David&#x27;s BBQ &amp; Catering

Visiting from out of town, saw positive reviews so we dropped in for lunch…read more I had the "The Saprano" hot Italian: lots of meat and the chibatta bread was delicious. My wife had "The Man in the Black Hat," essentially two different sandwich halves. Don't miss this place for a great meal. BTW, had a hard time deciding what to get as the options were varied and plentiful!

We drove from Jacksonville to Gainesville for a day of exploring and lunch. Our middle daughter and…read moreher husband said "next time you're in Gainesville you MUST eat at The Paper Bag!" We had some long time friends come down with us as well. Our first stop on our Gainesville Adventure was here! I ordered the #9. Tony Montana Cubano. I have to say I've had many Cuban sandwich's before but this Cuban sandwich was the BEST! I love the flavor of seasoned pork they use as well as the Boars Head Meat. I do believe all those makes the difference. If you like Cuban sandwich's you must try this one. Also our friends with us ordered the #12 Uncle Drew Monte Cristo and shared and they loved it! All the staff were super friendly! It took about 10 minutes for us to get our sandwich's. Everything was clean and well kept. Definitely recommend The Paper Bag!

#22. The Richard Slim-mons

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Bakery Mill & Deli

4.1(186 reviews)

2.3 mi

Sandwiches are definitely large enough to share. Wish we knew that before we ordered. The tuna tuna…read moresalad was delicious and the ham and grilled cheese melt was amazing. Pasta salads OK but the french fries are kind of McDonald's like versus typical restaurant fries.

The Bakery Mill & Deli in Gainesville is a great little breakfast spot, especially if you're a…read moremuffin person like me. I went mid-morning on a Saturday and it was a little busy, but we were still able to get seated pretty quickly. The place is a full-service restaurant, but they also have a counter where you can order muffins and other baked goods to go. Honestly, the muffins are the main reason I come here. We ordered the biscuits and gravy, which were really tasty, but the highlight was definitely the muffin. Our server suggested ordering one and having it grilled, which I had never tried before and it was so good. They slice it in half and cook it on the griddle so the outside gets caramelized and slightly crispy while the inside stays soft. It completely elevates the muffin and makes it feel more like a dessert than breakfast. Overall it's a great casual breakfast spot, and if you go, definitely get a muffin and have them grill it.

The muffin counter

Grilled cheese and ham

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Outside of the bakery mill & deli

Hogan's Great Sandwiches

4.1(246 reviews)

3.7 mi

There's something about a great simple sandwich that makes things feel right. This is a place we've…read morehad on our list for quite a hike as it was rated as one of the top places for a sandwich. My husband ordered pastrami and I ordered a Cuban. The bread is fantastic. It's crispy outside and soft in the center. The meat portion was perfect as were the condiments. This is a great place to relax. The service is excellent. It's cash only but they do have an ATM.

Great deli, I ordered the Rachel (pastrami Rueben) with extra meat, and 2 sides. Only $12! I was…read moreworried it wouldn't be a great sandwich with that low price point, luckily I was wrong it was great. Both the coleslaw and potato salad were delicious too. Old fashioned beer pub in back made for solid dinner when all I wanted was to eat then sleep. Cash only, though there is an ATM in the deli. I will be back.

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Pirates Grill

4.6(86 reviews)

2.4 mi

Fantastic food, the staff is always warm and welcoming. Very personable. They have a honey cake…read morethat is fantastic.

The owner of the chef was absolutely fantastic and welcoming. Had a couple of really cool things…read morefor the kids and was engaging throughout the whole experience. The food was authentic and absolutely delicious. Love the small restaurant feel and decorations

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Pomodoro Cafe

3.9(352 reviews)

2.5 mi

Absolutely fantastic. Whoever is looking for an authentic Italian cuisine…read more Chefe Carmine receives fresh pasta and fish from Italy, weekly. You must try MAMA RED SAUCE. Mede beef best tomato sauce you will ever have. Trust me.

