Kafe Kokopelli — Restaurant in Dade City

"You can get a selfie with a panther that was on The Ed Sullivan Show"

• EDITED/UPDATED* (see bottom of review)

Atmosphere 2nd to none. Cozy and romantic. Genuinely unique, with a truely one of a kind bar area.

People throw around the expression "hidden gem" frequently like if they find a McDonald's with hot fries it makes the list. This place WAS a hidden gem. It's off the main strip in Dade City with an unassuming & modest exterior, no indication of the what is inside...

First thing you'll notice entering are thick heavy wooden doors that one can imagine adorning some medieval abbey. As you close them you will be cocooned by a warm atmosphere, darker then most establishments lighting wise but not obnoxiously so. More like the exact perfect lighting you're looking for for an intimate dining experience...day time it's a bit lighter for some reason?

Around the interior is a collection saved from a local taxidermy shop who was open for decades. The specimens on display are not only done so with a reverence to the animals but keeping a piece of Old Dade City alive. You can get a selfie with a panther that was on The Ed Sullivan Show. Which, I actually feel in this situation to be unique, saving animals from obscurity and giving them places of honor where they can be appreciated despite what got them there during different times. So far I've spotted a bear, otters, a tiger, a black panther that used to be on TV, maybe an antler or 2... I'll leave some for you to discover 😎

And now... the food. OMG...the FOOD!!! Everything is home made, EVERYTHING; and it's delicious. We've had: she crab soup; lobster bisque; beer cheese soup; gator bites; calamari; almond crusted fried brie; the prim rib dip; stuffed meat loaf; Cajun pasta alfredo; chicken and biscuits with gravy (brunch); corned beef hash (brunch); goat cheese cheesecake; floorless chocolate cake.

They seriously do make everything in house from the corned beef to the bacon and we've not had a single bad item or bad dining experience. Are some items better than others, of course. But then again taste is subjective. We already have some favorites though we want to eventually try everything, it's that good. Our favorites so far have been: the gator bites; she crab soup; the cajun pasta; the corned beef; and the goat cheese cheesecake is to DIE gor.

• UPDATED* last time we were there, our server let us know the kitchen was running the show. No substitutions allowed, there was no deviation from the menu allowed whatsoever.

Our server had to make our drinks which were lackluster. Could not taste the vodka in a bloody Mary I ordered extra shots in, or the champagne in the mimosa my better half ordered.

We ordered three entrees because we like to have leftovers to make omelets with. One of the entrees specifically said it came with the three potato blend, which we go there for specifically and love; our server told us none of the entrees came with the potato blend unless you ask for it. We had been there less than a year before for brunch and had a fantastic experience.

The food we got: the drinks were ridiculously weak; the bacon was deep fried, the potatoes we got were deep fried and right out of a bag from Cisco or US Foods; the biscuits and gravy... the gravy was almost not present much less smothering the ONE biscuit. It was a joke... We paid for our drinks, tipped the sever, and walked out

The kitchen is running the show not the guests. It's either under new management or a new chef/owner but it is not the same place and if it keeps going in the direction it's going it's not going to last. The hallmark of the establishment was the fine dining food at a reasonable cost. Cooks wore chef jackets, servers and bar tenders were on their toes, there is a backslide going on currently that is going to be the degradation of this place. Give it time, on the current path it's going to get worse...a true shame

The "cooks" control the servers = guest requests inconvenience the kitchen. The Green Door is right...

