4. Restaurants

Kool Beanz Cafe

921 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL, 32303
  • (850) 224-2466
  • Store is closed

Kool Beanz Cafe Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Tallahassee for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 196 Academic Way )

Visit below restaurant in Tallahassee for healthy meals suggestion.

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  • Jeremy H.

    I'm very pleased with this restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious, and the drink selection was perfect. I will defining being coming back to Kool Beanz. Thank you for the great night.

    (5)

  • Rebecca N.

    Kool Beanz is def a Tallahassee fave. If you're looking for nice food and a laid back atmosphere you found it. The menu changes daily but is always great. Save room for dessert because, you don't want to miss their tasty sweets!

    (5)

  • Allison M.

    One of the best restaurants in Tallahassee. The eggplant appetizer was amazing. I ordered fish(their specialty) and it was also great and came with 3 sides. Large portions of delicious food and great quality. Also a nice selection of beer and wine

    (5)

  • Kay S.

    We just had one of the most delicious lunches. The food was over the top. We had the trout over sautéed spinach, with the most awesome spiced up black eyed peas and roasted potatoes. It was a plate full of food. Oh, the menu changes every day. Most definitely will eat there when we are passing through again, actually we may drive over for a day, eat lunch and enjoy Tallahassee. Only two hours away. The server was awesome, we were bragging about the food. She said it was not only the best place to eat but the best place to work. Very awesome to hear that, that's why Keith has been successful for 20 years. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner. Took time out of his busy day to introduce his self to us. Seems to be a great guy. Jack & Kay PC FL

    (5)

  • Michelle K.

    "Eat, drink, and talk loud!" is this restaurant's motto. I have been to this place two other times before, one while on a date and the other at brunch with my mother. Both times were just as enjoyable as my time here recently. The walls are filled with colorful portraits of animals from local artists and the waiting staff wear shorts with matching t-shirts which give this place a casual yet fun atmosphere. It's not trying too hard to be cool, it just is. I am torn wether or not I love the daily changing menu because every time I go I fall in love with a dish that I know won't be there next time, yet I love that there is something new each visit. This time I had the fried oysters for my appetizer and I have to say they were delicious! I could do without the cheese grits because I was all about the sauce. Then for dinner I had the feta crusted salmon that was enough for me to be satisfied and take home for lunch. To finish the meal, we had to get dessert so we had the chocolate cake. This cake was a little too rich for my taste but still very tasty!

    (4)

  • Vanessa C.

    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.

    (5)

  • Ginevra A.

    Not sure how other people like this place but every time I go their food is not even comestible and I eat everything. Waiters don't really listen. I asked for a well done burger when I was pregnant I got a rare so rare I did not eat it. The more fancy entrees are just blah - like a fancy TV dinner. I just never had luck with this place so I stopped going.

    (1)

  • Stacy S.

    I have come here for years every time I am in town. The breadth of entrees is good, the ingredients are fresh, and the recipes inventive. The service is always good too. I highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Linda M.

    Good food from homophobic owner-chef. Very large menu, somewhat pricey.

    (2)

  • Allison N.

    After visiting so many times and now living in Tallahassee for nearly six months, I FINALLY made it to Kool Beanz. Don't chastise me for the sheer absurdity of this statement for I regret not coming here sooner. My friends and I decided to come here for dinner tonight and I was super excited since I have heard and read so much about this place but surprisingly had never been. Since we arrived on a Saturday night, there was a wait but we didn't mind at all. The interior of Kool Beanz is loaded with local art. I didn't get to see all of it, but nearly every inch of the walls inside is covered with a variety of paintings on canvas, cardstock and even actual window frames. Really cool and adds a lot of brightness to the restaurant. We were seated outside which wasn't too bad since they had fans running and the weather has started to cool off. We asked for a couple of recommendations from our server, Elliott, and ended up getting the fried oysters. The fried oysters came out in a decent amount of time and were smack dab in the middle of a deliciously creamy remoulade and cheese grits. Now, cheese grits are totally hit or miss for me. I've only been to one or two places that make cheese grits the way they should be made (in Nashville) and these were just okay. The remoulade was incredible though and the oysters were so tasty dipped in it. Truly a southern classic. We were supposed to receive bread for our table but the bread did not come out until we had asked and after our entree came out. Even then, it took forever to get it. But, moving on. For my entree, I ordered the salmon which came with some sort of feta battered pancake like topping on it. I asked to substitute the sides for brussel sprouts and cauliflower. One of my friends also ordered the salmon and my other friend got the pork chops. Our food took a little while to come out. Once our entrees came out I realized the topping for my salmon, which was an aioli and artichoke mix, wasn't on my salmon. The only way I knew this was because my friend ordered the same thing, so I thought it was strange they'd leave it off of one meal and not the other. The food itself was really good. The salmon was a decent portion and the toppings were excellent. I loved the variety of flavors with the aioli, artichoke and the salmon. The vegetables were cooked perfectly. They weren't hard or too mushy. My friend let me have her green beans with bacon on them and they were quite good. They were dipped in some kind of sweet bacon marmalade which really complemented the vegetable taste well. We topped all of this off with the chocolate cake, which had layers of mousse and ganache. The cake was quite good. Not the best cake I've ever had in my life, but definitely a solid contender in chocolate cake world. The mousse was rich and decadent but the dessert itself didn't give me a huge sugar headache afterwards. It felt light and flavorful. The service was pretty decent but we were there for quite a long time, a little too long. Of course it's not too bad when you have great company to talk to, but noticing tables who had arrived after we did get their food and their check before we did didn't sit well with me. I also don't think we should have had to ask for the bread and I think our server should have been more watchful as to what happened with the topping on my salmon. The service wasn't terrible, but it was slow and jarred at times. This is the reason why I'm giving Kool Beanz four stars instead of five. The food can be a little pricy at dinnertime, but the quality of my meal was probably one of the highest I've had while living in Tallahassee. I would love to try this place out for brunch and I will definitely come back for lunch or dinner to see if I can bump this rating up another star.

    (4)

  • Kevin F.

    We arrived at 7:30 and the wait was already 40 minutes long. We tossed our name on the list and grabbed a spot on the bench. The hostess took a drink order for us and brought a glass of wine out for my wife. About 20 minutes in, we were offered a spot at the counter, in front of the kitchen. We took it and I am glad we did. It was fun watching everyone in the kitchen, and reminded me of my time in the biz. The menu was really great, diverse, and apparently always updated. I ordered the wild boar ribs that were on that night and they were terrific. I saw some amazing food coming out and seeing it all made me want to come back and try other dishes. My wife had another glass of wine, and I has a beer - none over the top price wise. All in all, the prices were on point with the food and service and we can't wait to come back!

    (5)

  • Natalie O.

    We are new to Tally and I've been eager to try this place out! My 1st (and only so far) experience was for Mother's day brunch. We got there at about 10:15 (doors open at 10:30) and there was a line forming. By the time they let people in, we were in the first 3rd of the line. They were seating people quickly, it was a breeze. We opted to sit outside, where they have a nice covered patio with plenty of fans. But I think our server waited on our table last... we were without drinks for a while. But I also get the servers POV, they get sat all at once so it must not be the easiest situation. The hubby got Shrimp and Grits, which were amazing. Lots of delicious sauce which a bigger grit size than the usual suspects. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. The only thing he complained about is that he wanted more shrimp. I ordered the Chicken and Waffle. The batter on the chicken was so tasty, crispy and salty. The sweet potato waffle (with chunks of sweet potato), was a little dense for my preference. I really loved the "syrup", which was a spicy & sweet pepper sauce...a little reminiscent of sweet chili sauce. It was an excellent meal! I can't wait to go back and try dinner.

    (4)

  • Stella M.

    This was a difficult place to rate. My husband's dish was cooked really well and I would give it a solid 4 stars (not 5 because it was slightly on the oily side). He ordered the beef short rib and it was really tender and had great complimentary sides including vegetables and potatoes with soft creamy chèvre. I ordered the jerked swordfish and it was a little bland. The black bean base and rice did not add much to the dish and it probably could have used more pineapple salsa. Our appetizer was the buffalo gator tail and those were delicious! I certainly would have given that 5 stars if I only ordered those. The last thing that brought my rating down was my service. Our waitress did not take our order or over 15 minutes. There was a point when she blatantly ignored us and offered to help other servers run their dishes even though there we're only two dishes they easily could have handled by themselves.

    (3)

  • Allie A.

    While Yelp doesn't have half stars, Kool Beanz definitely gets a 4.5 in my book! This highly talked about joint had been one of my bookmarks for awhile, and talked up by many folks in the area, so our expectations were pretty darn high going in. We arrived just in time (probably around 6 pm on a Tuesday) so there wasn't a wait just yet, but the place was packed by the time we left. The place is decorated by art for sale, whimsical pieces that I couldn't help but get out of my seat and check out. There is one particular painting of a dog in the hallway to the bathroom that I'm crossing my fingers will still be there by our next visit. Comfy, homey and not a bit pretentious environment. Our server, Austin, was beyond excellent! Super nice, made solid recommendations, and anticipated our drink needs before we did. I read through a few reviews about slow service, and while there was a tad bit of a wait between courses, I actually prefer it that way. I thought the timing was perfect. Anyway, we started with the duck confit, with lemon truffle sauce and frizzled leeks. This was outstanding. Crispy duck skin (omg so good), moist meat and that sauce?!!! Lemony-deliciousness and we (ok, mainly it was just me, cause it was so good I had an issue with sharing) sopped up the rest with my bread. For my entree, I was having an issue deciding between a few things, and Austin recommended the blackened scallops. I'm always a little weary of ordering scallops, because so many places overcook, but these were perfection. Perfect blackened sear, and cut with your fork buttery tender. The Bearnaise sauce was good, but was just a bit of an interesting combination with the red beans and rice. (But, I prefer my beans and rice a bit spicy, and Austin brought us out some of their house-made hot sauce... and watch out folks... it brings the heat! YUM!) The fried okra came out in whole pieces (love) so you could pick it up and eat it like french fries. Perfect for dipping in that hot sauce. Excellent. I had a bite of Adam's mojo chicken... and had a little bit a entree envy. I had a shrimp (huge, succelent, delicious) and some sausage (amazing) and the black beans and rice, to die for! The entire dish had melted cheese all over, and, I never thought I'd say this in my entire life, but it was a tad too much cheese.... and took away from the meats in the dish. Still excellent though. I'd order it again with a request to go lighter on the cheese. I wish we would have saved room for dessert, as the pics look killer, but we had plans on more of a liquid dessert (beer) on our agenda. All in all, I'm in love with the place. Don't let that missing star deter you.... I'm super excited to come back (again, and again, and again) to check out the ever changing menu and bask in the chill vibe. And thank you Austin, for fantastic service!!

    (4)

  • Andrea A.

    I always stop in when I'm in Tallahassee. I've had a variety of items here but my favorite has been the steak with onion rings. I got the duck with Brussels sprouts and quinoa risotto on my last trip in and wished I'd gotten the steak. But this ridiculous brownie dessert made up for it. I also love the king estate pino Gris.

    (4)

  • Ellen J.

    An upscale date night hot spot. This is where my partner and I like to have a little splurge. Food is fresh, local and delicious, service is friendly and quick. Mojo chicken, fried oysters and grits, and anything fish is our go to. Servers also offered great insight into new menu items and helpful with suggestions. This will become a monthly outing.

    (5)

  • Amanda T.

    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.

    (4)

  • Laura W.

    Wow! What a surprise. This place is a find. We came from FL not expecting much, but boy were we in for a treat. The lunch menu comprises of 5-6 salads and three times more entrees. And it's the kind of menu that makes you salivate just looking at it, and where everything is so good you can't decide what to order. I opted for the pork chop with Gorgonzola coleslaw (life changer!), the mac and cheese ( one of the best I've ever had, and yet it's nothing fancy) and the rice and beans. My better half got the fish (can't remember which one, but my, was it good) with beans (amazing) and yucca fries. The environment is dark and eclectic to say the least, with walls covered with an extensive variety of colorful animal paintings. Not my style, but the food was so delicious, I'm looking forward to going out next visit. Put this place on your radar screen if you're road tripping through FL. It is great!!

    (5)

  • Karen C.

    NO LONGER DOG FRIENDLY!! WE took the shuttle from our hotel with great recommendations only to be told we could not sit in their empty patio because "they got in trouble. " We had to have the shuttle return and went to midtown caboose. No problems. So much for Tallahassee's finest. When traveling you need choices. Thanks Caboose. Not cool Beanz.

    (1)

  • Kenzie F.

    The best place in town!!! I have been here for brunch (I recommend the BLT) and was blown away. Their home fries are out of this world! And the BLT was HUGE with a large fried green tomato that was so good I will be back. I have been for dinner several times and love all their varieties of entrees. I always get something with steak and am amazed at the flavors they create.

    (5)

  • Kate M.

    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.

    (3)

  • Michael G.

    Kool Beans is a local Tallahassee institution, and on days when the kitchen is on its game, the food is terrific. I've eaten here more than a dozen times (either with friends or as part of business meals), and the biggest issue is one of consistency. Two examples: in the Spring I ate there on a Friday and had a delicious eggplant Napoleon appetizer. It was fantastic. By chance I was there again the following Tuesday for a business dinner and ordered the same dish - what I was served was the same components but in a different preparation, and not a good one. Last time I was there I had maybe the best crab cake of my life. The time before, though? Merely average. The atmosphere is eclectic, and I love that they source as much as possible from local purveyors. But from one meal to the next I never know if it'll be a great meal or something just average. I gave it three stars, but it's more like 3.5.

    (3)

  • Calvin F.

    Delicious. Took my girlfriend here for a special date and it did not let down. Had the Grilled Wahoo and can say without a doubt it was the best piece of fish I've ever had. If I could change one thing, I think a few more beers on the menu would work but the selection was sufficient.

    (5)

  • Helen H.

    Best restaurant meal in a long time. Many spectacular offerings. The pork chops, fish and chips and the apple arugula salad topped with your choice of protein were all spectacular. We can also highly recommend the green peas, green beans and Mac and cheese. Will definitely be back the next time thru Tallahassee

    (5)

  • LaQuata W.

    Made it for brunch right when they opened and it was excellent! I had the French toast and my friend had the chicken and waffles and both were delicious! Service was great and our waiter, Dan, was awesome. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Boon C.

    We have driven from Chipley to Tampa and suggest my boss to stop at this cool place for dinner. I have mention this is good restaurant to visit due to my past experience. The service of the night is started with they are not taking any reservation and is first come first serve situation. We waited for 8 minutes for the table which is not bad. The service is slow at the beginning after we have sit down. It took the waiter 12 minutes to approach us and she kept saying she will be right back and busy on the next table. By the time we have ordered our main course to our food come out is about 40 minutes. Normal food from order to deliver for most of the restaurant is about 20 minutes, we are waiting at least 20 minutes extra for our food. After the food was deliver to our table, our server did not check on our table once. I have to get other waitress attention to bring a to go box and check. We have provided the credit card immediately. This restaurant have the inside and out side sitting. I went inside the restaurant for restroom and I have noticed our waitress is serving other table inside and forget about us. When the check comeback, the credit card printout and receipt is missing. We have to get other waitress to tell our waitress there is a missing credit card info. We waited another 7 minutes. Totally we are spend additional 50 minutes where could have arrive at home early. The food is good but the the service and food deliver has turn me away. It make me look bad in front of my boss. And we take an effort of extra 15 minutes to drive from Interstate to drive here. I will not make extra trip to get to this restaurant any more. I was going to write more about the food but this incident have turn me away. As a result I have change my update review to 2 stars from my previous 5 stars review. I did not get the waitress name, but the credit card info indicate server ID No. 13 on 2-23-2015. This restaurant is hit and miss.

    (2)

  • dena r.

    My absolute favorite place in town. Their food is fresh, imaginative, and a lot times local. some of my favorites include the fried oysters app, the sea scallop entrée and the flank steak entrée - all amazing though I've never been disappointed with other choices. It's a tad pricey and the wait can be long but to me, it's well worth it.

    (5)

  • Alana T.

    Kool Beanz is a Tallahassee legend and well-deserving! I had brunch there last weekend and it was a treat as always - my seared scallops served with a mango salsa were heaven and the yuca fries (which i dipped in chipotle sour cream) were just the cherry on top!

    (5)

  • Gordon C.

    This place has really awesome food! The duck I remember being one of my favorites. Brilliantly composed meals and reasonable prices. You cant go wrong here bringing friends here! This place reminds me of nice restaurants in he big city with a touch of class!

    (5)

  • Daniel M.

    Quirky, different twist on some southern favorites. Food quality is great and fresh. I had cold potatoes and they brought back hot fresh ones with a smile and a huge order of it. The fried chicken is juicy and fresh. Great quality food just come with an open mind. Service was good, price was average (not the cheapest but not the most expensive.), the atmosphere is nice. Don't let the weird look of the building keep you away.

    (4)

  • Mark B.

    This place was full of ups and downs. It is a cool looking place with lots of local art. So good and some not so good. The food was good and less then yummy. My server was there sometimes and not most of the time. I walked in and was quickly greeted and shown to my seat. Outside under the big awning and plenty of shade out of the heat of the evening. My server Roya finally checked in on me and got my order. I had plenty of time to cruise and make my mind up before she showed. I went with the octopus on corn cake with a spicy lime n peanut sauce. The dish was very pretty and my octopus well one piece was very tender and the other was tough but both quite tasty. The sauce really made the dish. I moved onto the country fried quail with some collards, Mac n cheese, fried green tomato, and some acre peas. Once again a side dish really made the dish. I mean the quail was good and cooked properly. Nice crust but tender inside. The ploblano pepper gravy really pulled this dish together. The collards were there and a little sour for mean along with the tomato. The mac n cheese were also there and nothing special. The real tar of this plate was the acre peas that were smoked with a hickory wood with bacon and peppers. The beans rocked. I probably will return cause I saw a couple other fished I want to try and it's close to my hotel also.

    (4)

  • Ann Y.

    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.

    (5)

  • Dan M.

    Great food. Casual atmosphere but great for date night. Lunch is the deal though... Quality without the cost.

    (4)

  • Natalie L.

    My fiancée and I were in town and decided to come here based on the awesome reviews. We came for Sunday brunch and it was amazing! I had the lobster Mac n cheese (which was absolutely to die for) and he had something similar to a huevos rancheros... Equally delicious. The service was spectacular and we loved the environment. Lots of cool local artwork and a bright, cheery colors everywhere. We'll definitely be coming back!

    (5)

  • Jessica C.

    Veryyyyyy good food, but with that comes an extremely long wait time. -1 star only for the wait. The food and wine are stellar!

    (4)

  • Laurianne A.

    One of my favorite fun restaurant to go in Tallahassee. The food is awesome .

    (5)

  • Wm C.

    Well I don't know if it is "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" . But it is surely one of the "as good as it gets places in Tallahassee". The menu changes often and there is a good variety of dishes available. Try and sit outside if the weather is suitable. Inside can be noisy and you will leave smelling like the food. On a recent evening I visited with some friends. I had the flank steak, mashed potatoes and fried onion rings. Who would come up with that combination of food? But it worked nicely. Oh! The crab cakes we had for appetizers were outstanding. Everyone enjoyed them. Two of my three friends along were very happy with their meals. The restaurant messed up the order on the other diner. He had asked if they could prepare his salmon and leave olives out of the sauce. They said YES but they left them in it. The world ended. Despite that little miscue, the food is reliably and predictably good. Most people will be very happy. One little bad thing: THE PARKING. It is awful. This place is so popular that it has gotten to where there are never any spots in their small parking lot. But I parked along the street to the east and walked 200 feet. Not sure what you do if the street is full because it is a small street. I think they had parking across Thomasville Rd. available or at least they did at one time.

    (5)

  • Bret A.

    Sit indoors or on the patio. Inside is decorated with an assortment of artwork while the patio features fresh air. The menu changes frequently and everything was wonderful. Our orders ranged from scallops to steak to duck to mojo chicken with gator tail appetizers. All the meals were large portions, had artistic presentation and were delicious. entrees $18-20 and appetizers $8-10. Teens as well as adults loved it, smaller children might find the menu a little complex for their taste. Definitely will be back to try different entrees. Parking was a little tight, but manageable. Awesome!

    (3)

  • Pari N.

    Sunday Brunch was amazing, as always. Lobster mac'n cheese; yum. Scallops with succotash; yum. Fried green tomatoes with lemon aoli; super yum. The menu changes all the time- but it helps that the changes are based on incorporating seasonal items into the menu, in turn taking food quality and taste up a notch. Oh- and despite yelp's need to insist they're closed on Sunday, they serve brunch on Sunday!

    (5)

  • Stephanie L.

    I'll admit my hesitation to try a place named anything that reminds me of my middle-school science teacher. The phrase "Cool Beans" never exactly formed an association with anything chic (or particularly appetizing) after hearing her utter the phrase regularly. Yet on a Monday night in Tallahassee, with limited options available (I don't know why that seems to be the night every restaurant in town decides to close for dinner), I figured Kool Beanz might be a worth trying. So glad that I did because it was absolutely unique, completely unforgettable, and Kool Beanz has since become a regular fixture on my dining out itinerary in Tally. The parking situation on that first trip was a bit precarious, but subsequent visits have proven far easier. Outdoor seating is available, but inside really embodies the unique flavor of the restaurant. With funky art scattered on every free surface, and wine bottle menus, the eclectic spot manages to feel comfortable and trendy at the same time. Ambiance aside, the food is what really keeps me coming back again and again. Since the menu changes daily, it is possible to return every day and manage to find something that sounds so good you just can't resist. The food is a fusion of world influences that is often skewed towards Southern cuisine meets Caribbean, and although some of the ingredients may appear low-brow, the spectacular presentation proves there is nothing backwater about it. Examples from lunch include a linguini with crawdads, tasso ham, mushrooms, in a roasted garlic cream sauce with asiago cheese, and a jerk spiced chicken skewer with tropical fruit salsa, maduros, black bean sauce, and coconut rice. As for dinner, trust me when I say the appetizer portion of the browned gnocchi with applewood bacon, caramelized onions,snd spinach, with sherried gorgonzola cream is sufficient on its own. However, choices like the lime-basil chicken with a veggie stir fry in Thai curry with peanuts, frizzled leeks, and shiitakes on a ginger risotto cake are hard to pass up. Other entrees include sesame crusted salmon in anorange-almond-hoisin sauce with asparagus, shiitakes,and sweet potato fries, and a Indian spiced shrimp with cashew "methi malai", onion chutney, lentils n' rice, and flat bread. As interesting as each choice sounds, they taste even better, with every fish being tender and fresh, and the pasta served perfectly al dente. If at all possible, save room for dessert since these too are a far cry from your average key lime pie and chocolate cake selection. The last lunch I enjoyed almond lacey cookies with peach and white miso ice cream. Sweet and umami juxtaposition in one generous portion, it was a phenomenal finish! I've always had good service, and really enjoyed my experience. Definitely kreative and kool, I look forward to returning with regularity whenever I'm in town!

    (4)

  • Erik Z.

    Have eaten there a couple of times for lunch and once for dinner. I really like how they use local and organic ingredients and how their menu is continuously evolving. Food is always fresh tasting and flavorful. Will be back.

    (4)

  • J P.

    Its not bad. There are better options in town for the price.

    (3)

  • Bob M.

    What can I say about Kool Beanz that hasn't been said before. From the very friendly and knowledgable staff to the expertly prepared and interesting dishes this is really a gem in Tallahassee. Typically there seems to be a wait so be prepared for that although for small parties usually not more than 10-20 minutes. They have a decent selection of beers and wines although no liquor or draft choices. I very much enjoyed the food here tonight and will return next time I am in town.

    (5)

  • Doug T.

    A little bit of a wait, but the food would be amazing in Vancouver, NYC, San Fran or yes, Tallhasse. it was a benefit that it's near Florida State and Sorority row. There were a bunch of yonng women walking in and aorund getting hammered in low cut dresses in never a fail, which added to the romantic ambiance The waitress asked if I wasn't from around here as I asked what black eyed peas and grits were that came with the Tobasco fried chicken and yet I know what pork tenderloin scallopini was.. Fried Gulf Oysters with Cheese Grits and Remolade were amazing I wish I had tried the frogs legs the Strawberry Mergingue pie was also a must have if they have it on the menu They had some Crawdad lingunini which looked awesome and a creative replacment for linguini with clams

    (5)

  • Nancy D.

    Delicious! Sometimes hard to get a seat but great food and service. I enjoy the atmoshere. Fun place to go for a special occasion

    (4)

  • Cecil S.

    I have eaten here numerous times, always thoroughly enjoyed it. One of Tallahassee's best.....

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    Was one of the best tasting meals I have ever eaten. I got the sea scallops were absolutely amazing

    (5)

  • Suzie B.

    My first time to Kool Beans!!! The food was very tasty and creative. The staff were kind and fun with a great sense of humor. I tried the salmon and everything was supurb. I am already planning my next visit...

    (5)

  • Chris J.

    This place is the best in tallahassee. You can pay more but you can't get a better meal. The quality, service and consistency of execution is outstanding. I've never been disappointed with my experience there.

    (5)

  • F R.

    The food was amazing I went at lunch...it was super busy and it took a while for the food but when the food came it was fresh hot and I cannot complain definitely I will be going back

    (5)

  • Kalvin K.

    A unique Key West feel restaurant in the heart of the capital of Florida. When I first stepped foot into this restaurant I immediately noticed the colorful artwork and the unique method of showing the menu (clipboard). I knew it could not disappoint. I had the pulled pork with guava BBQ sauce over a sweet potato pecan pancake. It was delicious to the very last bite. I just wish the portions were a little larger, but definitely will be coming back.

    (5)

  • Anna S.

    Great little eclectic cafe near downtown Tallahassee! And if you're a black beans and rice and plantain lover, this will be well worth the trip. The menu has nice Caribbean influences and tons of seafood options to chose from. On my visit, my dad and I split wahoo with rice, beans, and plantains and the pork chop with coffee gravy, beans, and sweet potato wedges. We also got a side of the cheddar grits because who can refuse ooey gooey delicious grits? Of the two entrees, the wahoo was clearly stellar. I've never had this fish before and it was perfectly cooked. The accompanying rice and beans and plantains were excellent with it. While the components of the pork chop were quite tasty, I would've preferred a bone-in chop because the meat was unevenly cooked and moist in some parts and pretty dry in others. Having the bone in would have probably rectified some of the dryness. The beans, sweet potatoes, and gravy were top notch. In fact, I wish there was more of the gravy! This place also has a great beer and wine selection. My dad had a couple of the gluten free MIssion beers and I had a nice Cava split. Our check (three drinks, two entrees, and a side) was only around $40--a great value for a nicely executed meal. Lastly, service was great. Our server (alas, cannot remember his name) was super knowledgeable, patient, and had the knack of being around right when you needed him.

    (4)

  • Julian W.

