WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Owner and Chef Marc Cripe defines downtown Bradenton’s Jennings Provisions as “a craft beer and wine bar serving bar snacks.” The description is apt, though perhaps incomplete. The “bar snacks” it offers aren’t your run-of-the-mill nachos, mozzarella sticks, or mixed nuts.
Jennings’ snacks are foodie-friendly, with flatbreads, tacos, salads, and “Snack + Share” items like Smoked Mahi Spread with saltines and house-made pickled veggies; Baked Brie Cheese with apricot jam, nuts, pepitas, pita, and apple; and the Slaw Dog, smoked sausage wrapped in tortillas with cheese, slaw, barbecue sauce, and crispy onions.
The plates at Jennings Provisions might be small, but the flavors are anything but. The food is high quality, and the dishes are inventive and presented beautifully. The menu changes seasonally, and there are daily specials, which have included Gulf Oysters on the Half Shell, Tenderloin Sliders, and Seafood Quesadillas.
You can choose from several local craft beers. The stars of the wine list are the LOLA brand Chardonnay, Rose, Pinot Noirs, and Cabernet. These nationally acclaimed wines are from Marc Cripe’s brother Seth Cripe’s vineyard in Napa Valley, CA.
A True Sidewalk Café
Jennings Provisions is smack in the middle of Old Main Street in Bradenton. The outdoor covered brick patio is strung with globe lights and offers great people-watching on Old Main Street. The interior of Jennings Provisions is dominated by a wooden bar, around which there are several black metal stools. In all, there are about 50 seats, including a few indoor tables.
Inside, there is so much merch for sale – from shirts showing the Jennings Provisions logo (an apron-wearing chimpanzee with a glass of beer) to stylish jewelry to candles – that the place feels a bit like an edgy boutique. Even the two surfboards that hang from the ceiling are for sale, said manager Meagen Jones (Cripe’s sister). It all adds up to a place that feels casual, beachy, and fun, especially when the Bob Marley music is turned up.
Marc Cripe and his siblings grew up in the restaurant business. In addition to Seth (the Napa winemaker), Marc’s other brother, Mic, is a chef.
Also, Marc owned Bradenton’s Central Café for 17 years before selling it in 2017. Before opening Central Cafe, Marc was the chef at his family’s Cuisine de France and Marley’s restaurants. He had also owned the Cornerstone Tavern on Main Street in Sarasota.
Marc opened Jennings Provisions in October 2016, naming it after the two-story historic building – the Jennings Arcade shopping center– in which it is housed.
Popular Provisions
One popular snack, which can easily function as a meal, is the plate-sized Bavarian Soft Pretzel, served warm with Beer-Braised Smoked Sausage, pickled veggies, house mustard, and cheese dip. There is only one dessert option, but it is decadent: a Salted Caramel Brownie with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and nuts.
Jones said the tacos are Jennings’ most popular offering. Cripe always slow roasts the chicken and pork for maximum flavor and tenderness. The tacos are sizable, and you get two per order. The Pork Carnitas Tacos come with slaw, house barbecue sauce, crema, and crispy onions. The Mojo Chicken Tacos come with jack cheese, crema, picante, slaw, and crispy onions.
For the six by 12-inch flatbreads, there are three offerings: Cheese, with pesto, greens, and balsamic syrup; Mushroom, with onion, pesto, cheese, greens, and balsamic syrup; and Smoked Salmon, with Boursin cheese, pesto, onion, capers, cheese, greens, and crema.
The Basic Salad has greens, tomatoes, cheese, onion, and balsamic vinaigrette. There’s also the Taco Salad, with lettuce, tomato, jack cheese, banana peppers, onion, picante crema, and tortilla chips. You can add Mojo Chicken or Pork Carnitas to the Taco Salad. And you can also get a scoop of chicken salad on a plate of greens, with onion, pickles, tomatoes, and tortilla chips.
As for the drinks, there are several craft beers on draft and many local options. Some examples: J Dubs Poolside Kolsch Ale, Darwins Juicy Daze New England Hazy IPA, and Tampa Bay Brewing Quat Kumquat Ale.
Bottles and craft cans offer an array of beers from around the world. Can cocktails include Ketel One Vodka Cucumber Mint Spritz; Cut Water Fugu Vodka Grapefruit Soda; and Malibu Pineapple Coconut Soda Splash.
Tallboys include Natty Light Naturdays Strawberry Lemonade and Steigl Grapefruit Radler. You can also get a mimosa made with Simonet Blanc de Blanc and Florida Orange Juice. There are 23 fine wines on the wine list, including white, rose, red, and bubbly, either by the glass or bottle.
There’s even something special on tap that’s nonalcoholic: the Sarasota-made 221 Kombucha, in both Ginger and Berry Hibiscus. You can also get local Kahwa Coffee, espresso, cappuccino, and tea, all iced or hot, plus Pellegrino and sodas.
The Details
Jennings Provisions is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Happy Hour ($1 off any wine, beer, or cider) is from 3 to 6 p.m. every day. The location is 417 12th St W. in Bradenton.
