Burgers to bubble tea and bocce. New restaurants coming soon to St. Johns Town Center area
Ranging from burgers to bubble tea, tacos and Indian cuisine, a smorgasbord-like variety of new restaurants are on the horizon or already opened in the St. Johns Town Center area.
Some are national chains making their first appearance in Northeast Florida while others are local favorites expanding their footprint.
25 new restaurants are in the works for the Jacksonville area in 2024. Here's a list
Based on confirmation from restaurant officials as well as state or local records, the following are in the works:
Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar
10209 River Coast Drive in St. Johns Town Center, whiskeycakekitchen.com
Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar is replacing the former Ida Claire South of Ordinary, which closed in March after four years. Renovations and repairs to the 7,484-square foot building are estimated at $890,00, an April 17 city building permit shows. Anticipating a late summer opening, Whiskey Cake Kitchen is known for its "farm-fresh comfort food" concept. Its menu includes entrees such as a ribeye, chicken and waffles, wood-grilled salmon and Harvest shepherd's pie. A selection of sandwiches, salads, soups and desserts such as the signature Whiskey Cake round out the menu. | Read more
Shake Shack
10281 Midtown Parkway in St. Johns Town Center, shakeshack.com
An estimated buildout of $1.3 million is ongoing for Shake Shack — nationally known for its fresh-never-frozen hamburgers, crinkle fries and signature shakes — which replaces the former M Shack. The homegrown M Shack closed in March after 10 years when its lease expired. No date has been announced, but Shake Shack expects to open this year. Shake Shack’s burgers, made from a blend of 100% Angus beef, include the original ShackBurger as well as the Avocado Bacon Burger, Smoke Shack, Spicy ShackMeister, the ‘Shroom Burger, Veggie Shack. | Read more
Komma Tea & Natural Handmade Dessert
10281 Midtown Parkway, Unit 121 in St. Johns Town Center, kommatea.com
Specializing in made-to-order handcrafted bubble tea and freshly baked macarons — known as “Kommacarons" — Komma Tea & Natural Handmade Dessert hopes to open in September or October, restaurant officials told the Times-Union via email. Komma Tea features a dozen flavors of macarons including Creme Brulee, Choco Hazelnut and Ice Cream Sundae. It offers a selection of milk teas such as the customer favorite House Milk Tea with Honey Boba as well as refreshers including Mango Passionfruit Tea and Rose from Heaven with jasmine-infused tea with lychee and rose. The dessert shop will be near Shake Shake, Fresh Mex & Co. and Kilwins Chocolates & Ice Cream.
Pinstripes
10274 Buckhead Branch Drive, No. 101, pinstripes.com
Pinstripes, a self-described “best-in-class experiential dining and entertainment brand combining bistro, bowling, bocce and private event space,” plans to open at the sprawling Southside lifestyle center in 2025, the Northbrook, Ill.-based company recently announced. Pinstripes offers a full-service Italian-American food and beverage menu featuring made-from-scratch pizzas and flatbreads, pastas and other entrees as well as desserts, including gelato, tiramisu and caramelized cheesecake. The venue would be built in the spot vacated by retailer West Elm, according to documents recently submitted to the city. Plans show a proposed 26,370-square-foot, two-story building with two patio areas. | Read more
Jacksonville-area restaurant roundup: 12 opened, 5 closed in April
Talkin' Tacos
4853 Big Island Drive No 9 in Town Center Plaza, talkintacos.net
Although it's been in the soft opening process for a few weeks, Talkin' Tacos will hold its grand opening from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. May 31. Talkin' Tacos is known for its signature Birria Tacos, Birria Ramen, Southwest Chicken Tacos, Birria Pizza and Street Corn in a Cup. The beef birria is braised for 12 hours each day. Desserts include loaded churros and Tajin and Chamoy gummies as well as homemade specialty beverages such as lemonades, horchatas and mangonadas. The Town Center Plaza restaurant joins the inaugural Talkin' Tacos in Jacksonville Beach, which opened last August. | Read more
GEN Korean BBQ House
4880 Big Island Drive Suite 6 in The Markets at Town Center, genkorean.com
Recently opened, GEN Korean BBQ House is a high-end, all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue. Guests are their own own chefs — cooking their own steak, pork, chicken, seafood, veggies and more on embedded grills in the center of each table. Topping the menu offerings are Gen Signature Yangyum Galbi, a marinated beef bone-in short rib, Spicy Pork Bulgogi, which is thinly sliced marinated spicy pork; Nook Gan Sal, featuring marinated prime chuck roll; and Spicy Calamari Veggie Bowl, a spicy barbecue calamari with assorted vegetables. | Read more
Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery
10281 Midtown Parkway, No 191 in St. Johns Town Center, greatamericancookies.com, marbleslabcreamery.com
Both popular for sweet treats — Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery — will share a storefront. No opening date has been announced. The shop previously housed Levy Jewelers. The dessert shop buildout is estimated at $400,000, an April 15 city building permit showed. Marble Slab is known for its selection of rich ice cream made in small batches daily. Great American Cookies bakes its offerings daily with premium ingredients.
5th Element Indian Restaurant & Bar
10208 Buckhead Branch Drive in St. Johns Town Center, 5thelement.com
5th Element Indian Restaurant & Bar, a mainstay in Jacksonville for 17 years, relocated recently to Town Center from its longtime location at 9485 Baymeadows Road. The restaurant offers an extensive menu of classic as well as innovative Indian cuisine. It is well-known locally for its lunch buffet. The Town Center location is the Indian restaurant chain's sixth in Florida, according to its website. 5th Element replaces Kamiya 86, an Asian restaurant and sushi bar which previously had replaced Ovinte at that location.
Gary T. Mills of the Florida 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.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: New or coming restaurants to St. Johns Town Center and Jacksonville
