Ajua Contemporary Mexican Kitchen & Bar, offering Mexican cuisine, is open in Jacksonville Beach.
It is in the former The G.O.A.T. Tapas & Bar space at 311 Third St. N. between Second and Third Avenue North and faces Second Avenue North.
Ajua is co-owned by Azhar Mohammad and Raul Perez, who opened it about four weeks ago.
Combined, the co-owners have around 40 years of restaurant experience.
In addition to operating Ajua, Mohammad is national culinary director for the PGA Tour. He was executive chef at TPC Sawgrass, worked at three Ritz-Carlton properties and was executive chef at Grove Park in Asheville, North Carolina.
Perez and his wife, Martha, are the co-owners of Kairos Jax at 4815 Sweetgrass Place off Hodges Boulevard near Butler Boulevard.
“We wanted to have an upscale restaurant where everybody can come in and enjoy authentic Mexican food, but in a refined way, both presentation as well as the atmosphere,” Mohammad said.
“One of the things that is really important for us was to make sure that the food is from scratch. All the sauces, everything is made in-house. We also take pride that our tortillas are made fresh in-house.”
Mohammad estimated the cost to open at $280,000.
Ajua, which seats 200, is divided into three spaces and is available for private events. It has 15 employees.
The menu includes 10 taco choices, priced between $15 and $18 for three tacos with black beans and cilantro rice. There are four quesadilla variations served with black beans, guacamole and lime crema.
The menu includes appetizers, salads, enchiladas and desserts.
The regular specials feature vegetarian options, a market-priced snapper, a half chicken mole, skirt steak and fajita.
Grilled items include a bone-in short rib, New York strip and a shrimp dish.
There are 10 signature cocktails, draft and bottled American and Mexican beers and a selection of wines from Mexico, Chile, Spain and Argentina.
Ajua’s hours are 4:30-10:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for brunch on Saturday and Sunday; and 3-11 p.m. Saturday and 3-9:30 p.m. Sunday for the full menu.
It is closed Monday.
Happy hour is from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It features $3 tacos, $3 off cocktails, $2 off beer and wines by the glass are priced between $4 and $7.