Really good food. Service was great as well. We also enjoyed the atmosphere, will be back to try some more! And I forgot to take a pic of the oysters! They were amazing!!
Taylar H.
My best friend and I visited the restaurant on Saturday for brunch. There is no brunch menu, only the same menu for lunch and dinner. We arrived at 12:30 and found the place to be quite empty. The ambiance was amazing and the playlist of jazz kept the mood light. To begin, we ordered espresso martinis and a few appetizers, including spicy mussels, which were delicious, pork belly, which was also very tasty, fried oysters, and a potato hash which was under-seasoned and unappetizing. Having forgotten my server name, I would like to emphasize the mediocre quality of the service. The server was slow and did not meet our expectations for our desired experience. The wait for her to arrive with our request for napkins, straws, and ketchup was at least 15-20 minutes. After having to wait 30 minutes for a corrected martini, I was disappointed in the service at this restaurant. I do not recall the server's name, but I hope to not have her again in the future. I am considering giving this place another chance to see if the slow service was just an isolated incident or if it reflects the overall attitude towards customers. However, based on my experience, I would only rate this place a 3 out of 5 stars, which is being generous. If you are simply looking for a place with average drinks and light bites, then this may be the place for you. However, if you value good service and timely drinks, I would not recommend it.
Haley W.
This is our second time back. The first time we came the meals felt disjointed and the drinks weren't anything special (this was approximately two days after opening). Today we went for a round of apps and new drinks at the rooftop bar (amazing). Drinks were well executed. I got the Monroe which was clean and I loved. Additionally, ordered the Phiona which was interesting in the best way. Oysters extremely fresh and clean some of the best I've had taste wise. Service was great our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive. The overall aesthetic/design of Gemma is definitely exceeding the other restaurants in the area! Food wise I think they're still bested by places like taverna. Looking forward to seeing how they grow.
Sherry Turner
I have been dying to get to the new Gemme Fish + Oyster and caught the opportunity to sneak out to indulge without the kiddos because I was on a mission to begin my journey to try the highly recommended Devine variety of oysters that I've noted from other reviews. I had reservations for 8:30 and was promptly addressed and seated. Bre, the hostess was very lovely and attentive. The place itself is absolutely exquisite! It was Sunday evening and at the time I arrived there were barely many people seated and dining that evening. I ordered the Roasted Oysters. They were topped with smoked bacon, kale, panko, and parmesan cheese. They reminded me of maybe an Oyster Rockefeller. Not sure if it is usual or not, but the were extremely dry and very fishy tasting in my opinion. I probably wouldn't get them again. Yes I told my server in which he apologized but offered no alternate solution. For my main course I ordered the Angus Steak Burger with Tillman cheddar, smoked bacon, caramelized onion Mayo, with house made pickles on a potato bun, served with truffle fries. The Burger was pretty standard. Nothing stood out to me special about it and when I asked for mustard the waiter said they don't carry mustard. Strange?? Oh well, after eating half he came back after his 3rd walk outside and said he did have some Dijon honey mustard. I decided I was done with the Burger and I'd take the other half home to add mustard and reheat. The bun was deliciously golden brown it shimmered with a warm glow in the lights and was soft and fluffy and held together perfectly. I could have had a basket full of them. Then the STAR OF THE SHOW was the TRUFFLE FRIES!! OMGosh!! They are to die for. I had to question what kind of ketchup they served in that little side cup because I thought it was the ketchup making the fries taste so good! He came back after checking and said it's just regular Ole Heinz. Well then, hands down the truffle fries were the BEST I ever had! Key lime pie, with lime chantilly was definitely the Co-Star! After paying the check we were offered by Bre, the hostess from the beginning to take a tour of their wonderfully designed rooftop with lovely greenery of beautifully placed ferns, outside heaters, softly lit led lighting and just an all around very romantic and intimate atmosphere! If I give them another try, which not sure of because of a few things, Oysters being 1 (I REALLY REALLY WAS HOPING FOR ROCKSTAR OYSTERS), I'd definitely dine on the rooftop! I chatted with Bre about the Oysters too, but dinner was done and she wasn't our server (wish she was). She made the experience of us coming for the first time very delightful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
Cherie S.
Walked into this spot...gorgeous! From the beautiful wood doors when you enter to the beautiful lights and decor. We ended up at the upstairs bar and it was beautiful too. The windows were open so you get this amazing summer breeze. The bar tenders are amazing and the food is delish. The manager was super engaging and checked to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. I will definitely be back. I love it here.
