Pancakes and panini: Popular breakfast, lunch chain adding 2 new Jacksonville restaurants

Gary T. Mills, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
·2 min read
With two locations already open in the Jacksonville area, including this one at The Pavilion at Durbin Park, Keke's Breakfast Cafe is planning to add two more.
With two locations already open in the Jacksonville area, including this one at The Pavilion at Durbin Park, Keke's Breakfast Cafe is planning to add two more.

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Breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant Keke’s Breakfast Café is expanding.

Known for its large breakfast menu of waffles, pancakes, French toasts and more as well as a lunch menu of paninis, sandwiches, burgers, wraps and salads, Keke’s is planning new restaurants in East Arlington and Oakleaf Town Center.

According to plans to submitted to Florida’s Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Denny’s-owned Keke’s will take over two former Panera Bread locations at 12959 Atlantic Blvd. and 9570 Crosshill Blvd. Panera vacated the spaces in March 2019 and July 2023, respectively, when St. Louis-based Panera opened new standalone restaurants with drive-thrus nearby.

Keke’s entered the Jacksonville market in 2019 with a restaurant at 4906 Town Center Parkway, Unit 104, at The Strand at Town Center. A second restaurant opened in 2022 at 450 Durbin Pavilion Drive, Suite E106, at The Pavilion at Durbin Park. (A third Northeast Florida location is open in St. Augustine at 135 Jenkins St.)

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A pair of massive chocolate-chip-banana pancakes from Keke's Breakfast Cafe in Cape Coral.
A pair of massive chocolate-chip-banana pancakes from Keke's Breakfast Cafe in Cape Coral.

Highlights from Keke's menu include:

  • Apple-Cinnamon Waffle ($11.29): Warm cinnamon apple topping with powdered sugar and cinnamon

  • Florida Pancakes ($15.79): Topped with fresh strawberries, banana, blueberries and powdered sugar

  • Turtle Stuffed French Toast ($12.49): Pecans, caramel, chocolate and cream cheese topped with powdered sugar

  • Eggs Benedict ($13.79): With Canadian bacon and home fries

  • Southwest Turkey, Tomato and Cheddar Panini ($11.79): Turkey breast, tomato slices, pepper jack cheese and Texas petal sauce

  • Carolina Chicken Wrap ($13.79): Fried chicken strips, pecans, bacon, tomato, cheddar cheese, iceberg lettuce and honey mustard dressing

  • Cheese Steak Pressed Wrap ($11.79): Chopped sirloin steak, choice of vegetables and white American cheese

  • Toasted Sesame Chicken Salad ($11.49): Chicken breast strips on romaine, crispy noodles, Mandarin oranges, sesame seeds and toasted sesame dressing

Building permits are in review for both locations.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Keke's Breakfast Cafe planning 2 new Jacksonville-area restaurants

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