Kitchen 251 Plans January Opening in Fernandina Beach

Kitchen 251 is preparing to relocate from the Amelia Island Marina to its new home at 801 Beech St, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. The restaurant’s final day at the marina will be the Saturday after Thanksgiving, after which the team will use December to complete the move and set up the larger downtown space.

Owner Ashley McCarroll, told Business Debut that the target opening date for the new location is Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

What to Expect

The new location fulfills multiple needs the current space cannot—most importantly, much more indoor seating, a dramatically larger kitchen, and the addition of a full bar, which was not possible in their marina setting, McCarroll said. Kitchen 251 currently has only seven indoor tables and relies heavily on outdoor seating, which limits operations during poor weather. The new space solves those issues and offers room for growth.

Despite the move to a larger historic downtown building, the McCarrolls emphasize that Kitchen 251 will remain a casual, come-as-you-are restaurant. Guests will continue to experience the same welcoming, down-to-earth environment that has shaped their loyal following.

The restaurant will also maintain its pet-friendly outdoor seating on the patio.

Menu & Vision

Kitchen 251 is known for its fresh, never-frozen seafood (with the exception of French fries), its Cajun influences, and its chef-driven menu crafted by Chef Michael, who is from South Louisiana and known locally for his seafood dishes.

The new kitchen—nearly five times larger—will allow them to introduce menu offerings they previously could not execute due to space limitations. These upcoming additions may include:

• Pasta dishes
• Regularly available steaks (currently offered only as specials)
• Expanded dessert offerings

Ashley makes all desserts in-house, including her popular homemade cheesecakes featuring seasonal flavors. The new space will enable her to increase production and variety.

The team also plans to continue and expand their private catering, which has been a major part of their business.

Atmosphere & Design

The new location is a historic downtown building, and the team is updating the interior with fresh paint, repairs, and décor featuring old Fernandina and Amelia Island black-and-white photography. While the design will reflect the character of the historic district rather than the marina setting, the atmosphere will remain casual and come-as-you-are.

Space Details

The new restaurant will seat approximately:

• 140 guests indoors
• 35–40 guests outdoors

The layout is a major upgrade from their current footprint and gives the team the ability to serve far more customers comfortably.

Ownership & Background

Kitchen 251 is owned by Ashley and Chef Michael McCarroll, who have been married for 27 years. Chef Michael has been in the restaurant industry his entire life, and his career in Fernandina began more than 40 years ago when he was recruited to be the chef at the former 1878 Steakhouse.

After closing their last restaurant around 2007, the McCarrolls shifted into private catering for several years before taking on the opportunity to open Kitchen 251 at the marina. They did not anticipate jumping back into restaurant ownership, but the success of Kitchen 251 and the need for more space led them to accept the opportunity at the Beech Street property.

Every team member from the current location will be moving to the new downtown space—something important to their many regular guests who know the staff by name and visit multiple times per week.

Hours

Tuesday–Saturday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (tentative)
Hours may shift slightly after opening or during seasonal periods.

Website & Social

Follow them on Instagram and Facebook. A new website is in the works and will be launched soon.