playing scrabble, reading, talking and eating. They offer an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, but not to the point of being overwhelming. I also had no idea they offer some decent beers on draft (Redhook IPA and more), wine and morning-time cocktails.
They offer daily specials and yesterday I opted to try one out.
I went with the Portabello Mushroom, Fresh Mozzarella and Basil Pesto on pressed panini with a side of cheese grits and an unsweet tropical iced tea for $10. Cheese grits probably wasn't the best accompaniment, but it sounded good and I wasn't disappointed.
My friend Mandy went with the French Dip and Sweet Potato fries and polished most of hers off.
I love the vibe of this place and would definitely go back with friends or alone to read and grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee (they serve Green Mountain). They have a good chunk of one wall dedicated to Moose "stuff" which I thought was pretty cute.
A+
Cool Moose Cafe is located at 2708 Park St
(904) 381-4242
M - Closed
T - F 8am - 3pm
Sat 8am - 4pm (Breakfast served until noon)
Sun - 8am - 2pm
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ChriswUfGator
July 28, 2009, 04:07:43 PMOh yeah the Moose is wonderful. There've been weeks I've been there 4 or 5 out of 7 days.
stephElf
July 28, 2009, 04:19:49 PMI'm very excited to be working with you guys and looking forward to bringing you many contributions in the future. Stay tuned for Cozy Tea, 13 Gypsies, Bold City and more!
stephElf
July 28, 2009, 04:22:43 PMAnd not to be a post hog, but if anyone has any suggestions for places they would like to see covered or photos of, let me know. I also have Wafaa and Mike's in Springfield on my must-visit list.
stephendare
July 28, 2009, 04:23:37 PMWelcome aboard Steph! Casa Dora needs a good review! More food porn!
mandy6488
July 28, 2009, 05:12:29 PMOkay, since I'm with you a lot when you go to these places.. i will be greedy. Morton's, Burrito Gallery, Sake House, that Italian joint downtown near Chamblin's, The Brick's brunch, Orsay brunch.. I'll stop now. Take me with you! Mimosa's all around.
mandy6488
July 28, 2009, 05:13:37 PMOh and the new Asian fusion joint in 5 Points. And if Walker's gets more then 2 appetizers! Though that cheese plate was tasty.
stephElf
July 28, 2009, 05:14:31 PMThe Italian place is La Cena Ristorante on Laura Street and that is on my top ten. Woohoo!
urbanlibertarian
July 28, 2009, 08:36:09 PMCharthouse lunch, Kathlene's at the Landing.
Lucasjj
July 28, 2009, 09:29:15 PMI second the Fu Hoa Bistro. It is very similar to PF Changs but right in my back yard.
ChriswUfGator
September 12, 2010, 04:51:41 PMWell Steph, I have to disagree with you, and retract my previous recommendations on the Moose. I recently visited and ordered the Bagel & Lox plate, and well, you tell me if you ordered a Bagel & Lox plate whether you'd have been ok with this pathetic nonsense...
For comparison, this is another restaurant I eat breakfast at regularly. This bagel & lox is the same price;
I asked the waitress for some (more) salmon, and she went back and got yelled at by the owner who wouldn't come out to talk with me himself, and when she returned she said "the portions are measured by weight, and he says there's nothing wrong with this." I responded "did he have to borrow someone's cocaine scale to weigh this?" and she kind of sighed and said "if you want more you can buy another portion for an extra $2."
I'm sorry, but come on. This is utterly pathetic. Rather than eating it, we left and went to Crazy Egg for better food and no ridiculous attitude. That is the last time I will ever go to Cool Moose, which is unfortunate as it ends my 8 year relationship with this place. As I wrote on my check, "I hope the $2 was worth it."
I have heard people complain about the service over the years, but I'm more forgiving than most people. Finally it got so bad I couldn't ignore it anymore. Anyway, I'm happy with Crazy Egg as my new fave breakfast haunt. Cool Moose's food has gone downhill, and they've gotten annoying about upcharging you for every little thing (like, apparently, giving you enough salmon to actually cover more than 20% of your bagel), and they've cut the wait staff is down to 1 or 2 people so it takes forever and a day to get your food. Avoid!
5pointy
September 12, 2010, 10:16:10 PMWhere is the better breakfast that you show above? I love my lox and bagels too!
ChriswUfGator
September 12, 2010, 10:22:51 PMPeach Valley Cafe, it's in Ormond Beach on Granada Blvd. My Dad lives down there so I'm there about weekly.
Dog Walker
September 13, 2010, 11:16:45 AMGee thanks, Chris. Now you've made me miss Worman's more than ever.
billy
September 13, 2010, 11:18:59 AMshoot...
Captain Zissou
September 13, 2010, 11:56:09 AMThere is a Peach Valley cafe that is owned by the entity that owns Stonewood. I think they are a small chain. I've eaten at the location in Gainesville twice and both times it was extremely good.
ChriswUfGator
September 13, 2010, 12:17:25 PMYeah that's the one, a guy from Daytona that my dad knows owns it. Not sure how many they have now.
iluvolives
September 13, 2010, 01:46:08 PMI don't think there are many- but I LOVE that place. We have a condo down in ormond and peach valley is always a breakfast stop for us. I was suprised when I found out it was part of the Stonewood group of resturants- it has a very locally owned feel about it. So does the cool fresh market type store next door to it.
ChriswUfGator
September 13, 2010, 02:14:42 PMFor many years Stonewood wasn't a chain. A local guy Gale Lemerand owns it as well as Peach Valley. They eventually started expanding, but that wasn't really till the 2000s. Stonewood was around years before it went chain, same thing with Peach Valley. The original location is the one that's still on A1A in Ormond Beach, which used to be a Sophie Kay's Coffee House (don't know how long you've been there) in the 80s and later a Village Inn. It was torn down and the location became Stonewood in the early/mid 90s.
FWIW, the food used to be much better it's been going downhill recently. I don't eat at Stonewood anymore. Peach Valley is still good though, I'm there pretty regularly. Funny, I've never been to any one other than the original one on Granada that's been there forever, so I don't even think of the place as a chain.
cline
September 13, 2010, 02:26:27 PMI assume that this is the same person who has a road named after them on the UF campus. The one that used to be North-South Drive.
ChriswUfGator
September 13, 2010, 02:35:16 PMThey renamed North-South Drive? WTF! When did that happen? I guess anything's for sale these days...
cline
September 13, 2010, 02:38:20 PMThey did. I think it was a few years back. I guess Mr. Lemerand cut a pretty large check for them.