New Bradenton cafe serves food ‘from the heart.’ Take a look inside
Wally Dubbaneh came to the Bradenton area for a change of pace.
After owning an operating a popular barbecue restaurant in Port Charlotte for 15 years, Dubbaneh decided his next food venture would be something different — and a little more laid back.
“Barbecue is like 24/7 work, but I (needed) something like breakfast/lunch,” he said.
Dubbaneh and his wife, Natalya, recently opened Papa Wally’s Cafe at 6515 14th St. W. in Bradenton.
The cafe serves up breakfast, brunch and lunch. With 4,400-square feet and seats for 100 guests, it also offers a coffee bar near the front entrance.
What’s on the menu at Papa Wally’s?
Signature menu items include omelettes and skillets.
Popular picks include the Western Omelet, which includes green peppers, onions and ham, and the Veggie Omelet, which includes spinach, tomatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, onions and cheese, Dubbaneh said.
Skillets are made with two eggs in any style served over home fries with choice of bread.
The Papa’s skillet includes sausage, onion, tomato, jalapeno and is topped with cheddar jack cheese.
Other breakfast items include French toast, waffles, pancakes, egg platters, crepes, oatmeal and breakfast sandwiches.
The lunch menu includes salads, sandwiches, burgers, wraps and platters.
Papa Wally’s signature lunch item is the Philly sub.
“We saute mushroom, onion, pepper (and) ribeye meat and we top it with provolone cheese on a fresh-baked hoagie roll, which is a French roll,” Dubbaneh said.
Menu prices range from $3 to $20.
Coffee bar offers drinks to go
The coffee bar features different styles of coffee, with the most popular being the cappuccino, Dubbaneh said.
There are also refresher drinks, smoothies, protein smoothies and shakes.
Cooking with passion
Dubbaneh started in the restaurant business when he was 14, working at his uncle’s restaurant in Maryland.
Later, he went to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando and became one of the opening chefs for the Waldorf Astoria at Disney.
By 2010, Dubbaneh had opened Wally’s BBQ in Port Charlotte. After a successful run there, the Dubbanehs sold the business and relocated to Parrish, opening Papa Wally’s Cafe in south Manatee County in December.
“When he cooks from the heart, it’s so delicious,” Natayla said.
“Quality food, service and cleanliness, that’s my big thing,” Dubbaneh said.
Hours of operation
The restaurant is open 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. It’s closed on Mondays.
Papa Wally’s also offers catering, and the restaurant can be reserved as an event space at night.
For more information, visit Papa-Wallys.com.
