So we trued this place out tonight for the first time, and it was okay. The girl serving us suggested we try the "Sledgehammer" since we hadn't had it before. We got one chocolate flavor and one chai flavor. They came out in miso style bowls, the type you drink directly out of. I couldn't distinguish the flavor, but the taste was insanely bitter. I really didn't like the taste, particularly the aftertaste of each sip. another thing you should be aware of is that it will numb your mouth. I wish I'd had warning about that. I think it really depends on your tolerance for very bitter drinks. My boyfriend was able to drink all of his and finish mine very quickly, but I was unable to finish even one bowl.
I found the effects pretty relaxing, but not majorly so. My boyfriend said he felt a bit more relaxed, but not a lot. They also have it written on the info at the table that you shouldn't drive after drinking kava.
As far as the price I'm not really sure what's high or low for kava, but the bowl they suggested we start with was $9 each. Nothing with kava is under $5 and even that is just a 4 oz drink. They also say on a little information sheet on the table that it has a reverse tolerance, so people new to drinking it may need 4-5 bowl to feel a strong effect. That would add up pretty quickly. Â The coffee and tea are both $2, so pretty cheap compared to coffee shops since they have a good selection.
They do have food, at least according to the menu. It was just various rice bowl for $6.50-$7.50 with a choice of meat. We ate beforehand so I'm not sure how good they are or what the portions are like, hope someone reviews that soon.
The spicy Mayan hot chocolate was really good, and I loved being able to get that since I've only ever had Mayan hot cocoa at home. It has cayenne pepper and cinnamon to give it a kick. It was also reasonably priced at $2.50
The interior is pretty well designed and very relaxing, with a few booths, some couches, and a bar top. Two tvs behind the bar played youtube videos, and as we were leaving and they were closing we also saw that they were using pandora to play music. The music was mostly relaxing reggae, but one very explicit and sexual rap song came on that I wish they had skipped since it definitely ruined the atmosphere. The decor was very island oriented, tiki heads and such. I liked it.
The girl serving us was nice and helpful, and when they started to close they made it obvious they were closing without being rude. Only one group there didn't work there it looked like, the other people who were there all got up and started to help clean right before 1 am.
Overall, while I'm not sure we'll be back I'd definitely suggest trying it at least once and I can see how it would be very enjoyable to some. Also, might be more fun with a group of more than two.
Would never expect to find such a place in a Rancho Cordova strip mall. Â The taste of Kava may not be to you liking, but the feeling it gives you probably will. Â I was rather shocked at how nice the interior of this place is and the owner is to be commended. Â Worth the drive if you've never been as it is quite an experience. Â Certainly a nice place to relax on a regular basis if you live near the area. Â One of the more interesting experiences I've had in a while.
Review Source:So this was my first adventure into Kava land. I read the reviews and thought, well ok this could be really awesome or just be a horrible experience. But we won't know until we try! So yes Travis, the owner, immediately greeted us when we walked in. He told us the history of the Kava herb, how they make it, he was blunt about how it tasted, and then suggested a few things for us to try. The atmosphere was calming, yes exactly as described, a Tiki bar. Funnily enough, they had a japanese movie with subtitles playing behind the bar. There was a group of young adults(?? who knows anymore) playing the giant jenga games. I like that when you walk up to the business, the windows are completely tinted and its like this mystery game of 'oooh whats inside? are there other people? we don't know whats going on?' kind of vibe. There were other aged patrons inside as well which I appreciated. But among everyone it was so chill and relaxed. As for the taste, yes bitter is the exact adjective to describe it. The chai tea Travis served us with the kava in it made my lips and tongue go numb and almost immediately, I felt a warm and comfortable blanket encompass my soul. Corny it may sound, but I truly cannot think of any other way to describe it. Definitely something you'll need to experience for yourself and then try to put into words. We both had the chai sledgehammer and then shared a shot of the kava itself. We were both completely fine to drive home after and then slept so so hard as soon as we hit the pillow. Best sleep I've had in a while! It will be fun to take some of my friends that enjoy the Bob Marley chill mon vibe without doing the drugs that go with it.
Review Source:So, I'm going to guess that if you haven't already been to Root of Happiness and you're reading this, you're curious about the kava buzz. How strong is it, will you be able to drive home, will it make you quiet or loud or paranoid, etc. In a word, it's fun. As other Yelpers have reported, it's mellow, social, and fairly subtle. Read on for more details.
I went with five of my friends solely to check out this new intoxicant. We got in around 7:30 on a Saturday evening, so there weren't too many people there yet. This allowed us to take over the comfy couch and chairs at the front of the room. Decor is very nice - they've done a great job of turning a strip mall hole into a cool Tiki-type room. There's a bar and some booths along with the couches. There's a decent sound system playing appropriately upbeat music. Travis, the owner, came right up and introduced himself. He definitely has a passion for this stuff and will tell you all you want to know about the ins and outs of kava. We started with a round of "Sledgehammers", which are a strong, concentrated kava "tea". It's thick stuff and quite bitter, but it gets you started. (One member of our group couldn't handle the bitterness and didn't go beyond the first sip, but the rest of us downed our bowls.) From there, we tried raw kava, kava paste. and goopy kava shots that were also quite concentrated. The buzz was great. Nice and relaxing but very social. We talked and played Jenga for a couple of hours while we went through the kava offerings. It turned out to be a very fun evening for us all.
