10 Best Tallahassee Restaurants

Tallahassee is famous for its New Southern cuisine, which blends traditional Southern cooking with modern culinary techniques and fresh, local ingredients. The city's food identity is heavily influenced by its location in the Florida Panhandle, resulting in dishes that feature fresh Gulf seafood like Apalachicola oysters and grouper. Key ingredients in Tallahassee's cooking include shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, and fresh, seasonal produce grown at local farms. This focus on "farm-to-table" and "Gulf-to-table" sourcing is a defining characteristic that attracts food tourists seeking an authentic taste of North Florida.

The average cost for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant in Tallahassee is between $15 and $25 per person. A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs between $60 and $100. At fine dining establishments like Savour, prices for a meal can start at $60 per person and increase based on selections.

Tallahassee's fast-food landscape is dominated by major national chains that cater to the city's large student population and government workforce. Chick-fil-A and McDonald's are extremely popular and have numerous locations throughout the city. The Florida-based chain, PDQ (People Dedicated to Quality), is also a local favorite for its fresh chicken tenders and sandwiches. Other popular fast food joints are shown below:

• Chick-fil-A: A go-to for its original chicken sandwich, waffle fries, and milkshakes.
• McDonald's: Known for its Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, and breakfast menu.
• PDQ: A regional chain specializing in fresh, never-frozen chicken tenders, sandwiches, and salads.
• Taco Bell: Serves Mexican-inspired fast food like the Crunchwrap Supreme and Cheesy Gordita Crunch.
• Wendy's: Offers square-patty burgers, the Frosty dessert, and chili.
• Zaxby's: A chain specializing in chicken fingers, wings, and signature sauces.
• Moe's Southwest Grill: A fast-casual restaurant known for its build-your-own burritos and a welcoming "Welcome to Moe's!" greeting.
• Whataburger: A Texas-based chain with a growing presence, popular for its large, customizable burgers.
• Guthrie's: A classic chain focused on a simple menu of chicken fingers, fries, coleslaw, and its signature sauce.

Tallahassee’s newest restaurants include The Blue Cat Café, First Watch, Social Kitchen, and a few others listed below:

• The Blue Cat Cafe: A new cafe that allows guests to interact with and adopt cats while enjoying coffee and baked goods.
• First Watch: A national chain specializing in breakfast, brunch, and lunch that opened a new location in the city.
• Social Kitchen: A restaurant located in the downtown Sheraton hotel, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a focus on American cuisine.
• Dave's Hot Chicken: A popular national chain serving Nashville-style hot chicken that recently opened its first Tallahassee location.
• The Huntsman: A new fine dining restaurant focused on high-end game meats and seafood.

Downtown Tallahassee is a hub for some of the city's best restaurants, offering a mix of upscale dining, political lunch spots, and lively bars, concentrated around Park Avenue and Adams Street.

• Savour: A fine dining restaurant offering modern American cuisine and an extensive wine list in an elegant setting.
• The Edison: A large, contemporary American restaurant located in a repurposed power plant in Cascades Park.
• Harry's Seafood Bar and Grille: A New Orleans-style restaurant known for its Cajun and Creole dishes and its large courtyard.
• Il Lusso: An upscale, Italian-inspired steakhouse that focuses on prime cuts of beef and handmade pasta.
• Andrew's Downtown: A long-standing institution serving American cuisine, known as a popular spot for legislators and professionals.

Yes, there are many lunch spots in Tallahassee worth trying. The city offers a full range of options for a midday meal, from quick counter-service spots to sit-down restaurants perfect for a business meeting. Kool Beanz Cafe is a legendary local choice, with a daily-changing chalkboard menu of eclectic and creative dishes. For a classic Southern meal, Hopkins' Eatery is a go-to for its sandwiches, salads, and homemade desserts. Table 23 offers a relaxed setting for Southern-inspired lunch fare on its large, shaded patio.

Yes, Tallahassee has good places for dinner, with options that span from casual, farm-focused eateries to sophisticated fine dining. Backwoods Crossing provides a true farm-to-table experience, with much of the produce grown on-site. Lucilla offers elevated Southern comfort food in a cozy, intimate setting inside a converted historic house. For a high-end, special occasion meal, Savour delivers a classic fine dining experience with modern American cuisine and professional service. The Edison provides a unique dinner setting inside a historic power plant with views of Cascades Park.

Tallahassee has restaurants that serve vegan food, including The Bark and Sweet Pea Cafe. The Bark is a vegetarian restaurant with a full menu of sandwiches, entrees, and baked goods, most of which can be made vegan. Sweet Pea Cafe is a long-standing, fully vegan cafe serving a menu of salads, sandwiches, and bowls. Black Radish, a seasonal American restaurant, also offers creative, vegetable-focused dishes that can accommodate vegan diners.

Restaurants in Tallahassee that serve gluten-free food include Backwoods Crossing and Lucilla. Backwoods Crossing, a farm-to-table restaurant, can accommodate gluten-free requests for many of its seasonal dishes. Lucilla offers a number of gluten-free entrees on its Southern-inspired menu. The city's upscale restaurants, like Savour and Il Lusso, are also well-equipped to handle gluten-free needs, particularly with their selections of seafood and steaks.

Tallahassee's most famous cuisines are New Southern and Coastal/Seafood. The city's location in North Florida and its role as a state capital have fostered a food culture that is both traditionally Southern and progressively modern. Listed below are the most common and popular cuisines in Tallahassee:

• New Southern: This is the defining cuisine of Tallahassee. Restaurants take classic Southern dishes like shrimp and grits, fried chicken, and fried green tomatoes and elevate them with modern cooking techniques and high-quality, local ingredients.
• Seafood: Given its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, fresh seafood is a staple. Apalachicola oysters, grouper, and shrimp are featured prominently on many menus, often served grilled, blackened, or fried.
• Farm-to-Table: A significant number of local restaurants have a strong focus on sourcing ingredients from nearby farms. This results in seasonal menus that highlight the produce of the North Florida region.
• Cajun/Creole: The influence of nearby Louisiana is present in the local food culture. Restaurants serving New Orleans classics like jambalaya, étouffée, and gumbo are popular.
• American (Casual): As a major university city, Tallahassee has a large number of casual American restaurants, pubs, and cafes serving burgers, sandwiches, and brunch fare.