Miccosukee Root Cellar

I rarely review on Unilocal,but after our experience last night… I felt I needed to share. I have eaten at MRC before. but it has been a couple of years, so we decided to check it out again… understanding it was college graduation weekend… we knew it was going to be a little more crowded, etc.
First off, when we walk in, the hostess was about as friendly as a rattlesnake, extremely rude and acted like she was doing us a favor by being there. It was 6:50 and we were told the wait was 45 mins «at least» (with rolled eyes and hope that we would turn around and leave) and we said thats fine. we will sit at the bar. Which we did and ordered a couple of beers and wine (there were 4 of us) our «server» at the bar was the hostess… who had the same horrible ‘tude making us feel like it was a total inconvenience for her that we were there. If it was just me, I would have paid for my drinks and left. but since it was a group and a special occasion (big announcement for the other couple was made earlier that day) I didn’t want to make decisions for anyone else. After 30 min or so of waiting, we see they have appetizers and asked Ms. Friendly if we could order an appetizer at the bar (we saw the couple next to us with a board that had bread and butter and assumed) and we were told they we «aren’t allowed to eat at the bar, you order appetizers when you sit down for dinner» We asked what was up with the bread and she said… «Oh, we have bread. you want that?» which we said please… and we got it. It was homemade and was decent… but didn’t blow my mind. But this is when it gets better…
Right around 8pm. we get seated… and were pretty hungry, there menu isn’t that big… so its not like it takes awhile to figure out what you want to eat. Our server, who was very very nice. came over and explained nervously that we needed to hurry up and order since they were running out of dinner items really quickly and they only had a few of each left and were already out of the catch of the day. Which we understood. hey. its farm to table and its graduation… so we all quickly told her what we wanted. I asked if I could get all the items that came with the catch (rice, veggies, etc) and just no catch… and she went to ask the chef or whoever was running this Sh$t show at this point (she was really frustrated with the situation) and came back and said I couldn’t get any of that… so the choices were the chicken dish, the vegetarian dish and the beef dish… 1 in our party got the veg, I got the chicken and another got the beef (it was the last one) and the other person got 2 of the «small» plates… this was at 8:10 when we ordered… it was a little crowded. but not full and most people were getting ready to leave. there were about 4 tables… 9:10 we get our food. Let me disclose now, I am not a picky eater nor am I a complainer (see first line of this review, I rarely review) and we were all starving… we all took a couple bites of our food… and it was gross. Straight up gross and cold and the 2 small plates had been waiting on the rest of the food (one of the parties is in the industry) & the vegetarian meal was missing items that were in the description. We all kinda looked at each other and finally we all asked «Is this gross to you guys?» and we all agreed to pay the bill, leave and go somewhere else.. didn’t want to waste the calories on tasteless food. I could have made a better meal at home with my Hello Fresh box of food I get for $ 69 bucks and this disaster (with drinks) cost right around $ 100…
The nice server asked was everything okay and we said «no, but it wasn’t anything you did, we just need our bills» and we paid and left.
On a side note. as soon as we were seated (guess we were the last table to be seated) the hostess sat at the bar and drank some beers… which explained to me… why she was so freaking rude.
Do not waste your time or money in this establishment. Something has changed… and after telling other folks about it and hearing very similar stories, it seems it wasn’t just a bad night, that is a culture of habitual bad service, attitude & food.

This restaurant is incredible! The food is fantastic and the ambiance wonderful. The care and quality is apparent from the moment you walk through the door. This is a place to explore the menu and take your time. I highly recommend this restaurant if your looking for a unique beautiful dining experience.

My husband and I enjoyed a great meal recently. We went there for dinner. It’s a cozy little casual place. All fresh farm to table. Good choice of beer and wine. Limited menu, they have regular portion and small plates too. I got the Korean Barbecue, small plate that was delicious. My husband got the Braised Chicken, Oat «Risotto», Roasted Vegetables, Greens, Garlic Chicken Jus which he cleaned up nicely. I was not too crazy about it. The highlight was the flourless chocolate express cake. Definitely try that! Service was good. I would have loved the live music but the musician did not show up that day. I will definitely go there again to try some of the other dishes. Make sure you have enough time fresh good food takes time to prepare!