I ordered the Grouper Piccata, and from the very first bite, it was evident that this was not a…read moremeal designed for speed or mass production. The fish was tender, perfectly cooked, and complemented beautifully by a delicate lemon butter sauce with capers that added just the right balance of brightness and flavor. The pasta was rich, comforting, and generously portioned, making the dish both satisfying and memorable. Alongside it, I had the opportunity to try the Mama's Lasagna, and it truly lived up to its name. Every layer tasted as though it came straight from a family kitchen rather than a commercial chain restaurant. Rich tomato sauce, melted cheese, and hearty flavors combined to create that unmistakable feeling of homemade comfort food. To finish, I enjoyed a classic Tiramisu paired with a perfectly pulled espresso. What stood out just as much as the food was the overall experience. The wait time was very reasonable, the service was warm and attentive, and our waitress was genuinely welcoming throughout the evening. The portions were generous, the prices were fair, and every dish reflected care and attention to detail. In a world increasingly dominated by corporate dining concepts, it is refreshing to find a restaurant that still serves food with authenticity, tradition, and soul. If you are looking for honest Italian comfort food, generous portions, excellent value, and a dining experience that feels personal rather than commercial, this is absolutely a place worth visiting. I will gladly return.

Reception

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Interior seating area.

Dave's New York Deli

3.7(112 reviews)

5.3 mi

the service is amazing, the food is amazing, everything is just amazing about that place 10/10 must…read morerecommend

The best breakfast-lunch ever. I was missing already the food at Dave's…read more The food can be customized. And they did it for me. Thank you.

Interior

Meatball, egg and feta cheese

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12" Chicken Philly

The Spot

4.5(189 reviews)

4.0 mi

i actually think this was the best cava i have been to very good food and good serviceread more

Following a visit to the sprawling UF campus, my wife and I decided to try out The Spot for lunch…read more Located in a building housing other eateries and with limited "free" parking, we parked in the parking structure in the same building. As it was summer break, a lot of the other businesses in the building were closed (Vietnamese and Italian restaurant as well as a boba place). The place looks like it was being run by a hardworking couple. We checked out the menu and my wife ordered the Gyro Platter and I ordered the Souvlaki Platter. We also ordered a couple of fountain drinks. The gyro meat was well seasoned and tender. The Greek salad was quite good. The chicken souvlaki, however, seemed to lack flavor and a bit dry. Portions were quite generous and the value was there. We actually packed our leftovers for some quesadillas later. If we do go back, I would order the gyro instead of the chicken souvlaki. NOTE: They don't validate parking which was $3 for an hour

Gyro Sandwich

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The Spot!

Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant

4.5(536 reviews)

3.0 mi

We had planned on going to a popular Korean restaurant in town but they were short-staffed and…read morebarely acknowledged as we came through the door, so we left and decided to come here instead. Nice save. Parking when they're busy is a bit much but we found a spot around the corner from the door and walked to the entrance. You walk through their outside dining area which is all covered but because it had just rained it was a bit muggy for us so we opted to sit inside. The place has multiple floors and I really like that set up. We were sat upstairs on the second floor right by the top of the stairs. Looking around you can see another floor with a reserved area, tvs showing sports, and their salsa bar, more on that later. No chips and salsa here. Chips and Charro Bean Dip. The beans tasted refried and charred if that makes sense. I lost at rock, paper, scissors so I had to go visit the salsa bar and bring back dips to try. They had some pretty good ones like their homemade chipotle dressing, salsa verde, salsa de molcajete, etc. There wasn't one that we didn't like. Our server was really great and took care of us well. I got a Tamarindo Margarita and to eat the Enchiladas Poblanas (chicken enchiladas with mole sauce, queso fresco, raw onions) with the normal side of refried beans and rice, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and guac. I got a side of extra cheese because I'm a little rat and dumped it on them. The mole sauce really hit the spot. The last time I had it the sauce was kinda bland but this gave such a nice sweet and earthy flavor. He got the Molcajete Azteca (lava rock bowl with char-grilled chicken, steak, chorizo, shrimp, queso fresco, grilled cactus, onions, avocados, serrano peppers, pork rinds), same sides as my dish. He ''Oooh-ed" and "Ahhh-ed" and "Oh my God, this is so good" so you know he was a happy guy. I can see what all the hype is about. Definitely a place to visit.

