What an amazingly funky find! You'd never guess by the name or the exterior, but inside is a whole treasure trove for foodies who want an upscale food experience withOUT the stuffy, upscale dining experience. The menu changes regularly, both for entree and desserts. We got the lamb and the monk fish but by the time you read this, they're like serving up something totally different. Everything feels experimental in a refined way. The highlight of our meal was surely the dessert, all of which are crafted by an (I think) James Beard award winner?! And you can tell. They painstakingly bruleed slices of banana atop our sticky toffee pudding and the depth of flavors keep you on your feet! Every bite here leaves you wondering, "what flavor is that?" but in a great way! Just stop reading reviews and go here! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Sticky Toffee Pudding - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Headed to Kool Beanz for dinner recently and it was a great experience. Was seated in the back room and, while I missed watching all of the action from the open kitchen, the AC seemed to keep that room cooler. The service was exceptional. Tyler was a wonderfully attentive server who made sure everything was on point. The runners also were outstanding as every item came to the table at the perfect temperature. They have a decent wine list that covers most tastes and price points. We had a refreshingly dry Riesling from New York State. Very tasty. I'm a sucker for a wedge salad. They have one, and will happily serve a 1/2 portion as an appetizer. It was wonderful. My wife ordered the octopus starter which was just a bit overcooked but still delicious. For dinner I had the southerst spiced wahoo, which was delicious. The cilantro slaw, salsa verde and refried red beans were a perfect accompaniment. My wife had the pecan crusted trout, which was asl delicious. They post their menus on Facebook, and I had seen a posts showing a beautiful chocolate domed dessert being made by their James beard award finalist pastry chef. I had to have it, and I'm glad I did. It was a chocolate, peanut butter mousse bombe, and it was the bomb. A great ending to a wonderful meal. read more

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First time at Kool Beanz. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly by every single staff member. In particular, the hostess Samantha was a complete joy. We sat outside on a what was a surprisingly nice Saturday night. Lucas our server was knowledgeable, friendly and completely on point. We had a salad to start, pecan trout and linguine as main courses. Food was delicious, local, and ample- expect a to-go box. All in all, a lovely evening and we will be back. read more

Love this place, our go to is the pepper flank steak gorgonzola butter, onion rings and mashed potatoes. Cant go wrong with that choice. The octopus was not my favorite this time but the pork rolls were AMAZING. The desserts are always 10/10. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Octopus - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Food is always great. Service can be slow during peak lunch time. Lunch for five with drinks was $180.00 for dull course meals. Talk loud!!! read more

Wow what an amazing find! It is soooooo unique the menu is diverse and the food is divine yes divine if you have not been here you are seriously missing out! The first time in 20 years of living in Florida that I have compared the food to England EVER! It was on par with some of the best restaurants that I have eaten in all over the world! Creative superior food and homey all at the same time! I highly recommend it wtg on all levels and the staff were so welcoming to our puppers as well iced water and lots of pets read more

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Went there with our puppy and sat outside. Our sever Ryan was amazing with checking in on us even though we were the only ones sitting outside and it is hot with the summer heat. The food was very delicious. Would come back. read more

Their menu is always changing and very creative. Here is butternut squash with mint and cucumber yogurt. They've expanded their outdoor area, all covered. I will say it's super loud inside, so if you have anybody hard of hearing in your party, just be mindful of that. Dessert is always the best. Beer and wine only. read more

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What a great little place. Stopped here on our drive across the country and so glad we did. Service was great and food was amazing. Everything had incredible flavor. I think they opened up 10 minutes before we got there and they were already in a wait. You know it's good when that's happening. Highly recommended read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Outdoor patio - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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We ate here when we were in town in August, so we HAD to eat here again because the food is THAT good! This visit definitely did not disappoint. This place is great. Now - they do change their menu to some degree every day, so what you loved last time may not be on their menu the next time - but I guarantee you'll find something new to love. For appetizers we tried: Crab cakes with jalapeño tarter sauce & arugula Black bean cakes with salsa and smoked Chile sour cream Pulled Pork w red eye BBQ, pickled mustard seeds and homey 'polenta' Roasted pepper glazed lamb skewers For entrees we had: Mojo Chicken, chorizo, shrimp, black beans, rice, pepper jack cheese Grilled bone-in pork chop, 5-spice pear butter, collard greens, Mac n' cheese Linguini, shrimp, Tasso ham, roasted garlic cream sauce, Asiago Everything was prepared perfectly - it was fresh, had great flavor and simply stated, was perfect! Don't let the 'different' name or look of the restaurant fool you - this is top tier dining in terms of quality, taste and presentation! Amazing! I'm bad about taking pictures but here are two I managed to take before we dug into them. We got ours to go (hence the foil and container) read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Pulled Pork - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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This place is so cute! Great place for a first date, and the food is delicious! Try the brussel sprouts or the swordfish, both were excellent, and the red blend wine by the glass was superb! The service was welcoming, responsive, and gave great recommendations! read more

