Jacksonville-area restaurant roundup: 7 opened, 1 closed in June

June saw the restoration, renovation, and reopening of a landmark Jacksonville Beach bowling center ― expanded to feature a new two-story restaurant ― that served as a Northeast Florida entertainment destination for about six decades.

One-third of a national restaurant chain's Jacksonville-area locations best known for its "World Famous Wings” and waitstaff dressed in orange shorts and white tank tops abruptly closed after 24 years.

A much-anticipated retro-themed nationwide diner known for its hand-crafted smash burgers, shakes and fries debuted in Jacksonville to standing-room-only crowds in its dining room and in cars lined up around the restaurant to get to the drive-thru.

June also saw the opening of two Mexican restaurants: one in Mandarin and the other in Jacksonville Beach.

Here's a recap of notable Jacksonville-area restaurant news in June.

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Beach Bowl

With a new two-story restaurant with rooftop dining featuring a menu of freshly made-from-scratch fare, as well as 24 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, the historic Beach Bowl reopened at 818 Beach Blvd, in Jacksonville Beach after undergoing a multi-million dollar restoration, repair and renovation project. Beach Bowl also offers an updated arcade and space for live music, conferences, private parties and other special events. The resurrection of the iconic bowling alley and arcade came fire years after it abruptly shut its doors. | Read more

Hooters

After 24 years, Hooters abruptly closed its Orange Park restaurant at 1740 Wells Road, one of its three Jacksonville-area locations. The closure was one of dozens of Hooters locations to shutter nationwide. In a statement to Nation's Restaurant News, the Florida-based chain said “Like many restaurants under pressure from current market conditions, Hooters has made the difficult decision to close a select number of underperforming stores." Hooters locations remaining open in Jacksonville are restaurants at 4521 Southside Blvd. and 8938 San Jose Blvd. | Read more

Hwy55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries

Highly anticipated Hwy55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries opened at 1027 Danmac Lane off Commonwealth Avenue on the Westside. The retro-themed North Carolina diner is known for its hand-pattied, fresh-never-frozen burgers along with premium cheesesteaks, frozen custard and fries. Signature offerings include the Americana Burger, The Moose Chicken Cheesesteak, Shrimp Po'Boy or Carolina Classic Cheeseburger. | Read more

Dirty Dough

Known for its freshly baked, multi-layer stuffed cookies, Dirty Dough is the newest addition to The Pavilion at Durbin Park in Saint Johns. Located at 90 Durbin Pavilion Drive, Suite C-103, the "grab-and-go-style" gourmet dessert shop is the first in Northeast Florida from Dirty Dough, founded in 2018 in Tempe, Ariz. Dirty Dough also offers custom specialty sodas, ice cream, and ultimately some edible cookie dough. Other shops in the state are planned for Orlando, Pensacola and Sarasota, according to the company's website. | Read more

Tony's Cantina Mexican Grill

Tony's Cantina Mexican Grill, a South Carolina-based Mexican restaurant chain known for its made-to-order tacos, fajitas, burritos and chilaquiles as well as fusion sushi and craft margaritas served amid colorful Day of the Dead-themed murals, opened its first Jacksonville restaurant. Located at 10131 San Jose Blvd., No. 12, in Crown Point Plaza shopping center, the restaurant has an expansive menu ranging from Mexican cuisine to pasta, salads and bowls as well as craft margaritas. | Read more

Izakaya Ko

A first-of-its-kind Japanese gastropub featuring freshly made, hand-crafted yakitori, sushi and other Asian small plates debuted in Jacksonville Beach. Izakaya Ko, at 1198 Beach Blvd., Unit 9, features hot and cold small plates, yakitori and kushiyaki along with sushi and sashimi and nigiri, beer and sake. It is the new concept from restaurateur brothers Jimmy and Johnny Tung, who founded the Florida Pan Asian restaurant chain Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi in Gainesville during the summer of 2002. | Read more

1810 Tacos Y Tequila

Birria tacos and burritos plus fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas and other freshly made fare including house-made salsa top the menu of 1810 Tacos Y Tequila, 950 Marsh Landing Parkway, Suite 370, in Jacksonville Beach. The 6,000-square-foot restaurant with an outdoor patio offers an extensive menu of Mexican street food, traditional dishes and specials. Tacos Y Tequila is in the storefront at Marsh Landing Plaza shopping center previously used by Whiskey Jax, which moved to Atlantic Beach and ultimately closed. | Read more

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard

A Pennsylvania-based frozen dessert chain has opened its seventh Jacksonville-area Italian ice and frozen custard shop at 840 A1A N. in The Fresh Market-anchored Corridors at Ponte Vedra shopping center. Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is known for freshly made Italian ice, frozen custard, gelati, Blendini, concretes, milkshakes and more. Made with real fruit, Rita’s signature Italian Ice is made fresh daily on-site and available in a rotating daily selection from over 80 flavors. | 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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