RESTAURANT-REVIEWS

December’s biggest dining news in Jacksonville area

Newk's Eatery in Town Center Promenade, 4520 Town Center Parkway, in Jacksonville, closed in early December. The chain has four other Jacksonville restaurants. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
Newk's Eatery in Town Center Promenade, 4520 Town Center Parkway, in Jacksonville, closed in early December. The chain has four other Jacksonville restaurants. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
Florida Times-Union
Owners Daniel and Morgan DeLeon announced Dec. 12 they plan to open their third Grumpy's Restaurant at Branan Field Walk, 1805 Blanding Blvd., Suite 2017 in Middleburg in May 2020. The breakfast and lunch diner based at 834 Kingsley Ave. Orange Park, also is expanding to the Fountains at St. Johns center in St. Johns County. [Grumpy's Restaurant/Provided]
Owners Daniel and Morgan DeLeon announced Dec. 12 they plan to open their third Grumpy's Restaurant at Branan Field Walk, 1805 Blanding Blvd., Suite 2017 in Middleburg in May 2020. The breakfast and lunch diner based at 834 Kingsley Ave. Orange Park, also is expanding to the Fountains at St. Johns center in St. Johns County. [Grumpy's Restaurant/Provided]
Florida Times-Union
Donatos Pizza, an Ohio-based fast, casual pizza chain known for its edge-to-edge pizza, announced Dec. 19, it intends to open three Jacksonville stores beginning in Spring 2020. [Jonny C/For Yelp.com]
Donatos Pizza, an Ohio-based fast, casual pizza chain known for its edge-to-edge pizza, announced Dec. 19, it intends to open three Jacksonville stores beginning in Spring 2020. [Jonny C/For Yelp.com]
Florida Times-Union
King Street District of Jacksonville announced Dec. 10 it bought the old Tidewater Boat Works site for development into an entertainment district with a Key West-style waterfront restaurant adjacent to The Phoenix Bar & Bowling center on Blanding Boulevard in Jacksonville’s Lakeshore neighborhood. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
King Street District of Jacksonville announced Dec. 10 it bought the old Tidewater Boat Works site for development into an entertainment district with a Key West-style waterfront restaurant adjacent to The Phoenix Bar & Bowling center on Blanding Boulevard in Jacksonville’s Lakeshore neighborhood. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
Florida Times-Union
Hightide Burrito Co., a longtime dining staple in historic San Marco, opened its second Jacksonville restaurant Dec. 18 at Sadler Point Marine Center, 4591 Lakeside Drive, No. 107, Pictured is the original restaurant at 1538 Hendricks Ave. [David Bauerlein/Florida Times-Union]
Hightide Burrito Co., a longtime dining staple in historic San Marco, opened its second Jacksonville restaurant Dec. 18 at Sadler Point Marine Center, 4591 Lakeside Drive, No. 107, Pictured is the original restaurant at 1538 Hendricks Ave. [David Bauerlein/Florida Times-Union]
Florida Times-Union
Marker 32 will be rebuilt and relocated as the centerpiece of an estimated $30 million revitalization development project announced Dec. 3 by Cadenza Partners LLC. The development is planned for 5 1/2-acres on Beach Boulevard west of the Intracoastal Waterway. [Cadenza Partners LLC/Provided]
Marker 32 will be rebuilt and relocated as the centerpiece of an estimated $30 million revitalization development project announced Dec. 3 by Cadenza Partners LLC. The development is planned for 5 1/2-acres on Beach Boulevard west of the Intracoastal Waterway. [Cadenza Partners LLC/Provided]
Florida Times-Union
Newk's Eatery went mobile in Jacksonville on Dec. 10. The mobile kitchen is part of the fast, casual restaurant's Project Strive Tour in Florida. The tour celebrates the restaurant chain's 15th anniversary, and goal of setting a new standard of excellence in fast, casual food and customer service. [Newk's Eatery/Provided]
Newk's Eatery went mobile in Jacksonville on Dec. 10. The mobile kitchen is part of the fast, casual restaurant's Project Strive Tour in Florida. The tour celebrates the restaurant chain's 15th anniversary, and goal of setting a new standard of excellence in fast, casual food and customer service. [Newk's Eatery/Provided]
Florida Times-Union