    Had the best afternoon brunch here At Kool Beanz Cafe. My shrimp and grits were excellent. Susannah Frick alway helps me when I go and I love her advice on the best dish. Which one is the best dish? Every dish on the menu. You can't go wrong at Kool Beanz.

    (5)

  • Katherine B.

    Probably my favorite place in town. Always an interesting menu (that changes) and always a wonder meal!

    (5)

  • Cassie G.

    Kool Beanz is just the best. From brunch to dessert there is absolutely something to enjoy here. While the menu changes, there are some recurring favorites like the steak and mashed potatoes (or onion rings at lunch) and the mojo chicken- both are always delicious. Don't let the right bar scare you, it's a super fun spot to sit and watch the crew work in the open kitchen!

    (5)

  • Jim B.

    Amazing food! Yelp reviews steered me here and Yelp reviewers did not steer me wrong. We split a salad and both ordered lunch plates. My wife had a Salmon dish and i had Amber Jack (fish) dish. The fish was prepared very nicely and the sides were excellent. While my cilantro rice was great, as were my refried black beans, the surprise hit of the sides were the plantains in my dish and the deep-fried eggplant in my wife's dish. Try this place - you'll thank me later :)

    (5)

  • Danielle N.

    The bad: Service was incredibly slow in the begining. Waited 10min for water and then another 15min after that to get our order in. The good: The menu is intelligent and it changes daily. The atmosphere is artsy and charming. The outside dining is nice. The food was good. Our party of 4 all enjoyed their dishes. Even though the wait was slow, the waitress was pleasant.

    (4)

  • Sarah F.

    This place's reputation is well-deserved, of course. The food is solid, drinks are good, service is friendly and helpful. Even on a very busy Sunday brunch it didn't take very long to get our food. It's definitely a popular place, so be prepared to wait for a table and cram your party into whatever space opens up. The varied menu should have something for everyone.

    (4)

  • Meli Z.

    Thursday night out for my birthday, so the obvious choice was Kool Beans. Did not disappoint. Only problem is deciding between so many tempting options. Ordered the snapper with pinto beans. So delicious ; left dinner feeling fat and happy. Can't wait to go back and try the duck.

    (5)

  • Zoe P.

    Amazing place. Must try in Tallahassee. They do extraordinary things with their ingredients. Calamari was amazing! Go for apps and entrees, desserts were their least best.

    (5)

  • Tommy G.

    Great food and reasonable pricing

    (5)

  • Henry T.

    A foodie's dream in a city full of chain restaurant garbage. If you are in Tallahassee and you miss this spot you are f**king up.

    (5)

  • Gabrielle G.

    Kool Beanz is one of my favorite places in the world to eat! It has fresh local fare that is always funky, always chic. The menu is awesome with lots of vegetarian selections and locally caught seafood. Employees are knowledgeable and friendly. Get there early for lunch as the place fills up quickly!

    (5)

  • Lani W.

    Seriously delicious! I had the best fried green tomatoes I have EVER tasted today. These were merely an accompaniment to an amazing chicken entree. Desert was so different- a Thai Basil Creme Brûlée that tasted like summer and happiness. We will be back!

    (5)

  • Reginald A.

    Excellent spot. The daily menu is a study in itself and if you want to sit inside and watch the chef and sous chefs work that too is part of the experience We had the pulled pork on pancakes. It's a starter but it was ample enough to be a main course and we also had the escargot. Garlicky with a perfect toast to soak up the juices. The staff is super casual and it was such a relaxed atmosphere. Beer selection is much better than the wine list. The seared sesame tuna. OOOOMG. It was supreme. The best ever, and the wasabi mashed potatoes - why is this not the std offering at thanksgiving ?? The linguini with crawdads -yummy and again more than enough for two. The blackened Mahi. Now I was the only one that did not like it so I'll hold off Will be back Price about $25 per entree

    (4)

  • Richard W.

    Good flavors, but drowned in too much fat/sauce/cream (depending on the dish). Bring your cardiologist. Mediocre/poor wine list. Very popular; long wait for a table.

    (3)

  • Pat M.

    My 'go to' choice in Tally! Fresh, seasonal, affordable and as healthy as you want it to be (or not). lol. Friendly servers, too. Not a place to go when you're in a hurry, but always fun. Everything's delicious!

    (5)

  • Jackie J.

    Pleasantly surprised by stumbling upon this place. My boyfriend and I came to visit Tallahassee for the first time and wanted to find a good brunch place to go to. The menu was small, but not without variety. A good mix of traditional breakfasty foods with a gourmet twist (sweet potato waffles and fried chicken, BLT with a fried egg and fried green tomatoes, etc.), seafood dishes (fresh grouper, scallops, shrimp and grits--yum), and delectable sides. I had the fried chicken and sweet potato waffles with spicy honey. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. I actually preferred the other dishes my friends got--the shrimp and grits was creamy and awesome, even for those of us who aren't big grits eaters. The BLT was seriously to die for--highly recommend! On top of yummy dishes, it's a local restaurant with local food. You know you're eating fresh, good food and helping out your community at the same time. Also--grab a carafe of mimosas. Perfect Sunday brunch.

    (5)

  • Patti B.

    Interesting food at high prices for such a casual little place. But you're paying for the creativity of the recipes so it makes sense. Service was incredibly slow but the servers were pleasant and overall, I enjoyed my dining experience.

    (4)

  • Rob D.

    I have to say, I don't get it. I've only been here once and it wasn't anything to write home about. I assumed because of all of the rave reviews from people I've talked to and the fact that its presented as fine dining(?) that the place has a proper chef that can make something slightly off of the menu. I forget exactly what it was, but I think I asked for salad without some ingredient and I was told it couldn't be done. It definitely wasn't anything unreasonable and I remember being taken aback. Whatever I did get I don't remember so I guess it was neither bad nor memorable.

    (2)

  • Helen C.

    Great service, great food. Great place to take friends and family when visiting.

    (5)

  • Blake S.

    If you identify as a foodie then you can't pass this place up. My favorite restaurant in town. The food is always really interesting and I am always surprised how well the flavors meld together. I like to come here to get inspiration for my own cooking at home. I think the best way to describe it is as a bright 90's fusion of flavors. I HIGHLY recommend trying their desserts, they are to die for!

    (5)

  • Daniel P.

    Kool Beanz has always had a thoughtful menu - and with frequent turnover of "specials", it's a Tallahassee restaurant that generally has an innovative option that most guests will likely enjoy. Our favorite seating is at the bar, effectively witnessing the three line chefs tackle their own areas. They're a well greased operation and are facile, deliberate and economical in their motions. The wine list is solid. The din is just right, and the wait is worth it - at double the standard length of time. A real "guide Michelin one-star" - and a yelp Five-star!

    (5)

  • Michael A.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants. I've eaten in a lot of places all around the world, but Kool Beanz feels like home to me and is my go to when I need a tip top meal. Usually about half the menu shifts while half the menu stays relatively the same. KBC is always looking for new ways to combine southern cooking with the techniques and themes of modern American cuisine. Their desserts are usually very good as well. The atmosphere (other than the obnoxious paintings of animals on the walls...I'm just not a fan) is comfortable and loud, making it an ideal place to get together with friends to pop a cork and share stories.

    (5)

  • Carl B.

    Unusual menu items. Had the snapper. Extremely good!!! My wife had the seared Tuna. Also exceptional!!! Only complaint is no liquor just beer and wine.

    (5)

  • Thomas B.

    Victory beer! Chilled salad plate Casual vibe. Loud Good bread. Informed Waitress. Excellent food --delivered hot. Would go again if in Tallahassee!

    (5)

  • Izzat A.

    Went here for lunch while in town for business. Saw the great reviews, so decided to try it out. Ordered the salmon and it was okay. Small portion. Had an interesting tomato sauce on it. Service was friendly and the price was alright. I'm sure they do other things better, but I didn't see what the hype was about.

    (3)

  • Terry P.

    I've always wanted to try this place and when I finally did, it definitely met my expectations - great service and huge portions! Not being overly hungry, our waiter recommended that we split an appetizer and an entree - it was just the right amount of food! Don't let the full parking lot turn you away, we parked on a little side street (make sure you look if it's okay to park there - no yellow curbs or no parking signs, it is Tallahassee after all and you could get towed in an instant) and were seated in a manner of minutes on the covered patio.

    (5)

  • Terry F.

    My coworkers and I finally got around to visiting this restaurant for lunch and we wondered what had taken us so long. We sat out on the patio and enjoyed the great Fall weather. Service was friendly and expert at their tasks. The menu changes a lot, based upon seasonal specials. Suffice it to say that there is such a wide selection of meat and veggie options, with creative sides, that you could eat here for a week or more and always have tasty options to choose from. Fantastic! The pork belly was my favorite! Since it was lunch, we didn't get to try their very intriguing (and affordable) wine list. Maybe next time for dinner!

    (5)

  • Sammy S.

    Thank goodness for this place. The owner is a great guy and prices are fair. No wonder they are always packed.

    (5)

  • Jason K.

    6 Star's if they had such a thing!!!!! My buddy and I are only in town for a couple days and this was the first place we stopped for a meal.....LET ME TELL YOU, THIS PLACE SMOKE'N!!!!!! I had the scallops w the grits on the lunch menu, my buddy opted for the fried chicken. Mine came out and there was about 6 scallops all grilled to perfection!!! The grits were great as well! The presentation even kicked ass!!! They had on top it was almost like spinich that they left on the grill too long, it looked burnt. It was SLAMMING!!!! My buddies chicken was perfection. His side's included out of this world collards and Mac n Cheese!!! Each dish was very well proportioned and about half way through the waiter gave us some of their homemade hot sauce, which we both doused on our food. Now it was like a whole other meal!!!! Their hot sauce should be bottled it's so damn good!!!!! Wow!!!! My buddy and I are talking about going back tonight for dinner!!!! Stay tuned..... Okay, sure enough, WE WENT BACK FOR DINNER! I set a new record for myself. I have yet to eat at the same place twice in 1 day, especially when I'm out of town and there's a lot of other places to try!!! Do you get it? This place is that AMAZING!!! I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the homemade salad dressing or hot sauce. Or maybe it's just this place is in a league all of their own. Tonight, my buddy had the scallops this time but they were prepared different from when I had them earlier. These chefs have mastered the art of grilling a scallop to perfection that's all I'm gonna say... I on the other hand had the grouper. Again it was perfection. I'm including pictures of our appetizers and the menu so you can see all the extras they throw in. Too much for me to type! Also, pay attention to the prices!!!! We are in town 1 more day, and yes we're already planning to go back!

    (5)

  • Dee B.

    I have eaten here MANY times over the years and had never been disappointed... until last night. The restaurant was not busy... home football game was not over yet. My food looked great and was figuring on a good supper, but two of the sides were barely warm. Sent them back to fix it and was given a fresh plate with the same thing! The server was at a loss to understand what I wanted when it was a fresh plate! Being a foodie with 15 years of cooking in a restaurant experience, I can deal with a lot of situations, but NOT barely warm vegetables! If I had been a health inspector with a thermometer... FAIL!! New cooks? Rushing to serve before steam table was hot? SOmething was wrong. It will be awhile before I go back.

    (2)

  • Jenny O.

    The quality of the food has gone down. I had the chicken with creamed spinach and macaroni...tasted like it was frozen food from publix. Had better. Too bad Mozaik's closed.

    (1)

  • Stephen S.

    I went here for lunch with a friend, and was pretty surprised by the large and creative punishment new. For the quality of food, the prices really aren't that bad. I think the average price was $10-$16. I had the seared ahi tuna, which was pretty good, and cooked really well. The portion was a little bit small, but still very acceptable for the price and for a lunch portion. I will definitely come back, but probably for dinner rather than lunch

    (4)

  • Sheri D.

    Everything was so delicious and fresh! Favorite restaurant I went to while visiting Tallahassee!

    (5)

  • Nicole B.

    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.

    (5)

  • Jennifer H.

    My first time here-- now I know why it's my mom's favorite restaurant. The colorful animal paintings put me in a good mood immediately. Friendly, relaxed service that did't feel rushed but was still attentive. Eclectic menu. I had the fried oysters with cheese grits - it was a starter but was fine as a meal for me. My mom had a pepper steak that she couldn't begin to finish- took it home and it will probably feed her all weekend. Our friend had a crusted chicken that she loved. Shared a coconut meringue cake that looked as good as it tasted. Hope to go back next time I'm in Tallahassee. Bravo!

    (5)

  • Doug S.

    I had heard a lot about this place and was disappointed when I first pulled up because I was expecting more. However, by the time I left I understood what all the hype was about. Everything was great and the best duck I have ever had!

    (5)

  • Debi B.

    First I have to admit, I love Kool Beanz! Today was my sister-in-law's birthday. We had a group of 10 for Sunday Brunch. We had to wait when we arrived at 10:45 which we all expected. We were told 20 mins. or so, that was fine. No one ever asked if we wanted anything to drink or came to check, so after 20 min. I politely asked about the progress of the table, as there were so many of us, we were blocking incoming traffic. The host (a young man) was abrupt and said we would have to wait for others inside to leave. Of course he could not hurry them. He was very condescending. We had requested to be either inside or out. My sister said he acted annoyed when we arrived because we had such a big party. Long story... the food was really good, the birthday was celebrated. But the host should be fired. Our wait staff was fine after she warmed up to us. I enjoyed the food very much as always. The front staff is not setting the mood you want from your guest. The host should be excited about a group, there aren't reservations and we were fine waiting for a table for 20-30 mins. or more. I think the host staff needs "a talking to" by those busting it in the kitchen and those on the floor. Thanks for the chicken & waffles, lobster mac-n-cheese, shrimp and grits, apple gorganzola salad, fried green tomatoes and everything else. I will be back... the door, hostess is the first impression and we did consider going somewhere else and may do it if happens again. That would be sad for me because I love Kool Beanz!

    (3)

  • Jean C.

    The lamb shank is so tender. The combination of mashed potato and the tenderness of the meat just melts in my mouth. Perfect every bite. Just lift me up on top of the cloud floating. Love love love...

    (5)

  • Aaron M.

    Hands down the best place in Tallahassee. The quality and presentation of their meals are impeccable! Atmosphere gets a 10. Local art everywhere and wonderful service to boot. Great place for a date or a fun time out with close friends.

    (5)

  • Aaron E.

    This place is about average in price and do give you well sized portions. Everyday it has a new fresh menu, with so many items, it generally takes a minute to choose. I've never had anything bad here. The place is usually packed though unless you get there at the right time. The staff are great and definitely helpful when it comes to figuring out what to order.

    (5)

  • Zach H.

    Without a shadow of a doubt, this is one of the best places to eat in Tallahassee. I've been here several times for lunch and dinner. I can say with confidence that I haven't been let down yet. It's a bit smaller than a lot of restaurants and because it's so awesome, it tends to get incredibly busy with long waits in the evenings and on weekends. On my most recent visit, a friend and I came in for lunch. My friend ordered the Mojo Spiced Chicken (which is a crowd favorite and always on the menu) while I ordered the Grilled Salmon. The Mojo Chicken is a sizable portion that has a look similar to jambalaya. Along with the chicken, it has shrimp, chorizo, black beans & rice and all covered with jalapeno jack cheese. My perfectly cooked grilled salmon came with well seasoned green beans alongside perfectly fried slices of eggplant and all of that with a liberal dollop of red pepper feta sauce. I don't normally order dessert because I don't really have a sweet tooth, but ended up getting a slice of the Coconut Cream Layer Cake by recommendation of 2 different people that work there. I have to say... it was the best Coconut Cream Cake I've ever had. It was light, wasn't too sweet, and didn't have an overwhelming coconut flavor. PERFECTION. The service was excellent (as it usually is) and the food here is truly art on a plate... which is appropriate as there is art from local artists all over the walls that can be purchased to support the local community. The artsy indoor decor, great patio dining area, and open kitchen makes this place great for any occasion. I can't say enough about how Kool this place is.

    (5)

  • Mike V.

    I stopped in for lunch for my first time back after a 4 year hiatus and Kool Beanz can still sling it. I had the snapper with an orange habanero sauce served with fried okra & red beans and rice. Spicy & Delish! The menu constantly changes so its also a great spot for the food explorer. The wait staff was attentive & the value was outstanding. The bar overlooks the kitchen so you can watch the chef's practice their craft if you are so inclined. When in Tallahassee, this should be a spot on your bucket list!

    (5)

  • Heather L.

    We were really looking forward to this restaurant after all we heard about it and the hype. However, I was incredibly disappointed. The one extra star is only because of the buffalo gator appetizer. The carrot/bleu cheese was delicious and paired well with the spicy gator. However, I did ask (multiple times throughout dinner) about the origins of gator (it didn't deter me from ordering it, but being a relatively new Floridian, I was just curious) and the waitress kept 'going to find out' and never got back to me. She was busy so that didn't bother me too much. She was also nice and seemed otherwise knowledgeable about the menu. She really pushed the snapper so we ordered it, all excited. When the snapper came, this was where it all fell apart. The only redeeming quality was the cilantro rice, but I did not come to pay $24 for cilantro rice. The mango salsa didn't fit the dish at all and was very strongly flavored in comparison to the snapper. Oh, that snapper. I know that it is supposed to a mild flavored fish, but that was an understatement. The jerk seasoning around it was flavorless and soggy. So it felt like I was eating soggy breadcrumb-ed fish with a remnant of jerk seasoning. None of the seasoning made it into the fish (AT ALL). They should have at least attempted to crisp it. A quick broil of the dish would have fixed the texture issue so easily. The decor, was fitting to the name and very whimsical. The lighting was odd inside of the restaurant though. Half of our table was well-lit and the other half was left in the dark (we were squeezed into two square tables put together- 7 people). I was really looking forward to it and being a new Tallahassee transplant, I am sorely disappointed to not have this place as a good eatery option. We will not be returning anytime soon. I can make better snapper at home.

    (2)

  • Loren W.

    Excellent and diverse menu with a great number of options that are both healthy and very creative. A great stop in July at the beginning of the book tour!

    (5)

  • Paul H.

    I don't give a lot of 5 star ratings. One of the best meals I have had in recent memory has certainly earned that rating for Kool Beanz Cafe. The menu (which I understand changes regularly) was fascinating, with a amazing choice of seafood, chicken, pasta, lamb and beef. I asked the server for recommendations, and I wasn't disappointed. I started with a browned gnocchi for an appetizer, and it was wonderful. My entree was a duck breast with Brussels sprouts, sweet potato and black eyed peas. Very rustic, very hearty. The flavors blended and complimented one another perfectly. My server recommended a good cabernet, and it was an excellent match. I honestly cannot say I have had a better meal in years. The place was fairly crowded, even on a Monday night. Nevertheless, I was seated with almost no wait, even as a single, and the service speed was fine. The decor is young person hipster, and it fits perfectly. I was surprised at the prices; for this quality of food, I would have expected higher prices. My only regret is that I do not travel to Tallahassee on business more often. I will go back to the Kool Beanz Cafe the first chance I get.

    (5)

  • Nicole W.

    Good selection of foods you can't get anywhere else. Quality food and a laid back atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Andrew M.

    I should write a long review for Kool Beanz Café, I really should. But somehow, I just can't seem to drum up enough enthusiasm to go into too much detail. And that, my dear readers, should tell you all you need to know. But since we all know I can't stop at that, let's go through it in more detail. To be fair, there isn't anything wrong with KBC and it is likely one of the better places we ate while in Tallahassee (although since our diet consisted primarily of 5 guys and Whataburger, that isn't a hard title to get). I think I was a bit put off from the start as we were offered a table outside or asked to wait. That's fine normally, but when your waiting area is a drafty half sealed plastic tent with only a couple of space heaters, it damn well sucks. I wish we could have waited in the car, but then we would have lost our place in line. I'll give them credit for being quite friendly and offering to bring us a drink from the bar if we wished to order something while we waited. We were seated after about 30-40 minutes and our waitress was lovely, engaging in some friendly banter and happy to offer recommendations for both food and beer. We proceeded to order a selection of starters and mains to share (sharing is caring after all) and dug in. For the starters, we opted for crab cakes, frog legs, and one other dish which has since fled from the working parts of my memory but may have been pardon peppers (or some equivalent). The crab cakes were tasty and quite a sizeable portion with a bold full flavoured dip. The frog legs, however, were definitely not to my taste. Now, not having had said legs before, I can't comment if it was the way they were seasoned and cooked or an inherent flaw in frog, but they tasted like overripe chicken. I know that's not quite an accurate phrase, but think of a chicken leg that has turned and leaves you with a cloying taste after each bite. Yeah, it's not good is it? Mains were memorable only in their mediocrity. I found the food underseasoned and (in the case of the quail) overcooked. The pork chops were probably the best bit but even those were left unfinished. We passed on desserts, being full on beer and ready for a night out, so I can't comment on those either. Perhaps one day I'll be back this way and will give KBC another go. You never know, right?

    (2)

  • Tatianna S.

    Nice paintings. I hope they recycle all the paper they wasted.

    (3)

  • Mike S.

    It has been a while since i was in Tallahassee and enjoyed Kool Beanz. I remember when it opened and we feared it was a gimmicky, fad place. We finally got there after hearing great word of mouth and were well pleased with the food and service. Some unique and standard dishes done with flair....and from recent reviews it seems that has been sustained (duck with brussels spouts)....also recall the wonderful cheese grits and other Southern sides done so well. Hope to try again on a trip.

    (4)

  • James K.

    Lunch with my friend this afternoon could not have been much better. We each had very different dishes and were well pleased. The woman who coached us through the menu and served us with Grace was a delightful treat. Be back. Noisy room.

    (4)

  • Ken J.

    Love this place...great, unique, fresh southern fusion!

    (5)

  • Vishal S.

    I'd like to give this place 5star. +++! Great tasting food , great price , great service ! I came in here for the duck but it was not being served during lunch , however I was able to mix and match to make my own combination and ........ What a delight. ! The red beans and cilantro rice with fish and veggie was awesome ! If I knew about this place sooner I would have eaten here all week while I was visiting. I will have to return .........

    (5)

  • Melinda T.

    Meh. Food looked great! I took a picture and posted it on facebook before I tried it. I had steak and scallops with mashed potatoes and asparagus. The steak was overcooked and clearly cooked/finished off in the oven (I asked for medium rare) and the scallops were not very well cleaned, had some sand crunching under my teeth. Mashed potatoes had a consistency of a food processor mashed potatoes, not very pleasant. Everything was a little salty too. Not coming back.

    (2)

  • Cheryl S.

    If you want to impress someone visiting Tallahassee this is it! Casual, fun , divine food. I can't believe how much diverse food the chefs turn out of their postage-stamp kitchen. If you're alone, sit at the counter and be amazed at the kitchen choreography. I do think bread & butter ought to be included with entrees but that's just a quibble. I have nothing but nice things to say about the many meals I've eaten here. And if you don't like something on the plate, don't hesitate to ask for a substitution - no attitude here!

    (5)

  • Derek H.

    Awesome food! Great Staff! The new porch means you don't have to wait as long for the amazing food!

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    Oh my God, Becky. Look at that rating! Besides the fact that I almost grew out a full beard by the time I sat down, my experience at Kool Beanz Cafe was absolutely spectacular. Don't let the corny name (that sounds like it came from the 90's) and size of the restaurant fool you because my friends and I walked out of that building with massive food erections and food babies. As much as I'd love to sit here and describe what everybody ordered, I can't. It would take too long to exemplify the complexity and the deliciousness of each entree. It's just that damn good, so let me just briefly write a letter to the dish that was responsible for my food erection. Ms. Seared Duck Breast, I knew the moment your seared breasts looked at my eyes when you arrived at the table is that true love does exist. You were a bit undersized for my taste, but even the undersized entrees need loving as well if you know what I mean. The cranberry puree you brought definitely complimented everything that you had going on that night... Just a perfect blend of sweetness and saltiness in every bite (unintentional rhyme). Let us not forget about the perfectly charred brussel sprouts with the sweet potato fries on the side. Those side items fused the whole plate together and made it into a marvelous foursome. I'd like to thank you for bringing your friends along because it was very unexpected. Thanks to my charisma, I was able to handle everything that was thrown at me. I'll be sure to call you again when I visit next time. Ciao, - Christopher Wait time: 3/5 Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Cleanliness: 4/5 Price: $$$

    (5)

  • Jack H.

    Very Creative and Original. At first I thought it was a little pricey but when you see the size of the portions -- I don't see how they are making a profit. The Buffalo Fried Gator Tail is delicious. The dining experience is awesome. The only thing that kept them from getting 5 Stars was the bumbling idiot who was seating everybody. He really messed up but the manager was very apologetic.

    (4)

  • Liesl V.

    A Tallahassee classic. My go-to when I have out of town visitors for brunch, lunch, or dinner. I love how unique and delicious the food is while maintaining a casual and welcoming atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Amy V.

    My sister lives in Tallahassee, and a trip to Kool Beanz is a requirement of my visits. I absolutely LOVE to sit at the bar and watch the chefs cook, they are incredibly talented. I've tasted the cobia, shrimp, scallops, grouper, flank steak, and a few of the salads. Each dish has been cooked just right, and the accompaniments are perfect (the beans, dirty rice, and fried okra are my favorite sides!) They also have a decent selection of wines for under $30 a bottle. Come for lunch and the prices are nearly cut in half!

    (5)

  • Stacey R.

    My most favorite place to eat!! LOVE the food!!

    (5)

  • Logan B.

    I've gone here a few times and the food has been hit or miss. Mostly miss. All of the dishes sound wildly exciting on paper, but the menu descriptions don't usually match the actual food that arrives at my table, which is invariably more conventional and bland than I'm expecting. Presentation is also poor. Things are just thrown onto the plate together without regard to aesthetic considerations. Service is good enough. Wine list is very limited. Walls are decorated with bright, garish paintings of dogs. Not a terrible restaurant, but not a good one, either. Overrated and overpriced. Their cakes are good, though. I'll give them that.

    (2)

  • Eddie B.

    Tried many times to eat there, never catch them open....EXTEND HOURS PLEASE. But I have heard good things if you can get in.

    (4)

  • Jeremy L.

    We have eaten here numerous times: food and service excellent. Tuesday, 2/3/15 was horrible. Service was slow and food was almost inedible. For the first time we didn't order dessert as we felt we might wait another hour. The waiter did his best offering us numerous glasses of water and extra portions of bread (no butter) but it didn't compensate for an hour and fifteen minute wait for food. Bad food. And the outside heaters did not work so we froze and starved.

    (1)

  • Sammy P.

    Happened to drive by this spot en route to hotel and gave it a shot last week while through town. Terrific. Did an assortment of the appetizers and was especially impressed with the gnocchi. Ended up sitting on the patio during a cool, damp evening which did not give off the great vibes from in the restaurant, but when I return, I'll Be Back.

    (4)

  • MP S.

