Falafel King is a hidden gem in Gainesville. The owner, staff and service are all very friendly and…read morewonderful to interact with. The food portion size to cost ratio is well balanced. We got the lamp chop platter and the lamb shank platter. Both were very yummy and came with big hunks of meat on a bed of rice with sides of tabbouleh and hummus to go with fresh warm pita bread. We also tried the mint lemonade which was incredibly refreshing but not overly sweet. We liked shopping around the grocery area while we waited for our food. There were so many fun treats and cool things to browse. Highly recommended with you enjoy halal Mediterranean food!

This was my first time trying this location as I'm not a local to Gainesville. Initial impression…read morewhen I walked into the restaurant was it smelled absolutely amazing! This location only has a few tables and also a small grocery. I ordered from the counter so I'm not sure if they offer table service or not. The food came out quickly and I had it to go. Picture doesn't do it justice as it got shifted during transport but it was very flavorful! I will definitely return if in the area.

Having survived a horrible fire, Zeezenia re-opened some months ago better than ever, and just as…read moreof 4 August 2023, they have brought back their restaurant in the rear of the store as well! The grocery offers most everything you'd want from a pan-Middle Eastern grocer: dry goods, teas, frozen food, fragrant waters, syrups, canned goods, et cetera. They also have a good selection of baklava and other treats by the front counter worth checking out: they get different sweets in sometimes--always baklava but sometimes also namoura cake and other things. When they have sari burma it's normally excellent, so look for that as well. They also have a good spice selection and try to include a lot of Turkish and Persian speciality items as well (this include Turkish frozen goods and yes, the pudding mixes also). The restaurant portion is a buffet and they have a hot bar and cold bar. The hot bar has traditional Egyptian foods and was very good when I tried it while the cold bar has things that could also be taken away like hummus, salads, and babaganoush. You can get the hot bar to-go as well, but having things like hummus is a big deal because you can purchase enough to have on hand for the week. I hope the restaurant continues to work out for them: buffets only make money if they have a lot of customers, so I really hope the community supports this fine establish and wonderful people who own and run it.

Very pretty place and environment .Very quiet and friendly. Not too expensive either.read more

Chicken gyro was very tasty and filling. Good amount of meat and sauce. The grape leaves were…read moreserved hot which is different than other Mediterranean places. Very good. Clean with friendly and fast service. Go to place for gyros.

Honestly, I would rate the food lower than 3 stars but it's a family run business and I don't want…read moreto be too harsh. The food was okay and the prices were high for the portion size. There was barely any gyro in the plate and the "salad" was maybe 3 fork fulls. The hummus was tasty though. They do need to season the gyro more, however. Overall, it was ok but need improvement for the price and quality.

I found this place via Yelp and was soooo happy I did! They have generous portions and such tender…read moremeat! Every time I go here I get the gyro platter. It comes with seasoned rice, few slices of pita bread, gyro meat, and salad. I usually have the salad removed and there's never an issue with my modification. The white sauce they put on top truly is divine. The pricing is within standard pricing as other Mediterranean restaurants. It's always hot and fresh. They have tables inside which are always clean and it's very quiet outside of some music playing. Overall this is one of two favorite gyro spots in Gainesville that I'd recommend others to try out!

The interior at Grill Express was clean, but I waited about 30 minutes for my food to go. I ordered…read morea beef shawarma sandwich with feta fries. The sandwich was on the smaller side, but I liked that it was crisped up, and the beef was juicy and flavorful. The feta fries were overcooked. So crispy and hard that a fork couldn't even puncture them. The cheese topping was okay and nicely spiced. Overall, the meal was a little overpriced for the size and cost, but the sandwich itself was tasty.

Oof, a bit of a disaster from the service perspective. Whole staff was goofing off in the back…read morewhile I waited at the front register for several minutes. When the girl with the fake yellow hair and neck tattoo came out, she didn't know how to put in basic orders. And didn't know anything about the spinning prize wheel next to the register. Just really terrible customer service through and through and indicative of a generation of Gen Z'ers that have given up entirely on the concept of "take pride in your work." Food was actually really good. 3 stars overall.

I ordered takeout and got the grilled lamb gyro with pasta salad and chips. The lamb was soft and…read morenot dry, just a bit on the bland side. The gyro had plenty of fresh lettuce and tomatoes, and everything tasted clean and simple. The chips were pretty standard and a small portion, and the pita itself was a little dry. For $15, the portion was generous and made for a filling lunch. It was a pretty solid meal and good value. I'd order again and try a different protein next time.

Joy runs a tight ship and Carson and Lauren were freaky fast at getting the bowl prepped!…read more Highly recommend!

Quick line despite it being lunch and lots of mobile orders. Tasty and filling amounts. Clean and…read morecomfy sitting outside. Love CAVA.

