This place had me so confused. Everyone told us to go check this place out so I finally gave in and sought it out. We drove up and I immediately regretted my decision. The logo looked like we were going on a field trip with five year olds to build a bear or learn how something was made. It reminded me of that joker font I used in msn messenger in the 90s. As you can see, their logo is not my cup of tea at all. We walked inside and it was hot, whew and it was dark. I hated it. Dark and dingy and cluttered. Started looking over the menu and was a tad overwhelmed and confused on why the prices were so high when I was there for just building a bear. Our waitress was great and incredibly kind. I looked to my friends and said this food better be good or else everyone is crazy. The table ordered- craw fish linguine, lamb and gnocchi, and the mojo chicken. Mine was the linguine and it was delicious. I asked them to leave out the ham. Seriously the food is delicious! The gnocchi was rich and delicious and the mojo chicken looked like a giant casserole on the plate and wasn't my favorite thing by my friend thoroughly enjoyed it. The food does not match the environment. I enjoyed the open kitchen and the seasonal menu. But man the inside. This menu is upscale and seasonally fresh and your staff is great. Add some light and change the outside so it doesn't look like I'm going into a hands on museum for kids. read more

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three words: worth the hype i had the sweet tea brined pork chop and it was phenomenal! the table shared one of each dessert and all were equally phenomenal I will say the menu is quite eclectic and the combinations may be a stretch for those who do not enjoy creative entrées I cannot wait to come back though! read more

Was influenced to try this place out thanks to my fellow Yelpers. I loved the menu selections. I wouldn't call it eclectic, but the plate designs were very cool I think. I started out with the fried green tomatoes. Tomatoes were slightly tangy, which is a good thing. Breading was crispy, tasty but not greasy. This came with a side of marinara like sauce and some balsamic reduction. For main, I went with the braised lamb shank. My test for proper braising is that I only need a fork to eat it. It passed with flying colors. The shank sat on top of mash potatoes, gravy from the cooked shank and green beans. I took a chance and paired the main dish with a Nobilo "Icon" pinot noir from New Zealand. The wine was a flop, not much of a pinot noir in my opinion. Maybe a cab would've been the better choice. I topped things off with a single espresso and went on my merry way. Will definitely be back. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Fried green tomatoes - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Talk about understated! The first thing you notice when arriving is the really small sign in front to a building that looks nothing like a first class restaurant. The menu, which changes regularly, is eclectic - appetizers like fried bayou gator, panko fried calamari, tandoori spiced lamb patties and others too numerous to list. Dinners like Coffee rubbed pork chop, Buttermilk-tabasco chicken and Mojo chicken are just part of an amazing selection. Come prepared for a great meal and a bit of a wait (or so I'm told - we didn't wait at all). Definitely worth a try when you are in Tallahassee. read more

Just a quick Covid-19 update...I had dinner here this past Saturday evening with my daughter. Kind of a "last minute" decision because Tako Republic closed early. I called first to make sure they were open and the woman who answered the phone couldn't have been more pleasant and welcoming. We sat down around 8:30 so most of the dinner crowd was gone. Hats off to them for keeping the tables spaced out properly, not to mentions ALL staff was wearing masks and gloves. If you are a bit hesitant to venture out of the house for a good meal, you could do no better than Kool Beanz! We shared several appetizers which were all fantastic. My daughter had the jack cheese arepa which was excellent and I tried the pork belly that was also delicious. Unexpectedly, the star of the show was the side of maduros. Please believe me when I say that I have had my share being a native of south Florida and I can honestly say that these are the very best that I've had. They are served with a side of citrus crema but were fine without it. Our server Annie was very sweet and on point. I will be returning to Kool Beanz in the near future and I recommend you give this local restaurant your patronage. read more

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Delicious fresh creative food - the only complaint is the umbrellas over the tables on a black asphalt parking lot... if there were a covered patio, it would be perfect. But summer in Tallahassee is too hot for that heat reflection off the asphalt. read more

One of my favorite Tally spots. The food is great every single time. Such a great lunch or dinner spot and try to save some room for dessert, because there's nothing like their selections. I'm obsessed. read more

Great food, got takeout for three once and everyone enjoyed their dishes. Would eat there again.