    We had heard so many great things and read such great reviews, so when we were in Tallahassee with our two girls (ages 11 and 15) we decided to stop and have dinner at Kool Beans. Great decision! Our waiter was Jordan and was SO nice, helpful and attentive. The pulled pork appetizer was very good, although I would ask for a little less dijon mustard on it next time. Came with awesome corn cakes, though! Probably could be a little bigger - barely enough for the 4 of us and two were kids - but definitely very good and worth it overall. For entrees, hubby and I ordered the mojo chicken with shrimp, chorizo and rice + beans. The shrimp were HUGE and the chorizo was to die for! SO good- best one we've had and comparable to chorizo from Spain. The chicken chunks were a bit bland, I thought, but together with the rest, it all worked very well. Also, only order this plate if you are VERY hungry or share with someone. It really is enough for 2 people, especially if you order any appetizer. One daughter ordered the rosemary chicken, which was pretty good, but not great. Best part is they were very flexible with the sides and allowed substitutions because this place is not very kid friendly with their eclectic menu and gourmet-style sides, but we substituted mac n cheese and she was good to go. For our other daughter, we ordered the flank steak (medium well), which was very tender and tasty. Better than the rosemary chicken, I thought. She had it with mashed potatoes and delicious homemade onion rings. It was a winner! Overall a great experience and a memorable one. Only complaint would be the food smell you leave with. We were sitting near the kitchen and we all had a REALLY strong smell of food as we got in the car. Had to open the windows even! But there is outside seating, so that may be a better choice. But smelling like food was a small price to pay for the experience! Will definitely come back if in Tally again.

    (5)

  • MW B.

    I've eaten here a lot over the years but just now reviewing. I have never had a bad meal or experience here. The first time I ever ate here we sat at the bar and watched them cook, that was fun! I love the atmosphere! The wine is good, their bread is to die for and service is friendly!

    (5)

  • Lisa M.

    Amazing appetizers and dinner was equally as delicious!!!! Don't miss out on this gem!

    (5)

  • Rumany P.

    Had the amberjack with rice, beans, and fried okra. The amberjack was cooked really well. Soft and not dry. I really like okra in general, but it was too salty for my taste. If that was toned down, the meal would have been great the browned gnocchi was a good starter and a good portion to share between 2-3 people as an appetizer. Overall, the atmosphere was fun. We sat at the kitchen bar and was able to watch them cook everything. This is a good angle because it made me want to try a few other dishes. Kind of pricey for the quality of the food though. Probably more of a 3.5 overall

    (4)

  • Tiffany L.

    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.

    (5)

  • Qui P.

    The dishes -- fried shrimps, crab cakes, duck breasts, and pork chops -- is affordable, abundant, and delicious. The service is good, yet slightly slow.

    (5)

  • Jessica L.

    It took me a couple years to finally listen to the reviews and try Kool Beanz. We tried a Wednesday night and it was JAM packed. Not a whole lot of seating and it took a good 30-40 minutes to get a table but we were able to stand and order drinks while waiting at the entrance. Once we were finally seated we got to check out the menu. Now, I'm not a seafood person so anti-seafood people beware... there were maybe 3 things I would eat that weren't seafood or out of my other taste preferences. It's unfortunate that their menu changes because I can't recall what we had. I do know that we loved the appetizers more than the entrees. There was a quesadilla with I believe apple in it, fried green tomatoes that were excellent. For dinner I had the flank steak with mashed potatoes and onion rings... awful starchy. I know flank steaks are tough but this was real tough and chewy, hard to have conversations while eating. The onions rings were pretty bland and standard, nothing special, same for the potatoes. It was pretty pricey and no one else in my party was blown away, but we may need to give it another shot.

    (3)

  • Rob H.

    First, the price designation is barely at $$$ - most of the entrees are right at the $20 mark, and the portions are probably worth far more than that. This place cares about food more than 80% of places I eat at. The atmosphere is by no means fancy, it is a fun and down-to-earth experience where the only thing that matters is a meal prepared with love, creativity and fresh ingredients. The only time I wouldn't recommend this place is for a very special occasion where one would want a more formal atmosphere - other than that, the price, food, and service are all fantastic.

    (5)

  • Kurt H.

    Been here many times since my last review. Food continues to be delicious. However, service has been really slow! It's normal to wait 45 minutes for your food and it seems normal to only see your server every 15 minutes or so.

    (4)

  • John B.

    Bookmarked this place while in AZ. Flew in to Tallahassee today and had to try this place out. Wow really good. Had calamari - tender and hint of heat cornmeal coating. Then salad wedge with blue cheese generous portion. Finally linguini with mushrooms and crawfish. Excellent portions are generous. I would go there again

    (5)

  • Courtney S.

    Great food, excellent service and an ever-changing menu make Kool Beanz a great local spot. We had the frog legs for our appetizer and the preparation was spicy but the taste was so good, we couldn't stop eating them. Both entrees were delicious and more than enough for leftovers.

    (4)

  • Dawn A.

    First impressions are everything. I walk up to the restaurant and there are a handful of people waiting outside. So I asked why? They hadn't opened and the people were gathering around the front waiting for the restaurant to open. I was there for work in the Tallahassee area, and heard about the restaurant. I sat at the bar and had a wonderful server. The restaurant filled up immediately. I was so torn by the menu because I wanted to try everything. I opted to eat two appetizers. I ended up with the fried green tomatoes, with homemade pimento cheese, bacon jam, and artichoke (something). Wow, was it good. They had each separate topping on each of the fried green tomatoes. So then I go on to the gnocchi with sage cream sauce. Wow, this was also amazing. It's was smoky, and had ham hocks, and bacon incorporated into the recipe. They change the menu daily. Everybody at the bar area was LOVING their food. You can't go wrong here. I try a lot of restaurants during my travels and this would be hard to beat! Keep up the fresh cooking, it's hard to find.

    (5)

  • Kelly B.

    You will see the wait to get a table is worth it but the slow service of getting food was really awful. The lamb was divine.

    (4)

  • Cee G.

    Awesome food and atmosphere but a little pricey. Good quality though so you get what you pay for!

    (5)

  • David A.

    While visiting FSU this week we ate here two nights in a row. This place serves up some fantastic food. It has a cool vibe with some hipster chefs and a laid back attitude. Service is friendly and efficient and wine by the glass and beer are priced quite reasonable. The food: Over the two nights tried six different appetizers/salads. Everything is fresh and served with a creative flair. I understand the menu changes regularly but some of my favorites included the falafel, the pan browned gnocchi and the clams. Entrees were excellent highlighted by a mussel/scallops dish which was amazing, a great sliced duck and risotto and the seared tuna. Entree sizes are large and are good for sharing. The best part! Desserts are off the charts. The coconut creme meringue cake was a repeat both nights. Not too sweet with incredible flavor and texture. And one piece is massive. Also tried a brownie and ice cream dish that was very good but the coconut cake was the star. Eat inside and watch the chefs work their magic or eat at the counter and watch up close. This place was the highlight of our trip.

    (5)

  • Katerina S.

    Although everything was VERY good, I thought that the appetizers were even better than the entrees. The cornmeal crusted oysters were seriously good. I just about ate the entire plate on my own. Also, the escargot in a mushroom sauce with linguine was REALLY good. For the entree I ordered the monkfish, which was just okay. I've had that fish cooked better before. However, the sauce that it was cooked it was delicious! I also tried the snapper with spinach (that was actually better). I ended my dinner with a cappuccino, which was just delightful and very well presented. Would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Linda S.

    The food here is absolutely phenomenal. I heard great things about the place, but didn't actually try it until my senior year, which I regret dearly. The menu consists of items you didn't even know you wanted and won't regret trying. I just wish the venue was bigger so there wouldn't be a line! Five stars all the way!

    (5)

  • Gareth C.

    This place has a lot of hype, and I really wanted to like it. I have been twice and on both occasions I was not a fan of the food. The service was pretty good, but I tend to rate places more on the food than the service/decor. I think if I was a vegetarian I would really enjoy this place. As it was, the ingredients they wanted to throw together just didn't make any sense. I was adventurous with my selections but came out wanting each time. I have avoided returning since my second visit.

    (2)

  • Brian P.

    Kool Beanz was a fantastic experience. I enjoyed dinner with Florida State colleagues on a perfect Thursday evening in Tallahassee. I confess that I over-indulged, ordering fabulous cornmeal-encrusted oysters resting in a bed of cheddar cheese grits *slobber* followed by a creamy linguine tossed with mushrooms and crawfish. This was all washed down with a beautiful bottle of Hitching Post syrah, a beauty I never expected to find outside my native California. Overall, the experience was very very good. Our server was exquisitely attentive, the atmosphere outside was casual and fun; the place just had a very cool vibe. Kool Beanz!

    (4)

  • Gregory N.

    In a college town full of dive bars and food that's fast and cheap, it's nice to know this place even exists. It is living proof that Tally is not a culinary wasteland. There are people here who care about food, and want to deliver dishes that are creative and delicious. I had the Fish and Chips and I was pleasantly surprised that the fried fish came with a "masala aioli", a creamy greenish sauce that had a slightly jumpy Indian flavor. That was completely unexpected. Also unexpected, the fries were not a bunch of mindless fries in a basket, but instead they were six large potato wedges deliciously seasoned. This all was served on top of creamed spinach. The three substantial pieces of fish were nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked. My wife and son also enjoyed their dishes. I poached some fried plantains from my wife's dish. They were sweet and soft, like my wife. I also like the unpretentious interiors, the slightly hippie vibe of the waitresses and the foodies eating at the bar facing the kitchen, chatting with the cooks. It's a cool place!

    (5)

  • Tom B.

    The best place to eat. You must eat there before you die. It can get loud when full.

    (5)

  • Mary C.

    I was pleasantly surprised by how good and how fast the food is here. My inner snob was certain that a place named "kool beanz" would not be a place that she would enjoy. We had the fried green tomatoes dish and the salmon with dill and horseradish sauce. Delicious.

    (4)

  • Scott H.

    I am giving them a 5 because the price quality service is great. This is like an LA mashup menu - everything is fresh and the flavor combinations are clever without being cute. The menu changes often, too. This is my "first night" every time biz takes me to Tallahassee. Trust me, this is good food. I'm not going to write a long review, because 1) they change the menu regularly, and 2) you'll either take my word for it or not, because 3) long foodie reviews are about the writer, not the food. This place has great food. Looking forward to dinner up at the bar makes the 5 hour drive to Tallahassee one of anticipation.

    (5)

  • Matthew W.

    I absolutely love this place. Not the best atmosphere in the world, but my goodness the food is always incredible. A great variety on the menu and it is always changing as it is FRESH. The burger is always good and if you find yourself there on a Sunday for brunch get the cornbread with chorizo sausage gravy and poached egg, you won't be dissapointed!

    (5)

  • Greg K.

    We eat at Kool Beanz once a month or so and sadly the last couple times have not lived up to our 5 star expectations. Our last two visits we ordered fish seared tuna and amberjack. Both times the fish was over done. The gnocchi rocks and the service is always friendly.

    (4)

  • Jeanne D.

    I had lunch here on January 11th, 2012 and it was excellant. I ate here with two other people, we all got very different dinners and we were all very satisfied with our choices. The art that is on display here is very cheerful and adds to the ambiance. First we were seated in the dining room but the noise level was so extreme we asked to be moved to the patio. We were the first ones on the patio and by the time we left it was packed. Do they have a rule not to put heaters on durilng the day? It was cold and blustery on the patio. I wonder how many good resturants do they have in Tallahassee if on a cold day so many people will sit outside in some discomfort because the food really is good here. If noise level and/or possible exposure to weather extremes is not an issue this is a great choice on a visit to Tallahassee.

    (4)

  • Antony C.

    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.

    (4)

  • Kace B.

    Traveling through Tallahassee read reviews on yelp , decided to try it . Delicious fresh wholesome food

    (5)

  • Justin F.

    This place is one of the best locally owned restaurants in Tallahassee. The atmosphere is eclectic and the food is delicious. It is very small so not a great place for a large group or to hang out. It is a great first stop for dinner if you plan on a long evening out on the town. The place usually stays busy so expect to wait (promise it is worth the wait). If you end up waiting the hostess can take a drink order (beer and wine only without a "bar area"). The service was so-so but the food definitely makes up for it! I would definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Channa P.

    I'm drunk off the Kool Beanz kool-aid. If I am on death row with a last meal, I hope it's the salmon with a penne sauce, green beans, fried eggplant, and risotto from this place. The aroma in this place alone is intoxicating. The menu will just blow your mind. Do yourself a favor and sit at the counter. From there you can watch how all the food is prepared. It's magical. The attention to detail blew me away. No plate went out without a beautiful garnish, swirl, or something. If in Tallahassee go here. The food is great, the servers friendly, and the atmosphere fun!

    (5)

  • Gayathri I.

    Yum! They didn't have any vegetarian options on the menu the day we went, but they were very nice about it and suggested a few things. I decided to get a plate of veggie sides. It was AWESOME. They served it with a cranberry sauce and a curry sauce. The curry sauce was out of this world delish. Hubby got a pasta dish with a lot of veggies and a salsa sauce. That was really good too. My only let down was with one of the desserts, it was a red vinegar-yogurt and olive oil ice-cream (I think). It was way too acidic to be enjoyable. The cafe looks really cool-casual, with an open kitchen. Friendly, but loud atmosphere. This is a great place to go to with a bunch of friends. A bit on the pricey side.

    (4)

  • Jessica C.

    Have eaten here numerous times and not once been disappointed. There is always something new and fresh on the menu to try, with lots of local ingredients being highlighted. It's so great the find a place in Tallahassee that caters to food lovers in such a casual dining environment. The service is friendly, and the atmosphere is always upbeat. This is a true go-to eatery in Tallahassee, and it's no wonder people line up outside every Sunday for brunch. The food is appropriately priced for its quality, and always worth it.

    (5)

  • Ginny J.

    AMAZING Sunday brunch. Scallops were so perfectly seared to perfection. It is my favorite Sunday spot!

    (5)

  • Caro G.

    I have been here several times and I have never once had a bad meal here. Always taking regular cuisines to the next level.

    (5)

  • Mario M.

    Service was not good. Took a long time to even get glass of water. Tried the bean cakes which were ok. Ordered the pork chops which were overcooked and flavorless. Beans straight out of can. Rice was burnt left a bunch of rice that kept getting stuck on my teeth on plate. Not sure what the hype is. I wrote this review 5 min after eating and still have not had waitress come. Do not recommend this place. Cypress is way better option.

    (1)

  • Liotta L.

    I called them about booking a private event and the owner (manager?) I spoke with was a total ass. Like he was trying to come up with reasons not to book our event. Why so self-important??? No thanks.

    (1)

  • Joe M.

    Very good and could easily be 4 stars. I am giving it a solid 3+. The good, lively place after 6:30 pm. Looking for quite romantic place not here. But this isn't bad loud it is food loud. People conversing and having a good time. The food was good. My salmon was under cooked. I was asked how I wanted it done and I asked for medium. It came between rare and medium rare in the center. The salmon was a thick piece, which makes it more difficult to be medium from end to end but it was way too rare in the middle. Had that been better I would be goring 4 stars. The rest of the meal was good, service average. I had to split the check because I am on an expense account and this was a bit of a mystery to the waitress. Had to do it 2 times to get it right. Not a deal breaker. Would go back if in the area.

    (3)

  • Will V.

    We have been here at least 5 times and it used to be great. This may be a fluke, but be warned. EVERYBODY around us at the restaurant tonight experienced the same poor service. The food was decent, but the servers were beyond incompetent. For starters, we waited for an hour to be seated after they claimed it would only be 30 minutes. To make matters worse, for the whole time that they kept us waiting, a table sat empty right beside us. I went and asked if they took reservations and they said no. So why did the table sit empty for an hour? Finally, a guy says to follow him. He tosses down the menus on the table and walks away. After they seated us, we waited another 10 minutes for someone to take our drink orders. Then I pulled out YELP on my iPhone and started to draft this review. At that point, they started to act differently. Comp this, promise that. So we stayed. DId it get better? NO. The waitress was nowhere to be found most of the night. Our interactions with the same guy from before involved plates being tossed on our table. The bread arrived after the starter. My steak was luke warm when served while my wife's fish was nice and hot. Getting someone to come over and present the check involved standing up and threatening to leave. We arrived at 6:45PM and we left at 9:15 PM. We will never return and I hope that you understand that this place has changed.

    (1)

  • Marybeth S.

    This place is amazing! Such a hip atmosphere and wonderful food. I tried a pasta with caramelized onions, bacon, herbs, and a wonderful cream sauce. It was, honestly, the best pasta I have ever had. I would recommend this place to anyone. It's great to find such a wonderful restaurant in a small town in north Florida.

    (5)

  • Carmella B.

    Got to go to have the experience! love the changing menu!

    (4)

  • L C.

    My daughter wanted to go to Kool Beanz for her birthday dinner. We had a party of 15. They don't take reservations and the restaurant is really very small so I knew this would be an adventure. I called ahead and was advised to come early and wait for the restaurant to open at 5:30. We got there at 5:00 and there was already several couples waiting. By the time the doors opened, there was a line that filled the retaurant. It took them a few minutes to get a large table set up, but we ended up inside. The food was all excellent. Other than a minor mishap with a vegetarian meal which they corrected quickly, everyone loved their dinners. We ordered almost every entree on the menu and several appetizers. Our waitress was outstanding. She handled our group with expertise and style. The prices are higher than most Tallahassee retaurants, but nothing was unreasonable. The reason for the 4 stars is the tight quarters. Once seated it was very difficult for anyone to get up if they had to, and twice members of our party had to get up so they could seat people behind us. Other than that - it was good. I was told the weekend wait is usually 1.5 hours. I'm not sure I'd be willing to do that too often, but for a special occasion, it might be worth it. Overall great experience.

    (4)

  • Season S.

    Holy hell! You can not go wrong with Kool Beanz. Everything I have ever ate there has been delicious. My absolute favorite meal there was the gouda stuffed lamb sliders. Last weekend my husband ordered the apple dumpling for dessert and everyone devoured it. I think he might have had two bites of it. The apple dumpling should stay on the menu daily! That's how amazing it was.

    (5)

  • Kate W.

    Wonderful lunch spot! I was in Tallahassee for work and almost didn't go here because from reviews it sounded too fancy and expensive. It wasn't any of that. I sat outside on the patio and it was glorious. The food was amazing, as was the service! The prices were very good for the well blended flavor profiles and innovative food. So wonderful! I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Usu I.

    Flavor , Flavor , Flavor ! This restaurant hits the nail on the head when it comes to a savory dish! Everything that I tasted was very delicious. I was so pleased with the selections and the environment. When the food was placed in front of me, I imagined a more upscale atmosphere, which is what helps make this restaurant so unique. The food is so incredible, and elegant, however, the atmosphere is very down to earth, super unique place. Whenever I visit Tallahassee, I plan on getting my kool beanz fix.

    (4)

  • Ernie C.

    Type of place you'd expect to see on the Food Network. Not what you'd expect to see in a former cheap Diner on Thomasville road in Tally. Very "hip" and good food, but WAY overpriced in my opinion. Stopped in for a quick bit en route to a FSU basketball game. This would be a good special occasion place, but too expensive to be a regular stop. Got some type of mahi fish filet and red beans/rice. All good, but nothing spectacular. Of note, the server gladly split the entre and salad between me and my guest. We each got our own plates out from the kitchen.

    (3)

  • Sam S.

    Great food & service! Just reading the menu was a treat. The art work help set the mood. The only thing that I would suggest better ac. I know it was summertime in Florida but it was a little warm. This would not stop me from going back. This place is way to good!

    (5)

  • Dave W.

    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.

    (5)

  • Brent S.

    I've eaten here several times now and the food is exceptional. If you haven't tried the Sunday brunch yet it is a must!!

    (4)

  • Shawn I.

    Awesome. One of the best places I have ever eaten at. I went to Kool Beanz with my sisters, wife and niece and everyone enjoyed their meal. My wife and I had the arugula pear salad and loved it. I had the salmon dish and that was good as well. I definitely would recommend this place to anyone in Tallahassee looking for a very good place to eat.

    (5)

  • Cooper G.

    My first one star review. I had such high hopes for this place. I pulled off of Florida State's campus and specifically went out of my way to eat here. I grabbed a menu and went and sat at the bar. 15 minutes later nobody had even asked me what I wanted to drink. I couldn't even believe it. I just handed my menu back to the guy up front and left. It could be that they were just having a bad day during a busy lunch, but I've never had to wait that long for a drink order or to put an order in. I'll probably try to go back next time I am in Tallahassee to try again just to see. I did go down to Midtown Filling Station right after... Incredible!

    (1)

  • Allen B.

    I'm going to keep this one short, because there's plenty of description here already. I absolutely love this place. When my employer brings in recruits, I always take them to Kool Beanz because it exemplifies what I love about Tallahassee. Just a great variety of food, all of it high quality, and something for everyone. My wife and I are practically polar opposites when it comes to food. I like fish and vegetarian, she likes meat and potatoes. We both leave extremely happy. The menu changes all the time, so it's tough to give any specific recommendations. But get the hummus, it's great, and every fish meal I've ever had was fantastic. The crab cakes are also very well done. By the way, if you were to get three appetizers to split between two people, that would be a full meal. The portions are HUGE. I almost always take home enough food for lunch the next day. I highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Fred P.

    This was my first time visiting the Kool Beans Cafe, but it will not be my last. I am in town for a two week school and was looking for a good but different place to eat and I found it. The hosts and wait staff were friendly and helpful. Since I was by myself they offered to seat me at the counter so I could watch the chefs cook. The food was fantastic. I had the chilled avocado-cucumber soup with poached shrimp and for the main course I had the grilled duck breast with snow peas and sweet potatoes. This is a restaurant that you should put on your "must try" list. I know I will dine here again before school is over and I will stop by the next time I am up this way.

    (5)

  • jay w.

    Wow... this is modern southern cooking. A spectacular menu that frequently changes. For appetizers, had the ginger gyozas with a spicy pineapple sauce the crab cakes The pineapple sauce was out-of-this-world started off the meal perfectly. Had a side salad next... they'll give you a half salad for the half the price! Chose the spinach, asparagus and mushroom salad with a balsamic vinaigrette and topped with lightly fried potato slivers. Really a simple, but great salad. Finally had the stripped bass with refried pinto beans and yucca slices. The beans were delectable and the bass was to die for. Great meal. Another example of how southern cooking is on the rise...

    (5)

  • Mary B.

    I truly enjoy going to Kool Beanz... but the food selection is minimal, the people that seat you can be unhelpful, and the wait to eat can be atrocious. However, their appetizers are fantastic! Always something good there. The menu changes a lot and recently I haven't really enjoyed my food. It's strange, I can't pinpoint exactly what I didn't enjoy, I think the flavors of dish just didn't mesh very well (I got an ahi tuna entree once and a steak a different time). The decor is absolutely lovely, the waitstaff is always SO nice, and the outdoor seating is fantastic. They lucked out with their location; they were there before midtown was "cool" and now they are in the heart of it!

    (3)

  • Whitnae P.

    This place is pricey, even for lunch but is sooooooo good. Never had a plate of food here I didn't like and I love how the menu changes so often. Its refreshing. The wine and beer selection is decent too. The portion sizes aren't great but they want to be a fancy restaurant. You can't say the food doesn't reflect that desire either.

    (4)

  • Carolyn A.

    My new favorite place! Had the cornmeal dusted Rainbow Trout with grits for lunch yesterday - yum! Looking forward to my next meal there. Service, food, atmosphere - I have zero complaints. If you haven't tried this place already - do so soon!

    (5)

  • Keagan W.

    Excellent. My linguini was amazing. Mushrooms were good. I liked sitting outside with the family. Service was a bit slow but not bad. Nice place. Cheaper during lunch.

    (5)

  • Ryan C.

    I stopped by for lunch while in town for a conference. I went on the recommendation of a friend and my friend was right to recommend it. The menu is amazing - it's a selection of unique dishes that you're very unlikely to find anywhere else. All of the options sounded great, making it hard to decide what I wanted. I went with a breaded chicken dish on a bed of fried yucca and refried beans with a zesty avocado sauce. It was delectable and the serving was huge. The person I was with also really liked her entree. I'd go back in a heartbeat just to try some of the other fun stuff on the menu. Oh, and the interior is very cool. It's tastefully decorated and you can watch the cooks make your food as the kitchen is pretty much open and right next to where you're eating. We showed up at 11:00 am on a Thursday and by 11:30 it was completely full. If busyness is an indicator of quality, I'd suggest this place is top notch. I strongly recommend it!

    (5)

  • Therese S.

    I went for brunch and was impressed by the original combinations on the menu. I had the banana rum french toast with sweet plantains and spicy walnuts. So yummy! Only complaint is that I wished the French toast was thicker. Sorry it's a staple!

    (4)

  • Kimberly N.

    The salmon is to DIE for!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Karen B.

    Oh my God. Food heaven. Jerk chicken and grilled salmon. Salty caramel gelato with warm brownie and bruleed banana. Orgasmic.

    (5)

  • Heidi S.

    This was a great restaurant and just what we needed after a long day of travel. The food was terrific and the art on the walls fun and beautiful. One of the nicest meals we had on our trip in Florida!

    (4)

  • Diane B.

    When we first walked up to this restaurant we were afraid to go in. Didn't look like much. Once you walk in you see that it has a cool atmosphere. Not fancy but looked interesting. Then we had the meal which was delicious. No complaints at all there. Pricing was great too. All was going really well...until a few of my table mates said don't look behind you...and then told me to jump up. What was crawling behind me on the wall was a cockroach which my friend got rid of. When we mentioned it to the server (who will remain nameless) he shrugged it off and said something about the rain and something like no big deal we spray for bugs. I couldn't believe it. I would have been horrified and had the manager come over in a sec. No accommodations or concern about it was provided by the server. Ruined the whole experience. Makes me ill to just think about it. I have lived in Florida all my life and have worked in countless restaurants and so appreciate that these things happen but I certainly don't understand the response by the server. He could have made it a much better experience. This is the first bad review I have ever provided but they deserve it.

    (1)

  • Scottie B.

    If you had asked me only about food, I would have given it 5 stars. One of the best meals of my life was eaten here. If you had asked me only about the service, I would have given it 2-3 stars. Because, in my mind, the quality of food is more important than the quality of service, my overall rating is 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Monica R.

    Kool Beanz Cafe was recommended to us by the locals, and I must say, it did not disappoint. I love that the chef inspired menu changes daily, and that the staff is more than willing to accommodate any substitutions. I highly recommend the crab cakes with the jalapeño tartar sauce. Amazing!

    (4)

  • Nichole W.

    Love this place. The menu always changes and the combinations are always unique. Must have the salmon, must have the sweet potato.

    (4)

  • Rachel H.