Our first time here. Excellent delicious fresh food! Very nice relaxing dinner atmosphere. Soups, Salads, breads, grilled vegetables and the short ribs were fantastic. Nice fresh wine to complement the dinner. And to close dinner the chocolate desserts are awesome! SWe will be coming back again. tcz

Our second visit here was the best meal I’ve had in Tallahassee so far. The duck prosciutto appetizer was amazing! The mushroom pasta dish was creamy and delicious, full of perfectly cooked short rib. Service and music was on point.

Chose this restaurant after not wanting to wait 45 minutes for a table at kool beanz (fully regretting that decision now). Upon ordering the duck breast at root cellar, I was served two remarkably small pieces of bloody duck, accompanied by an unseasoned sweet potato half, and oily mustard greens. My girlfriend’s short ribs and vegetables were incredibly bland as well, and very underwhelming in portion size. For a restaurant with a menu so pretentious ($ 3 for a «bread board» which was just a couple of pieces of bread and butter) and with such small portions, you would think that the chef could at least season the food. The décor and the live music were worth adding another star, but the food and service were just awful. Next time we’ll just wait in line at Kool Beanz

Not just a meal, a celebration of fresh, locally grown food. The very best of farm to table. Lovely service. Do try the cheese board sampler with either two or four cheeses. I loved the duck entrée. The root vegetables with it were beautifully caramelized, a reason for the dish in themselves. Desserts are star quality. The four of us were completely satisfied and look forward to going back. Another reviewer says: Best meal in the capital city. I agree, at least so far.

A precious experience overall. Delicious and interesting foods, thoughtful staff, quiet both visits so far. Great for vegans, requests/​diets.

I love this place. They have good atmosphere, sometimes even live music. Their food is good and their wine really good. But it is overpriced. I understand that everything is organic and local but still can’t justify the prices in my opinion. The cheese platter is better at Gastro Side Bar.

Tallahassee has its own little gem of a farm to table restaurant.
The portions are right sized for ordering multiple plates for sharing with your entire party and the dishes not only incorporate ingredients sourced from local farms, but also include techniques that indicate this kitchen staff is well versed in their craft. My only qualm is that the wait staff often struggles with timing between courses. We’ve been there three times and the waitresses have had issues two out of the three times.
My wife and I have turned MRC into our date night restaurant as the ambience is low key and they have a few booths that allow you to tuck into your own little alcove and spend quality time together.
Do yourself a favor and bypass reading the negative reviews of MRC. Most of the reviews are written by reviewers with a bias towards offering 3 or more stars for their favorite locations of Chili’s, McD’s, et al.

Best meal in the capital city! That’s right. Miccosukee Root Cellar is right up my alley. It might actually be my favorite spot in town. So it certainly deserves to have my first review in 2016.
I recently came here for dinner on New Year’s Eve with a friend. Apparently this year was their first time running the show on NYE. So they were a bit overwhelmed by a full-​house. Nevertheless, I’m so glad we decided to come here to celebrate because the restaurant deff delivered! Our dinner was fabulous! In fact they are the only true farm to table restaurant in Tallahassee. What is a better way to start a new year than eating well and healthy?!
For dinner, I ordered the grass fed beef with farm veggies for $ 22. My friend got the seafood chowder. I have to say my plate was one of the freshest food I’ve tasted. Coming from much bigger cities I can tell you the price is more than reasonable or even a steal for this high quality food! The grass fed beef was cooked to perfection, tender and flavorful. The potato gratin, roasted turnips, and assorted veggies tasted like they were harvested an hour ago. The portion was just right. This is the kind of food to live (not gonna die) for! Our server was attentive. We did have to wait a bit but it was totally worth it!
I must say Miccosukee Root Cellar is one of a kind in Tallahassee. You have to visit this cosy cute little place if you appreciate fine food! I heard they had live music on weekends. Guess this is where you will see me then!