Marquetta Cribbs
My experience at Gemma was amazing! I seen my gf post this place a few months back when it was in process of opening! I’m from Atlanta so yes food options are important to me ! So soon as we walked in service for seating was amazing ! Vibe was everything. I had reservations for rooftop. We went up seating was fast . Our waitress was amazing gave great drink options we had 3 (Florence) sweet /rum . I had dozen of oysters and the whole fish ! David the GM came around to our table and he was amazing ask us how were we and the food and gave us a little background about the opening and neighborhood! Love how he takes time to check on the crowds and make sure we are getting the service that’s expected today ! So David Congratulations to you and a wonderful place for fine dining in Jacksonville FL
The place was great, the only thing I didn't like was the seating it was too close and everyone shares a long booth. Makes it hard to enjoy a private dinner.
ANGELINA Reyes
And don’t forget the bread pudding!!! 100/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Snapper, Crab Dip
Denise Wartan
Friendly, professional staff. Great bar, martini is spot on. Oyster selection is unique and a great experience. Everything from appetizers to entrees was delicious. Not nearly as loud as other places in the area. It's a gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ashley Wilson
I will be very honest - we heard from other people they were disappointed with their visit. However, our experience was excellent. Our server, Jason, was attentive but not pushy and was very knowledgeable about everything on the menu. The food was great as well as the drinks. Everyone got something different, and we were all pleased with our apps and dinners. We will definitely be back! If you’d been before or heard a less-than favorable review, consider giving them another chance.
Wonderful place to dine. Great food and drinks and overall ambience is superb. Would recommend
Renee M.
We went for dinner with no reservation. Completely full, but hostesses upstairs and down tried very hard to find us a place to sit. We ended up with the last two seats together at the bar. The bar staff were very nice and pretty much made us feel as though we were having a regular table dining experience. We ordered an appetizer and an entree to share. The food was amazing! One of the best pieces of snapper I've ever had. The only reason I gave 4 stars is that it's definitely on the pricey end of the scale and probably more for special evenings out there.
Sarah Rowe
I will preface this with the oysters were phenomenal! So delicious. Really disappointed in the food though. I also tried my friends dishes and we were all equally disappointed.
Gemma is the spot where flavors go next-level and the drinks pack a punch – none of that dainty stuff. The vibe is top-tier cool, setting the stage for a feast of epic proportions. Maria, the boss, runs the show like an urban legend, making your experience downright awesome. Gemma ain't just a restaurant; it's a straight-up urban oasis of flavor, vibes, and Maria's managerial magic. I will definitely be back!’n
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Nitishia Norman
My experience was wonderful from the reservations to the end Jason was my server and he was awesome!!! please experience this wonderful place for yourself. Roasted oysters for the appetizer and the rainbow trout. Drinks wonderful spicy margaritas and a sangria. Not to mention we had their special tequila shots I will be
Really good food. Service was great as well. We also enjoyed the atmosphere, will be back to try some more! And I forgot to take a pic of the oysters! They were amazing!!
My best friend and I visited the restaurant on Saturday for brunch. There is no brunch menu, only the same menu for lunch and dinner. We arrived at 12:30 and found the place to be quite empty. The ambiance was amazing and the playlist of jazz kept the mood light. To begin, we ordered espresso martinis and a few appetizers, including spicy mussels, which were delicious, pork belly, which was also very tasty, fried oysters, and a potato hash which was under-seasoned and unappetizing. Having forgotten my server name, I would like to emphasize the mediocre quality of the service. The server was slow and did not meet our expectations for our desired experience. The wait for her to arrive with our request for napkins, straws, and ketchup was at least 15-20 minutes. After having to wait 30 minutes for a corrected martini, I was disappointed in the service at this restaurant. I do not recall the server's name, but I hope to not have her again in the future. I am considering giving this place another chance to see if the slow service was just an isolated incident or if it reflects the overall attitude towards customers. However, based on my experience, I would only rate this place a 3 out of 5 stars, which is being generous. If you are simply looking for a place with average drinks and light bites, then this may be the place for you. However, if you value good service and timely drinks, I would not recommend it.
This is our second time back. The first time we came the meals felt disjointed and the drinks weren't anything special (this was approximately two days after opening). Today we went for a round of apps and new drinks at the rooftop bar (amazing). Drinks were well executed. I got the Monroe which was clean and I loved. Additionally, ordered the Phiona which was interesting in the best way. Oysters extremely fresh and clean some of the best I've had taste wise. Service was great our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive. The overall aesthetic/design of Gemma is definitely exceeding the other restaurants in the area! Food wise I think they're still bested by places like taverna. Looking forward to seeing how they grow.
