Craving a $150 burger meal or a $99 sundae? A new Jacksonville restaurant has you covered
The long wait is finally over. After multiple postponements, a highly anticipated upscale confectionery and restaurant known for its decadent desserts, elaborate entrees and celebrity appeal is open in Jacksonville — its first location in Northeast Florida.
Known for its signature gold leaf enveloped burger meal and humongous King Kong Sundae as well as craft cocktails and couture candy, Sugar Factory American Brasserie opened this week at 4910 Big Island Drive at The Markets at St. Johns.
The Las Vegas-based restaurant has a menu ranging from inspired burgers, pasta and salads to "over-the-top" entrees and desserts all served amid an edible — not to mention photogenic — decor unique among restaurants.
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“From our colorful and vibrant dishes to our over-the-top desserts, every moment at Sugar Factory Jacksonville will offer guests an extremely memorable and Instagrammable experience from the minute they walk in until the minute they leave,” Sugar Factory owner Charissa Davidovici said in a news release on the restaurant's website.
Sugar Factory replaces the former Brio Tuscan Grille, which closed in January 2020. The building underwent an estimated $2.5 million renovation that began a year ago.
The restaurant is the latest in the Town Center area offering decadent desserts following the openings last year of gourmet milkshake and ice cream shop The Yard Milkshake Bar in May and Asian-style French bakery Light On The Sugar Bakery & Cafe in December.
The Jacksonville location joins at least 24 Sugar Factory restaurants nationwide, including five in Central and South Florida.
On the menu at Sugar Factory
The restaurant showcases an eclectic as well as glittery menu popularized by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Ice-T and the Jonas Brothers. It also features celebrity-endorsed Couture Pops and other sweets.
Taking burgers to a whole new level — not to mention price point — is the signature 24K Gold Burger meal, which is made to order. It's a grown-up version of a kid's meal minus the toy.
Priced at $150, the meal features a burger "dripping in 24K gold leaves and served with gold dusted french fries and a 24K Gold Milkshake — made with Ferrero Rocher golden truffles and topped with a gold draped chocolate glazed donut," according to the menu.
The more affordable Signature Sugar Factory Burger ($20) is an eight-ounce Angus beef patty with melted cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, crispy onions and Sugar Factory sauce.
The Big Cheesy ($21) is an Angus beef burger topped with melted white cheddar, creamy mac & cheese, applewood bacon, pickles, crispy onions, shredded lettuce, tomato and barbecue sauce on a toasted potato bun.
Signature entrees include:
Skirt Steak Frites ($33): Pan-seared and served with Parmasean fries
Roasted Twin Maine Lobster Tails ($49): Served with lemon and melted butter
Pan-roasted Salmon ($33): Topped with lemon tomato herb sauce
Hot Honey Chicken and Waffles ($30)
Angus Filet & Maine Lobster Surf and Turf ($79): An eight-ounce Angus beef filet topped with herb butter and a whole Maine lobster with lemon and melted butter
Brunch fare includes a fresh Mixed Berry Waffle ($18), Strawberry Cheesecake Stuffed Waffle ($21) and the S'mores Nutella Waffle ($18).
Sugar Factory's over-the-top desserts
The $99 "World Famous Sugar Factory King Kong Sundae" reigns supreme among the Sugar Factory's signature desserts.
It serves 12 and features 24 scoops of ice cream drizzled with chocolate caramel and strawberry sauce topped with caramelized bananas, chocolate chip cookie pieces, a glazed doughnut and red velvet cupcake and a variety of candy, including Gummy bears, giant whirly pops plus hot fudge and whipped cream.
Less expensive are old-fashioned sundaes, including Strawberry Cheesecake Overload ($20), Chocolate Blackout ($21) and the traditional Banana Split ($21).
Sugar Factory also is known for its "lavishly decorated, insane milkshakes" ($18 and $20) served in chocolate-covered mugs.
Craft cocktails inspired by celebrities
Celebrities are a big part of Sugar Factory's appeal. Its selection of craft cocktails is highlighted by the celebrity-endorsed smoking candy goblets like the Twisted Hart Peach Lemonade by Kevin Hart made with his Gran Coramino Cristalino tequila, fresh peaches and homemade lemonade then decorated with twisted unicorn lollipop straws and peach candy hearts.
Others include The Rock’s Soul Man, made with his Teremana Tequila; 50 Cent’s Candy Shop, made with his Branson Cognac; and Bruno Mars’ Watermelon Pi?a Colada and Mai Tai, made with his SelvaRey Rum.
Prices vary and all are available with or without alcohol, according to the menu.
Sugar Factory's decor is intended to be as sweet as its desserts. The restaurant features a signature candy dot wall, candy heart lounge and a candy retail store offering more than 50 varieties of confectioneries, according to the news release.
Sugar Factory is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are recommended.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at [email protected].
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sugar Factory opens at Jacksonville's Markets at Town Center
