Date Night November 13, 2021!
Teresa and I have had Kool Beanz Cafe in Tallahassee on our “Let’s Try It” list for quite a while. We had heard it was a casual, relaxed spot with an eclectic menu and incredible desserts. We put it off visiting a couple of times during the pandemic. When I was planning our November “date night” I wanted to try something new and we both needed to relax, it seemed like the time to go.
Getting Back to Normal…
The restaurant is located in the Midtown area of Tallahassee. It is a funky, commercial area. They don’t take reservations, so we decided to go when they opened for dinner at 5:30. Much to our surprise, the room was already pretty full when we got there. After seeing so many great local businesses close over the past eighteen months, it was just fabulous to see a crowd out patronizing a local business.
We were warmly welcomed right after we walked in. They offer both inside and outside seating. We chose to sit inside since it is starting to get pretty cool at night here in North Florida. We got a nice four top that had good separation from other tables. It took our server a few minutes because they were already quite busy, but we sat back and enjoyed being out together.
What We Tried
Menu choices were eclectic as expected. The offerings can be described as “down-home style” with a twist. They change the menu up daily but usually offer recurring favorites. Unfortunately, I was so busy (or maybe just hungry after months of losing weight) choosing what we were going to try that I forgot to ask Teresa to take pictures of the menu. You will have to be satisfied with my descriptions of the dishes we tried which may not be a completely accurate description of the dish.
We followed our usual practice when we go out for a meal of ordering single dishes that we share. We have them bring out each dish as an individual “course” so we can experience and enjoy it together.
Pulled Pork and More
We started with the pulled pork appetizer. This dish was served with coleslaw and jalapenos. The pork was perfectly cooked, the slaw very creamy, and there was just enough heat. It made for a really good “bite.”
This dish was the star of the night. It is one we would definitely have again for a quick lunch or to start another meal.
Peppered Flank Steak
For our second course, we tried the peppered flank steak. This is served with gorgonzola butter, onion rings, and mashed potatoes.
This was a “heavy” choice for us after months on a low calorie diet, so I don’t want to be overly critical. We probably should have chosen something lighter.
The steak was a bit over the temp we requested and should have been rested a bit more. We didn’t really like the steak being served on top of the potatoes. Not sure we would have this dish again, but it is a great choice for a “meat and potatoes” lover.
Tres Leches Dessert
We finished our meal with dessert. The dish was fabulous. It was a moist chocolate cake drenched in Vietnamese coffee, with a fabulous whipped cream and some crunchy elements.
We thought this dish would be more “milky” when we ordered based on the description. We both really liked it, but Teresa couldn’t have much because she has to really watch her caffeine intake. I felt guilty, but as you can see, dug in anyway.
On the List
Kool Beanz Cafe is definitely on our list to visit again to explore more of the menu. I think we might do a meal built out of multiple small plates next time. We may just stop in for just dessert.
