Rocco Smith
In a bustling and lively college town that’s also the state capital, Tallahassee, Florida, has so much to do and see that the fun can keep going endlessly it seems.
However, it’s not just bars and nightclubs that make up all the attractions, the restaurant scene here is just as strong.
Whether you’re in Tallahassee for school or business, you’re going to get hungry at some point, so when you do, it’s best to know about all the great places to eat in the area. If you’re not really sure where to start, however, then you’ve come to the right place.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Tallahassee, and during that time I scoured the city in search of all the best restaurants the city has to offer, and I did not come back empty-handed.
Best Restaurants in Tallahassee
- Backwoods Crossing
- Kool Beanz Cafe
- Sage
- Bella Bella
- Masa
- Table 23
- Savour
- Clusters & Hops
- Azu Lucy Ho’s
- Sahara Cafe
- Shell Oyster Bar
- Z Bardhi’s Italian Cuisine
- Georgio’s Fine Food & Spirits
- Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille
- Shula’s 347 Grill
- Food Glorious Food
- Reangthai Thai Restaurant
You’ll find the fruits of my labor down below in the form of a list ranking the best restaurants around Tallahassee all in one convenient place. Just pull up this handy guide the next time you have trouble deciding where to eat in Tally.
Backwoods Crossing
6725 Mahan Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 850-765-3753
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Coming away with the number-one spot on my list of best places to eat in Tallahassee is none other than Backwoods Crossing. This place is located off of Mahan Drive near the Tallahassee Automobile Museum.
I love coming here to eat because they source all of their ingredients locally and you can really taste the difference that it makes, plus they help support local farms and farmers that way.
I always go for their catfish po’boy since it’s so delicious and it comes with a side. IFor my side, I usually choose the beer-battered straight fries.
Kool Beanz Cafe
921 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: 850-224-2466
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Next up is Kool Beanz Cafe. You can find this little gem off of Thomasville Road near the Florida Governor’s Mansion and Lafayette Park.
I really think you’re going to love this place once you come here and try some of their incredible seafood dishes.
It’s always a toss-up for me between the blackened amberjack or the pan-seared Corvina. Of course, they have plenty of land-based options as well if you’re not feeling fish.
Pretty much anything you order from Kool Beanz is guaranteed to be tasty. This place is extremely popular and it’s very easy to understand why.
Sage
3534 Maclay Blvd S, Tallahassee, FL 32312
Phone: 850-270-9396
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This next Tally restaurant I want to mention is called Sage. I enjoy coming to Sage for dinner mostly, but they offer a spectacular lunch menu as well.
For dinner, I’m a huge fan of the spinach and three-cheese lasagna, but if you’d like something with a bit more meat, I’d recommend the crispy duck cassoulet.
Check out Sage off of Maclay Boulevard near the Village Commons S.C. and Village Square, just south of the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park. If you’ve just finished a hike around Lake Hall and you’re feeling hungry, be sure to stop by Sage!
Bella Bella
123 E 5th Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: 850-412-1114
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Bella Bella is well-known and well-loved around Tally, so much so that this restaurant has really become a fixture of the city that really everyone needs to pay a visit during their time here. If you like classic, homestyle Italian cooking, then this place is for you.
What I love most about Belle Bella, besides the delightful cuisine, is that they are always adding new Italian wines to their menu, so you’re always able to try something new whenever you visit.
I usually go for a wine that pairs well with the chicken parmesan since that’s what I seem to order every time.
Masa
1650 N Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: 850-727-4183
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If you come to Tallahassee and you leave without having dined at Masa, then you’ve done something wrong and you should probably turn around.
Masa is a fantastic place to get sushi in Tally, as well as lots of other Asian delicacies you can choose from.
Sushi is the specialty here at Masa and it’s really the thing I would recommend the most, but sometimes I do find myself in the mood for something a bit heartier or warmer.
In that case, I go for an order of the grilled lamb chops with their insanely delicious yellow curry sauce.
Table 23
1215 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: 850-329-2261
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This next restaurant is called Table 23 and it’s an immensely popular place to eat in Tallahassee for both lunch and dinner, but also a wonderful brunch on the weekends, complete with mimosas and bloody marys.
I usually come to Table 23 for brunch because I feel that their brunch menu shines a little brighter than the dinner menu. Plus, who doesn’t love eggs Benedict with a nice tall bloody Mary?
Check out Table 23 off of Thomasville Road near El Cocinero. The atmosphere is so warm and inviting you’ll feel right at home.
Savour
115 E Park Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: 850-765-6966
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Right off of East Park Avenue next to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tallahassee in Downtown Tallahassee is Savour, a refined steak and seafood destination that also serves up some delicious, craft cocktails in an upscale atmosphere.
This is the perfect place to dine in Tallahassee if you want to stay near the downtown part of the city which, in my opinion, is the nicest part.
What I recommend from Savour is the Gulf Coast Bouillabaisse, it comes with blackened fish, clams, and shrimp in a savory tomato saffron sauce with a fennel and basil salad alongside a peppadew rouille crostini.
Clusters & Hops
707 N Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: 850-222-2669
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Now, I’d like to introduce you to a lesser-known, hidden gem of a restaurant called Clusters & Hops. This wonderful European restaurant doubles as a wine shop with a fantastic selection of bottles.
I always start with a meat and cheese board, complemented by a bottle of red wine when I come to Clusters & Hops.
After that, I like to order the duck breast and ostrich entree. It comes with 2 styles of duck breast with a cut of ostrich alongside some organic mixed greens, potato a pancake, squash and balsamic onion, as well as wild mushrooms.
