Explore new restaurants, wine dinners, cooking classes and many events as the new year gets underway.
It’s a new year, a new legislative session and Tallahassee’s 200th birthday. It’s also the season for dining and drinking venues (especially downtown) to increase their hours, change menus and do their best to attract all the visitors in town.
Listen to music and savor good food. Enjoy wine dinners and cooking classes. Discover new places. There’s a lot to do. Get busy, Tallahassee.
Chuck’s Fish Tallahassee is one of those downtown businesses expanding its hours during the session. The seafood specialists are now open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday until March 8. The lunch menu includes a shrimp po’ boy, soft shell crab sandwich, seafood gumbo and Gulf fish tacos. Chuck’s dinner hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Happy Hour is 4 to 6 p.m. Chuck’s is at 224 E. College Ave. 850-597-7506. Photo above of Chuck’s fish tacos
Hayward House is now open in the former home of Andrews Downtown at 228 S. Adams St. It’s a fun, classy bistro that melds tradition and Southern recipes with some international fare and modern twists. Plus there’s a full bar and you can still sit under the shade of umbrellas on the sprawling patio. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for brunch and 4 to 11 p.m. for dinner, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Sunday brunch. 850-825-7081.
Despite the chilly days, you can still find fresh produce, locally-raised meats and artisan goods at our farmers’ markets. Let’s support our local farmers. Visit our guide at https://www.tallahasseetable.com/tallahassees-farmers…/
The new restaurant, Piesano’s Stone-Fired Pizza, opens on Monday, Jan. 22, with a pizza cutting (think ribbon cutting but with pizza) at 10:30 a.m. The restaurant officially opens to the public at 11 a.m. Piesano’s has indoor and outdoor seating, a selection of 12 draft beers and wine available by the glass or bottle. The restaurant will serve Piesano rolls complimentary with every dine-in order, stone-fired pizzas, calzones, pasta and other Italian classics. FSU fans can enjoy a drink called Garnet and Gold. The restaurant is located in the former home of Panera’s (now on Apalachee Parkway), at 101 N. Blair Stone Rd.
Black Radish now has a late night menu from 10 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Items include favorites such as their addictive Bubble Potatoes, Bang Bang Fried Okra and their large format Fried Tofu Lettuce Wraps. It’s at 1304 N. Monroe St.; 850-825-1973.
Stop by the Marauder’s Market from noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 21 at Ology Powermill, 2708 Power Mill Ct. Aside from Ology’s own brewery and distillery, check out local artisans, vintage resellers, brews, music and food trucks.
William Lawson, executive chef and owner of Mimi’s Table.
Mimi’s Table is presenting a four-course wine dinner at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22. Hearts of palm, spinach and artichoke appetizer, a winter salad, braised short rib dinner and fruit puff pastry with ice cream plus wine pairings are featured. The cost is $100 per person. Mimi’s is at 1311 Miccosukee Rd.; 850-999-8406. To purchase tickets please visit mimistabletally.com/event
Poco Vino in downtown Tallahassee is hosting the Wine Loves Cheese event, with three wine and cheese pairings, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 24. Sounds like the perfect way to wind down after work. The cost is $35 per person or $30 for wine club members. Nonalcoholic options available. 225 S. Adams St.; 850-320-4552.
The Oyster City Brewing Co. in Apalachicola has big news. The popular brewery is closing its taproom but owners purchased their own building two doors down. The new location will feature indoor and patio seating. Their last day of operation on the corner at 17 Avenue D will be Sunday, Jan. 28th. To celebrate, Oyster City is hosting a weekend-long flash sale, Jan 26-28 featuring $3 drafts and BOGO 6 packs/4 packs. Cheers to your new beginning, Oyster City!
The Peruvian restaurant, Cafe de Martin, is offering a musical double header this weekend. CJ Beach performs from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 and Paula Sophia will be singing from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 20. We’ve heard Paula before and she’s terrific. Customers – and employees – stopped to dance. I’m sure both nights will be fun as well as delicious. If you haven’t been there, Cafe de Martin also has an adjacent full bar and outside seating. It’s at 2743 Capital Circle NE (the Espositio shopping plaza); 850-900-5969.
I love going to Blue Tavern on Saturday nights. The intimate space offers live music, some wonderful paintings by a local artist, and Ukrainian food. My husband and I and friends had a magical evening last Saturday (Jan. 13) when chanteuse Corine Samwel sang with the band, Douce Ambiance. She, and they, are amazing. Corine sings in several languages, performing songs by such legends as Édith Piaf and Jacques Brel. On this Saturday, Jan. 20, the Tavern will host an Irish jam session from 4 to 6 p.m., then present John R. Butler, known for his song, “Hand of the Almighty,” at 7 p.m. and Thomas Hendon & Company, an alt-country /Americana band at 9 p.m. One of the best reasons to go any Saturday night is to enjoy an authentic Ukrainian meal from Svitlana Kharchenko. We loved her perogies, Kiev cutlet, stuffed cabbage and homemade bread. Blue Tavern is at 1206 N. Monroe St. ($10 cover for the two evening performances).
Mardi Gras is coming up so it’s not too early to indulge in a New Orleans-style treat – at Big Easy Snowballs – in Lake Ella or dive into king cake. the fanciful, oval-shaped confection, typically made with a slightly sweet brioche dough and varied fillings, such as cream cheese, cinnamon, apple and chocolate. The crowning touch is a festive frosting in Mardi Gras colors gold, green and purple. Eat it for breakfast like a Danish or save for dessert. Just don’t eat the plastic baby inside. The king cake is said to represent the three kings who brought gifts to Baby Jesus — thus the reason for the small, plastic baby hidden in the cake. It’s considered lucky to find the baby, but if you do, it’s your task to supply the king’s cake for next year’s party. Look for king cakes at Tasty Pastry Bakery and local grocery stores.
The Prepared Table is offering its new slate of cooking classes. One is called “A Southern Feast in the New Year” with Chef Fe from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 22. This class is demonstration style. The class is $75 per person. If this date doesn’t work for you, check out the schedule at the shop/cooking school in Bannerman Crossing, 3425 Bannerman Rd., Suite 104; 850-354-3852.
Vice Society Caffeine & Cocktails has opened in College Town at 815 W. Madison St. Stop by for coffee, cocktails or to watch the game. A coffee shop by day and a buzzy bar at night.