Café Kokopelli Dade City, FL 07-23-2024 My visits to Café Kokopelli have been quite enjoyable. I have lived in Dade City for about two years now and enjoy visiting nice restaurants, such as the one mentioned here as well as other. One that comes to mind is the Green Door, where I have been without question treated with courtesy and respect. Such was my experience at Kokopelli’s. Until recently. About a month ago I visited the restaurant and noticed that my server was not treating me with the respect I would expect as a paying customer who also tipped well (usually 18% and as much as 20% when cash was good). It became evident that my server wasn’t responding to me the way she did ot others. I spoke to her about it and she seemed sincere enough at the time and made satisfactory reparations. However, at my next visit, I had some questionable treatment from a different server. She was giving others good attention such that she would be well taken. But she was very short with me. I ordered my drink and appetizer as she spoke to me, rushing by and speaking to me over her shoulder. I had to call her back to my table to give my order for the main course. By her body language I sensed she was trying to rush me. When I established eye contact and tried to give my main course order, she said with a quick voice, I’ll be right back, then rushed off before I was able to give my order. As I sat there, I felt embarrassed and humiliated. But I waited and as I notice she was not returning; I proceeded to seek the manager’s attention and make my complaint. The manager was a blond lady. She treated me in a short and snobbish way with a rather neutral unengaged tone. I was deeply offended. She was extremely well with her non-reactive responses as I tendered my report but made one very serious error. She accused me of saying something to my server on my previous visit that was totally false. Her report, being based solely on what her co-worker reportedly said while she herself did not directly witness the event. In my view, it had nothing to do with truth. She told me that I said to my server that I didn’t like her smile. This was quite amusing and totally false. I have no idea where that came from. I endeavor to treat my servers with nothing but total respect. Some further checking turned up the nature of the clientele, who appear to be the local high rollers of the Dade City Community. They were the business owners, lawyers, and others of the higher Dade City echelon. Now obviously this establishment has received good reviews from many. My theory here is this: That higher sector of the Dade City community I mentioned will always support and hold to their own. I can’t blame them for that. It’s their community. They should. Also, those passing through who may visit on their way will give a good report. After all the food is good and they know how to give good service. Now as for me, I live in a local retirement community in Dade City. That community appears to have a bad rap in a few of the Dade City's social circles. And it is known among those of the Kokpelli crowd that I am a part of that retirement community. So naturally I inherited that aversion as my perceived identity. Another theory is that I have spoken to some there about my life. I have heard it said that people who have a good life are envied and thereby treated badly. Either way, my advice to any who would visit Café Kokopelli should either be a a part of that affluent Dade City sector or visit infrequently and keep your business...

There is so much I want to say about this place and this meal. It was, without a doubt, one of the best mid-day adventures that we have had in quite a while. I will break it down into three categories: Atmosphere, Staff, and Food.

Atmosphere From the outside, to the entry, to the tables it is more than just a place to grab some grub. The vine-covered walls tell you that this isn't a cookie cutter kind of place. The eclectic decorations inside are both interestingly wild and informative. There are local pictures and stories and cool light fixtures. The tables are comfortable and well lit. The booths are roomy (good news if you're fluffy like me) and semi-private.

Staff Everyone that I encountered seemed legitimately happy to be there. We've all encountered restaurant staff that exhibit fake happiness and sincerity...not here. They were knowledgeable and on their toes. Alyssa was a beverage ninja and appeared out of the shadows to replenish our drinks before we even knew they needed it. We even experienced a 'drive-by greeting' from another member of the server staff just to say hi and ask how things were. We really felt that we were appreciated.

Food Now, the food was incredible. This being my first visit, I had no idea what to expect. When I asked my wife, who had been there once before with her father, she intentionally kept my expectations low by not alluding to the restaurant's charm. Desiring a semi-light meal, I opted for a soup and salad. The soup was a Roasted Red Pepper-Tomato Bisque. It was rich and hearty and warm. Not overly seasoned and just the right balance between the peppers and tomatoes. My salad, however, stole the show. A Caesar Salad that I opted to have with a beautiful piece of seared salmon. The salmon skin was crisp and excellently seasoned. The meat was tender and moist and the perfect doneness. The salad wasn't over-dressed and was very nicely presented. This next part was a little bit surprising. Typically, I avoid the croutons at a restaurant as I am watching my carb intake and let's face it...they are usually nothing to write home about. Most of the time they are dense pieces of flavorless cardboard. Imagine my surprise when I decided to take a chance and sample one to find a very light and flavorful exclamation point on this already great salad.

In all, I have to say that not only will I definitely be coming back...but I can guarantee that I will be telling a lot of people to...