Camel Rider sandwiches - Jacksonville FLA

Interesting article in today's NY Times about a type of local sandwich popular in Jacksonville FLA that I never before read or heard a thing about, in spite of all the books and TV shows out there about local and regional sandwiches:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/dining/in-jacksonville-camel-rider-sandwiches-are-ubiquitous.html?ref=todayspaper
 
 

I often frequent the Jax Mayport area and I swear I have never seen any of these places. Guess I'm going to have to seek one out and give this a try.

brisketboy


I often frequent the Jax Mayport area and I swear I have never seen any of these places. Guess I'm going to have to seek one out and give this a try.

Same here, I've spent quite a bit of time there and never heard of them.

This is from a pre-Roadfood travel food book I use called "The Best Places to Eat in America."
"With one of the largest Middle Eastern populations in the US, Jacksonville has tribes of sandwich shops featuring "Riders," aka "Desert Riders."  Hot steak-in-a-sack affairs (strip of beef fried peppery with onions, and mildly spices, heaped into pita pockets). 
They list The Sheik restaurants as well as The Goal Post Sandwich Shop.

I grew up in Jax in the 70s and remember the camel rider sandwiches quite well. We even had them served at our school. I was just about to write "And always with a cherry limeade" and then read the article and there you have it :)

Gre up in Jville and love Camel Riders.  The Shiek is ok but they are not the best.  Whiteway deli is great.  My favorite used to be at The Nile Sandwich Shop on 103rd St. but it is long gone.  Think of a hoagie in a pita instead of a hoagie roll with mayo, oil and vinegar, a pepper, lettuce and tomato.  Oh the pitas are begger, fresh and thicker than the store bought variety.  Most of these placed serve a killer cherry limeade.
 

I lived in JAX for 12 years and these sandwiches are unremarkable. Typically served on cold pita with bad cold cuts. No interesting sauces or even decent tsezeke ( sp?). It is hard to find a decent gyro or chicken schwarma. Jacksonville is and always will be a food desert.

I"ll pass.