Restaurants: What's new or coming soon to St. Johns County neighborhoods
In 2023, Northeast Florida's restaurant scene continues to grow, with new restaurants opening or planning to open in the coming months. Here's a look at what's new or coming soon to St. Johns County neighborhoods.
Coming soon: 25 new restaurants are in the works for Jacksonville in 2023. Here's a list.
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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
Catullo's Italian
Catullo's Italian, known for its fresh-from-scratch, innovative Italian cuisine handcrafted from authentic family recipes, opened its second location July 10 at 100 Marketside Ave., Suite 305 in Nocatee Town Center. Catullo's signature dishes and customer favorites include Gnocchi Catullo, described as "fluffy little potato pasta pillows, cooked in our fresh sage and Calabrian chili alfredo sauce"; Chicken Capricciosa, described as the "closest thing you’re gonna get to anything 'Parm' here!"; and Pear Fiocchi, made with egg pasta filled with fresh pear along with three kinds of Italian cheese topped with a cream sauce including caramelized pear, Gorgonzola and goat cheese and fried Prosciutto di Carpegna. | Read more
Cool Eddy's
Cool Eddy's, a locally owned ice cream and Italian Ice shop, celebrated its grand opening July 8-9 in Julington Creek at 2750 Race Track Road, No. 306. Cool Eddy's offers 24 flavors of Italian Ice, soft serve ice cream and 16 flavors of milkshakes. The shop's Gelati combines Italian Ice and creamy soft ice cream. Available toppings include Gummy Bears, Reese's, brownie bites, sprinkles, and more.
Dolly Llama Waffle Master
An artisanal waffle and ice cream parlor with the cool, zen-like llama mascot, The Dolly Llama Waffle Master opened its second Northeast Florida dessert shop July 22 at 170 Fountains Way, Suite 4 at The Fountains at St. Johns in Saint Johns. The location is the first of up to four Dolly Llama shops that franchise owners Stacy and Anthony Searcy of St. Augustine plan in Northeast Florida. The Dolly Llama Waffle Master features two styles of made-to-order waffles: Bubble and Belgian OG Liege. It offers at least 16 flavors of ice cream including four that are vegan, as well as nine sauces and 19 toppings. | Read more
Ellianos Coffee Co.
Ellianos Coffee Co., at the forefront of the dual-lane, drive-thru-only stand-alone coffee shop, plans to build its newest store at 235 Harper Lane in Durbin Creek Crossing — a mixed-use development in Saint Johns. The gourmet specialty coffee shop received a St. Johns County building permit Jan. 14 to construct the kiosk at an estimated cost of $180,000, county records show. Ellianos Saint Johns will be the fourth Ellianos in the Jacksonville market. The others include two in Jacksonville and one in Orange Park. | Read more
Fysh Bar and Grill
Fysh Bar and Grill plans a waterfront bar and grill at Beachwalk in northern St. Johns County. Construction hasn't begun but the menu features a large selection of seafood and land-lover's appetizers, fried baskets, tacos, salads, sandwiches and pizzas. There also is a lineup of pastas and entrees, ranging from Seared Tuna Steak to Swordfish Rockefeller and Surf & Turf to Ribeye Scampi — offering guests a casual night out or a special occasion dinner. In addition, there’s sushi and sashimi – and a gelato station. | Read more
Jax Fish Fry
Jax Fish Fry, a popular Jacksonville seafood restaurant known for its fried cod, lobster roll and made-from-scratch cheesecake, launched its second location Oct. 16 at 170 Fountains Way, Suite No. 7 in The Fountains in St. Johns. With the addition of some new specials, the new location will feature the same menu that has built a loyal following at the original location at 8380 Baymeadows Road, Suite 8, which opened in 2019. | Read more
Pesca Vilano
An award-winning St. Augustine chef opened his second fine-dining restaurant on Oct. 17, offering inspired coastal cuisine and rooftop dining in Vilano Beach. Pesca Vilano from Chef Michael Lugo showcases fresh seafood, including lobster paella as well as smoked Wagyu beef and more at the restaurant at the new three-story, 120-room Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach hotel at 117 Vilano Road, a short stroll away from the ocean. Pesca is the first restaurant with a rooftop bar and grill in Vilano Beach. Reflecting Miami's Art Deco architecture, the main indoor dining area boasts a bar, a curated wine library, a private dining room and a chef’s experience table. | Read more
Peterbrooke Chocolatier
Known for its artisan chocolate-covered popcorn, pretzels, potato chips and strawberries as well as freshly made gelato, Peterbrooke Chocolatier opened its newest shop at 70 Silver Forest Drive Suite 112 in SilverLeaf Commons. in northwest St. Johns County. Describing itself as a "neighborhood chocolate shop," Peterbrooke specializes in European-styled handmade chocolates. The gourmet confectionary shop also features hand-made caramels, truffles, cherry cordials and petit fours. | Read more
Teriyaki Madness
A Denver-based, fast-casual Asian-themed restaurant concept opened the first of three Northeast Florida restaurants in northern St. Johns County. Teriyaki Madness opened at 140 Little Cyprus Drive, Suite 106, in Grand Cypress Marketplace shopping center near U.S. 1 and Race Track Road in Saint Johns. The restaurant focuses on freshly made-to-order bowls featuring teriyaki chicken, steak, salmon and tofu. Stir-fried veggies, Japanese-style yakisoba noodles, brown and white rice and appetizers such as chicken eggrolls, potstickers, crab rangoon and edamame also top the menu. | Read more
Treylor Park
A Savannah-based restaurant known for its unique twist on Southern comfort fare such as PB&J chicken wings, cheesesteak egg rolls and a grilled apple pie with chicken sandwiches is just weeks away from opening its second Northeast Florida restaurant in St. Johns County. Treylor Park hopes to open by early June at 61 Spanish St. — between Spanish and St. George streets in downtown St. Augustine. The new restaurant comes roughly five years after Treylor Park debuted at 158 Marketside Ave., Unit 10, in Nocatee Town Center. | Read more
Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux
Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux, the sports-themed restaurant backed by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, plans to open its first Northeast Florida location in northern St. Johns County. A site plan shows the restaurant at Durbin Park Pavilion retail center. The restaurant's menu features specialties such as its trademarked Cajundillas – a chipotle tortilla, chicken, andouille sausage, boudin, caramelized onions, jack, red beans and rice – as well as Lemon Butter Chicken, Pasta Alfredeaux, Tuscan Chicken and a Cajun Ribeye. | Read more
Whataburger
Whataburger opened its newest Northeast Florida restaurant on March 21 at 179 Village Commons Drive in St. Augustine. Franchisee Silvercreek Group LLC plans to bring Whataburger to 12 new Jacksonville-area locations by year-end 2027, the restaurant chain said in a news release announcing the St. Augustine opening.
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This listing will be updated monthly.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: St. Johns restaurants: What's new in Saint Johns, Ponte Vedra in 2023