Time for a revisit to Las Carretas. This time I was with my mom, and we got in there when a soccer…read moregame was playing, so there was a lot of activity happening. We got a seat inside away from the noise, oddly enough in about the same place as we almost always have gotten in this restaurant. I went for a burrito, which is also my standard. It was just as good this time around as it was the last time, and the service was still just as solid. Really, for this kind of Mexican food in Gainesville, this is one of the best places to go as far as I am concerned. We will be returning in the future.

Margaritas

Rice Bowl

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Carne Asada Tacos

One Love Cafe

3.6(223 reviews)

0.2 mi

A pleasant, spacious cafe with outside seating and with ordering at the counter. Evening music at…read moretimes with local bands, which I've enjoyed at times. But the food is just average, with no special offerings. Pricing is fair, although I'm not sure how I feel about tipping for counter service. So, in all, go for the music and enjoy outside seating, but don't expect a memorable meal.

We stopped in for lunch, but since it was Father's Day, they weren't serving food. Instead, we…read moreenjoyed an adult beverage to celebrate the best husband in the world! The service was friendly, there was plenty of parking, and the covered outdoor area was perfect for staying dry during the rain. The restrooms were clean, and the stage added a really charming touch to the atmosphere. We look forward to coming back to try the food and updating our review!

Biscuit

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43rd Street Deli & Breakfast House

3.9(201 reviews)

0.9 mi

Well, we were in town for a football game and wanted to grab some brunch on the way out of town. We…read morelooked around on the map and came across this place. It's a little ways away from the campus, where we were staying, but not that far, maybe 10 minutes. I'm really glad we did. What a nice restaurant, and extremely busy, which is a great sign. From the beginning, everyone was very friendly and helpful. It was about a 30 minute wait, which considering how busy it was, not a bad wait time. So we went outside to wait, they have a couple of water dispensers filled with ice cold lemon water. There are some coverings, a couple of benches in the shade. There is also a gentleman who was running a drink station so you can get coffee, Gatorade, etc. they have done a really great job of making sure people are comfortable and cool in the Florida heat. It was almost exactly 30 minutes and we were seated. The menu is everything you expect from a breakfast/brunch place. They also have a nice selection of specials that look really fun and different. I was starving, so I ended up ordering a little bit of everything. It was great, French toast, eggs, bacon, hash browns, etc. you can't go wrong with. We were well taken care of by everyone. We had a great time and will definitely be back.

This was a cute breakfast spot on a busy Sunday. Bottom line, I was told an item was gluten free…read morethat absolutely was not. I do not blame our server as I did not inquire to him. I spoke to manager Angie who assured me she was "sorry" but after several days with gluten after effects unfortunately this flat apology fell short. I would not come here again because I don't think they took the matter seriously or really cared. If you have any food issues, allergies or intolerances please spend your money, time, and good health on any of the numerous other places in Gainesville.

Popeyes Benedict

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14 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Pranish S.

Elite 25

157

3 years ago

David's BBQ in Gainesville consistently offers a delightful dining experience, renowned for its mouth-watering ribs. Each bite of the tender, flavorful ribs promises a culinary journey, rich with tastes that are both robust and satisfying. The excellence of the food is matched by the commendable service, where every guest is treated with warmth and attentiveness. It's not just the food that makes David's BBQ a must-visit but also the vibrant atmosphere that embodies the essence of Gainesville's local culture. This establishment has rightly earned its status as a staple in the Gainesville dining scene, celebrated by both locals and visitors alike for its culinary excellence and welcoming environment. read more

Dathan B.

