November saw a beloved, longtime Five Points neighborhood restaurant close its doors after more than two decades.
On the other side of the menu, a veteran Jacksonville chef and restaurateur unveiled his newest concept — a cafe embracing the cuisine of the French and Italian Riviera — in historic San Marco.
Also, a California fast-casual restaurant known for its scratch-made, locally sourced craft breakfast sandwiches as well as brunch opened its first East Coast location in St. Johns County.
Here’s a recap of notable Jacksonville-area restaurant news in November.
Mossfire Grill
After 27 years, Mossfire Grill, known for its signature meatloaf, fish tacos, quesadillas, burritos and other takes on classic Southwestern fare, as well as its famous margaritas and cookies, shut its doors. The closure came nearly three years after longtime Mossfire Grill owners Drew and Scooter Cavins retired and sold the restaurant in 2022. The Cavinses had launched the Tex-Mex concept in 1998 at 1537 Margaret St. The restaurant quickly became a go-to lunch spot for downtown office workers, JSO officers and others, as well as a favorite dinner spot for the neighborhood’s eclectic mix of residents, many of whom Drew and Scooter Cavins would welcome by name. | Read more
Saleya Riviera Cafe
A new San Marco restaurant
Aiming to replicate the spirit and flavors of the French and Italian Riviera, Saleya Riviera Cafe opened at 2006 San Marco Blvd. The latest concept from well-known Jacksonville chef and restaurateur Matthew Medure, the restaurant is modeled after a traditional Nicoise cafe. Saleya, open for lunch, dinner and late-night, features a “casual cuisine” menu highlighting fresh, high-quality ingredients. | Read more
Epik Burger
Gourmet burgers, fries and more are on the menu of the second location of Epik Burger at 141 Gateway Circle off Old County Road 210 in St. Johns County. Epik Burger takes over a former Burger King that closed in 2023, according to state records. The new restaurant joins the original at 12740 Atlantic Blvd., #105, in the Arlington neighborhood of Jacksonville. Since its April 2013 debut, Epik Burger has built a following with a menu of nearly 40 elevated beef, bison, chicken, salmon and veggie burgers and more than a dozen varieties of fries. | Read more
Amelia Island Brewing Co.
After nearly a decade, Amelia Island Brewing Co. (AIBC), which was the first craft brewery in Fernandina Beach, shut off its taps. The family-owned microbrewery closed both The Tavern by AIBC, which is its home base and restaurant, as well as its adjacent taproom, The Alley by AIBC. Launched in 2016, AIBC was the first wholly operational craft brewery in Fernandina Beach. Located side-by-side, The Tavern and The Alley — at 318 and 316 Centre Street — were historic district mainstays just three blocks from the Amelia River. | Read more
EggBred
EggBred, a California fast-casual restaurant known for its scratch-made, locally sourced craft breakfast sandwiches, opened its first East Coast location at 112 Bartram Oaks Walk, Unit 103, in Fruit Cove. The restaurant embraces the philosophy “Different Yolks for Different Folks.” EggBred specializes in breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and a variety of eggs Benedict as well as poutine. Freshly cracked eggs and locally sourced ingredients are showcased. | Read more
Huey MaGoo’s
An Orlando-based restaurant chain known for its fresh, cooked-to-order grilled, hand-breaded or “sauced” premium chicken tenders recently opened its fifth Jacksonville-area location. Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders debuted Nov. 19 at 8520 Baymeadows Road, Unit 1, on the city’s Southside. Billed as “The Filet Mignon of Chicken,” Huey Magoo’s offers chicken tender meals, sandwiches and wraps, freshly made salads, crinkle-cut fries, fresh-cut chips and desserts, such as banana pudding and cookies, its menu shows. | Read more
Olive Garden
Olive Garden, headquartered in Orlando, opened its fifth Jacksonville-area restaurant at 4995 Sweetgrass Place near the intersection of Hodges and Butler Boulevards in Glen Kernan Park. The Italian-American chain is known for its never-ending first course of soup or salad and breadsticks. It is the first Olive Garden in the Jacksonville area since the River City Marketplace location in 2009. After a fire in January 2014 at its Regency location, Olive Garden rebuilt and reopened the restaurant in April 2015. | Read more
Gary T. Mills of the 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: 5 Jacksonville-area restaurants open, 2 permanently close in November
Reporting by Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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