Lila’s Seafood & Steak

What makes this place so special is the attention you receive from the staff. The owner is always there and greets you always. She is a very friendly lady who takes great pride in the quality of her food. I always get the shrimp and have never been disappointed. They are always fried just the way I like them. The crab butter dip they bring to the table is delicious. They should consider adding it to the menu. I just can’t get enough of it.

Lila’s is LOVE! This is my absolute favorite seafood restaurant in all of Jacksonville. Whenever we go, we always order the 30 shrimp platter. (Incredible value and proportion for the price!) I get half of my shrimp fried, and the other half buffalo & I can not even begin to describe how insanely delicious it is! Whenever we come in, we always get greeted by the owners of the restaurant. That’s pretty awesome that they care so much about their customers. Let me say this one last thing: there is nothing you could order off of the menu that you won’t like. Everything is simply amazing! Lila’s is a MUST!

Had the coconut shrimp and deviled crab. The coconut shrimp were too sweet and tasted frozen and the deviled crab was so vinegary it was almost uneatable

We ate here for the first time last night, 2÷25÷16, and the seafood was fresh and delicious! We were actually on our way to eat elsewhere, but it were closed and traffic on Beach at the time was horrible so we decided to try it and let traffic die down. We are so glad we did! We had calamari to start: it was fresh, hot and oh so good (not the skimpy bits and pieces you get elsewhere, good sized rings). Then I had the blackened catfish dinner and SO had the grilled mahi sandwich. Again, the fish was so fresh and delish! SO said the bread on the sandwich wasn’t that great but the fish was excellent. We will definitely be back and very glad the original place we were going to was closed. The outside and interior could use some updating but don’t let it fool you when you walk in. Eat the seafood and you’ll be coming back!

I have been eating at Lila’s (St Johns Seafood) for 10 years. Since Lila has taken over the restaurant, the food is not as good as before, nor is the service. In addition, they have stopped honoring their loyalty cards. I am ordering the Seafood Alfredo tonight, and can only get one side as the pasta is considered a side and not part of the entre. I much prefer to support smaller Mom and Pop establishments, but there are limits.

The place by appearance doesn’t look like much but the staff is attentive and friendly. This was my first time and i brought my son. I ordered grilled fish and scallops and he had fried clams. The fish and scallops were cooked very well. The seasoning was a little bland but over all a very satisfying meal. I am a huge fan of hush puppies and they were amazing. I also stole some of my sons fried clams which were fried to perfection and delicious. Nice place for a good family seafood meal.

This restaurant has great food. I had eaten here before and was excited to return. I ordered my food in advance and when I arrived, no one was even in the front. I waited several long minutes to be easier on, all the while, my food was sitting there getting cold. If I were a dishonest person, I could have just walked out with the bag without even paying!

Several friends have raved about this place so I finally tried it. It is my new go-​to for seafood! The menu is vast and we must have tried a dozen things between the four of us. The prices are Very reasonable!
The fried shrimp were a nice size and melt in your mouth, super soft and fresh. Blackened mahi, hands down best in Jax, and I thought both places in Mayport had great seafood. Mahi was fresh, equally blackened on both sides and perfectly cooked. The onion rings were perfectly battered so you could get all of the onion flavor. Shrimp scampi was seasoned with garlic powder instead of fresh garlic, the only disappointment of the night. Coleslaw was delish, caesar and ranch dressings are from scratch and fabulous.
We learned that Lila’s children owned the St. John’s seafood locations. They wanted out and closed all of them. Lila decided to keep this location and take it back to its roots 30 years ago. That said, all of the recipes are different, all fresh and unlike anything any of us have experienced. The cook is AWESOME! You must go and try Lilas.
I will go back here from now on for my seafood. This place is locally owned and they are fantastic! The wait staff were very attentive. I highly recommend.

Loved it been here twice they are always so friendly food is awesome for great price. love it here. Can’t belive the value u get. I ordered an appetizer of mussels and got 26 for 9 $

This is one of the former St. John’s Seafood and Steak locations. They’re still using the St. John’s menus.
The inside has been updated a little bit, it’s not nearly as dreary as it was before, and I’m pretty sure the televisions are gone. The food… maybe a notch down. I ordered the special tonight — 15 shrimp for $ 10, with 2 sides. The shrimp were pretty un-​remarkable, the green beans were right out of a can, and the baked potato was microwaved unevenly. Waitress was friendly, but didn’t mention the evening’s special (specials, as it turns out) until I pried it from her. She was very good about keeping my drink filled. Seems like maybe she was new to the waitressing game.
In fact, all of the staff seemed eager to please, just not quite sure of how to actually make that happen.
A little poking around shows that all of the related St. John’s Seafood and Steak locations have closed, only two remain today operating as «Lila’s» — this location, and one on S. Lane Avenue.
Apparently Lila came out of retirement to try and salvage the enterprise that has been declining for several years. (There used to be 7 or 8 locations around town.)
I wish her the best of luck. I’ll try again in a few months.