A bit of a wait but well worth it! I had the pork tenderloin, collar greens and mac & cheese-what an awesome job! read more

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

I had heard two things about Kool Beanz before I tried it: "It's too overhyped and pricey" "It's the best" I have to agree with the latter. I adore this quirky place. If anyone has been to The Top in Gainesville, you might find that Kool Beanz is Tallahassee's "Top". Meaning, it embodies Tallahassee's casual culture while still providing decent food and a neat, vibrant environment. Is Kool Beanz more expensive than Burger King? Of course, but the food you eat tastes like angels descended from above and alighted in the kitchen to prepare your food. read more

This place is one of the best restaurants in Tallahassee. I have been here on several occasions for lunch and dinner and have never had a bad meal. I love how the menu changes according to what's fresh and in season. All of the side dishes are amazing as well. Gourmet food without the pretentious attitude! Expensive, but worth it for special occasions or when you just want some actual fine dining in Tallahassee. The atmosphere is pretty casual. For dinner, make sure you get there early and put your name on the list, because this little restaurant is in high demand. read more

The fish tacos & cilantro rice were delicious. This place was cute. I ate outside and people were able to bring their dogs which was nice. My serve was also really sweet. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Fish Tacos & Cilantro Rice - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

This is my go-to dining choice In Tallahassee. Always creative menu and excellent food - great bang for the buck. Staff are attentive, but respectful of your privacy. They are knowledgeable about the menu and what goes into individual dishes. It can get noisy on the weekend, but everyone is having a great time and you can sit on the covered porch which is a calmer space. read more

Kool beans is a pretty neat place located in Tallahassee. They serve a variety of menu items but as the waitress told me, they're known for their fresh seafood. Although apparently the menu changes everyday, I got the Wahoo fish with mash potatoes and cilantro rice. The fish, in my opinion, is a hard one to cook and get right, but they did a swell job with it. The side sauce really ties it all together. The rice wasn't impressive but the mash potato had a nice buttery taste. The service is slow, and mediocre at best. The waitress couldn't remember the smallest thing asked but she was polite and attentive (although that didn't help the forgetfulness). After waiting a good amount for a table, we waited an even longer amount for food. But I guess that good things take time. It's definitely a once in a long while restaurant. Not a big fan but I respect the food. Definitely worth a try read more

Kool Beans is a great restaurant. Period. I am giving it 5 stars despite the fact that sometimes they have slow service (and not because they are slammed, just slow service period) Although, sometimes it is a blessing. Their escargot dishes are always really great. I have tried a few variations and each has been interesting and delicious. I often get duck or fish. I have had some hit and misses on the duck fat being rendered enough. Usually it is great, but at least one time it was not rendered enough and a few times slightly less than I would have wanted but not too terrible. Their appetizers are usually excellent. Splitting them is a good idea because portions are large at this restaurant. They are also pretty good about letting you sub sides from one dish to another dish, particularly veggies. The fish dishes are always great and most recently I had a mahi and grits meal that was one of the best plates of food I have ever had. Everything was perfectly executed and the flavors went so very well together. They serve only wine and beer but we do not mind. Their wine list while not very large offers some great bottles at good prices. Their "bubbles" listings are all great, well priced, and a perfect way to endure the wait that will comes with this restaurant never taking reservations and being incredibly popular. They have a bottle for 22 dollars, a Piper Heidseick, that is a great value and barely marked up. The last time we were there they kept it by the host stand to stay cool for us as we waited outside. We appreciated that. We just popped in to refill it as necessary. It made the nearly hour wait bearable! The only "miss" I have had is not really a miss it was just bland and boring compared to their other offerings, was the alligator bites. With pedestrian (surprisingly) tomato sauce, it lacked flavor in the breading and it didn't excite the palate. That being said, it was fried perfectly. It just wasn't up to the normal standards. Even brunch is great! Lobster Mac and cheese is oh so satisfying and a huge portion! If you have not been to Kool Beans, you are missing out on one of the most fun and interesting restaurants in town! So go in, put your name on the list, order a bottle of wine or bubbles and look over the menu while you wait. It is worth it. read more

Love, love, love, and did I say LOVE! I drive from Panama City just to eat at Kool Beanz! It's always a great experience! This is one of the best places to eat for your more adventurous eaters. You can come back every week and try something new and wonderful! read more

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This was from 2021, don't know why it posted now. Updating my initial review because the second time around wasn't as good as the first time. Recently went for lunch, sat outside in socially distant setting. The food was very uninspired. Beet salad was just a bunch of roasted beets on a bowl, no garnish, no sauce. The tacos were pretty good but the fish was dry. Maybe it was a slow day and things just sat around in the lunch hour. Would still try again. read more

