The Shim Sham Room
333 1st St N, Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250
The Shim Sham Room Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Jacksonville Beach for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Jacksonville Beach for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Jacksonville Beach for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
333 1st St N
Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250 - Phone (904) 372-0781
- Website https://shimshamroom.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Loud
Music : DJ
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Yes
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Tiara L.
Came here with my best friend and it was a nice atmosphere. Our bartender was joe and he was so funny. He told us the drink specials and i told him to create something he did on the spot and it was sooooo good! We also told him it was our first time there so he told us where everything was and mentioned where the Dj was. He was just so nice and pleasant. It wasn't really that crowded so it was a nice little mellow vibe. I would definitely go vack
(5)Scott P.
First off, I'm not a Jacksonville local. I'm from Charleston, SC. This bar was filled with a young crowd (21-25) and had a crowd more focused on getting drunk quick - rather than having a good time. Lots of guys looking for girls - women were out numbered. My buddy and I left quickly. Go to Pier Cantina instead.
(2)Tierra J.
Went on an Odd night, i had the Chicken Nachos! The nachos were Great, so much i only at a corner. I was impressed, it was a nice cool atmosphere.
(5)Marie F.
Something about a guy in suspenders just does it to me. Watching my bartender mix up a mojito with ease. It was like watching an artist paint and do a peep show. I slide the mojito to a friend and tell the bartender I want something with bourbon, whiskey, or ginger beer. I step back from the bar and look up to catch some of the game and ask my friend about her drink. She enjoyed her drink. (She said it was better then the previous spot and has now since lowered her standards for Jacksonville.) I have to agree the same for my drink. I guess I was watching a magic act. I saw the ingredients go in but something was still missing. The crowd around us was getting younger as we got to the bottom of our glasses. When we entered it was an after work type vibe. People just unwinding. In under an hour it toured into sweaty dudes and a guy being asked to leave or be arrested by cops. The guy was blabbering about random mess as he held his smartphone out and recorded the cop. It was a sad site. So girls close to us said that this happened at least once a night. :-/ It's an okay bar for the beaches but not one I would make a habit of visiting.
(3)David C.
Man, I tell you what, this place has GOOD food and drinks. I mean better than a lot of good restaurants' food. Every drink I've had here has been tasty, and actually rather fast considering many are multiple ingredient, craft cocktails. It might be a little more expensive than the $2 wells specials, etc at many places, but it's always a good time. The girls that come here/work here are always good looking too ;)
(5)Ashley M.
Nicole was awesome! She's the best bartender we've encountered in Jax Beach. The place was very clean and smelled nice (not like smoke like all of the other bars.) We didn't order any food but everything that I saw come out of the kitchen looked wonderful and the regulars had nothing but good things to say. Surprisingly everything was pretty cheap too. It was happy hour and they had $2 tacos. The menu isn't very big but features everything from mini burgers to chicken and waffles. I drank The Red Dawn (ok a few)which were delicious. Nicole is very knowledgeable about the area and gave us lots of suggestions of things to do the rest of our vacation. Would definitely go back again.
(5)Rory D.
One of the most fun bars on the beach. Whether downstairs or upstairs, for dining or drinking, this is a great little Irish bar. Clever drinks of a wide variety, & one of the most unique & tasty versions of chicken & waffles in Jax.
(5)Jack J.
Upbeat tunes, cheap drinks, and plenty of party people ;)
(4)R D.
Great spot. Inside and outside bars, drink specials and good food.
(5)a d.
Fun place, excellent Sazerac, great mixologists! Young crowd, good music. Like the goth/Victorian kind of look.
(5)Kimberly M.
Reliable go-to spot for a night out. Generally good music (mostly DJs but sometimes bands) and dance floor (although it can get quite hot upstairs) and awesome staff. The line can suck if you don't have an "in" with the door guys and can bypass it, because after 10:30 they are usually at capacity and you'll wait for 15-20 minutes. Come in the early evening or during the week for a more chill experience with a slightly older crowd. The nightlife scene has turned from hipster hangout to college bar, which can be annoying if that's not what you're into. Once you're in, you usually aren't waiting long for a drink. There are three bars (downstairs, upstairs and outside patio) and those bartenders know how to hustle! And very generous pours on shots. A lot of people don't fully appreciate that their bar staff is actually quite skilled, plus their food is excellent. Every signature cocktail is perfect, so I willingly fork over the few extra bucks. I would have never pegged the place for having such fab bar food, but it's one of the best-kept secrets at the beach. It's just a small menu of bar bites - maybe eight items total - but it's delicious. Get the steak taco for a quick refuel. As one of my favorite bars at the beach. I'd give Shim Sham five stars, but the place just doesn't seem as fun as it used to be. Maybe it's because the crowd has become younger or the newness has worn off. It probably deserves five and I'm just being stingy today.
