Reggae Shack Cafe

burgers, wings, smoothies, oxtail, vegan food, vegan wings, salads, brow stew fish, jamaican food, dutty fries, tofu, jerk chicken, jerk pork, curry chicken, curry goat The Reggae Shack Café is the concept and brainchild of veteran restaurateur Omar Oselimo. Growing up in Jamaica, Omar started his first business when he was ten years old from selling livestock to being a street vendor to selling firewood to meat vendors. He always had a passion for entrepreneurship. But one thing kept on pulling him, and that was cooking. Even as a young man, his preserves and his baked goods would wow relatives, families, and friends, but he struggled with the idea of becoming a chef. After some soul-searching, he realized it is not what you choose in life, but what chooses you. While studying at the prestigious Johnson & Wales University, he was one of the founding members of Radication Sound System with DJ Klarc Shepard. The two would handle most of the campus parties and a string of radio shows on underground stations in Miami. Omar worked at various restaurant jobs in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area, and had the dream to someday own his own Jamaican restaurant. With his technical training and his rich Jamaican heritage, it was while working at the Hard Rock Café that it all came together – that it would be cool to have a reggae-themed Jamaican restaurant that would bring his passion for food, music, and culture together under one roof. Reggae Shack Café was born. Using cooking techniques, ingredients, and spices firmly based in Jamaican tradition, Reggae Shack’s authentic, delicious meals soon ranked it as one of the best places to eat in Gainesville by The Gainesville Sun. During this time, Omar met his future wife, Arpita, whose background was in art and education. Arpita proved to be an invaluable partner for Omar – both in and out of the restaurant.