Blackpearl Ponte Vedra Beach

Black Pearl is located in a strip mall rather than being a standalone spot, but the interior is beautiful and creates a nice atmosphere. We were seated right away upon arrival and started with some warm bread. For the mains, my wife ordered the spicy lamb pasta with pappardelle, lamb shoulder meat, tomato, edamame, and spinach. Unfortunately, we both agreed that the dish was a bit bland and lacked the flavor we were expecting. I ordered the saikyo black cod. While the fish itself was good, for the price, it felt like it should have included a small side to make the presentation and portion feel more complete. We finished the meal with the panna cotta which we especially enjoyed as a birthday treat. Service throughout the evening was wonderful and definitely one of the highlights of our experience. 3.5 / 5

Finally got to try Black Pearl in PV Beach, a Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant in town. Posting bec of positive experience so hopefully y’all can check them out. Even though it’s located in a strip mall, the inside has a very good ambiance. Most importantly, food on point (kudos to the chef ). Great apps: bread was not complimentary but oh so worth it bec the texture was pure perfection and with their butter (chef kiss), potatoes (no clue what was even on it lol but was pleasantly surprised), yummy carrots, and lastly chicken karaage was probably the best we’ve had. Mains: their Nero Mare with tiger prawns & Hokkaido scallops was absolutely incredible; that seafood pasta made my belly so happy bec it was the closest thing to what we had in Portofino. The sauce is made of prawn bisque and so flavorful; I’m drooling just thinking about it. The best kind of food are the ones that can transport you into another country solely on your taste buds. My husband enjoyed his carbonara also. Desserts: we tried all the 3 they had, and the Panna cotta was the clear winner . Drinks: we tried both of their mocktails and our fav was Aurora. We were seated in one of their posh like booths; very comfy. Well spaced seating so you don’t have to be bothered by other people’s conversations (yes please!) Our server was Ethan; he seemed to be genuinely nice which we appreciated, and he did a great job which made for an awesome evening. Even the packaging of their to-go boxes were cute and eco-friendly. We’ve eaten in multiple Michelin restaurants all over the world bec we love good food and it’s so refreshing when we find a new restaurant locally that actually delivers. Plain & simple: some places are worth it and this one is certainly one of them so we will definitely be back!

First, let me say: don't let the 4/5 stars keep you from trying Black Pearl. It's very good food and great service. But I had heard people say BP has not only the best omakase in Jax, but the best omakase they've had anywhere. Numerous people said this. So for $70 more per person than omakase at Norikase, we got excited for some amazing omakase. And don't get me wrong. It was very good. But it wasn't as good as several less expensive omakases I've had over the years. I will say though that the staff at BP omakase were absolutely amazing. They definitely set the standard for great service. But the food wasn't better, and we weren't overly full when we left. Would we go back? Sure. But maybe just if someone else is paying. (Oh, and they give you ceramic cats at the end as a parting gift. Why? No idea. But now we have two identical ceramic cats. We would've rather paid less.)

Last night, we celebrated our anniversary with a delightful dinner. The service was impeccable, and the food was simply extraordinary. I had the shitami drink, and we began with a very good charcuterie board. The sea bass and short rib were equally impressive, each dish bursting with flavor. To conclude our gastronomic adventure, we savored the creamy panacotta and the decadent chocolate mousse. My husband relished the panacotta, while I savored every bite of the mousse. It was an unforgettable dining experience that I highly recommend.