Black Pearl Ponte Vedra Beach

Very modern place,Japanese Italian cuisine ,amazing omarkase sushi, highly recommend for people whom love sushi and Italian cuisine

Black Pearl in Ponte Vedra is an absolute gem. From the moment we sat down, we knew we were in for something special — and it exceeded every expectation. We started with cocktails that were as creative as they were delicious. The miso Old-Fashioned made with Japanese bourbon was smooth, bold, and perfectly balanced. The recommended lychee cocktail with gooseberry accompaniment was light, refreshing, and beautifully presented. Both were unforgettable. For starters, we shared the king salmon tartare and tuna carpaccio with black truffle cream — each dish incredibly fresh, delicate, and thoughtfully composed. The truffle cream elevated the tuna carpaccio to another level. Our entrées were nothing short of spectacular. The Wagyu short rib was tender and rich, melting with every bite. The miso sea bass, paired with a broccolini salsa verde and silky sunchoke purée, was perfectly cooked and beautifully balanced. The pescatore with king prawns and hand-rolled udon noodles was both comforting and refined — a flawless fusion of Japanese and Italian techniques. Dessert continued to impress. The chocolate mousse with matcha was decadent yet balanced, and the yuzu salted caramel ice cream was bright, unique, and the perfect sweet finish. We ended with an affogato — not traditional, but elevated with Frangelico and an ice cream foam — a creative twist that left a lasting impression. Each entrée was perfectly paired with wines recommended by Mitchell. His knowledge of wine is something I have only experienced before during my tour of Tuscany — absolutely amazing. The pairings elevated every course and truly enhanced the entire dining experience. And we cannot say enough about our server, Cameron. Personable, knowledgeable, and attentive without ever being intrusive — he made the evening seamless and unforgettable. Black Pearl isn’t just dinner — it’s an experience. We will absolutely be back.

Everything is wonderful and perfect!

Had a really nice time here with my wife. The cocktails were excellent, the food was delicious and modestly portioned. We were able to fully complete our meals without feeling overly full. The atmosphere was visually stunning and great for a nice date night. One minor detail is that It can be a bit loud in the main dining area so expect to have to lean in and repeat yourself. Overall it’s a lively and tasty spot for a special occasion.

Buen ambiente ,agradable ,elegante ,Sabastian fue mi mesero el mejor ,y Sasha mi amiga también con su bella atención .Recomendado 100% .

Great experience from beginning to end. Atmosphere, food, drinks, and service are all top notch. Speak easy is a nice touch!

This place is great it’s amazing 🤩 I was scrolling on facebook and this lady her name is Jashauriah she posted this place and I texted her asking what it’s called she told me she worked here and that it’s fantastic food is amazing and that they just opened up. A lot of my friends and family have came and ate here because of that one post she made and we will never stop coming here 🫶🏾❤️

Great food and service. Loved the decor. Great new restaurant for Ponte Vedra Beach!

I was visiting Jacksonville with my family I didn’t know much about this place until I asked this lady i didn’t know her we was in the mall & she said her name was Jashauriah and she works here food is fantastic if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t have known about this place ❤️

Amazing! Great food Great service. Definitely will be back.

Cam took such good care of us! Such a fun experience

Lovely restaurant and not what you would expect in a strip mall. Aka Tsuki is pictured. The scallop appetizer was creative and combined many flavors. The Arrabbiata had the right amount of heat and the Burrata was wonderful. The wagyu short ribs had depth of flavor. For dessert, the poached pear is a must.

What can I say, I'm obsessed. Atmosphere, menu, customer service, exceptional.

I took my mother, she has been so excited to go Black pearl and have an amazing dining experience…. we loved it. The food was outstanding and our waiter. Cameron was top-notch. He was a wonderful communicator. We knew everything we were ordering and he had a complete understanding of the menu which is very important to a foodie. Service was excellent and the food was excellent and wonderful atmosphere

Was super excited about this restaurant opening and it delivered. It’s a beautiful restaurant that you wouldn’t expect from the outside, the design snd settings are stunning. The service was impeccable and our server Grace was delightful. The drinks were top notch and the food was equally if not more so. Definitely get the tuna carpaccio or the salmon tartare. We didn’t get a chance to check out the speakeasy but definitely will next time. So excited for a high quality restaurant like this to come to Ponte Vedra

Incredible experience opening week, congratulations!!! You are greeted with complimentary champagne, such a fun touch! We loved our cocktails Aka Tsuki and Sakura Knees — masterpieces. The Tuna Carpaccio meltssss in your mouth and King Salmon Tartare is so fresh and beautifully plated! Highly recommend the Miso Sea Bass and Short Rib as your main, but the Rrisotto Nero and Carbonara were yummy too! We got 3/4 desserts and everything was light and delicious. Add this spot to your list!!! Cannot wait to be back for the omakase and speakeasy!

