Kokopelli, The 'Flute' Of New American Cuisine
Dade City, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: New American
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 4/5
Dined: October 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Kafe Kokopelli Zomato rating:
Kafe Kokopelli Executive Chef:
Steven Queen Jr.
Kafe Kokopelli (pronounced “Coke-a-pellie") started as an old red brick and vine-covered car repair shop built-in 1916 to service the Model-T Ford in Dade City, Florida. Dade City is located roughly an hour's drive north of Tampa Bay and is a small community of under 10,000 people listed in 2017 as one of four of the most beautiful towns in Florida off the beaten path. Well, maybe the downtown historical area I would agree, but drive a mile outside that and you see a different story. We were up in the area for the day and it is a town that is a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of bigger city life, with several antique shops, a pioneer museum, giraffe ranch, and some good restaurants.
The service shop that Kafe Kokopelli now resides in was slated for demolition until Gail Greenfelder purchased and remodeled it in 1985. The design in her mind was to look like an old western-style restaurant with a rock fireplace, stuffed moose, tiger and deer heads, wanting it to be like the bar in the Cheers television show. In 2013 she sold the business and name to Chef Steven Queen Junior.
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| Kafe Kokopelli / Entrance |
The name of the café “Kokopelli” comes from the south-west Native American Indian god. There are many different Kokopelli Gods. The most popular is the humpbacked flute player and was considered the God of Mischief and Fertility. Kokopelli legend has it that he came into the villages each Spring with a sack of seeds to ensure a successful planting and harvest each season. The restaurant focuses on New American cuisine with a classic twist on some old-western favorites like meatloaf and country fried steak, while bridging new concepts to older traditional southern dishes like taking a fried green tomato dish and turning it into a Napoleon with goat cheese and balsamic reduction.
Kafe Kokopelli Menus:
- Lunch Combos
- Half Pound Burgers
- Appetizers
- Entree Salads
- Sandwiches and Po’ Boys
- Entrees
- Children’s menu
- Vegan and Vegetarian
- Desserts
- Dinner menu
- Brunch menu
My wife had a glass of the Kim Crawford Rosé and according to the winemakers’ notes, the aroma has a lively nose, brimming with bright berry and tropical fruit. On the palate it is soft and luscious, this refreshing Rosé is richly fruited with hints of watermelon and strawberry. The wine is ideal as an apéritif or summer sipper, this easy-drinking wine also pairs perfectly with lighter salads and other fares.
Continuing on the appetizer and other unique modern American dishes, being in Florida it is common to see gator bites and crispy fried grouper. The almond crusted deep-fried brie dish came with a wild berry compote, and local organic honey with wafer crackers. The fried is cut into four pieces, then fried to a golden brown. The presentation was not too exciting, as it was without garnish or height to the display thought he rule of odds was observed. For a modern plating trend, it was simple and too the point.
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| Kafe Kokopelli / Fried Brie |
From a roasted rack of lamb with mint pesto, an arrabiatta pepper flaked meatball dish, and a broiled filet with a tri-colored potato hash are among some of the entree selections. The potato hash is repeated with several entrees from the filet to the New York strip, lamb and country fried steak dishes, which does pair but lacks the excitement that a blue cheese sauced pasta would do for the New York as an example.
Dessert:
We did not have dessert during this visit, but some items of interest on the menu include a goat cheese-cheese cake with a ginger snap crust, and wild berry compote or the five-layer bourbon-infused chocolate cake with bourbon-infused frosting and fudge.
But check out some of these wonderful selections from Wine Dine and Play:
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
New Zealand:
Other noteworthy American cuisine articles and restaurants similar to Kafe Kokopelli
Also known as Modern American cuisine, or Contemporary American cuisine, the term "New American" refers to the wave of modernized cooking predominantly served at upscale fine dining restaurants that began in the 1980s. It is generally a type of fusion cuisine that assimilates flavors from the melting pot of traditional American cooking techniques and mixes it with foreign and sometimes molecular gastronomy components. There is an innovative use of seasoning and sauces, originally based on French, and Nouvelle cuisine, and it has progressed to include elements of Asian, Latin American, Mediterranean, and other cuisines.
Alinea Highly creative New American molecular gastronomy tasting menus in Chicago, Illinois
Birch & Vine a local, organic, and top dining destination at The Birchwood in St. Petersburg, Florida
Harvest Moon Café Farm-to-Fork daily changing new American fare menu in Sonoma, California
Lobby at Twelve Boutique hotel bistro, new American, and Southern favorites at Atlantic Station, Atlanta
Moshulu New American dining on a restored ship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Samantha’s Restaurant Mellow new American dishes in North Canton, Ohio
Zinc Bistro and Bar Southwestern-inspired new American fare in San Antonio, Texas
Zink Kitchen + Bar Restaurant Modern and sleek American cuisine in Centennial, Colorado
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
A few Florida restaurant favorites:
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Rated the best Seafood and waterfront restaurant on the island
Captiva Island, Florida, USA
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Thai and Japanese fare
Seminole, Florida USA
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Relaxed eatery for pizza and pasta
Treasure Island, Florida
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambience, food quality, and wow factor.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Kafe Kokopelli a 4 out of 5 stars, meaning that they not only exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants, and were outstanding.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Kafe Kokopelli
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambience
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11
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11
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0
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Food quality
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11
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10
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1
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Plate presentation
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10
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8
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2
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Customer service
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11
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9
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2
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Alcohol and other beverages
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7
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6
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1
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Total regular points awarded
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50
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44
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6
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.88
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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1
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.02
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.9
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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- 0 - 5
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4
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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4 of 5 Stars:
90% Rating with a 1 point “wow” bonus
An Outstanding Dining Experience
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Corkage fees:
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Kafe Kokopelli does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant-style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at Kafe Kokopelli:
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American
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-free choices, Low Carb Choices, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wears flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Kafe Kokopelli Experiences:
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A place for foodies, Contemporary, Trendy, Hotspot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Rustic, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Kafe Kokopelli has a private lot, located off of Live Oak Ave and 5th Street
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Low
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Smoking:
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Kafe Kokopelli is a non-smoking restaurant with a non-smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Alcohol prices:
$12.00 USD
Kafe Kokopelli:
37940 Live Oak Ave
Dade City
Florida 33523
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 352-523-0055
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Online reservations
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Website Contact:
Email Us:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Mon - Thur
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Fri - Sat
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday
11:00 am - 6:30 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Kafe Kokopelli:
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****
The world’s best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Modern Australian haute cuisine
Sydney, Australia
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Charming French Bistro with a movie filmed terrace
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
|
Authentic churrascaria-style dining
Palm Island, Dubai, UAE
|
Other Kafe Kokopelli Pictures:
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| Kafe Kokopelli / Patio |
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| Kafe Kokopelli / Bathrooms |
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| Kafe Kokopelli / Dining Room |
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| Kafe Kokopelli / Dining |
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| Kafe Kokopelli / Amusing logos |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
