Ida Claire, the Texas-based restaurant at Town Center offering “Southern food and beverages with a twist,” announced Wednesday it will open Nov. 5.
The 7,500-square-foot restaurant is at 10209 River Coast Drive in the former Mimi’s Café space.
“We are excited to bring Jacksonville our south of ordinary twist to relaxing suppers and slow brunching,” said Ida Claire CEO Steve Shlemon in a news release. “From business breakfasts to late night happy hours, our eclectic and warm atmosphere makes Ida Claire a great gathering spot. We think Ida Claire will feel like your home away from home.”
The restaurant features an outdoor patio and garden anchored by two converted Airstream travel trailers – one for private dining and the other as a bar. Ida Claire will seat 302 inside, the bar and lounge will seat 65 and the patio 64.
Ida Claire will be open 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 7 a.m. - 1 a.m. Friday; 9 a.m. - 1 a.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday. Brunch will be offered 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
During its grand opening, Ida Claire said it will donate 50% of its sales up to $10,000 to the Jacksonville Humane Society.
Offerings include shared plates such as the hummus board, fried green tomatoes, Ida’s biscuits and crawfish corn beignets. Main courses include Nashville hot fried chicken, Monte Cristo, chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits and braised beef short rib. Lighter options include the ancient grain and shrimp bowl and frisee and egg salad.
Desserts include dump cake topped with berries and butter crumb topping and Ida’s seasonal pie.
Ida Claire will offer cocktails, wine and beer “from all corners of Ida’s world.”
Signature drinks include the Bare Necessities, a cocktail served in a miniature bathtub adorned with a rubber duck.
Ida Claire is part of Front Burner Dining Group LLC, which also owns Whiskey Cake, Haywire, Legacy Hall, Mexican Sugar, Sixty Vines, The Keeper and The Ranch. The restaurants primarily are in Texas with one in Oklahoma.
Ida Claire Jacksonville LLC bought the closed Mimi’s property on an outparcel at St. Johns Town Center in April from FLLM LLC, based in Orlando, for $2.7 million.
