Expanding the Asado Life Experience
Three years after launching his restaurant at the St. Augustine Shipyard on the San Sebastian River, Nick Carrera is expanding his popular live-fire culinary concept, Asado Life, to a new location in Jacksonville. This time, the restaurant will be situated at a shipyard on the St. Johns River, marking a significant step in the growth of the brand.
The new waterfront restaurant is set to join the Shipyards project currently under construction across from EverBank Stadium. The announcement was made by Iguana Investments, the company led by Jaguars team owner Shad Khan, on September 25.
“I am proud to welcome Asado Life, a restaurant centered around celebrating the centuries-old Argentine tradition of open-flame cooking, to the Shipyards Development,” said Shanna Khan, CEO and Chief Design Officer of Iguana Investments, in a release. “Fire has been rooted in mankind’s origins since the beginning of time, and I am eager for guests to enter this vibrant space designed to spark memorable connections while dining along the St. Johns River.”
A New Location with a Unique Vibe
The 140-seat, full-service restaurant will be part of the development’s marina support building, located on the Northbank Riverwalk just west of the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jacksonville and south of a nearby office building, both of which are under construction at the site.
As one of five public-facing restaurants planned for the Shipyards project, Asado Life is expected to open in August 2026. The restaurant will bring its signature live-fire cuisine to the heart of Jacksonville’s sports and entertainment district.
The Heart of Asado Life
Asado, a communal fire-grilling tradition in Argentina and other South American countries, is the centerpiece of the dining concept. The restaurant uses ember roasting, smoking, and live-fire parilla grilling methods to prepare its dishes. This technique is as much about the social experience of cooking and preparing the food as it is about what ends up on the plate.
On the menu, guests can expect chef-cut steaks ranging from an 8-ounce Hanger to a 36-ounce Porterhouse; fresh catch seafood; grilled vegetables, and more—all prepared on a parilla, a traditional Argentinian barbecue grill.
Executive Chef Matthew Brown, who first collaborated with Asado Life owner Carrera and his wife, Christie, in 2017, will lead the restaurant’s culinary team. He currently serves in the same role at the St. Augustine restaurant.
“We are excited to bring our devotion to creating unique and memorable dining experiences to Jacksonville, where Asado Life will introduce our signature live-fire cuisine to the heart of the city’s sports and entertainment district,” Carrera said in the release.
A Modern Take on Coastal Elegance
At the Shipyards, the restaurant’s design will offer a more modern, metropolitan vibe compared to the coastal interior of the St. Augustine restaurant. This change reflects the evolving nature of the brand and its commitment to adapting to different environments while maintaining its core values.
The Carreras celebrated the announcement on social media, expressing their gratitude for the support they have received over the years. “From the bottom of our hearts, Nick and I could never have dreamed that our first charity Asado for Honoring The Brave back in 2016 would lead to this extraordinary milestone—opening our second Asado Life restaurant,” Christie Carrera wrote in the post. “We are fortunate to share this journey with all of you that have supported us along the way.”
The Shipyards Project: More Than Just a Restaurant
In addition to Asado Life at the marina support building, the Shipyards project includes several other developments. These include the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jacksonville, featuring 170 hotel rooms and 26 residences; a six-story Class-A office building that will house the Jaguars’ front office headquarters; a pier and 78-boat slip public marina.
This expansion represents not only a new chapter for Asado Life but also a significant contribution to the growing landscape of Jacksonville’s downtown area. With its focus on community, culture, and culinary excellence, Asado Life is poised to become a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike.
