Country-style barbecue & seafood in a no-fuss eatery with weekend & lunch buffet specials. Based on 618 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.6 stars. Price $$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ No delivery
Address:
3566 St Augustine Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone: (904) 517-3637
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ArtsCrackerCooking?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Saturday | 6:30–8 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
Closed |
| Tuesday | 11:30 AM–2:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:30 AM–2 PM |
| Thursday | 11:30 AM–2 PM, 6–8 PM |
| Friday | 11:30 AM–2 PM, 6–8 PM |
Menu
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Reviews
IAM Soulstress
What an amazing experience from beginning to end. I highly recommend Southern Charm Restaurant Art, the chef is simply amazing!! Do yourself a favor and stop by!!
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Charles Machurick
Art and his staff are the kindest people you will ever meet, the food is made and served with love. This place is by far the best place in town to eat bar none. HOME COOKING AT ITS FINEST ❤️
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Müs Chip
Very different yet welcoming experience. This hole in the wall joint has a very mom and pop feel to the place. Don’t get turned away from the looks or feel until you try the food and talk to the very friendly staff! Chef Art will begin cooking his rotational menu around 6:30-7 and will be served buffet style. All food that I tried was great and no complaints. Delicious all around. The batch of food that gets cooked is for that one session and once people are full, the place closes up with the staff giving the rest of any food left over to the customers. The food is absolutely comfort soul food that is full of flavor. Went on a Saturday night so the specials were shrimp and fried fish but still had other items that are usually made. My favorite dish was the mashed potatoes that were made very rustic style – was a blend of mashed and solid chunks of potato with a cheese crust on top. The blackened shrimp was also very good. Towards the end they served cinnamon square cakes that topped the meal off. Chef and staff are humorous and friendly, will make you feel like you’ve known each other for years. Will return to introduce the place to more friends and family. Few things to note: it is cash only. You are permitted to bring your own drinks, beer, or wine. They serve sweet/unsweet tea and water only for beverages. Parking is a bit tight, there is additional parking on the side of the building.
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Rose P
This place is like going to Granpa’s where genuine warm hospitality is in abundance. It is “buffet home cooked meal” but the unique part is having the chef, Art, explaining to you how he cook the food and what’s in them. He fries fresh shrimp, fish and chicken on the spot and serve them. Doesn’t sound like a buffet but it is!! You can eat as much as you like for just about how much you pay for a burger meal. The place itself is very simple and dated. But we came there for the food and we got more than what we hoped for. We even had some to go. The collard greens is awesome! There is meatloaf, mac&cheess, ribs, and more! Shrimp are huge and Chef Art is using his mom’s recipe. No soda but their sweet tea is good. If you are looking for tasty home cooking with simple ambiance (like grandpa’s old kitchen) and warm nice people, try Southern Charm!
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Donald “JAY” Huggins
We drove 90 miles to have lunch…well worth the drive…To be honest we were a bit apprehensive when we finally found it…not a romantic restaurant with great views, probably the exact opposite….As we walked in, Art greeted us and gave us a little history and some advice on what to expect.. they open at 11:30 but allowed us in a bit early to sit and wait until the meal was ready…Earl welcomed us with sweet tea and we knew we were about to be taken care of…the food was as freshly prepared as possible, Southern Homemade…Ribs, meatloaf, fried fish, Mac n cheese, collard greens, cucumber tomato salad and rice & beans…every day is a special entree, Tuesday was meatloaf,..they also served us a plate full of fresh fried shrimp and Art stopped by with his Mom’s fried green tomatoes…no freezer, no microwave, no processed food…fresh, freshly breaded and freshly prepared in small batches…Every single item was delicious, Art made it look effortless, Earl was right on top of service even if he wasn’t a Bill’s fan.. We loved it…$15 per person, we ate at noon and skipped dinner, we were still full…oh…forgot the warm homemade ginger cookies…they allowed me a few bits for our dog and sent my wife home with a few extra cookies!…We’ve been intimately involved in the restaurant business for 50+ years, Art & Earl could give all of a lesson on hospitality, great food and personal service is why most customers choose to eat out…Great Job!!
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Naomi Watkins
Been going for years now. COVID shut them down but happily discovered they’d reopened! Atmosphere not everyone’s cup of tea but Art (the owner) more than makes up for it! Reservations only. Limited and tight seating.
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Jeanne Bass
This is one of those ‘diamond in a rough’ places. My husband was looking for a lunch buffet place on a Friday and this popped up as being very near the area we were in so we decided to try it and are so glad we did. The food is excellent. Today the menu was fried whiting, fried shrimp, cheese grits, fired green tomatoes, collard greens, a tomato cucumber salad and a homemade cinnamon cookie that what more like a blond or brownie in appearance. Everything was fresh, perfectly seasoned (in my opinion) hot and the fired foods were perfectly fried. As soon as the shrimp were done, they would send a plate of them out to our table. The waitress kept my husbands drink filled and was very pleasant and friendly. The only reason I did not give it all 5 stars is that the atmosphere could use a little improvement but that adds to its charm. Will definitely go back when we are in the area again!
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Brian Perry
Well worth 5 stars! The food was amazing and the service was great. Such a unique experience. So glad my wife and I stumbled onto this place. We will definitely be back. Chef Art is the man! The restaurant doesn’t look like much but don’t let that fool ya.
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Darren Williams (fatmahomes1)
GREAT DIVE. The food was amazing.. the food man .. THE FOOOD. it was so good . We ate so much . Fried shrimp catfish bbq ribs collored greens. Cole slaw . Cucumber salad . MASHED POTATOES WITH SHRIMP AND SCALLOPS… AGAIN So much food all served buffett style. Then endless shrimp both fried and cajun . Delivered until you say stop. Then we got a butterscotch cake for dessert We came for the football game jags vs raiders. the owner the busser were great. The service was top notch.
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Anna Heise
We always give Al Five Stars. He may be one of the nicest people we know. Long-time Jacksonville resident and restaurateur, we don’t know too many people who are not familiar with him. Food is still served buffet style and replenish immediately as the patrons gobble it up. You can always count on the fried shrimp, the white fish, tasty collard greens, creamy, cheesy grits, with dessert. Don’t be alarmed by the outside and don’t be alarmed by the inside it’s going to be some of the best food you’ve had in a long time.
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