Tallahassee is the capital of Florida and home to Florida State University. Even though it’s constantly buzzing and full of activity, this city is also known for its open cityscape perfect for relaxing and unwinding.
Part of that scene is a wide array of food gems scattered throughout the city. In honor of Tallahassee’s way of making a busy city feel like a neighborhood, here is a list of the 15 Best Restaurants in Tallahassee.
1. The Edison
$$-$$$ | 850-765-9771 | WEBSITE
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This American Bar is well known for its consistently excellent service and fantastic flavors. The restaurant is in a remodeled water utility plant and its rustic elegance and large open spaces will make your date, family outing, or large gathering unforgettable.
This restaurant is always busy since it is not that far from the nearby college, but the staff is always smiling, attentive, and happy to explain.
Their menu can appease almost any palette with their high-quality meats, unique dishes, gluten-free options, and a bar with a lot of specialty drinks and taps.
2. Tally Mac Shack
$-$$ | 850-296-9317 | WEBSITE
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If you are craving traditional comfort food, this is the place where you can experience macaroni and cheese with sophisticated twists. This is the perfect place for a date night or a family gathering you won’t soon forget.
Almost the entire menu is unique to the restaurant and made by hand so that you taste and experience each high-quality ingredient individually.
In addition to the food, the staff is attentive and takes ownership of every customer’s experience, so everyone feels appreciated.
3. Pitaria
$-$$ | 850-765-1171 | WEBSITE
If you’re looking for a flavorful low-fat, low-calorie meal, Piraria’s authentic Mediterranean food is what you’re looking for! Not only does it offer traditional Greek favorites but also a variety of platters catering to different types of palettes.
The atmosphere is reminiscent of the local gyro shops in Peloponnesus, and the easygoing locals love the comforting nature of the food. Since it’s close to the Florida State University Campus, it’s a great place to grab a quick bite or lounge a bit between classes or meetings.
4. Food Glorious Food
$$-$$$ | (850) 224-9974 | WEBSITE
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The award-winning cuisine at Food Glorious Food is the perfect combination of friendly service, eclectic ambiance, and a world kitchen.
In addition to their main menu, they have seasonal creations from around the world, such as petite filet mignon, spiced duck breast, caramelized salmon, FGF salad Maison, and spicy oyster shooters.
Long-time customers call their desserts “heavenly” and the bread is baked fresh daily. Reviews always rave about the knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly staff also.
5. Momo’s Pizza
$-$$ | (850) 224-9808 | WEBSITE
The Pizza here never disappoints, has extensive beers on tap, and consistently great service. Other than the Pizza, crowd favorites are the Calzones and the Pesto and Goat-Cheese breadsticks. In addition to the amazing food, the atmosphere is relaxed and upbeat.
The beautiful shaded courtyard beside the restaurant is the perfect place to lounge after a hard week. Because of the extensive beer selection and the pizza slices as big as your head, this place always delivers fun and great value.
6. St John’s Lively Cafe
$$-$$$ | (850) 222-2636 | WEBSITE
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The Lively Café is a unique and affordable restaurant on the relaxed side of downtown. It features rotating menus with new creative lineups of soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts often, making each experience more fun.
There are always new specials and each menu has a Panini, dessert, or drink for almost every palette. Since they now offer curbside pickup, they have a steady clientele throughout the day but still offer fast service even during busy times.
7. Cafe de Martin
$$-$$$ | (850) 900-5969 | WEBSITE
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This restaurant’s mission is to introduce the culture, beautiful climate, tasty food, and delicious coffee of Peru to the streets of Tallahassee.
They serve Peruvian classics such as Papas en salsa Huancaina, Aji de Gallina, and Pastel de Choclo, as well as authentic coffee drinks you’ll never forget. Locals also know this restaurant for its excellent desserts and fresh, house-made sandwich bread.
The relaxed, rustic ambiance with the cool string lights and colorful accents make it the perfect place for almost any type of outing. Also, the service is always top-notch and you’ll enjoy yourself every time you go.
8. Lucilla
$$-$$$ | (850) 900-5117 | WEBSITE
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The combination of stellar presentation, unique food, knowledgeable staff, and fresh ingredients at Lucilla will have you ready to be a regular customer.
The chefs here are very flexible and ready to accommodate several different food allergies or special needs. Every member of the staff is dedicated to making your Italian dining experience as satisfying and extraordinary as possible.
Lucilla has a quiet, relaxed atmosphere perfect for intimate conversations and unforgettable nights! This is one of the most affordable, sophisticated dining experiences the city has to offer.
9. Table 23
$$-$$$ | (850) 329-2261 | WEBSITE
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Table 23 makes every meal feel like a celebration. Almost all the ingredients are homemade, the flavor combinations are ridiculously good, and the drinks are world class.
In addition to a great meal, the attentiveness and friendly staff, from the parking lot to the table, will make you feel well taken care of throughout your meal.
The ambiance here is the best of both worlds; inside seating for calm conversations, or outside seating for a hype party or gathering.
10. Backwoods Crossing
$$-$$$ | (850) 765-3753 | WEBSITE
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The neat bar, attentive staff, and fantastic seafood make Backwoods Crossing one of the top local hangouts in the city.
Their menu is filled with locally caught soft-shell crabs, duck, sausage, and fruits crafted in to local favorites like the Crabby Patty Crab Cake Sandwich and Black & Blue Wild Boar Hamburger.
Although they are busy sometimes, they still keep everything coming out fast. At Backwoods Crossing, they make every dish a masterpiece.
They also have seasonal dishes featuring local gardeners who supply their best seasonal produce. Nothing else in Tallahassee is quite like this restaurant.
11. Sage
$$-$$$ | (850) 270-9396 | WEBSITE
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Sage has an American Neighborhood-Feel with the flavor mastery of French technique. All the food is made from scratch and the incredible waiting staff dedicated to complementing your perfect evening.
The cuisine here takes your mouth on vacation, and wines and specialty cocktails will take you to the moon. A local favorite is the well-presented and delicious Parisienne Gnocchi. Many have said it’s so tasty you’ll be scrapping the bowl to get every drop of the goodness.
12. Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille
$$-$$$ | (850) 222-3976 | WEBSITE
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At the intersection of great food, stellar service, and good value, you’ll find the award-winning Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille. Everything they do aims to make this authentic Louisiana-style cuisine experience extraordinary.
There is something for every palette, not only in the food, but also in the cocktails, desserts, and wines.
Henry’s is the perfect atmosphere for conversing and bonding with friends and family. The booths are spacious, and this restaurant can accommodate large parties easily without it feeling crowded or impersonal.
13. Savour
$$$ | (850) 765-6966 | WEBSITE
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This award-winning restaurant has been one of Tallahassee’s top restaurants for years. Not only will you have a wonderful meal, but you will also have attentive service, a relaxed atmosphere, and a fantastic drink selection.
Locals say that the seasoning combinations here are phenomenal and consistently exceed expectations. The attention to detail is what makes the experience here impeccable.
It’s not unheard of for people to have dishes that melt in their mouths and juices they want to sop up to the last drop. Savour is the epitome of exceptional American cuisine.
Summary
This review of the 13 Best Restaurants in Tallahassee should give you the knowledge you need to plan an amazing culinary journey during your next trip to Tallahassee, Florida. At the same time, you’ll experience the loving culture and community this city has to offer.
Hayden has been a digital director for years. He has five years of experience editing and writing about food, restaurant, and recipe review content. At Birch Restaurant, he’s in charge of scouting, showing up unannounced in different restaurants, and writing a thorough food guide!
Also Brooklyn Pizza @ 2035 West Pensacola Street & in FSU Student Union