Dining Experience

Kid Eating
Boy with ice cream

Breakfast & Brunch

AMERICAN

Metro Diner

Metro Diner opened its diner doors in Jacksonville in 1992 to give locals what they were craving. Now, an award-winning restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they stay true to their humble roots with signature dishes like Charleston Shrimp & Grits and Fried Chicken & Waffles.

Metro Diner

AMERICAN

Peach Valley Cafe

Relaxed local chain serving a range of American breakfast & lunch fare, from waffles to patty melts.

Peach Valley

AMERICAN

Flying Biscuit Cafe

Great all-around breakfast spot. Service is fast and friendly, and the patio seating option is perfect for those warm Florida mornings when you want to savor the fresh air. The oatmeal pancakes with peaches hit the spot.

Flying Biscuit

AMERICAN

Afternoon

Afternoon is a small casual order at the counter brunch restaurant. Please keep in mind, they are a small restaurant so accommodating parties larger than 6 is difficult for us.

Afternoon

Coffee Spots

Pascal’s Coffeehouse

Christian–themed cafe and student haunt serving java and snacks in comfy surrounds with a fireplace.

Pascal's

Volta Coffee, Tea & Chocolate

Volta has an array of rotating specialty coffees and teas, handcrafted espresso drinks and drinking chocolates.

Volta

Wyatt’s Coffee

Florida roasted coffees and hand blended teas

Wyatt's

Maude’s Cafe

Maude’s is a longtime coffeehouse with a cool, arty vibe offering light bites, board games and a spacious patio.

Maude's

Curia On The Drag

The selection of vegan treats both savory and sweet is outstanding. The coffee shop has great pastries and cakes and they pride themselves in their service.

Curia

CYM Coffee Co

The CYM Coffee Co. serves some of the best coffee, tea, and pastries around in a cozy, library-like setting. A relaxed, stirring place where Gainesvillians come to get in a cymplified state of mind.

CYM Coffee

Lunch & Dinner

AMERICAN

Metro Diner

Metro Diner opened its diner doors in Jacksonville in 1992 to give locals what they were craving. Now, an award-winning restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they stay true to their humble roots with signature dishes like Charleston Shrimp & Grits and Fried Chicken & Waffles.

Metro Diner

AMERICAN

4 Rivers Smokehouse

Redefining the art of smoking, one brisket at a time. This family-owned business specializes in slow-smoked barbecue, homestyle sides, and fresh bakery items in a family-friendly casual dining environment.

Four Rivers Smokehouse

American

Sonny’s BBQ: The Original

Sonny’s loves everything about BBQ. The food. The culture. The camaraderie. The way it brings people together to have a good time. And the good it does when it’s shared with the community. That’s why they take such pride in making our BBQ the best it can be.

Sonny’s BBQ: The Original

American

MOJO Hogtown Bar-B-Que, Smoked Meats Whiskey Bar

The MOJO goal was to be able to offer an array of regional barbecue styles in one place and with their own personal touches; they’ve been able to do just that! From North Carolina to Texas, you can find anything you like at MOJO.

MOJO BBQ

Italian

Satchel’s Pizza

Eat in a van, under a plane, or in a greenhouse. Enjoy Satch made stained glass windows, local art, homemade sodas, and live music. There’s a playground for the kids and a friendly smile all around. Consistently voted as some of the best pizza and salad in town you are sure to have an outstanding meal. If you have never been, give it a try. Leave room for dessert.

Satchel's

ITALIAN

Blue Highway Pizzeria

Blue Highway at Tioga answered the demand for high quality pizza in the more suburban NW Gainesville area. The food is just as incredible as it is at their original location. They have also been able to add pastas and fabulous daily specials to the menu. The Tioga Town Center location has a lot going on; concerts, movies, shopping and of course great food!

Blue Highway Pizza

ITALIAN

V Pizza & SideCar

At V Pizza, they strive to make and serve great food all of the time, provide a fun, friendly and comfortable environment for their guests, and actively engage with the community. Honor your appetite with food from their delicious artisan menu made from better-for-you ingredients that satisfies healthy appetites & lifestyles!

V Pizza

American

The Top

Here to serve good food, good drinks, and good times since 2000. Catering to vegan, vegetarian, and meat loving carnivores alike in an eclectic environment, indoors and out. Be aware there is usually a very long wait so make sure you get there as early as possible for dinner. Try the vegan chocolate cake, it’s delicious!

The Top

American

The Swamp

Originally constructed in 1914 as a University of Florida professor’s house, The Swamp flung open its doors on December 30th, 1994 to a clamoring Gator Bowl crowd. Since that momentous day The Swamp Restaurant has grown to become a national landmark and a staple of the Gainesville community.

The Swamp

Japanese

Yamato Japanese Steakhouse

At Yamato, they strive to provide the freshest ingredients made to order. Come and watch your meal go up in flame right at your table or experience their sushi chef’s art in the form of classic renditions!

Yamato

Japanese

Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company

Contemporary izakaya featuring tapas-style Japanese pub fare plus an assortment of sake. The dining experience is top notch and the food quality is great. They have nice outside patio seating and also seating inside. Overall a great ambiance.

Dragonfly

Latin

La Cocina de Abuela

Abuela’s hits their stride as the kind of blue collar, cafeteria-style, Latin cuisine. It’s a simple and sparsely decorated space. But true to the spirit of the restaurant, it’s all about good food at good prices with generous portions.