Phenomenal, unbelievable, and show-stopping. The best restaurant in Tallahassee, with an ever-changing menu and a delightfully friendly atmosphere. It even doubles as a local art gallery and shop! Whenever I have visitors, I bring them here as a priority. My favorite restaurant here, and even with extensive travel experience, is one of the finest I've ever been to. Don't change a thing! Everything I've had there has been great (aside from things that didn't fit my personal preferences), and overall I am overwhelmingly pleased. 11/10 for certain. read more

Good food. Parking was difficult and the inside is VERY loud. Acoustics could be much improved. Really hate trying to yell over my plate. Service was great. We were celebrating our anniversary. read more

The food was wonderful and the service was amazing. I ordered the Italian sausage pasta and it was so good. The portion size was amazing. The other person I was with ordered shrimp pasta and said it was really good. We also had the seared brussels sprouts and our only critique would be that we thought the brussels sprouts should've came with like a balsamic drizzle but overall the food was amazing. read more

Kool Beanz is a fun place to go with family and friends. Their menu changes all the time as well. They have an amazing eggplant polenta dish and they really know how to cook duck. Their alcohol list is limiting however, but you can enjoy a nice glass of wine there. read more

The food was fantastic and the staff was helpful and polite. I love the art throughout the restaurant. Parking was the only slight frustration I encountered. read more

After many recommendations, we ate at Kool Beanz last night. Sat at the bar, which allowed us to watch three cooks prepare a steady stream of orders for a packed house. Really unique menu. I ordered mojo chicken, which was a LOT of food. White rice, black beans, chicken, chorizo and shrimp under melted cheese. Shrimp and chorizo were delicious but the mojo chicken was bland. Boyf got grouper which he said was good, but not worth $25. Worth mentioning, sitting in the middle of the bar will place you right underneath the air vent, which is cold and strong. A sweater will help! My only complaint of the evening concerned the kitchen, where I watched one guy grab raw steaks with an ungloved hand, swap it to a gloved hand, then stick his ungloved hand into seasonings for the steak. He assembled a few other dishes before switching to a new glove and not washing his ungloved hand. Honestly, probably something that happens in every restaurant kitchen. We watched dozens of ridiculously delicious looking desserts come through the kitchen and if we weren't stuffed - we would have gone nuts. Three stars because the food wasn't as earth shattering as I expected from reviews and recommendations - and the kitchen thing. We'll try it again, but we both commented on our food not being worth the $19-25 a plate price. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Mojo chicken - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Great Food! I actually found this on Trip Advisor; rated #1. I was pleasantly surprised. Meals are about 14 to 15$ per person. Definitely worth every penny. I ordered the spicy battered fried chicken with sweet potato waffle and my son ordered the Korean Mash. The chicken wasn't spicy at all but that might be because of the local pallet here but I'm not sure. Both dishes were phenomenal! The brunch menu is small but very enticing and has a mixture of dish types. They have an outside eating area. The walls inside are decorated with local art. read more

This place was fantastic! Great chill vibes for a Sunday brunch. We were seated as soon as we arrived which was fantastic and our server, Debbie, was very friendly and attentive. I got the Moroccan eggs and the flavors were out of this world and I tried my friend's French toast and it was equally as amazing (my compliments to the chef!). The French toast had apple slices to it to add a little texture and compliment the flavor, while my eggs came on top of some vegetables that were well-seasoned (a hint of cinnamon to the mix, so well thought out!). I would definitely recommend this place for brunch! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Moroccan Eggs - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Delicious food and very friendly staff. If you want to take your significant other out on a date this is definitely a good spot. From delicious wine to the delicious pasta that I had I would rate this more than 5/5 if I could. read more

This was one of the best meals I've had in a long time! I travel all the time and make it a point to find the local "hidden gems" in any city. Well given the wait time on a Wednesday night Kool Beanz is no secret, and totally worth the wait!!! The pulled duck appetizer was my favorite. They also had sweet corn ice cream which I've never seen outside of my own kitchen.....DELISH!! Staff was amazing! When he host pre bused our table, it told me team effort across the board and they all really loved working there. read more

Best food in Tallahassee! Great prices for incredible meals. Doesn't matter where else I go, since my first visit to Kool Beanz in 2008 I haven't found a better restaurant! read more