    I ate here for dinner tonight. The food is pretty amazing. I have a mojo and shrimp type dish over rice and beans, conch fritters for an appetizer, and an amazing sour cream pound cake with fresh peaches and blueberries! My friend had a white fish and homemade carrot cake cream for . The staff is super friendly and they food came out rather quickly! I also love this place because they use locally grown produce and their is local art for sale all over the place! Definitely a must visit if you are ever in Tallahassee! A little pricey but its totally worth it!

    (4)

  • Kristen M.

    DO NOT MISS this place if you are in Tally! I have recently moved out of Tallahassee and miss this restaurant so much. It is by far the best place to eat in town--it outshines all other restaurants of its caliber! In fact, in my new hometown, I am constantly lamenting the fact that there is no restaurant that even comes close in flavor, food quality, presentation, and service. It is a MUST when in Tally----Kool Beanz--I miss you!

    (5)

  • Jerry H.

    I love this place. One of the best in tally. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Doug R.

    Wow, how did I spend ten years in TLH before trying this? Food and wine selection were out of this world. I was truly impressed with the portion size. Kool Beans Cafe is my new favorite spot in Tally.

    (5)

  • Isaac M.

    This place is really good. I'm here visiting from LA and I felt at home. I did sit at the counter and it was a great view of all the food being made. But the only thing that bothered me is that the head Chef kept using the same dirty towel to wipe each dish as it came out for the customer!!!! That towel was set at the counter and all over. Very bothered. They would have gotten an extra star if it wasn't for that.

    (3)

  • Anthony R.

    What a great find in Tallahassee. Nice to find crafted food for the frequent business traveler. Will be going back as the menu changes daily, always something new to look forward to.

    (4)

  • Caroline C.

    Really good food, but expensive for Tallahassee standards. I had the salmon & couscous entree. Very well made and had a lot of flavor. Our table also had some sort of chocolate cake for dessert, which was very rich. This is probably one of the best places in Tallahassee.

    (5)

  • Debbie K.

    Great venue... I've been going here since it was a small facility. Now the outdoor seating adds even more to this great, exciting place to eat and drink. I love taking customers here, or having business lunches here. My favorite dish was the mussels in coconut milk, and the seafood dishes are always winners! Fresh ingredients make for a great dining experience.Great wines, unique food and friendly servers. Ask for Suzanne, she's great!

    (4)

  • David S.

    Lunch was a pretty decent deal. And this is coming from someone who does not really care how fresh, healthy, or fancy the food is--or how trendy the restaurant is. I had a fish entree that was $13, which is not pricey. It was actually pretty tasty, which I don't usually say about fish. The waitress was good.

    (4)

  • Awesome 8.

    A pretty good place to get some interesting and delicious food. The food here is always good and always fresh and that is something that is definitely a priority here. It is a little expensive for what you get but it is a nice change of pace and just different enough from any other place in Tallahassee to make it unique. I recommend this place if your looking for some pretty good food thats not typical of Tallahassee. The service is always friendly but sometimes the kitchen gets a bit backed up and the staff overwhelmed but thats to be expected when the place is jammed. Otherwise a great experience and one I hope to have again soon.

    (4)

  • Mary K.

    Great place food was fantastic. I had the flank steak and my husband had the tile fish. Sat at the counter and watched the chefs create everything. A really unique restaurant a must when you visit Tallahassee.

    (5)

  • Mary J.

    My favorite restaurant in Tallahassee. Eclectic menu that is forever changing and a great spot to hangout and enjoy good wine.

    (5)

  • Alan L.

    I went to Kool Beanz Cafe on a Saturday night about 7:30pm. The place was full, I did call ahead, but they don't accept reservations. This place also changes their menu daily. I did check the online menu Saturday, late afternoon, but it was a different menu when I got there that night, so that wasn't "Kool". When I got there, I could sit at the bar/counter immediately, wait 30 minutes for an inside table, or wait a few minutes for an outside table. I elected to sit at the bar (not really a bar, but you sit at counter and watch chefs cook food. I had the crab cakes for an appetizer (2 crab cakes for about $8). For dinner, I had the Linguine with Crawfish ($17), my friend had the Pork Tenderloin w/rice ($18 or so). Most dinners are priced between $17-23). Both dinners were delicious, very good sized portions (bigger portions than Mozaik). Overall, very satisfied, this was my first time there, it doesn't look like all that from the outside, but the food is definitely excellent. I definitely can't afford to go there weekly or anything, but a nice, casual place for a special occasion. (Only reason they were not a 5 in my book is because they are supposed to keep their daily menus up to date on the internet, they did not do that, so if I wanted what I saw online, I would have been disappointed).

    (4)

  • Michael H.

    Ate lunch and there were so many great choices. Very creative cuisine at a lunchtime price. The desserts are great too!

    (5)

  • Abby A.

    Outstanding. I had boneless duck with winter vegetables. Wiped up my sauce with bread at the end. Tasted husband's salmon with tomato jam. Also very yummy. We split bittersweet chocolate cake with orange compote and vanilla. Also to die for. Service was excellent. With one salad, wine, coffee and tip the bill was just over $100 but worth every penny. We don't live here, but if we ever come back, this is where we will eat, for sure.

    (5)

  • Ronald C.

    Ate 2 times here and am impressed all the time. Sit at the bar and see the action. A real food surprise every time you eat something.. Lots of Tattoos, and no ties liked in here. Great service and OK wine list. Go for the Food its is worth it.

    (5)

  • Roberta V.

    Creative menus using a lot of locally sourced organic produce. I love the Caribbean inspired dishes. Seafood is always a good bet! I am a good cook and I always get inspired when I eat here.

    (4)

  • Kelly L.

    excellent food - and a fun and wonderful atmosphere. threatened to go back again during my 3 night stay, but i will be back in July -- so will stop in again. I had the grouper, a friend the low-country stew -- both were incredible. And the artwork for sale on the walls is fun...

    (5)

  • Y Y.

    I like their menu which as another reviewer said, is long and creative. They also change their menu periodically and are creative with the types of sauces, garnishes and sides. Each time I have been they have been absolutely full and we had to wait for a while. Very popular place for both lunch and dinner so be prepared to wait during peak times. Reasonably priced and something on the menu for everyone.

    (4)

  • Jen S.

    Really creative menu and great flavors. We shared calamari, fried oysters and crab cakes for starters and I had a coffee crusted pork loin with sweet potato risotto that was delish!

    (4)

  • Christin G.

    The best food you can customize, the best service you can ask for at a lay back restaurant. Gives you a nice feel inside with local art on the walls. Definitely a friendly environment.

    (5)

  • Karen W.

    For Tallahassee, this place is amazing. Eclectic decor, funky menu items (including several vegetarian options), and some good wines and beers. We went early for dinner and were seated right away. Our appetizers were delicious; my salad, which I got as an entree, was not as special but was still fine. It just needed a little more to it. The service was fine -- not remarkably good or bad. In a town filled with chain restaurants this unique place is a standout.

    (4)

  • J C.

    Kool Beanz was one of my first good meals here in fair Tallahassee. The evening started out ominously because they didn't have a full bar, and I was coming to realize practically nowhere in Tally does -- something about the licenses being super expensive and limited. Anyway, I was able to keep my buzz going with some bubbly. Their menu is super creative and very long. A mostly-vegetarian who sometimes eats fish (but not usually 'cause fish are creepy), I did find that there were very few vegetarian-friendly items. But it wasn't a problem at all as the staff immediately offered to whip up something special. I love being whipped up something special. It's very special. The resultant meal was way delicious and the service was, again, excellent and attentive. The one bad thing: we were with a wheelchair user and the place was not very accessible. The one ramp was blocked by somebody's car. They seriously need to make their dinky parking lot wheelchair friendly.

    (5)

  • Paul F.

    Excellant food, great service. Prices are good for the quality and creativity. Only complaint was the comfort level--way too warm inside. Definitely worth another visit.

    (4)

  • FromScratch M.

    This place is good. Always an interesting menu though they do seem to run out of the really interesting stuff before I get there. Sometimes a bit sloppy. They are excellent community citizens.

    (4)

  • Kevin M.

    Tallahassee isn't on any foodie's top 10 list. Burgers and pizza are the favs - not that they don't have their place - but when you want something more in Tally you're often SOL. Well check out KBC. This place would fair well in any major cosmopolitan area; in FL's capital it flat rocks. They have fish, folks, and it isn't all fried. They don't overcook their food. There is imagination in their menu and not the usual recycled fern bar crap. The wine list isn't long (hell, it fits on a wine bottle), but it covers the bases and is priced reasonably. And the service, though laid back, is just fine. So when you're in Tallahassee and want real food, but don't want to cook, go to KBC. You won't be disappointed.

    (4)

  • John W.

    One of the best places to dine in Tallahassee, if not the best.

    (5)

  • scott n.

    This place is a culinary oasis in a desert of mediocre food. Highly recommend this place for a great dinner. Servers are also really friendly and helpful. I've been there twice and was impressed both times.

    (4)

  • Alex G.

    I don't really want to share my opinion too much in this review because it's not really necessary. You just need to go there, close your eyes, point to a random item on the menu, order it, eat it, throw it back up, and eat it again. Even on the second time around, it's still better than half of the restaurants in Tallahassee. That's a fact. I'm sure I don't really have to try to convince you that this place is good. The only concern I've seen in other reviews is the price. I personally don't see that being an issue at all, unless you're comparing their prices to T.G.I. Friday's or something, in which case, you're an idiot and this review is not intended for you. Something that I haven't heard people talk enough about is the Sunday brunch. The average price for a plate is $10 and the portions are filling so if you've never been to Kool Beanz and you're not brave enough to go straight for the dinner, I suppose brunch would be a good place to get your feet wet. But if you give a mouse a cookie, he'll want a glass of milk and if you get the brunch, you'll want a dinner and a bottle of wine and probably some conch fritters too. And when you actually do go there for dinner, by the end of it, you won't care how much it costs. You'll actually probably just want to initiate some type of automatic payment to Kool Beanz deducted from every paycheck and just exchange all of the U.S. currency in your possession for food from this restaurant.

    (5)

  • John M.

    received a recommendation from a passenger on my flight in. this is my second trip here and the experience has been outstanding. eclectic decor, friendly and knowledgeable wait staff and the menu is an experience in and unto itself. quality of the food and presentation is amazing. I would put it on the "must visit" list when in town.

    (5)

  • Jeff H.

    My one star is not for food quality or bad service. This concept - a bite size morsel of food the size of an M&M in the center of a plate, with sauce drizzled around it - sucks. If you come to this place hungry, you'll spend a lot of money and end up hitting Whataburger just down Thomasville Rd. If you like to be part of the hip and with it crowd, enjoy. I'll pass. Can't believe I actually wasted money here.

    (1)

  • Adina F.

    I can't help myself, I have to write another update on Kool Beanz because its just THAT GOOD!!! I've gone several times since my original review, but the most recent trip was for my graduation dinner with my family. They sat us immediately (we beat the huge rush that usually accompanies Thursday nights) and the server straight away asked for our drink orders. Got a dry white and the escargot I usually get for my appetizer, which was superb. The snails were over angel hair pasta with garlic butter sauce and it was delicioussss, just as fresh as it has always been. I ordered Thai inspired Mahi Mahi that came with sweet potato fries and vegetables. My dad ordered the pork schnitzel, sister got the filet mignon with onion rings (the best I've ever had in my life I gotta say!) and mom ordered bass with asparagus. Even my grandma liked it, and she doesn't like anything!!! EVERYTHING was super fresh, came out in a timely manner, and delicious. Ther menus have something for everybody and they are constantly changing, never have I ordered the same thing twice and never have I seen the same menu at KB! Best restaurant in Tallahassee, you must eat here!

    (5)

  • Jacqui M.

    Great food in cozy atmosphere, cool art on the walls, and now with outdoor seating. Fresh seafood. Unpretentious. Nice wine list. Definitely will be back here.

    (4)

  • Jennifer M.

    Great food and such a lovely atmosphere. We had the mussels and the scallops. Both very fresh and well prepared. I was a little sick of overprepared, over seasoned food during many diner stops on our road trip. So great to stop at a place that's more about good flavors of the natural ingredients. The wait staff were friendly and helpful. Too bad we were driving through... This could easily be a regular spot for us.

    (5)

  • robert l.

    I'm a foodie: I live in San Francisco, one of the best restaurant cities in America, and I judge restaurants in other cities by whether I think they could survive here. Kool Beanz has it all: phenomenal food, staff that is friendly, helpful, knowlegeable and smart and an ambiance that just says "relax - you're with friends." I had dinner there and was so impressed that I returned the next day for lunch. Seriously, folks: I travel a ton on business and I've eaten my share of restaurant meals. Kool Beanz is one of the best restaurants I've ever - ever - enjoyed. I'd come back in a heartbeat. Oh, and don't miss the Boston Cream Pie - it is absolutely to die for! THANK YOU KOOL BEANZ!!!

    (5)

  • Jeff C.

    I had the lamb sirloin w/ asparagus and mashed potatoes - very tasty. The main dining room was full so I sat out on of the patio directly under one of their outdoor heaters. Great service and atmosphere, I will go back!

    (4)

  • Paula D.

    We visited for lunch on New Year's Eve, it was pretty busy but our waiter was attentive and the food came out reasonably fast. I enjoyed delicious fried shrimp & grits and my husband enjoyed his lamb burgers & mac and cheese.

    (4)

  • Anne H.

    This is a lunch review. Food: four stars. The menu was delightfully varied and surprising. It seems to be some sort of fusion between southern low-country cooking and South American cuisine. The food, when it came, was delicious, light but savory. We thought the portion sizes were a little depressing when we first saw them ("yucca fries" with my shrimp tostada actually meant two rather piddly sticks of yucca), but it turned out to be just the right amount of food. It's not the same level of mouth-watering, eye-rolling yumminess as Cypress or Clusters & Hops, but it's a very fun, adventurous menu that can't go wrong. The Service: two stars. It was really not good. The servers, when we got them, were friendly enough, but it took quite awhile to get menus, water, that kind of thing. We were ready to order our meals by the time she took our drink orders. We waited forever for our check, even after they had cleared our table (weird), and I never once got a refill on my diet soda (one other little picky thing, I asked for diet coke and I'm fairly certain it was actually diet pepsi. Which was fine really, but I wish they'd asked).

    (3)

  • Whitney N.

    Really great spot for food in Tallahassee. Everything is so delicious and fresh, yet they sustain such a casual atmosphere. It's definitely out of my price range for every day eats, but I come here on occasion when I'm feeling fancy. At Sunday brunch, the chicken and waffles and the lobster mac n cheese are both mouth watering. They don't take reservations, though, so if you're looking to eat dinner on a weekend night, be prepared to wait!

    (5)

  • Ted W.

    The wait staff was typical Tallahassee slow...but the food was eclectic for Tallahassee. The BBQ pork over the sweet potato pancake was a great appetizer as were the black bean cakes.

    (4)

  • Gary H.

    My first yelp review, I live and eat well in sf, and this restaurant is in my top 5 meals of all time. Come with a large group so you can try a lot of things... The only thing that needs to be said, if you come to tallahassee and don't eat here, you're only going to hurt yourself. End of story.

    (5)

  • Mark B.

    Tip. Sit at the counter and watch your meal take shape. It's a few miles south of the Interstate and well worth the detour. It was so good we had to stop there again when driving through Tallahassee a week later. One note of caution, if you like bland food then stay away. These dishes are full of spices. Not hot, spicy in the best way.

    (5)

  • Ted H.

    Best surprise on this business trip. From the outside? You'd never know how good it is on the inside... Glad a colleague mentioned it to me. I will be back... Only downside is parking can become problematic.

    (5)

  • Lady D.

    Everything is fresh and homemade. The dressings are wonderful which top a crunchy salad. You can order 1/2 salad at lunch with an order. My entree was grouper - perfectly done, with grits and Green beans. Hubby, being a meats and potato type, ordered chicken fried chicken with collard greens, field peas, and mashed potatoes. Everything was pèrfectly seasoned. I love the atmosphere here and the food. I can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Crispian G.

    kool beanz is really really really really really good. they're menu is really creative and constantly changing. there are a lot of options to choose from which can sometimes be a bad thing but it's a good thing at kool beanz.

    (5)

  • Stella H.

    Been here twice when I came to toewn. Food was sooo good. I will be back again

    (5)

  • Carmen A.

    Food is different... But it tastes ok. would go back.

    (3)

  • Abby C.

    This place really deserves its five star reviews. We had the sesame seed crusted tuna and the grilled salmon. Both were fresh and delicious. We plan to stop here the next time we are in Tallahassee and try something else!

    (5)

  • Zachary W.

    It had been too long, but I finally got back to Kool Beanz for lunch today. It is not an inexpensive place to have lunch, but well worth it. Almost everything on the menu begs to be ordered. Good service. The only thing wrong with this place is the goofy name. I ordered the trout with green beans, a scallop cake and lemony cream/aoli sauce. Every element of the dish was perfect. Now that session is over, it is not too crowded, so I will be back soon.

    (5)

  • Corey G.

    Excellent place with a consistently eclectic, tasty menu that's reasonably priced and always changing.

    (4)

  • Zamunda Z.

    Had a great meal here last Wednesday. Their Crab cake appetizer was tasteful. I ordered their duck breast and sweet potato fries. Tasted really good. It's a little pricey for the quantity of what's served.

    (4)

  • J W.

    We just moved to Tallahassee and I was so excited to try this place because I thought this was really going to be Tallahassee's little gem. It was ok. I'm not much of a wine expert, so it was good and cold to me. We sat on the patio and that was nice. I really loved the ambiance and feel of the place. We started with a blue cheese guac with hard boiled egg on top. Something unique, so I liked it. It wasn't bursting with flavor, but I liked it mild. My husband ordered the peppered flank steak with onion rings and mashed potatoes. This meal and the ambiance are why Kool Beanz got three stars. It was perfectly cooked and delicious. My husband said it was one of the best steaks he's ever had. I got the pecan floured flounder with creamed spinach and oven fries. The fries were pretty good, but everything else was completely tasteless. Just one of the most bland things I've ever eaten. Our service was good too. But ultimately, I go to a restaurant for the food and I was disappointed.

    (3)

  • Christine U.

    This place is so amazing. I am so happy with how fast the food was served and how well it tasted. These cooks are really impressive. Amazing food. I'm from Miami and I will come here every time I come visit.

    (5)

  • Emily V.

    This has always been one of my favorite places in Tallahassee for a classy lunch and I've been going here for years, but I feel like they must have a new chef or something because I went today and the food was better than it's ever been. I had mahi with a low country sauce with andouille sausage and a grit cake and it was so phenomenal. I could have eaten a bucket of the sauce they served with it. My friend got the fried chicken which came with one of the best mac and cheeses I've ever had. My other friend had the wahoo which was fantastic as well. The shrimp and grits are always excellent as are the black bean cakes. So delicious!

    (5)

  • Argeau B.

    Superlative. Chef know s his stuff. Great sense of acidic balance. Wahoo w curry. Scallops cooked perfectly. Amazing panko crusted xalamari w grapefruit buerr blanc

    (5)

  • Jill C.

    Unusual food with great service.

    (5)

  • Tor J.

    Great Food and Service. The menu always changes but the quality stays excellent. I just wish it had more seating as it is one of my favorite places to go and sometimes it is too packed!

    (5)

  • Cana N.

    Excellent lunch today and superb service. Will definitely make Kool Beanz a regular stop from now on.

    (5)

  • Melissa B.

    I loved every single thing about this place! The decor is adorable with all the animal paintings, and the place is cozy. I was only a party of one, but I still had to wait about 20 minutes on a Thursday night... But that was fine because the hostess brought me a great glass of wine. After being seated, the server brought me delicious warm bread. I ordered the browned gnocchi, applewood bacon, caramelized onions and Gorgonzola cheese appetizer, which was phenomenal!! For my entree I got the sesame tuna, which was also amazing! I wished I had room for dessert, but I didn't. If I lived in Tallahassee I would definitely go to Kool Beans all the time! I haven't had a meal this good in many years!

    (5)

  • Carl M.

    Great place for incredible food and atmosphere. I actually sat at the counter and watched the chefs cooking the food. It was a blast. I ordered several apps just to taste them and all were fantastic. If you haven't eaten here you are missing out!!!

    (5)

  • MC P.

    A Tallahassee classic. Fresh, original cuisine. Oysters and grits are fabulous! This place is crowded and noisy, but the food is fabulous.

    (4)

  • Cherry J.

    I SERIOUSLY adore Kool Beanz. They continue to amaze me with every visit! I highly recommend getting anything with sea scallops... they are out of this world every way Kool Beanz prepares them. But everything else rocks, too, from the piping hot, uber-fresh bread and butter, to the amazing desserts. Not only is this one of the best restaurants Tallahassee has to offer, but Kool Beanz surpasses pretty much any restaurant.. ever... anywhere. :]

    (5)

  • Katie M.

    5 STARS!! Definitely my favorite restaurant in Tallahassee. I love the vibe, the decor, and the food. THE FOOOD!!!! Oh man.. I might have to head over there tonight for a treat. NOMNOMNOM

    (5)

  • Lu R.

    Mid-east style. I like the oyster for starters and ribeye for entree. The environment is good. There are many animal paintings on the wall. All in all, I enjoy the dinner here.

    (4)

  • Th S.

    This place is a true gem! The prices are reasonable, and the meals are FANTASTIC. I travel for a living and I would stop here again as well as recommend it to friends.

    (5)

  • Adam A.

    Had the sausage Benedict dish for the Sunday brunch. It was excellent. My only complaint is that it does not come with a side and it is not quite enough food by itself. So make sure to order a side of potatoes (also excellent)

    (5)

  • Erin K.

    LOVED THIS PLACE. Want to go back to Tallahassee just for you! Very cute decor, friendly & smart staff, DELICIOUS/unique food!

    (5)

  • Corey W.

    If I could give more than five stars, I would. I've been a few times now and it's been amazing. Great quality food with sort of a quirky atmosphere. I understand why it's always busy. If you're local to tally, it's a must try. Decent selection of different wines and beers compliment the unique menu perfectly.

    (5)

  • Autumn H.

    Menu changes every day or so. Casual atmosphere, upscale food, great service, large portions. I went with 3 other adults. We split a really good bottle of Reisling (and I generally don't like wine, so that's an endorsement) and had: pork tenderloin (ordered by 2 people), scallops, and pasta. Everyone loved their dish. The flavors all worked well together and were not your standard fare. For dessert, for instance, I shared a pineapple vanilla creme brulee with saffron and my friends shared a peppercorn meringue with handmade strawberry ice cream and basil sauce. They're not things you'd think to eat, but they all complemented one another and were delicious! The whole menu is like that. Good selection of beers and wines. Plenty of foods to choose from, with lots of seafood, but plenty of other stuff. We all would definitely go back again. Price is moderate, but excellent for what you get.

    (5)

  • Patrick V.

    The food was great! We had five people and our combine rating is 24 out of 25, thus our five rating. The scallops were outstanding. They were appropriately seasoned, and I would recommend to anyone. We also had the duck with Swiss chard, and it was very good and tender. The steak and onion rings were very goo so were the pulled pork. Can't wait for our next trip to TLH to eat at Kool Beanz again!!! Very strong recommendation.

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    Kool Beanz is one of those rare restaurants that you think one thing when you see it from the outside and it completely blows you away once inside. All of the dishes are built around fresh, seasonal ingredients that will have your tastebuds jumping for joy. I eat at many 5 star rated fine restaurants around the US and the food at Kool Beanz is comparable to many and superior to quite a few. The only downside to Kool Beanz is the service. The wait staff, while extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the offerings, are not know for their attentiveness to detail (refilling drinks in a timely manner, greeting new tables once seated, etc). If you are willing to look past the service and spend a good hour and a half to eat, you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • carole o.

    This tops my favourite restaurants in Tallahassee. Why not 5-stars? Cos Kool Beanz is still not fantastic when compared to food outside Tallahassee. Anyway, you have got to give this place a try if you are in Tallahassee! Where else can u eat anyway? This is one of the best! The others worth trying are Sage and A la Provence. Really kicking myself for taking so long before trying this place out. The price is good, the food is creative and tastes really delicious! We had such a hard time choosing our food both times we were there cos everything sounded delicious! They change their menus daily so u can be a regular and still be surprised which is wat I like. I like my food journey to be varied, creative and surprising. I am not going to make any recommendations since the menu changes so GO! You'll have yummy food!

    (4)

  • Pete And Lee W.

    A short 3 mile detour off of I-10 was a tiny price to pay for the incredible lunch we just ate. Amazingly delicious & creative food, funky decor, outside patio all made for an excellent experience. Great service as well. We've eaten here several times when traveling through Tallahassee and each time was wonderful; we always look forward to stopping here for a meal.

    (5)

  • Abby E.

    Kool Beanz offers consistently good, sometimes great food. It's on the expensive side, but it's not unreasonable for what it is. Service is usually good. The food is unique and creative, and there's usually something to appeal to everyone because the dishes take influences from all sorts of cuisine. I'd call it 'Eclectic New American'.

    (4)

  • Hazel P.

    After living in Tallahassee for almost four years and hearing nothing but good words about this place, we decided to give it a try. Food was far from disappointing and left our mouths and stomachs very happy. Prices were on the high end, but nothing any different than any other gourmet, upscale restaurant delivering great food around town. For advertising as a gourmet restaurant, Kool Beanz definitely has its own spin on their dishes making our experience at the restaurant unforgettable. We got their gnocchi and calamari as starters. The gnocchi was in this real heavy sauce, but still very good. The calamari was perfectly seasoned and had a delicious citrus peanut buttery sauce on the side, different from any other calamari starters I've had my entire life. For entrees, I remember my boyfriend getting the duck with squash and fried kale and eating every last bite of it. Who knew fried kale could be so good? The duck was absolutely delicious, everything just worked so perfectly together on that plate. Overall my boyfriend and I had a great experience. Food was absolutely amazing, service was great, and the whole ambiance was just different from any other restaurant I've been to here in Tallahassee. Definitely a must when eating around in Tallahassee.

    (5)

  • Bruce M.

    Get here early if you don't want to wait over an hour for a table. Interesting menu - nice variety of meat, fish, and vegetarian options. I had the browned gnocchi with bacon and Gorgonzola creme sauce and it was so salty that it was inedible! In my opinion, not worth the wait.

    (2)

  • Bill S.

    This place is a MUST visit restaurant when you are in Tallahassee. The menu changes every day and the food is prepared with perfection. The calamari is the best I have ever had in my life.

    (5)

  • Jessica S.

    The wait for a table says it all, if people are willing to wait an hour to eat here than it must be good, but when seated at the counter overlooking the kitchen, the bar stools were very uncomfortable, otherwise food, service and atmosphere were great. I would recommend eating here to everyone and plan on going back but PLEASE get better stools.

    (5)

  • Krys T.

    Best of the best! Doesn't try to be fancy, there is a very limited wine and beer list, and menus are given to you on a clipboard, but the food is outstanding. Although the menu is constantly changing, there is always something for everyone. I have gone for brunch and dinner, and I cannot wait to return.

