Two Dudes Seafood Restaurant operators and owners Tom and Jennifer Corsano intend to open their third location late this summer when they take over the former Il Desco space in Riverside.
Corsano considers the Park and King streets corner area a “cool little district” for their casual seafood restaurant concept that lists its fresh catches daily on a large central chalkboard, according to our Jacksonville Daily Record news partner.
The 2665 Park St. location served as a former longtime drugstore before conversion into Pele’s Wood Fired Grill in 2012 and then the Il Desco Italian restaurant in November 2015. It closed in January.
It will be the third Two Dudes location for the Corsanos, who are seasoned owners and operators with years of experience in the area’s fine-dining industry.
The Corsanos took over the original Two Dudes restaurant in Atlantic Beach in April 2014 and opened the second a year ago in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Their strategy includes taking over second-generation space.
“We don’t have millions of dollars in our back pocket to build something from the ground up, so we just stick with you serve the best food possible and give good service,” Corsano said.
“We’ve been rolling with that model for many years.”
Tom Corsano said the Riverside location will seat 120 patrons, including about 20 at the bar. There is private dining space available.
He expects to open at 11 a.m. daily and will offer Sunday brunch. Closing hours will be determined based on demand. “We will see what goes on and keep it open late,” he said.
The Corsanos will open with 25 to 30 employees, who will be trained at the other Two Dudes restaurants.
Two Dudes expects to carry over its easygoing beaches environment, such as the surf- and ocean-themed décor. “It’s super casual,” Corsano said.
He said Two Dudes can use the remaining built-in bar and booths and will bring in the rest of what’s needed, including kitchen equipment and cedar tops for the tables.
In addition to the menu, they intend to operate a full bar that includes 15 beer taps and a wine list of about 200 bottles and 15 by the glass.
Two Dudes Restaurant RS Inc. seeks a waiver from the city’s zoning code to sell beer, wine and spirits at the Riverside location.
The focus is on the food. Corsano said fresh seafood is delivered six days a week and he filets the fish for his restaurants.
Price points are $20 to $30 for the fresh catch, he said. A menu posted online shows baskets and platters at $23-$29 and entrees from $13 to $21.
Appetizers, soups, salads, tacos, burgers and sandwiches are priced $6 (Beach chili) to $19 (seafood cobb salad).
There’s also special pricing for the children’s menu.
Filet mignon is on the chalkboard now at $38, Corsano said. Corsano said he intends to add that and a New York strip to the menus of all three restaurants when the Riverside location opens.
The first two restaurants are at 22 Seminole Road in Atlantic Beach and 262 Solano Road in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Another reason to open at Park and King is the demographics, Corsano said.
Some of his Beaches customers live in town and have been asking for a neighborhood location.
“It appeals to everybody,” Corsano said.
