Chef Sam and Kiley Efron, the husband-and-wife team behind Taverna, will open Taverna Oceana in early 2023. The new raw bar and seafood-focused concept will be conveniently located next door to their existing concept located in San Marco Square.
Taverna Oceana’s dining room will offer a more intimate experience than Taverna, perfect for happy hours, date nights or evenings with friends. This new concept will offer approximately 78 seats, including a robust private dining space serving as the main focal point upon entering the space. There will also be an exposed oyster and champagne bar, with seating in front of the shucking station for guests to enjoy a live show. This buildout will allow the Taverna team to have a larger prep kitchen and enhance their existing catering capabilities for both in-house and offsite events.
To bring Taverna Oceana to life, the Efrons will work with Jacksonville-based architecture, interior and design firm Design Cooperative (DCOOP). The design will be an extension of Taverna and the spaces will be connected via an open passageway between concepts. Taverna Oceana will incorporate ambient lighting and rustic finishes to provide a warm and inviting atmosphere with inspired elements such as custom hand-painted oyster shells and modern pearlesque decorative lighting fixtures throughout. Logo development and branding is being designed by Amber Aultman of Copal Design.
At Taverna Oceana, the thoughtfully designed menu will bring patrons the freshest seasonal seafood. Offerings will include a variety of fresh fish and shellfish, as well as plenty of items for non-seafood lovers. While designing the menu, Chef Sam and his team have been inspired by Asian, Latin, Mediterranean and American regional flavors.
Upon opening, Taverna Oceana will offer lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday brunch, and daily happy hour. Private dining and special events will remain key service offerings for both restaurant concepts.
To keep up with the latest updates follow Taverna Oceana on Facebook and Instagram at @TavernaOceana and subscribe to Taverna Oceana’s mailing list at oceana.restaurant.