Colleagues and I went here for donner here after a long day. It was nice outside and we sat on the patio in the corner. The atmosphere was laid back and funky. Relaxed patio vibe included a few furry friends under the tables as well. The menu changes every day and you can only find it on Facebook, which made one of my colleagues a little salty. He stopped grumbling when he finally saw the menu. Me, I went right to FB to take a look. There were lots of good choices on the menu and it was hard to pick. One colleague got Crab Cakes, one got the Walnut Crusted Trout with red potatoes and I got the Sicilian Amberjack. There was some controversy on the trout. It was very pink looking when my colleague cut into it. We all agreed trout is usually white and thought perhaps it was salmon instead. It tasted like trout, but the color. Colleague decided to check in with wait staff to confirm. Trout indeed. I did get a taste and it was amazing. The amberjack is a meaty fish and once covered, Sicilian style, with large green olives, briny capers and plenty of tomatoes and onions it was delightful. I think the crab cakes were good, since my colleague finished them. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner and if we come back to Tallahassee, this would be on the list. read more

Prior to Covid, I was back to my college town and I got my fix with my college hot spots that were still around, but now as an adult, I needed to upgrade my dining options... The most talked-about spot in town, Kool Beanz Cafe, and from a flavor profile... I have to say it lived up to the expectation. We came during the weekday, so I was surprised how crowded it was, but it seemed like they didn't have enough staff to accommodated all the guests. For a party of 2, we waited for a little over 20 mins. I thought the bar was available to grab some drinks but realized that behind the bar was actually the kitchen so we just waited in the patio side area. For dinner, I went with the duck while my buddy went with the flank steak and I have to admit, it was worth the wait. When I returned during the early stages of the pandemic in 2020 they took measures to open up safely. On my next return trip, they were open and we placed an order for curbside pickup. The food was packaged perfectly and yes, I went with the duck again.. Also had the fried oysters and grilled octopus. Thank you Kool Beanz for taking all the needed steps & keeping the food just as good as my dine-in experiences. A Tallahassee must for those who enjoy flavorful foods! read more

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Another trip to KBK, another wonderful experience. If you've never been, it's great fine dining food served in a causal atmosphere...all of the great taste and service without the fussy atmosphere. We went to Sunday brunch for Father's Day. Everyone else had the same good idea we did to arrive just before they opened at 10:30 am, but we all had a seat within 15 minutes. I love Eggs Benedict, so I was leaning towards Crab Cake Benedict. But I saw the Duck Confit Hash and thought it sounded interesting. One of the things I have learned about KBK is that they really think through their menu. I figured it would be good and I was right. It was amazing, so I apologize the the half eaten version of this dish in the photo below. My wife had the French Toast with berries and fresh whipped cream. Again, outstanding. I have never been disappointed with anything I have ever ordered and I've been coming to KBK for several decades. Just go baby, just go! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Duck Confit Hash - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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We were a group of five and every one of us loved what we ordered. The server was incredibly friendly and came around often enough that we didn't have to look for him; he answered questions and we never felt rushed. Two of us ordered the trout and two of us ordered the mahi and one ordered something with shrimp and chorizo (not for me so I kind of blocked it out what she ordered--she was also the only one to take home some leftovers; the rest of us were members of the clean the plate club ). It was very cool to hear that the menu changes daily in order to keep everything fresh. Loved that! We will definitely be back!! read more

The croquettes were crunchy, flavorful and just the right mix of chorizo and potatoes. The salsa verde had a lovely kick and paired beautifully with the crepe tres. I also ordered the plantains, which were perfectly fried and sweet. The dipping sauce it came with had a little heat as well but balanced with the sweetness nicely. The dessert was a pleasant surprise. Deep, rich, creamy, crunchy, absolutely delicious. I'd go back just for the creme brûlée but I'd happily try the other things on the menu if they're anything I had. read more

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We spent two hours, Mostly sitting around waiting to be served and when we were the food was cold and portions so measly I felt cheated considering their lunches start at 15 dollars. We left hungry and disrespected with the lack of attention. I guess it was a bad day or the staff didn't feel we were worthy of their respect as customers. read more