Overall, the experience was amazing. The atmosphere and ambience were absolutely beautiful and set the tone for a great night. I was especially impressed with the starters — the tuna stood out and was incredible. We sampled several main courses, and the seabass was hands down my favorite. The cocktails were excellent, served in stunning glassware that added to the experience. Max was a fantastic server and made the evening even better. I’m so happy to have a restaurant like this in our town — we’ll definitely be back.

We had dinner here tonight for the first time, the atmosphere is very upscale and elegant. The service overall was excellent and our waiter Chad was extremely professional and attentive. The star of the show was the food!!! Everything we ordered from appetizers through desert was just perfect. We can’t wait to become regulars!

Great experience! Celebrated my birthday and enjoyed all the dishes and the ambiance was on point! Cameron provided excellent customer service and Yhang the manager was very welcoming and accommodating. Highly recommend this restaurant!

We LOVED it! Our server Sydney was so sweet and took great care of us. Everything we had was absolutely phenomenal. We can not wait to come back and try the speakeasy and the omakase experience. If you look fine dining, this is your place! We came for our anniversary and we got a sweet little rose. COME! You won’t be disappointed!

This was our first time dining here. I knew beforehand that it was a Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant, but I didn’t mention that to my group. Being Southeast Asian, we were expecting some high-end sushi options on the menu, so that part was a bit disappointing. That said, everything we ordered tasted amazing. I gave it four stars because, for the price compared to other upscale restaurants, the portions felt on the smaller side; a small portion of sea bass was like $55. The same goes for the cocktails — at $18 each, they seemed to be gone in just a few sips.

We were only able to get reservations for the speakeasy which was a fun,relaxed vibe but a limited tapas menu. The specialty cocktails were fabulous. The detail with how they were made them was 5 stars! We enjoyed the Black Phenix, Kiki Martini and the New Pal. The Black Phenix was very special with the ice ball dipped in cacao! Very tasty! Excellent service. The only feedback was the music, Please change it! It didn’t match the vibe or the crowd. It felt too club-like to us. We heard others commenting as well. A crooner vibe would be so much better! If you had a 20 something’s crowd there that music may work but we may not come back as often or stay as long. Also we noticed people that had reservations at the speakeasy didn’t realize it was a limited tapas menu. Maybe the reservation system could delineate that better. I felt bad for the servers having to deal with those tables.

The atmosphere is beautiful and classy. The food is outstanding. The short rib and it is the best tasting short rib that I’ve ever had and maybe the best plate I’ve had in Ponte Vedra - it was that good. They’re only on their 2nd week and I want to give them some grace, but the numerous service mistakes are elementary. Like bringing the appetizer and entree at the same time. Like forgetting my drink and then bringing me the wrong one. Like feeling rushed because they want to turn the table. Not what one would hope for at that price point regardless of how long they’ve been open. Oh, and one more tip on dinner - save room for the pear dessert which was delectable. Don’t forget to make a separate reservation in advance for the speakeasy for an after dinner drink. It is a cozy environment but we met great new people back there.

Such a fun night. Great atmosphere. Food good, service started great but delayed towards end. Will come back to try chefs’ table and speakeasy.

I was really excited to try Black Pearl and had high expectations going in. It’s located in a strip mall, which was surprising at first, but the Space’s interior is actually very beautifully decorated and creates a nice atmosphere. We asked our waitress about seeing the speakeasy and the Omikase room that we had heard about, but we were told it wasn’t available for us to view, which was a little disappointing. We were seated at a large table for six even though there were only three of us, which felt a bit unnecessary but not a major issue. Service was somewhat inconsistent. Our waitress didn’t offer much explanation of the menu and encouraged us to ask questions instead, which felt a bit impersonal for this type of dining. We were also served room temp unfiltered tap water (it had a strong odor) and my glass didn’t appear very clean (see photo), which wasn’t a great first impression. She also couldn’t split the cost of the appetizers, so we each had to add an appetizer or dessert to each of our bills. The menu also had a few noticeable spelling errors, which took away slightly from the overall presentation and caused a bit of confusion. The potato appetizer and the mocktail and it’s presentation were definitely the highlights of the meal and were very enjoyable. Unfortunately, the pescatore dish was underwhelming — it wasn’t hot when it arrived, and lacked the spice and flavor that was described. By comparison, the arrabbiata and carbonara dishes my friends ordered were much more flavorful. Dessert was also a bit disappointing. The panna cotta had an unusual taste, almost as if it had absorbed refrigerator odors, which made it hard to enjoy. My bill came to $93 including a 20% tip, which felt high given the overall experience. The restaurant wasn’t completely full (weekday night), and although we had a later reservation, it didn’t seem necessary when we arrived there were plenty of open tables throughout the evening. Overall, the restaurant has a lot of potential — the décor, concept, and atmosphere are lovely — but the food and service didn’t quite match the setting. With some improvements in consistency, service, additional training, and attention to detail, this could be a really nice dining spot, but do not expect a Michelin dining experience.