I was really torn on how to rate this establishment. I love the menu and I appreciate the concept. However, this first time experience left me feeling underwhelmed and meh about the execution.
The beer and wine menu is great — a nice variety of selections are offered.
They were out of the duck entrée on the evening we visited so that issue likely added to the not so great impression. Not much else appealed to us so we opted to stick with the meat and cheese starters. The server’s description of the cauliflower purée as basically being a «schmear of cauliflower purée with a kale chip for garnish» did not make us want to order it.
We ordered a bread plate. a cheese board, and a charcuterie board. The sparse offering of small bread slices to pair with the cheese and meats detracted from my enjoyment from what was otherwise a nice display of small bites of cheeses and meats with fruit compotes and nuts. What we had was delicious. An assorted array of crackers or breads would enhance the board’s presentation and the experience of diners who want to enjoy it.
The Root Cellar offers Sweet Grass Dairy cheeses and I am a major fan of the product.
I ordered coffee to accompany my dessert. I was not offered a spoon and had to stir my coffee with my knife. Spoons were later brought to accompany our dessert order.
Our table shared two desserts. The apple bread pudding was dry and would have been improved with the addition of a caramel, whiskey, or vanilla bourbon sauce. The pound cake was on point — moist with a delicate vanilla note. The ginger ice cream served with it was a great accompaniment.
My table mates and I were debating farm to table experiences and restaurants who nail the concept. My bar on this concept was set high by a visit to Parish in Atlanta a number of years ago. I return whenever I can.
Enough about wishing to transport places from other cities to Tallahassee. I wanted this place to knock my socks off and was disappointed when it did not. I have many friends who dearly love this place so I will return and give it another shot.
One final note — the musical entertainment got a late start and the poor woman’s music and vocals were overpowered by the noise of the diners.

It pains me not to give the Root Cellar five stars but I can’t. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a repeat customer and will be back. The menu here is always intriguing. I find its small quiet ambience very pleasant for dinner and conversation. The wines are good and the wait staff is very helpful when it comes to picking a nice pairing (and generous about allowing you to taste). Perhaps my favorite thing is the plating, which is consistently exquisite. They make brilliant use of edible flowers and a lot of effort goes into presentation.
I have only one complaint here. I came back several times in order to verify that this is consistent and, unfortunately, it is. The food here is simply too salty. I’m not sure where the breakdown is happening, though I think it may be the frequent use of salty cured meats without reducing salt coming from other places. Whatever it is, I have been slightly overwhelmed by the salt every time. The food is so good, and I like the establishment so much, that I keep coming back anyway. If they solved the salt issue, this place would be golden.

Great place! Went on a Saturday evening and the atmosphere was great, live music and cozy. Food was delicious and the homemade desert was even better. Fun variety of drinks too. Will definitely be back.

Welcome to Tallahassee’s little slice of Portland! Farm to table dining and great live music.
Small portions, big taste.
This may be the best food in Tallahassee. It may also be the place that causes you to end up joining a chicken raising cult in pursuit of becoming one with your food.
Keep Tallahassee weird.

Very small, trendy place with locally sourced food served in small plates fashion. Food was very good– a bit pricey for the area perhaps. Portions are small. We ordered a couple of cheese and sausage medleys plus ‘larger’ plates to share around the table. Salads were divine– incredibly fresh. Portions are more lunch sized, but they are only open for dinner. Two local beers on tap from Swamp Head in Gainesville, FL when I visited. Well thought-​out, though small craft beer bottle list. We had a fun time and greatly enjoyed the food and atmosphere.