This food. We wanted something that was locally made and this was definitely was something when we saw the menu knew it would hit just right. The plantains dipped in the garlic sauce was a happy surprise for us. We didn't think it would be something to it, but our mouths smacked us and said "Where has this been in our lives?!" The mojo chicken has so many flavors and makes you want to overeat or be rude and not share with people at your table. The shrimp inside is true to a water state! They were so large and cooked just right. The black bean was delicious in its own way too. If you don't like jalapeños then this dish isn't for you--but otherwise add that green garlic sauce to it too!! Service was good. We thought we wouldn't receive great service since it was about 40 minutes to closing time--but they took great care of us. Also, the artwork was something nice to look at. Just seeing local art up makes me happy. read more

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Kool Beanz has been our favorite restaurant for so many reasons. Each time we go, the menu is different and the food is fabulous. HOWEVER, at the beginning the desserts have been innovative, chocolate and delicious but for the last two years or so the pastry chef must be asleep because it is nothing to speak of and it has increased in price to $15.00. To spend $15 on a dessert that is just so so is wrong. We will be going back tomorrow and hopefully they either have a new pastry chef all the old one got her Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah back. Five stars for the menu, and no stars for the dessert. Denise andrews read more

Cozy restaurant with an open kitchen and lots of outdoor seating. Our server was a pro, gave great recs and knew the menu. Got the Brussels sprouts, wedge, bulgogi, flank steak, rosemary fries, maduros, and hazelnut chocolate cake. EVERYTHING was 10/10, they did. not. miss. The pastry chef served the dessert personally. Everything was scratch made and our bill was about 100 bucks. A MUST TRY in this city, better than huntsman, table 23, governors club. Food comes fast and the staff is on the ball. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Chocolate Hazelnut Cake - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

3.5 "it's cute but I don't get the hype" stars Came here right before they closed at around 9:30 PM and the staff was super friendly. Thanks y'all for putting up with people coming towards the end of closing shift!! Super eclectic and cute deco, with an open kitchen so you can see what they're making. Very family-friendly and homey - what you see on the outside is pretty much what you get. It seems like this is a local favorite - it popped up on my searches and was recommended on Reddit (plus it was open later!) so my partner and I decided to go there. The menu had some fusion stuff like gochujang which was cool to see. We shared the yuca fries, crab cakes, and duck entree. I think everything was yummy but not good enough for me to go again. The yuca fries weren't that crispy but they were thick and the oil seemed clean (since they came out pretty clear). It came along with a tart sauce, although I think a creamy aioli would have been a better option. The crab cakes were not bad; didn't taste a lot of crab but the taste in general was fulfilling! It came with arugula and a creamy sauce which I ended up dipping the yuca fries in. Finally, the duck was not too bad. The duck breast had some pretty thick cuts, but was for the most part tender. It came on a bed of beans (lol, bc cool beanz- get it?) with crispy kale on the side. I personally liked the kale (it's like kale chips!) but my partner felt meh about it. I was also a little disappointed the dish didn't have as much mushrooms as I expected (mostly beans). Overall this is a sweet, homey, local restaurant. A pleasant break from the list of chains in Tallahassee but one that didn't particularly wow me. I would recommend a visit if you're curious on what the locals like! I passed by it on a Saturday night and it looked packed. Would I go out of my way to go again? Probably not, unless it's with friends who really like it. read more

Amazing place , service was outstanding and the menu very nice , the pastry chef is an award winning lady , the place was not crowded because of the FSU game but this place is really an example of a total experience, what a contrast with the other place I review while in Tallahassee, this is the guide on which must restaurants should follow ! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Amazing salad - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Rainbow Trout Recommended by our server. Confirmed by the cleaned plate that followed! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Rainbow Trout Recommended by our server. Confirmed by the cleaned plate that followed! - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

I must say Kool Beans is one of the most exciting restaurants I've been to in a while. The wall art screams 90s, but the flavors on the menu are very modern. I popped into this place to get some good eats while staying in Tallahassee for a few days. This place came highly recommended from the locals I interacted with throughout the day. I love the idea of sitting near the kitchen. Being able to watch/ interact with the chef while they prepare the deliciousness. The staff all seemed generally happy to have people enjoy their meals. I came to Kool Beanz for good seafood, and got just what I was looking for. There were a ton of items in the menu. I ended up landing on the Salmon meal. A healthy option given that I was trying to be good that week. I've heard the menu changes quite frequently so I'll have to be back to try some new items. read more