(4)Peter K.
Awesome happy hour special and the pork tacos are simply perfect. Bartender is the GM and personally smokes the turkey and pork for the tacos. Awesome service and good times.
(5)Morgan H.
I hit up the Shim Sham Room during a late night out drinking so most of what I experienced was that it was dark and crowded, but in a good way. Here's what I love about this place though....they only serve 6 items on their menu and what I consider to be the average price of food for the environment, but where they win is by offering the entire menu for only $29! So when you're there with friends, drinking and having a good time and you get hungry but can't decide what to order....you just order it all! That's what we did and I have to say that the Chicken and Waffles as awesome. Everything came out in paper boxes and is already in an eat-able state since they also don't have silverware. Finally a place where its perfectly acceptable to eat with your fingers. They also have an upstairs area, which I didn't venture to. And a pretty big bear that was fun to take pictures with. All in all The Shim Sham Room is great for a good time and good food.
(4)Diana M.
I finally made it here for the first time after it changed hands last year. It kind of looks the same inside although I didn't go upstairs to check out that area. I will have to check out their website to see if they still have live music, that was my favorite part of the previous bar. The staff here was really nice and made an effort to check on us.
(4)Lindsay B.
Words cannot describe this bar! Was visiting JAX for a week, and visited this place everyday. We tried just about every drink and half of the menu, there was not a single thing that we didn't like! Great atmosphere, good DJs and the staff was incredible! Don't forget to take a picture with the bear :)
(5)Caron S.
Despite Jay (of rockin' downtown spot, dos gatos) crafting the cocktail menu, my October visit to The Shim Sham Room was about 3.5 stars. We met a friend for beverages downstairs around 9 p.m. and about an hour later the music was so loud, the three of us couldn't hear each other across the table. And a conversational shouting match is never much fun. The space itself is cool and Shim Shim certainly has potential but the noise level and our completely ditzy server bring down the point value here. We asked her what local beers were on draft. She paused, and answered "We have...Rogue." Well, that's in Oregon. "Oh, and we have Bold City's People Pale Ale." Well, that's from Intuition Ale Works. Moving right along.
(3)Suzanne D.
Just not my type of place
(3)Robert T.
Love this place! Again these bartenders get it. Food is just what I was looking for, and the shots are what will make me take an Uber home.
(5)Danielle A.
Shim Sham or Shim Scam? You be the judge... I visited this bar on October 25th celebrating a birthday with a group of girlfriends. Immediately, one of the bartenders came over and welcomed us. Wow, we thought, what service for a dive bar. Not long afterward, the waitress, Caroline, came over to take our order. She asked if we'd like to open a tab; we agreed and I presented my credit card. Can ya tell where this story is going? We were at the Shim Scam, er, Shim Sham, for quite a few hours. During that time, several people had bought drinks for the birthday girl and her friends. As our original group of girls started leaving the party, each paid for their drinks and I ensured Ms. Caroline received each payment, while also repeatedly reminding her, the only drinks that were to go on the tab at the end of the night would be mine as the gals were paying cash as they were leaving. She agreed, understood, said yes, nodded her head as if she got it, - so on, and so forth. When last call was announced (yeah, we partied into the night), I paid my bill, which, with tip, totaled about ten bucks. Any time my credit card is used I receive an e-mail alert. This time was no exception. About an hour after I got back to my hotel room and long after we'd left the Scam, er, Sham, I got another e-mail alert that my card had been used again at the Sc... Sham, this time for about $20. Hmmm, I thought. I'm nice and comfy in my hotel room and my credit card is still out havin' a good time at the Sham. So weird, considering my credit card was in my wallet! The next evening I went back to the Sham to see if I'd been scammed. I approached Caroline and asked if she remembered us from the night before. She did. It might be worth noting one other thing here...one of my friends learned the night before that Caroline and the bartender are girlfriend/boyfriend. When I showed Caroline the e-mail alerts, she looked at me like a deer in the headlights and said she didn't know what happened, but there was nothing she could do about it. Were Caroline and Mr. Bartender in cahoots, I thought? I asked Caroline if I could speak with a manager. She rounded up not just a manager, but a General Manager named Dustin Birden. I showed Mr. Birden the e-mail alerts. His reaction? He looked at me like I had two heads and a pair of wings and responded, "Are you SURE you didn't have two tabs?" Ah yeah, dude, I'm sure that's a valid question for the majority of your clientele, but you can rest assured I had my wits about me when I left the Scam and I only had one tab! He then said sometimes there are "system errors" and there was nothing he could do unless the charges posted. He gave me his business card and said to contact him if that were the case. Well, it was the case. I left a message on his cell voice mail a week ago Tuesday and got no response. I called the bar on Wednesday and left a message with Nicole, who said he wasn't in yet, to have him call me back. Still no response. Surprised? I'm not. I'm thinking now Caroline, Mr. Bartender and Mr. Birden are all in cahoots, which is why I'm likely never to receive a call back. So, as a warning, don't take them up on the offer of opening a tab. You too might end up being Shim Scammed!
