PONTE VEDRA BEACH | Nocatee's newest restaurant promises "a taste of the Riviera" with a menu featuring classic Italian dishes, including pasta, Pinsa Romano and risotto, as well as signature French fare such as quiche.
Riviera 89 recently opened at 100 Marketside Ave, Suite 305, in the Publix-anchored Nocatee Town Center. The new restaurant takes over the roughly 1,860-square-foot space vacated by Catullo's Italian, which closed in June after three years.
Led by veteran French restaurateurs Anthony and Emeric Roy Perruccio, Riviera 89 offers authentic Italian cuisine seasoned with French influence reflected by its tagline "Italian Kitchen with French Soul."
The restaurant is their second, but their first in the United States. In early 2018, they
launched Sous Un Ciel d’Italie— which translates to Under an Italian Sky — in Riedisheim, France, near the border of Germany and Switzerland.
"Riviera 89 was born from our restaurant in France, Sous Un Ciel d’Italie … where for years we've shared our passion for bringing people together around authentic French and Italian cuisine," they explained in a note on the restaurant's menu. "Today, we're proud to continue that journey here in Florida. Inspired by the flavors, traditions, and warm hospitality of our roots."
Citing its welcoming atmosphere and sense of community, they chose Nocatee for Riviera 89 after spending several months scouting out other Florida cities, Emeric Roy Perruccio told the Times-Union.
They had previously vacationed in Florida and enjoyed their visits, so the state was the focus of their restaurant location search. Another factor: Florida is more business-friendly for opening a restaurant than France, he said.
On the menu at Riviera 89
"It's a mix of an Italian kitchen and French kitchen. We wanted the best of both," he said of their concept.
The restaurant features pasta imported from Italy and showcases scratch-made sauces, risotto and homemade desserts and pastries. Many of their dishes were inspired by the cuisine of Alsace, their home region in France.
Guests can choose from a selection of pasta including spaghetti, penne, rigatoni and gnocchi. Sauces range from pomodoro aglio, olio e peperoncino and Arrabbiata to Pesto Verde, Alfredo, carbonara, Bolognese and more. Signature specialty sauces are also offered.
There's also a choice of add-on toppings such as salmon, regular or vegan meatballs, shrimp, French or Italian-cured meats and various veggies, according to the menu. Among the dinner menu highlights are classic Lasagna Bolognese and Vegetable Lasagna.
Signature sauce creations include Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, which is potato gnocchi tossed in pomodoro sauce and basil pesto and baked with melted mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano. Another is Paris Paris, featuring truffle cream, black pepper, Parmesan cheese and Parisian ham.
In a unique twist, he said, some of their pasta is served in an in-house-made pizza dough bowl, which he said is "a best seller" in France.
The restaurant offers two types of risotto: Cheese Amore made with Gorgonzola, Parmesan, Mozzarella and Gruyere; and Truffle Merci, which is made with truffle cream, mushrooms and Paris ham. Four varieties of Pinsa Romana help round out the menu along with burgers and salads.
French specialties include three types of quiche — Lorraine with bacon and cheese; Du Soleil with vegetables and topped with cheese; and Des Alpes with Gorgonzola cheese, pears and roasted walnuts, according to the menu.
"The quiche is inspired by the eastern part of France," he said of the Des Alpes quiche.
In addition, classic French onion soup as well as Croque-Monsieur, which is Parisian ham, Gruyère cheese and béchamel served over fries, and steak frites top the appetizer list.
He said they'd like to offer special French dishes at night or on the weekends.
Riviera 89 joins established dining options at Nocatee Town Center, including Chophouse at Nocatee, First Watch, Jersey Mike's Subs, M Shack, Salata, South Kitchen, The Loop, Treylor Park Restaurant and more.
The 80-seat restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Dinner service begins at 5 p.m. daily.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 'Italian Kitchen with French soul': Riviera 89 opens in Nocatee