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Alright alright, Tally I see you. Look Beanz looks and sounds like your unassuming, casual fare dining option but let me tell you it is far from it! Went here on a Monday night. The place was popping! My party of 5 had about a 20-30 minute wait, but the food and service were worth it. Let's start with the service. Our waitresses were absolutely phenomenal, one of the most charismatic and welcoming servers I've ever had. She was attentive and made our dining experience a lot of fun! Unfortunately I did not catch her name (she had pink hair). The menu is out of this world. I never made it past the appetizer list, which depending on what you pick could be an entree. I got both the octopus and the shrimp and grits. The octopus itself was tender and delicious. Unfortunately the fried onion straws were over salted and detracted from the dish but the octopus was just so good it didn't matter. The shrimp and grits were absolutely incredible and goes highly recommended on my list. My companions all loved their meals of duck, steak, and salmon. I don't think you can go wrong here. Kool Beanz, I will be back. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe is quite a unique cafe to stop in. Rather small on the inside but they added outdoor covered patio dining as well. The good is made fresh to order which can mean a little wait however totally worth it. read more

Been here several times but this was my first time coming for brunch. They had a nice brunch selection and service was fantastic. Standout for me are the grits, chicken and Waffle, and the trout. read more

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We waited over an HOUR for our food, only saw the server once to take our order. Our food wasn't cooked the way we asked for. My 8 year old son was given a rare steak, it bled all over his other food. Idk how you all have such great reviews. Very unhappy and won't be back. I'll be sure to spread the word. read more

I was not expecting this place to be what it was. I'm thinking cafe... I'm thinking diner, I'm thinking soul food, you know what I mean. Well, throw those expectations out the door. You walk inside and you think cafe... diner... home cooking... something simple. WELL THROW THOSE EXPECTATIONS OUT THE DOOR. This place is deceptive, and I don't know why. We were sat at the counter so we got full view of the kitchen and cooks. Lots of good food and smells hitting us right in the face. They have a limited menu that changes occasionally and seasonally. We tried several of the appetizers and salads so got to taste a little bit of everything. My sister got a pasta dish and I ordered a pork chop. Everything was incredible. High quality food with eclectic tastes and preparation that you would not expect. If you scroll a little further down, another reviewer calls this a "treasure trove for foodies who want an upscale food experience withOUT the stuffy, upscale dining experience." (What you can expect is upscale food pricing). I could not have put it any better myself! read more

The food here is phenomenal. Never had I had octopus so tender & so well seasoned, not since Spain. The duck breast was equally impressive, and duck is finicky. My husband enjoyed his perlou and our vegan friends devoured their black bean cakes, yukka fries and eggplant. The tomato jam that came with the eggplant was sweet & had a spice we couldn't put our finger on, but was fun trying to figure it out. We were told that they don't have a vegan dish on the menu but they could create one if you request it. Being the designated driver I couldn't enjoy the beer selection that everyone else did so you'll just have to take my word for it that it was all good. I'm told the menu changes often so you know I'll be back. Ps. Come early as this place fills up quickly, and deservedly so. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Perlou topped with crispy kale - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

I saw this listed on a "top things to do in Tallahassee" list so I stopped by. People were lined up at the door for Saturday night dinner. It took my server maybe 15ish minutes to get my order. I got ropa vieja tostadas as my appetizer, which was super misleading- I love ropa vieja and this was not it, just shredded pork on chips. I then got the flank steak for my entree. It was over salted yet also had no flavor? And the mashed potatoes weren't salted at all. Yet I look around and see a bunch of awards. Happy to support local businesses but this one may be overhyped, at least for dinner options. I expected something spectacular with the reviews and it was very very average. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Ropa vieja tostadas - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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I visited Kool Beanz for the first time with 3 family members. We waited an hour for a table, but it was definitely worth it! We ordered 2 appetizers, a half salad, a side, 4 entrees, and 4 desserts. It was a lot of food! The appetizers were the plantain fritters and the pork belly. Both dishes were flavorful and delicious. The salad was goat cheese, grapes, and Apple dressing. It needed a touch more dressing but was really good. The entrees were the short ribs (2), flank steak, and pasta. The short ribs were good but needed a little more seasoning. The flank steak and onion rings were the standout, the steak was cooked perfectly. The pasta was good- the sauce needed a little more cream and it needed some Salt as well. For the desserts, we got the Pavlova, Gallette, Mount Blanc, and Panna Cotta. It was all so good! The pana cotta had candied Serrano pepper which was hit or miss with the group. Overall the food was outstanding (with the entrees being the weakest course) and we wouldn't hesitate to come back! As a bonus, the people were super friendly and the service was good. read more

