Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant 3 Palms Grille closing, relocating

An upscale Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant known as a special occasion dining destination and its menu including rack of lamb, steak and seafood, is set to close — at least for now. But its owners say they hope to reopen the restaurant elsewhere at a later time.

3 Palms Grille plans to close its longtime location at The Yards in Ponte Vedra Beach in the coming weeks as it relocates to an as-yet-determined Beaches location. Open since 2016, the restaurant at 254 Alta Mar Drive has been a popular venue for special occasions celebrating engagements, graduations and more.

The restaurant will remain open to the public through April 30. Following a private event on May 1, 3 Palms Grille will close permanently at that site effective May 2.

Describing it as "bittersweet," restaurant owners John Nagy and his wife, Karen Belloit Thomas, announced the closure and relocation on Monday.

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They attributed the decision to multiple factors: "The success and growth of both the restaurant and The Yard Facilities and the overwhelming need for a destination venue for public and private bookings at the popular hot spot," according to a news release.

The couple also owns Eleven South in Jacksonville Beach as well as the upcoming City Grille and Raw Bar, which they hope to open this summer at 1314 Prudential Drive on Jacksonville's Southbank. Offering steaks, seafood and craft cocktails, City Grill and Raw Bar will be an upscale restaurant, Nagy previously told the Times-Union.

The restaurant replaces the Wine Cellar, which closed in October 2021 after 47 years. The building has been undergoing renovations since a building permit was issued last July.

"We have had a great run in Ponte Vedra and our guests really love the Beaches laid back style we offer, along with a discerning palate. That's why we will continue the 3 Palms Grille concept at a new Beaches location. For now, we are focused on opening City Grille and Raw Bar in San Marco in June," Nagy said in the news release.

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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