Nona Blue Modern Tavern — Restaurant in Ponte Vedra Beach

Dining at Nona Blue Modern Tavern is a reminder that thoughtful food, paired with atmosphere, can transform a simple evening into something memorable. Arriving right at opening, the restaurant was quiet inside, almost holding its breath before the bustle of service began. Choosing to sit outdoors was the best decision of the day . The patio offers sweeping water views, a soft breeze, and a front-row seat to nature’s own performance: birds gliding and diving with precision, a scene that felt both calming and invigorating.

Our meal began in unconventional fashion — with dessert first. The cheesecake proved to be a statement piece: impossibly creamy, with just the right level of richness to feel indulgent without being heavy. A restrained sweetness allowed the flavors to linger, making it an instant “must-order” item. The shrimp appetizer followed and impressed in its simplicity. Lightly breaded and fried to a golden crisp, the shrimp retained their delicate flavor, with each bite balancing crunch and tenderness.

Moving to the mains, the kitchen revealed its range. The chicken tenders were a revelation — not the afterthought one might expect, but a dish treated with intention. Perfectly seasoned, with a crisp coating and juicy interior, they stood tall among more elevated offerings. The accompanying slaw was a true surprise: bright, nuanced, and texturally distinct. It added vibrancy and originality, transforming what could have been a familiar dish into something memorable.

The steak and fries, however, were the star of the evening. Cooked with precision, the steak yielded effortlessly, tender enough to melt on the palate. Each bite carried deep, savory flavor, enhanced by the butter — a quiet work of art. Subtle yet deeply rich, it provided an elegance that spoke to technique and restraint, complementing rather than overpowering the meat. The fries were crisp, golden, and generously portioned, serving as the perfect companion.

What struck me most about Nona Blue is its ability to take dishes that could easily feel commonplace and elevate them through execution and detail. There’s no pretense here — just honest food, prepared with skill, served in an environment that celebrates both comfort and refinement. The marriage of a beautiful waterfront setting with cuisine that surprises at every turn makes Nona Blue Modern Tavern more than just a stop for dinner. It’s a destination worth seeking out, whether for a casual evening or a meal that lingers in memory long after the plates...

Let me start by saying the servers, ours included, are wonderful and if this review was only based on service interaction I’d offer a five star review. Sadly, nothing else was remotely positive about our experience. We are from out of town and our friends who are locals and regulars recommended we eat here during our stay. My husband and I ordered a filet each. When asked for the desired temperature we both indicated rare+ and advised we lean more rare than a medium rare. Our server kindly acknowledged she understood what we meant. A runner delivered our steaks and my husband and I cut in with her watching. Husband’s looks medium rare, again not rare+, but close, and mine was medium to medium well. The runner didn’t even pause before bringing it back and apologizing. Within a few minutes our server comes back, with my original plate, and uncomfortably says she was told to return to show me that the steak looks different in different lighting. She profusely apologizes and I felt horrible for her. I told her not to worry and just leave it. Attached you will find a photo of a medium/medium well steak that they claimed was rare+. I couldn’t even finish it. I was so upset at how we were treated (and their waitress) I couldn’t even speak to my husband/daughter throughout our time there. Several minutes since the waitress redelivered my meal, Kayla, the lead, comes over. She said she was caught up in something and apologized for the experience. I told her beyond the poor food experience was the fact that they had the audacity to send our waitress over to school me in steak temperatures. She should have never been put in such an awful position and neither should we. We had a 5 year old and had already waited so I let her know we did not want a new steak or anything else. The best they could come up with to compensate for everything was comp my single non-alcoholic beverage and my husbands cocktail. Totally disgusted by this entire ordeal. We come to stay at the JW annually and I would never step foot in this establishment again. I also contacted my friend and her family who will no longer give their business. I suggest the management and chef look into quality of meat (this was not a $60 filet worthy cut), myoglobin…when oxygen touches meat once cut, how to appropriately handle customer complaints, and most importantly how to treat their amazing servers....

It's such a nice restaurant in a great area. Not a lot of parking up front but if you go behind the other storefronts there is parking there. I had reservations and we were seated right away. Server approached us after 2 mins of being seated and asked for our drink. Husband ordered a raging blonde ale and I ordered one night in Bangkok drink. My drink was delicious, perfect balance of pinapple, ginger and tequila. We had already looked over the menu before arriving so we placed our appetizers order as well. We had the French onion soup, calamari, and the mussels. I really wanted the grilled artichokes but they were out. It does say in their menu limited supply so I wasn't really expecting to get them that late in the evening. Their appetizers were really good. I enjoyed the mussles the most. They were in a delicious broth that you could practically drink from the bowl. The calamari batter was a bit salty to my liking and I love well seasoned food but they were still crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The French Onion soup is as French onion soup should be. We then ordered our main. Husband had a burger medium with another beer, this time a Guiness. Great, clean Tap he said. And I had the French Quarter penne pasta bowl. Burger was well seasoned and made. The two bites I took of the pasta were definitely pleasing. Perfect Al Dente pasta and creamy sauce. I could taste the smokyness from the ham and the spice from the sausage. The shrimp were tender and a good size. I took the rest home and enjoyed it for the next two days. It was a very big portion and I was full from the appetizers. All in all it was as great as great restaurants should be. Definitely somewhere I would return to. I will be back to try the fish and chips, the lemon chicken, and those grilled artichokes that I...