BROOKSVILLE – The Florida Cracker Kitchen is a great place to satisfy your cravings for southern cuisine. It is quickly becoming a fixture in Brooksville.
The restaurant is owned and run by Blair and Ethan Hensley. Blair formally had Coney Island Drive-Inn which is a few doors down. Being a Restaurateur must run in their blood as their mother Larie Hensley owns Mallie Kyla’s Cafe just up the Hill next to Saxon Manor.
They offer chicken and waffles which is a hit with the kids. It is what the name suggests chicken strips and waffles. This combination has been popularized by several food trucks.
Their take on shrimp and grits is a wonderful mix of pleasing tastes and textures. The grits are fried in the shape of a piece of toast. This gives the grits a crisp outside with a warm gooey center. There are plenty of shrimp in a tomato based sauce which is poured over the the grits and this all is garnished with bacon and a scallion.
The smoked mullet dip is excellent. They add cut shallots and black pepper. They sell it as an appetizer or you take a container to go.
They carry draft beers from several microbreweries, including Swamp Head Brewery, Green Bench Brewing, Copp Brewery, and Cigar City Brewing Company. They also serve bottle beers, wines, and Mimosas.
Cracker kitchen sells merchandise with their distinctive upside down boot in the shape of Florida. They offer shirts, hats, jams, honeys, and beer sleeves. They also sell Yeti coolers.
Cracker Kitchen has put on some great community events. They recently hosted the Bike and the Brave Fundraiser which raised money for veterans.
Florida Cracker kitchen is absolutely worth the visit. They are open Tuesday – Sunday 7 am to 2:30 pm and Friday and Saturday Nights 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. You can checkout their menu at http://flacracker.com/.
CORRECTION: Blair Hensley sold Coney Island Drive-Inn to Sally Lee and Carter Lee in 2014. Article was corrected to reflect that.
