Angie's is the heartbeat of Jax Beach, which I'd argue is a prime example of the beauty of small town America. Okay I hear you, Jacksonville probably doesn't qualify as small town America haha, but I'd argue Jax Beach does. It has such a unique charm and character. Residents and former residents have such a pride and reverence to be from here that it is infectious. It makes you want to go. It's a community that lifts each other up.
If you start talking about food with a Jax beach native, the first place they will talk about is Angie's. You'll hear something along the lines of “Best subs on the planet” … "I've been going for 20+ years" ... "You NEED to get the Sweet Tea" ... "I worked there in high school!!" ... "You HAVE to get the tater tots," ... "Make SURE you put Peruvian sauce on your sub" ... and the list goes on.
As we were walking up to the strip mall style building that Angie fully occupies, I couldn't help but smile at a sign in the window that reads "Closed up on Sundays, giving our employees time fer Faith, Family, and Friends."
After walking in, I scanned the menu and became a little nervous as Matt James has his own sub on there. Like damn, have they gone all Hollywood on us? I thought he was a dope Bachelor, but him as this food influencer... Idk I just don't really buy it. What is Matt James finna tell me about food? He kinda gives me the ick with his social media presence...but honestly I'm probably just jealous ahahaha I would be doing the exact same thing if I was him. What a dope life.
I obviously couldn't order the Matt James sandwich out of pure envy, although it does look kinda good if you take the mushrooms off tbh........... I stood on business and ordered the Peruvian, as it is their magnum opus. Their pièce de résistance. Their Mona Lisa.
My hopes were emphatically restored from the whole Matt James debacle when they gave us huge styrofoam cups for our drinks... I HADN'T SEEN A STYROFOAM CUP IN YEARS! Nothing hits like drinking a coke out of a styrofoam cup I swear.
We went and sat down at one of the high top chairs and......... for full transparency I've spent the past 20 minutes typing and deleting how to describe the interior of this place. In the best way possible, it reminds me of a movie set. It gives me Central Perk levels of coziness.
I'm a big softy, but I get emotional when I think about places like this. It reminds me so much of my childhood in Manhattan Beach before it went all Hollywood. It's an institution that serves, and is an integral part of the community. They support local small businesses with ad space all over the tables. They have framed "Customer of the Month" pictures dating back to the early 2000s. They employ high school kids from the local high school and have a TV solely dedicated to a livestream of the Jax Beach pier.
Angie's acts as almost a gathering place, a town hall if you will. As we were waiting for our subs, a group of 6 or so kids long done with their food sat to our right, proudly repping their respective college shirts and sweatshirts presumably back for Christmas break, trading stories and catching up. To our left, two gentlemen north of 60 were posted, splitting tater tots and laughing up a storm as they also awaited their subs. I'm not an eavesdropper but sometimes I like to eavesdrop hehehehee.
My name was called, and a young employee handed us our subs with a big smile. Oooooooo don't get me started on this Peruvian sandwich. I'm drooling just thinking about ripping into it and getting a mouthful of fresh baked bread fused with a gang of Italian meats all brought together by a ho-made oil and vinegar mix.......... A top 3 sandwich I've ever had.
In my week here I dragged my girlfriend twice, as it was my last meal in Jax before I left for the airport. I even bought their bottled Peruvian hot sauce and it got demolished in less than a week ahahahaha.
Convenience culture has killed many of these small town community places. But as long as Angie's is around, there is still a pulse.
IG @jov_
Tiktok @jnov__
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Peruvian Sandwich