(1)Shannon S.
Craft cocktails were delicious. Best cocktails at the beach. Nicole is really good at what she does. Great location. Try the Stolen fish. I may or may not have stolen the orange jalapeño margarita... Also delicious.
(5)Ryan H.
A small night club feel. I wasn't here very long, but it's been transformed pretty significantly from the previous bar that was here. It certainly looks nice and would be a good spot to visit every now and then. I'll give it another shot later on, but for now it's just subpar until further notice.
(3)Mark H.
Real mixologists (not bartenders) work here. Order an old fashioned and watch them do their thing. Drinks are reasonably priced, and beyond delicious. There's something for everyone. Do yourself a favor though, and stay downstairs or head outside to the patio. The second floor is a cluster. Ass to elbows all night long. Also, it's close to the beach, and if a break is needed, a 3 minute walk puts you on the water. Only thing that sucks is that Jax bars shut down at 2 AM, so last call is hella early!
(4)Katie B.
If you don't stop by this place for at least one, then you don't know what's good for you!!!! The bartenders are the best I have seen! Stop in for my favorite, "The Stolen Fish and Scratch Nachos!" Ask for Nicole or Dreu!
(5)Brian A.
Long lines, loud music, expensive drinks, dark rooms. These are my first impressions of the overly hyped and coveted shim sham room. I'm just not feeling this place after a dozen or so visits. I love dos gatos. It fits in downtown. The vibe works perfectly. I can't say the same for the beach though. When it first opened. all of my friends wanted to go here. After the first visit I'd seen enough. But they still wanted to go, so I obliged. They just do things here that irritate me. That long line you see out front? It's not because they're at capacity. They keep about ten dolts from going in to give it the appearance of a busier bar. Once you're inside, prepare your ear drums for top 100 house and radio remixes. This alone frustrates me. It's not a dance club. Turn it down so we can talk please! Next you get the pleasure of being served by some of the most pretentious bar tenders in Jax Beach. Hell, you should be lucky you even made it inside! I understand it's hard to get to everyone on a busy night, but that's not an excuse to make someone wait five minutes to order, or to even look at them. If you're here go to the patio bar for quicker service. This place is a carbon copy of Dos Gatos as far as the interior goes. But that awesome service you got at Dos Gatos isn't here. 2/5 will avoid in the future.
(2)Kip N.
Good place, a long line some times. Very good drinks, and a small but very good menu.
(4)Rob M.
The bouncers are really intelligent. We got kicked out for "sneaking in" by DJ as we were looking for the bathroom. His argument for the reason we couldn't have possibly been in the bar for the past few hours (including the hour long line) was that we were holding that "blue can" beer that they don't sell there. This of course was the can of Dale's Pale Ale that all 4 of us had bought from the bar inside after a 10 minute wait. I'm sure it wasn't the Natty Light that DJ is used to, but he wasn't about to listen to reason because he is a product of the Florida school system. All we asked was for him to help us find the bathroom and he treated us like dirt.
(1)Phunk M.
For Jax beach bars this one of the best in my opinion. They offer a great array of drinks that are made by professional mixologists. I had a strawberry mule, it's like a Moscow Mule but with strawberries and it was refreshing and tasty. Just as good as the drinks is the food. I had a Cuban sandwich shim sham style. It was absolutely flavorful and just hit the spot with the in house pulled pork. I give this a place five stars on all of the above. They also have an upstairs and a outside patio.
(5)Gina B.
Killer vibe, best craft cocktails on the beach, music is always on point, oh and they can cook some incredible food... I need more stars!
(5)Debbi C.
