Monday, August 17, 2026 · Jacksonville
Petronita’s is on Saturday–Sunday brunch in Springfield; evening brunch was Friday. BeeFare is at the fairgrounds today and Sunday. Dinner at Petronita’s starts Aug. 26. Folio’s EatUpJax column has not published a 2026 openings list — this brief is the Times-Union, Jacksonville Magazine, the Daily Record, Visit Jacksonville, and Folio’s June festival guide.
Folio Weekly’s #EatUpJax openings column is stale (last monthly list on the category page is 2019). Jacksonville Magazine’s August pages are a Coastal Farmer recipe and a hot-dog feature, not an openings roundup. A “2026 Jacksonville Summer Artisan & Vendor Festival” (Aug. 14–16, Wonderwood Drive) appeared only on Eventbrite and was left out. Times-Union dining stories are partly paywalled; lead photos did not download.
The month, at a table
August 2026 — marked days have something on the table
Without pictures
Springfield · was Sat–Sun
Nichole Brown and chef Michael Ray’s Southern-Latin room opened Aug. 8 in a restored 101-year-old brick grocery. Brunch only for now; a special evening brunch ran Friday and returns next Friday. Dinner starts Aug. 26, Wednesday–Saturday 6–11 p.m. Reservations on OpenTable.
Sources: Florida Times-Union, Aug. 7, Aug. 8
Fairgrounds · today and Sunday
Bee Friends Farm and Local Fare Jax: honey tastings, beekeeping demos, a Busy Bee Marketplace, food vendors. Visit Jacksonville: $8 Saturday, $6 Sunday, kids under 16 free. Local Fare Jax puts Saturday on National Honey Bee Day.
Sources: Visit Jacksonville, Local Fare Jax
Without pictures
Citywide · through August
A month-long special-menu run: local kitchens put exclusive plant-based dishes on, and diners vote. The Jax Community Events listing treats it as an August series, not a single sitting.
In pictures
Atlantic Beach · newly opened
Jacksonville Magazine’s August recipe dispatch is from Chef “Kes,” chef de cuisine at the newly opened oceanside restaurant: grilled calamari, roasted oysters, tuna crudo, blackened snapper, plus ribeye and wild-mushroom gnocchi. The plate in the magazine is his flounder with lemon-caper beurre blanc.
Source: Jacksonville Magazine, Aug. 5
Jacksonville Beach · opened July 15
Mark Janasik’s Aegean wood-fire room — meze, fire-baked pizza, rooftop Zorbas — opened July 15 in the old Jekyll Brewing, next to sister restaurant Oaxaca Club. Friends-and-family the night before drew more than 700. Same menu as the January Hub original, plus sushi and crudo upstairs.
Sources: Jax Daily Record, July 16, Times-Union July openings
Without pictures
Beach Haven · opened July 30
The Thomasville, N.C., burger-and-tray chain’s first Northeast Florida shop. The Times-Union found lines out the door in opening week.
Source: Florida Times-Union, Aug. 3
Anastasia Island · opened this month
Carlos and Phet Valotha recast the old T. Smith Asian Bistro as Thai, Japanese, and Vietnamese. They also own Lemongrass at Bartram Park and Libby’s in St. Augustine. Open 11–9 Mon–Thu, 11–9:30 Fri, 3–9:30 Sat.
Source: Florida Times-Union, Aug. 12
Mandarin · July
The fried-rice-bowl concept’s first brick-and-mortar, listed in the Times-Union’s July openings gallery.
Southside · July
Smash burgers from a brisket-and-short-rib blend, tallow fries, milkshakes, and mini donuts. Also in the July openings gallery.
Without pictures
Jacksonville · Saturday, Aug. 22
Folio Weekly’s summer-festival guide lists a Caribbean-inspired day of music, dancing, food, and cultural traditions. No street address on that page.
Source: Folio Weekly, June 18
Jacksonville · Sunday, Aug. 23
Same Folio guide: traditional music, food, dance, and cultural exhibits. Address not published there.
Source: Folio Weekly, June 18
Without pictures
Springfield · Wednesday, Aug. 26
The Times-Union says dinner is scheduled to begin Aug. 26 after two weeks of brunch-only.
Source: Florida Times-Union, Aug. 7
Mandarin · early fall
A modern European café of Italian pastries and coffee, announced for the retail center at San Jose and Mandarin Road. No opening day yet.
Source: What Now Jacksonville