It's a Roadhouse. . . It's a Saloon. . . It's Bubba's Roadhouse and Saloon
As my husband and I sat savoring our steaks, I looked around and thought that this was the kind of place a guy could bring a date to see if she would be ‘real people’ or high maintenance. Every table had peanuts provided for munching and the floor was gleefully covered with the shells. Obviously a repurposed building, there was not an empty table to be seen and there were more people waiting in line for one of the coveted places.
As new residents in Cape Coral, Florida we had happened upon Bubba’s Roadhouse and Saloon by chance and decided to have dinner. It’s one of those places that the residents hope the tourists never discover.
While waiting for our table, we had been pleasantly entertained by live music coming from the bar area. Jay Johnson, the owner of Bubba’s, explained that he has a lineup of around 10 different musicians who rotate through, giving a good variety of styles and sounds for his client’s enjoyment. Live music plays on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights with Thursday being dedicated to karaoke and the large crowd it draws.
Since the rails for what looked like a garage door were still visible in the dining area, I asked Jay about the history of the roughly 5000 square foot building. He explained that in the 50’s it had originally been a bar and package store but in April of 1998, he bought the building, began renovations and officially opened that December.
All the steaks and fish are hand cut freshly each day in the kitchen. Grilling is done over a combination of oak and pecan wood, giving the meat a distinctive, succulent flavor. Second only to the steaks, the barbecue ribs are a favorite with customers at Bubba’s. During the off season they will go through 300 pounds of ribs in a week, easily doubling that amount during the tourist season.
And I would be remiss if I failed to mention their award winning Bubbarita – a 46 oz. fountain of fresh squeezed delight. If you are brave enough to order one, you will be treated to a concoction of tequila, Grand Marnier, triple sec and their own blend of fruit juices. If you are a chocoholic, the Bubbatini would be a good choice. It contains 360 Double Chocolate Vodka and Godiva white chocolate making it utterly irresistible.
Tableside, your salad is generously hand tossed with dressings which are made on the premises and served in small mixing bowls. While many restaurants are turning to prepackaged items, Bubba’s holds on to the old traditions of making their own food and there is a lot of prep time put in before the doors open each day. The onion rings look like doughnuts and come with their own Ranch dipping sauce. When I tasted the sauce, I thought I would melt into a puddle and ooze across the floor. It was that good! Again, it is hand made right there on the premises and you can purchase a pint to go if you so desire.
I learned from Jay that there are many first dates that take place in his restaurant and he laughed, “Every Valentine’s Day we have several proposals right here because this is where their relationship started.” They have even had a wedding take place there because Bubba’s was so central to their becoming a couple.
Besides the above mentioned dating service, Bubba’s also has full service catering from prepackaged meals to on site cooking and service. For any event including business meetings or employee appreciation days to weddings and birthdays, whatever the gathering, they can work out a solution that is guaranteed to please.
As we were winding up our conversation, Jay pointed to a sign behind my head that he said summed it all up. I turned to look and saw the words “Just Good Food”. That does indeed sum up Bubba’s Roadhouse and Saloon. You can find Bubba’s at 2121 SW Pine Island Road in Cape Coral, Florida.
As new residents in Cape Coral, Florida we had happened upon Bubba’s Roadhouse and Saloon by chance and decided to have dinner. It’s one of those places that the residents hope the tourists never discover.
While waiting for our table, we had been pleasantly entertained by live music coming from the bar area. Jay Johnson, the owner of Bubba’s, explained that he has a lineup of around 10 different musicians who rotate through, giving a good variety of styles and sounds for his client’s enjoyment. Live music plays on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights with Thursday being dedicated to karaoke and the large crowd it draws.
Since the rails for what looked like a garage door were still visible in the dining area, I asked Jay about the history of the roughly 5000 square foot building. He explained that in the 50’s it had originally been a bar and package store but in April of 1998, he bought the building, began renovations and officially opened that December.
All the steaks and fish are hand cut freshly each day in the kitchen. Grilling is done over a combination of oak and pecan wood, giving the meat a distinctive, succulent flavor. Second only to the steaks, the barbecue ribs are a favorite with customers at Bubba’s. During the off season they will go through 300 pounds of ribs in a week, easily doubling that amount during the tourist season.
And I would be remiss if I failed to mention their award winning Bubbarita – a 46 oz. fountain of fresh squeezed delight. If you are brave enough to order one, you will be treated to a concoction of tequila, Grand Marnier, triple sec and their own blend of fruit juices. If you are a chocoholic, the Bubbatini would be a good choice. It contains 360 Double Chocolate Vodka and Godiva white chocolate making it utterly irresistible.
Tableside, your salad is generously hand tossed with dressings which are made on the premises and served in small mixing bowls. While many restaurants are turning to prepackaged items, Bubba’s holds on to the old traditions of making their own food and there is a lot of prep time put in before the doors open each day. The onion rings look like doughnuts and come with their own Ranch dipping sauce. When I tasted the sauce, I thought I would melt into a puddle and ooze across the floor. It was that good! Again, it is hand made right there on the premises and you can purchase a pint to go if you so desire.
I learned from Jay that there are many first dates that take place in his restaurant and he laughed, “Every Valentine’s Day we have several proposals right here because this is where their relationship started.” They have even had a wedding take place there because Bubba’s was so central to their becoming a couple.
Besides the above mentioned dating service, Bubba’s also has full service catering from prepackaged meals to on site cooking and service. For any event including business meetings or employee appreciation days to weddings and birthdays, whatever the gathering, they can work out a solution that is guaranteed to please.
As we were winding up our conversation, Jay pointed to a sign behind my head that he said summed it all up. I turned to look and saw the words “Just Good Food”. That does indeed sum up Bubba’s Roadhouse and Saloon. You can find Bubba’s at 2121 SW Pine Island Road in Cape Coral, Florida.