When trying to decide which review I wanted to start with, I decided to begin with a bang and write about one of my best experiences.
Not too long ago, I took a trip to Tallahassee. I was actually there for a memorial party for a friend who had passed away. But, it gave me a chance to reconnect with some old friends and go to one of my favorite restaurants Kool Beanz Cafe. (Thanks to my friend Alissa H. for my first trip during a mock trial competition back when we were in college)
Kool Beanz is very eclectic; the walls are a colorful backdrop for local artists to hang their work. It's almost always crowded, and people always seem to be having a great time. They have a small but serviceable wine list that is printed as a label on an empty wine bottle, and their beer selections are listed the same way on an an empty beer bottle. The menu changes daily to take advantage of fresh, seasonal ingredients. If you want to watch your food being made, you can take a seat at the small bar right next to the kitchen. Sometimes, the restaurant is so crowded, sitting at the bar might be your only option. The restaurant is small, so come prepared to wait a while if you visit during high-traffic time periods. I dropped in at 1:00pm on a Friday afternoon, and I didn't have to wait at all for a table.
I started off with a salad with heirloom tomatoes, eggs, and a lemon-feta vinaigrette. The dressing was super tangy, and I loved the home-made croutons. My only complaint: I wish there were a few more heirloom tomatoes. Those that I did get were delicious, juicy, and ripe, but there were so few that they didn't even begin to satisfy. My entrée was a panéed chicken breast with fried eggplant, fresh mozzarella, and a stewed tomato jam. The combination of flavors was interesting; at first I thought the stewed tomato jam was a bit too sweet, but the more I ate, the more I liked it. In fact, everything on the plate tasted better smothered in the jam. I only wished that they had sprinkled the fried eggplant with a little salt when it came out of the pan. For dessert, I had key lime pie with orange liquer marinated strawberries. It was a beautifully presented, individual tart. The filling was super smooth and creamy, and the strawberries were a nice accompaniment. Light and refreshing; a great way to end a great meal.
Final Impressions: Delicious food, and impeccable service in a casual atmosphere. Oh yeah, and spring the extra dollar for the bread and butter basket. It's addictive. I wouldn't go to Kool Beanz Cafe for a romantic date night only because it's small, crowded, and can get a bit loud. But, if you're hanging out with a few friends and looking for good food and a good time, it's a great place to go.
Tiffany's favorite part of the meal: Key Lime Pie
Tiffany's Rating :) :) :) 1/2 out of :) :) :) :)
Kool Beanz Cafe
921 Thomasville Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32303
(850) 224-2466
Average Appetizer Price: (Dinner Only) $6-$10
Average Soup/Salad Price: (Lunch and Dinner) $5-$7
Average Entrée Price: (Lunch) $7-$12 (Dinner) $15-$20
Average Dessert Price: (Lunch and Dinner) $6
Operating Hours
Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:00am-2:30pm
Dinner: Monday-Saturday 5:30pm-10:00pm
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