“enormous ice creams”byDarren Foremanis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Lofty Pursuits
1415 Timberlane Rd, Ste 410,Tallahassee, FL 32312
(850) 521-0091
Yelp: 4.5 Stars - 24 Reviews Ice cream, ganache, egg creams, coffee, milkshakes, floats, banana splits, homemade hard candy—and 52 flavors of sundaes. It's the perfect, traditional ice cream parlor with a toy store. Also, it’s super vegan friendly—there are always a few vegan ice cream options available, and they're heavenly too! Ask them about the kitchen sink - it involves 26 scoops of ice cream and a real kitchen sink. Just ask.
“marionberry pie”byChelsea Nesvigis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Gaines Street Pies
507 W Gaines St
(850) 765-9275
Yelp: 4 Stars - 23 Reviews The crust is perfectly airy and bubbly, the toppings are fresh, and the combinations are off-the-beaten-path and ridiculously good. I’m not exactly sure what sorcery makes the pies at Gaines Street so incredible, but the Figure Four with crumbled goat cheese, roasted figs, capicola, fresh garlic and mozzarella is to die for. Don’t forget an order of garlic knots, they are worth their weight in gold.
“Baked Oysters”bymadivinereyesis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Shell Oyster Bar
114 Oakland Ave.
(850) 224-9919
Yelp: 4.5 Stars - 24 Reviews Don’t be fooled by this hole-in-the-wall restaurant that only accepts cash. Whether you get your oysters raw or nuked with parmesan cheese, garlic salt and butter, they are little dollops of perfection. The raw oysters are shucked right in front of you and are the absolute best in Tallahassee. Don’t forget a side of warm, crispy, delicious hush puppies.
Kool Beanz Cafe
921 Thomasville Rd
(850) 224-2466
Yelp: 4.5 Stars - 156 Reviews Kool Beanz is a unique, Key West-style restaurant with some of the absolute best modern American cuisine in Tallahassee. Order a bottle of wine with the jerked sea scallops with mango-chile salsa, or their swordfish with basil-pistachio pesto. Enjoy your meal, but don’t get too full. This place is also pretty famous for their desserts, like strawberry pistachio cream cake and chocolate mint brulee. Yum.
Avenue Eat & Drink
115 East Park Avenue
(850) 224-0115
Yelp: 3.5 Stars - 41 Reviews Avenue Eat & Drink serves a full menu, but holy moly, I can’t get past their Saturday and Sunday brunches. More specifically, I can’t get past their Avenue Eggs Benedict choices: Bacon, wild smoked salmon, lobster and spinach, filet mignon and truffle house browns, foie gras and bacon, crab…. and they are all served over a homemade buttermilk biscuit instead of an english muffin. Wash it down with a 32-ounce handcrafted Bloody Mary served in a mason jar with a smoked pork rib.
Korean BBQ & More
2624 W Tennessee St
(850) 574-4151
Yelp: 4 Stars - 40 Reviews Grab a Korean BBQ beef and load up on their self-serve bar of fresh kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts and soup. It's solid Korean comfort food at fair prices, and that's about all you need to know. The beef melts in your mouth, the rice is sticky and tasty, and the sweet potato noodles are perfection.
Au Péché Mignon French Pastry Shop
1415 Timberlane Rd, Ste. 109
(850) 668-5533
Yelp: 4.5 Stars - 26 Reviews As soon as you walk in the door of this European pastry shop, you’ll be drunk with the delectable aroma of fresh baked bread, pastries, cookies, pies and quiches. Their selection of custards, chocolates, and cheesecakes is staggering. And even if you don’t have much of a sweet tooth they have savory soft brioche, flakey croissants and moist scones too. Au Péché Mignon means ‘sin a little’, but when you’re there it’s hard not to sin a lot. A whole lot.
