Jacksonville-area restaurant roundup: 5 opened, 2 closed in September

September saw the end of an era with the closure of a Jacksonville dining institution known for its classic Southern comfort food menu after more than a half-century.

Also closing after a decade was a popular taco-centric restaurant in Five Points that began as a food truck.

Opening, however, were a sub sandwich shop featuring the "Duuuval Cheesesteak" from a father and his sons, the second location of an Ohio-based breakfast and lunch diner and a mountain lodge-like sports bar known for its cold beer, burgers and brand ambassadors.

Here's a recap of Jacksonville-area restaurant news in September.

Piccadilly Cafeteria

Tears flowed freely and hugs were tight when the last Piccadilly Cafeteria in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida closed permanently Sept. 26 after 50-plus years. The restaurant was known for its warm hospitality as well as freshly made fried chicken, roast beef, carrot casserole, black-eyed peas and more Southern favorites. Many guests told the Times-Union that they came to the restaurant at 3216 University Blvd. S. in its last hours or a final meal but also to comfort and show support for the employees. Piccadilly offered no explanation for the abrupt closure. | Read more

August recap: 10 restaurants opened, 3 closed

Clarke Bros Subs

The "Duuuval Cheesesteak," Gochujang wings and homemade tater tots are customer favorites at the new Clarke Bros Subs at 2545 Riverside Ave. at Barrs St. across from Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside medical campus. It replaces the former Poke Burri sushi restaurant. Clarke Bros focuses on freshly made-to-order subs such as The Duuval Cheesesteak, which is made with fresh never never-frozen ribeye, season, slow-cooked and sliced thin in-house. The sub and other sandwiches are customizable. | Read more

Scramblers

Seven months after debuting in Jacksonville, Ohio-based Scramblers — known for its breakfast skillets, pancakes, omelets, burgers and sandwiches — opened its second Northeast Florida location in September at 1500 University Blvd. W. at San Jose Blvd. in the Winn-Dixie-anchored Lakewood South retail center. The new restaurant joined the region's first Scramblers at 9940 Old Baymeadows Road in the Publix-anchored Deerwood Village Mall, which opened in February. | Read more

Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery

A bakery popular for its gourmet cupcakes, wedding and other specialty cakes as well as ice cream, cookies and brownies welcomed guests to its third Jacksonville-area dessert shop in September. Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery opened its newest shop at 10111 San Jose Blvd. Suite 1 at Crown Point Plaza in Mandarin. The shop typically has about 24 flavors of which the most popular are strawberry cheesecake, Red Velvet and Wedding Cake. | Read more

Corner Taco

After 10 years, a Five Points restaurant popular for its tacos announced it was closing permanently. Its final days were Sept. 26 through Oct. 1. Corner Taco was at the forefront of the evolution from food truck to successful brick-and-mortar restaurant at 818 Post St. in Five Points in February 2014.  Corner Taco was known for its brisket and pork carnitas tacos. | Read more

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its newest Jacksonville-area restaurant on Sept. 29 at 876 Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park. The restaurant features the chain's signature "Chipotlelane" drive-thru. The menu features the return of Carne Asada for a limited time.

Twin Peaks

Just in time for the kickoff of the 2023 NFL season, Jacksonville’s first Twin Peaks sports bar opened at 11892 Atlantic Blvd. in the former Cinco de Mayo space in early September. The Dallas-based chain is known for its 29-degree draft beer served in frosted 22-ounce mugs, made-from-scratch menu and 43 TVs offering live sports coverage. It’s also famous for its waitstaff, known as the "Twin Peaks Girls," dressed in short denim shorts and buffalo plaid tops, often exposing their midriffs, and described as the “essential ingredient to the perfect lodge experience … equal parts friendly, engaging and attentive.” | Read more

Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at [email protected].

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville restaurants: Piccadilly closes, Scramblers, Twin Peaks open