Ned’s New England Deck

Ned’s New England Deck Set to Open Its Doors Next Week at The Fountains at St. Johns

ST. JOHNS, Fla. – New England is coming to St. Johns.

Ned’s New England Deck is set to open its doors next week, Wednesday, September 23, at The Fountains at St. Johns, bringing live Maine lobster, New England seafood, North Shore roast beef and a neighborhood restaurant built around one simple idea: I know a place.

Founded by New England natives and Nocatee residents, Ned’s is rooted in the food its founders grew up eating – lobster rolls, clam chowder, fried clams, steamers and the roast beef sandwiches that have a cult following north of Boston.

“Our food is simple by design,” said founder Steve Forbes. “Start with the highest-quality ingredients you can find and don’t overcomplicate them. We bring in live Maine lobster, cook it ourselves and serve the kind of lobster roll we grew up eating. That’s very different from starting with frozen lobster meat.”

Ned’s first opened in Fairfax, Virginia, in 2023, just outside Washington, D.C., where the original restaurant continues to thrive and has built a loyal base of regulars around its food, hospitality and neighborhood feel.

“We want our regulars to feel like they’re part of the place,” Forbes said. “You know their name, what they drink, what their kids order. That’s when a restaurant starts to feel like more than somewhere you just go to eat.”

The beverage program includes local Florida and New England beer, wine, cocktails, mocktails and a strong selection of non-alcoholic options.

“We wanted the drink list to have something interesting for everyone,” said co-owner TJ Johnston, who developed the beverage program. “Great local beer, some New England favorites, good wine, mocktails and plenty of options for people who aren’t drinking.”

Families will also find Play Date Social at Ned’s Hideaway, a small portion of the dining room and patio where kids can play while parents relax nearby with a glass of wine, a beer or dinner.

“We have young kids, so we built the kind of place we would actually want to go ourselves,” Forbes said. “The kids can have a little space of their own while the parents can relax and enjoy themselves.”

And Ned’s is already planning what comes next: breakfast is on the way.

With hydrangeas, coastal touches and inspiration drawn from summers on Cape Cod and Nantucket, the St. Johns location is designed to feel unmistakably New England without feeling formal or themed. It is meant to be just as comfortable after soccer practice with the kids as it is for a girls’ night out, dinner with friends or a glass of wine on the patio.

Ned’s New England Deck opens Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 170 Fountains Way STE 7 (The Fountains at St. Johns), near County Road 210 and Interstate 95.

For more information, visit nedsfl.com.

Date Posted: September 18, 2026