Black history month: Black-owned food establishments to know for February and beyond

Kyla A Sanford, Tallahassee Democrat
Updated ·10 min read

Sunday dinners serve as sanctuaries for families to gather together, as recipes passed down from generation to generation continue to link people to their roots.

Indeed, food is one thing that has consistently united Black people not only to their history, culture and identity, but to each other.

Tallahassee is home to many Black culinary entrepreneurs. Some of their establishments have come and gone, but the memories are everlasting.

As the nation celebrates Black History Month, a month dedicated to honor history, figures, culture and more, one way to truly celebrate is by supporting local Black-owned food businesses.

To help commemorate the efforts of these entrepreneurs, here is a categorized list of Black-owned food businesses that are online, in mobile units or at brick-and-mortar locations. This list can be used as a guide to explore local gems sprinkled throughout the capital.

To compile this list, the Tallahassee Democrat referred to Facebook group listings as well as previous news and feature stories to find establishments and categorize them. (For those without physical walk-in locations, their primary social media accounts have been listed.)

Tom DiTanna, left, and Terry DiTanna talk with Michael Robinson, co-owner of Ma's Diner about their menu and the first day of the restaurant being open for business Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.
Tom DiTanna, left, and Terry DiTanna talk with Michael Robinson, co-owner of Ma's Diner about their menu and the first day of the restaurant being open for business Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.

American Cuisine

Blows Buss Down: 850-294-7975; Facebook. A mobile food truck that specializes in salads, wings and sandwiches like its prized shrimp po'boy topped with lettuce, tomato, onions, and a special remoulade sauce.

Chicago Chicken & Grill: 2121 W Pensacola St.; 850-727-0610; chicagochickenandgrilltallahassee.com. A chicken joint that offers different Chicago-style jumbo wing combos paired with a side of rolls, fries and a special dipping sauce.

Ma’s Diner: 6668-9 Thomasville Road.; 850-765-1910; Facebook. A diner that offers breakfast and lunch services with specialty dishes including its creative "Southern Waffle," made out of corn bread with chili, sour cream and cheese sprinkled on top.

City Dogs Cafe: 903 Railroad Ave.; 850-765-6146; Instagram. A hot dog spot that adds a taste of specialties offered in major cities like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles to its signature dogs.

Mr. B’s Cafe & Catering: Facebook; 850-661-5140. A home-operated cafe that switches it up offering, "Mr. B's Loaded Salads" on Monday, steak on Wednesday and "Freestyle Friday" meat dinners to finish off the week.

PJ Subs LLC: Instagram ; 305-962-8172. A food truck that offers a generous variety of chicken, steak, brunch, shrimp and burger subs to pair with its loaded fries.

Smackin Good Wings: Instagram; 850-591-8057. A food truck that offers several flavors of saucy and seasoned wings, fries and more.

Tasty Love: 1211 W. Tharpe St.; 305-850-4117; Instagram. A food truck catering to hungry Rattlers at Florida A&M and more with its "tasty" burgers, fries and tenders with nine sauces to choose from.

Edwin Barcus cooks ribs on a grill outside of E&J 5 Buck BBQ Saturday, July 27, 2019.
Edwin Barcus cooks ribs on a grill outside of E&J 5 Buck BBQ Saturday, July 27, 2019.

Barbecue

Big D’s BBQ: 1401 Lake Bradford Rd.; 850-322-1507; Facebook. A food truck and catering service that does it big, offering a variety of smoked meats with its specialty dinner plates.

Curbside BBQ: 316 N. Copeland St.; 850-545-3586. A casual barbecue restaurant prized for its Peruvian gold chicken, fried fish and rib dinner plates.

E&J 5 Buck BBQ: 1622 S. Monroe St. A food truck that has served its cherished $5 barbecue plate specials on the corner of South Monroe Street for more than 25 years.

Khufu’s Smokehouse: 850-510-3692; Facebook. A barbecue joint that offers smokehouse platters, sandwiches, "char-grilled" burgers and more.

King’s BBQ: 1334 Thomasville Road; Facebook. A barbecue soul food truck and catering service that offers king plates filled with its specialty ribs, pork, chicken and more.

Mr. JB’s Barbeque: 850-933-0110; Facebook. A food truck and catering service that offers its prized rib plate paired with your choice of greens, potato salad, macaroni and cheese and more.

Right on ‘Que BBQ & Catering: 850-706-0093; Facebook. A barbecue food truck prized for its chicken, beef and pork offerings with sides like "DD's Famous" to compliment the meal.

Smokin’ Lo’s BBQ: 926 W. Tharpe St.; Facebook. A barbecue food truck that offers smoked goods as well as staple soul food dishes including oxtails, smoked turkey wings and chitterlings for its "Soul Food Sunday" every first and third Sunday.

William Jamaican Jerk & BBQ: 2520 W. Tharpe St.; (850) 745-1181. A barbecue spot that offers a generous portion of barbecue specialties from ribs, to chicken and more to enjoy for both lunch and dinner.