Great location. The corner spot draws you in. Once inside, it lacks personality. The decor is dark...not any "personality."The bathrooms are clean and smell good, as well as well stocked. I love the stall door handles!!! Servers are attentive. They are great! Drinks are average. Music is hit or miss. Haven't tried the outside area, but once inside, you enjoy hanging with friends. If you get hungry, you're drawn to some of the menu items...very unexpected menu items.... Including chicken and waffles. You won't believe you're eating chicken and waffles but I promise you, they are amazing.. Until the guilt later. They are good. Don't skip the sauces! There's no silverware, but it works somehow and you're happy to share with friends. With a little work and a few tweaks could it be awesome? Yes. Will I be back? Yes.
(3)Dani V.
I don't always love this place. The music is bizarre some night, mixing Lil Wayne with Led Zeppelin or something that just is not right. The bartenders are pretty on point which is a refreshing change from the other hot spots like Ritz and Brix. The scene though, is just meh. Howeverrrrr (!), I don't know if it's every Wednesday, but last Wednesday I went and they had, like, their own garden growing on the bar. The gin and juice I ordered was made fresh with squeezed juices from the grapefruit the cut in front of my face with a blend of muddled herbs as well. It was so nice to see that small bit of mixology in Jax Beach. So, during the week it's okay since it's not over packed with horrible music. But on the weekends I steer clear.
(2)Beth H.
A great place to hang out after work. This place is hip and has a unique assortment of drinks. The bartender was simply the best and very attentive to our table. Going back soon!!
(5)Rebecca D.
Love this place, especially when it's slow. It's got that lounge thing going. Makes me want an old-fashioned and some good conversation. They're always playing good music and the lighting is very seductive, makes ya wanna stay awhile. Last time my friends and I went we had the whole upstairs bar to ourselves, the bartender made us a delicious gin concoction he called the Rambler, he just wanted us to try it. Super refreshing, tasted like a sparkling vitamin water, definitely recommend it. It gets super busy, and that's really fun too. Nice to have a place by the beach where you can dress up and feel like your downtown.
(4)Russell W.
Solid Beach Bar. Went on a Tuesday night and the was a good crowd. Good tap selection and interesting food. The BAT sandwich is awesome. The bar has multiple levels and an outside patio. Will be going back.
(5)Jamie K.
Best place ever. When you want a good bar, go here. I read these reviews all the time and they don't do things justice. This place is awesome. The nachos are the best I've ever had. & believe me I've had soooooo many nachos. The bartenders are really good, know exactly what they are doing. & they take time doing it. I wish I had one of these where I lived. Love it!!!!!!!
(5)Josh W.
There is nothing special about this bar. That being said it is still a pretty good place, especially for the beach. The bathrooms were clean and the staff was pretty attentive. It is not a speakeasy. I have been to speakeasies they do not have a huge sign on a busy street. They are dark places filled with kindred spirits seeking to drown their souls in cheap and poorly produced alcohol. My kind of people.
(4)Blake T.
Great bar/lounge that has two completely different vibes... You can go early and enjoy some great specialty drinks and lounge in some really cool victorian style furniture or go late when it gets busy and enjoy more of a rowdy (but in a good way) scene! Food is surprisingly amazing and is served late! Lots of character, especially for a bar at the beach... Order a Red Dawn cocktail and the chicken & waffles and your mouth will be very happy!!!
(5)Luke E.
My second home. The staff, lighting, prices and three different bars in one makes you want to stay. You walk into an Irish cocktail lounge feel for some conversations, then go upstairs to a club atmosphere with a great crowd, then cool the night off on the patio for last call and the ocean breeze. In the end it is the overall staff that makes you want to come back, or it is my Irish blood......... Been year plus later now, bar has turned into a very young crowd and all the staff has changed........
(4)Cynthia V.
This is a great bar. Wonderful location by the beach. Great atmosphere. The service is unbeatable. I really like the bartenders. The only reason that I did not give 5 stars is due to the extremely limited menu, but it is better than nothing.
(4)David F.
A great energetic but low key night time vibe with great DJs playing a fun mix of current and popular past hits to get your feet moving!
(4)Katie C.
Weird name. Fun bar. Add this to the list of beach staples like Ritz, Brix and Lynch's. There's nothing super standout here, but it's a nice change from the same old same old (while still feeling a lot like the same old same old.) There a big, center bar downstairs, a dark, claustrophobic upstairs, and a crowded patio to smoke your stoges on. I've yet to try the food, but it doesn't really feel like a place I'd want to grub down at. I'll reserve judgment on that until I give it a whirl though. I'd say the decor is an upgrade from the old Fionn Maccool's, and the service seems to be pretty efficient. I've heard they do a special weeknight where patrons get to plug in their iPods and play whatever music they want until they get boo'd off. That sounds pretty fun! I'm not blown away by this bar by any means, but I'm sure I'll be back next time I'm out at the beach on a weekend.
