Dining with Dave

Dining with Dave

The Fox…Like No Other

By DAVID THEUS

Upon arriving in Jacksonville (Avondale) way back when, I wanted to be in a part of town that offered a little more character than just moving to one of the many amenity filled apartment complexes located on the south side. As I settled into my 1950’s style apartment, I quickly hit the street to see what shops and amenities Avondale afforded me.

It didn’t take long for me to find the local "watering hole" then known as what the locals called "Monty’s" and this quaint little diner called The Fox. I can remember the first day I walked in and introduced myself to the then new owners. Keep in mind, this was early 1990s, I can’t remember the story, but an older woman had owned it for years and finally, progressed in years such, she had to sell.

Anyway, I digress. The Fox soon became my home for breakfast. As a single professional I had no time for making dirty dishes and besides, the food was so good, why bother. I can remember the first couple of years eating there on Saturday mornings after I had been on the road all week traveling for work. Jackie, my favorite server, was always quick to ask where I had been that week and had I encountered any fun experiences while gone?

I can remember many times having breakfast right next to some of Jacksonville’s biggest hitters. Mayor Austin and local businessmen, the O’Steen brothers, were regulars during the week and sometimes the weekends too. There were professors, businessmen and women, renowned play writes and screen writers, college students home on break, locals, and even the odd visiting traveler that was just passing through.

Well, just the other day, some ten years after I left Avondale, I made a special trip with my youngest to have lunch at The Fox. There are new owners now, a young couple named Ian and Mary Jase. I can tell you how young they are, I remember Ian when he used to be a dishwasher and bar keep back at some of the area establishments I used to frequent, honing his expertise for one day owning his own restaurant.

They have done a great job of cleaning the place up and the food and service is top notch. Ian has turned out to be in my book the quintessential public relations guru. This guy knows people and is quick on the spot with a warm handshake to make sure you are being taken care of. Besides the food being very fresh, the facility is impeccably clean and no longer do you leave with that time-honored thin film of grease on your person, and best of all, Jackie, my favorite server is still there.

When I sat myself and Sarah at the counter, Sarah leaned over and said good morning to her, upon my instruction. Jackie looked up not knowing who’s child she was and extended the same greeting, at that moment she did a double take and saw me sitting next to my now six-year-old, and I think I saw a tear of joy come over her face when she recognized who I was. I know I did. It was like I had never left and now Sarah was having lunch with me at the very counter I sat all those years before.

The Fox, it’s like no other. Be sure to stop in and have a great breakfast and or lunch at The Fox at: 3580 St. Johns Avenue in Avondale and tell them David sent you.