A Mexican restaurant with roots in Georgia is making its way to Jacksonville, with Cocina Mexican Restaurant preparing to open in the former Tequila’s Town space at Harbour Village.
The restaurant is planned for 13475 Atlantic Blvd., near San Pablo Road, where Cocina will take over the space following Tequila’s Town’s closure earlier this year according to the The Jacksonville Daily Record.
Cocina currently operates in Pooler, Georgia, near Savannah. The restaurant was founded by Eric Soto and Juan Avalos, who built the concept around traditional Mexican flavors with a more elevated dining experience.
Soto brings more than 16 years of experience working with Mexican cuisine, while Avalos has more than a decade of experience in the restaurant industry. According to Cocina’s website, the pair wanted to create a restaurant where the food, design and hospitality all worked together to give guests a welcoming place to gather.
That approach carries through to the restaurant’s design. Cocina describes its interiors as a mix of handcrafted tile, warm wood, natural textures and soft lighting, with details intended to blend traditional elements with a more modern look. The Jacksonville location is expected to follow that direction with a modern hacienda-inspired design and blue accents.
The menu is broad, covering familiar Mexican favorites alongside some of Cocina’s more distinctive dishes.
Guests can expect tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, burritos, quesadillas and bowls, along with seafood dishes, tortas and a selection of specialties. The menu also features several birria options, including birria flautas, a birria bowl and quesabirria tacos served with consommé.
One of the restaurant’s more unusual offerings is its birria soup with ramen noodles and beef, which has become a popular choice at the Georgia location, according to the publication. The menu also includes tableside guacamole, molcajete, ceviche, aguachiles and a variety of seafood dishes.
The drink menu will also play a role, with margaritas and other cocktails planned for the Jacksonville restaurant.
Cocina’s story is closely tied to its founders’ backgrounds and their interest in creating a restaurant that feels like more than simply a place to eat. Its website describes the concept as a gathering place for families, friends and celebrations, with the restaurant’s visual identity and hospitality designed around that idea.
For Harbour Village, Cocina will bring a new restaurant into a space that was most recently occupied by Tequila’s Town, which closed its Jacksonville location in May after seven years in the shopping center.
Cocina’s Jacksonville location is currently in the works, with an opening expected later this year.