    (5)

  • Kay S.

    We just had one of the most delicious lunches. The food was over the top. We had the trout over sautéed spinach, with the most awesome spiced up black eyed peas and roasted potatoes. It was a plate full of food. Oh, the menu changes every day. Most definitely will eat there when we are passing through again, actually we may drive over for a day, eat lunch and enjoy Tallahassee. Only two hours away. The server was awesome, we were bragging about the food. She said it was not only the best place to eat but the best place to work. Very awesome to hear that, that's why Keith has been successful for 20 years. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner. Took time out of his busy day to introduce his self to us. Seems to be a great guy. Jack & Kay PC FL

    (5)

  • Michelle K.

    "Eat, drink, and talk loud!" is this restaurant's motto. I have been to this place two other times before, one while on a date and the other at brunch with my mother. Both times were just as enjoyable as my time here recently. The walls are filled with colorful portraits of animals from local artists and the waiting staff wear shorts with matching t-shirts which give this place a casual yet fun atmosphere. It's not trying too hard to be cool, it just is. I am torn wether or not I love the daily changing menu because every time I go I fall in love with a dish that I know won't be there next time, yet I love that there is something new each visit. This time I had the fried oysters for my appetizer and I have to say they were delicious! I could do without the cheese grits because I was all about the sauce. Then for dinner I had the feta crusted salmon that was enough for me to be satisfied and take home for lunch. To finish the meal, we had to get dessert so we had the chocolate cake. This cake was a little too rich for my taste but still very tasty!

    (4)

  • Andrea A.

    I always stop in when I'm in Tallahassee. I've had a variety of items here but my favorite has been the steak with onion rings. I got the duck with Brussels sprouts and quinoa risotto on my last trip in and wished I'd gotten the steak. But this ridiculous brownie dessert made up for it. I also love the king estate pino Gris.

    (4)

  • Allison N.

    After visiting so many times and now living in Tallahassee for nearly six months, I FINALLY made it to Kool Beanz. Don't chastise me for the sheer absurdity of this statement for I regret not coming here sooner. My friends and I decided to come here for dinner tonight and I was super excited since I have heard and read so much about this place but surprisingly had never been. Since we arrived on a Saturday night, there was a wait but we didn't mind at all. The interior of Kool Beanz is loaded with local art. I didn't get to see all of it, but nearly every inch of the walls inside is covered with a variety of paintings on canvas, cardstock and even actual window frames. Really cool and adds a lot of brightness to the restaurant. We were seated outside which wasn't too bad since they had fans running and the weather has started to cool off. We asked for a couple of recommendations from our server, Elliott, and ended up getting the fried oysters. The fried oysters came out in a decent amount of time and were smack dab in the middle of a deliciously creamy remoulade and cheese grits. Now, cheese grits are totally hit or miss for me. I've only been to one or two places that make cheese grits the way they should be made (in Nashville) and these were just okay. The remoulade was incredible though and the oysters were so tasty dipped in it. Truly a southern classic. We were supposed to receive bread for our table but the bread did not come out until we had asked and after our entree came out. Even then, it took forever to get it. But, moving on. For my entree, I ordered the salmon which came with some sort of feta battered pancake like topping on it. I asked to substitute the sides for brussel sprouts and cauliflower. One of my friends also ordered the salmon and my other friend got the pork chops. Our food took a little while to come out. Once our entrees came out I realized the topping for my salmon, which was an aioli and artichoke mix, wasn't on my salmon. The only way I knew this was because my friend ordered the same thing, so I thought it was strange they'd leave it off of one meal and not the other. The food itself was really good. The salmon was a decent portion and the toppings were excellent. I loved the variety of flavors with the aioli, artichoke and the salmon. The vegetables were cooked perfectly. They weren't hard or too mushy. My friend let me have her green beans with bacon on them and they were quite good. They were dipped in some kind of sweet bacon marmalade which really complemented the vegetable taste well. We topped all of this off with the chocolate cake, which had layers of mousse and ganache. The cake was quite good. Not the best cake I've ever had in my life, but definitely a solid contender in chocolate cake world. The mousse was rich and decadent but the dessert itself didn't give me a huge sugar headache afterwards. It felt light and flavorful. The service was pretty decent but we were there for quite a long time, a little too long. Of course it's not too bad when you have great company to talk to, but noticing tables who had arrived after we did get their food and their check before we did didn't sit well with me. I also don't think we should have had to ask for the bread and I think our server should have been more watchful as to what happened with the topping on my salmon. The service wasn't terrible, but it was slow and jarred at times. This is the reason why I'm giving Kool Beanz four stars instead of five. The food can be a little pricy at dinnertime, but the quality of my meal was probably one of the highest I've had while living in Tallahassee. I would love to try this place out for brunch and I will definitely come back for lunch or dinner to see if I can bump this rating up another star.

    (4)

  • Kevin F.

    We arrived at 7:30 and the wait was already 40 minutes long. We tossed our name on the list and grabbed a spot on the bench. The hostess took a drink order for us and brought a glass of wine out for my wife. About 20 minutes in, we were offered a spot at the counter, in front of the kitchen. We took it and I am glad we did. It was fun watching everyone in the kitchen, and reminded me of my time in the biz. The menu was really great, diverse, and apparently always updated. I ordered the wild boar ribs that were on that night and they were terrific. I saw some amazing food coming out and seeing it all made me want to come back and try other dishes. My wife had another glass of wine, and I has a beer - none over the top price wise. All in all, the prices were on point with the food and service and we can't wait to come back!

    (5)

  • Natalie O.

    We are new to Tally and I've been eager to try this place out! My 1st (and only so far) experience was for Mother's day brunch. We got there at about 10:15 (doors open at 10:30) and there was a line forming. By the time they let people in, we were in the first 3rd of the line. They were seating people quickly, it was a breeze. We opted to sit outside, where they have a nice covered patio with plenty of fans. But I think our server waited on our table last... we were without drinks for a while. But I also get the servers POV, they get sat all at once so it must not be the easiest situation. The hubby got Shrimp and Grits, which were amazing. Lots of delicious sauce which a bigger grit size than the usual suspects. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. The only thing he complained about is that he wanted more shrimp. I ordered the Chicken and Waffle. The batter on the chicken was so tasty, crispy and salty. The sweet potato waffle (with chunks of sweet potato), was a little dense for my preference. I really loved the "syrup", which was a spicy & sweet pepper sauce...a little reminiscent of sweet chili sauce. It was an excellent meal! I can't wait to go back and try dinner.

    (4)

  • Stella M.

    This was a difficult place to rate. My husband's dish was cooked really well and I would give it a solid 4 stars (not 5 because it was slightly on the oily side). He ordered the beef short rib and it was really tender and had great complimentary sides including vegetables and potatoes with soft creamy chèvre. I ordered the jerked swordfish and it was a little bland. The black bean base and rice did not add much to the dish and it probably could have used more pineapple salsa. Our appetizer was the buffalo gator tail and those were delicious! I certainly would have given that 5 stars if I only ordered those. The last thing that brought my rating down was my service. Our waitress did not take our order or over 15 minutes. There was a point when she blatantly ignored us and offered to help other servers run their dishes even though there we're only two dishes they easily could have handled by themselves.

    (3)

  • Allie A.

    While Yelp doesn't have half stars, Kool Beanz definitely gets a 4.5 in my book! This highly talked about joint had been one of my bookmarks for awhile, and talked up by many folks in the area, so our expectations were pretty darn high going in. We arrived just in time (probably around 6 pm on a Tuesday) so there wasn't a wait just yet, but the place was packed by the time we left. The place is decorated by art for sale, whimsical pieces that I couldn't help but get out of my seat and check out. There is one particular painting of a dog in the hallway to the bathroom that I'm crossing my fingers will still be there by our next visit. Comfy, homey and not a bit pretentious environment. Our server, Austin, was beyond excellent! Super nice, made solid recommendations, and anticipated our drink needs before we did. I read through a few reviews about slow service, and while there was a tad bit of a wait between courses, I actually prefer it that way. I thought the timing was perfect. Anyway, we started with the duck confit, with lemon truffle sauce and frizzled leeks. This was outstanding. Crispy duck skin (omg so good), moist meat and that sauce?!!! Lemony-deliciousness and we (ok, mainly it was just me, cause it was so good I had an issue with sharing) sopped up the rest with my bread. For my entree, I was having an issue deciding between a few things, and Austin recommended the blackened scallops. I'm always a little weary of ordering scallops, because so many places overcook, but these were perfection. Perfect blackened sear, and cut with your fork buttery tender. The Bearnaise sauce was good, but was just a bit of an interesting combination with the red beans and rice. (But, I prefer my beans and rice a bit spicy, and Austin brought us out some of their house-made hot sauce... and watch out folks... it brings the heat! YUM!) The fried okra came out in whole pieces (love) so you could pick it up and eat it like french fries. Perfect for dipping in that hot sauce. Excellent. I had a bite of Adam's mojo chicken... and had a little bit a entree envy. I had a shrimp (huge, succelent, delicious) and some sausage (amazing) and the black beans and rice, to die for! The entire dish had melted cheese all over, and, I never thought I'd say this in my entire life, but it was a tad too much cheese.... and took away from the meats in the dish. Still excellent though. I'd order it again with a request to go lighter on the cheese. I wish we would have saved room for dessert, as the pics look killer, but we had plans on more of a liquid dessert (beer) on our agenda. All in all, I'm in love with the place. Don't let that missing star deter you.... I'm super excited to come back (again, and again, and again) to check out the ever changing menu and bask in the chill vibe. And thank you Austin, for fantastic service!!

    (4)

  • Ellen J.

    An upscale date night hot spot. This is where my partner and I like to have a little splurge. Food is fresh, local and delicious, service is friendly and quick. Mojo chicken, fried oysters and grits, and anything fish is our go to. Servers also offered great insight into new menu items and helpful with suggestions. This will become a monthly outing.

    (5)

  • Amanda T.

    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.

    (4)

  • Laura W.

    Wow! What a surprise. This place is a find. We came from FL not expecting much, but boy were we in for a treat. The lunch menu comprises of 5-6 salads and three times more entrees. And it's the kind of menu that makes you salivate just looking at it, and where everything is so good you can't decide what to order. I opted for the pork chop with Gorgonzola coleslaw (life changer!), the mac and cheese ( one of the best I've ever had, and yet it's nothing fancy) and the rice and beans. My better half got the fish (can't remember which one, but my, was it good) with beans (amazing) and yucca fries. The environment is dark and eclectic to say the least, with walls covered with an extensive variety of colorful animal paintings. Not my style, but the food was so delicious, I'm looking forward to going out next visit. Put this place on your radar screen if you're road tripping through FL. It is great!!

    (5)

  • Karen C.

    NO LONGER DOG FRIENDLY!! WE took the shuttle from our hotel with great recommendations only to be told we could not sit in their empty patio because "they got in trouble. " We had to have the shuttle return and went to midtown caboose. No problems. So much for Tallahassee's finest. When traveling you need choices. Thanks Caboose. Not cool Beanz.

    (1)

  • Kenzie F.

    The best place in town!!! I have been here for brunch (I recommend the BLT) and was blown away. Their home fries are out of this world! And the BLT was HUGE with a large fried green tomato that was so good I will be back. I have been for dinner several times and love all their varieties of entrees. I always get something with steak and am amazed at the flavors they create.

    (5)

  • Kate M.

    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.

    (3)

  • Michael G.

    Kool Beans is a local Tallahassee institution, and on days when the kitchen is on its game, the food is terrific. I've eaten here more than a dozen times (either with friends or as part of business meals), and the biggest issue is one of consistency. Two examples: in the Spring I ate there on a Friday and had a delicious eggplant Napoleon appetizer. It was fantastic. By chance I was there again the following Tuesday for a business dinner and ordered the same dish - what I was served was the same components but in a different preparation, and not a good one. Last time I was there I had maybe the best crab cake of my life. The time before, though? Merely average. The atmosphere is eclectic, and I love that they source as much as possible from local purveyors. But from one meal to the next I never know if it'll be a great meal or something just average. I gave it three stars, but it's more like 3.5.

    (3)

  • Calvin F.

    Delicious. Took my girlfriend here for a special date and it did not let down. Had the Grilled Wahoo and can say without a doubt it was the best piece of fish I've ever had. If I could change one thing, I think a few more beers on the menu would work but the selection was sufficient.

    (5)

  • Helen H.

    Best restaurant meal in a long time. Many spectacular offerings. The pork chops, fish and chips and the apple arugula salad topped with your choice of protein were all spectacular. We can also highly recommend the green peas, green beans and Mac and cheese. Will definitely be back the next time thru Tallahassee

    (5)

  • LaQuata W.

    Made it for brunch right when they opened and it was excellent! I had the French toast and my friend had the chicken and waffles and both were delicious! Service was great and our waiter, Dan, was awesome. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Boon C.

    We have driven from Chipley to Tampa and suggest my boss to stop at this cool place for dinner. I have mention this is good restaurant to visit due to my past experience. The service of the night is started with they are not taking any reservation and is first come first serve situation. We waited for 8 minutes for the table which is not bad. The service is slow at the beginning after we have sit down. It took the waiter 12 minutes to approach us and she kept saying she will be right back and busy on the next table. By the time we have ordered our main course to our food come out is about 40 minutes. Normal food from order to deliver for most of the restaurant is about 20 minutes, we are waiting at least 20 minutes extra for our food. After the food was deliver to our table, our server did not check on our table once. I have to get other waitress attention to bring a to go box and check. We have provided the credit card immediately. This restaurant have the inside and out side sitting. I went inside the restaurant for restroom and I have noticed our waitress is serving other table inside and forget about us. When the check comeback, the credit card printout and receipt is missing. We have to get other waitress to tell our waitress there is a missing credit card info. We waited another 7 minutes. Totally we are spend additional 50 minutes where could have arrive at home early. The food is good but the the service and food deliver has turn me away. It make me look bad in front of my boss. And we take an effort of extra 15 minutes to drive from Interstate to drive here. I will not make extra trip to get to this restaurant any more. I was going to write more about the food but this incident have turn me away. As a result I have change my update review to 2 stars from my previous 5 stars review. I did not get the waitress name, but the credit card info indicate server ID No. 13 on 2-23-2015. This restaurant is hit and miss.

    (2)

  • dena r.

    My absolute favorite place in town. Their food is fresh, imaginative, and a lot times local. some of my favorites include the fried oysters app, the sea scallop entrée and the flank steak entrée - all amazing though I've never been disappointed with other choices. It's a tad pricey and the wait can be long but to me, it's well worth it.

    (5)

  • Alana T.

    Kool Beanz is a Tallahassee legend and well-deserving! I had brunch there last weekend and it was a treat as always - my seared scallops served with a mango salsa were heaven and the yuca fries (which i dipped in chipotle sour cream) were just the cherry on top!

    (5)

  • Gordon C.

    This place has really awesome food! The duck I remember being one of my favorites. Brilliantly composed meals and reasonable prices. You cant go wrong here bringing friends here! This place reminds me of nice restaurants in he big city with a touch of class!

    (5)

  • Daniel M.

    Quirky, different twist on some southern favorites. Food quality is great and fresh. I had cold potatoes and they brought back hot fresh ones with a smile and a huge order of it. The fried chicken is juicy and fresh. Great quality food just come with an open mind. Service was good, price was average (not the cheapest but not the most expensive.), the atmosphere is nice. Don't let the weird look of the building keep you away.

    (4)

  • Mark B.

    This place was full of ups and downs. It is a cool looking place with lots of local art. So good and some not so good. The food was good and less then yummy. My server was there sometimes and not most of the time. I walked in and was quickly greeted and shown to my seat. Outside under the big awning and plenty of shade out of the heat of the evening. My server Roya finally checked in on me and got my order. I had plenty of time to cruise and make my mind up before she showed. I went with the octopus on corn cake with a spicy lime n peanut sauce. The dish was very pretty and my octopus well one piece was very tender and the other was tough but both quite tasty. The sauce really made the dish. I moved onto the country fried quail with some collards, Mac n cheese, fried green tomato, and some acre peas. Once again a side dish really made the dish. I mean the quail was good and cooked properly. Nice crust but tender inside. The ploblano pepper gravy really pulled this dish together. The collards were there and a little sour for mean along with the tomato. The mac n cheese were also there and nothing special. The real tar of this plate was the acre peas that were smoked with a hickory wood with bacon and peppers. The beans rocked. I probably will return cause I saw a couple other fished I want to try and it's close to my hotel also.

    (4)

  • Ann Y.

    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.

    (5)

  • Vanessa C.

    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.

    (5)

  • Ginevra A.

    Not sure how other people like this place but every time I go their food is not even comestible and I eat everything. Waiters don't really listen. I asked for a well done burger when I was pregnant I got a rare so rare I did not eat it. The more fancy entrees are just blah - like a fancy TV dinner. I just never had luck with this place so I stopped going.

    (1)

  • Stacy S.

    I have come here for years every time I am in town. The breadth of entrees is good, the ingredients are fresh, and the recipes inventive. The service is always good too. I highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Linda M.

    Good food from homophobic owner-chef. Very large menu, somewhat pricey.

    (2)

  • Jeremy H.

    I'm very pleased with this restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious, and the drink selection was perfect. I will defining being coming back to Kool Beanz. Thank you for the great night.

    (5)

  • Rebecca N.

    Kool Beanz is def a Tallahassee fave. If you're looking for nice food and a laid back atmosphere you found it. The menu changes daily but is always great. Save room for dessert because, you don't want to miss their tasty sweets!

    (5)

  • Allison M.

    One of the best restaurants in Tallahassee. The eggplant appetizer was amazing. I ordered fish(their specialty) and it was also great and came with 3 sides. Large portions of delicious food and great quality. Also a nice selection of beer and wine

    (5)

  • Bob M.

    What can I say about Kool Beanz that hasn't been said before. From the very friendly and knowledgable staff to the expertly prepared and interesting dishes this is really a gem in Tallahassee. Typically there seems to be a wait so be prepared for that although for small parties usually not more than 10-20 minutes. They have a decent selection of beers and wines although no liquor or draft choices. I very much enjoyed the food here tonight and will return next time I am in town.

    (5)

  • Doug T.

    A little bit of a wait, but the food would be amazing in Vancouver, NYC, San Fran or yes, Tallhasse. it was a benefit that it's near Florida State and Sorority row. There were a bunch of yonng women walking in and aorund getting hammered in low cut dresses in never a fail, which added to the romantic ambiance The waitress asked if I wasn't from around here as I asked what black eyed peas and grits were that came with the Tobasco fried chicken and yet I know what pork tenderloin scallopini was.. Fried Gulf Oysters with Cheese Grits and Remolade were amazing I wish I had tried the frogs legs the Strawberry Mergingue pie was also a must have if they have it on the menu They had some Crawdad lingunini which looked awesome and a creative replacment for linguini with clams

    (5)

  • Nancy D.

    Delicious! Sometimes hard to get a seat but great food and service. I enjoy the atmoshere. Fun place to go for a special occasion

    (4)

  • Cecil S.

    I have eaten here numerous times, always thoroughly enjoyed it. One of Tallahassee's best.....

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    Was one of the best tasting meals I have ever eaten. I got the sea scallops were absolutely amazing

    (5)

  • Suzie B.

    My first time to Kool Beans!!! The food was very tasty and creative. The staff were kind and fun with a great sense of humor. I tried the salmon and everything was supurb. I am already planning my next visit...

    (5)

  • Chris J.

    This place is the best in tallahassee. You can pay more but you can't get a better meal. The quality, service and consistency of execution is outstanding. I've never been disappointed with my experience there.

    (5)

  • F R.

    The food was amazing I went at lunch...it was super busy and it took a while for the food but when the food came it was fresh hot and I cannot complain definitely I will be going back

    (5)

  • Kalvin K.

    A unique Key West feel restaurant in the heart of the capital of Florida. When I first stepped foot into this restaurant I immediately noticed the colorful artwork and the unique method of showing the menu (clipboard). I knew it could not disappoint. I had the pulled pork with guava BBQ sauce over a sweet potato pecan pancake. It was delicious to the very last bite. I just wish the portions were a little larger, but definitely will be coming back.

    (5)

  • Anna S.

    Great little eclectic cafe near downtown Tallahassee! And if you're a black beans and rice and plantain lover, this will be well worth the trip. The menu has nice Caribbean influences and tons of seafood options to chose from. On my visit, my dad and I split wahoo with rice, beans, and plantains and the pork chop with coffee gravy, beans, and sweet potato wedges. We also got a side of the cheddar grits because who can refuse ooey gooey delicious grits? Of the two entrees, the wahoo was clearly stellar. I've never had this fish before and it was perfectly cooked. The accompanying rice and beans and plantains were excellent with it. While the components of the pork chop were quite tasty, I would've preferred a bone-in chop because the meat was unevenly cooked and moist in some parts and pretty dry in others. Having the bone in would have probably rectified some of the dryness. The beans, sweet potatoes, and gravy were top notch. In fact, I wish there was more of the gravy! This place also has a great beer and wine selection. My dad had a couple of the gluten free MIssion beers and I had a nice Cava split. Our check (three drinks, two entrees, and a side) was only around $40--a great value for a nicely executed meal. Lastly, service was great. Our server (alas, cannot remember his name) was super knowledgeable, patient, and had the knack of being around right when you needed him.

    (4)

  • Julian W.

    Had the best afternoon brunch here At Kool Beanz Cafe. My shrimp and grits were excellent. Susannah Frick alway helps me when I go and I love her advice on the best dish. Which one is the best dish? Every dish on the menu. You can't go wrong at Kool Beanz.

    (5)

  • Katherine B.

    Probably my favorite place in town. Always an interesting menu (that changes) and always a wonder meal!

    (5)

  • Cassie G.

    Kool Beanz is just the best. From brunch to dessert there is absolutely something to enjoy here. While the menu changes, there are some recurring favorites like the steak and mashed potatoes (or onion rings at lunch) and the mojo chicken- both are always delicious. Don't let the right bar scare you, it's a super fun spot to sit and watch the crew work in the open kitchen!

    (5)

  • Jim B.

    Amazing food! Yelp reviews steered me here and Yelp reviewers did not steer me wrong. We split a salad and both ordered lunch plates. My wife had a Salmon dish and i had Amber Jack (fish) dish. The fish was prepared very nicely and the sides were excellent. While my cilantro rice was great, as were my refried black beans, the surprise hit of the sides were the plantains in my dish and the deep-fried eggplant in my wife's dish. Try this place - you'll thank me later :)

    (5)

  • Danielle N.

    The bad: Service was incredibly slow in the begining. Waited 10min for water and then another 15min after that to get our order in. The good: The menu is intelligent and it changes daily. The atmosphere is artsy and charming. The outside dining is nice. The food was good. Our party of 4 all enjoyed their dishes. Even though the wait was slow, the waitress was pleasant.

    (4)

  • Sarah F.

    This place's reputation is well-deserved, of course. The food is solid, drinks are good, service is friendly and helpful. Even on a very busy Sunday brunch it didn't take very long to get our food. It's definitely a popular place, so be prepared to wait for a table and cram your party into whatever space opens up. The varied menu should have something for everyone.

    (4)

  • Meli Z.

    Thursday night out for my birthday, so the obvious choice was Kool Beans. Did not disappoint. Only problem is deciding between so many tempting options. Ordered the snapper with pinto beans. So delicious ; left dinner feeling fat and happy. Can't wait to go back and try the duck.

    (5)

  • Zoe P.

    Amazing place. Must try in Tallahassee. They do extraordinary things with their ingredients. Calamari was amazing! Go for apps and entrees, desserts were their least best.

    (5)

  • Tommy G.

    Great food and reasonable pricing

    (5)

  • Henry T.

    A foodie's dream in a city full of chain restaurant garbage. If you are in Tallahassee and you miss this spot you are f**king up.

    (5)

  • Gabrielle G.

    Kool Beanz is one of my favorite places in the world to eat! It has fresh local fare that is always funky, always chic. The menu is awesome with lots of vegetarian selections and locally caught seafood. Employees are knowledgeable and friendly. Get there early for lunch as the place fills up quickly!

    (5)

  • Lani W.

    Seriously delicious! I had the best fried green tomatoes I have EVER tasted today. These were merely an accompaniment to an amazing chicken entree. Desert was so different- a Thai Basil Creme Brûlée that tasted like summer and happiness. We will be back!

    (5)

  • Reginald A.

    Excellent spot. The daily menu is a study in itself and if you want to sit inside and watch the chef and sous chefs work that too is part of the experience We had the pulled pork on pancakes. It's a starter but it was ample enough to be a main course and we also had the escargot. Garlicky with a perfect toast to soak up the juices. The staff is super casual and it was such a relaxed atmosphere. Beer selection is much better than the wine list. The seared sesame tuna. OOOOMG. It was supreme. The best ever, and the wasabi mashed potatoes - why is this not the std offering at thanksgiving ?? The linguini with crawdads -yummy and again more than enough for two. The blackened Mahi. Now I was the only one that did not like it so I'll hold off Will be back Price about $25 per entree

    (4)

  • Richard W.

    Good flavors, but drowned in too much fat/sauce/cream (depending on the dish). Bring your cardiologist. Mediocre/poor wine list. Very popular; long wait for a table.

    (3)

  • Pat M.

    My 'go to' choice in Tally! Fresh, seasonal, affordable and as healthy as you want it to be (or not). lol. Friendly servers, too. Not a place to go when you're in a hurry, but always fun. Everything's delicious!

    (5)

  • Jackie J.

    Pleasantly surprised by stumbling upon this place. My boyfriend and I came to visit Tallahassee for the first time and wanted to find a good brunch place to go to. The menu was small, but not without variety. A good mix of traditional breakfasty foods with a gourmet twist (sweet potato waffles and fried chicken, BLT with a fried egg and fried green tomatoes, etc.), seafood dishes (fresh grouper, scallops, shrimp and grits--yum), and delectable sides. I had the fried chicken and sweet potato waffles with spicy honey. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. I actually preferred the other dishes my friends got--the shrimp and grits was creamy and awesome, even for those of us who aren't big grits eaters. The BLT was seriously to die for--highly recommend! On top of yummy dishes, it's a local restaurant with local food. You know you're eating fresh, good food and helping out your community at the same time. Also--grab a carafe of mimosas. Perfect Sunday brunch.

    (5)

  • MW B.

    I've eaten here a lot over the years but just now reviewing. I have never had a bad meal or experience here. The first time I ever ate here we sat at the bar and watched them cook, that was fun! I love the atmosphere! The wine is good, their bread is to die for and service is friendly!

    (5)

  • Lisa M.

    Amazing appetizers and dinner was equally as delicious!!!! Don't miss out on this gem!

    (5)

  • Rumany P.