Azu Lucy Ho’s
3220 Apalachee Pkwy #13, Tallahassee, FL 32311
Phone: 850-893-4112
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Azu Lucy Ho’s has made our lists before when talking about the greatest brunch spots around the city, but this Asian restaurant is honestly one of my favorite places to eat in Tallahassee overall, not just for brunch.
You can get some really fresh and delicious sushi here at Azu Lucy Ho’s, but there’re tons of other options on their menu that I’m sure will interest you.
I’d recommend taking a look at the dim sum menu for a mouth-watering assortment of steamed buns and dumpling dishes like a pork belly bao bun and crystal shrimp dumplings.
Sahara Cafe
1135 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: 850-656-1800
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Next up, we have Sahara Cafe where you can find some of the tastiest Mediterranean cuisine in the entire city.
This restaurant is located off of Appalachee Parkway in the same plaza as Olive Garden Italian and the Motel 6 Tallahassee.
When you come to Sahara Cafe, I think you should definitely consider trying the lamb kabob platter or the grilled chicken souvlaki platter, either one of these is sure to fill you up if you’re really hungry.
Of course, be sure to take a look at their signature sandwiches and wraps for a great lunch option if you’re on the go.
Shell Oyster Bar
14 Famu Way, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: 850-224-9919
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Shell Oyster Bar is another great place to eat in Tally, especially since it’s located off of Famu Way, within walking distance to the gorgeous Cascades Park where I also love to spend time while I’m in the city.
This is such a great lunch spot to hit after spending a day at the park nearby. I really love the oysters here, of course, because they’re so fresh and they have such great flavor.
They also offer crab claws and crab cakes here at Shell Oyster Bar, so if oysters aren’t exactly your thing, you’ll be able to find something else that you like, no doubt.
Z Bardhi’s Italian Cuisine
3596 Kinhega Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32312
Phone: 850-894-9919
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One of my other favorite Italian restaurants in Tallahasse is Z Bardhi’s Italian Cuisine and this should come as no surprise to any locals or anyone who has dined there before.
What I love about Z Bardhi’s is that their menu has lots of Italian classics like linguine with mussels, veal marsala, and even chicken piccata, but it’s also a great place to grab a tender, juicy filet mignon if you’re a big steak lover like myself.
Check out Z Bardhi’s off of Kinhega Drive across from Bradfordville Center shopping mall, right around the corner from Target.
Georgio’s Fine Food & Spirits
2971 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: 850-877-3211
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Right next to the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Tallahassee Central off of Appalachee Parkway is Georgio’s Fine Food & Spirits.
I wouldn’t recommend any other place more than Georgio’s when it comes to celebrating a birthday dinner.
The food is divine and the atmosphere is polished, yet warm at the same time, so you and your guests will feel welcome all night long.
I always recommend the catch-of-the-day throats which are usually either snapper or black grouper.
Either way, the throat of the fish is the most tender and flavorful, so if you like seafood, this one is for you.
Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille
301 S Bronough St, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: 850-222-3976
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Up next is Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille located near the downtown area of Tallahassee, just up the road from the Museum of Florida History and the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, so it’s the perfect place to grab dinner before a concert at the civic center.
Harry’s has a great menu section that’s dedicated to Cajun cuisine called Bourbon Street Favorites.
I usually end up ordering from this part of the menu because it’s filled with delicacies like jambalaya and some really unbeatable red beans and rice with smoked sausage. They have some great signature dishes as well, though.
Shula’s 347 Grill
415 N Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: 850-224-6005
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This next restaurant was actually opened by a former Florida State University football coach by the name of Don Shula that specializes in serving aged beef alongside some other classic American dishes inside the luxurious Hotel Duval, Autograph Collection.
Steak is really the name of the game here at Shula’s 347 Grill and each cut is hand-selected, aged to perfection for the ultimate tenderness and succulent flavor.
My favorite is the massive 18-ounce cowboy ribeye, but make sure you come in extra-hungry for that one because it is a monster of a steak!
Food Glorious Food
1950 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: 850-224-9974
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Food Glorious Food is another restaurant located off of Thomasville Road that is absolutely worth stopping by for either lunch or dinner whenever you get the opportunity.
The food here is absolutely splendid and you can just tell that there is so much care and thought put into every dish to make them absolutely perfect.
Honestly, my favorite part of eating here at FGF is getting to have dessert. They have an enormous dessert menu that is simply unbelievable. It’s so hard to choose just one sweet treat that I usually end up getting one to take home as well.
Reangthai Thai Restaurant
2740 Capital Cir NE, Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 850-386-7898
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This last restaurant, Reangthai Thai Restaurant, resides in the Festival Shopping Center off of Capital Circle Northeast, right by the Esposito Garden Center and Skate World Center Inc. Reangthai is home to some of the most delicious Thai food I’ve ever had.
I enjoy coming to eat at Reangthai mainly because of their selection of curries. Thai curry is one of my all-time favorite foods, and Reangthai has seriously perfected every style, including red, green, pineapple, garee, cinnamon yellow, Panang, and one that they call wild curry made with coconut milk.
Be sure to check out Reangthai the next time you’re craving authentic Thai cuisine!
Final Thoughts
Many people might not expect such a wide variety of quality restaurants in a party town like Tallahassee, but it’s not all bars and nightclubs in the city, as you can see. I hope this guide helps out anyone in the area looking for a new favorite place to eat!
If you’re more interested in the Tallahassee brunch scene, check out my guide on where to go this weekend!
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!
