Visit Tallahassee invited BLACK ENTERPRISE on a pretty unexpected getaway to Florida’s historical yet lively capital city.
From the piquant spring weather and Black southern cuisine to the shining FAMU Striker pride and hospitality, Tallahassee is soaked in Black arts, culture, and heritage.
For the foodies, this city will dance on your palettes with good ol’ Southern country cooking. The culinary creators behind the city’s local Black-owned restaurants aim to fill appetites and souls with a wide selection of flavors.
Pineappetit is one of the restaurants BLACK ENTERPRISE got a chance to dine in. The tropical eatery stuns on the inside, from the vivid artwork of the pineapple-style business logo to the back wall adorned with neon lights that read “Fun. Fresh. Food.”
Located on Pensacola Street, Pineappetit serves over 20 fresh pineapple bowl combinations and other island-inspired dishes such as rasta pasta and Caribbean patties. You can even leave with a whole pineapple filled with tropical juice to quench your thirst on a warm day.
As the summer approaches, here are a few Black-owned restaurants to consider the next time you and your family are craving savory and sweet delights in the Tallahassee heat.
Smoothie Time
Smoothie Time is a family-owned smoothie café offering signature fruit smoothies made to cater to your health needs. They serve delicious breakfast and lunch dishes all day and provide easy catering options. Check out the chicken salad sandwich, “Ma Dears chicken salad sandwich.”
HempLade Vegan Café
A local vegan cafe, juice bar, and dispensary, HempLade Vegan Café promises high-quality plant-based foods from Hemp Smoothies to the electric Kushshroom Burgers. Perfect for a summer day, other menu items include the world-famous HempLade Teas and beverages, infused desserts, gourmet pizzas, and more.
Leola’s Crab Shack
The entire family can indulge in the wide selection of land and sea menu options at Leola’s Crab Shack. With an assortment of blue and snow crab trays, wings, and seafood combos, food lovers even have the opportunity to indulge from Leola’s food truck throughout the week.
JMO’s Sneauxball Catering Co.
JMO’s is the home of the cheesecake stuffed snoball. The local and family business serves the best gourmet snoballs in Tallahassee, with handcrafted syrup made from scratch using real cane sugar. With over 30 delicious flavors, there is a cool treat for the entire family.
Gurlies Lemonade and Sweets
Inspired by Grandma Gurlie’s recipes, Gurlies Lemonade and Sweets is an upgraded lemonade business serving homemade drinks and desserts, including the popular pink lemonade, funnel cakes, and deep-fried Oreos.
Catering with Care
Catering with Care is family-owned and operated, proudly serving homestyle cooking, with many southern favorites such as Chicken & Waffles, Shrimp & Grits, Fried or Grilled Catfish, and more. The restaurant also features an all-you-can-eat buffet lunch, whether you want breakfast or lunch.
Big Easy Snowballs
Located in the heart of Midtown Tallahassee, Big Easy Snowballs offers the perfect frozen refreshment to chill your buds on a hot summer day. The New Orleans original snowballs come in 75 flavors, including traditional ice flavors such as blue Hawaiian and pink champagne to decadent combinations stuffed with soft-serve such as root beet float and gator in a blender.
