Add Steve Farah to the list of people who are ecstatic over the opening of the new Duval County Courthouse.
The family business, Farah’s Uptown restaurant at 502 N. Hogan St., has seen Downtown’s ups and downs and he’s happy a new era has begun. The restaurant is two blocks from the new courthouse.
Farah’s father, Kamal, began serving breakfast and lunch Downtown 39 years ago. The first breakfast and lunch spot opened in 1973 on Forsyth Street near the Greyhound bus station.
Farah’s restaurant then moved to Hogan Street near the Omni Hotel, and then to Laura Street at the southeast corner of Hemming Plaza.
In 2002, the restaurant moved to East Bay Street near the Police Memorial Building.
Farah’s Uptown fired up the grill for the first time in February 2011 in anticipation of the opening of the new courthouse.
The last year has been all right in terms of business because the restaurant is a block from the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse and across the street from City Hall, Farah said.
Now, with the new county courthouse full of judges, attorneys, staff, jurors and visitors, business is increasing.
Having the first wave of 1,600 EverBank employees moving into EverBank Center four blocks from his door also is a nice change.
“We’re seeing a lot of new faces as people find us,” Farah said.
The restaurant opens at 7 a.m. In addition to what you expect to find on the menu, Farah serves French toast and pork chops with eggs.
Lunch is served 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. with a menu of traditional deli sandwiches, burgers and salads, plus “country cooking specials” such as country-fried steak, meat loaf, fried fish and baked chicken.
Farah said the side dishes are very popular.
“We serve only fresh vegetables,” he said.
The Middle Eastern section of the menu includes kibbeh, falafel, stuffed grape leaves and tabbouleh.
Catering services and delivery Downtown are available and Farah said he’s glad to open the restaurant in the evening or on weekends for private parties.
Call 358-6659 for details.
@DRMaxDowntown
356-2466