Located in the heart of downtown Sarasota, Jalea opened its doors in July, 2013. Jalea was formed through the merger of two local downtown restaurants — Maemi Peruvian Cuisine and Sangria Tapas Bar. Now occupying the former location of Sangria Tapas Bar, the interior space has been remodeled to reveal a new look and feel. The décor is simple, clean, understated, uncluttered and has a “work in progress” feel to it.
Creating a new culinary concept, Jalea offers hot and cold Spanish tapas and classic Peruvian cuisine from a single menu. The choices are broad, with offerings of meat, seafood, soups, salads and ceviches. This range of choice is great for large parties looking to sample and share multiple selections. For our meals, we chose the following:
Ensalada Mediterranea: Baby field greens, avocado, walnuts, olives, Manchego cheese, tomatoes, goat cheese croutons and balsamic vinaigrette. $8.00A very nice presentation of fresh greens, colors, flavors and textures. Simple and flavorful.
Leche de Tigre: Tiny pieces of white fish, corn, onions and ceviche juice. $8.00
Sweet, spicy and tangy, with layers of texture. Creamy — a wonderful blend of flavors.
Fresh, light, and a great mix of textures and tastes.
Pincho de Solomillo: Beef tenderloin brochette with caramelized onions and horseradish sauce. $9.00 Two skewers of tender beef. Horseradish sauce added extra layer of flavor.
Seco de Cordero: Tender pieces of lamb leg, cilantro sauce and fingerling potatoes. $10.00 Also had carrots, peas and red pepper, not mentioned on the menu. Although tender and tasty, a tad too salty for me.
Lucio al Cilantro: Cilantro-pesto marinated Mahi Mahi, served with green beans. $10.00
A favorite! Fresh, flavorful fish! (Our green beans were substituted with perfectly steamed crisp broccoli and carrots.)
Locro: Butternut squash with lima beans, aji panca, queso fresco, potato, green peas and carrots. $10.00
Delicious “side” dish — creamy, and silky smooth, with a rich “mouth feel.”
Causa de Pollo: Peruvian-style cold mashed potato, filled with chicken salad and avocado. (Sampler also includes tuna and crab) $11.00 Cool, fresh, smooth chunks of flavor. One of my faves.
Conchas a la Parmesana: Sea scallops, white wine, soy sauce, parmesan cheese and butter. $10.00
Salty, cheesy and rich; very satisfying.
Gambas al Ajillo: Shrimp, butter sherry wine and fresh garlic. $8.00 Rich, sweet and garlicky. The sauce was delicious.
Paella: Saffron rice, chorizo, clams, shrimp, squid, mussel, scallop, chicken and olives. $19.00 Creamy, al dente, smoky and delicious!
Asado Limeno: Braised beef, red wine, aji panca, rice and mashed potato. $8.00 Rich and flavorful.
Pescado a lo Macho: Pan fried fish, served with sautéed calamari, octopus, mussel, shrimp, scallop in a Peruvian yellow pepper sauce. $20.00 A light styled dish. Slightly tangy, with a nice mix of textures.
Jalea: Lightly breaded white fish and seafood deep fried and served with marinated onions, tomatoes, yucca and tartar sauce. $23.00 A signature dish. Wonderful presentation and full of flavor.
Lomo Saltado: Sautéed beef tenderloin with onions, tomatoes and soy sauce, served over French fries and white rice. $20.00 Very flavorful, tender beef (cut it with a fork) combined with the salty, makes for a great dish!
Pan Perdido: Spanish bread pudding served with crème anglaise. $7.00 Dense, and not overly sweet. One of the best bread puddings in town!
Need a quick lunch so you can get right back to the office? Jalea offers an express lunch menu with a 10-minute turn around. Jalea offers a full bar service, beer, wine, and soft drinks to accompany your meal. The wait staff is very friendly, attentive, knowledgeable and efficient; which makes a fine dining experience all the more enjoyable
Typically, multiple cuisine influences served from a single restaurant results in some type of “fusion cuisine.” However, Jalea’s culinary concept is not fusion play at all. Jalea has successfully merged two culturally diverse restaurants into a single entity; maintaining the best items from both restaurants on the menu. The result is an innovative restaurant with a classic cuisine choice.
Jalea 1532 Main Street / 955-8272
Hours: Monday to Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.