Wells Brothers Bar and Grill
1710 West Tharpe Street
(850) 942-6665
Yelp: 4 Stars - 88 Reviews The best burgers in Tallahassee, cooked to perfection every time. Simple as that. The specialty burgers are the bomb. Whether you get the Italian Stallion pizza burger, the Ad Burger with a fried egg and Cajun mayo, or the Stilton burger with blue cheese, apple slices and port wine mayo, you’re going to be in burger heaven. The fries aren’t always perfect, but the onion rings are. Don’t like burgers? Try the mango habanero wings. Yes, mango and habanero. Trust me.
Taco Republik
1122-8 Thomasville Rd
(850) 765-3314
Yelp: 5 Stars - 5 Reviews The tacos at Taco Republik are over-the-top with delicious, moist meats and creative fixings. I’m always in search of the best fish taco, and their Pablo Pescado with lightly fried Mahi and sweet chili-lime aioli is the best I’ve found in Tallahassee. Make sure to check out their specials, like the Thai Peanut Chicken taco or the Shanghai Pork taco. Vegetarian? Try their Namaste taco with fried tofu wedges and spicy curry sauce. Your carnivore friends will be wondering why you haven't spoken once since getting your plate.
Canopy Road Cafe
1913 North Monroe St
(850) 668-6600
Yelp: 4 Stars - 84 Reviews If breakfast is a thing with you, Canopy Road offers all the traditional choices like an omelette bar and biscuits and gravy, but then takes it to amazing non-traditional places. Banana Foster’s French Toast, Sweet Potato Pancakes and Cap’n Crunch French Toast. Which, by the way, is French toast battered and rolled in crushed cereal and fried golden brown, and then topped with strawberries, blueberries, bananas and whipped cream. Um, yeah. Is it morning yet?
Siam Sushi
1700 N Monroe St (Lake Ella Publix Plaza)
(850) 391-9021
Yelp: 4 Stars - 67 Reviews Siam Sushi is high quality fresh sushi and Thai food that is consistently delicious. What isn’t always consistent is their wait times and service, but somehow that always gets overlooked once you take the first bite. Where else can you get a “Trust Me” roll that is amazing every time? Tell them what you like and they’ll handcraft a special roll just for you. Trust me, you want to try it. Hey-oh!
Cypress Restaurant
320 E Tennessee St
850) 513-1100
Yelp: 4.5 Stars - 43 Reviews Food is an art at Cypress. They use the freshest ingredients and pair them up in a way that blows your mind. Their Sugar Cane Mopped Beef Ribeye can make a grown man weep, and I salivate whenever I think of their Macadamia Crusted Red Grouper with sweet potato andouille. Bring your wallet, it’s pricey, but it’s otherworldly and oh-so-worth-it.
Soup Swift
2510 Miccosukee Rd
(850) 576-7687
Yelp: 4.5 Stars - 20 Reviews The name says it all. The menu changes daily and the slurpable soups are always fresh. Try the sweet pea with oregano and sage, or the cauliflower and fennel soup topped with fried shallots. Get a few cups of different flavors, a big bowl of your favorite, or take home a few quarts. You’re going to want to stock up, because you’ll never be able to eat soup from a can again.
Hopkins’ Eatery
1415 Market St
(850) 668-0311
Yelp: 4 Stars - 25 Reviews Hopkins’ is a simple deli, but the flavors are anything but. Fresh, deli-style hot and cold sandwiches on warm, rustic bread—and they even offer gluten free options. It’s the perfect spot to indulge those sammie cravings, and it doesn’t matter where you are, since Hopkin’s has three Tally locations.
Mo Betta BBQ
3105 Apalachee Pkwy
(850) 570-8800
Yelp: 4.5 Stars - 12 Reviews Stop by this small, unassuming but awesome joint and enjoy the fact that yes, you are in the South, and barbecue is king. Chow down on the juicy, smoky goodness of Mo Betta BBQ’s brisket, pulled pork, barbecue chicken, and baked beans that are more than just a side dish. You’ll be back for more very soon, trust me.
