Jennifer's Cafe: Home Cooking, Affordable Price

Jennifer’s Café is aptly named. Owned by Jennifer Cintron and husband, Carlos, the breakfast and lunch spot is run by a couple who live and breathe their 3-year-old small business.

Carlos is cook extraordinaire, creating specials that Jennifer dreams up, such as the BLT Ranch Wrap, a tasty, healthy twist on a traditional favorite. Jennifer runs the restaurant, at 1401 Manatee Ave. West, where she waits on tables, serves as cashier and keeps things humming. Service is job one. Everyone is a welcome guest.

As first-time small business owners, Jennifer and Carlos say that they have learned about the dedication and self-discipline it takes to run a restaurant, especially in a tough economy.

Located on the first floor of the Bradenton Financial Center, the couple has watched as several businesses in the building have closed, the exit taking the workers and clients who would eat at their cafe.

But Jennifer’s Café continues to open early each day, drawing downtown office workers as well as regulars who know the place for its homemade meals, affordable menu and friendliness.

Jennifer and Carlos were newlyweds and new to Bradenton, having moved from Massachusetts with a blended family of three children, when they had the opportunity to take over the former Downtown Cafe.

“It was our dream, really my father’s dream to open a restaurant,” Jennifer said. “My husband and I came down here for our honeymoon. We always vacationed here and decided to move to Bradenton.”

The two jumped at the chance, running after their dream. They have yet to slow down. They took down the heavy drapes and removed the old carpeting; they opened the blinds on the large plate glass windows to let the Florida sunshine in.

Today, Jennifer’s Café reflects Jennifer's cheerfulness and efficiency. She and her husband added tile, ceiling fans, a children’s area and a menu that focuses on homemade foods.

Popular items include the Crispy Chicken Sandwich ($4.25) plus Onion Rings ($1.50). “We batter our own chicken. The onion rings are completely homemade,” said Jennifer about the super-sized onion rings piled high next to a lightly fried chicken patty that overflows from a Kaiser roll.

Other homemade lunch options are: fish and chips ($5.95) served with handcut cole slaw, the Chicken Ranch Wrap ($4.50) and the popular BLT Ranch Wrap ($4.25).

There are about a dozen salads, made fresh daily, including Greek ($5.95), Mixed Grille ($6.95), and Antipasto ($6.95) for meat lovers. The deli-style subs include Double Cheeseburgers ($4.75), BBQ Pork ($4.95) and Tuna ($4.75).

Breakfast is just as expansive, including Greek Omelets stuffed with feta cheese ($5.95) and scrambled egg whites ($5.95) with cottage cheese for a heart healthy meal. Of course, there also are home fries, corned beef hash and cheese biscuits for folks who don't worry as much about calories.

Jennifer said that the café is about to introduce a new menu that includes even more healthy items.

"The salads are awesome, always fresh," she said. "We cut everything right before lunch. The Reuben is awesome, so is the Gyro," says Jennifer, noting that she is the biggest fan of her husband's cooking.

From the handmade quilts on the wall to the messages of hope stenciled on the walls, Jennifer's Cafe shows the heart and hard work that the Cintrons put in their small business.

"This is a 24-hour job," says Jennifer, as she sips coffee from a large cup with "Mama" written on the Styrofoam. "We most definitely put all we have in our business to keep going. We're always willing to try something new to keep people happy and coming back."