(3)Virginia M.
staff was nice but i didn't like the atmosphere here. it was like goth meets the beach.
(2)Cynthia V.
This is a great bar. Wonderful location by the beach. Great atmosphere. The service is unbeatable. I really like the bartenders. The only reason that I did not give 5 stars is due to the extremely limited menu, but it is better than nothing.
(4)David F.
A great energetic but low key night time vibe with great DJs playing a fun mix of current and popular past hits to get your feet moving!
(4)Katie C.
Weird name. Fun bar. Add this to the list of beach staples like Ritz, Brix and Lynch's. There's nothing super standout here, but it's a nice change from the same old same old (while still feeling a lot like the same old same old.) There a big, center bar downstairs, a dark, claustrophobic upstairs, and a crowded patio to smoke your stoges on. I've yet to try the food, but it doesn't really feel like a place I'd want to grub down at. I'll reserve judgment on that until I give it a whirl though. I'd say the decor is an upgrade from the old Fionn Maccool's, and the service seems to be pretty efficient. I've heard they do a special weeknight where patrons get to plug in their iPods and play whatever music they want until they get boo'd off. That sounds pretty fun! I'm not blown away by this bar by any means, but I'm sure I'll be back next time I'm out at the beach on a weekend.
(3)Virginia M.
staff was nice but i didn't like the atmosphere here. it was like goth meets the beach.
(2)Morgan H.
I hit up the Shim Sham Room during a late night out drinking so most of what I experienced was that it was dark and crowded, but in a good way. Here's what I love about this place though....they only serve 6 items on their menu and what I consider to be the average price of food for the environment, but where they win is by offering the entire menu for only $29! So when you're there with friends, drinking and having a good time and you get hungry but can't decide what to order....you just order it all! That's what we did and I have to say that the Chicken and Waffles as awesome. Everything came out in paper boxes and is already in an eat-able state since they also don't have silverware. Finally a place where its perfectly acceptable to eat with your fingers. They also have an upstairs area, which I didn't venture to. And a pretty big bear that was fun to take pictures with. All in all The Shim Sham Room is great for a good time and good food.
(4)Diana M.
I finally made it here for the first time after it changed hands last year. It kind of looks the same inside although I didn't go upstairs to check out that area. I will have to check out their website to see if they still have live music, that was my favorite part of the previous bar. The staff here was really nice and made an effort to check on us.
(4)Lindsay B.
Words cannot describe this bar! Was visiting JAX for a week, and visited this place everyday. We tried just about every drink and half of the menu, there was not a single thing that we didn't like! Great atmosphere, good DJs and the staff was incredible! Don't forget to take a picture with the bear :)
(5)Caron S.
Despite Jay (of rockin' downtown spot, dos gatos) crafting the cocktail menu, my October visit to The Shim Sham Room was about 3.5 stars. We met a friend for beverages downstairs around 9 p.m. and about an hour later the music was so loud, the three of us couldn't hear each other across the table. And a conversational shouting match is never much fun. The space itself is cool and Shim Shim certainly has potential but the noise level and our completely ditzy server bring down the point value here. We asked her what local beers were on draft. She paused, and answered "We have...Rogue." Well, that's in Oregon. "Oh, and we have Bold City's People Pale Ale." Well, that's from Intuition Ale Works. Moving right along.
(3)Suzanne D.
Just not my type of place
(3)Jamie K.
Best place ever. When you want a good bar, go here. I read these reviews all the time and they don't do things justice. This place is awesome. The nachos are the best I've ever had. & believe me I've had soooooo many nachos. The bartenders are really good, know exactly what they are doing. & they take time doing it. I wish I had one of these where I lived. Love it!!!!!!!
(5)Luke E.
My second home. The staff, lighting, prices and three different bars in one makes you want to stay. You walk into an Irish cocktail lounge feel for some conversations, then go upstairs to a club atmosphere with a great crowd, then cool the night off on the patio for last call and the ocean breeze. In the end it is the overall staff that makes you want to come back, or it is my Irish blood......... Been year plus later now, bar has turned into a very young crowd and all the staff has changed........
(4)Danielle A.
