Black Pearl Brings Itameshi, a Japanese and Italian Fusion, to Ponte Vedra Beach

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLA., June 14, 2026. Black Pearl, a restaurant in the Palm Valley area of Ponte Vedra Beach, is making its case for one of the more ambitious dining concepts on the First Coast: Itameshi, the marriage of Japanese technique and Italian tradition, served under the banner of Japanese discipline and Italian soul.

Rather than choosing between two of the world's most exacting cuisines, Black Pearl runs them together. The kitchen treats Japanese precision and Italian generosity as partners, building plates that read as familiar and unexpected at the same time.

Three rooms, three experiences

The restaurant is organized as three distinct experiences under one roof, so a guest can choose the night they want rather than settle for a single format.

• Main dining, a social room with an open kitchen and the full Itameshi menu
• Blackpearl Omakase, an intimate eight seat chef's counter serving a seasonal Edomae tasting led by Michelin starred Chef Wei Chen
• The Omotenashi Bar, a hidden cocktail room with a Japanese inspired, seasonal drink program

Itameshi is not a gimmick. It is two traditions that value craft above everything, and our job is to let them speak to each other on the plate.

a spokesperson for Black Pearl

A menu that moves with the season

Signature plates rotate with the calendar, with recent dishes including a uni carbonara, Saikyo black cod, wagyu short ribs, and hamachi crudo. The cocktail list carries the same point of view, leaning on Japanese ingredients and technique.

Black Pearl serves dinner seven nights a week. Reservations for the main dining room and the Omotenashi Bar are available through OpenTable, while the omakase counter books through Tock.