Dining Notes: Popular Cuban restaurant plans new Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach locations

In October 2019, Rebecca Gonzalez opened her first 1928 Cuban Bistro along Baymeadows Road.

Three years – and three restaurants later – Gonzalez is making plans to open her fourth Jacksonville-area restaurant. And a fifth is in the works, too, for the concept that celebrates her Cuban family’s history and heritage.

First up is Jacksonville Beach, where 1928 Cuban Bistro will open in the coming weeks at 1500 Beach Blvd., Unit 218, according to an application recently filed with the state’s Department of Business & Professional Regulation. There, at Hakimian Holding’s Gates of Beach Boulevard, 1928 Cuban Bistro will join Engine 15 Brewing Company, Mojo Kitchen, BBQ Pit & Blues Bar, Abstrakt Filipino Restaurant, Lone Wolf Co. Sandwiches and more.

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The planned 2,075-square-foot restaurant will be Gonzalez’s largest, double the size of any of her first three locations, and include a private events room, she told the Times-Union earlier this year.

And early next year, 1928 Cuban Bistro plans to expand to Amelia Island, opening in Fernandina Beach’s historic district at 122 S. 8th St., the Jacksonville Daily Record reported earlier this month. That’s the former Amelia Island Tea House, located between David’s Restaurant & Lounge and Beech Street Grill.

The restaurant’s name is a nod to her grandparents, including her grandfather, Mario Alvarado, who was born in 1928 and emigrated to the United States in 1961 to escape communism.

Family recipes are at the heart of the restaurant’s menu, including guava pastries, Cuban empanadas, ham croquetas and the traditional Cuban and Medianoche sandwiches are among the bistro's most popular items. No meal is complete without café con leche, churros and vanilla tres leche.

1928 Cuban Bistro is open at 3928 Baymeadows Road, 160 Shops Blvd. in Saint Johns, and 6331 Roosevelt Blvd., which debuted earlier this year.

Jacksonville's coffee shop scene is getting bigger

Another coffee player is set to enter the Jacksonville market.

Biggby Coffee, with more than 300 locations, the bulk of them in the Midwest, is planning its first Northeast Florida location at the Rowe’s IGA Supermarket-anchored Promenade at Beach Boulevard, located just west of Southside Blvd.

Founded in East Lansing, Mich., in 1995, Biggby’s offers hot and iced coffees, espresso, lattes, hot chocolate, tea lattes, Red Bull mocktails and more. Also on the menu is a selection of pastries, bagels and Bragels, a toasted bagel sandwich.

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In Florida, Biggby is open in Ormond Beach. And in addition to Jacksonville, another shop is planned for Clearwater.

Biggby’s joins a growing list of coffee shop chains entering the market: Elliano’s Coffee, Scooter’s Coffee, Black Rifle Coffee Co., 7 Brew, The Human Bean and others.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville's 1928 Cuban Bistro has plans to open 2 more restaurants