Located in the Shoppes of St. Johns Parkway in St. Johns, Ember & Iron is a Northeast Florida-born restaurant serving up “Rustic American Fare” that is “modern,” “nostalgic,” and served with “warmth.” This week, the restaurant announced plans to expand to a second location, this time in Jacksonville, where it will open in The Village at Seven Pines in 2028.
Behind Ember & Iron are culinary and hospitality duo Chef Michael Cooney and Brittany Cooney. What Now spoke with Chef Michael Cooney on Thursday about plans for the second location, which is in fact the couple’s third restaurant (they also own Gemma Fish + Oyster).
“The inspiration for Ember & Iron came from my and my wife’s lifetime of culinary and hospitality,” the chef said. “It’s a style of cooking that’s really reminiscent of childhood. It reminds me of grilling with dad, throwing a few oak branches on the grill. It’s fresh ingredients, a simple way of approaching food.”…