    Had the amberjack with rice, beans, and fried okra. The amberjack was cooked really well. Soft and not dry. I really like okra in general, but it was too salty for my taste. If that was toned down, the meal would have been great the browned gnocchi was a good starter and a good portion to share between 2-3 people as an appetizer. Overall, the atmosphere was fun. We sat at the kitchen bar and was able to watch them cook everything. This is a good angle because it made me want to try a few other dishes. Kind of pricey for the quality of the food though. Probably more of a 3.5 overall

    (4)

  • Rob H.

    First, the price designation is barely at $$$ - most of the entrees are right at the $20 mark, and the portions are probably worth far more than that. This place cares about food more than 80% of places I eat at. The atmosphere is by no means fancy, it is a fun and down-to-earth experience where the only thing that matters is a meal prepared with love, creativity and fresh ingredients. The only time I wouldn't recommend this place is for a very special occasion where one would want a more formal atmosphere - other than that, the price, food, and service are all fantastic.

    (5)

  • Kurt H.

    Been here many times since my last review. Food continues to be delicious. However, service has been really slow! It's normal to wait 45 minutes for your food and it seems normal to only see your server every 15 minutes or so.

    (4)

  • John B.

    Bookmarked this place while in AZ. Flew in to Tallahassee today and had to try this place out. Wow really good. Had calamari - tender and hint of heat cornmeal coating. Then salad wedge with blue cheese generous portion. Finally linguini with mushrooms and crawfish. Excellent portions are generous. I would go there again

    (5)

  • Courtney S.

    Great food, excellent service and an ever-changing menu make Kool Beanz a great local spot. We had the frog legs for our appetizer and the preparation was spicy but the taste was so good, we couldn't stop eating them. Both entrees were delicious and more than enough for leftovers.

    (4)

  • Dawn A.

    First impressions are everything. I walk up to the restaurant and there are a handful of people waiting outside. So I asked why? They hadn't opened and the people were gathering around the front waiting for the restaurant to open. I was there for work in the Tallahassee area, and heard about the restaurant. I sat at the bar and had a wonderful server. The restaurant filled up immediately. I was so torn by the menu because I wanted to try everything. I opted to eat two appetizers. I ended up with the fried green tomatoes, with homemade pimento cheese, bacon jam, and artichoke (something). Wow, was it good. They had each separate topping on each of the fried green tomatoes. So then I go on to the gnocchi with sage cream sauce. Wow, this was also amazing. It's was smoky, and had ham hocks, and bacon incorporated into the recipe. They change the menu daily. Everybody at the bar area was LOVING their food. You can't go wrong here. I try a lot of restaurants during my travels and this would be hard to beat! Keep up the fresh cooking, it's hard to find.

    (5)

  • Kelly B.

    You will see the wait to get a table is worth it but the slow service of getting food was really awful. The lamb was divine.

    (4)

  • Cee G.

    Awesome food and atmosphere but a little pricey. Good quality though so you get what you pay for!

    (5)

  • David A.

    While visiting FSU this week we ate here two nights in a row. This place serves up some fantastic food. It has a cool vibe with some hipster chefs and a laid back attitude. Service is friendly and efficient and wine by the glass and beer are priced quite reasonable. The food: Over the two nights tried six different appetizers/salads. Everything is fresh and served with a creative flair. I understand the menu changes regularly but some of my favorites included the falafel, the pan browned gnocchi and the clams. Entrees were excellent highlighted by a mussel/scallops dish which was amazing, a great sliced duck and risotto and the seared tuna. Entree sizes are large and are good for sharing. The best part! Desserts are off the charts. The coconut creme meringue cake was a repeat both nights. Not too sweet with incredible flavor and texture. And one piece is massive. Also tried a brownie and ice cream dish that was very good but the coconut cake was the star. Eat inside and watch the chefs work their magic or eat at the counter and watch up close. This place was the highlight of our trip.

    (5)

  • Katerina S.

    Although everything was VERY good, I thought that the appetizers were even better than the entrees. The cornmeal crusted oysters were seriously good. I just about ate the entire plate on my own. Also, the escargot in a mushroom sauce with linguine was REALLY good. For the entree I ordered the monkfish, which was just okay. I've had that fish cooked better before. However, the sauce that it was cooked it was delicious! I also tried the snapper with spinach (that was actually better). I ended my dinner with a cappuccino, which was just delightful and very well presented. Would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Linda S.

    The food here is absolutely phenomenal. I heard great things about the place, but didn't actually try it until my senior year, which I regret dearly. The menu consists of items you didn't even know you wanted and won't regret trying. I just wish the venue was bigger so there wouldn't be a line! Five stars all the way!

    (5)

  • Gareth C.

    This place has a lot of hype, and I really wanted to like it. I have been twice and on both occasions I was not a fan of the food. The service was pretty good, but I tend to rate places more on the food than the service/decor. I think if I was a vegetarian I would really enjoy this place. As it was, the ingredients they wanted to throw together just didn't make any sense. I was adventurous with my selections but came out wanting each time. I have avoided returning since my second visit.

    (2)

  • Brian P.

    Kool Beanz was a fantastic experience. I enjoyed dinner with Florida State colleagues on a perfect Thursday evening in Tallahassee. I confess that I over-indulged, ordering fabulous cornmeal-encrusted oysters resting in a bed of cheddar cheese grits *slobber* followed by a creamy linguine tossed with mushrooms and crawfish. This was all washed down with a beautiful bottle of Hitching Post syrah, a beauty I never expected to find outside my native California. Overall, the experience was very very good. Our server was exquisitely attentive, the atmosphere outside was casual and fun; the place just had a very cool vibe. Kool Beanz!

    (4)

  • Gregory N.

    In a college town full of dive bars and food that's fast and cheap, it's nice to know this place even exists. It is living proof that Tally is not a culinary wasteland. There are people here who care about food, and want to deliver dishes that are creative and delicious. I had the Fish and Chips and I was pleasantly surprised that the fried fish came with a "masala aioli", a creamy greenish sauce that had a slightly jumpy Indian flavor. That was completely unexpected. Also unexpected, the fries were not a bunch of mindless fries in a basket, but instead they were six large potato wedges deliciously seasoned. This all was served on top of creamed spinach. The three substantial pieces of fish were nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked. My wife and son also enjoyed their dishes. I poached some fried plantains from my wife's dish. They were sweet and soft, like my wife. I also like the unpretentious interiors, the slightly hippie vibe of the waitresses and the foodies eating at the bar facing the kitchen, chatting with the cooks. It's a cool place!

    (5)

  • Tom B.

    The best place to eat. You must eat there before you die. It can get loud when full.

    (5)

  • Mary C.

    I was pleasantly surprised by how good and how fast the food is here. My inner snob was certain that a place named "kool beanz" would not be a place that she would enjoy. We had the fried green tomatoes dish and the salmon with dill and horseradish sauce. Delicious.

    (4)

  • Scott H.

    I am giving them a 5 because the price quality service is great. This is like an LA mashup menu - everything is fresh and the flavor combinations are clever without being cute. The menu changes often, too. This is my "first night" every time biz takes me to Tallahassee. Trust me, this is good food. I'm not going to write a long review, because 1) they change the menu regularly, and 2) you'll either take my word for it or not, because 3) long foodie reviews are about the writer, not the food. This place has great food. Looking forward to dinner up at the bar makes the 5 hour drive to Tallahassee one of anticipation.

    (5)

  • Matthew W.

    I absolutely love this place. Not the best atmosphere in the world, but my goodness the food is always incredible. A great variety on the menu and it is always changing as it is FRESH. The burger is always good and if you find yourself there on a Sunday for brunch get the cornbread with chorizo sausage gravy and poached egg, you won't be dissapointed!

    (5)

  • Greg K.

    We eat at Kool Beanz once a month or so and sadly the last couple times have not lived up to our 5 star expectations. Our last two visits we ordered fish seared tuna and amberjack. Both times the fish was over done. The gnocchi rocks and the service is always friendly.

    (4)

  • Jeanne D.

    I had lunch here on January 11th, 2012 and it was excellant. I ate here with two other people, we all got very different dinners and we were all very satisfied with our choices. The art that is on display here is very cheerful and adds to the ambiance. First we were seated in the dining room but the noise level was so extreme we asked to be moved to the patio. We were the first ones on the patio and by the time we left it was packed. Do they have a rule not to put heaters on durilng the day? It was cold and blustery on the patio. I wonder how many good resturants do they have in Tallahassee if on a cold day so many people will sit outside in some discomfort because the food really is good here. If noise level and/or possible exposure to weather extremes is not an issue this is a great choice on a visit to Tallahassee.

    (4)

  • Jessica C.

    Have eaten here numerous times and not once been disappointed. There is always something new and fresh on the menu to try, with lots of local ingredients being highlighted. It's so great the find a place in Tallahassee that caters to food lovers in such a casual dining environment. The service is friendly, and the atmosphere is always upbeat. This is a true go-to eatery in Tallahassee, and it's no wonder people line up outside every Sunday for brunch. The food is appropriately priced for its quality, and always worth it.

    (5)

  • Ginny J.

    AMAZING Sunday brunch. Scallops were so perfectly seared to perfection. It is my favorite Sunday spot!

    (5)

  • Antony C.

    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.

    (4)

  • Kace B.

    Traveling through Tallahassee read reviews on yelp , decided to try it . Delicious fresh wholesome food

    (5)

  • Justin F.

    This place is one of the best locally owned restaurants in Tallahassee. The atmosphere is eclectic and the food is delicious. It is very small so not a great place for a large group or to hang out. It is a great first stop for dinner if you plan on a long evening out on the town. The place usually stays busy so expect to wait (promise it is worth the wait). If you end up waiting the hostess can take a drink order (beer and wine only without a "bar area"). The service was so-so but the food definitely makes up for it! I would definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Channa P.

    I'm drunk off the Kool Beanz kool-aid. If I am on death row with a last meal, I hope it's the salmon with a penne sauce, green beans, fried eggplant, and risotto from this place. The aroma in this place alone is intoxicating. The menu will just blow your mind. Do yourself a favor and sit at the counter. From there you can watch how all the food is prepared. It's magical. The attention to detail blew me away. No plate went out without a beautiful garnish, swirl, or something. If in Tallahassee go here. The food is great, the servers friendly, and the atmosphere fun!

    (5)

  • Gayathri I.

    Yum! They didn't have any vegetarian options on the menu the day we went, but they were very nice about it and suggested a few things. I decided to get a plate of veggie sides. It was AWESOME. They served it with a cranberry sauce and a curry sauce. The curry sauce was out of this world delish. Hubby got a pasta dish with a lot of veggies and a salsa sauce. That was really good too. My only let down was with one of the desserts, it was a red vinegar-yogurt and olive oil ice-cream (I think). It was way too acidic to be enjoyable. The cafe looks really cool-casual, with an open kitchen. Friendly, but loud atmosphere. This is a great place to go to with a bunch of friends. A bit on the pricey side.

    (4)

  • Caro G.

    I have been here several times and I have never once had a bad meal here. Always taking regular cuisines to the next level.

    (5)

  • Mario M.

    Service was not good. Took a long time to even get glass of water. Tried the bean cakes which were ok. Ordered the pork chops which were overcooked and flavorless. Beans straight out of can. Rice was burnt left a bunch of rice that kept getting stuck on my teeth on plate. Not sure what the hype is. I wrote this review 5 min after eating and still have not had waitress come. Do not recommend this place. Cypress is way better option.

    (1)

  • Will V.

    We have been here at least 5 times and it used to be great. This may be a fluke, but be warned. EVERYBODY around us at the restaurant tonight experienced the same poor service. The food was decent, but the servers were beyond incompetent. For starters, we waited for an hour to be seated after they claimed it would only be 30 minutes. To make matters worse, for the whole time that they kept us waiting, a table sat empty right beside us. I went and asked if they took reservations and they said no. So why did the table sit empty for an hour? Finally, a guy says to follow him. He tosses down the menus on the table and walks away. After they seated us, we waited another 10 minutes for someone to take our drink orders. Then I pulled out YELP on my iPhone and started to draft this review. At that point, they started to act differently. Comp this, promise that. So we stayed. DId it get better? NO. The waitress was nowhere to be found most of the night. Our interactions with the same guy from before involved plates being tossed on our table. The bread arrived after the starter. My steak was luke warm when served while my wife's fish was nice and hot. Getting someone to come over and present the check involved standing up and threatening to leave. We arrived at 6:45PM and we left at 9:15 PM. We will never return and I hope that you understand that this place has changed.

    (1)

  • Marybeth S.

    This place is amazing! Such a hip atmosphere and wonderful food. I tried a pasta with caramelized onions, bacon, herbs, and a wonderful cream sauce. It was, honestly, the best pasta I have ever had. I would recommend this place to anyone. It's great to find such a wonderful restaurant in a small town in north Florida.

    (5)

  • Carmella B.

    Got to go to have the experience! love the changing menu!

    (4)

  • Gary H.

    My first yelp review, I live and eat well in sf, and this restaurant is in my top 5 meals of all time. Come with a large group so you can try a lot of things... The only thing that needs to be said, if you come to tallahassee and don't eat here, you're only going to hurt yourself. End of story.

    (5)

  • Mark B.

    Tip. Sit at the counter and watch your meal take shape. It's a few miles south of the Interstate and well worth the detour. It was so good we had to stop there again when driving through Tallahassee a week later. One note of caution, if you like bland food then stay away. These dishes are full of spices. Not hot, spicy in the best way.

    (5)

  • L C.

    My daughter wanted to go to Kool Beanz for her birthday dinner. We had a party of 15. They don't take reservations and the restaurant is really very small so I knew this would be an adventure. I called ahead and was advised to come early and wait for the restaurant to open at 5:30. We got there at 5:00 and there was already several couples waiting. By the time the doors opened, there was a line that filled the retaurant. It took them a few minutes to get a large table set up, but we ended up inside. The food was all excellent. Other than a minor mishap with a vegetarian meal which they corrected quickly, everyone loved their dinners. We ordered almost every entree on the menu and several appetizers. Our waitress was outstanding. She handled our group with expertise and style. The prices are higher than most Tallahassee retaurants, but nothing was unreasonable. The reason for the 4 stars is the tight quarters. Once seated it was very difficult for anyone to get up if they had to, and twice members of our party had to get up so they could seat people behind us. Other than that - it was good. I was told the weekend wait is usually 1.5 hours. I'm not sure I'd be willing to do that too often, but for a special occasion, it might be worth it. Overall great experience.

    (4)

  • Paula D.

    We visited for lunch on New Year's Eve, it was pretty busy but our waiter was attentive and the food came out reasonably fast. I enjoyed delicious fried shrimp & grits and my husband enjoyed his lamb burgers & mac and cheese.

    (4)

  • Anne H.

    This is a lunch review. Food: four stars. The menu was delightfully varied and surprising. It seems to be some sort of fusion between southern low-country cooking and South American cuisine. The food, when it came, was delicious, light but savory. We thought the portion sizes were a little depressing when we first saw them ("yucca fries" with my shrimp tostada actually meant two rather piddly sticks of yucca), but it turned out to be just the right amount of food. It's not the same level of mouth-watering, eye-rolling yumminess as Cypress or Clusters & Hops, but it's a very fun, adventurous menu that can't go wrong. The Service: two stars. It was really not good. The servers, when we got them, were friendly enough, but it took quite awhile to get menus, water, that kind of thing. We were ready to order our meals by the time she took our drink orders. We waited forever for our check, even after they had cleared our table (weird), and I never once got a refill on my diet soda (one other little picky thing, I asked for diet coke and I'm fairly certain it was actually diet pepsi. Which was fine really, but I wish they'd asked).

    (3)

  • Whitney N.

    Really great spot for food in Tallahassee. Everything is so delicious and fresh, yet they sustain such a casual atmosphere. It's definitely out of my price range for every day eats, but I come here on occasion when I'm feeling fancy. At Sunday brunch, the chicken and waffles and the lobster mac n cheese are both mouth watering. They don't take reservations, though, so if you're looking to eat dinner on a weekend night, be prepared to wait!

    (5)

  • Ted W.

    The wait staff was typical Tallahassee slow...but the food was eclectic for Tallahassee. The BBQ pork over the sweet potato pancake was a great appetizer as were the black bean cakes.

    (4)

  • Ted H.

    Best surprise on this business trip. From the outside? You'd never know how good it is on the inside... Glad a colleague mentioned it to me. I will be back... Only downside is parking can become problematic.

    (5)

  • Lady D.

    Everything is fresh and homemade. The dressings are wonderful which top a crunchy salad. You can order 1/2 salad at lunch with an order. My entree was grouper - perfectly done, with grits and Green beans. Hubby, being a meats and potato type, ordered chicken fried chicken with collard greens, field peas, and mashed potatoes. Everything was pèrfectly seasoned. I love the atmosphere here and the food. I can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Liotta L.

    I called them about booking a private event and the owner (manager?) I spoke with was a total ass. Like he was trying to come up with reasons not to book our event. Why so self-important??? No thanks.

    (1)

  • Joe M.

    Very good and could easily be 4 stars. I am giving it a solid 3+. The good, lively place after 6:30 pm. Looking for quite romantic place not here. But this isn't bad loud it is food loud. People conversing and having a good time. The food was good. My salmon was under cooked. I was asked how I wanted it done and I asked for medium. It came between rare and medium rare in the center. The salmon was a thick piece, which makes it more difficult to be medium from end to end but it was way too rare in the middle. Had that been better I would be goring 4 stars. The rest of the meal was good, service average. I had to split the check because I am on an expense account and this was a bit of a mystery to the waitress. Had to do it 2 times to get it right. Not a deal breaker. Would go back if in the area.

    (3)

  • Crispian G.

    kool beanz is really really really really really good. they're menu is really creative and constantly changing. there are a lot of options to choose from which can sometimes be a bad thing but it's a good thing at kool beanz.

    (5)

  • Stella H.

    Been here twice when I came to toewn. Food was sooo good. I will be back again

    (5)

  • Carmen A.

    Food is different... But it tastes ok. would go back.

    (3)

  • Abby C.

    This place really deserves its five star reviews. We had the sesame seed crusted tuna and the grilled salmon. Both were fresh and delicious. We plan to stop here the next time we are in Tallahassee and try something else!

    (5)

  • Zachary W.

    It had been too long, but I finally got back to Kool Beanz for lunch today. It is not an inexpensive place to have lunch, but well worth it. Almost everything on the menu begs to be ordered. Good service. The only thing wrong with this place is the goofy name. I ordered the trout with green beans, a scallop cake and lemony cream/aoli sauce. Every element of the dish was perfect. Now that session is over, it is not too crowded, so I will be back soon.

    (5)

  • Corey G.

    Excellent place with a consistently eclectic, tasty menu that's reasonably priced and always changing.

    (4)

  • Zamunda Z.

    Had a great meal here last Wednesday. Their Crab cake appetizer was tasteful. I ordered their duck breast and sweet potato fries. Tasted really good. It's a little pricey for the quantity of what's served.

    (4)

  • J W.

    We just moved to Tallahassee and I was so excited to try this place because I thought this was really going to be Tallahassee's little gem. It was ok. I'm not much of a wine expert, so it was good and cold to me. We sat on the patio and that was nice. I really loved the ambiance and feel of the place. We started with a blue cheese guac with hard boiled egg on top. Something unique, so I liked it. It wasn't bursting with flavor, but I liked it mild. My husband ordered the peppered flank steak with onion rings and mashed potatoes. This meal and the ambiance are why Kool Beanz got three stars. It was perfectly cooked and delicious. My husband said it was one of the best steaks he's ever had. I got the pecan floured flounder with creamed spinach and oven fries. The fries were pretty good, but everything else was completely tasteless. Just one of the most bland things I've ever eaten. Our service was good too. But ultimately, I go to a restaurant for the food and I was disappointed.

    (3)

  • Christine U.

    This place is so amazing. I am so happy with how fast the food was served and how well it tasted. These cooks are really impressive. Amazing food. I'm from Miami and I will come here every time I come visit.

    (5)

  • Emily V.

    This has always been one of my favorite places in Tallahassee for a classy lunch and I've been going here for years, but I feel like they must have a new chef or something because I went today and the food was better than it's ever been. I had mahi with a low country sauce with andouille sausage and a grit cake and it was so phenomenal. I could have eaten a bucket of the sauce they served with it. My friend got the fried chicken which came with one of the best mac and cheeses I've ever had. My other friend had the wahoo which was fantastic as well. The shrimp and grits are always excellent as are the black bean cakes. So delicious!

    (5)

  • Argeau B.

    Superlative. Chef know s his stuff. Great sense of acidic balance. Wahoo w curry. Scallops cooked perfectly. Amazing panko crusted xalamari w grapefruit buerr blanc

    (5)

  • Jill C.

    Unusual food with great service.

    (5)

  • Tor J.

    Great Food and Service. The menu always changes but the quality stays excellent. I just wish it had more seating as it is one of my favorite places to go and sometimes it is too packed!

    (5)

  • Cana N.

    Excellent lunch today and superb service. Will definitely make Kool Beanz a regular stop from now on.

    (5)

  • Melissa B.

    I loved every single thing about this place! The decor is adorable with all the animal paintings, and the place is cozy. I was only a party of one, but I still had to wait about 20 minutes on a Thursday night... But that was fine because the hostess brought me a great glass of wine. After being seated, the server brought me delicious warm bread. I ordered the browned gnocchi, applewood bacon, caramelized onions and Gorgonzola cheese appetizer, which was phenomenal!! For my entree I got the sesame tuna, which was also amazing! I wished I had room for dessert, but I didn't. If I lived in Tallahassee I would definitely go to Kool Beans all the time! I haven't had a meal this good in many years!

    (5)

  • Carl M.

    Great place for incredible food and atmosphere. I actually sat at the counter and watched the chefs cooking the food. It was a blast. I ordered several apps just to taste them and all were fantastic. If you haven't eaten here you are missing out!!!

    (5)

  • MC P.

    A Tallahassee classic. Fresh, original cuisine. Oysters and grits are fabulous! This place is crowded and noisy, but the food is fabulous.

    (4)

  • Cherry J.

    I SERIOUSLY adore Kool Beanz. They continue to amaze me with every visit! I highly recommend getting anything with sea scallops... they are out of this world every way Kool Beanz prepares them. But everything else rocks, too, from the piping hot, uber-fresh bread and butter, to the amazing desserts. Not only is this one of the best restaurants Tallahassee has to offer, but Kool Beanz surpasses pretty much any restaurant.. ever... anywhere. :]

    (5)

  • Katie M.

    5 STARS!! Definitely my favorite restaurant in Tallahassee. I love the vibe, the decor, and the food. THE FOOOD!!!! Oh man.. I might have to head over there tonight for a treat. NOMNOMNOM

    (5)

  • Lu R.

    Mid-east style. I like the oyster for starters and ribeye for entree. The environment is good. There are many animal paintings on the wall. All in all, I enjoy the dinner here.

    (4)

  • Th S.

    This place is a true gem! The prices are reasonable, and the meals are FANTASTIC. I travel for a living and I would stop here again as well as recommend it to friends.

    (5)

  • Adam A.

    Had the sausage Benedict dish for the Sunday brunch. It was excellent. My only complaint is that it does not come with a side and it is not quite enough food by itself. So make sure to order a side of potatoes (also excellent)

    (5)

  • Erin K.

    LOVED THIS PLACE. Want to go back to Tallahassee just for you! Very cute decor, friendly & smart staff, DELICIOUS/unique food!

    (5)

  • Corey W.

    If I could give more than five stars, I would. I've been a few times now and it's been amazing. Great quality food with sort of a quirky atmosphere. I understand why it's always busy. If you're local to tally, it's a must try. Decent selection of different wines and beers compliment the unique menu perfectly.

    (5)

  • Autumn H.

    Menu changes every day or so. Casual atmosphere, upscale food, great service, large portions. I went with 3 other adults. We split a really good bottle of Reisling (and I generally don't like wine, so that's an endorsement) and had: pork tenderloin (ordered by 2 people), scallops, and pasta. Everyone loved their dish. The flavors all worked well together and were not your standard fare. For dessert, for instance, I shared a pineapple vanilla creme brulee with saffron and my friends shared a peppercorn meringue with handmade strawberry ice cream and basil sauce. They're not things you'd think to eat, but they all complemented one another and were delicious! The whole menu is like that. Good selection of beers and wines. Plenty of foods to choose from, with lots of seafood, but plenty of other stuff. We all would definitely go back again. Price is moderate, but excellent for what you get.

    (5)

  • Patrick V.

    The food was great! We had five people and our combine rating is 24 out of 25, thus our five rating. The scallops were outstanding. They were appropriately seasoned, and I would recommend to anyone. We also had the duck with Swiss chard, and it was very good and tender. The steak and onion rings were very goo so were the pulled pork. Can't wait for our next trip to TLH to eat at Kool Beanz again!!! Very strong recommendation.

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    Kool Beanz is one of those rare restaurants that you think one thing when you see it from the outside and it completely blows you away once inside. All of the dishes are built around fresh, seasonal ingredients that will have your tastebuds jumping for joy. I eat at many 5 star rated fine restaurants around the US and the food at Kool Beanz is comparable to many and superior to quite a few. The only downside to Kool Beanz is the service. The wait staff, while extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the offerings, are not know for their attentiveness to detail (refilling drinks in a timely manner, greeting new tables once seated, etc). If you are willing to look past the service and spend a good hour and a half to eat, you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • carole o.

    This tops my favourite restaurants in Tallahassee. Why not 5-stars? Cos Kool Beanz is still not fantastic when compared to food outside Tallahassee. Anyway, you have got to give this place a try if you are in Tallahassee! Where else can u eat anyway? This is one of the best! The others worth trying are Sage and A la Provence. Really kicking myself for taking so long before trying this place out. The price is good, the food is creative and tastes really delicious! We had such a hard time choosing our food both times we were there cos everything sounded delicious! They change their menus daily so u can be a regular and still be surprised which is wat I like. I like my food journey to be varied, creative and surprising. I am not going to make any recommendations since the menu changes so GO! You'll have yummy food!

    (4)

  • Pete And Lee W.

    A short 3 mile detour off of I-10 was a tiny price to pay for the incredible lunch we just ate. Amazingly delicious & creative food, funky decor, outside patio all made for an excellent experience. Great service as well. We've eaten here several times when traveling through Tallahassee and each time was wonderful; we always look forward to stopping here for a meal.

    (5)

  • Abby E.

    Kool Beanz offers consistently good, sometimes great food. It's on the expensive side, but it's not unreasonable for what it is. Service is usually good. The food is unique and creative, and there's usually something to appeal to everyone because the dishes take influences from all sorts of cuisine. I'd call it 'Eclectic New American'.

    (4)

  • Hazel P.