LOVE this place! Probably my favorite in Tallahassee because the food is fantastic, but you can come in jeans and a t-shirt! I love the constantly changing menu, which always offers fresh, local ingredients that are prepared perfectly. Good beer/wine selection and great service. $10 cork fee read more

Wow!!!!!! This place really lived up to its reviews. We arrived around 7 pm on a Saturday night. It was pretty crowded so we sat in the outside dining area. The server promptly greeted us. We ordered the crab cakes as an appetizer ($13) and it was delicious! The only bad thing about the crab cakes were the portions they gave. It was just two little crab cakes. Everything else we ordered was also delicious and so fresh. They informed us that they caught the fish we ordered the same day and their vegetables were grown by local farmers. I could really taste the difference and better quality of the the food. I was really shocked that this place even existed because I lived in Tallahassee for 3 years and never heard of it until I used my Yelp app! Overall, my experience here was great. Fast service, friendly staff and great food. It's worth every penny, nickel and dime. I will definitely be back. read more

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The owner is fantastic. Always looking out for his staff and the community. And of course, the food is great!

Amazing place and a cozy ambience.Descent service wonderful staff. We will be back. Happy to have found this place.

Funky food, a menu that changes almost every day it seems. Never had a bad meal here, although it can get a bit loud. Laughter is encouraged! read more

Food and service are wonderful!! Every time I come the food is consistently yummy!! I love the outside seating.

Went for a belated birthday dinner as part of a birthday weekend celebration before going to the theater and I was pleasantly surprised. The wait was supposed to be 40+ minutes but ended up being half that. Not an extensive menu brimming with choices but the food is locally sourced, the atmosphere is good for a variety of occasions (celebratory dinner with family to date night), and the service is exceptional. The flank steak with the mashed red potatoes was fantastic. Good wine list and they have vegan/vegetarian options. read more

Cute place, waitress was super nice and helpful and the eggplant appetizer was amazing!!

let me began with the food! All of the dishes were and I really recommend to get a lot of the starters. the food proportions were pretty big and great to take home if you don't eat it all. The hospitality/ service was so good. We got our food very fast even for a large party and our server was super nice and helpful. They even pack up the food for you to take home instead of handing you a to go box. read more

With a consistently exciting menu, Kool Beanz is one of my favorite places to go for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Most of their lunches and dinners are structured so that each plate has a variety of flavors and textures between the main course and side pairings. Kool Beanz introduced me to fried kale many years ago. Frying is something that they do quite well, but if you sit too close to the kitchen you might leave smelling like the fryer! Most recently, I had their gargantuan burger with home fries. They're not your average home fries. No potato skin, just brilliantly fried, fluffy, inconsistently shaped potato wedges, perfectly seasoned (and with rosemary, if I recall). I had their Cajun Benedict last week - hollandaise and poached eggs with grilled andouille sausage atop two fried rice cakes. I haven't stopped thinking about those rice cakes and how I can recreate them... I tend to opt for fish on their dinner menu. You can trust that it will be cooked perfectly. Almost every time I come with a group, someone will get the peppered flank steak with gorgonzola-herb butter, onion rings, and mashed potatoes. Yes, that dish IS all that it is cracked up to be, but you may not have room for their desserts afterwards. Knowledgeable servers. Carefully selected wines and beers. Fun atmosphere featuring local artwork. 100. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Burger with home fries - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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A perennial favorite! The food is always inventive and delicious. Get there early or be prepared to wait - but the wait is worth it!

Decided to give them a try for brunch. They have very convenient location with a parking lot, outdoor patio area and indoor seating as well. Their brunch menu was on one page that's a good sign to me. We literally wanted to order like 3 meals each everything looked so good! We looked through yelp for pictures of food to help us decideand my husband settled the hot fried chicken and waffles I went with the short rib hash we couldn't find a picture for it so we were even more curious to try it. The fried chicken and waffles were delicious I love the sweet chili honey that came with it and chicken was very well seasoned and flavorful nice portion too. The short rib hash was our favorite of the two meals very tender very flavorful with peppers and home fries soo good I literally cleaned my plate. Surprisingly, we had room for dessert. We ordered the vietnamese coffee baked Alaska it's a must try just fair warning it's a little hard to cut into but the combination of the whipped cream with vietnamese coffee ice cream and cookie crust is delicious! We left very satisfied and happy to have discovered yet another great place to eat out in Tally! 10 for service too! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Short rib hash - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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