Othello — Restaurant in Jacksonville

If I could give Othello more than five stars, I would. This restaurant is outstanding, AND it’s owned by a local father-daughter Jax duo. Everything about this restaurant — from the food to the decor — feels authentic without trying too hard.

TLDR: one of the most refreshing and quality additions to the Jax food scene in a while.

FOOD: we tried the potatoes, crudo, octopus, hummus, whipped feta, baba ghanoush, bread, and kibbeh. All were excellent. No notes. The flavors were terrific, especially the baba ghanoush and the octopus — my favorites! The octopus is tender and buttery with a hint of crisp sear on the outside, just like it should be!

DRINK: while limited compared to some cocktail menus, the drinks were all terrific. I appreciate that the menu features low- and no-proof cocktails. I had the “Neighborhood Association” and it was delightful. It was a little on the sweet side, but I have a big sweet tooth so I loved it. Great wine selections.

VIBE: Perfect. 10/10. The building’s original features have been honored and cleverly incorporated in the restaurant’s design. Extra points for featuring the stained glass windows so lovingly! The interior design is cozy, inviting, and ritzy-but-comfortable feeling, all at the same time. The owners constructed the curved bar features themselves! The patio seating is perfect in the evening, and the music selection AND volume were both perfect (an important detail).

SERVICE: I interacted with three staff and all three were delightful. Truly. The hostess was so sweet and went out of her way to take me to my table to meet friends who were already seated. Our server was so friendly and lit up when we asked questions about the restaurant. They loved talking about the restaurant and sharing tidbits, which made the experience feel so personal.

BONUS: It’s the little touches that make a place special, and Othello does them well. Attractive branded postcards are attached to your bill. A beautiful Dennis Campay painting hangs above the kitchen.

So thrilled Vanessa returned to her hometown to bring the Jax community this GEM. Can’t wait to go back, over and over...

My wife and I recently visited Othello for the first time, and we were blown away by the experience. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed by the ambiance—trendy yet exuding a classic European charm. With a stylish bar, comfortable indoor seating, and an inviting outdoor area, the restaurant offers a setting for every mood.

The service was impeccable. The entire staff worked together seamlessly, creating an atmosphere of efficiency and warmth. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to enhance our dining experience.

As for the cocktails, they are nothing short of high-end craft masterpieces. The mixologists at Othello clearly take pride in their work, using fresh, unexpected ingredients to create unique and delightful drinks.

Now, onto the food—every single dish was flawless. We started with hummus with harissa pita, a perfect balance of creamy and smoky flavors. The beet salad with whipped feta was vibrant and refreshing. The raw oysters were fresh and briny, an absolute treat. The seared octopus was tender, charred to perfection, and packed with Mediterranean spices. Finally, the braised lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone tender, rich, and bursting with deep, savory flavors.

Overall, our experience at Othello was exceptional. If you're looking for a Mediterranean restaurant that delivers on every level—ambiance, service, drinks, and outstanding food—this is the place to go. We will definitely...

The place is very nice inside and the staff is friendly. They open at 4:30pm. The cocktail my wife had was tasty and my beer was good too. The zaatar bread was similar to naan bread but thicker but was pretty salty. I got the fried smelt for an appetizer, i have never seen this on a menu before, i have only seen it used as bait on fishing boats, and now i know why. It should really only be used as bait. I ate maybe 6 pieces and left the rest of the plate. For my main dish i got the caesar salad. I cant say great things for this either, it was a good size but they serve it as a half of a head of lettuce that is quartered but not all the way through, and then all the fixings are tossed on top. Such big pieces made it so you have to cut it to bite size pieces and then the entire middle of the head of lettuce is just lettuce because its legit just a half a head of lettuce cut in half and semi sliced into 4 pieces. The flavor was ok, i only got through half of it. My wife had the fattoush salad and i tasted it. This salad was properly cut and served but again the issue is with flavor. She ate about half of it before stopping. The presentation of the dishes looks very great, but the taste on everything is not. Try this place if you want, but i can tell you i wont...