Abuelas

Mexican

Boca Fiesta

A Gainesville legend for the food, drink and atmosphere. Boca Fiesta doesn’t do authentic Mexican. Instead it offers up traditional options like chicken and pork tacos, burritos, chimichangas with some Gainesville twists like fried gator, TVP, and tempeh. Enjoy a different take on Tex Mex served amid exposed beams, brick walls and an outdoor patio.

Boca Fiesta

MEXICAN

La Tienda

Innovative and traditional Mexican cooking dished in a simple counter-serve spot with porch seating.

La Tienda

MEXICAN

Las Margaritas

This spot is one of Gainesville’s best kept secrets. Las Margaritas is a family friendly restaurant that serves “authentic Mexican cuisine.” Inside you will find a brightly colorful dining room with festive decor. There are menu selections for vegetarians and kids (age 12 and under).

Las Margaritas

Italian

Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza

Piesanos is the only restaurant in the state with a Granite Stone Fired Pizza oven. They use only the finest ingredients available, including Grande brand premium mozzarella, provolone and romano cheeses. Their dough is made fresh daily.

Piesanos

Cajun, Creole

Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille

Their Gainesville location has been a staple in the heart of downtown for over 25 years. It is located in the original Opera House building built in 1887. Harry’s features the best of Cajun, Creole and Southern cuisine in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Harry's

American

Loosey’s Bar and Table

Loosey’s is committed to quality and creative food, great music, and a comfortable dining environment. Not to toot our own horn, but we’re kinda well known for having one of the best burgers in town. And we work hard to keep that reputation!

Loosey's

American

One Love Cafe

Locally sourced American eats in casual digs with a patio, fire pit & bocce court. They have live music, a huge play area and field where there’s always kids, and a fantastic selection of vegetarian and vegan options with a nice rotation of sandwiches and sides!

One Love

Dessert & Snacks

American

Halo Potato Donuts

From food truck to a permanent location, these potato donuts have been growing in their followers. Potato donuts are an in-between yeast and cake donut. Light like yeast, yet dense like cake. The best of both worlds!

Halo Donuts

AMERICAN

The Hyppo Gainesville

The Hyppo strives to provide authentic and uncommon culinary experiences. They make delightful all-natural ice pops from everything under the sun, over 450 flavors later and they’re still going!

Hyppo Popsicle

AMERICAN

Karma Cream

A counter-serve operation turning out organic coffee plus sandwiches, baked goods, kombucha, beer, and ice cream, with vegan options as well!

Karma

AMERICAN

Pop-a-Top: General Store

Your downtown convenience stores specializing in fresh made grab-n-go sandwiches, salads, baked goods and more, plus specialty sodas, craft beer, liquor, wine and etc.!

Pop-a-Top

French

Uppercrust Bakery

Uppercrust is an artisan bakery. They make their products from scratch, with their hands, and present them the day they are baked. Uppercrust also showcases specialty products (food and otherwise!) made with the same level of care they lavish on their own.

Uppercrust

Oriental

Sweet Buns Bakery

What a gem of a place, they have everything you could want. They have unique snacks, Sweet buns, savory buns, cakes, and hot food and drinks of all kinds. By the end of the day, most of their treats are gone, so get there early!

Sweet Buns

For Our Adult Patients

American

Public & General Restaurant

Elevated sandwiches and salads offered in a vintage-chic pub with outdoor seating & a gourmet market. They keep the food menu simple and concise, but execute with quality ingredients.

Public and General

AMERICAN

Swamp Head Brewery

Founded in 2008, they raised their roof to brew world-class beers and establish themselves as Florida’s brewery. Having travelled through lands far and close, and finding inspiration along the way, they are proud to be in Gainesville, proud to be Inherently Floridian.

Swamp Head

AMERICAN

First Magnitude Brewing Company

First Magnitude Brewing Company is a nationally and internationally awarded craft brewery and tap room located near downtown Gainesville, Florida. They are all about great beer, an excellent space for enjoying a pint, and being an active part of our community.

First Magnitude

AMERICAN

Cypress & Grove Brewing Company

They’re a 15 barrel microbrewery in Gainesville that produces beer in the The old Gainesville Ice Factory using artesian water from our own well. Cypress & Grove were the historical names of the cross streets on their corner. Stop on by for a pint!

Cypress and Grove

AMERICAN, European

Downtown Wine and Cheese

In one of the old downtown Gainesville buildings right off of University and Main, you’ll find this gem. With a very robust selection of wines, you can get lost in the moment taking in the expertise of the owner. The cheese selection is much smaller by comparison, but very well curated.

Wine and Cheese

ITALIAN

Formaggio’s Bistro & Wine Bar

When you walk into Formaggio’s, you will feel as if you walked into your nonna’s home. Whether you sit inside or on the beautiful outdoor patio, Formaggio’s promises a relaxed atmosphere.

Fromaggio's

Ken Eats Gainesville

Ken Eats

What began as a Facebook page to pass the time in between jobs, grew to almost 6,000 “likes” before launching a stand-alone site in June of 2014. Unfiltered, honest, and not afraid to tell it like it is, Ken Eats Gainesville has gained popularity for its willingness to express its opinion. Ken’s mission is to celebrate Gainesville and to promote local restaurants. But at the same time, I want to keep the bad ones honest. It is my hope that anyone who reads this page will discover a new spot to visit the next time they’re feeling hungry.