Kavakaze

Kavakaze is a waste of your time, energy, and money. The kava is not effective. The atmosphere is equivalent to a doctors waiting room. And lastly the owner, James, is a cocky, condescending, jerk. He is pompous and arrogant to his customers, and even worse he is terrible to his employees. Unfortunately this is the only kava bar in Tallahassee, but it’s not even really kava.

I’m going to be very clear why I will never come to this establishment. I went in tonight after eating at Asian Rox, drawn in by the paintings on the wall, and the fact that my flu addled brain HAD to remember what Kava was.
The space was wholly univinting. It didn’t suprise me that no one was there. Too bright, too loud and the… Bartender… was very eager to reasure me several times that their Kava was the best in America.
A quick word of advice, before I get to my inexcusable no-​no. Never say your «company/​food/​whatnot» is the best. Let others say it for you. When you have to verbally assert you are the best… You’re not. It’s that simple.
Now. I know for a fact Kava can not be mixed with other sedatives, like benzos, barbs, or even OTC medicines that induce drowsiness. You can induce respiratory failure, coma, or death. The tender did not know this fact and when I asked him on it he assured me from a place of confidence that it was safe to take while on those meds. No interaction.
Strike 3, you’re out. You don’t know your product well enough to know that major point of safety? No thank you.

The owner was super nice and friendly. But I ended up spending $ 30 on kava (which by the way tastes disgusting) and felt no effect. My friend felt a but of a buzz from it though so maybe it was just me? It’s worth exploring as an alternative to drinking, but I’m not sure if it’s my thing.

I have been to kava bars before but never have I ever actually had kava, so my friends and I came here to see what all the fuss was about.
Right off the bat, the atmosphere is incredibly uninviting — the lights are so bright in this place that you feel like you’re about to go into an interrogation or have surgery performed on you. There is a simple bar and then a few tables and couches. Not a whole lot of seating. Most of the place is empty space.
The bar area is completely exposed, another issue amplified by the terrible atmosphere and the bright lighting. Again, all the other kava bars I’ve been to have been lounge-​like, so that means moody lighting and chill music. There was none of that here.
It’s $ 25 for a bowl of kava. The stuff tastes and looks like dirt. You drink it and you want to throw up, pretty much. Most people are only drinking this for the relaxed feeling you get from kava. I had a little buzz but nothing too crazy. It wore off rather quickly.
I think the price for this stuff is pretty steep. Also I was incredibly put off by seeing the bartender making the kava with a white t-​shirt at the bar. I literally could see him ringing it out. It was gross.
They only serve tea as their other beverage and their water they used as a «chaser» was lukewarm tap water.
This is Tallahassee’s only kava bar which means it already monopolizes the kava market here. That being said, there is a massive room for improvement with this place but I still would probably never come back.