Move on over, Cypress! Clusters & Hops has won my vote for the "best restaurant in Tallahassee."
So, I've been to Napa, Sonoma, Temecula...and to wineries in Florida. When I walked in to C & H it gave me a nostalgic feeling. I felt like I was in a vineyard side restaurant sipping on delicious vino while overlooking the mountains.
Oh wait, snap out of it, Katy....you're in Tally!
Right when you walk in, you will see a little wine shop. They have a good selection of imported wines and domestic wines as well. If you buy a bottle of wine, you could take it to the table to dine with you and pay a $7.50 corkage fee! $7.50... you read right! In Miami, corkage fees are about $20 so that wow'd me, big time!
In the shop, they also sell cheeses, oils (including truffle oil), and vinegar. Nice touch and more good selections.
Then you walk towards the back and to your surprise, you will find a little bar which only has wine and beer. There are tables around the bar (about 10 or less) and a back, very dark, and romantic, room with only three tables. This is where my boyfriend and I chose to sit. We were celebrating our four year anniversary so it was a cute touch.
We had our bottle of wine and it was delicious. We got the Moscato on the menu. Yum! Very sweet...how I like it ;)
Our server was very nice and attentive. The food did take a long while to come out; however, I had heard overheard him tell another couple that there is only one chef and the restaurant was really busy, so I didn't mind.
On to the food.....
Cheese and meat platter for two- about $13-$15. Wow! Very good, quality cheeses that matched perfectly with the meats, olives, and grapes they were served with. They gave a generous amount for $13! In Sonoma, we found a restaurant that served a similar dish for almost double the price so I definitely appreciated this.
I ordered the coffee crusted filet mignon medallions. Very good. Cooked perfectly (about medium). The flavor was spot on. The presentation was superb. It was served with potatoes, carrots, and asparagus. Very, very, good. But not as good as......
My boyfriend's ostrich and duck dish. I genuinely appreciated this dish. It gave our taste buds the mouthgasm we desired. I will forever remember this meal because of the duck and ostrich in and of themselves.
The duck was like butter that melted in your mouth. It was cooked perfectly. The ostrich was a bit too rough for me but it still tasted amazing and my boyfriend loved it. It was served with veggies and topped with a parmesan crisp (yum!)
See the pictures I posted for more info.
The mac and cheese infused with truffle oil was really good too. However, I've had the same dish at "Red Steakhouse" in Miami which was significantly better. Not saying I didn't like it, I just know there's something better out there so I did not appreciate it as much.
Anyways, the bill came out to about $110. In my eyes, that's a steal for the quality of the food they served and a bottle of wine. Keep up the good work, C & H.
If you're looking for a romantic dinner or a nice place for wine/cheese with some friends or loved ones, I most definitely recommend this place. read more