The Original Floridian Bar & Grill Just Opened in Dade City — And It's Worth the 25-Minute Drive from Wesley Chapel

DADE CITY / PASCO COUNTY, FL — If you have ever wanted to eat gator tail sourced from Lacoochee, wash it down with a local craft beer, and sit surrounded by original signs from Pasco County businesses that have been around since before the subdivisions started, The Original Floridian Bar & Grill in Dade City is exactly that — and it just opened.

The Original Floridian Bar & Grill, located at 31936 St. Joe Road in Dade City, is now the 10th location under the Florida Cracker brand. The concept is run by brothers Blair and Ethan Hensley — actual "Original Floridians" born and raised in Brooksville — who have built their restaurant group around the idea that every location should have a completely different menu and concept rooted in where it actually sits.

"We're always going to embrace Florida and being from Florida," Blair Hensley said. "We're always going to go local with products and ingredients, and then we're going to have the best happy hour in town."

What Makes This Location Special 

The St. Joe location is the most Pasco County-themed of the 10 Florida Cracker restaurants. Hensley went out of his way to track down dozens of original signs from longtime St. Joe businesses, farms, and local companies — many were donated — to hang throughout the restaurant. Walking in feels like stepping into a time capsule. Every section of the menu is named after a Pasco County family or local landmark.

What to Order

• The Barthle Burgers — made with short rib meat, including the Bellamy Brothers Double Cheeseburger

• Abraham's Fried Catfish — fresh-caught local catfish, fried to perfection

• Gator tail — sourced from Lacoochee, a true Florida original

• Fried okra from the Lake Iona appetizers section — a must-order

• Fresh-baked cookies and key lime pie from the Blommell dessert menu

• Local liquors and craft beers poured throughout

The Drive from Wesley Chapel St. Joe sits about 25 minutes north of Wesley Chapel on SR-52 — an easy Saturday outing that takes you into a part of Pasco County that feels entirely different from the master-planned communities and big-box retail of SR-54 and SR-56. It's a worthwhile reminder that Old Florida is still alive and well in this county.

📍 The Original Floridian Bar & Grill — 31936 St. Joe Road, Dade City, FL 

⏰ Opens at 11 AM daily except Monday 

🌐 flacracker.com/originalfloridian for full menu and hours