While we totally get the concept and a speakeasy should have creative drinks, it’s limited and they aren’t flexible. Speakeasy menu is very limited on food which is ok but after drinking some of their cocktails from the menu we simply wanted a good margarita and the bartender admitted the manager did not want his bar serving a margarita. He also stated the goal is obtaining a Michelin star. We’ve been to many Michelin restaurants and have never been told they won’t make the drink I requested. So this manager wants a reputation but I’m not sure telling the customer their drink isn’t good enough is a first. So buyer beware they are set in what they want to be and it doesn’t seem to matter what the customer wants. Keep in mind we tried their signature drinks but it’s limited and they really don’t want to venture from that menu.

This is a nice build out from the Mexican restaurant that was previously there. First visit was there 2nd night so I understood the challenges. It was a nice visit and the raw fish was comped off. It was a huge chunk just needed a knife to cut it. They were learning. They did a good job. We had the Feb 13th meal and it was twice the cost and 1/3 of what we got last time. Came down to three appetizers bites each, one slice of duck (2oz) each followed by one slice of wagu beef each. Maybe 2oz. A chocolate plate each. Food was good, small portions and well over priced for what you get. It's a nice atmosphere, but loud and very open. The new velvet seats are nice. ASK FOR A BOOTH!

We had to wait 15 minutes for our table although we had a reservation. Although the service was slow at first, it improved as our dinner went on in the main dining room. The food was very “meh”. The menu very limited. My husband’s sea bass was very thin and over cooked. Friends wagu short ribs were under seasoned. Friends carbonara was good but not great. My arrabbiata was bland. Will likely give it another chance in a month or so…perhaps they just don’t have it together yet. Would love to try the tapas in the speaking easy.

My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate Valentine’s Day early. We had been really excited for their opening and were looking forward to trying it. When we arrived, the hostess didn’t acknowledge us at first, we stood there for a moment without being greeted. Once seated, there were crumbs on our booth seat that hadn’t been wiped down. Not the best first impression. That said, the ambiance is beautiful. The decor, lighting, music, and overall vibe are thoughtfully done. The space truly has potential. Our server was kind and attentive, but overall the service didn’t quite match the elevated experience the restaurant seems to be aiming for. For starters, we ordered the tuna carpaccio and karaage chicken. The tuna was just okay, not what we expected, and presentation aside, it lacked depth. The karaage chicken, however, was excellent, juicy, flavorful, and honestly the highlight of the night. We were originally going to order the carbonara but were recommended the Pescatore with prawn instead. Unfortunately, it fell flat. The flavors didn’t come together and it wasn’t particularly enjoyable. For mains, we ordered the sea bass and the wagyu short rib, both strongly recommended. Sadly, both were disappointing. The sea bass was bland and overcooked, and the short rib lacked tenderness and seasoning. As someone who hates wasting food, it was difficult to send dishes back, but we couldn’t finish them. We ended the night with chocolate mousse, hoping to redeem the experience, but even that didn’t impress. I don’t enjoy writing negative reviews, especially for a new restaurant, but as customers celebrating a special occasion, we left disappointed. The space is lovely and clearly has potential. I hope they take feedback into account and refine the execution, because it truly could be something special.

