KAFE KOKOPELLI

Let’s Talk “Kafe Kokopelli”

Location: This restaurant is located in the quaint town of Dade City. The restaurant is a historical building of 1916 that housed the Ford Motor Company for sales and services of T-Sales models. I suggest making a reservation as this is a hot spot for locals nearby. There is plenty of parking in the back area of the restaurant and across the street as well. 

Service:  When we entered the restaurant, we were seated right away by our host because we had made reservations for 6pm. After 6pm, the restaurant had a line of people waiting to be seated and served. The service was excellent from the host to the server. She gave us great recommendations from the menu. She checked on us throughout the dining experience. At the end of our meal, we got a tour of the restaurant that can host private parties at least in two areas of the restaurant. Overall, excellent service!

Food: Let’s start with the food; for appetizers, we ordered Fried Green Tomato Napoleon layered with herbed goat cheese, bread, and butter pickles, and marmalade and Bruschetta Tomatoes, mozzarella, onions, basil, and balsamic glaze. They were pretty tasty to my palette. Next, I ordered the Chicken Marsala, Piccata Mushroom Marsala sauce, lemon butter caper sauce, and pasta. I felt this dish was missing seasoning, and it was a bit too watery instead of creamy. Finally, my friend ordered the shrimp Pasta Alla Vodka, Vodka sauce, angel hair pasta, and parmesan. We ended the celebration with one of my all-time faves, créme Brulee. Overall, the food was good but bland. However, there is always room for improvement.

Ambience: We arrived at the restaurant and parked in an area in what we thought was the front of the restaurant, only to realize that it was the back of the restaurant, and we had to walk to the front. The little walk was short, and as you approached the front, the greenery and entrance were very tropical. The inside was decorated with unique artifacts. The boots were all decorated with their own unique style of native American artifacts. The name Kokopelli comes from the South-West Native American god- some fascinating history for us to explore.

Price: $$

A Dash of Encouragement: We came here to celebrate a friend’s birthday. She chose this place as she likes to try different restaurants, as do I. Again, I was fascinated with the restaurant’s style, and as always, I try to understand the connection between the restaurant’s name and ambience. What came to my mind; is how can we make old things look so good in a new environment? I think of the scripture about doing away with the former things and being renewed (paraphrased). 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” They took something old since 1916 and artifacts from the past and made them new in the new environment. This is wonderful, how we can change and become new not in our own strength but through wisdom and understanding. My question is, what do we have that is old, and how can we make changes to make it new? Something to ponder…

A DASH OF LIFE, LAUGHTER & LOVE