9 years ago

I have tried eating from davids. I have wasted countless dollars ordering from these cooks who can't cook eggs correctly. I ask for over easy eggs with the yolk. They say ok I can but always over cook the eggs to no yolk. ????? Why. I asked for eggs with no slimy white and since then they mess my order up every time. Learn to cook eggs you idiots. 3522786231. I've wasted close to 60 dollars when I spend ten dollars per plate read more

Ray C.

11 years ago

The BBQ here is pretty solid, definitely blows Sonny's out of the water. I usually come here during lunch time because they have some good specials then. Can get a good sized sandwich with a couple sides and a drink on most days for only around 6-8 bucks. I heard they have a pretty good breakfast too but I have yet to try it out. read more

Margaret S.

11 years ago

BEST BBQ in Gainesville !!! Wonderful Onion Rings. Best Sweet Tea! They do a great catering service, we have used them for years for our department events and they have made it so much easier for our staff. They love their customers and it shows !! read more

Becky H.

11 years ago

Went here for breakfast and got the breakfast buffet. It's not the biggest line up but it was great!! They also have made to your request omelets included in the buffet. read more

Sara L.

120

10 years ago

Amazing food and great customer service. The staff just makes you feel like family and I've never had a bad experience!

Rich R.

7 years ago

Great breakfast! Great service! Great prices! Great place to pick up a quality affordable breakfast before work!

Tristen H.

9 years ago

overpriced chicken samwich full off bones ... never going to eat there even though it's close

Christy T.

10 years ago

Great food for a great price. The staff were very nice and knowledgeable. We will be back.

J D.

9 years ago

Awesome food good prices and locally owned eat there when ever i can

jorge m.

15 years ago

Best BBQ place in gainesville. Awesome cole slaw and fries

Colin C.

12 years ago

Great onion rings and baby back ribs.

Sean B.

14 years ago

Good, but not the best BBQ in town.

Mindy S.

13 years ago

Always fresh!!!

David's BBQ & Catering - bbq - Updated September 2026

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David's BBQ & Catering

3.2

(63 reviews)

It's nestled in a small busy shopping center . The set up is you walk up to a counter and place…read moreyour order . It looks like a no frills bunker where you can chow down your food . We placed our orders and sat and sat until I asked is our food ready . Yes ,it was ready long ago, and when we brought it home it was cold . I did enjoyed the fried okra .

23rd ave location ;Placed an order online today. picked it up and got it back to the office and…read morejust about everything was wrong. The two sliced turkey sandwiches were sliced pork, the chopped chicken was boxed with the wrong side, and the 3 drinks were not half and half. I called to let them know that the sliced turkey was actually sliced pork and that we didn't eat pork. The lady on the phone told me that the containers were labeled wrong (pork looks completely different than turkey). We brought the sandwiches back into the store and the lady asked why we didn't just eat the pork sandwiches. First off, that's not what we ordered, and secondly, the turkey is $4 more per sandwich! The sandwiches were replaced, but there was no apology and it felt like we were the issue because we had an issue with the order, not that they were at fault.

Bev's Burger Cafe

4.2

(97 reviews)

Food amazing Service friendly and quick…read moreAmbiance is good ol' down home welcoming! Love Bevs, we ordered a bunch of random breakfast items and all were amazing. Pancakes are huge so be careful if you order the full stack. Mexican omelette was the best I've had in a long time. Biscuits and gravy are pretty solid, I like the hot sausage in my gravy usually but this was good. Nettles sausage is awesome make sure to order that as well, it's made locally. Waitress was awesome and great to chat with. We had a great time. And we are going back for lunch!

This family-owned restaurant offers outstanding cuisine and exceptional service, with our waitress,…read morewhose name I unfortunately forgot, being particularly wonderful, and the staff and owners doing an outstanding job overall.

