About
Our goal is to offer guests a truly local, neighborhood restaurant experience. Prati Italia is built on Chef Tom Gray's unique, but familiar, contemporary menu of Roman-Style pizzas, housemade pastas, and expertly-crafted artisan cocktails. The attention to ingredient flavor, sourcing, seasonality, and service hospitality help define Prati Italia as the premier local Italian restaurant in the Town Center and greater Jacksonville community.
As a locally-owned and operated business, we are proud of our deep-rooted connection to the community. Jacksonville is home. Thank you for supporting local when you choose to dine with us at Prati Italia!
About Chef Tom Gray
Two “Best Chef: South James Beard Award” nominations (2009 + 2010) haven’t tempted Chef Tom to rest on his laurels - if anything, they’ve inspired him to seek new challenges. Gray grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Professional experience in New York, Los Angeles, and the Napa Valley informed his full-circle approach to owning restaurants, prioritizing sustainability, recycling, and eco-friendly practices.
He returned to Jacksonville to bring his experiences back to his hometown and has been an important part of the Jacksonville culinary and restaurant scene ever since. With two James Beard: Best Chef South nominations and countless other awards to his name, Gray continues to innovate in the kitchen as the Chef/Owner of Prati Italia and Town Hall restaurants in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as through his hospitality management and consulting company. CuliVino.
Along with a dedicated team of front- and back-of-the-house professionals Chef Tom and Sarah Marie are leading the charge to bring a higher level of recognition to the North Florida dining scene and sustainable sourcing movement.
About Prati Italia
Chef Tom brings the flavor of Jacksonville to the popular St. Johns Town Center shopping and dining center with Prati Italia. Serving contemporary Italian fare including handmade pastas, Roman-style pizzas and handcrafted cocktails, Prati Italia is the only locally-owned restaurant built from the ground-up at the Town Center.
Prati Italia debuted in January 2020, in Chef Tom's location of his former flagship restaurant, Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails. With a new name, new menu and new look the restaurant is also filled with the familiar heart and soul, staff and ownership, led by Chef Tom. Prati Italia and stands out with carefully-sourced ingredients, bold design, professional service, and a full-circle sustainable approach to sourcing and business. We are delighted to share our passion of great food and hospitality in our beautiful space with a menu of housemade pastas, Roman-style pizzas and craft cocktails.
Prati means "meadows" in Italian and is also a neighborhood in Rome filled with shops, restaurants and residences. Prati Italia restaurant is a warm and welcoming place for family and friends and we take part of our inspiration from this beautiful Roman locale. Our team is committed to delivering an exceptional dining experience that makes guests feel like part of our Prati Italia family.
The Team
Emily Ryan: General Manager
Caitlin Abel: Dining Room & Group Sales Manager
Sarah Marie Johnston: Marketing Director / Owner
Danielle Zahralban: Marketing Manager
Tom Gray: Executive Chef / Owner
Al Fuentes: Chef de Cuisine
Bryan Fore: Sous Chef
Layne Nipper: Sous Chef
Join Us!
We believe that Italian food brings people together. Prati Italia is where they gather. It's a place to share with friends and family; to relax and unwind; to call your own. If you would like to be a part of the Prati Italia team, visit our Jobs Page to learn more about open positions and job application process.