Jacksonville-area restaurant roundup: 10 opened, 3 closed in August
August saw the opening of the first Ecuadorian restaurant in Jacksonville, a liquid nitrogen ice cream shop and expansion of a popular family-friendly sports bar along with a new dining option at Jacksonville International Airport.
An established Caribbean fusion restaurant also opened a rum bar and tapas restaurant. In addition, an upscale restaurant focused on contemporary American cuisine and seasonal ingredients opened.
However, a popular Southern comfort and soul food restaurant closed abruptly as did a microbrewery and an Orange Park Mexican restaurant known for its beef Birria.
Here's a recap of Jacksonville-area restaurant news in August.
Chancho King
Offering big flavors on a small menu, the first Ecuadorian restaurant in Northeast Florida opened at 1120 Edgewood Ave. S. in Jacksonville's Murray Hill neighborhood. Chancho King offers authentic Ecuadorian home cooking from family recipes. The brick-and-mortar diner from veteran husband and wife chefs Chason Spencer and Maria Delia La Mota Guerra joins Chancho Kings' food truck and popup locations at Aardwolf Brewing Co. and Riverside Arts Market. | Read more
More openings and closings: Jacksonville-area restaurant roundup: 12 opened in July
Milkster Nitrogen Creamery
Known for its artisan ice cream custom-made using liquid nitrogen, Milkster Nitrogen Creamery debuted at 3853 Hendricks Ave. near Emerson Street. The Detroit-based artisan ice cream and specialty coffee shop is the first in Northeast Florida. Guests customize their flavors, mix-ins and toppings of ice cream which are crafted by shop employees using -321-degree liquid nitrogen. Popular ice cream recipes include Oreos Cookies ‘N Cream, Ferrero Rocher, Home-Cooked Salted Caramel, Biscoff Voyage, Cookie Dough and others. Milkster locations also offer specialty coffee drinks.
Players Grille
Nearly eight months after buying the original Players Grille in the Miramar neighborhood, Jacksonville husband-and-wife owners Phil and Megan Visali opened the family-friendly sports bar's second location at 10140 San Jose Blvd. in Mandarin. The couple plans to open at least two more Jacksonville-area locations and ultimately franchise it to NFL cities nationwide. Players Grille is known for its chicken wings and burgers. | Read more
Talkin' Tacos
Two cousins have opened the first of two Talkin' Tacos quick-service Mexican restaurants in Northeast Florida. Franchise co-owners Jason Malih and Elias Ishak debuted the South Florida restaurant at 1300 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach. Another will follow soon at St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville. The restaurant is known for its fresh-from-scratch beef Birria — showcased in a grilled cheese sandwich, ramen bowls, tacos and burritos — as well as Carne Asada, Southwest Chicken, Caribbean steak tacos and more. | Read more
Whataburger
A Texas-based quick service restaurant known for its freshly made-to-order burgers as well as shakes, fries and breakfast fare opened its 12th Northeast Florida restaurant in Jacksonville. Whataburger at 10600 San Jose Blvd. near Interstate 295 in Mandarin offers a drive-thru open 24/7 for late-night cravings. Whataburger is known for its quarter-pound burgers grilled to order and topped with lettuce, three slices of tomato, four pickles, chopped onions, mustard, and ketchup. | Read more
El Agave Azul
After more than four years in Orange Park, El Agave Azul has closed at 992 Blanding Blvd. The restaurant, which introduced Jacksonville to its traditional Birria, tacos and other classic Mexican street fare first as a food truck and then as a brick-and-mortar, closed abruptly on Aug. 23. Remaining open are the restaurant's two other locations — one in the Baymeadows area and a second that opened earlier this year in Neptune Beach. Its food truck also remains active. | Read more
Southern Grounds
Southern Grounds, a popular Jacksonville-based restaurant known for its inspired chef-driven menu focused on fresh and sustainable ingredients celebrated the grand opening of its second location at Jacksonville International Airport. The 49-seat restaurant is located before the TSA security checkpoint — making it available to ticketed passengers and visitors. It follows the opening of a 23-seat Southern Grounds cafe post-security at Concourse A early last year. | Read more
DOS Coffee & Wine
A St. Augustine-based specialty coffee and wine shop recently opened its third Northeast Florida restaurant in the St. Johns Town Center area. DOS Coffee & Wine at 4853 Big Island Drive, No. 3, in Town Center Plaza, offers fresh specialty coffee, a diverse selection of wine and beer and a menu featuring made-to-order sandwiches and salads as well as in-house baked pastries and other desserts. The cafe shares the 1,578-square-foot storefront with Mayday Handcrafted Ice Cream. | Read more
Pink Salt Restaurant + Vevetas Tapas
A popular chef-driven Caribbean fusion restaurant is welcoming guests to the table of its new tapas and rum bar — believed to be the first of its kind in Jacksonville. Pink Salt Restaurant + Vevetas Tapas is at 1567 University Blvd. W. offers a Caribbean menu with an international flair. It joins the original Pink Salt + Wine Bar in San Marco. The rum and tapas bar is in the former storefront of Gene's Seafood Restaurant and Blue Marlin Bar, which closed after 22 years in September 2017. | Read more
Scooter's Coffee
Scooter’s Coffee, headquartered in Omaha, Neb., celebrated the grand opening of its first Jacksonville specialty coffee drive-thru shop at 13753 Beach Blvd. on Aug. 10. The coffee shop also offers baked-from-scratch pastries. Scooter’s Coffee is a drive-thru franchise founded 25 years ago. It has more than 640 locations in 29 states nationwide, the company said in a news release.
Tabula Rasa Brewing
Tabula Rasa Brewing closed its microbrewery and tap room abruptly at 2385 Corbett St. in the city's Rail Yard District after five years in business. | Read more
Jazzy's Restaurant and Lounge
Known for its from-scratch Southern soul and comfort food, Jazzy's Restaurant and Lounge, 901 King St. closed abruptly four years after opening its doors in Riverside. Chef and co-owner Celestia W. Mobley announced the closure on social media saying a new venture is coming soon. Mobley cited "circumstances beyond our control" such as "fraudulent lawsuits and a lack of support from the community." | Read more
Argyle
Argyle, a new upscale restaurant offering contemporary American cuisine focused on fresh Florida ingredients opened at 254 Alta Mar Drive, at The Yards in Sawgrass at Ponte Vedra Beach. The chef-driven restaurant features a rotating selection of seasonal-based dishes as well as year-round classics served amid a casual California coastal-style decor and ambiance. The restaurant also pays homage to the roots and heritage of golf. | Read more
Times-Union writer Gary T. Mills 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.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville restaurants: Chancho King, Milkster. Argyle open
