Southern-inspired eatery opens at the Beaches
words by damon noisette // photos by agnes lopez
A gigantic mural of a chicken stares down from the side of the building as you walk up to the newest restaurant at the Beaches Town Center, offering a not-so-subtle clue about the theme of Al Mansur’s Southern concept, Coop 303. It is a major departure from the location that many remember as the first Al’s Pizza, which opened over two decades ago. Now the former pizza parlor boasts an entirely new interior, a second story, and a modern, white brick frontage.
Inside Coop 303, 150 seats are split between a large bar with community tables and a separate dining room downstairs, a bar upstairs, and a handful of small tables on a balcony. It is lively but not overly loud thanks to a large number of acoustic panels on the walls and ceilings.
The options at the bar skew towards whiskey, though beverage director Roly Anderson’s selection of signature cocktails includes a Southern-inspired drink called the “Bless Your Heart” ($11) that features organic vodka, strawberry purée, and house-made lemonade. There’s also something for the hipster set, a “Brown Bag Special” ($6) featuring a PBR tallboy and a shot of Four Roses bourbon.
Chef Joshua Agan runs the kitchen, coming over from The Flying Iguana, one of Mansur’s other restaurants that also happens to be across the street. Agan’s menu is decidedly Southern and makes serious use of the Henny Penny pressure fryer, a culinary marvel capable of cooking eight full chickens in just 11 minutes.
The crispy hominy ($2), a perfectly snackable bowl of dried maize kernels, and the smoked pork belly ($10), are choice starters, as is the cauliflower bisque ($7). Coop 303’s “Peaches & Cream” ($8) is an elevation of a Southern staple, fried green tomatoes, topped with a burrata cheese, peach jam, and a mustard balsamic.
A fried chicken basket ($14/26) is not likely to disappoint, nor will the buttermilk chicken salad ($10). The chicken is fried wonderfully and is excellent by itself or on top of some greens. Take full advantage of the spicy honey sauce that is on the table.
For the entrées, it’s not all yardbird. The BBQ lamb two ways ($25) and braised beef shortribs ($28) are also excellent possibilities. The shortribs are tender and juicy, delivered atop a hoppin’ John risotto with tasso ham and black-eyed peas, under a blanket of baby carrots.
Coop 303 also embraces technology in a legitimately groundbreaking way using an app called MobileBytes. Instead of waiting at the end of the meal, you can open the app and scan the QR code printed on the bottom of your bill, enter the amount you want to tip, pay through your phone, and you’re on your way.
Valet Time
Parking at the Beaches Town Center is extremely limited. There is complimentary valet service, so feel free to hand over your keys on the way in.
There’s an App for That
Download the MobileBytes app to make paying the bill at the end of the meal a breeze.
No Reservations
Coop 303 does not accept reservations, though there are two bars inside and plenty to see around the neighborhood if waiting for a table.
Coop 303
303 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach
coop303.com
(904) 372-4507