Exceptional.
My wife and I came here a few weeks after opening, back in 2011. Then, we had come for drinks and small plates. it was pleasant enough, but the nascent menu and overall operation compelled us to wait until which time the Root Cellar would «come into its own».
While up in North Carolina these past two weeks, my wife, mother-​in-​law and one of the daughters came for dinner. During that particular evening’s phone call, Meredith (wife) went on and on about how fantastic the experience was. «We have to go once you get back» she said.
So, in the form of a five-​top, we presented ourselves this evening to a very knowledgeable and likeable server (Liz).
The youngest in our party is more of the «grilled cheese» type, and Liz was quick to accommodate us with the solution for him — you guessed it, a Grilled Cheese! The rest of us were on board with what proved to be a great menu.
Before I get to the meal proper– just a line or two on the décor, motif, atmosphere, etc. We met proprietor Ruben Fields — a congenial guy who clearly pours his heart & soul into this operation. (Read the bio on the restaurant’s website — very cool Farm-​to-​Table backstory here). From our conversation, I learned that a friend of his was the local glass-​blower who created the lighting forms above the bar (see pictures). At the end of our meal — as we walked out — his friend the glassblower was actually at the bar! (didn’t catch his name — but, cool glass!)
The theme throughout is natural and old Florida. The materials used smack of the Sunshine state. The art adorning the walls — the woods used (Ruben made the two large center table-​tops, and was instrumental in the Cypress bar itself.)
We ordered the Picnic Basket and the clams for appetizers, then we had the vegetarian, and duck options for supper, along with a bowl of mushroom soup (and aforementioned grilled cheese).
Everything was exceptional, in terms of presentation (prideful plating is evident) and flavor combinations. the clam «potliquor» demanded that you dunk the bread into it. the Picnic basket featured two meats and four cheeses (again, remember, everything is locally sourced) and was fantastic. I forget how good Sweetgrass Dairy cheeses are. the blue was exceptional. Frankly, that’s the only one I had — in addition to the very ably pickled vegetables. It was all good, but I was occupied with the clams.
My duck was very good. Cooked just right, accompanied by great combinations in the mouth. Wife’s vegetable dish was very satisfying to her as well.
If you can get the sense that I’m rushing through this part — you are astute, kind reader. I am.
I’m rushing to tell you about the dessert. Well, no. MY dessert. others at the table had the peanutbutter/​chocolate tart, the bread pudding, the chocolate cake. But two of us had what I can only describe as the Zenith of desserts.
Unabashedly I say unto you that the Watermelon Sorbet is unlike any other I’ve ever had. unlike any other sorbet. unlike any other dessert. Period. Instantly, at first mouthful, I knew that I had come upon the Nirvana of desserts. Truly an ecstatic experience. My wife will attest to the fact that I was unable to politely carry on the conversation for a minute or two.
Upon exiting, I shared with Ruben my Sorbetic experience. That I had attained «that next level» within his establishment and that, at risk of sounding «over the top», had «seen the light that teacheth understanding».
OK — clearly, my unbridled enthusiasm is coming through here — and you’re likely rolling your eyes. Just believe this. It made an impression.
The last time I had such a transformative gastronomic experience was in 1996 in Seattle, in the Uwajimaya parking lot, tasting Uni for the first time. From that moment forward, I knew that Uni was what I placed at the top of my preferred consumables.
There really wasn’t anything in second place, as we know it. Distant-​second, maybe.
Today, though, the Miccosukkee Root Cellar watermelon sorbet is nanometers behind Uni — and because of this, I encourage you — too — to experience this oral festival.
—
post-​note. Just read this draft to the wife. Reminds me that I short-​changed the following:
1. Liz. VERY knowledgeable of the menu and accommodating as well.
2. Music. Outstanding — and just the right volume.
3. Beer/​wine selection. superb. both in content and presentation. (the old-​school file folders are a great touch). Chilled mason jars with beers are a big plus.
4. Music on Friday and Saturday nights.
5. Everything is LOCAL. That’s huge.
6. organic sodas for the kids (blue-​sky brand).
post-​post-​note.
Did I discuss the watermelon sorbet?
(I pared this down — because I learned we can only use 5,000 characters in reviews, and I was at 5032!).

Just came for desserts and some wine but the ambiance was gorgeous and the desserts were delicious the rest of the food looked good too! Will definitely come back to try the rest

This is a serious farm to table restaurant. Everything tasted very fresh and I love that all the food/​dairy was local produced/​farmed. Located near the hospital its the ideal place to eat around there. I enjoyed the pork special w/​a red wine sauce. I was a prideful member of the clean plate club that day. If your a serious foodie you will not be disappointed by the selection or by the quality of the food. This was the best place to go eat on my birthday because the food itself is the best present one could ask for!

Thie place is very unassuming from the outside but it is very cozy from the inside, and its farm to table. Yay!
Firstly, I would *not* recommend you order the Picnic Basket. because its TINY (Feeds 2 — 4 according to the menu). Based on the pictures of them on Unilocal,I was excited because of the plentiful cheese, crostinis, lots of nuts, jellies and etc. Sadly, I got 5 crostinis, 4 small pieces of cheese that resembled nothing like the picture, and exactly 4 nuts — we joked around how my dessert had 5 nuts and the 2 – 4 people plate only had 4. I would NOT recommend it if you want a more filling appetizer or if you are sharing with someone else, its okay for one person. If you have had Clusters and Hops cheese platters for 2, .this was much smaller than that, but in a bigger board and smaller portions.
The food, despite the board was great. This place was really nice. Our server was great, kept our drinks topped off, offered recommendations, and was attentive without being pushy. She knew the beers and described them to help us make a choice.
The food was great, and the plates around us also had great service and food presentation looked great.