Teresa StepzinskiJacksonville Florida Times-Union
May saw the abrupt but unrelated closures of a national seafood restaurant chain's three Jacksonville locations, as well as the shuttering of a landmark downtown St. Augustine restaurant at the foot of the Bridge of Lions.
But openings included the highly anticipated Jacksonville Beach debut of a popular drive-thru and walk-up burger joint known for being named after a fictitious character as much as its smash burgers, fries and milk shakes.
Burgers to bubble tea and bocce: New restaurants coming soon to St. Johns Town Center area
Global flavors topped the menu of a new restaurant focused on authentic dim sum and Cantonese cuisine in Jacksonville, as well as the arrival of a Greek doughnut chain in the United States at Jacksonville Beach.
Here's a recap of notable Jacksonville-area restaurant newsin May.
Red Lobster
As Red Lobster prepared to file for bankruptcy, the Orlando-based nationwide seafood restaurant chain closed abruptly all three Jacksonville locations. Shuttering their doors were the restaurants at 8720 Baymeadows Road, 416 Commerce Center Drive and 13090 City Station Drive in River City Marketplace. All three had been open for multiple years, state records indicated. The Jacksonville restaurants were among about 48 closed across 27 states by Red Lobster, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 19. | Read more
Dick Mondell's Burger & Fries
Highly anticipated and known for its fresh, hot-off-the-grill smash burgers and homestyle fries as well as its fictitious namesake, Dick Mondell's Burgers & Fries opened at 1177 Third St. S. in Jacksonville Beach. The third location of the Gainesville-based restaurant chain has a drive-thru and walk-up window plus some picnic tables outside but no indoor seating. Founded and owned by two friends with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor who met in culinary school, the restaurant menu focuses on locally sourced, sustainable and fresh ingredients. | Read more
A1A Ale Works
After 29 years of serving craft beer and upscale pub grub as well as hosting live music, A1A Ale Works at the foot of the Bridge of Lions in historic downtown St. Augustine called it quits. The owner told the Times-Union that the closure came with the expiration of the lease for the restaurant at 1 King St. Founded in 1995, A1A Ale Works was in the building housing the former St. Augustine Plaza Hotel and Potter’s Wax Museum. | Read more
YH Dim Sum
YH Dim Sum, a first-of-its-kind restaurant offering handcrafted dim sum, traditional Cantonese cuisine and American Chinese favorites opened at 10460 Avenues Walk Blvd. across from The Avenues shopping mall. The restaurant replaces Mikado Japanese Steakhouse, which closed temporarily last June for remodeling to transition into the upscale Chinese concept. The 300-seat restaurant also offers a 100 percent traditional, authentic Cantonese menu featuring many dishes typically not previously served in Jacksonville. It is the first Northeast Florida restaurant from Tampa-basedYH Restaurant Group, which plans to bring Bakery 1908— the group's popular Asian bakery concept — to Jacksonville in the next few months. | Read more
Lukumades
Two brothers opened the first location of Australian-based Greek doughnut shop, Lukumades, at 504 1st St. N.in Jacksonville Beach. Known as Greek doughnuts, lukumades are fried dough balls typically served with honey syrup and cinnamon. The franchised location comes from brothers Leo and Geo Georgallis. Lukumades offers the classic Greek doughnuts with a modern twist in 13 flavors, including toppings of crushed Oreos, Snickers, Biscoff Lotus biscuits and more. | Read more
The Boathouse
King salmon and Bluefin tuna reign supreme on the menu of a newly opened Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant offering high-end fresh seafood and fish amid a casual setting. The Boathouse, at 240 N. Florida A1A in Merchants Plaza shopping center, features an elevated sushi bar and raw bar, and familiar classics such as fried, grilled or blackened seafood and fish. The seafood restaurant replaces the former Zoe's Kitchen, a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain acquired by Cava in 2018 then subsequently closed. | Read more
Jersey Mike's Subs
Jersey Mike’s Subs opened its newest Jacksonville-area sandwich shop at 255 Rivertown Shops Drive in The Shoppes at Rivertown in Saint Johns. Four more will be coming soon: two in Jacksonville, and one each in St. Augustine and Fleming Island. Founded in 1956, the sandwich shop chain is known for its fresh sliced, fresh sliced made-to-order, handcrafted sub sandwiches that range in size from mini to regular or giant. The subs can be served "Mike's Way" with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, red wine vinegar, olive oil blend, oregano and salt or guests can customize the toppings. | Read more
ZEN Pho & Noodles
A Gainesville-based restaurant highlighting Vietnamese pho, stir fry noodles, bao buns and rice bowls debuted in Jacksonville. ZEN Pho & Noodles, which opened at 5835 Normandy Blvd., is known as "the home of the ribeye pho" and also showcases other Pan-Asian cuisine including summer rolls and banh mi. Every dish is made to order. ZEN Pho & Noodles also offers gluten-free and dairy-free dishes as well as vegan and vegetarian options. The restaurant neighbors Asian Square Supermarket, which is one of the largest Asian markets in Jacksonville| Read more
Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi
Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushiclosed two of its three Duval County restaurants. Shuttering its doors were the restaurants at 50 Riverside Ave. in Brooklyn Place near downtown Jacksonville, and at 1198 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach. Remaining open is the restaurant at 4860 Big Island Drive #1 in The Markets at Town Center. The owners of Bento announced they will open a new concept — Izakaya Ko, a Japanese gastropub — at the Jacksonville Beach location. Izakaya Ko's will feature hot and cold small plates, yakitori and kushiyaki along with sushi and sashimi and nigiri, beer and sake. | Read more
In case you missed it: Biggest dining news from April
Anejo Cocina Mexicana
Family owned and operated, Anejo Cocina Mexicana, a Mexican restaurant chain based in Ponte Vedra Beach, opened in a nearly 3,600-square-foot space at 2039 Hendricks Ave. in the Publix-anchored East San Marco retail center. It is the chain's eighth Florida location including a half-dozen in the Jacksonville area. The restaurant chain is known for its classic and inspired Mexican dishes including birria, enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, burritos and more. | Read more
Gary T. Mills of the Times-Union contributed to this report.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest dining coverage.
