Restaurants: What's new or coming soon to Ponte Vedra Beach, Saint Johns, Durbin

Even though we’ve seen some notable restaurant closings already this year , plenty of new restaurants have opened across Jacksonville – and even more are on the way.

From burger, taco and pizza joints to Italian and Mexican restaurants to breakfast, brunch and buffet spots, the area’s dining scene is growing, from downtown to the Beaches to the Southside, Westside, St. Johns and more, not just the St. Johns Town Center, which has served as the destination for many restaurant chains entering the market over the last two decades.

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Here's a look at what's new in 2024 or coming soon to northern St. Johns County, including the Durbin Park area and Ponte Vedra Beach. (And be sure to bookmark this story for regular updates.)

The Boathouse

240 N. Florida A1A, Ponte Vedra Beach

King salmon and Bluefin tuna reign supreme on the menu of a newly opened Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant offering high-end fresh seafood and fish amid a casual setting. The Boathouse, at 240 N. Florida A1A in Merchants Plaza shopping center, features an elevated sushi bar and raw bar, and familiar classics such as fried, grilled or blackened seafood and fish. The seafood restaurant replaces the former Zoe's Kitchen, a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain acquired by Cava in 2018 then subsequently closed. | Read more

Dirty Dough

90 Durbin Pavilion Drive, Suite C-103, Saint Johns

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 that opened in June 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

Jersey Mike’s Subs

255 Rivertown Shops Drive, Saint Johns

Jersey Mike’s Subs opened its newest Jacksonville-area sandwich shop at 255 Rivertown Shops Drive in The Shoppes at Rivertown in Saint Johns. Four more will be coming soon: two in Jacksonville, and one each in St. Augustine and Fleming Island. Founded in 1956, the sandwich shop chain is known for its fresh sliced, fresh sliced made-to-order, handcrafted sub sandwiches that range in size from mini to regular or giant. The subs can be served "Mike's Way" with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, red wine vinegar, olive oil blend, oregano and salt or guests can customize the toppings. | Read more

Kinya Ramen-Yakitori

415 Durbin Pavilion Drive, No. 103, Saint Johns

With 24-karat edible gold flake as a garnish on its signature entree, Kinya Ramen-Yakitori opened March 11 at 415 Durbin Pavilion Drive, No. 103, in The Pavilion at Durbin Park shopping center in Saint Johns. The Durbin Park location is the Japanese restaurant chain's first in the Jacksonville area. Kinya means "gold." The restaurant bills itself as the "home of the Golden Ramen." It focuses on making the guest experience as well as the food "as good as gold," according to its website. | Read more

La Nouvelle

102 Bridge St., St. Augustine

Inspired French cuisine classics such as Filet Aux Poivres, duck confit and mustard-crusted pork loin top the menu of La Nouvelle, a French bistro opened in February at 102 Bridge St. in St. Augustine by well-known chef Michael Lugo. The bistro is the third fine-dining restaurant from Lugo, founder and owner of Pesca Vilano, 117 Vilano Road in Vilano Beach, and flagship restaurant Michael's at 25 Cuna St. in St. Augustine's historic Calle Cuna neighborhood. | Read more

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard

840 A1A N., Ponte Vedra Beach

A Pennsylvania-based frozen dessert chain has opened its seventh Jacksonville-area Italian ice and frozen custard shop in June 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

Vincenzo's Cucina

3787 Palm Valley Road, Ponte Vedra Beach

Hand-stretched pizzas, house-made sauces and Italian family favorites top the menu of Vincenzo's Cucina, which opened in February at 3787 Palm Valley Road in the Publix-anchored Shoppes of Palm Valley retail center at Ponte Vedra Beach. The restaurant offers a variety of 12- and 18-inch New York-style pizzas as well as both thin and thick-crust Square Pies. Pasta, along with 12-inch sub sandwiches, strombolis, calzones, salads, garlic knots and desserts. | Read more

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Restaurants: What's new or coming soon to Ponte Vedra Beach, Saint Johns, Durbin