    After living in Tallahassee for almost four years and hearing nothing but good words about this place, we decided to give it a try. Food was far from disappointing and left our mouths and stomachs very happy. Prices were on the high end, but nothing any different than any other gourmet, upscale restaurant delivering great food around town. For advertising as a gourmet restaurant, Kool Beanz definitely has its own spin on their dishes making our experience at the restaurant unforgettable. We got their gnocchi and calamari as starters. The gnocchi was in this real heavy sauce, but still very good. The calamari was perfectly seasoned and had a delicious citrus peanut buttery sauce on the side, different from any other calamari starters I've had my entire life. For entrees, I remember my boyfriend getting the duck with squash and fried kale and eating every last bite of it. Who knew fried kale could be so good? The duck was absolutely delicious, everything just worked so perfectly together on that plate. Overall my boyfriend and I had a great experience. Food was absolutely amazing, service was great, and the whole ambiance was just different from any other restaurant I've been to here in Tallahassee. Definitely a must when eating around in Tallahassee.

    (5)

  • Bruce M.

    Get here early if you don't want to wait over an hour for a table. Interesting menu - nice variety of meat, fish, and vegetarian options. I had the browned gnocchi with bacon and Gorgonzola creme sauce and it was so salty that it was inedible! In my opinion, not worth the wait.

    (2)

  • Bill S.

    This place is a MUST visit restaurant when you are in Tallahassee. The menu changes every day and the food is prepared with perfection. The calamari is the best I have ever had in my life.

    (5)

  • Jessica S.

    The wait for a table says it all, if people are willing to wait an hour to eat here than it must be good, but when seated at the counter overlooking the kitchen, the bar stools were very uncomfortable, otherwise food, service and atmosphere were great. I would recommend eating here to everyone and plan on going back but PLEASE get better stools.

    (5)

  • Krys T.

    Best of the best! Doesn't try to be fancy, there is a very limited wine and beer list, and menus are given to you on a clipboard, but the food is outstanding. Although the menu is constantly changing, there is always something for everyone. I have gone for brunch and dinner, and I cannot wait to return.

    (5)

  • Kate W.

    Wonderful lunch spot! I was in Tallahassee for work and almost didn't go here because from reviews it sounded too fancy and expensive. It wasn't any of that. I sat outside on the patio and it was glorious. The food was amazing, as was the service! The prices were very good for the well blended flavor profiles and innovative food. So wonderful! I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Season S.

    Holy hell! You can not go wrong with Kool Beanz. Everything I have ever ate there has been delicious. My absolute favorite meal there was the gouda stuffed lamb sliders. Last weekend my husband ordered the apple dumpling for dessert and everyone devoured it. I think he might have had two bites of it. The apple dumpling should stay on the menu daily! That's how amazing it was.

    (5)

  • Usu I.

    Flavor , Flavor , Flavor ! This restaurant hits the nail on the head when it comes to a savory dish! Everything that I tasted was very delicious. I was so pleased with the selections and the environment. When the food was placed in front of me, I imagined a more upscale atmosphere, which is what helps make this restaurant so unique. The food is so incredible, and elegant, however, the atmosphere is very down to earth, super unique place. Whenever I visit Tallahassee, I plan on getting my kool beanz fix.

    (4)

  • Ernie C.

    Type of place you'd expect to see on the Food Network. Not what you'd expect to see in a former cheap Diner on Thomasville road in Tally. Very "hip" and good food, but WAY overpriced in my opinion. Stopped in for a quick bit en route to a FSU basketball game. This would be a good special occasion place, but too expensive to be a regular stop. Got some type of mahi fish filet and red beans/rice. All good, but nothing spectacular. Of note, the server gladly split the entre and salad between me and my guest. We each got our own plates out from the kitchen.

    (3)

  • Sam S.

    Great food & service! Just reading the menu was a treat. The art work help set the mood. The only thing that I would suggest better ac. I know it was summertime in Florida but it was a little warm. This would not stop me from going back. This place is way to good!

    (5)

  • Dave W.

    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.

    (5)

  • Brent S.

    I've eaten here several times now and the food is exceptional. If you haven't tried the Sunday brunch yet it is a must!!

    (4)

  • Shawn I.

    Awesome. One of the best places I have ever eaten at. I went to Kool Beanz with my sisters, wife and niece and everyone enjoyed their meal. My wife and I had the arugula pear salad and loved it. I had the salmon dish and that was good as well. I definitely would recommend this place to anyone in Tallahassee looking for a very good place to eat.

    (5)

  • Allen B.

    I'm going to keep this one short, because there's plenty of description here already. I absolutely love this place. When my employer brings in recruits, I always take them to Kool Beanz because it exemplifies what I love about Tallahassee. Just a great variety of food, all of it high quality, and something for everyone. My wife and I are practically polar opposites when it comes to food. I like fish and vegetarian, she likes meat and potatoes. We both leave extremely happy. The menu changes all the time, so it's tough to give any specific recommendations. But get the hummus, it's great, and every fish meal I've ever had was fantastic. The crab cakes are also very well done. By the way, if you were to get three appetizers to split between two people, that would be a full meal. The portions are HUGE. I almost always take home enough food for lunch the next day. I highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Fred P.

    This was my first time visiting the Kool Beans Cafe, but it will not be my last. I am in town for a two week school and was looking for a good but different place to eat and I found it. The hosts and wait staff were friendly and helpful. Since I was by myself they offered to seat me at the counter so I could watch the chefs cook. The food was fantastic. I had the chilled avocado-cucumber soup with poached shrimp and for the main course I had the grilled duck breast with snow peas and sweet potatoes. This is a restaurant that you should put on your "must try" list. I know I will dine here again before school is over and I will stop by the next time I am up this way.

    (5)

  • jay w.

    Wow... this is modern southern cooking. A spectacular menu that frequently changes. For appetizers, had the ginger gyozas with a spicy pineapple sauce the crab cakes The pineapple sauce was out-of-this-world started off the meal perfectly. Had a side salad next... they'll give you a half salad for the half the price! Chose the spinach, asparagus and mushroom salad with a balsamic vinaigrette and topped with lightly fried potato slivers. Really a simple, but great salad. Finally had the stripped bass with refried pinto beans and yucca slices. The beans were delectable and the bass was to die for. Great meal. Another example of how southern cooking is on the rise...

    (5)

  • Mary B.

    I truly enjoy going to Kool Beanz... but the food selection is minimal, the people that seat you can be unhelpful, and the wait to eat can be atrocious. However, their appetizers are fantastic! Always something good there. The menu changes a lot and recently I haven't really enjoyed my food. It's strange, I can't pinpoint exactly what I didn't enjoy, I think the flavors of dish just didn't mesh very well (I got an ahi tuna entree once and a steak a different time). The decor is absolutely lovely, the waitstaff is always SO nice, and the outdoor seating is fantastic. They lucked out with their location; they were there before midtown was "cool" and now they are in the heart of it!

    (3)

  • Cooper G.

    My first one star review. I had such high hopes for this place. I pulled off of Florida State's campus and specifically went out of my way to eat here. I grabbed a menu and went and sat at the bar. 15 minutes later nobody had even asked me what I wanted to drink. I couldn't even believe it. I just handed my menu back to the guy up front and left. It could be that they were just having a bad day during a busy lunch, but I've never had to wait that long for a drink order or to put an order in. I'll probably try to go back next time I am in Tallahassee to try again just to see. I did go down to Midtown Filling Station right after... Incredible!

    (1)

  • Whitnae P.

    This place is pricey, even for lunch but is sooooooo good. Never had a plate of food here I didn't like and I love how the menu changes so often. Its refreshing. The wine and beer selection is decent too. The portion sizes aren't great but they want to be a fancy restaurant. You can't say the food doesn't reflect that desire either.

    (4)

  • Carolyn A.

    My new favorite place! Had the cornmeal dusted Rainbow Trout with grits for lunch yesterday - yum! Looking forward to my next meal there. Service, food, atmosphere - I have zero complaints. If you haven't tried this place already - do so soon!

    (5)

  • Keagan W.

    Excellent. My linguini was amazing. Mushrooms were good. I liked sitting outside with the family. Service was a bit slow but not bad. Nice place. Cheaper during lunch.

    (5)

  • Ryan C.

    I stopped by for lunch while in town for a conference. I went on the recommendation of a friend and my friend was right to recommend it. The menu is amazing - it's a selection of unique dishes that you're very unlikely to find anywhere else. All of the options sounded great, making it hard to decide what I wanted. I went with a breaded chicken dish on a bed of fried yucca and refried beans with a zesty avocado sauce. It was delectable and the serving was huge. The person I was with also really liked her entree. I'd go back in a heartbeat just to try some of the other fun stuff on the menu. Oh, and the interior is very cool. It's tastefully decorated and you can watch the cooks make your food as the kitchen is pretty much open and right next to where you're eating. We showed up at 11:00 am on a Thursday and by 11:30 it was completely full. If busyness is an indicator of quality, I'd suggest this place is top notch. I strongly recommend it!

    (5)

  • Therese S.

    I went for brunch and was impressed by the original combinations on the menu. I had the banana rum french toast with sweet plantains and spicy walnuts. So yummy! Only complaint is that I wished the French toast was thicker. Sorry it's a staple!

    (4)

  • Kimberly N.

    The salmon is to DIE for!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Karen B.

    Oh my God. Food heaven. Jerk chicken and grilled salmon. Salty caramel gelato with warm brownie and bruleed banana. Orgasmic.

    (5)

  • Heidi S.

    This was a great restaurant and just what we needed after a long day of travel. The food was terrific and the art on the walls fun and beautiful. One of the nicest meals we had on our trip in Florida!

    (4)

  • Diane B.

    When we first walked up to this restaurant we were afraid to go in. Didn't look like much. Once you walk in you see that it has a cool atmosphere. Not fancy but looked interesting. Then we had the meal which was delicious. No complaints at all there. Pricing was great too. All was going really well...until a few of my table mates said don't look behind you...and then told me to jump up. What was crawling behind me on the wall was a cockroach which my friend got rid of. When we mentioned it to the server (who will remain nameless) he shrugged it off and said something about the rain and something like no big deal we spray for bugs. I couldn't believe it. I would have been horrified and had the manager come over in a sec. No accommodations or concern about it was provided by the server. Ruined the whole experience. Makes me ill to just think about it. I have lived in Florida all my life and have worked in countless restaurants and so appreciate that these things happen but I certainly don't understand the response by the server. He could have made it a much better experience. This is the first bad review I have ever provided but they deserve it.

    (1)

  • Scottie B.

    If you had asked me only about food, I would have given it 5 stars. One of the best meals of my life was eaten here. If you had asked me only about the service, I would have given it 2-3 stars. Because, in my mind, the quality of food is more important than the quality of service, my overall rating is 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Monica R.

    Kool Beanz Cafe was recommended to us by the locals, and I must say, it did not disappoint. I love that the chef inspired menu changes daily, and that the staff is more than willing to accommodate any substitutions. I highly recommend the crab cakes with the jalapeño tartar sauce. Amazing!

    (4)

  • Nichole W.

    Love this place. The menu always changes and the combinations are always unique. Must have the salmon, must have the sweet potato.

    (4)

  • Rachel H.

    I ate here for dinner tonight. The food is pretty amazing. I have a mojo and shrimp type dish over rice and beans, conch fritters for an appetizer, and an amazing sour cream pound cake with fresh peaches and blueberries! My friend had a white fish and homemade carrot cake cream for . The staff is super friendly and they food came out rather quickly! I also love this place because they use locally grown produce and their is local art for sale all over the place! Definitely a must visit if you are ever in Tallahassee! A little pricey but its totally worth it!

    (4)

  • Kristen M.

    DO NOT MISS this place if you are in Tally! I have recently moved out of Tallahassee and miss this restaurant so much. It is by far the best place to eat in town--it outshines all other restaurants of its caliber! In fact, in my new hometown, I am constantly lamenting the fact that there is no restaurant that even comes close in flavor, food quality, presentation, and service. It is a MUST when in Tally----Kool Beanz--I miss you!

    (5)

  • Doug R.

    Wow, how did I spend ten years in TLH before trying this? Food and wine selection were out of this world. I was truly impressed with the portion size. Kool Beans Cafe is my new favorite spot in Tally.

    (5)

  • Isaac M.

    This place is really good. I'm here visiting from LA and I felt at home. I did sit at the counter and it was a great view of all the food being made. But the only thing that bothered me is that the head Chef kept using the same dirty towel to wipe each dish as it came out for the customer!!!! That towel was set at the counter and all over. Very bothered. They would have gotten an extra star if it wasn't for that.

    (3)

  • Anthony R.

    What a great find in Tallahassee. Nice to find crafted food for the frequent business traveler. Will be going back as the menu changes daily, always something new to look forward to.

    (4)

  • Caroline C.

    Really good food, but expensive for Tallahassee standards. I had the salmon & couscous entree. Very well made and had a lot of flavor. Our table also had some sort of chocolate cake for dessert, which was very rich. This is probably one of the best places in Tallahassee.

    (5)

  • Debbie K.

    Great venue... I've been going here since it was a small facility. Now the outdoor seating adds even more to this great, exciting place to eat and drink. I love taking customers here, or having business lunches here. My favorite dish was the mussels in coconut milk, and the seafood dishes are always winners! Fresh ingredients make for a great dining experience.Great wines, unique food and friendly servers. Ask for Suzanne, she's great!

    (4)

  • David S.

    Lunch was a pretty decent deal. And this is coming from someone who does not really care how fresh, healthy, or fancy the food is--or how trendy the restaurant is. I had a fish entree that was $13, which is not pricey. It was actually pretty tasty, which I don't usually say about fish. The waitress was good.

    (4)

  • Alan L.

    I went to Kool Beanz Cafe on a Saturday night about 7:30pm. The place was full, I did call ahead, but they don't accept reservations. This place also changes their menu daily. I did check the online menu Saturday, late afternoon, but it was a different menu when I got there that night, so that wasn't "Kool". When I got there, I could sit at the bar/counter immediately, wait 30 minutes for an inside table, or wait a few minutes for an outside table. I elected to sit at the bar (not really a bar, but you sit at counter and watch chefs cook food. I had the crab cakes for an appetizer (2 crab cakes for about $8). For dinner, I had the Linguine with Crawfish ($17), my friend had the Pork Tenderloin w/rice ($18 or so). Most dinners are priced between $17-23). Both dinners were delicious, very good sized portions (bigger portions than Mozaik). Overall, very satisfied, this was my first time there, it doesn't look like all that from the outside, but the food is definitely excellent. I definitely can't afford to go there weekly or anything, but a nice, casual place for a special occasion. (Only reason they were not a 5 in my book is because they are supposed to keep their daily menus up to date on the internet, they did not do that, so if I wanted what I saw online, I would have been disappointed).

    (4)

  • Michael H.

    Ate lunch and there were so many great choices. Very creative cuisine at a lunchtime price. The desserts are great too!

    (5)

  • Abby A.

    Outstanding. I had boneless duck with winter vegetables. Wiped up my sauce with bread at the end. Tasted husband's salmon with tomato jam. Also very yummy. We split bittersweet chocolate cake with orange compote and vanilla. Also to die for. Service was excellent. With one salad, wine, coffee and tip the bill was just over $100 but worth every penny. We don't live here, but if we ever come back, this is where we will eat, for sure.

    (5)

  • Ronald C.

    Ate 2 times here and am impressed all the time. Sit at the bar and see the action. A real food surprise every time you eat something.. Lots of Tattoos, and no ties liked in here. Great service and OK wine list. Go for the Food its is worth it.

    (5)

  • Roberta V.

    Creative menus using a lot of locally sourced organic produce. I love the Caribbean inspired dishes. Seafood is always a good bet! I am a good cook and I always get inspired when I eat here.

    (4)

  • Kelly L.

    excellent food - and a fun and wonderful atmosphere. threatened to go back again during my 3 night stay, but i will be back in July -- so will stop in again. I had the grouper, a friend the low-country stew -- both were incredible. And the artwork for sale on the walls is fun...

    (5)

  • Awesome 8.

    A pretty good place to get some interesting and delicious food. The food here is always good and always fresh and that is something that is definitely a priority here. It is a little expensive for what you get but it is a nice change of pace and just different enough from any other place in Tallahassee to make it unique. I recommend this place if your looking for some pretty good food thats not typical of Tallahassee. The service is always friendly but sometimes the kitchen gets a bit backed up and the staff overwhelmed but thats to be expected when the place is jammed. Otherwise a great experience and one I hope to have again soon.

    (4)

  • Mary K.

    Great place food was fantastic. I had the flank steak and my husband had the tile fish. Sat at the counter and watched the chefs create everything. A really unique restaurant a must when you visit Tallahassee.

    (5)

  • Mary J.

    My favorite restaurant in Tallahassee. Eclectic menu that is forever changing and a great spot to hangout and enjoy good wine.

    (5)

  • Y Y.

    I like their menu which as another reviewer said, is long and creative. They also change their menu periodically and are creative with the types of sauces, garnishes and sides. Each time I have been they have been absolutely full and we had to wait for a while. Very popular place for both lunch and dinner so be prepared to wait during peak times. Reasonably priced and something on the menu for everyone.

    (4)

  • Jen S.

    Really creative menu and great flavors. We shared calamari, fried oysters and crab cakes for starters and I had a coffee crusted pork loin with sweet potato risotto that was delish!

    (4)

  • Christin G.

    The best food you can customize, the best service you can ask for at a lay back restaurant. Gives you a nice feel inside with local art on the walls. Definitely a friendly environment.

    (5)

  • Karen W.

    For Tallahassee, this place is amazing. Eclectic decor, funky menu items (including several vegetarian options), and some good wines and beers. We went early for dinner and were seated right away. Our appetizers were delicious; my salad, which I got as an entree, was not as special but was still fine. It just needed a little more to it. The service was fine -- not remarkably good or bad. In a town filled with chain restaurants this unique place is a standout.

    (4)

  • Daniel P.

    Kool Beanz has always had a thoughtful menu - and with frequent turnover of "specials", it's a Tallahassee restaurant that generally has an innovative option that most guests will likely enjoy. Our favorite seating is at the bar, effectively witnessing the three line chefs tackle their own areas. They're a well greased operation and are facile, deliberate and economical in their motions. The wine list is solid. The din is just right, and the wait is worth it - at double the standard length of time. A real "guide Michelin one-star" - and a yelp Five-star!

    (5)

  • J C.

    Kool Beanz was one of my first good meals here in fair Tallahassee. The evening started out ominously because they didn't have a full bar, and I was coming to realize practically nowhere in Tally does -- something about the licenses being super expensive and limited. Anyway, I was able to keep my buzz going with some bubbly. Their menu is super creative and very long. A mostly-vegetarian who sometimes eats fish (but not usually 'cause fish are creepy), I did find that there were very few vegetarian-friendly items. But it wasn't a problem at all as the staff immediately offered to whip up something special. I love being whipped up something special. It's very special. The resultant meal was way delicious and the service was, again, excellent and attentive. The one bad thing: we were with a wheelchair user and the place was not very accessible. The one ramp was blocked by somebody's car. They seriously need to make their dinky parking lot wheelchair friendly.

    (5)

  • Paul F.

    Excellant food, great service. Prices are good for the quality and creativity. Only complaint was the comfort level--way too warm inside. Definitely worth another visit.

    (4)

  • FromScratch M.

    This place is good. Always an interesting menu though they do seem to run out of the really interesting stuff before I get there. Sometimes a bit sloppy. They are excellent community citizens.

    (4)

  • Kevin M.

    Tallahassee isn't on any foodie's top 10 list. Burgers and pizza are the favs - not that they don't have their place - but when you want something more in Tally you're often SOL. Well check out KBC. This place would fair well in any major cosmopolitan area; in FL's capital it flat rocks. They have fish, folks, and it isn't all fried. They don't overcook their food. There is imagination in their menu and not the usual recycled fern bar crap. The wine list isn't long (hell, it fits on a wine bottle), but it covers the bases and is priced reasonably. And the service, though laid back, is just fine. So when you're in Tallahassee and want real food, but don't want to cook, go to KBC. You won't be disappointed.

    (4)

  • John W.

    One of the best places to dine in Tallahassee, if not the best.

    (5)

  • scott n.

    This place is a culinary oasis in a desert of mediocre food. Highly recommend this place for a great dinner. Servers are also really friendly and helpful. I've been there twice and was impressed both times.

    (4)

  • Rob D.

    I have to say, I don't get it. I've only been here once and it wasn't anything to write home about. I assumed because of all of the rave reviews from people I've talked to and the fact that its presented as fine dining(?) that the place has a proper chef that can make something slightly off of the menu. I forget exactly what it was, but I think I asked for salad without some ingredient and I was told it couldn't be done. It definitely wasn't anything unreasonable and I remember being taken aback. Whatever I did get I don't remember so I guess it was neither bad nor memorable.

    (2)

  • Alex G.

    I don't really want to share my opinion too much in this review because it's not really necessary. You just need to go there, close your eyes, point to a random item on the menu, order it, eat it, throw it back up, and eat it again. Even on the second time around, it's still better than half of the restaurants in Tallahassee. That's a fact. I'm sure I don't really have to try to convince you that this place is good. The only concern I've seen in other reviews is the price. I personally don't see that being an issue at all, unless you're comparing their prices to T.G.I. Friday's or something, in which case, you're an idiot and this review is not intended for you. Something that I haven't heard people talk enough about is the Sunday brunch. The average price for a plate is $10 and the portions are filling so if you've never been to Kool Beanz and you're not brave enough to go straight for the dinner, I suppose brunch would be a good place to get your feet wet. But if you give a mouse a cookie, he'll want a glass of milk and if you get the brunch, you'll want a dinner and a bottle of wine and probably some conch fritters too. And when you actually do go there for dinner, by the end of it, you won't care how much it costs. You'll actually probably just want to initiate some type of automatic payment to Kool Beanz deducted from every paycheck and just exchange all of the U.S. currency in your possession for food from this restaurant.

    (5)

  • John M.

    received a recommendation from a passenger on my flight in. this is my second trip here and the experience has been outstanding. eclectic decor, friendly and knowledgeable wait staff and the menu is an experience in and unto itself. quality of the food and presentation is amazing. I would put it on the "must visit" list when in town.

    (5)

  • Jeff H.

    My one star is not for food quality or bad service. This concept - a bite size morsel of food the size of an M&M in the center of a plate, with sauce drizzled around it - sucks. If you come to this place hungry, you'll spend a lot of money and end up hitting Whataburger just down Thomasville Rd. If you like to be part of the hip and with it crowd, enjoy. I'll pass. Can't believe I actually wasted money here.

    (1)

  • Jerry H.

    I love this place. One of the best in tally. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Helen C.

    Great service, great food. Great place to take friends and family when visiting.

    (5)

  • Blake S.

    If you identify as a foodie then you can't pass this place up. My favorite restaurant in town. The food is always really interesting and I am always surprised how well the flavors meld together. I like to come here to get inspiration for my own cooking at home. I think the best way to describe it is as a bright 90's fusion of flavors. I HIGHLY recommend trying their desserts, they are to die for!

    (5)

  • Adina F.

    I can't help myself, I have to write another update on Kool Beanz because its just THAT GOOD!!! I've gone several times since my original review, but the most recent trip was for my graduation dinner with my family. They sat us immediately (we beat the huge rush that usually accompanies Thursday nights) and the server straight away asked for our drink orders. Got a dry white and the escargot I usually get for my appetizer, which was superb. The snails were over angel hair pasta with garlic butter sauce and it was delicioussss, just as fresh as it has always been. I ordered Thai inspired Mahi Mahi that came with sweet potato fries and vegetables. My dad ordered the pork schnitzel, sister got the filet mignon with onion rings (the best I've ever had in my life I gotta say!) and mom ordered bass with asparagus. Even my grandma liked it, and she doesn't like anything!!! EVERYTHING was super fresh, came out in a timely manner, and delicious. Ther menus have something for everybody and they are constantly changing, never have I ordered the same thing twice and never have I seen the same menu at KB! Best restaurant in Tallahassee, you must eat here!

    (5)

  • Jacqui M.

    Great food in cozy atmosphere, cool art on the walls, and now with outdoor seating. Fresh seafood. Unpretentious. Nice wine list. Definitely will be back here.

    (4)

  • Jennifer M.

    Great food and such a lovely atmosphere. We had the mussels and the scallops. Both very fresh and well prepared. I was a little sick of overprepared, over seasoned food during many diner stops on our road trip. So great to stop at a place that's more about good flavors of the natural ingredients. The wait staff were friendly and helpful. Too bad we were driving through... This could easily be a regular spot for us.

    (5)

  • robert l.

    I'm a foodie: I live in San Francisco, one of the best restaurant cities in America, and I judge restaurants in other cities by whether I think they could survive here. Kool Beanz has it all: phenomenal food, staff that is friendly, helpful, knowlegeable and smart and an ambiance that just says "relax - you're with friends." I had dinner there and was so impressed that I returned the next day for lunch. Seriously, folks: I travel a ton on business and I've eaten my share of restaurant meals. Kool Beanz is one of the best restaurants I've ever - ever - enjoyed. I'd come back in a heartbeat. Oh, and don't miss the Boston Cream Pie - it is absolutely to die for! THANK YOU KOOL BEANZ!!!

    (5)

  • Jeff C.

    I had the lamb sirloin w/ asparagus and mashed potatoes - very tasty. The main dining room was full so I sat out on of the patio directly under one of their outdoor heaters. Great service and atmosphere, I will go back!

    (4)

  • Patti B.

    Interesting food at high prices for such a casual little place. But you're paying for the creativity of the recipes so it makes sense. Service was incredibly slow but the servers were pleasant and overall, I enjoyed my dining experience.

    (4)

  • Michael A.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants. I've eaten in a lot of places all around the world, but Kool Beanz feels like home to me and is my go to when I need a tip top meal. Usually about half the menu shifts while half the menu stays relatively the same. KBC is always looking for new ways to combine southern cooking with the techniques and themes of modern American cuisine. Their desserts are usually very good as well. The atmosphere (other than the obnoxious paintings of animals on the walls...I'm just not a fan) is comfortable and loud, making it an ideal place to get together with friends to pop a cork and share stories.

    (5)

  • Carl B.

    Unusual menu items. Had the snapper. Extremely good!!! My wife had the seared Tuna. Also exceptional!!! Only complaint is no liquor just beer and wine.

    (5)

  • Thomas B.

    Victory beer! Chilled salad plate Casual vibe. Loud Good bread. Informed Waitress. Excellent food --delivered hot. Would go again if in Tallahassee!

    (5)

  • Izzat A.

    Went here for lunch while in town for business. Saw the great reviews, so decided to try it out. Ordered the salmon and it was okay. Small portion. Had an interesting tomato sauce on it. Service was friendly and the price was alright. I'm sure they do other things better, but I didn't see what the hype was about.

    (3)

  • Terry P.

    I've always wanted to try this place and when I finally did, it definitely met my expectations - great service and huge portions! Not being overly hungry, our waiter recommended that we split an appetizer and an entree - it was just the right amount of food! Don't let the full parking lot turn you away, we parked on a little side street (make sure you look if it's okay to park there - no yellow curbs or no parking signs, it is Tallahassee after all and you could get towed in an instant) and were seated in a manner of minutes on the covered patio.

