Decent coffee and teas - weird vibes.
I have visited this place numerous times, and wanted to really wait and get a feel for it before writing a review. They have improved on some of my biggest complaints over time, but I still vacillated on whether or not to hit this place with two stars. It was close.
It's easy to miss the What? Cafe, a locally owned coffee shop tucked away in an old shopping center between some government offices and a 24 hour gym.
As other Yelpers have mentioned, the place is often unsettling in how quiet it is. I have sometimes heard music playing, but only occasionally. They also have a stage for live musical acts (the stage was recently remodeled and doesn't feel as in the way as it did) but I have never been to the coffee shop at night when they have these acts.
There's really not much ambiance, just some ratty old couches and mismatched tables & chairs, a piano, and the counter where you order. There is some amateurish / local art on display which I believe can be purchased. Bathrooms are clean, at least.
The biggest complaint I ever had about the What? Cafe was the lack of prices of their printer-paper menu board. And worse, when I dared to ask for the price of a couple of beverages when trying to budget responsibly (after getting sticker shock during my first visit) the cashier become rather supercilious, as though I was being *SO* bourgeoisie. This, I am happy to report, has been corrected, and the new menu board does actually have prices, which is such a no-brainer I can't believe they went so long without it being that way.
On to the drinks themselves, the coffee is good, made with beans provided by a small vendor, Emerald City Roasters. I've had a decent Americano there, as well as a decent latte. Honestly, it's nothing special, and I prefer Cafe Molido for pure coffee enjoyment.
What? offers some bottled beers and food items, though I've never sampled either. There are other places I'd rather go for beer and food than a coffee shop, generally speaking.
One item that is a bit of a rarity in the area, which What? Cafe does offer is Boba Milk Tea. This Asian creation is definitely different, and even now I'm not quite sure what it was I was drinking when I ordered the "Original" Boba Milk Tea but...I kind of liked it. It wasn't very sweet, almost tasted like a watered down iced-coffee from some wasteland like Dunkin' Donuts, but it actually worked, and the "pearls" or little blueberry like balls were also good. If you haven't had Boba Tea, I suggest you at least try it so you can say you did.
The final line on this place is that it just isn't very impressive. Outside of the milk tea, there really isn't anything special about What? Cafe. Honestly, the place makes me a bit uneasy, so quiet, the clientele so borderline hipster-yet-probably-student. Given the profusion of coffee shops in Tallahassee (All Saints = hipster / bohemian, Cafe Molido = great coffee and empanadas, there is even a local coffee shop run by a church) the only things that keep What? Cafe from being knocked down to two stars is the milk tea and the fact that they provide a coffee shop option near the relatively coffee-free Northwest Tallahassee Tharpe-Capital Circle-Monroe sphere.
Oh, and as a final aside, I know it's becoming quite common and saves small businesses money, but I really don't care for the iPad register set-up. I like to get a receipt, not have to type in an email to be SENT a receipt. It won't keep me from going to a restaurant or coffee shop, but even as a tech-friendly person it just weirds me out. But if mom and pop can avoid paying as much in merchant services fees then I suppose I can handle it.
I will cut them some slack, because they are in a strange location. Old shopping complex? Anyway, walked in today to a strange (dark) atmosphere with no music playing. It was awkward. The menu is paper stapled to a board and the furniture is mismatched in a bad way. Â
Pros: Wifi was great and they give you a big mug of whatever beverage your getting. Â
I would come back to this place for sure though. Just nothing to go out of the way for.
First visit....decent coffee. Â Very cool and helpful young barista and the atmosphere is pretty cool as well. Â Needs better music...it seems like it belongs in a hookah lounge. Â Would like a better selection of food, but I look forward to trying the different drinks. Â I also like that they have shows, knitting circle, etc...can we get a game night? Â I will definitely come back! Â Would give it 5 stars if it had better music :)
Review Source:It's always been slow when I go, but I only ever go during the day. They have a really wide selection of non-coffee drinks, from beer to boba, as well as the usual coffee shop fare. I usually get iced americano, which is always pretty good, nice and strong. I like how they seal their to-go iced drink cups with a plastic top with a cute little picture on top like at boba cafes. I've had a couple of the smoothies, and they were alright. They were better with boba. Â The interior is spacious, and would make a decent study hall.. but it has a weird vibe to it because nothing seems cohesive. The furniture is odd and mismatched, but not in an eclectic way. Also, they would do well to get a more professional and understandable menu board.
You can get boba in anything, though, which is pretty cool.
You can't use credit under 5$, so plan ahead.
This place is confusing. I want to like it because it's a cozy, accessible place.
They have comfortable seating, usually plenty of room, and games to play if you're in lax mode.
The music is hit-or-miss, but at least they play music.
But I just feel like the place could do well to hire an image consultant.
Their big thing is tea, I think. I'm not sure why they don't just do coffee, since that's a proven formula for success. Expensive for tea.
I've tried several of the smoothies, and they're alright. They're kinda watery and end up with a layer of ice at the bottom once the good stuff is slurped out. More Icee than smoothie. Expensive for smoothies. I don't know why they don't just do regular coffee and tea.
I ordered the coconut bubble tea, hoping to get some of that addictive magic stuff I got at this hole-in-the-wall in Queens, but it wasn't even close. It was more of a smoothie, and had a weird soapy taste to it.
And what's up with all the dirty dishes? Come on.
The menu is printed out and stapled to the wall. They'd do well to invest in a chalkboard and pay some art student to make it pretty.
I want them to succeed, but I think sometimes owners and managers forget that to succeed, it doesn't matter what they want - it matters what the masses want.
If they were to learn how to make a decent iced coffee and latte, then put up signs advertising this, they'd do way better. A "Quick Iced Coffee and donuts to go!" sign would bring in way more people than strange $3.50 teas.
This place is like Taco Bell: it keeps making me sick, but I keep going back because it tastes so good.
The quality of drinks and speed of service can really vary depending on who's working that day. Avoid the beginning of the week for ordering drinks, avoid the end of the week for baked goods, and avoid weekend nights if you don't like a crowd.
They offer different discounts every day of the week, but I can't remember what they are at the moment. The drinks are pretty tasty. The food is mediocre. They have board games if you want to sit around for a while there. 4 stars for the quality of their thai tea.
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