Backwoods Bistro originated in the quaint historic city of Sopchoppy, Florida about 45 miles south of Tallahassee and 10 short miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Backwoods is still housed in one of the few remaining historic brick buildings right downtown. The building, built in 1912, was formerly the Sopchoppy Drug Company and home to a full blown pharmacy, soda fountain and doctor’s office in the 1940s. Changing gears in the 1950s, Corine Hodge opened up a dress shop, kept the soda fountain and sold over-the-counter goods. This was a favorite hang-out for the young folks. The first ice cream in the county was served from this location and legend has it that the first telephone in Wakulla County was installed here! It was also an Emergency Alert Center during World War II.

In November 2006, the Rice family opened the restaurant with Jesse as chef and the entire family helping to kick it off. Taylor Harrell, Jesse’s childhood friend and fellow chef, played a huge part in the opening of Backwoods Sopchoppy by dedicating countless hours to get the restaurant on its feet.

In June 2012, after over 5 years of running a successful restaurant and earning numerous awards, Backwoods Bistro expanded into Tallahassee bringing its unique cuisine to a larger venue. Jesse and Taylor have expanded their hours, enhanced the menu, added unique brunch offerings and are poised to fill a need for a “hip” unique restaurant/bar for the young set in Tallahassee. Music will also be a highlight of the weekend offerings, providing a place for both local and national artists to showcase their talent.

The Tallahassee location, only a couple blocks from the downtown, was originally a gas station back in the 1940’s. The building became out of date and was torn down to build the Dragon Room which was a hot spot in Tallahassee for many years. In 2007, The Comedy Zone remodeled the building including the insertion of a huge mahogany bar.

The Backwoods Bistro team is looking forward to serving you and offering a unique dining experience in Tallahassee. We hope you make this place your home away from home and let us know how we can make you smile!