Shim Sham or Shim Scam? You be the judge... I visited this bar on October 25th celebrating a birthday with a group of girlfriends. Immediately, one of the bartenders came over and welcomed us. Wow, we thought, what service for a dive bar. Not long afterward, the waitress, Caroline, came over to take our order. She asked if we'd like to open a tab; we agreed and I presented my credit card. Can ya tell where this story is going? We were at the Shim Scam, er, Shim Sham, for quite a few hours. During that time, several people had bought drinks for the birthday girl and her friends. As our original group of girls started leaving the party, each paid for their drinks and I ensured Ms. Caroline received each payment, while also repeatedly reminding her, the only drinks that were to go on the tab at the end of the night would be mine as the gals were paying cash as they were leaving. She agreed, understood, said yes, nodded her head as if she got it, - so on, and so forth. When last call was announced (yeah, we partied into the night), I paid my bill, which, with tip, totaled about ten bucks. Any time my credit card is used I receive an e-mail alert. This time was no exception. About an hour after I got back to my hotel room and long after we'd left the Scam, er, Sham, I got another e-mail alert that my card had been used again at the Sc... Sham, this time for about $20. Hmmm, I thought. I'm nice and comfy in my hotel room and my credit card is still out havin' a good time at the Sham. So weird, considering my credit card was in my wallet! The next evening I went back to the Sham to see if I'd been scammed. I approached Caroline and asked if she remembered us from the night before. She did. It might be worth noting one other thing here...one of my friends learned the night before that Caroline and the bartender are girlfriend/boyfriend. When I showed Caroline the e-mail alerts, she looked at me like a deer in the headlights and said she didn't know what happened, but there was nothing she could do about it. Were Caroline and Mr. Bartender in cahoots, I thought? I asked Caroline if I could speak with a manager. She rounded up not just a manager, but a General Manager named Dustin Birden. I showed Mr. Birden the e-mail alerts. His reaction? He looked at me like I had two heads and a pair of wings and responded, "Are you SURE you didn't have two tabs?" Ah yeah, dude, I'm sure that's a valid question for the majority of your clientele, but you can rest assured I had my wits about me when I left the Scam and I only had one tab! He then said sometimes there are "system errors" and there was nothing he could do unless the charges posted. He gave me his business card and said to contact him if that were the case. Well, it was the case. I left a message on his cell voice mail a week ago Tuesday and got no response. I called the bar on Wednesday and left a message with Nicole, who said he wasn't in yet, to have him call me back. Still no response. Surprised? I'm not. I'm thinking now Caroline, Mr. Bartender and Mr. Birden are all in cahoots, which is why I'm likely never to receive a call back. So, as a warning, don't take them up on the offer of opening a tab. You too might end up being Shim Scammed!
(1)Shannon S.
Craft cocktails were delicious. Best cocktails at the beach. Nicole is really good at what she does. Great location. Try the Stolen fish. I may or may not have stolen the orange jalapeño margarita... Also delicious.
(5)R D.
Great spot. Inside and outside bars, drink specials and good food.
(5)a d.
Fun place, excellent Sazerac, great mixologists! Young crowd, good music. Like the goth/Victorian kind of look.
(5)Kimberly M.
Reliable go-to spot for a night out. Generally good music (mostly DJs but sometimes bands) and dance floor (although it can get quite hot upstairs) and awesome staff. The line can suck if you don't have an "in" with the door guys and can bypass it, because after 10:30 they are usually at capacity and you'll wait for 15-20 minutes. Come in the early evening or during the week for a more chill experience with a slightly older crowd. The nightlife scene has turned from hipster hangout to college bar, which can be annoying if that's not what you're into. Once you're in, you usually aren't waiting long for a drink. There are three bars (downstairs, upstairs and outside patio) and those bartenders know how to hustle! And very generous pours on shots. A lot of people don't fully appreciate that their bar staff is actually quite skilled, plus their food is excellent. Every signature cocktail is perfect, so I willingly fork over the few extra bucks. I would have never pegged the place for having such fab bar food, but it's one of the best-kept secrets at the beach. It's just a small menu of bar bites - maybe eight items total - but it's delicious. Get the steak taco for a quick refuel. As one of my favorite bars at the beach. I'd give Shim Sham five stars, but the place just doesn't seem as fun as it used to be. Maybe it's because the crowd has become younger or the newness has worn off. It probably deserves five and I'm just being stingy today.
(4)Peter K.
Awesome happy hour special and the pork tacos are simply perfect. Bartender is the GM and personally smokes the turkey and pork for the tacos. Awesome service and good times.
(5)Ryan H.
A small night club feel. I wasn't here very long, but it's been transformed pretty significantly from the previous bar that was here. It certainly looks nice and would be a good spot to visit every now and then. I'll give it another shot later on, but for now it's just subpar until further notice.
(3)Tiara L.
