The Gates of Olde Mandarin, the retail center on the northwest corner of San Jose Boulevard and Mandarin Road, will soon be home to a new modern European cafe serving up Italian pastries, coffee, and more. Milano Bakery Cafe will launch at 11362 San Jose Boulevard, Suite 19, in Jacksonville early this fall.
“We’re going to be doing croissants and all kinds of pastries, sweets like tiramisu made in-house, and bread baked in-house daily for sandwiches,” owner Altin Pergjoka told What Now on Tuesday. “We’ll also have a full European-style espresso bar.”
Sandwiches will feature Italian meats like prosciutto and mortadella, and will be served alongside salads, pizzas, and more. It’s a menu Pergjoka has spent his career on, although he says this is his first time bringing them together in this particular way, as a bakery focusing on sandwiches and baked goods.
“I’m originally an Italian chef, and I’ve owned a few restaurants in Connecticut, and I’ve also owned some coffee shops. So the food is not new for me, but the concept, bringing those things together—that is new.”
Opening in the Gates of Olde Mandarin, Milano Bakery Cafe will join a restaurant community that includes Magic Waffle, Beach Diner Mandarin, and Fuji Sushi 3.
“At Milano Bakery, we bring the Italian coffee ritual to Jacksonville – rich espresso, silky cappuccino, and moments worth slowing down for,” says a post published on Instagram by Milano Bakery Cafe. “Simple. Elegant. Perfectly balance.”
You can keep up with all things Milano Bakery Cafe by following @milanobakerycafe on Instagram.
