Restaurants & Dining in Gainesville
Mark’s Prime Steakhouse has a goal to create a remarkable dining experience that will both please the palate and soothe the soul. They serve the finest beef, the freshest seafood, premium wines and delicious fresh vegetables. Conveniently located in vibrant Downtown Gainesville, Mark’s is definitely a community favorite.
The Keys Grill and Piano Bar |352.554.5104
Bringing the ambiance of coastal Florida to the heart of Gainesville, The Keys Grill and Piano Bar delivers fresh, authentic Florida food from the sea and land prepared in an array of different methods. The restaurant offers a vast selection of beers and spirits as well as evening entertainment, a rock ‘n roll dueling piano show on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights and nightly fun all week long.
Prime and Pearl | 352.554.6276
Welcome to the home of perfect pairings. Prime and Pearl take pride in their artful curation of mouthwatering beef cuts, the freshest seafood, and the most creative cocktails. Enjoy beef of the highest quality— hand selected weekly by the head chef, succulent oysters sure to make the most discerning oyster connoisseur swoon, and innovative drinks such as the awe-inspiring flavor infused cloud cocktail!
Local Provisions | 352.554.5788
Local Provisions is a locally owned neighborhood bar and grill focused on community, quality, and experience. The restaurant’s seasonally rotating menu features local meats and produce to highlight the freshest flavors in season. The restaurant also offers plenty of vegan and gluten-free options sure to please everyone in your party.
Paramount Grill | 352.378.3398
Located in the heart of Downtown Gainesville, this winner of Florida Trend’s 2019 Golden Spoon Award, offers fine dining with a relaxed atmosphere. Providing locally sourced and seasonal ingredients whenever possible, Paramount Grill serves fresh, innovative dishes all made in-house (including their delicious desserts). The restaurant offers a generous list of fine wines, craft beers, and creative cocktails that will start your evening off just right.
Embracing the modern Japanese concept of Izakaya, small dishes designed to be shared, similarly to tapas, Dragonfly offers a creative dining experience. Featuring fish flown in from Japan and farm-fresh produce, the restaurant focuses on every detail towards making your meal memorable. Marrying traditional Japanese flavors with inventive presentations, Dragonfly offers a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Located in vibrant Downtown Gainesville.
Offering a hip, casual dining experience, The Top is a great place to stop by for burgers and drinks. The restaurant truly offers something for everyone and provides plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well as big meaty burgers for the confirmed carnivore. The Top has an extensive drink menu featuring specialty cocktails, beers, wines, and top shelf spirits. Located in Downtown Gainesville, The Top offers a fun, eccentric atmosphere with outdoor seating options in addition to an indoor dining room.
The Bakery Mill | 352.331.3354
The perfect place for breakfast, brunch, or lunch, The Bakery Mill, serves up fresh baked goods daily, 7 days a week. The restaurant boasts over ‘25 different varieties of the best muffins in town’ as well as mouth-watering sandwiches and traditional breakfast fare. The restaurant proudly provides Boar’s Head meats and cheeses on all their sandwiches. Conveniently located only 2 blocks west off of I-75 at the Newberry exit in the Newberry Crossings shopping plaza.
Offering romantic al fresco patio dining, Embers Wood Grill is a superb place for that special date night. Savor delicious entrees such as seared Maple Leaf duck breast, Heritage pork tenderloins as well as an ample assortment of prime beef cuts. Embers presents a wonderful assortment of decadent desserts and an extensive wine list ensuring your evening will be remarkable from start to finish.
Located conveniently behind the historic Hippodrome theater, Amelia’s serves up fine Italian Cuisine with an Old World flair. Within the casually elegant dining room you will find creative interpretations of classic italian dishes, all cooked from scratch on the premises. Using locally grown ingredients whenever possible, Amelia’s prides itself with providing authentic Italian flavors rarely experienced from the larger chain restaurants.
Just south of Gainesville, in the sleepy town of Cross Creek, you will find this hidden gem of a restaurant. Named for the famous book by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, The Yearling Restaurant resides in the very area that inspired her story. The restaurant offers traditional southern specialities such as fried green tomatoes to the more exotic offerings such as alligator tail and venison. Enjoy the ambiance and hospitality of the old south while listening to the legendary Willie “Real Deal” Green.
Mojo Hogtown BBQ | 352.727.7871
Mojo Hogtown BBQ is at the forefront when it comes to the trifecta of southern dining experiences: barbeque, blues, and bourbon. The restaurant offers an ample selection of various regional barbeque styles from Texas to the Carolinas, a variety of smoked meats, scratchmade sides, and one of Florida’s largest collections of curated whiskey. Conveniently located right off main street in Downtown Gainesville.
Near the historic Hippodrome theater in Downtown Gainesville, Boca Fiesta lives up to the translation of its name, ‘Party Mouth’. Serving up Mexican inspired dishes with a decidedly Floridian twist, the restaurant offers a variety of different types of tacos from the unusual gator tacos, the vegetarian black bean tacos, and all the traditional types of tacos you come to expect. Boca Fiesta offers a generous list of tequila brands and varieties as well a selection of beers and hard seltzers.
The Hyppo | 352.727.6040
Although not a restaurant per se, The Hyppo offers decidedly gourmet ice pops in a multitude of flavors. Located in Downtown Gainesville, The Hyppo offers a cool respite from the Florida heat after an afternoon of shopping. The Hyppo’s ice pops feature real fruit and natural flavors with some unique flavor combinations. Enjoy flavors such as Mango Mojito, Chocolate Sea Salt, and Elvis (banana, peanut butter, and honey), to name but a few. For the adults, The Hyppo offers a variety of “cocktail” pops that are sure to please.