The Lively Café at St. John's
211 N Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL
Crema's Take
“Tucked inside St. John's church fellowship hall, this hidden gem surprises visitors with a rotating weekly menu of surprisingly creative sandwiches and homemade desserts that feel more like a labor of love than a typical café. The welcoming staff, free parking, and genuinely cool atmosphere make it the kind of place locals whisper about to friends—a refreshing discovery for downtown workers tired of the same deli options, and a legitimately family-friendly spot where you can settle in with your laptop while the air conditioning works overtime on muggy Florida days.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
Great place to eat. Inside the church. Weekly menus. Change every week. Lots of choices and home made desserts. Parking is free in the lot off of call
Listen....how have y'all been keeping this place a secret!? Went today for the 1st time in 20+ years. It was super hot and muggy and the air conditioning was heavenly. Super nice ladies answered our questions and took our orders. Then you take your order card to the pay window (no cash i think) and square up. The food was deli quality. Very fresh and good portion size. Great for lunch. The room is open seating at big tables. The vibe of the room kinda reminded me of the Wakulla Springs Lodge. They also have crazy take-and-bake meals (see my pics) but you need to order ahead from what I understand. Right downtown, great experience!
What a nice find! Working downtown there 2 options both are delis. A friend filled me in with this extra option a block away, since I didn't know it was there. One look at the online menu and I was off. They have 4 rotating weekly menus and I ordered from the green menu. Pork Bahn mi sandwich with a side of red grapes. The side is included with the ridiculously low price and there are multiple options. With fresh cucumber, cilantro, daikon radish and pickled carrots this sandwich was legit. They make fresh soups and desserts of the day which I will explore on my next visits. The all volunteer staff was so friendly and the place was buzzing. It is on church grounds with stunning outdoor seating. I treated a friend and got two sandwich and side meals for the same price as one singular sandwich from the deli across the street! Do leave a nice cash tip as it goes to charity. I will continue to leave reviews for each visit. Bravo Lively Cafe, Bravo!
I didn’t even know about this cafe until my family ordered take out. I ordered the Buffalo chicken sandwich and it was great! Quality sandwich! I look forward to trying this place out again in the future.
I feel like this place is a best kept secret! Cool little cafe-like spot inside the fellowship hall of St. John's church. They have a weekly, rotating menu and specials with the most delicious & unique selections. They always have a tasty vegetarian option too (even when I'm not trying to eat vegetarian). Their lively bean salad is my favorite side!
Crema Reviews
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