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August saw the opening of a family-owned gourmet cheesecake shop debuting in Jacksonville from its home state of Tennessee.
Other restaurant openings included an all-you-can-eat Asian buffet, as well as a unique all-day cafe, along with a coastal-style seafood food truck, on Anastasia Island from well-known St. Augustine husband-and-wife restaurateurs.
Closing was a popular gourmet grilled cheese sandwich shop in downtown Jacksonville, and an upscale San Marco bistro. Also shutting its doors a year after reopening was a craft beer gastropub in Southpoint.
Here’s a recap of notable Jacksonville-area restaurant news in August.
On the must-try menu: Jacksonville’s essential restaurants: 5 to try in downtown, Southbank
Sweet Emmaline Cheesecakes
Sweet Emmaline Cheesecakes
Inspired by an 11-year-old girl’s passion for baking, Sweet Emmaline Cheesecakes opened its first Jacksonville dessert shop at 11111 San Jose Blvd., Unit 14, at Riverplace Shopping Center in Mandarin. It is also the Tennessee-based gourmet cheesecake shop’s first location in Florida. Sweet Emmaline Cheesecakes is known for its freshly made-from-scratch cheesecakes ranging from bite-sized to 9-inch whole desserts, and its cheesecake cookie sandwiches. | Read more
World of Beer Bar & Kitchen
World of Beer Bar & Kitchen
Just over a year after reopening, a Jacksonville gastropub abruptly shut its doors saying, “we unfortunately could not keep our doors open anymore.” World of Beer Bar & Kitchen closed for the second time in as many years at 5105 Butler Blvd. off Interstate 95 in Southpoint. The tavern, also called WOB, was known for its extensive selection of craft beers, including many from across the world. | Read more
Bea’s Fine Foods + All Day Cafe
The husband-and-wife owners of The Floridian, a St. Augustine landmark for 15 years, opened the landmark farm-to-table restaurant’s “little sister” on adjacent Anastasia Island. Bea’s Fine Foods + All Day Cafe debuted at 9 Anastasia Blvd., just south of the Bridge of Lions. Bea’s features an all-day, cafe-style breakfast, a full-service lunch/brunch, and an evening “Supper Club” menu. It’s a new concept from local restaurateurs Jeff and Genie McNally, who founded The Floridian, known for its innovative Southern fare focusing on fresh ingredients. | Read more
Mikata Buffet Sushi & Hibachi
Mikata Buffet Sushi & Hibachi
An all-you-can-eat Asian-style restaurant — Mikata Buffet Sushi & Hibachi — opened in the former Red Lobster at 8720 Baymeadows Road. It is the first Mikata in Jacksonville and the second in Florida — joining the original in Jensen Beach. Mikata features an extensive selection of classic Chinese dishes as well as seafood, hibachi, sushi and other fare. It is the second of three unrelated Asian buffets to take over a former Red Lobster location in Jacksonville. | Read more
Tequilas D’ Oro
A new Mexican restaurant focuses on family-inspired staples such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, tortas, and specialty dishes, opened with the philosophy that “food is how we show our community we care.” Tequilas D’ Toro is at 9753 Deer Lake Court in the Tinseltown area on the city’s Southside. Tequilas D’ Oro offers fresh, made-from-scratch appetizers, entrees, and desserts on a menu that the owner told the Times-Union is “designed for the whole family.” | Read more
The Happy Grilled Cheese
The Happy Grilled Cheese
Jacksonville’s original gourmet grilled cheese sandwich shop shut its doors after 13 1/2 years. The Happy Grilled Cheese closed at 219 N Hogan St. in downtown Jacksonville. But its owner told the Times-Union that the restaurant is transitioning into a new breakfast and lunch concept. The Happy Grilled Cheese was known for signature dishes including the No Hangover Melt, which was three cheeses, macaroni and cheese, pulled pork, slaw, and pickles; and the Fancy Schmancy, featuring goat cheese, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, bacon, red onion, arugula, and balsamic glaze. | Read more
Jefe’s Fish Wagon
Jefe’s Fish Wagon
The owners of iconic The Floridian opened their third restaurant concept — Jefe’s Fish Wagon — a food truck specializing in customizable, fresh seafood and fish dishes — at  Hornski’s Brewing Co., 100 Anastasia Blvd. on Anastasia Island, just south of the Bridge of Lions. Diners begin by selecting a protein — ranging from the daily fresh catch or tuna, to shrimp or tofu. They then choose “the setup,” either sandwiches, burritos, plates or salads, according to the menu. The food was inspired by the fresh coastal fare found at seafood shacks, fish camps and beach kiosks from the South Carolina Lowcountry to the beaches of Puerto Rico. | Read more
Blue
An upscale San Marco restaurant closed abruptly 10 months after it replaced a dining landmark. Blue, also known as Blue San Marco, shut its doors at 1440 San Marco Blvd. Opening in October 2024, Blue had replaced Bistro AIX, which closed after 25 years. Google listed Blue on Aug. 26 as “permanently closed.” Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations online records listed Blue’s food service license as “delinquent, active” with a June 1, 2025, expiration date. Blue’s website was gone. OpenTable listed Blue as “not bookable,” and telephone calls to the restaurant were answered by a recording saying all lines were busy. | Read more
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Burritos top the menu at Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its newest Northeast Florida restaurant at 628 Atlantic Blvd. in Neptune Beach at the Publix-anchored Seminole Shoppes shopping center. It is the first in Neptune Beach. Chipotle is known for its freshly made-to-order burritos, bowls, tacos and salads. The opening coincides with Chipotle’s launch of a new ‘Build-Your-Own’ meal kit designed to feed four to six people. | Read more
Little Caesars
Little Caesars
Known for its catchy brand tagline, “Pizza! Pizza!,” Little Caesars opened its newest “grab and go” restaurant at 140 Little Cypress Drive in Grand Cypress Marketplace off Race Track Road in Saint Johns. As a grab-and-go only location, the restaurant has no on-site seating. The Saint Johns restaurant is among 19 in the Jacksonville area. | Read more
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: Jacksonville-area restaurants: Mikata Buffet opens, World of Beer closes