Town Center restaurant Ida Claire has closed as it is converted into a sister concept, Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar.
Ida Claire closed March 10, according to staff answering the phone March 13 as they packed up.
Dallas-based FB Society, parent of Whiskey Cake Holdings and Ida Claire, among other concepts, confirmed Jan. 24 that Ida Claire will become Whiskey Cake.
“We anticipate a late summer 2024 opening of Whiskey Cake,” it said.
“Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar is an everyday urban tavern with wood-fired and full flavored dishes, innovative craft cocktails, a killer library of spirits and an array of exclusive barrel picks,” it said.
Its website is whiskeycake.com.
The city is reviewing a permit application for an estimated $890,000 conversion of the more than 6,700-square-foot restaurant into the 314-seat Whiskey Cake. The cost will be finalized as the permit undergoes review.
The Airstream trailer used as outdoor lounge space for Ida Claire is not part of the Whiskey Cake plans.
Ida Claire is described as a Southern-inspired destination with a menu of lunch, supper, brunch, “vinyl hour” and beverages and cocktails.
Menu items include a focus on crab, oysters, creole gumbo, shrimp and grits, chicken, muffuletta, steak and more. Lunch plates, sandwiches and salads start at $14. Supper plates start at $18.
Ida-Claire.com shows one location in Addison, Texas.
An ‘American tavern’
Whiskeycake.com describes its concept as “an American tavern with modern takes on classic comfort food, innovative craft cocktails, and a killer spirits library.”
Whiskey Cake has 10 locations, comprising eight in Texas, one in Oklahoma and one in Tampa.
The Tampa menu includes lunch and dinner, brunch, drinks, a whiskey list and social hour.
Lunch and dinner includes snacks, comprising 11 from flash-fried Brussels sprouts for $9.50 to a butcher board for $18; 10 mains from $20 Harvest Shepherd’s Pie to a $41 ribeye; five sandwiches from the $16 Chickenbirdger to the $18.50 Smoked Tri Tip Dip; six salads from the $6 farm salad to the $18 lemongrass shrimp & noodle; as well as sides, kids’ meals and juices. For the sandwiches, a vegan patty can be subbed for $2.
The whiskey list includes American, rye, bourbon, scotch, single malt scotch, Canadian, Irish, Texas and worldly (three from Japan). The 2-ounce pours range from $8 (Jim Beam) to $300 (Macallan 25 year).
The Tampa hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
FB Society rebranded in 2020 from Front Burner Restaurants LLC.
In permit information, the restaurant owner for Whiskey Cake is shown as Front Burner Restaurants of Dallas.
Plans show bar and dining areas, patio dining and private dining.
New interior finishes
Plans call for remodeling the space with new interior finishes and furniture; redoing the exterior finishes; construction of new parapets; replacing patio furniture; and the existing Airstream trailer that had been converted to a lounge space will be removed and the awning will be extended there.
Zebra Architecture PLLC of Scottsdale, Arizona, is the architect.
It would be the third restaurant at the building developed in 2005 at 10209 River Coast Drive. It opened as Mimi’s Cafe on an outparcel in the first phase of St. Johns Town Center. Mimi’s closed in April 2019.
Ida Claire Jacksonville LLC bought the property in April 2019 from FLLM LLC, based in Orlando, for $2.7 million.