I loved curia!! I ordered a cappuccino with orange cardamom syrup and it was extremely satisfying!…read moreThe orange didn't really come through a whole lot but the cardamom was front and center (which I loved). My boyfriend got a cappuccino with strawberry syrup but we didn't really taste the strawberry in his. Regardless, it was delicious. We also got one of their biscotti which seemed like they made in house but I'm not sure. It was yummy, but definitely was not a very traditional recipe. It tasted more like a short bread than a biscotti but still very yummy. We walked out to the food truck to get some vegan bites and they definitely met expectations. The crabby patty was delicious with a great texture, and my boyfriends patty melt was also super good. We shared a mac and cheese and honestly I was full before we even got to that. The Mac and cheese was great but did taste a lot like coconut so if you're not into that then maybe veer away. The ambience was a mixed bag. The initial shop that you order the coffee in had a very cozy vibe with great decor. If you walk past the patio into the overflow seating the vibe changes a ton. The decor felt very uncanny valley, back rooms, like very odd. I think they need to work on that side of the property a little bit and make it more cozy. Maybe it's a work in progress or maybe they like it that way, I'm not sure, but it wasn't the sort of vibe that made me want to stick around. Overall great experience though! Will be coming back & hopefully I can get seating in the main shop ;)

After nearly four years I finally got a chance to check out Curia On The Drag. This place is hard…read moreto define: it's a bakery, an art space, a vendor marketplace, a podcast recording studio, a bar, a coffee shop, a food truck, a community event center. I came with a friend for dinner and we got food from the food truck, where all of the menu options are 100% plant-based. I got the mojo tacos and for my chosen protein I went with the fried fishless filet. The two tacos came on corn tortillas with pico de gallo, queso fresco, pickled red onion, mojo sauce, and lime. Each bite was so refreshing! The lime gave a citrus kick to the sweet pickled red onions. The fried fishless fish was tender and flaky like real white fish. I was thoroughly impressed with Curia and think it's one of the most unique places in Gainesville. Check it out!

One of my favorite places to grab dinner in Gainesville. I usually go for the burger (it's…read morephenomenal), but opted for the steak and it did not disappoint! We also tried to Dijon buffalo wings and they were also good. Always recommend getting a side of fries here - they are crispy and delicious!! I also tried one of their drink favorites - the Saturn. It was recommended to me by one of the staff and it was great as well as their cosmopolitan that had pomegranate. I always enjoy the ambiance here - it's good for date night or grabbing a bite with friends.

Really chill atmosphere. There is seating inside and outside and bar seating but it's not a huge…read moreplace, so seating can be limited if it's a very busy day. The food is really delicious and drinks are made well. The staff are helpful and have made some good suggestions for food. This is a great spot to visit!

Greek salad was fantastic. Cake was a tad underwhelming but the service and food were great. vibes…read morewere fun and would recommend this spot for small groups and get togethers.

This place is a hidden gem. The place is small, and the outdoor seating was a few steps from the…read moreparking lot which is the only reason I did 4/5 stars. But, it was INCREDIBLE. They do a 3 course meal and the portions were great for the cost. We started off with the Pea soup and wedge salad, and got free focaccia bread made in house. Then we decided to try the lamb and NY strip - very good, but warning the lamb has some strong marinade. Finally we got the chocolate fudge cake and chocolate coconut cake - rating those 7/10. The fudge was definitely better. The service was fast, friendly, and very personal. We went on Valentine's Day so it was packed, and still had our food order taken and served very quick. Loved the vibe, will warn that vegetarian options are not really available though if that's what you're looking for!

We came here with our family and were seated within 10-15min. I recommend if coming with little…read moreones make sure to come before 5:30pm the wait times are less. Non-Alcoholic Drink that is must try was the Hibiscus Gimlet it's a House-made hibiscus tea, pomegranate, fresh lime & demerara Entrees: Top Steak pick--Chimichurri 8 OZ butcher's steak with broccoli & herb roasted potatoes. Topped with house-made chimichurri of parsely, cilantro, oregano, jalapeños, garlic, olive oil & vinegar. It was juicy, tender and savory. I recommend ordering it at medium temp. Burger lovers pick-Messi Argentinian chorizo, aged provolone, chimichurri, & fried onions with a fried egg with French fries. Perfect at medium rare temp. For kids: Chicken tenders and fries was great the kids loved it.

The Top is one of those Gainesville spots that immediately feels like part of the city's…read morepersonality. The menu is eclectic in the best way -- you can go comfort‑food heavy or fully vegan and still end up with something flavorful. The black bean burger and goat cheese wontons are especially worth the hype. The vibe is artsy, lively, and a little chaotic, but in a way that makes the experience fun rather than stressful. Service can be unhurried during busy hours, yet the staff stays friendly and attentive. Overall, it's a great place to settle in, enjoy good food, and soak up Gainesville's character.