Came here with my best friend and it was a nice atmosphere. Our bartender was joe and he was so funny. He told us the drink specials and i told him to create something he did on the spot and it was sooooo good! We also told him it was our first time there so he told us where everything was and mentioned where the Dj was. He was just so nice and pleasant. It wasn't really that crowded so it was a nice little mellow vibe. I would definitely go vack
(5)Brian A.
Long lines, loud music, expensive drinks, dark rooms. These are my first impressions of the overly hyped and coveted shim sham room. I'm just not feeling this place after a dozen or so visits. I love dos gatos. It fits in downtown. The vibe works perfectly. I can't say the same for the beach though. When it first opened. all of my friends wanted to go here. After the first visit I'd seen enough. But they still wanted to go, so I obliged. They just do things here that irritate me. That long line you see out front? It's not because they're at capacity. They keep about ten dolts from going in to give it the appearance of a busier bar. Once you're inside, prepare your ear drums for top 100 house and radio remixes. This alone frustrates me. It's not a dance club. Turn it down so we can talk please! Next you get the pleasure of being served by some of the most pretentious bar tenders in Jax Beach. Hell, you should be lucky you even made it inside! I understand it's hard to get to everyone on a busy night, but that's not an excuse to make someone wait five minutes to order, or to even look at them. If you're here go to the patio bar for quicker service. This place is a carbon copy of Dos Gatos as far as the interior goes. But that awesome service you got at Dos Gatos isn't here. 2/5 will avoid in the future.
(2)Kip N.
Good place, a long line some times. Very good drinks, and a small but very good menu.
(4)Rob M.
The bouncers are really intelligent. We got kicked out for "sneaking in" by DJ as we were looking for the bathroom. His argument for the reason we couldn't have possibly been in the bar for the past few hours (including the hour long line) was that we were holding that "blue can" beer that they don't sell there. This of course was the can of Dale's Pale Ale that all 4 of us had bought from the bar inside after a 10 minute wait. I'm sure it wasn't the Natty Light that DJ is used to, but he wasn't about to listen to reason because he is a product of the Florida school system. All we asked was for him to help us find the bathroom and he treated us like dirt.
(1)Rebecca D.
Love this place, especially when it's slow. It's got that lounge thing going. Makes me want an old-fashioned and some good conversation. They're always playing good music and the lighting is very seductive, makes ya wanna stay awhile. Last time my friends and I went we had the whole upstairs bar to ourselves, the bartender made us a delicious gin concoction he called the Rambler, he just wanted us to try it. Super refreshing, tasted like a sparkling vitamin water, definitely recommend it. It gets super busy, and that's really fun too. Nice to have a place by the beach where you can dress up and feel like your downtown.
(4)Russell W.
Solid Beach Bar. Went on a Tuesday night and the was a good crowd. Good tap selection and interesting food. The BAT sandwich is awesome. The bar has multiple levels and an outside patio. Will be going back.
(5)Scott P.
First off, I'm not a Jacksonville local. I'm from Charleston, SC. This bar was filled with a young crowd (21-25) and had a crowd more focused on getting drunk quick - rather than having a good time. Lots of guys looking for girls - women were out numbered. My buddy and I left quickly. Go to Pier Cantina instead.
(2)Tierra J.
Went on an Odd night, i had the Chicken Nachos! The nachos were Great, so much i only at a corner. I was impressed, it was a nice cool atmosphere.
(5)Marie F.
Something about a guy in suspenders just does it to me. Watching my bartender mix up a mojito with ease. It was like watching an artist paint and do a peep show. I slide the mojito to a friend and tell the bartender I want something with bourbon, whiskey, or ginger beer. I step back from the bar and look up to catch some of the game and ask my friend about her drink. She enjoyed her drink. (She said it was better then the previous spot and has now since lowered her standards for Jacksonville.) I have to agree the same for my drink. I guess I was watching a magic act. I saw the ingredients go in but something was still missing. The crowd around us was getting younger as we got to the bottom of our glasses. When we entered it was an after work type vibe. People just unwinding. In under an hour it toured into sweaty dudes and a guy being asked to leave or be arrested by cops. The guy was blabbering about random mess as he held his smartphone out and recorded the cop. It was a sad site. So girls close to us said that this happened at least once a night. :-/ It's an okay bar for the beaches but not one I would make a habit of visiting.
(3)David C.
Man, I tell you what, this place has GOOD food and drinks. I mean better than a lot of good restaurants' food. Every drink I've had here has been tasty, and actually rather fast considering many are multiple ingredient, craft cocktails. It might be a little more expensive than the $2 wells specials, etc at many places, but it's always a good time. The girls that come here/work here are always good looking too ;)
(5)Ashley M.
