The new dessert spot brings puffed pastry, powdered sugar, coffee and cocktails
Cafe du Monde began selling its legendary beignets and chicory-spiked coffee in New Orleans’ French Market in the late 1800s. The cafe’s reputation is built on the love of small fried fritters dusted with powdered sugar and a cup of cafe au lait.
Over the years, I’ve tried pseudo beignets at other locations but I’m always disappointed. It’s hard for any restaurant to capture the magic of sitting at Cafe du Monde on Decatur after midnight, watching a melting pot of people strolling by.
I can happily say that I am smitten with the new Beignets & Brew in Tallahassee. No, the Market Square can’t compare with the French Quarter, but this setting has plenty of charm – and delicious, Big Easy-inspired beignets.
Beignets & Brew features a sweet setting with a retro feel in Market Square. Photo / Tallahassee Table
Beignets & Brew is located in the former Takko, a good-size space that’s bright and breezy. The setting is decorated in cotton candy pink, with charming retro cafe tables and chairs. There’s a bar for dessert cocktails that opens to the covered patio.
A window by the bar opens into the covered patio at Beignets & Brew in the Northeast. Photo / Tallahassee Table
In case you haven’t been to New Orleans, beignets are square puffs of pastry typically covered in powdered sugar. A tip: Don’t wear black when you’re eating one. Beignets & Brew features the traditional beignets along with other flavors such as S’more beignets (if you really want something sweet) and “Cinna-Swirl.”
I’m a fan of the traditional beignet, which is sweet enough for me. My friend, Gail, also raved about Beignets & Brew. “The beignet was warm, light and airy, perfectly made. I can’t wait to try some of the other toppings.”
Toppings include dipping sauces such as buttercream, blueberry and chocolate.
Adding chicory to coffee is a longtime tradition in New Orleans. It became a staple during the Civil War as a way to stretch the city’s limited coffee sources. Beignets & Brew offers chicory in its drip coffee by request, Bailey Lauren, the chain’s vice president and co-owner, said. The coffee is traditionally served au lait, which means it’s mixed half and half with hot milk.
The beverage menu at Beignets & Brew includes coffee drinks such as the Cinna-Crunch Latte. Photo / Tallahassee Table
Coffee options include espresso favorites along with specialties such as the Cinna-toast Crunch Latte, which is sweet and sinfully good, the Biscoff Cookie Butter Latte and the Nutella Latte.
The bar offers mimosas, wine and dessert cocktails. Three are the chocolate martini (a natural, of course), spiked hot chocolate and B&B espresso martini.
The Tallahassee location is one of four for the Destin-based franchise, which launched in May 2023. The other two spots are in Peachtree, Ga. and Huntsville, Ala. Another dozen sites are on the books, with a second site in Tallahassee set for West Tennessee Street in January.
When you go: Beignets & Brew is at 1415 Timberlane Rd.; 850-597-7163. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Photo / Tallahassee Table
