Best Food & Drinks in Gainesville, Florida
Updated: May 6, 2021
Home to the University of Florida, Gainesville will always hold a special place in my heart. If you ever find yourself passing through, visiting for a Gator game or whatever else the case may be, you have to take a look at this guide to the best restaurants in Gainesville, Florida.
Best restaurants in Gainesville, Florida
Dragonfly Sushi—Dragonfly has, hands down, the best sushi in Gainesville (and everyone will agree). Not only do they have an amazing sushi menu but also a list of shareable Japanese plates. If you're looking for a deal, they have a drink/food happy hour from 5-7p.m. Sunday-Thursday and a drink happy hour from 4-5p.m. Friday-Saturday. My favorites on the menu: the Black n' Bleu roll, the wontons + the Mango Tango roll.
Leonardo's—Leonardo's has garlic knots unlike any other. No other words necessary, just go try them (also the pizza is amazing, obviously, but the garlic knots, seriously, try them).
Boca Fiesta—Boca Fiesta is a fan-favorite for sure. This downtown Gainesville, Mexican restaurant has plenty of outdoor seating and a backyard, where several local events are hosted from film festivals to converts. Plus, they share the area with Palomino Pool Hall, so you can go back and forth between the two!
V Pizza—Not only does V Pizza have an amazing pizza, but they're also home to Sidecar, an amazing local bar. This spot is also located conveniently downtown.
Daily Green—A lesser known spot, Daily Green is also located in downtown Gainesville, less than a five-minute walk from Depot Park. This place is full of vegan, vegetarian and, all together, healthy options that you won't want to miss (just look at that Thai Waffle Cone picture above).
Mojo Hogtown BBQ—Another sweet downtown spot, Mojo Hogtown is your classic BBQ joint. The food is absolutely amazing, and it's located in a great area.
Afternoon—Across the street from Cypress & Grove Brewery (who also hosts weekly farmer's markets), Afternoon is an amazing brunch/lunch spot that recently started serving Bandit Coffee. My favorites on the menu: Porchetta Sandwich + Dutch Baby.
Covey Kitchen + Cocktails—One of Gainesville's newest restaurants, located inside Hotel Eleo, Covey Kitchen + Cocktails is not your average "hotel restaurant." The area has beautiful views, stellar cocktails and amazing dishes. Some of my favorites were the short rib, brussel sprout salad, jus de poire and jalepeno muddle, but you really can't go wrong with anything here!
Satch Squared—Owned by Satchel's Pizza, Satch Squared makes a great addition to the 4th Ave Food Park. They have, by far, the crispiest waffles I've ever eaten and the squarest pizza I've ever seen. The pizza is good, but the waffles are where they really shine, in my opinion. Plus, the are accompanied by a cute Opus Coffee truck next door to pair with your breakfast.
Dick Mondell's Burgers & Fries—This Gainesville classic is right across the street from the 4th Ave Food Park. Dick Mondell's is the cutest little drive-thru burger shop you'll ever see, and every local will tell you the same. You've got to get "The original" burger, sweet potato tots (with dick sauce) and the ginger half & half (lemonade, sweet tea + ginger syrup).
The Leaning Pig—Located in downtown Gainesville, The Leaning Pig makes the perfect spot for brunch/lunch. They specialize in sandwiches but also have a unique breakfast menu, cheese board menu and beer/wine selection. My favorite has been the roast beef sandwich.
Embers—Located just off Archer, Embers is definitely a "special-occasion" restaurant, but man, their food is good! For holidays like Valentine's Day, they'll create pre-selected menu options for a multi-course meal, and none of the options will disappoint you. I will say, for such an expensive restaurant, their cocktails are very well-priced!
OAK GNV—This solid southern/comfort food restaurant is a fan-favorite for birthday parties in Gainesville because they can accommodate large groups of people and the birthday person gets a free drink or dessert! OAK GNV is also located downtown and while they seem to change their menu fairly frequently, it always has a southern theme.
Best breakfast/brunch in Gainesville, Florida
If you're getting brunch on the weekend, get an early start because most of these places will have waits by the time you're hungry.
Peach Valley Cafe—An amazing take on a classic-diner, Peach Valley is a great stop for comfort food brunch. Whatever you order, you must start with the apple fritters.
East End Eatery—East End Eatery brunch is always my favorite on a Sunday. They usually have special Sunday brunch options, and blueberry waffles often make an appearance. Note that this is a cash-only restaurant.
Halo Potato Donuts—These are, by far, the best donuts in town. Halo Potato Donuts opens at 7 a.m. and closes when they sell out, so it's best to get there on the earlier side! My favorites on the menu: Cinnamon Toast Crunch + Cookies & Creme.
Uppercrust Productions—One of the best bakeries in town, Uppercrust always has an amazing selection. My favorite on the menu: Guava Chausson.
43rd Street Deli—Every town needs a fan-favorite classic diner, and while Sugar Creek is pretty darn good, I'd have to say 43rd Street Deli probably takes the lead because they always have amazing rotating specials.
Bagels & Noodles—Though a seemingly odd combination, you'd be surprised how good both their bagels and their noodles (dishes like Pho) are. Bagels & Noodles is a student-favorite, from sunday bagels to late night asian cuisine, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
Luke's New York Bagel Shop—Located on Main St., Luke's takes bagels so seriously that they have a New York Water Maker. They're best known for their breakfast sandwich, but you really can't go wrong with anything; I love the homemade onion & chive cream cheese. Note: get there early, especially on weekends! I went most recently at 11 a.m. on a Sunday, waited in line for an hour and was one of the last 10 bagels of the day.