Nicole was awesome! She's the best bartender we've encountered in Jax Beach. The place was very clean and smelled nice (not like smoke like all of the other bars.) We didn't order any food but everything that I saw come out of the kitchen looked wonderful and the regulars had nothing but good things to say. Surprisingly everything was pretty cheap too. It was happy hour and they had $2 tacos. The menu isn't very big but features everything from mini burgers to chicken and waffles. I drank The Red Dawn (ok a few)which were delicious. Nicole is very knowledgeable about the area and gave us lots of suggestions of things to do the rest of our vacation. Would definitely go back again.
(5)Rory D.
One of the most fun bars on the beach. Whether downstairs or upstairs, for dining or drinking, this is a great little Irish bar. Clever drinks of a wide variety, & one of the most unique & tasty versions of chicken & waffles in Jax.
(5)Jack J.
Upbeat tunes, cheap drinks, and plenty of party people ;)
(4)Phunk M.
For Jax beach bars this one of the best in my opinion. They offer a great array of drinks that are made by professional mixologists. I had a strawberry mule, it's like a Moscow Mule but with strawberries and it was refreshing and tasty. Just as good as the drinks is the food. I had a Cuban sandwich shim sham style. It was absolutely flavorful and just hit the spot with the in house pulled pork. I give this a place five stars on all of the above. They also have an upstairs and a outside patio.
(5)Gina B.
Killer vibe, best craft cocktails on the beach, music is always on point, oh and they can cook some incredible food... I need more stars!
(5)Robert T.
Love this place! Again these bartenders get it. Food is just what I was looking for, and the shots are what will make me take an Uber home.
(5)Mark H.
Real mixologists (not bartenders) work here. Order an old fashioned and watch them do their thing. Drinks are reasonably priced, and beyond delicious. There's something for everyone. Do yourself a favor though, and stay downstairs or head outside to the patio. The second floor is a cluster. Ass to elbows all night long. Also, it's close to the beach, and if a break is needed, a 3 minute walk puts you on the water. Only thing that sucks is that Jax bars shut down at 2 AM, so last call is hella early!
(4)Katie B.
If you don't stop by this place for at least one, then you don't know what's good for you!!!! The bartenders are the best I have seen! Stop in for my favorite, "The Stolen Fish and Scratch Nachos!" Ask for Nicole or Dreu!
(5)Debbi C.
Great location. The corner spot draws you in. Once inside, it lacks personality. The decor is dark...not any "personality."The bathrooms are clean and smell good, as well as well stocked. I love the stall door handles!!! Servers are attentive. They are great! Drinks are average. Music is hit or miss. Haven't tried the outside area, but once inside, you enjoy hanging with friends. If you get hungry, you're drawn to some of the menu items...very unexpected menu items.... Including chicken and waffles. You won't believe you're eating chicken and waffles but I promise you, they are amazing.. Until the guilt later. They are good. Don't skip the sauces! There's no silverware, but it works somehow and you're happy to share with friends. With a little work and a few tweaks could it be awesome? Yes. Will I be back? Yes.
(3)Dani V.
I don't always love this place. The music is bizarre some night, mixing Lil Wayne with Led Zeppelin or something that just is not right. The bartenders are pretty on point which is a refreshing change from the other hot spots like Ritz and Brix. The scene though, is just meh. Howeverrrrr (!), I don't know if it's every Wednesday, but last Wednesday I went and they had, like, their own garden growing on the bar. The gin and juice I ordered was made fresh with squeezed juices from the grapefruit the cut in front of my face with a blend of muddled herbs as well. It was so nice to see that small bit of mixology in Jax Beach. So, during the week it's okay since it's not over packed with horrible music. But on the weekends I steer clear.
(2)Beth H.
A great place to hang out after work. This place is hip and has a unique assortment of drinks. The bartender was simply the best and very attentive to our table. Going back soon!!
(5)Josh W.
There is nothing special about this bar. That being said it is still a pretty good place, especially for the beach. The bathrooms were clean and the staff was pretty attentive. It is not a speakeasy. I have been to speakeasies they do not have a huge sign on a busy street. They are dark places filled with kindred spirits seeking to drown their souls in cheap and poorly produced alcohol. My kind of people.
(4)Blake T.
Great bar/lounge that has two completely different vibes... You can go early and enjoy some great specialty drinks and lounge in some really cool victorian style furniture or go late when it gets busy and enjoy more of a rowdy (but in a good way) scene! Food is surprisingly amazing and is served late! Lots of character, especially for a bar at the beach... Order a Red Dawn cocktail and the chicken & waffles and your mouth will be very happy!!!
(5)