Taverna Oceana
[Jacksonville, FL] San Marco is a historic neighborhood just a few minutes from downtown Jacksonville, Florida. Its dining options include some of Jacksonville’s best restaurants.
The Florida Times-Union caught our attention when it introduced an addition to the First Coast’s dining scene: Taverna Oceana from Chef Sam and Kiley Wynne Efron.
The Oceana is a “raw bar and seafood location with extensive bar offerings in an intimate dining environment.”
“The three-tier Oceana Tower featuring two dozen oysters, five cocktail shrimp, Insalata di mare, ceviche, and a quarter-pound chilled lobster is a signature dish,” the newspaper continues.
Photographs from the restaurant’s soft opening included images of a ceviche tostada with shrimp, scallops, fish, cilantro lime, avocado, cucumber, red onion, and jalapeno on a corn tortilla. Another teased us with a dish that included roasted oysters, miso-glazed sea bass, and kimchi brussels sprouts. Wow!
Taverna Oceana enjoyed its grand opening on May 3, 2023.
Fun fact: Jacksonville is named for Andrew Jackson, a city in which the former U.S. president never set foot. It was Andrew Jackson who signed the Indian Removal Act of May 28, 1830, forcing Native Americans from their protected lands. Thousands of Indians died as they were forced through the “Trail of Tears” to new tribal grounds in what is now Oklahoma. Jacksonville was originally named “Wacca Pilatka,” a Seminole term for “where the cows cross” or Cow Ford. We’ll just leave that here.
TAVERNA OCEANA LINKS