509 Caribbean Cuisine
509 Caribbean Cuisine

Caribbean

509 Caribbean Cuisine: 2450 Springhill Road; Instagram. A Caribbean food spot that offers the capital a taste of the Caribbean with its sweet or fried plantains, jerk chicken and griot to pair with a variety of sides.

G&G Caribbean: 745 Apalachee Pkwy.; 850-727-4065; https://gg-caribbean. A Jamaican restaurant prized for its daily serving of tender oxtails that fall right off the bone, along with other Caribbean cuisines.

Pineappetit: 2037 W. Pensacola St.; 850-354-8242; https://pineappetit.com. A popular Carribean spot in the capital city known for using the shell of a pineapple as an ingredient for the bowls served with a protein, sauce, salsa and cilantro-lime rice.

Sugarcane and Spices: 2121 W. Pensacola St.; 850-339-5868. A Carribean establishment that offers hearty proteins like oxtail, salmon and chicken perfectly paired with sides of rice and beans, as well as cabbage.

Roy and Aragon Conway, owners of Conchman Conway
Roy and Aragon Conway, owners of Conchman Conway

Seafood

Conchman Conway: 1706 Perry St.; 850-322-3725; Facebook. A popular seafood spot that has made itself popular with its fried conch paired with a homemade sauce.

Crabs on the Run: 1174 Capital Circle S.E.; 850-727-0330; Facebook. A soul food and seafood joint popular for its hefty crab, chicken, beef and more plates paired with a variety of sides.

King Conch: 2530 S. Monroe St.; 850-688-7723; Facebook. A seafood restaurant recognized for its freshly fried conch, shrimp, oysters and more.

Vanessa Collins, owner of Auntie's Kitchen, prepares her food line for lunch customers Thursday, August 20, 2020.
Vanessa Collins, owner of Auntie's Kitchen, prepares her food line for lunch customers Thursday, August 20, 2020.

Soul Food 

  • Aunties Kitchen: 1815 S. Adams St.; 850-577-1400. A soul food restaurant that offers hearty soul food dishes from macaroni and cheese and yams to oxtails and turkey wings.

  • Earley’s at the Capitol: 400 S. Monroe St.; Facebook. A prized southern-style restaurant that offers soul-food-style sandwiches, meats, and breakfast specialties.

  • Granny’s Fried Chicken: 723 W. Orange Ave; 850-591-4025; Facebook. A soul food truck that offers a range of fried foods including chicken, pork chops, fish and corndogs along with homemade desserts.

  • Jo Ellen’s: 215 W. College Ave.; 850-999-1779; Facebook. An upscale comfort and soul food restaurant that serves soul food staples for its breakfast, lunch and dinner services.

  • Ms. Dee’s Kitchen: 717 Old Bainbridge Road; 850-319-7439; Facebook. A soul food restaurant recognized by patrons for its homestyle cooking with hearty portions and quality service.

  • Olean's Cafe: 1605 S. Adams St.; 850-521-0259; Facebook. A long-standing Tallahassee staple soul food establishment offering breakfast and brunch services.

  • Sunday Soul Food: Facebook. A pop-up soul food establishment that offers barbecue plates, fried or smothered meats paired with sides and desserts.

  • Tastee Turkey Leg: 2810 Sharer Road; Facebook. A soul food establishment that offers its popular turkey leg smothered in creamy shrimp alfredo sauce with jumbo shrimp to top it.

Barb McGarrah holds her sunflower ice cream, which was recently named best ice cream in Florida by the Food Network, Tuesday, June 29, 2021. This ice cream and many more sweet treats can be found at Barb's Brittles located on North Monroe Street.
Barb McGarrah holds her sunflower ice cream, which was recently named best ice cream in Florida by the Food Network, Tuesday, June 29, 2021. This ice cream and many more sweet treats can be found at Barb's Brittles located on North Monroe Street.

Sweets

  • Agape’s Lemonade:  Facebook. A mobile beverage truck that offers flavored lemonades including mango, strawberry, pineapple and more offered by the cup or the gallon.

  • Baked Expectations: Facebook. A home-based bakery that offers cakes in heart shapes, tiers and more decorated in glitters, piping and more.

  • Barb’s Brittles: 1671 N. Monroe St.; 850-385-9839; https://barbsbrittles.com. A prized brittle business that houses the acclaimed chocolate sunflower brittle ice cream, homemade brittles and other sweet treats.

  • Big Easy Snowballs: 1621 N. Monroe St.; (850) 329-6010; Facebook. A snow cone establishment that offers over 150 flavors to choose from including key lime pie, tiramisu, creole cream cheese and more.

  • B. Mani’s Sweets and Eats: Instagram. A homestyle bakery that offers cakes, macaroons, cheesecakes and more sweet treats.

  • Carma’s Confections: 850-451-1039; Facebook. A home-based bakery that offers cakes and cupcakes decorated in vanilla buttercreams and decorative toppers for any occasion.

