Dish Update

We’ve written about closing his restaurant, and assured you that your gift cards could be spent at his restaurant, . That WAS true, for a few months, but it isn’t true any more. Seems that Kenny Gilbert is pulling up stakes entirely and moving on from the First Coast to North Carolina. He opened the Fernandina restaurant in 2015. Over the holidays in St. Nicholas, a drunk driver plowed into the neighborhood watering hole . Nobody was hurt and business resumed the next day! In early December, the of Jacksonville let it be known that they had bought the old …

 Native Sun Natural Foods Market’s store, located at 1585 3rd Street North, has been named the 2016 Best New Store of the Year by New Hope Network, the leading media company in the Natural Products Industry. The award was announced September 23rd at the largest natural products trade show on the East Coast, Natural Products Expo East, held in Baltimore, Maryland. The newest Native Sun location recently celebrated its first anniversary and the innovative model has put Native Sun in the national spotlight. According to Christine Kapperman with New Hope Network, “Native Sun’s creativity and curation stands out as a …

Chef is stepping on over to the to open a second restaurant in our area, Gilbert’s Social. We’re thrilled that we don’t have to go all the way out to Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen in for a taste of what he can do! Our contributor gave Gilbert’s Social a visit, . Last month, in the old O’Brothers space in , Five Points Tavern opened its doors. Expect lively bar-fare from their menu, with beer, wine, and signature cocktails. The long-awaited  is still undergoing construction. Word is they will be opening in 2017. “full-bodied, deep, and complex with notes of caramel, dark …

Bonjour, y’all! has rolled out some new delights this season. Their food, if you haven’t guessed from the greeting I’ve stolen from their press materials, is a fusion of down home Southern American and French. We got a taste at their media dinner. Starters include a well-presented and delicious beef tenderloin tartare, buffalo chicken croquettes for those who like it hot. In salads they’ve got a pretty little wedge, and gruyere for their rich French onion soup. On their brunch menu, don’t miss their version of shrimp & grits. Meat eaters can go for their lush short rib pot-au-feu, while …

The First Coast keeps attracting high-level chefs. ’s former personal chef, plans to open a 34-seat restaurant in Neptune Beach, in the space where recently closed (Tama retired this past March). Attracted by our food scene, Polidoro will be bringing a New York city sophistication to his menu, with a definite mix of Florida beach vibe. Look for an early summer opening for Doro. We’ll keep you posted! Late last month, opened at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa. The restaurant overlooks the water at the 13th hole of the the Stadium Course at , featuring an outdoor patio. …

One of newest restaurants is Timoti’s Seafood Shak–which fills a culinary void in the neighborhood, that of fast casual seafood. Surviving in 5 Points means you have to be good and consistent. From what I’ve seen so far, they may well thrive. It’s helpful for Timoti’s that this is not their first location. The major kinks were probably worked out in their Amelia Island locale. Design-wise, Timoti’s offers something more than the usual aesthetic. It’s clearly fast casual, but there’s an upscale feel nonetheless, probably because of the custom wood work, both on the ceiling and wall paneling, contrasting with …

has announced the opening of their newest shop located in at 100 West Bay Street, Suite 110, with the entrance directly across from the Wells Fargo Building on Laura Street.  The new shop will feature their hand dipped chocolates, coffee, “Peterbrooke-made” gelato, frozen yogurt, and various items from the Peterbrooke Bake Studio. The new location will also be able to host private parties, events and fundraisers. The site of the is going through some intense remodeling. They’ve had to go all the way down to the foundations, putting aside the vintage bricks for reconstruction later. Despite having lots to do, …