Nightlife in Jacksonville

Located on Jacksonville’s south side, The Comedy Zone has been hosting some of the nation’s finest standup comedians for decades. Tucked away inside the Ramada Conference Center and Hotel, the Comedy Zone is a quaint, dim, charming nightclub venue filled with cozy tables and chairs. The thick carpet underfoot cushions the space further and keeps noisy shoes and squeaky chairs to a minimum. The small, gleaming wood stage is back-dropped by a large brick wall, reminiscent of so many other famous comedy clubs. Over the years, the stage has played host to a variety of national touring comedians and lots of local Florida talent. A full bar and a variety of burgers, sandwiches and appetizers are available to order, and can count toward the room’s industry-standard one drink or item minimum. Of course, that means comedy fans must be at least 21 years of age to enter the Zone.

Jacks or Better Casino explores the waters stretching from the Mayport area down the coast. The boat stretches 155 feet from stem to sternum and contains a whale-sized supply of Vegas-style casino gaming. Deft dealers engage lucky streaks on a variety of table games, from blackjack and roulette to traditional poker, video poker, and fireplace poker. With visions of cherries and triple-bars dancing in their heads, slots fanatics sidle up to dual-screen Modern Gaming slots such as Four Leaf Fortunes and Jackpot Galaxy. Jacks or Better's slots paid out jackpots totaling $3 million in 2011. Special events and attractions include a craps tutorial with limits ranging from $5 to $1,000, ensuring comfortable stakes for anyone, from the novice dice slinger to the local Yahtzee grandmaster.

Wild Wing Café is a Southern chain with one location Jacksonville’s south side. Its namesake specialties are their chicken wings, offered in 33 different made-from-scratch flavors. With soups and salads, wraps and flatbreads rounding out the menu, Wild Wing Café is also well-known for its beer battered onion rings, fresh ground chuck burgers and sides like flame roasted corn and mac ‘n’ cheese. With eclectic diner wall art, cream batten-board walls and large black leather booths, Wild Wing Café has a down-home, laid back atmosphere. There’s live music often and an outdoor deck for temperate days, while daily special events like trivia nights and two-for-Tuesdays wing deals keep Jacksonville regulars hungry for more.

Although there are few reviews of the other locations, five Yelpers give Gene's Seafood Restaurant on Beach Boulevard a 3.5-star average:

Northstar Substation whets appetites and wets whistles with an ever-changing assortment of more than 30 draft beers partnered alongside a menu of hand-tossed pizzas. Foaming pint glasses sidle up to tables with fermented sippables from local breweries such as Bold City Brewery and macro favorites such as Guinness and Stella Artois. The beer selection is changed regularly to reflect seasonal brews. Beckoned by the sound of grumbling stomachs, oven-fresh pizzas emerge with a choice of a topping from a list that includes sausage, mushrooms, jalapeños, and shredded love poems.

The menu at 3 Lions Sports Pub & Grill hits all the bases with a full spectrum of pub food. Those looking for American classics can select a specialty burger, chicken wings, or chili. British-inspired items include bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie. The eatery also sets itself apart with items not typically available at traditional grills, such as pub fries with curry sauce and hawaiian pizza. Beneath spotlighted football helmets, bartenders serve bottled brews as well as draft selections such as Guinness, Harp, and Newcastle.

Just as engaging as its eats is 3 Lions' ambiance: it's a classic sports grill with dark wood accents and widescreen televisions that hug the exposed brick walls like spies hiding from people wearing 3-D glasses. Shiny black tables reflect the glow of neon signs and broadcasts of games from NFL Sunday Ticket and Fox Soccer Channel. For further entertainment, a calendar of special events includes regular happy hours, poker nights, and live music on Fridays and Saturdays.