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Went here on a Sunday morning and it was amazing! We had the shrimp and grits and the steak hash. The shrimp and grits was very good and the crispy kale added a great texture and taste. The service was also very wonderful, she always made sure we were taken care of. At the end of the service we even ordered dessert of coconut layered cake. The dessert choice was perfect if you don't have a big sweet tooth like we do read more

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Met my daughter for lunch; had a nice time; socially distanced outdoor seating; pleasant weather; nice hostess and waitress; only drawback was the pesky fly that hung around the table, lol! My daughter ordered the spinach salad and the mojo chicken, chorizo, and shrimp rice dish with black beans; I ordered black bean cakes and fried plantains (maduros) on the side. OMG, sooooo yummy! I did not, though, care for the citrus garlic dipping sauce that came with the plantains. The menu is not standard and is subject to change, which is great; love trying different dishes; one of my go-to lunch spots... read more

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I hadn't been to Kool Beanz in quite some time, but we went for a celebratory dinner for a girlfriend who's leaving town soon. We had a delightful time. Tyler was our server and he was phenomenal. We started off with a round of appetizers which I honestly enjoyed more than my entree. We had the blackened salmon dip which we all agreed lacked flavor, but was still fresh and decent. The chorizo croquettes and octopus was prepared to perfection. We also all tried the sangria spritz. I enjoyed it, my girlfriends not so much. For dinner I had the pecan crusted trout which presented well but also lacked flavor. I tried my friend's linguini and that was easily my favorite entree ordered. It was savory and delicious. My other friend had the quail which was also good. It tasted gamey but I didn't hate it. We sat outside and the weather was perfect. It was a little loud and parking is definitely a premium but there is a decent amount of street parking around the establishment. The menu changes depending on the day so check it out on their Facebook although you're likely to find something you want to try no matter the day. read more

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My husband and I had two different types of fish. Both were superb, cooked to perfection. We both ordered half salads, which is highly recommended if you're ordering an entrée. Would have posted a picture of the dessert, but we devoured it too fast, it was very good indeed! The only negative was my sautéed spinach was too salty, inedible. Otherwise service was really great and we enjoyed this restaurant very much. Would definitely recommend. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Half order of the salad - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Always seeking local favorites and Kool Beanz is one of our favorites in Tallahassee. The food is always good but today is all about dessert . Their desserts are works of art that taste as good as they look. In town last week and stopped in for lunch. The skirt steak was cooked perfectly and delicious but...Being gluten free usually limits my dessert choices but Kool Beanz pastry chef definitely outdoes herself. Almost every option was gluten free and equally as tempting. I chose the cassava coconut cake with roasted bananas AND the sweet corn panna cotta. Heavenly! I would recommend eating dessert for the first, second And third course. Food taste / quality -5 fresh/local/cooked with care Atmosphere -4 nice quirky/artsy atmosphere with outdoor patio Service- 4 usually friendly and knowledgeable staff Gluten free options are available read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Cassava coconut cake with glazed banana and roasted banana ice cream - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Service has gone down hill last my last few visits. Also have a reoccuring issue with the fish being undercooked. It sucks because this place used to be my favorite a few years ago but I can't justify paying $30 a plate when it doesn't hit the mark. They also have one comically small table that is smaller than all the other tables. I make sure to ask not to be seated there but its funny seeing two adults in a child sized table. read more

We visited for our wedding anniversary. I hadn't been in probably 15 years and it was my husband's first time going. It is everything I remembered and he said I quote "it doesn't even feel like it belongs in Tallahassee it was so good" This is definitely a special occasion place for us, the pricing is definitely on the higher side for our budget but we knew that going in so we were prepared. Our total was $140 for an appetizer, 2 meals, 2 desserts, water and sweet tea to drink. We had the grits and shrimp as an appetizer...unbelievably good! He had the italian meatballs and I had the linguine with shrimp (I love shrimp) both were close your eyes and savor the moment first bite type of dishes. Then dessert...oh my, I had the sweet potato bread pudding with a bourbon sauce and while I could taste the liquor it was definitely not overpowering by any means. He had an apple pana cotta with a sorbet. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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I did my graduation lunch here last May and had a great experience! I was in the middle of moving and neglected to make a reservation until the day before graduation, so of course everywhere was booked. Kool Beanz had a single slot left right at 2:00 or 2:15 (right before they close between lunch and dinner); as a former bartender myself, I usually hate making reservations right before closing, but the staff was so patient and didn't make us feel rushed at all. It was so nice to be able to enjoy celebrating with my family, who mostly had never been to Tallahassee before, and definitely a great experience I will always remember. I really wish I remembered the server's name, she did a fantastic job. The food and service were both great overall. read more