Another taco joint is coming to Five Points. This one will have a rooftop bar.

Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
Updated ·4 min read

A new restaurant promising "fresh upscale street food with a coastal vibe in a relaxed environment" plans to move into the distinctive, triangular-shaped, three-story building in the heart of Five Points.

Bartaco recently signed the lease for the former Black Sheep Restaurant with its rooftop patio at 1534 Oak St., Anthony Valletta, the restaurant's president, confirmed to the Times-Union on Tuesday.

Founded in 2010, Arlington, Va.-based bartaco debuted its first restaurant in 2011 at Port Chester, N.Y. It describes itself as "being inspired by a healthy, outdoor lifestyle," featuring food and ambiance intended to evoke the beach culture of Brazil, Uruguay and Southern California.

The former Black Sheep restaurant featuring a rooftop lounge is an iconic landmark in the Five Points neighborhood.
The former Black Sheep restaurant featuring a rooftop lounge is an iconic landmark in the Five Points neighborhood.

"While we don’t have an opening date just yet, we are aiming to open sometime in spring 2025," Valletta said.

Jacksonville will be bartaco's first Northeast Florida location and sixth in the state. The chain has 31 restaurants open from Colorado to Connecticut to South Carolina.

"When scoping out locations for bartaco, the aim is to find places where the community embodies the spirit of bartaco," Valletta said.

He said the restaurant and Five Points neighborhood will complement each other.

"We are known for creating an escape for our guests through bold flavors, freshly juiced-to-order cocktails, upbeat music, and coastal decor. Bartaco felt like a natural fit for the Five Points neighborhood of Jacksonville — it’s a diverse community known for its vibrant and eclectic atmosphere, trendy boutiques, incredible culinary scene, and historic charm," Valletta said.

Black Sheep, from Jacksonville restaurateur/chef Jonathan Insetta, closed in May 2023 after 11 years.

Located in a modern glass-walled building, Black Sheep represented the start of a new era of dining in the historic neighborhood. Its rooftop bar, one of the first in the area, offered sweeping views of the downtown skyline and the rooftops of neighboring century-old homes.

Insetta couldn't be reached immediately for comment.

"We’ll plan to have approximately 98 indoor dining seats, with a U-shaped bar seating 22, rooftop seating 73 with standing room for 30, and an expansive patio seating 34," Valletta said of bartaco's planned Five Points restaurant which spans about 5,500-square feet on the ground floor including the kitchen, indoor dining area and outdoor patio. The building's approximate 3,000-square-foot rooftop patio will be a key part of bartaco's design, he said.

Valletta said the building won't need any extensive renovations.

"Our renovations will simply be cosmetic to ensure we are bringing the bartaco brand to life in this space," he said. "Like every bartaco location, we look forward to incorporating the local neighborhood feel into our designed space including sourcing decor and design elements from local artisans and thrift markets."

Also new in Five Points: Hand-crafted 'Neo-Neapolitan pizza' arrives with opening of Rodrigo's Craft Pizza

On the menu at bartaco

Bartaco's menu offers "upscale street food with a coastal vibe inspired by the beach culture of Brazil, Uruguay and Southern California." The restaurant plans to open in the former Black Sheep restaurant building at 1534 Oak St. in Five Points.
Bartaco's menu offers "upscale street food with a coastal vibe inspired by the beach culture of Brazil, Uruguay and Southern California." The restaurant plans to open in the former Black Sheep restaurant building at 1534 Oak St. in Five Points.

Although the Five Points restaurant menu hasn't been announced, it is expected to mirror that at bartaco's other Florida locations in Aventura, Coconut Grove, Orlando, Tampa and Wynwood. Diners can expect a diverse selection of innovative tacos, non-tacos, rice bowls and desserts.

For tacos, guests have a choice of a 4-inch corn tortilla or a Bibb lettuce shell that's topped with cilantro, according to the Orlando menu.

Signature tacos:

  • Pistachio Cauliflower Taco: On chickpea hummus topped with pistachio chimichurri and fresh pomegranate seeds

  • Roasted Duck Taco: With a tamarind glaze and caramelized onions

  • Mushroom with Queso Fresco Taco: Herb-marinated and roasted wild mushrooms with roasted poblano chile sauce

  • Sesame Ribeye Taco: With a sweet sesame-soy glaze marinade and spicy kimchi

  • Tuna Tatako Taco: Ancho-crusted tuna and Asian slaw on a Bibb lettuce shell

Non-taco offerings:

  • Ceviche: Cod and shrimp with avocado, red onion, Roma tomato, serrano peppers and cayenne

  • Duck Birria: Shredded duck plus Oaxaca and Cotija cheeses in a crispy corn tortilla with Birria-style duck broth

  • Pork Posole: Pork stew with mild Guajillo chilis, hominy and garlic topped with cabbage, jalapeno, lime, onion and cilantro

  • Esquites: Sweet corn kernels with Cotija cheese, creamy and tangy sauce and cayenne pepper

Offering a diverse selection of innovative tacos, non-tacos, rice bowls and desserts, bartaco plans to take over the former Black Sheep spot in Five Points.
Offering a diverse selection of innovative tacos, non-tacos, rice bowls and desserts, bartaco plans to take over the former Black Sheep spot in Five Points.

Desserts range from churros to gelato and Tres Leche cake, the menu shows.

And to wash it all down, bartaco offers an extensive selection of margaritas and craft cocktails as well as zero-proof cocktails, sangria, beer and wine.

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.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Bartaco planning to open in former Black Sheep spot in Five Points