    (5)

  • Terry F.

    My coworkers and I finally got around to visiting this restaurant for lunch and we wondered what had taken us so long. We sat out on the patio and enjoyed the great Fall weather. Service was friendly and expert at their tasks. The menu changes a lot, based upon seasonal specials. Suffice it to say that there is such a wide selection of meat and veggie options, with creative sides, that you could eat here for a week or more and always have tasty options to choose from. Fantastic! The pork belly was my favorite! Since it was lunch, we didn't get to try their very intriguing (and affordable) wine list. Maybe next time for dinner!

    (5)

  • Sammy S.

    Thank goodness for this place. The owner is a great guy and prices are fair. No wonder they are always packed.

    (5)

  • Jason K.

    6 Star's if they had such a thing!!!!! My buddy and I are only in town for a couple days and this was the first place we stopped for a meal.....LET ME TELL YOU, THIS PLACE SMOKE'N!!!!!! I had the scallops w the grits on the lunch menu, my buddy opted for the fried chicken. Mine came out and there was about 6 scallops all grilled to perfection!!! The grits were great as well! The presentation even kicked ass!!! They had on top it was almost like spinich that they left on the grill too long, it looked burnt. It was SLAMMING!!!! My buddies chicken was perfection. His side's included out of this world collards and Mac n Cheese!!! Each dish was very well proportioned and about half way through the waiter gave us some of their homemade hot sauce, which we both doused on our food. Now it was like a whole other meal!!!! Their hot sauce should be bottled it's so damn good!!!!! Wow!!!! My buddy and I are talking about going back tonight for dinner!!!! Stay tuned..... Okay, sure enough, WE WENT BACK FOR DINNER! I set a new record for myself. I have yet to eat at the same place twice in 1 day, especially when I'm out of town and there's a lot of other places to try!!! Do you get it? This place is that AMAZING!!! I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the homemade salad dressing or hot sauce. Or maybe it's just this place is in a league all of their own. Tonight, my buddy had the scallops this time but they were prepared different from when I had them earlier. These chefs have mastered the art of grilling a scallop to perfection that's all I'm gonna say... I on the other hand had the grouper. Again it was perfection. I'm including pictures of our appetizers and the menu so you can see all the extras they throw in. Too much for me to type! Also, pay attention to the prices!!!! We are in town 1 more day, and yes we're already planning to go back!

    (5)

  • Dee B.

    I have eaten here MANY times over the years and had never been disappointed... until last night. The restaurant was not busy... home football game was not over yet. My food looked great and was figuring on a good supper, but two of the sides were barely warm. Sent them back to fix it and was given a fresh plate with the same thing! The server was at a loss to understand what I wanted when it was a fresh plate! Being a foodie with 15 years of cooking in a restaurant experience, I can deal with a lot of situations, but NOT barely warm vegetables! If I had been a health inspector with a thermometer... FAIL!! New cooks? Rushing to serve before steam table was hot? SOmething was wrong. It will be awhile before I go back.

    (2)

  • Jenny O.

    The quality of the food has gone down. I had the chicken with creamed spinach and macaroni...tasted like it was frozen food from publix. Had better. Too bad Mozaik's closed.

    (1)

  • Stephen S.

    I went here for lunch with a friend, and was pretty surprised by the large and creative punishment new. For the quality of food, the prices really aren't that bad. I think the average price was $10-$16. I had the seared ahi tuna, which was pretty good, and cooked really well. The portion was a little bit small, but still very acceptable for the price and for a lunch portion. I will definitely come back, but probably for dinner rather than lunch

    (4)

  • Sheri D.

    Everything was so delicious and fresh! Favorite restaurant I went to while visiting Tallahassee!

    (5)

  • Nicole B.

    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.

    (5)

  • Jennifer H.

    My first time here-- now I know why it's my mom's favorite restaurant. The colorful animal paintings put me in a good mood immediately. Friendly, relaxed service that did't feel rushed but was still attentive. Eclectic menu. I had the fried oysters with cheese grits - it was a starter but was fine as a meal for me. My mom had a pepper steak that she couldn't begin to finish- took it home and it will probably feed her all weekend. Our friend had a crusted chicken that she loved. Shared a coconut meringue cake that looked as good as it tasted. Hope to go back next time I'm in Tallahassee. Bravo!

    (5)

  • Doug S.

    I had heard a lot about this place and was disappointed when I first pulled up because I was expecting more. However, by the time I left I understood what all the hype was about. Everything was great and the best duck I have ever had!

    (5)

  • Debi B.

    First I have to admit, I love Kool Beanz! Today was my sister-in-law's birthday. We had a group of 10 for Sunday Brunch. We had to wait when we arrived at 10:45 which we all expected. We were told 20 mins. or so, that was fine. No one ever asked if we wanted anything to drink or came to check, so after 20 min. I politely asked about the progress of the table, as there were so many of us, we were blocking incoming traffic. The host (a young man) was abrupt and said we would have to wait for others inside to leave. Of course he could not hurry them. He was very condescending. We had requested to be either inside or out. My sister said he acted annoyed when we arrived because we had such a big party. Long story... the food was really good, the birthday was celebrated. But the host should be fired. Our wait staff was fine after she warmed up to us. I enjoyed the food very much as always. The front staff is not setting the mood you want from your guest. The host should be excited about a group, there aren't reservations and we were fine waiting for a table for 20-30 mins. or more. I think the host staff needs "a talking to" by those busting it in the kitchen and those on the floor. Thanks for the chicken & waffles, lobster mac-n-cheese, shrimp and grits, apple gorganzola salad, fried green tomatoes and everything else. I will be back... the door, hostess is the first impression and we did consider going somewhere else and may do it if happens again. That would be sad for me because I love Kool Beanz!

    (3)

  • Jean C.

    The lamb shank is so tender. The combination of mashed potato and the tenderness of the meat just melts in my mouth. Perfect every bite. Just lift me up on top of the cloud floating. Love love love...

    (5)

  • Aaron M.

    Hands down the best place in Tallahassee. The quality and presentation of their meals are impeccable! Atmosphere gets a 10. Local art everywhere and wonderful service to boot. Great place for a date or a fun time out with close friends.

    (5)

  • Aaron E.

    This place is about average in price and do give you well sized portions. Everyday it has a new fresh menu, with so many items, it generally takes a minute to choose. I've never had anything bad here. The place is usually packed though unless you get there at the right time. The staff are great and definitely helpful when it comes to figuring out what to order.

    (5)

  • Zach H.

    Without a shadow of a doubt, this is one of the best places to eat in Tallahassee. I've been here several times for lunch and dinner. I can say with confidence that I haven't been let down yet. It's a bit smaller than a lot of restaurants and because it's so awesome, it tends to get incredibly busy with long waits in the evenings and on weekends. On my most recent visit, a friend and I came in for lunch. My friend ordered the Mojo Spiced Chicken (which is a crowd favorite and always on the menu) while I ordered the Grilled Salmon. The Mojo Chicken is a sizable portion that has a look similar to jambalaya. Along with the chicken, it has shrimp, chorizo, black beans & rice and all covered with jalapeno jack cheese. My perfectly cooked grilled salmon came with well seasoned green beans alongside perfectly fried slices of eggplant and all of that with a liberal dollop of red pepper feta sauce. I don't normally order dessert because I don't really have a sweet tooth, but ended up getting a slice of the Coconut Cream Layer Cake by recommendation of 2 different people that work there. I have to say... it was the best Coconut Cream Cake I've ever had. It was light, wasn't too sweet, and didn't have an overwhelming coconut flavor. PERFECTION. The service was excellent (as it usually is) and the food here is truly art on a plate... which is appropriate as there is art from local artists all over the walls that can be purchased to support the local community. The artsy indoor decor, great patio dining area, and open kitchen makes this place great for any occasion. I can't say enough about how Kool this place is.

    (5)

  • Mike V.

    I stopped in for lunch for my first time back after a 4 year hiatus and Kool Beanz can still sling it. I had the snapper with an orange habanero sauce served with fried okra & red beans and rice. Spicy & Delish! The menu constantly changes so its also a great spot for the food explorer. The wait staff was attentive & the value was outstanding. The bar overlooks the kitchen so you can watch the chef's practice their craft if you are so inclined. When in Tallahassee, this should be a spot on your bucket list!

    (5)

  • Heather L.

    We were really looking forward to this restaurant after all we heard about it and the hype. However, I was incredibly disappointed. The one extra star is only because of the buffalo gator appetizer. The carrot/bleu cheese was delicious and paired well with the spicy gator. However, I did ask (multiple times throughout dinner) about the origins of gator (it didn't deter me from ordering it, but being a relatively new Floridian, I was just curious) and the waitress kept 'going to find out' and never got back to me. She was busy so that didn't bother me too much. She was also nice and seemed otherwise knowledgeable about the menu. She really pushed the snapper so we ordered it, all excited. When the snapper came, this was where it all fell apart. The only redeeming quality was the cilantro rice, but I did not come to pay $24 for cilantro rice. The mango salsa didn't fit the dish at all and was very strongly flavored in comparison to the snapper. Oh, that snapper. I know that it is supposed to a mild flavored fish, but that was an understatement. The jerk seasoning around it was flavorless and soggy. So it felt like I was eating soggy breadcrumb-ed fish with a remnant of jerk seasoning. None of the seasoning made it into the fish (AT ALL). They should have at least attempted to crisp it. A quick broil of the dish would have fixed the texture issue so easily. The decor, was fitting to the name and very whimsical. The lighting was odd inside of the restaurant though. Half of our table was well-lit and the other half was left in the dark (we were squeezed into two square tables put together- 7 people). I was really looking forward to it and being a new Tallahassee transplant, I am sorely disappointed to not have this place as a good eatery option. We will not be returning anytime soon. I can make better snapper at home.

    (2)

  • Loren W.

    Excellent and diverse menu with a great number of options that are both healthy and very creative. A great stop in July at the beginning of the book tour!

    (5)

  • Paul H.

    I don't give a lot of 5 star ratings. One of the best meals I have had in recent memory has certainly earned that rating for Kool Beanz Cafe. The menu (which I understand changes regularly) was fascinating, with a amazing choice of seafood, chicken, pasta, lamb and beef. I asked the server for recommendations, and I wasn't disappointed. I started with a browned gnocchi for an appetizer, and it was wonderful. My entree was a duck breast with Brussels sprouts, sweet potato and black eyed peas. Very rustic, very hearty. The flavors blended and complimented one another perfectly. My server recommended a good cabernet, and it was an excellent match. I honestly cannot say I have had a better meal in years. The place was fairly crowded, even on a Monday night. Nevertheless, I was seated with almost no wait, even as a single, and the service speed was fine. The decor is young person hipster, and it fits perfectly. I was surprised at the prices; for this quality of food, I would have expected higher prices. My only regret is that I do not travel to Tallahassee on business more often. I will go back to the Kool Beanz Cafe the first chance I get.

    (5)

  • Nicole W.

    Good selection of foods you can't get anywhere else. Quality food and a laid back atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Andrew M.

    I should write a long review for Kool Beanz Café, I really should. But somehow, I just can't seem to drum up enough enthusiasm to go into too much detail. And that, my dear readers, should tell you all you need to know. But since we all know I can't stop at that, let's go through it in more detail. To be fair, there isn't anything wrong with KBC and it is likely one of the better places we ate while in Tallahassee (although since our diet consisted primarily of 5 guys and Whataburger, that isn't a hard title to get). I think I was a bit put off from the start as we were offered a table outside or asked to wait. That's fine normally, but when your waiting area is a drafty half sealed plastic tent with only a couple of space heaters, it damn well sucks. I wish we could have waited in the car, but then we would have lost our place in line. I'll give them credit for being quite friendly and offering to bring us a drink from the bar if we wished to order something while we waited. We were seated after about 30-40 minutes and our waitress was lovely, engaging in some friendly banter and happy to offer recommendations for both food and beer. We proceeded to order a selection of starters and mains to share (sharing is caring after all) and dug in. For the starters, we opted for crab cakes, frog legs, and one other dish which has since fled from the working parts of my memory but may have been pardon peppers (or some equivalent). The crab cakes were tasty and quite a sizeable portion with a bold full flavoured dip. The frog legs, however, were definitely not to my taste. Now, not having had said legs before, I can't comment if it was the way they were seasoned and cooked or an inherent flaw in frog, but they tasted like overripe chicken. I know that's not quite an accurate phrase, but think of a chicken leg that has turned and leaves you with a cloying taste after each bite. Yeah, it's not good is it? Mains were memorable only in their mediocrity. I found the food underseasoned and (in the case of the quail) overcooked. The pork chops were probably the best bit but even those were left unfinished. We passed on desserts, being full on beer and ready for a night out, so I can't comment on those either. Perhaps one day I'll be back this way and will give KBC another go. You never know, right?

    (2)

  • Tatianna S.

    Nice paintings. I hope they recycle all the paper they wasted.

    (3)

  • Mike S.

    It has been a while since i was in Tallahassee and enjoyed Kool Beanz. I remember when it opened and we feared it was a gimmicky, fad place. We finally got there after hearing great word of mouth and were well pleased with the food and service. Some unique and standard dishes done with flair....and from recent reviews it seems that has been sustained (duck with brussels spouts)....also recall the wonderful cheese grits and other Southern sides done so well. Hope to try again on a trip.

    (4)

  • James K.

    Lunch with my friend this afternoon could not have been much better. We each had very different dishes and were well pleased. The woman who coached us through the menu and served us with Grace was a delightful treat. Be back. Noisy room.

    (4)

  • Ken J.

    Love this place...great, unique, fresh southern fusion!

    (5)

  • Vishal S.

    I'd like to give this place 5star. +++! Great tasting food , great price , great service ! I came in here for the duck but it was not being served during lunch , however I was able to mix and match to make my own combination and ........ What a delight. ! The red beans and cilantro rice with fish and veggie was awesome ! If I knew about this place sooner I would have eaten here all week while I was visiting. I will have to return .........

    (5)

  • Melinda T.

    Meh. Food looked great! I took a picture and posted it on facebook before I tried it. I had steak and scallops with mashed potatoes and asparagus. The steak was overcooked and clearly cooked/finished off in the oven (I asked for medium rare) and the scallops were not very well cleaned, had some sand crunching under my teeth. Mashed potatoes had a consistency of a food processor mashed potatoes, not very pleasant. Everything was a little salty too. Not coming back.

    (2)

  • Cheryl S.

    If you want to impress someone visiting Tallahassee this is it! Casual, fun , divine food. I can't believe how much diverse food the chefs turn out of their postage-stamp kitchen. If you're alone, sit at the counter and be amazed at the kitchen choreography. I do think bread & butter ought to be included with entrees but that's just a quibble. I have nothing but nice things to say about the many meals I've eaten here. And if you don't like something on the plate, don't hesitate to ask for a substitution - no attitude here!

    (5)

  • Derek H.

    Awesome food! Great Staff! The new porch means you don't have to wait as long for the amazing food!

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    Oh my God, Becky. Look at that rating! Besides the fact that I almost grew out a full beard by the time I sat down, my experience at Kool Beanz Cafe was absolutely spectacular. Don't let the corny name (that sounds like it came from the 90's) and size of the restaurant fool you because my friends and I walked out of that building with massive food erections and food babies. As much as I'd love to sit here and describe what everybody ordered, I can't. It would take too long to exemplify the complexity and the deliciousness of each entree. It's just that damn good, so let me just briefly write a letter to the dish that was responsible for my food erection. Ms. Seared Duck Breast, I knew the moment your seared breasts looked at my eyes when you arrived at the table is that true love does exist. You were a bit undersized for my taste, but even the undersized entrees need loving as well if you know what I mean. The cranberry puree you brought definitely complimented everything that you had going on that night... Just a perfect blend of sweetness and saltiness in every bite (unintentional rhyme). Let us not forget about the perfectly charred brussel sprouts with the sweet potato fries on the side. Those side items fused the whole plate together and made it into a marvelous foursome. I'd like to thank you for bringing your friends along because it was very unexpected. Thanks to my charisma, I was able to handle everything that was thrown at me. I'll be sure to call you again when I visit next time. Ciao, - Christopher Wait time: 3/5 Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Cleanliness: 4/5 Price: $$$

    (5)

  • Jack H.

    Very Creative and Original. At first I thought it was a little pricey but when you see the size of the portions -- I don't see how they are making a profit. The Buffalo Fried Gator Tail is delicious. The dining experience is awesome. The only thing that kept them from getting 5 Stars was the bumbling idiot who was seating everybody. He really messed up but the manager was very apologetic.

    (4)

  • Liesl V.

    A Tallahassee classic. My go-to when I have out of town visitors for brunch, lunch, or dinner. I love how unique and delicious the food is while maintaining a casual and welcoming atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Amy V.

    My sister lives in Tallahassee, and a trip to Kool Beanz is a requirement of my visits. I absolutely LOVE to sit at the bar and watch the chefs cook, they are incredibly talented. I've tasted the cobia, shrimp, scallops, grouper, flank steak, and a few of the salads. Each dish has been cooked just right, and the accompaniments are perfect (the beans, dirty rice, and fried okra are my favorite sides!) They also have a decent selection of wines for under $30 a bottle. Come for lunch and the prices are nearly cut in half!

    (5)

  • Stacey R.

    My most favorite place to eat!! LOVE the food!!

    (5)

  • Logan B.

    I've gone here a few times and the food has been hit or miss. Mostly miss. All of the dishes sound wildly exciting on paper, but the menu descriptions don't usually match the actual food that arrives at my table, which is invariably more conventional and bland than I'm expecting. Presentation is also poor. Things are just thrown onto the plate together without regard to aesthetic considerations. Service is good enough. Wine list is very limited. Walls are decorated with bright, garish paintings of dogs. Not a terrible restaurant, but not a good one, either. Overrated and overpriced. Their cakes are good, though. I'll give them that.

    (2)

  • Eddie B.

    Tried many times to eat there, never catch them open....EXTEND HOURS PLEASE. But I have heard good things if you can get in.

    (4)

  • Jeremy L.

    We have eaten here numerous times: food and service excellent. Tuesday, 2/3/15 was horrible. Service was slow and food was almost inedible. For the first time we didn't order dessert as we felt we might wait another hour. The waiter did his best offering us numerous glasses of water and extra portions of bread (no butter) but it didn't compensate for an hour and fifteen minute wait for food. Bad food. And the outside heaters did not work so we froze and starved.

    (1)

  • Sammy P.

    Happened to drive by this spot en route to hotel and gave it a shot last week while through town. Terrific. Did an assortment of the appetizers and was especially impressed with the gnocchi. Ended up sitting on the patio during a cool, damp evening which did not give off the great vibes from in the restaurant, but when I return, I'll Be Back.

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    Great food. Casual atmosphere but great for date night. Lunch is the deal though... Quality without the cost.

    (4)

  • Natalie L.

    My fiancée and I were in town and decided to come here based on the awesome reviews. We came for Sunday brunch and it was amazing! I had the lobster Mac n cheese (which was absolutely to die for) and he had something similar to a huevos rancheros... Equally delicious. The service was spectacular and we loved the environment. Lots of cool local artwork and a bright, cheery colors everywhere. We'll definitely be coming back!

    (5)

  • Jessica C.

    Veryyyyyy good food, but with that comes an extremely long wait time. -1 star only for the wait. The food and wine are stellar!

    (4)

  • Laurianne A.

    One of my favorite fun restaurant to go in Tallahassee. The food is awesome .

    (5)

  • Erik Z.

    Have eaten there a couple of times for lunch and once for dinner. I really like how they use local and organic ingredients and how their menu is continuously evolving. Food is always fresh tasting and flavorful. Will be back.

    (4)

  • J P.

    Its not bad. There are better options in town for the price.

    (3)

  • Wm C.

    Well I don't know if it is "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" . But it is surely one of the "as good as it gets places in Tallahassee". The menu changes often and there is a good variety of dishes available. Try and sit outside if the weather is suitable. Inside can be noisy and you will leave smelling like the food. On a recent evening I visited with some friends. I had the flank steak, mashed potatoes and fried onion rings. Who would come up with that combination of food? But it worked nicely. Oh! The crab cakes we had for appetizers were outstanding. Everyone enjoyed them. Two of my three friends along were very happy with their meals. The restaurant messed up the order on the other diner. He had asked if they could prepare his salmon and leave olives out of the sauce. They said YES but they left them in it. The world ended. Despite that little miscue, the food is reliably and predictably good. Most people will be very happy. One little bad thing: THE PARKING. It is awful. This place is so popular that it has gotten to where there are never any spots in their small parking lot. But I parked along the street to the east and walked 200 feet. Not sure what you do if the street is full because it is a small street. I think they had parking across Thomasville Rd. available or at least they did at one time.

    (5)

  • Bret A.

    Sit indoors or on the patio. Inside is decorated with an assortment of artwork while the patio features fresh air. The menu changes frequently and everything was wonderful. Our orders ranged from scallops to steak to duck to mojo chicken with gator tail appetizers. All the meals were large portions, had artistic presentation and were delicious. entrees $18-20 and appetizers $8-10. Teens as well as adults loved it, smaller children might find the menu a little complex for their taste. Definitely will be back to try different entrees. Parking was a little tight, but manageable. Awesome!

    (3)

  • Stephanie L.

    I'll admit my hesitation to try a place named anything that reminds me of my middle-school science teacher. The phrase "Cool Beans" never exactly formed an association with anything chic (or particularly appetizing) after hearing her utter the phrase regularly. Yet on a Monday night in Tallahassee, with limited options available (I don't know why that seems to be the night every restaurant in town decides to close for dinner), I figured Kool Beanz might be a worth trying. So glad that I did because it was absolutely unique, completely unforgettable, and Kool Beanz has since become a regular fixture on my dining out itinerary in Tally. The parking situation on that first trip was a bit precarious, but subsequent visits have proven far easier. Outdoor seating is available, but inside really embodies the unique flavor of the restaurant. With funky art scattered on every free surface, and wine bottle menus, the eclectic spot manages to feel comfortable and trendy at the same time. Ambiance aside, the food is what really keeps me coming back again and again. Since the menu changes daily, it is possible to return every day and manage to find something that sounds so good you just can't resist. The food is a fusion of world influences that is often skewed towards Southern cuisine meets Caribbean, and although some of the ingredients may appear low-brow, the spectacular presentation proves there is nothing backwater about it. Examples from lunch include a linguini with crawdads, tasso ham, mushrooms, in a roasted garlic cream sauce with asiago cheese, and a jerk spiced chicken skewer with tropical fruit salsa, maduros, black bean sauce, and coconut rice. As for dinner, trust me when I say the appetizer portion of the browned gnocchi with applewood bacon, caramelized onions,snd spinach, with sherried gorgonzola cream is sufficient on its own. However, choices like the lime-basil chicken with a veggie stir fry in Thai curry with peanuts, frizzled leeks, and shiitakes on a ginger risotto cake are hard to pass up. Other entrees include sesame crusted salmon in anorange-almond-hoisin sauce with asparagus, shiitakes,and sweet potato fries, and a Indian spiced shrimp with cashew "methi malai", onion chutney, lentils n' rice, and flat bread. As interesting as each choice sounds, they taste even better, with every fish being tender and fresh, and the pasta served perfectly al dente. If at all possible, save room for dessert since these too are a far cry from your average key lime pie and chocolate cake selection. The last lunch I enjoyed almond lacey cookies with peach and white miso ice cream. Sweet and umami juxtaposition in one generous portion, it was a phenomenal finish! I've always had good service, and really enjoyed my experience. Definitely kreative and kool, I look forward to returning with regularity whenever I'm in town!

    (4)

  • MP S.

    We had heard so many great things and read such great reviews, so when we were in Tallahassee with our two girls (ages 11 and 15) we decided to stop and have dinner at Kool Beans. Great decision! Our waiter was Jordan and was SO nice, helpful and attentive. The pulled pork appetizer was very good, although I would ask for a little less dijon mustard on it next time. Came with awesome corn cakes, though! Probably could be a little bigger - barely enough for the 4 of us and two were kids - but definitely very good and worth it overall. For entrees, hubby and I ordered the mojo chicken with shrimp, chorizo and rice + beans. The shrimp were HUGE and the chorizo was to die for! SO good- best one we've had and comparable to chorizo from Spain. The chicken chunks were a bit bland, I thought, but together with the rest, it all worked very well. Also, only order this plate if you are VERY hungry or share with someone. It really is enough for 2 people, especially if you order any appetizer. One daughter ordered the rosemary chicken, which was pretty good, but not great. Best part is they were very flexible with the sides and allowed substitutions because this place is not very kid friendly with their eclectic menu and gourmet-style sides, but we substituted mac n cheese and she was good to go. For our other daughter, we ordered the flank steak (medium well), which was very tender and tasty. Better than the rosemary chicken, I thought. She had it with mashed potatoes and delicious homemade onion rings. It was a winner! Overall a great experience and a memorable one. Only complaint would be the food smell you leave with. We were sitting near the kitchen and we all had a REALLY strong smell of food as we got in the car. Had to open the windows even! But there is outside seating, so that may be a better choice. But smelling like food was a small price to pay for the experience! Will definitely come back if in Tally again.

    (5)

  • Pari N.

    Sunday Brunch was amazing, as always. Lobster mac'n cheese; yum. Scallops with succotash; yum. Fried green tomatoes with lemon aoli; super yum. The menu changes all the time- but it helps that the changes are based on incorporating seasonal items into the menu, in turn taking food quality and taste up a notch. Oh- and despite yelp's need to insist they're closed on Sunday, they serve brunch on Sunday!

    (5)

  • Tiffany L.

    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.

    (5)

  • Qui P.

    The dishes -- fried shrimps, crab cakes, duck breasts, and pork chops -- is affordable, abundant, and delicious. The service is good, yet slightly slow.

    (5)

  • Jessica L.

    It took me a couple years to finally listen to the reviews and try Kool Beanz. We tried a Wednesday night and it was JAM packed. Not a whole lot of seating and it took a good 30-40 minutes to get a table but we were able to stand and order drinks while waiting at the entrance. Once we were finally seated we got to check out the menu. Now, I'm not a seafood person so anti-seafood people beware... there were maybe 3 things I would eat that weren't seafood or out of my other taste preferences. It's unfortunate that their menu changes because I can't recall what we had. I do know that we loved the appetizers more than the entrees. There was a quesadilla with I believe apple in it, fried green tomatoes that were excellent. For dinner I had the flank steak with mashed potatoes and onion rings... awful starchy. I know flank steaks are tough but this was real tough and chewy, hard to have conversations while eating. The onions rings were pretty bland and standard, nothing special, same for the potatoes. It was pretty pricey and no one else in my party was blown away, but we may need to give it another shot.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual, Trendy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Kool Beanz Cafe

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