Gemma Fish + Oyster, the newest concept from Chef Mike and Brittany Cooney, will open its doors on Friday, Dec. 22 in the East San Marco shopping center at 2039 Hendricks Ave in Jacksonville. The restaurant is accepting reservations via its website for the new, two-story establishment, which boasts one of the largest, covered rooftop bars in San Marco. Gemma will offer worldly seafood cuisine, a 12-ft raw bar – with fresh seafood on display – and two bars with an extensive craft cocktail menu amidst the well-appointed, elegant design. It will open at 50 percent capacity and will be reservation only until it closes on Christmas Day. The restaurant will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 26 at full capacity. Reservations will not be required but are recommended.
Gemma is the second concept created by the Cooneys; the husband-and-wife duo opened Ember & Iron in St. Johns County in 2021. Chef Mike is intentional in his inspirations, drawing from all parts of the world to create techniques and methods of cooking that bring out the best flavors with the freshest ingredients.
The Cooneys say Gemma is a place where locals near and far can dine and feel like family and that the decision to open in San Marco had a lot to do with the neighborhood.
“With Ember & Iron, the St. Johns community really embraced us and believed in the quality of service and food that we were bringing to that area, so when the opportunity came about to open a restaurant in San Marco, the decision was easy because of the uniqueness of a historic and quaint community,” said Brittany Cooney in a statement. “It is truly one of the most special areas in Jacksonville and we look forward to the new relationships we will make.”
Gemma’s raw bar includes a large variety of fresh oysters, salmon tartare, three seafood towers, caviar and ceviche. Guests can also order oysters a la carte with handwritten order sheets. Fried oysters with green goddess dressing, lobster pimento cheese dip and spicy mussels with Calabrian chiles are highlights of the appetizer menu. Chef Mike’s signature entrees include Scottish salmon with pistachio mole, a whole, fried local fish with a tamarind chile glaze, a half-roasted Moroccan chicken with harissa yogurt and chermoula potatoes and a grilled Wagyu flank served with beef fat fries, bone marrow butter and bordelaise. Fried apple bread pudding and an orange semolina cake with ricotta icing are some of the house-made desserts offered. Gemma’s bar features 10 house cocktails, an extensive wine and champagne list, cocktail pitchers and a 12-tap beer system with local brews.
The 6,500 square-foot restaurant offers indoor, covered rooftop and street-level dining with seating for 225; East San Marco offers ample parking for guests. Gemma will be open seven days a week from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. initially. Lunch and brunch service will be added in January. A 30-seat glass-encased dining space and the rooftop bar are available for private events. Gemma’s design, led by Brittany Cooney and local architect Design Cooperative, includes eye-popping colors, patterns and textures that play together in a bold, unified way, like warm woods under a gold ceiling. Other features include a gold-plated raw bar, a three-dimensional mural and a signature Sinatra booth. The rooftop features up lit trees, custom gold lighting and sweeping views of San Marco.
The restaurant’s leadership team includes Donald Dean as chef de cuisine and David Moses as general manager.
