San Marco’s newest restaurant features menu items inspired by the French and Italian Riviera.
Saleya Riviera Cafe at 2006 San Marco Blvd. opened Nov. 4 in the strip that includes the Grape & Grain Exchange, Maple Street Biscuit Co. and Town Hall Restaurant Jacksonville.
The cafe is owned by Medure Brothers Culinary Concepts, which was formed in 1996 when Matthew Medure opened his first restaurant, Matthew’s Restaurant in San Marco.
Since then, Matthew and his brother David Medure have been involved in several restaurant ventures.
They own and operate Restaurant Medure and M Shack in Ponte Vedra; Rue Saint Marc in San Marco; Midtown Table in Gateway Village at Town Center; M Brothers at Mayo; and Zest at Mayo inside Mayo Clinic in Florida.
Saleya Riviera Cafe is owned by Medure Brothers Culinary Concepts.
Photo by Dan Macdonald
Saleya Riviera Cafe is run by spouses Scott and Gabrielle Alters.
The restaurant is modeled after a traditional Nicoise cafe, as found in the city of Nice, France, according to the Medure Brothers website.
It has lunch and dinner service.
Lunches include sandwiches ($13 to $17), salads ($11 to $16) and soup ($10).
Dinner items include “Small Shares” such as tuna crudo, baked Mayport shrimp and pasta ($6 to $18). A choice of sandwiches ($13 to $17) is available, served on bread baked daily.
The “Aperitivo” menu, featuring cocktails, sweets, sandwiches, soup, salad and coffee, is served 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Negroni cocktails and spritzes are $10, with $2 off all wines by the glass and beer.
The late-night menu is served from 9-11 p.m. It includes spreads and light snacks ($6 to $9), a choice of three flatbreads ($14 to $15) and three kinds of open-faced sandwiches called tartines ($7 to $8). The cheese plate is $21, and the charcuterie plate is $23
The restaurant is open 11 a.m.-midnight Monday through Saturday.
When the 2,646-square-foot project was announced late last year it went by the name Saleya Cafe & Bar Nicois.
Permitting listed R Todd Construction LLC of Jacksonville Beach as the contractor for the $400,000 project to convert the former Missy Riley Art & Pieces gallery space.
JAA Architecture was the architect. AEC Integrated LLC was the agent. Both are based in Jacksonville.
Missy Riley moved to 1992 San Marco Blvd. in the San Marco Theatre building.

Dining and Cooking