The Muddy Root Kava Cafe — Restaurant in Alafaya

WARNING OF RAMPANT MALPRACTIVE from a former daily regular (1 year) TLDR: Ownership silences negative reviews (previous review had 18 likes). Manager makes advances on customers and scorns/slanders those who say NO. Staff promotes use of drugs at a SOBER BAR. Staff spread rumors throughout the client base about other customers. Location is small and INCREDIBLY dirty. Game offerings are fine. Ownership is aware and tolerates inappropriate advances on customers by staff

Do not be fooled by the 4.8 stars this business has, they routinely offer free drinks for 5 star reviews as well as having active employees writing multiple reviews, distorting their actual quality. With drinks ranging from $10-$15 and the clientele being college students, its easy to deduce the impact of these “promotions”. Additionally, ownership has negative reviews deleted, including my previous review which had the most likes (18 likes) because he knew that it reflected the true nature of his business.

Staff: Incredibly unprofessional and ethically lacking in regards to the way they treat customers. As a former regular (daily visits for 1 year) here, kava tenders Paige G, Christian S (manager now), and Kate (previous manager) would routinely make fun of other customers to other customers. Staff will belittle you on things ranging from the way you would dress, the way you talk (social disorder included), and your physical attributes. It is incredibly unethical and goes against everything the kava community stands for. Staff regularly promotes drug use (not weed) in a SOBER BAR. Additionally, I personally know several people who have been made incredibly uncomfortable due to unprofessional (if you know what I mean) advances by the manager Christian. Those same individuals would then be treated terribly and be slandered for saying NO. They feel like they cannot speak on the matter because Christian will socially punish them for doing so. Ownership was made aware of the managers inappropriate advances and chooses to do nothing. Harassment of this sort is unforgiveable. If you are thinking about making this location your go-to kava bar you will be shunned and treated like a traitor for visiting others. There are plenty of other kava bars that have much better atmospheres, more affordable kratom and kava, and significantly better service. Lei Kava, Elevate, and Island Vibes each have considerably better offerings on all fronts. Trust me when I say, you can do better and will enjoy better elsewhere. Muddy root staff will slander most of you for things as little as not tipping 15% on an expensive drink that took them less than a minute to make. Drinks: Mediocre Quality, excessive price. Kratom has few flavor options relative to other more appropriate locations. The product is equal to that of all other kava bars, but is priced considerably higher. Other kava bars have a larger kava and kratom offering. Their non-kratom/kava options are just as mediocre: the vanilla latte and other coffee products can be found a dime a dozen anywhere else. Environment and Atmosphere: The location is very small and couches ARE NOT CLEANED EVER! For the entire duration of my time as a regular, not ONCE did they clean the couch or chairs. There are stains, animal fur, and I witnessed a cat relieving itself one of the cushions and I know for certain that It wasn’t cleaned. Considering how packed the place gets, the bathroom has a queue that extends the entire length of the business. Additionally, it makes having a conversation next to impossible. Conclusion: the staff is incredibly rude, with Christian as the manager, the environment of tolerating inappropriate advances on customers will permeate from the top down (not safe for young gay men). The drinks are nothing special with limited kratom flavoring and mediocre kava. I’ve known staff for quite some time and observed as they would belittle customers for things that any empathetic and reasonable adult would consider immature (which sums up staff quite...

I would be giving this place a 5!!! So so frustrating. I had a NEGATIVE reaction to the Kava- NOT The Muddy Root's fault- BUT- I do feel strongly that if one is going to serve such a strong natural drug to the community- one should take responsibility in checking with the customer- "Have you had Kava before, do you know what it is?" And if the answer is no, then take a quick moment to educate and make some safe suggestions for a first timer just in case that first timer might possibly have negative reactions to the Kava. I did tell the otherwise super sweet "kava-rista" that I had NO idea what this was or how to order. I did not tell her i was on an empty stomach. I was encouraged to get the 20 oz without understanding how strong of a natural drug the Kava is to the mind and body. I drank 12 oz in 2 hours and got incredibly sweaty and sick, made it home to puke in the front lawn, and spent the next 5 hours in bed. I have 3 kids at home. NOT how I wanted to spend my Saturday. Disappointing because in every other way before the 3rd hour, my experience was absolutely wonderful. The Muddy Root is super clean, and friendly. The Kava did do what it said it would do (relax, and work as a pain killer- I felt HEAT and a relaxation happening in the muscles that were sore- that was AMAZING. But my otherwise empty stomach could not handle the amount of Kava. It needed food and a lesser amount for its first time. I did keep the 8 oz in the fridge, and after a few days, tried 2 oz at a time with food, and my body took that just fine.

SO. Powerful drug. Clean and friendly place. Please please please "The Muddy Root" RESPECT the power of the plant and your customers enough to look out for the first timers??? Educate and help us experience the good???

I did Email the Muddy root at their Gmail account and I DM'ed them at Facebook messenger. I was hoping to hear from management that they would take my experience into consideration. I am still hoping for a...

I've been a regular at this bar for a year and a half, and I've never experienced another place like it. I've never been a "regular" anywhere until I started coming here, and that is because of the incredible atmosphere, community, and most importantly: their staff. Christian (manager), Kate, Paige G., Paige T., Cristie, Zach, and the rest of the brewers are all some of the most amazing people I've ever met. Over the past year I've had the privilege of getting to know each of them and The Muddy Root truly would not be the place that it is without them. Christian does a phenomenal job as manager, I don't think I've ever met a more friendly person than him and ever since he's become manager you can see the passion he puts into his job. Truthfully I could say amazing things about everyone here, both staff and customers. Their team does an amazing job of maintaining a positive and welcoming environment, which in turn creates an overall sense of comfort that just makes you feel safe with everyone in there.

As a friend of the kavatenders, it makes me sad seeing some of the reviews on here that are just outright slanderous and inappropriate. To anyone who has never visited The Muddy Root before, I'd suggest going here yourself before forming an opinion. You won't be disappointed, I promise.

The Muddy Root has a sense of community that I haven't seen anywhere else, and it's changed my life...