So basically, it's all good. I'd recommend going with a couple of friends to enjoy the sociable aspects of this mild hypnotic. Let Travis guide you through your first time and I can't imagine that you won't enjoy it. Only difficulty will be if you have a hard time with bitter substances, but even if that's the case, you might enjoy the kava paste. I predict big crowds for this place once they expand into Midtown and/or Davis. Four stars. Mike sez check it out.
What an great find! Â My friend and I wanted a place to talk and hang out. Â Last time we had gone to Chevy's, but I felt like their alcoholic drinks left me feeling unfit to drive. Â And we were feeling pressured to leave by closing. Â
This place has drinks that give you a nice euphoric feeling, without any of the bad effects of alcohol. Â I was perfectly fine getting in my car to drive home. Â And its open nice and late. Â Plenty of time to sit and chat with friends. The environment is decorated really well. Â You don't feel like you're i a restaurant from around here. Â The lighting is perfect. Very relaxed atmosphere. Â And fun music playing in the background that keeps things upbeat.
Several people in the front were playing a giant Jenga game. A nice place to come hang out. Â Without feeling like your going to picked up on or pressure to socialize with anyone, but the staff was very friendly if you needed them.
Only recommendation is eating ahead of time. Â There isn't any food offered on their menu at this time. Â You should stop by as an after dinner hang out. Â Its a little tricky to find at first. Â Look for the string of stores that are right before you reach California Fitness to the left.
This place is really amazing. It has a nice environment, its awesome for relaxing. Its open late and the people are extremely friendly. They serve a special kind of tea called Kava which is really interesting, doesnt really taste amazing but it is really relaxing and makes you happy. They have great coffee too... You should at least try it.
Review Source:I haven't yelped for a long time and this place gave me a reason to do so. It's one of a kind tea place. The Tiki decor was beautiful and really nice.
They got Kava... an acquired taste. They also got shots.
They got coffee, pretty strong according to my two buddies.
They got TV at the tea/kava bar. They got tables and free wifi.
Customer service was really good, great people.
Opens late. I'll be back, thanks!
Wow!! What a great place. I love the low lights, soft music and ambiance of this bar. The interior finishes are island themed. The atmosphere is very welcoming. I learned so much about Kava and the Kava culture on my visit I plan on returning with my friends and significant other. The bar is very comfortable and it even has several booths with Wi-Fi which is free. This is a very different crowd than is found at your typical bar scene. The patrons were respectful and not rowdy. No alcohol is served. Only Kava and exotic specialty teas and quality coffee. I stopped by Wednesday evening and had a great talk with one of the owners, Tyler. What an education I recieved on Kava and other botanicals. It was very enlightening and informative. I look forward to their Grand Opening tonight and plan on dropping by with friends. You have got to try this place. I was not particularly fond of the taste of raw Kava. However, the Kava shots were excellent and had a very relaxing effect on my stress filled body. I hope this business is successful and gains the support of the community.
Review Source:Maybe one of the most interesting places and owners Ive run into this year. Now we were looking for some caffeinated beverages for the road and this showed up on a search. My friend called and the owner said they'd be around pretty late. For Sunday night, this was one of the few things in the area that we could drop in. We took the trek from the next city over and ended up in a parking lot with a bunch of construction, a gun store, and a salon. A cop watched as we drove through in the dark. Maybe he was thinking we were casing the strip mall?
As we walk in, the space is really nice. It's done up with Polynesian art, and can almost be passed off as a Tiki Bar. However, the owner Tyler, an ethno botanist is trying to bring the awareness of the Polynesian plant called Kava Kava. He also carries a range of organic teas and coffee too. We got to chatting for a while, about his travels, the huge acreage of of land he owns in Peru, and how he wanted to offer and option of a place where people could gather and not have to partake in alcohol. I was dumbfounded and awe struck. Everything I asked of him came with such unexpected answers. Ever see the "Most Interesting Man In The World" commercials? I think Tyler resembles that. He brewed me a cup of Hawaiian Kona peaberry coffee and my friend a mango ceylon tea and we were off on our way. Many other things we could have discovered if only we had more time. It's amazing the types of people you may meet in your travels.
Attended the soft opening and was pleasantly surprised by the great ambiance encompassed by the unique tiki themed surroundings. The owner was there and was happy to answer everyone's questions and explain their offerings in great detail. A new and unique experience I would recommend to everyone!
Review Source:This place is awesome! Â Very nice environment, definitely a great place to hang out and relax with friends after a long day. Â Very friendly service, great music, and comfy seating.
They serve some of the best coffee and teas I have ever had and they also serve Kava shots and shells. Â If you have not tried Kava before, it is a must! Â They have many different flavored hard Kava shots, as well as raw Kava shells. Â The staff does a great job of explaining it to first timers, I'm so glad I found this place.
Overall, this is a really chill spot and I have met a lot of great people here, I will definitely be going back!
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