  • Decadent Delights Tally: 1779 Apalachee Pkwy.; 850-354-8702; Facebook. A sweet shop that offers several flavors of its sweet cupcakes including its new sweet and savory maple bacon cupcake.

  • Gurlie’s Lemonade and Sweets: 4212 W. Tennessee St.; Facebook. A catering food truck that offers flavored lemonades along with other sweets including its popular fried Oreos coated in powdered sugar.

  • Juice Bar Miami: 626 Railroad Ave.; 305-209-2882; Facebook. A smoothie and juice bar that offers fruity flavors including its Valentine's Day smoothie made with fresh strawberries, bananas, and oat milk with a chocolate drizzle.

  • Kimmie Cakes: 850-943-2981; Facebook. A home-based bakery that offers cake, cupcakes and other treats for affordable prices.

  • Milk Me Treats: 850-296-8775; Facebook. A bake shop that offers a way to build your own cookies, brownies, and muffins with a variety of toppings.

  • OH Lemonade:1314 S. Adams St.; 850-264-6487; Facebook. An establishment that offers more than lemonades but also its burgers, wraps, tacos and more to pair it with.

  • Q-Ti Cakes: 2475 Apalachee Pkwy; (850) 445-5739; Facebook. A cake boutique that specializes in creating and designing elaborate cakes and cupcakes.

  • Smoothie Time: 2626 Capital Medical Blvd.; (850) 354-8064; Facebook. A smoothie and juice bar that offers fresh fruit flavors along with its all-day breakfast menu which they now offer delivery for.

  • SneauxBall: 2033 S. Adams St.; 850-933-1239; Facebook. A New Orleans-style dessert shop that specializes in snow cones, with over 50 flavors to choose from including its cake stuffed SneauxBalls.

  • Ryder’s Water Ice: 608-1A Railroad Square; 850-825-8797; Facebook. A Philadelphia-style snow cone shop and fast-food establishment that offers flavored ice drinks to pair with its wraps, burgers, and classic Philly cheesesteak.

  • Tallysno: 626 Railroad Ave.; 888-808-2150; Facebook. A snow cone shop and catering service that offers over 40 different flavors including its sweet "Tutti Frutti" and "Georgia Peach" flavors.

  • TC Bakery: 2609 Crawfordville Highway; 850-739-3380; Facebook. A prized sweet shop that offers a variety of sweet treats including cheesecakes, cinnamon rolls, cakes and more.

  • The Chocolate Dandies: 850-296-7723; Facebook. A dessert shop that offers chocolatey desserts including brownies and chocolate covered items including its new chocolate covered bacon.

  • The Pudding Junkie: Facebook; https://www.thepuddingjunkie.com. An establishment specializing in all things pudding - offering traditional pudding, pudding bundt cakes and pudding sandwich cookies.

Hemplade Vegan Cafe Owner Yudah Weh smokes Delta 8 inside his Frenchtown restaurant Monday, Sept. 20, 2021.
Hemplade Vegan Cafe Owner Yudah Weh smokes Delta 8 inside his Frenchtown restaurant Monday, Sept. 20, 2021.

Vegan

  • Hemplade Vegan Cafe: 707 Old Bainbridge Road; 850-727-4599; Facebook. A vegan cafe that offers quality plant-based pizzas, wings, juices, smoothies, "hemplade" and more.

  • Tally Kombucha: 2525 Apalachee Pkwy.; 850-764-299; Facebook. An online health and wellness shop that offers homemade fermented tea, kombuchas, vegan and gluten-free granola, "Bucha Rollups" and more.

  • Social Vegan: (850) 765-7726; Facebook. A vegan restaurant that offers a wide variety of plant-based foods including nachos, tacos, sandwiches, wraps and more.

  • Vegan Vybz: 850-296-8550; Facebook. A vegan bakery that offers a variety of baked goods including shortcakes, cheesecakes and muffins prepared with natural plant-based ingredients.

  • V Treats: 850-405-0441; Facebook. A vegan bakery that offers its signature vegan juices and sweet treats like its red velvet cinnamon rolls.

A plant-powered food guide: Tallahassee restaurants for vegan and vegetarian diners

Halisi Africa owner Vanessa Byrd and her son and boutique manager Bryant Shaw pose for a picture outside the cafe on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Halisi Africa owner Vanessa Byrd and her son and boutique manager Bryant Shaw pose for a picture outside the cafe on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

More

  • Halisi Africa:  62517 Railroad Square; 850-739-3129; Facebook. An Afro-fusion restaurant that offers brunch and dinner services with dishes like fufu paired with the egusi stew available.

  • Leon’s at Lake Ella: 1611 N. Monroe St.; 850-895-3880; Facebook. A lakeside restaurant that offers a range of handhelds, quick bites, salads and desserts to dine on.

Kyla Sanford covers dining and entertainment for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Looking for Black-owned food establishments? We got you

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