Restaurant promising fine dining with international flair preparing Jacksonville debut

Offering diverse cuisine with international flavors amid an energetic vibe, a new restaurant and lounge promises to be the first of its kind in Jacksonville.

Cataluna Lounge & Tapas will feature Mediterranean, Spanish and Italian cuisine as well as hand-crafted cocktails, wine and live music when it opens in the coming weeks at 8206 Philips Highway Unit 39 in the Baymeadows Junction retail center, owner Lazer Pepaj told the Times-Union.

Pepaj said he hopes to open Cataluna by the end of the year but it could be early 2024.

"It will be a fine dining, luxurious restaurant bar … one of a kind, very unique," said Pepaj, describing Cataluna's concept as a "high-end festive restaurant."

The roughly 6,000-square-foot restaurant with an outside patio is in the space formerly used by Mojitos Caribbean Cuisine Bar and Grill. There it joins Maa Kitchen, La Nopalera and Saki Sushi.

The menu hasn't been finalized, said Pepaj, who also owns a separate restaurant — Trio Lounge at 8725 Old Kings Road S.

He said Cataluna's decor is intended to be iconic. Chandeliers cast a soft golden glow. Original artwork and plants accentuate the furnishings ranging from modern tables and chairs to banquette seating and chaise lounges, according to images posted on the restaurant's social media pages.

New concept, old-school hospitality

Pepaj came to Jacksonville from Albania in 2018. At that time, he noticed "there was no new energy and no new design" for the restaurants that were opening.

"It was still old concepts and the energy was missing out," he said. Customer service and hospitality also seemed to have dwindled back then, Pepaj noted.

Cataluna will be different, he said.

"My concept, my goal is to bring all that back. When you go to a restaurant, you should feel like [it's] home with people who are really giving you high-end service. People who really care about you … and are looking out for you," Pepaj said.

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He said genuine hospitality and service will be a priority.

"It's about keeping everything old school when it comes to customer service but with a new energy and atmosphere. Not being a boring restaurant," he said.

Cataluna, with about 260 seats, will be open only for dinner service from 4 to 11 p.m. or midnight Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Monday. The restaurant's "golden hour" will be 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, Pepaj said.

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: Cataluna Lounge & Tapas opening in Baymeadows area of Jacksonville