I have been dying to get to the new Gemme Fish + Oyster and caught the opportunity to sneak out to indulge without the kiddos because I was on a mission to begin my journey to try the highly recommended Devine variety of oysters that I've noted from other reviews. I had reservations for 8:30 and was promptly addressed and seated. Bre, the hostess was very lovely and attentive. The place itself is absolutely exquisite! It was Sunday evening and at the time I arrived there were barely many people seated and dining that evening. I ordered the Roasted Oysters. They were topped with smoked bacon, kale, panko, and parmesan cheese. They reminded me of maybe an Oyster Rockefeller. Not sure if it is usual or not, but the were extremely dry and very fishy tasting in my opinion. I probably wouldn't get them again. Yes I told my server in which he apologized but offered no alternate solution. For my main course I ordered the Angus Steak Burger with Tillman cheddar, smoked bacon, caramelized onion Mayo, with house made pickles on a potato bun, served with truffle fries. The Burger was pretty standard. Nothing stood out to me special about it and when I asked for mustard the waiter said they don't carry mustard. Strange?? Oh well, after eating half he came back after his 3rd walk outside and said he did have some Dijon honey mustard. I decided I was done with the Burger and I'd take the other half home to add mustard and reheat. The bun was deliciously golden brown it shimmered with a warm glow in the lights and was soft and fluffy and held together perfectly. I could have had a basket full of them. Then the STAR OF THE SHOW was the TRUFFLE FRIES!! OMGosh!! They are to die for. I had to question what kind of ketchup they served in that little side cup because I thought it was the ketchup making the fries taste so good! He came back after checking and said it's just regular Ole Heinz. Well then, hands down the truffle fries were the BEST I ever had! Key lime pie, with lime chantilly was definitely the Co-Star! After paying the check we were offered by Bre, the hostess from the beginning to take a tour of their wonderfully designed rooftop with lovely greenery of beautifully placed ferns, outside heaters, softly lit led lighting and just an all around very romantic and intimate atmosphere! If I give them another try, which not sure of because of a few things, Oysters being 1 (I REALLY REALLY WAS HOPING FOR ROCKSTAR OYSTERS), I'd definitely dine on the rooftop! I chatted with Bre about the Oysters too, but dinner was done and she wasn't our server (wish she was). She made the experience of us coming for the first time very delightful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
Walked into this spot...gorgeous! From the beautiful wood doors when you enter to the beautiful lights and decor. We ended up at the upstairs bar and it was beautiful too. The windows were open so you get this amazing summer breeze. The bar tenders are amazing and the food is delish. The manager was super engaging and checked to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. I will definitely be back. I love it here.
My experience at Gemma was amazing! I seen my gf post this place a few months back when it was in process of opening! I’m from Atlanta so yes food options are important to me ! So soon as we walked in service for seating was amazing ! Vibe was everything. I had reservations for rooftop. We went up seating was fast . Our waitress was amazing gave great drink options we had 3 (Florence) sweet /rum . I had dozen of oysters and the whole fish ! David the GM came around to our table and he was amazing ask us how were we and the food and gave us a little background about the opening and neighborhood! Love how he takes time to check on the crowds and make sure we are getting the service that’s expected today ! So David Congratulations to you and a wonderful place for fine dining in Jacksonville FL
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Oysters Half Dozen, Snapper
The place was great, the only thing I didn't like was the seating it was too close and everyone shares a long booth. Makes it hard to enjoy a private dinner.
And don’t forget the bread pudding!!! 100/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Snapper, Crab Dip
Friendly, professional staff. Great bar, martini is spot on. Oyster selection is unique and a great experience. Everything from appetizers to entrees was delicious. Not nearly as loud as other places in the area. It's a gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I will be very honest - we heard from other people they were disappointed with their visit. However, our experience was excellent. Our server, Jason, was attentive but not pushy and was very knowledgeable about everything on the menu. The food was great as well as the drinks. Everyone got something different, and we were all pleased with our apps and dinners. We will definitely be back! If you’d been before or heard a less-than favorable review, consider giving them another chance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Snapper, Crab Dip
Restaurantji Recommends
Wonderful place to dine. Great food and drinks and overall ambience is superb. Would recommend
We went for dinner with no reservation. Completely full, but hostesses upstairs and down tried very hard to find us a place to sit. We ended up with the last two seats together at the bar. The bar staff were very nice and pretty much made us feel as though we were having a regular table dining experience. We ordered an appetizer and an entree to share. The food was amazing! One of the best pieces of snapper I've ever had. The only reason I gave 4 stars is that it's definitely on the pricey end of the scale and probably more for special evenings out there.
I will preface this with the oysters were phenomenal! So delicious. Really disappointed in the food though. I also tried my friends dishes and we were all equally disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Oysters Half Dozen, Crab Dip
Gemma is the spot where flavors go next-level and the drinks pack a punch – none of that dainty stuff. The vibe is top-tier cool, setting the stage for a feast of epic proportions. Maria, the boss, runs the show like an urban legend, making your experience downright awesome. Gemma ain't just a restaurant; it's a straight-up urban oasis of flavor, vibes, and Maria's managerial magic. I will definitely be back!’n
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
My experience was wonderful from the reservations to the end Jason was my server and he was awesome!!! please experience this wonderful place for yourself. Roasted oysters for the appetizer and the rainbow trout. Drinks wonderful spicy margaritas and a sangria. Not to mention we had their special tequila shots I will be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Oysters Half Dozen