Edit: for some reason my review was taken down. Reposting with one less star ad they are clearly trying to get rid of REAL negative reviews with responding to them.. We have been wanting to try the black pearl since before they opened and were very excited about the concept and the restaurant looked amazing. We booked a table for 2 and upon arrival were seated at the bar, I was unaware that this was what was booked, it did not show bar seating on open table. They also never clarified that it was our reservation and we had to ask to figure out thats where we would be spending our dinner. This was for our 11 year anniversary and sitting at a bar was less than special especially when we were there to splurge on an expensive evening. There was a walk in behind us with no reservation that was seated at a great table.... The food was mostly amazing apart from the Risotto. The octopus in the risotto was very chewy and the entire dish was under seasoned. The butter that was with the bread was insanely good. The Carbonara was both of our favorites. We also had the potatoes, short rib and chicken karaage. All of which were very good. The Espresso cocktail was very very good to end our dinner. The bartender provided great service and no fault to her but to book a reservation and be seated at the bar with no explanation definitely put a damper on our night and one of the dishes being not so great at a restaurant at this level was disappointing. overall I would give it a 3.5/5 and will most likely try them again in a few months.

The most awful experience I have ever had at a restaurant. From start to finish, a complete embarrassment for this place. Their “hostess” Sophia, was so incredibly rude and strange acting, they lied about booking us a table, we ended up at that joke of a speakeasy, spent an exorbitant amount of money, left hungry and weirded out. Sophia needs to find another job far away from customer service, maybe working With robots in a factory somewhere on a deserted island. Awful Experience, I’m from nyc and this place is a joke, do not waste your time at this wannabe elite spot. Hit up Panera instead and save yourself some time and cash!

I called this restaurant to book Valentine's Day for my wife. She expressed how she wanted to go and we canceled our existing reservation once I was told it was confirmed. I found out from my friend of mine that he received a confirmation text message recently confirming his reservation and I did not, after calling and speaking to the manager he apologized and stated I no longer had a reservation. And I can be placed on a wait list.

Poor service, bland dry food. Will be surprised if place lasts long.

I have debated writing this review, but it is still bothering me. I had reservations for the speakeasy for 4 people. I also have a service dog, I arrived 1st the wait was a while & once I walked into the speak easy there was barley room for 1 person, let alone 4. What bothered me the most was not only the customers (which is not the restaurants fault by any means) but the staff as well kept constantly whistling, kissing & calling to my service dog. His vest clearly states on multiple places, no talk, no touch, no eye contact. I had to ask the staff multiple times to please stop calling or talking to my service dog he is working. My service dog paid no mind as he’s trained, but the staff not being trained or considerate really bothered me. I never expect special treatment anywhere I go & my service dog will lay under any table at my feet & you would never know he’s there. But the lack of ADA accommodation is beyond concerning. Someone with a more severe disability or a wheel chair would struggle to navigate the Resturant & certainly could not get into the speak easy, I tripped over the lip walking into the speak easy, (it had no warning of a raised ledge) We then were waiting outside for a table in the regular dining which we were told would be 20-30mins. When another patron walking up outside started stating her disgust for my service dog & that they would not eat at a restaurant that would allow a “disgusting animal” in. Again, I’m aware that is not the restaurants fault, but we could hear them just inside the door telling the host of their disgust and would that animal be allowed inside.. I am not sure if it was coincidence or the table truly was staying later, but after the complaint from the other patron, the host came out to tell us the wait would be over an hour and half now & we should probably go to another restaurant. I appreciate the restaurant trying to make a nice, new cool restaurant and place for patrons, it’s just disappointing that obviously persons with disabilities weren’t really concerned. We did not stay due to the accommodations and lack of respect from staff, which is unfortunate as we would have loved to try the food. Maybe in the future could try the regular dining, but after such a negative experience I struggle to want to support an establishment who’s lack of ADA accommodations are, well, lacking.

As soon as we sat down I asked for a booth. I was told they were saving them for a four top. Which I understand. So we stayed at our tiny table with two chairs. We arrived at 4 when they open. As we sat there they sat three other two tops at the booths I asked about. By the time we left there were still 5 empty booths we could have been sat at with plenty of time to clean before any reservations they may have had. I have a bad back or I wouldn’t be complaining. I also don’t like being lied to. Food was great. Service was great. Other than being denied the booth. It seems to be easy for most other restaurants to accommodate. For a $200 dinner I’d like to sit at a booth please.

I made a reservation for Valentine’s Day in January thinking I was being proactive in making plans for my wife and I. February comes and my reservation ends up being canceled with no call or text with no reasoning. I called and told the hostess who answered my situation and said I would likely have to prepay for our meal and that a manager would call me. I never received a call back and I haven’t been able to get in touch with the restaurant. Pretty poor service in my opinion to cancel multiple reservations without any heads up or forewarning.