MIDDLEBURG – The menu at Birdie’s Dinner and Dessert is vastly unique, but that doesn’t stop Jo Mitnick from thinking of new recipes while she tries to pinpoint the epicurean preferences of Clay County. 

She and her husband, Jeff Mitnick, used to run a restaurant in Miami, where tastes are decidedly more diverse and refined. Once they moved to Middleburg, they decided to expand their South Florida creativity in a new cozy eatery in the Middleburg Village Center. 

Like the shopping center itself, following a $1.5 million renovation, Birdie’s is a fresh, bright and impressive addition to the litany of mainly fast-food options along Blanding Boulevard. 

“We had a restaurant in Miami for 10 years, then sold it and moved here,” Jo said. “We were going to relax and do whatever.” 

She said Jeff noticed there weren’t a lot of options for a cup of coffee and freshly-made desserts. 

“Then this location came up, and Jeff said it had a (stove) hood in the back, so we decided to do some food. Then it just snowballed until we had a full-service menu.” 

Jo said the menu, which includes instant local favorites like crispy fried pork belly with a cilantro-lime sauce, portobello fries with Gochujang aioli, Cuban pork Tostones (two fried, pressed plantains with mojo pork and cilantro-lime sauce), and chicken-fried chicken biscuits, will always be a work in progress. 

The Mitnicks served shrimp and grits one night, and they sold out quickly. Other specials include Trigger fish with avocado salsa, Cali Mac with grilled chicken and broccoli, Parmesan ranch chicken, lemon-pepper catfish and jambalaya. 

“It's going to change a few times within the year, so we can figure out what the neighborhood wants, with community likes,” Jo said. ”I am trying to stay in my lane. We make more comfort food. Nothing too bad. We’ve had some people come in and ask if we have fried shrimp. If it’s not on the menu, I can still make it. It's not a problem. It’s almost like having a secret menu for certain things that aren't on the menu.” 

Located at 2620 Blanding Blvd., Suite 16 – in the back-right corner, Birdie’s opened in late August. Its reputation has grown with every satisfied customer. It’s open 4-10 p.m. every day except Monday and Tuesday. 

“We’ve been doing this for a long time, and I don’t think we have it in us to do it seven days a week.” 

The greatest word-of-mouth compliment, however, is for Jo’s handmade desserts. 

Every cake, pie and treat is made from scratch. Some of her selections include Strawberry/Lemonade cake, chocolate cake with peanut butter cream, snickerdoodle cake, Moon Pie brownie sundaes, Butterfinger chocolate cake and one of her biggest sellers: fried bread pudding. 

Jamme and Krissy Belleca took Krissy’s parents, Paul and Sandy Stewart, to Birdie’s last week. They generally pick a new restaurant every Saturday, so their dinner on Oct. 11 was their first trip to Birdie’s. 

They were treated to brightly painted walls adorned with portraits of large birds, but what they said they would remember the most was the food. 

“Definitely a five-star restaurant,” Jamme said. “Best in this area, for sure. We will be back, and we’re taking a lot of it home because the servings are so large.” 

Jo eagerly wanted suggestions – good and bad – so she and her husband could continue to refine their approach. 

“I try to get as much feedback so I can do the most,” Jo said. “I can't please everybody, but I can try to pivot so I can give the community what it needs. That’s what I like about Middleburg.”