A taste of Italy and France has arrived in Nocatee! Riviera 89, a highly anticipated Italian kitchen with French soul, officially opened its doors on Sept. 18. Founders and married restaurateurs Emeric and Anthony Roy Perruccenio warmly welcomed guests to their Franco-Italian restaurant serving dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients imported from Italy.
Chef Anthony developed his skills under Michelin-starred Chef Christian Begyn in Colmar and spent three months mastering the art of pizza in Italy. He bought a restaurant in Alsace, France, called Sous un Ciel d’ Italie, which translates to Under an Italian Sky, in 2017. He and Emeric are excited to bring the American version of their restaurant to Nocatee.
Riviera 89 has a diverse, mouthwatering menu with authentic Italian and signature French creations. Their lunch and afternoon menu has a cornucopia of crowd-pleasers: Pinsa Romana, salads, quiches, pasta, sandwiches and charcuterie boards. Their delectable pasta dishes are entirely customizable. Guests can enjoy mixing and matching with pasta shapes, sauces (including signature sauce creations), toppings and proteins.
Their dinner menu has all of this and even more delicious dishes to try. At dinner, guests have the option to savor their pasta in a ciotola, a house-made pizza dough bowl.
Their signature Ciotola Bologna Verde is one of the most beloved signature dishes at their restaurant in France. The favorite edible pasta bowl is expertly crafted with house-made pistachio pesto, crushed pistachios, mortadella and burrata. The dinner menu has a variety of classic French touches as well, including steak frites, croque-monsieur and onion soup.
With all of these incredible menu items, make sure to save room for dessert! There is an array of soft and flaky pastries from pain au chocolates to almond croissants as well as ice cream sundaes with house-made chocolate sauce.
Riviera 89 welcomes everyone and has plenty of tasty gluten-free and vegan options for diners to enjoy as well as a kid’s menu for the youngest guests.
The aesthetic of Riviera 89 is inspired by the southern coast of France, said Emeric. The atmosphere is chic and decorated with rich, ocean blues and coastal flair. The restaurant includes a full bar and indoor and outdoor seating. Riviera 89 is a place for the whole family to gather and pets are welcome to join on the patio.
Emeric said they wanted to bring their restaurant to the area because they love the lifestyle and entrepreneur mindset of Ponte Vedra.
Riviera 89 is designed to be a gathering place where family and friends can enjoy delicious Italian and French cuisine in a serene atmosphere. It’s a European retreat from the comfort of your neighborhood!
Riviera 89 is open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is closed on Mondays. It is located at 100 Marketside Ave., Suite 305, Ponte Vedra Beach. To learn more, visit their Facebook page or go to https://riviera89.com.