Jacksonville celebrity Chef Kenny Gilbert suddenly closed his Gilbert's Underground Kitchen in Fernandina Beach on Dec. 1 -- slightly more than a month after shuttering his namesake Jacksonville location. Those were his only two restaurants in the Jacksonville area. [Amy S./For Yelp.com]
Jacksonville celebrity Chef Kenny Gilbert suddenly closed his Gilbert's Underground Kitchen in Fernandina Beach on Dec. 1 -- slightly more than a month after shuttering his namesake Jacksonville location. Those were his only two restaurants in the Jacksonville area. [Amy S./For Yelp.com]
Florida Times-Union
M Shack Riverside, 1012 Margaret St., in Five Points, closed Dec. 7 to make way for Another Broken Egg Cafe to take its place. [Gary T. Mills/Florida Times-Union]
M Shack Riverside, 1012 Margaret St., in Five Points, closed Dec. 7 to make way for Another Broken Egg Cafe to take its place. [Gary T. Mills/Florida Times-Union]
Florida Times-Union
Gubbio's Italian Restaurant closed Nov. 5 after 33 years in business at 5111 Baymeadows Road in Jacksonville. It was replaced by Pink Salt Restaurant and Wine Bar. [Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union]
Gubbio's Italian Restaurant closed Nov. 5 after 33 years in business at 5111 Baymeadows Road in Jacksonville. It was replaced by Pink Salt Restaurant and Wine Bar. [Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union]
Florida Times-Union
Pink Salt Restaurant and Wine Bar planned to open Dec. 30 in its new, expanded space, 5111 Baymeadows Road, which is the former Gubbio’s Italian Restaurant. [Pink Salt Restaurant and Wine Bar/Provided]
Pink Salt Restaurant and Wine Bar planned to open Dec. 30 in its new, expanded space, 5111 Baymeadows Road, which is the former Gubbio’s Italian Restaurant. [Pink Salt Restaurant and Wine Bar/Provided]
Florida Times-Union
Clara's Tidbits opened its third Jacksonville restaurant Dec. 2 at 12276 San Jose Blvd. near the Julington Creek bridge in Mandarin. [Matt Pittman/For the Times-Union]
Clara's Tidbits opened its third Jacksonville restaurant Dec. 2 at 12276 San Jose Blvd. near the Julington Creek bridge in Mandarin. [Matt Pittman/For the Times-Union]
Florida Times-Union
Owners of popular barbecue, The Bearded Pig in Jacksonville's San Marco neighborhood, (pictured) announced Dec. 4 they will open a third location at 1700 S. 3rd St. in Jacksonville Beach in Summer 2020. [Jay Magee/ For The Florida Times-Union]
Owners of popular barbecue, The Bearded Pig in Jacksonville's San Marco neighborhood, (pictured) announced Dec. 4 they will open a third location at 1700 S. 3rd St. in Jacksonville Beach in Summer 2020. [Jay Magee/ For The Florida Times-Union]
Florida Times-Union
Biggie's Pizza of Jacksonville Beach opened its second restaurant Dec. 16 in the former Kostas Pizza Italian location in the historic Five Points neighborhood of Jacksonville. [Teresa Stepzinski/Florida Times-Union]
Biggie's Pizza of Jacksonville Beach opened its second restaurant Dec. 16 in the former Kostas Pizza Italian location in the historic Five Points neighborhood of Jacksonville. [Teresa Stepzinski/Florida Times-Union]
Florida Times-Union
Craft whiskey-makers Ian Haensly and Colin Edwards celebrated the grand opening of their Burlock and Barrel American Whiskey distillery on Dec. 5 at 417 Magnolia St. in Jacksonville’s historic Brooklyn neighborhood. [Colin Edwards/Burlock and Barrel with permission]
Craft whiskey-makers Ian Haensly and Colin Edwards celebrated the grand opening of their Burlock and Barrel American Whiskey distillery on Dec. 5 at 417 Magnolia St. in Jacksonville’s historic Brooklyn neighborhood. [Colin Edwards/Burlock and Barrel with permission]
Florida Times-Union
The Walnut Inn, 2026 Walnut St., Springfield’s longest operating bar, closed Dec. 1 after 45 years in business. [Photo courtesy the owner]
The Walnut Inn, 2026 Walnut St., Springfield’s longest operating bar, closed Dec. 1 after 45 years in business. [Photo courtesy the owner]
Florida Times-Union
Canopy Road Cafe, which opened at 12525 Philips Highway in Jacksonville in February 2019, announced plans to open two new restaurants -- one in St. Johns County and the other in Neptune Beach in the next two years. [Deirdre H./For Yelp.com]
Canopy Road Cafe, which opened at 12525 Philips Highway in Jacksonville in February 2019, announced plans to open two new restaurants -- one in St. Johns County and the other in Neptune Beach in the next two years. [Deirdre H./For Yelp.com]
Florida Times-Union