Woodyard Grill

3.4

(104 reviews)

Afternoon dental appointment brought me to the Woodyard Grill in Newberry on the way home for a…read morelate lunch... I was initially going to grab a grilled chicken salad, but I didn't see it on the menu; So, I opted for the chicken tenders with sweet potato fries and coleslaw. I was seated promptly, and the dinner order was served pretty quickly, and everything looked awesome. The waitress was professional and cordial enough, though I forgot to get her name... The chicken tenders were cooked nicely, moist and seasoned well. While the sweet potato fries were spot on and the coleslaw was tasty. It was a very cold today and the restaurant was a little cool for an old fella trying to get warm... But it wasn't freezing. I'm just old. Overall, the food was good, as usual. The atmosphere was great, and the lighting was good, and I will definitely come back. The price was decent compared to the amount of food I got.

Awesome bbq and sweet tea! Onion rings are really good! I had pulled pork on garlic toast & Cole…read moreslaw. My sis had sliced pork on a bun. W/onion rings. N my bro in law had the sloppy bbq bun. He loved it! Service was great and it was just a really nice dinner. It was very laid back and quiet in the dining area. Check them out if you haven't been here!

HURRICANE BTW

3.3

(106 reviews)

Best vegan/black bean burger in Gainesville, and maybe anywhere coast to coast, hands down. I have…read moreeven converted people who eat typical burgers to have the black bean burger....and they don't miss the beef at all. It's very, very good. Fries have always been fresh and crunchy. Appreciate all the options for sauces. Beer on tap rotates and is best value around.

The staff was polite, the food however, very disappointing…read more The quality does not meet the value paid. The burger was so small; a "quarter pound burger,"yeah, maybe before it was way over cooked and definitely, severely over priced. Should have just gone to Dick Mondell's on the other side of town and just waited in their line. At least then I wouldn't have left a restaurant still hungry after spending $20 for just me. It would have been $30 if I would have built the burger I really wanted. At least the music was ok.

Woodland Burgers and Wings

4.1

(14 reviews)

Pretty good, easy four or more. People seem to Love them, they're almost always busy when I…read morecommute through and that's the old skool gold standard for good eats so I've been curious. First thought was they were a bbq joint for whatever reason but no, they do wings and burgers, chix and fish handhelds here. Interesting sides too. And they're decent enough. Burger of the month was delicious and ridiculous. So big I ended up having the rest of it for breakfast yo!! Fish was good. Buffalo chix sammy was good enough. Sides were okay. Onion rangs were good. Slaw was nice; crunchy delicious. Pickle slivers weren't my favorite, sad flaccid ones with too much breading to pickle ratio to be good ...but that's a me thing I guess. Overall, not too bad. Easy to see why people like them, they're a value too. Prices are somewhere closer to fast food than casual dining. Nice!!!

I was glad to see that woodland put a location closer to me and was a standalone location. Several…read morecoworkers have eaten here since they opened a couple weeks ago. People talk highly of woodland's burgers, and they did not disappoint. The burger was amazing, corn nuggets were good too. Very clean has been open about three weeks, I believe. Very friendly staff. For a small town like Archer, this definitely is a good thing, and there's a short drive from gainesville, and so worth it. We will be back out here soon.

Peach Valley Cafè

3.7

(378 reviews)

We will be getting a Peach Valley Cafe in our hometown fairly soon. We were in Gainesville and saw…read morethis location, so decided to try it to see if it would be worth a visit when the new location opens. We had never been to one, but it definitely passed the test! We ordered online and the menu is so vast. It was hard to choose. My husband got the biscuits and gravy (amazing) and I got a bacon and cheese omelette (huge and equally amazing)! We also ordered grits (OMG) and apple fritter barrels (meh). The items were packed with care, even extra butter for the grits and biscuits were included, and everything was exactly as ordered. My husband went in to pick up our breakfast and said it's really cute inside. Now we have a new restaurant to look forward to, but may just have to make the drive to Gainesville again before ours opens locally. It was that good!

My party arrived on probably the busiest shift of the restaurant's life (Sunday, August 16, day…read moreafter almost all the undergrads in Gainesville move in) around 1:50pm, with their closing time being 2:30pm. Initially, the hostess told us the kitchen was closed and they were no longer seating, but after another party walked in after us, she changed her mind, said we needed to order as quickly as possible, and sat us. Granted, we of course would've left because we understand it's getting closer to closing and we wanted to respect that, but it was a strange switch up, and we saw her sit multiple other groups after us well up until 2:15pm, so I wonder what that was about. I'm not docking anything, though, because I'm sure she was trying to look out for the team and the chaos they had probably been through all morning, and understand as a service worker you'd probably not want another party coming in anyways 40 minutes before close. Because of this, we tried to order as fast as we possibly could, but our waitress was incredibly kind, patient, and told us to take our time. It was again, very interesting with the vibe change. Regardless, we ordered quickly, and our food came out within 5 minutes, and was great. I got the club sandwich, and enjoyed every bite of it. The fries felt fresh and were extremely crisp, and everyone else in my party enjoyed their food too. Our waitress was sweet, attentive, and our food was delicious. I'd love to go back on a different day, especially earlier in the morning, and get a full experience of the restaurant. We left at 2:35pm (not the last table left, thankfully), so a rapid in and out, and we very much appreciate the staff for still serving us and treating us with respect, even on what I'm sure was a very stressful Sunday.

Sandwich Inn

3.7

(87 reviews)

I liked the food here. I ordered here this morning and had to drive 12 minutes home and the food…read morewas still nice and hot when I got there. The onion rings are nice and crispy and taste delicious. I got the egg cheese and burger and after adding some salt, pepper and ketchup when I got home for $5.50 it was a great fast breakfast option for something different and quick. Will definitely be stopping back again soon to try out a milkshake and some different food.

I can't believe it took me so long to write this review. Honestly I wanted to give one star but I…read moreadded one bc my bf enjoys this place and enjoyed his food. I on the other hand, not so much. So for starters, this was my first time here. I had heard mixed reviews but ultimately it's a Gainesville staple. We decided to go for breakfast one morning and naturally I looked at the menu before I went. Okay so it is an old, local eatery. I mean really old. The speakers to order are so worn and honestly easy to miss. I had no idea they were even there. I had to back up because I drove right by. And then you're practically having to yell to order, or at least that was my experience. They cook to order so once I ordered I waited maybe 10 minutes at the window. The customer service also wasn't the best I'll add. My order ended up being wrong which just made matters worse. One thing to note is the entire menu is served the whole time they're open. Will I try it again? Maybe. It is pretty pricey and so far I'm not convinced you get what you pay for.

Hook Fish & Chicken

3.7

(38 reviews)

they messed up my order and when I brought it to their attention they got mad and was very very…read morerude. I would never go there again.

Drive-thru experience 10/10 Owner seems really nice…read moreThe meals are huge, I should have shared with my husband. The seasoning can be a lil spicy!

Swamp Religion

3.9

(32 reviews)

Who knew there could be so much flavor on four wheels?!…read more Swamp Religion has truly become a staple here in Gainesville, and for good reason! A homegrown venture, you'll probably meet the owner/visionary when you place your order at this intimate food truck so say hey! A Black-Owned business, the love and support for Swamp Religion is REAL, and not just in Gainesville. Hungry travelers from all over travel to town just to have their bellies filled by the fan favorites being served up by Owner and Chef, Antonio, and his team, as proudly displayed on the business' social media accounts. With flavorful options from fried shrimp tacos, freshly grilled burgers or random specialities that run out quicker than you could imagine like their Birria Tacos, you can't go wrong with experimenting with any option on their menu! Step up to the counter of their bold, orange truck comfortably parked in a gravel lot, order up and park yourself nearby as your meal is freshly prepped! Thirsty? Don't forget to grab your lemonade on the way out! Don't pass the orange truck once you see it - you won't regret making the stop!

Gotta Love a Small Town!! Gainesville Definitely Have Some Good Food Spots & Baby this is one ! You…read moremay be skeptical at first because it's a food truck not in the best part of town But give it a chance the food is really Good My favorite thing on the menu is a shrimp burger baby you got to get you one!

Terrell's Bar-B Que

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