Absolutely worth going off the beaten path for…read more We stumbled across Public & General while looking for somewhere in Gainesville with good vegetarian options, and the first thing that caught my attention was the fried green tomato sandwich. I saw that on the menu and immediately thought, "Yep. We're going there." And I'm so glad we did. The only thing I would change about the experience is the ordering process. You have to place your order at the bar first, take a number, and then seat yourself so they know where to bring your food. Personally, I would prefer traditional table service, but once we got past that, the food completely won me over. We ordered the fried green tomato sandwich, and it was delicious. Then there were the dill fries. Fresh dill on French fries sounded interesting enough that we had to try them, and they were AMAZING. Such a simple idea, but different from the usual fries you get everywhere else and executed really well. But the biggest surprise of the entire meal? THE COUSCOUS. My partner ordered the vegetable couscous with mushrooms, zucchini and squash, and when I tell you this was the best couscous I have ever had... I mean it. It was so good that before we left, we ordered another one to go. That alone should tell you everything. I love finding restaurants that take familiar ingredients and do something memorable with them. Nothing we had felt boring or like an afterthought, especially the vegetarian options. Public & General feels like one of those neighborhood places you could easily miss if you didn't know it was there, but now that we know about it, it has officially made our Gainesville rotation. We don't get to Gainesville often, but anytime we're back in town, we're stopping here. Fried green tomato sandwich: Dill fries: Vegetable couscous: Seriously... get the couscous. We literally took another order home.

It has been a while since I have been to Public and General, but that doesn't mean it isn't any…read moregood... There's a certain kind of restaurant that doesn't try to be everything to everyone... A place that sets modest expectations and then, quietly, meets them. Public and General is that kind of place. Tucked into its space with the unpretentious confidence of somewhere that knows its lane, it offers a straightforward lunch experience that, on a quiet weekday afternoon, delivers exactly what you came for: decent food, a relaxed atmosphere, and no drama. I visited for lunch on a weekday, settling in at the bar rather than one of the tables. That turned out to be the right call, and not just by chance. If you're dining at a table here, you'll need to walk up to the counter to place your order, cafeteria-style. There's nothing inherently wrong with that model... plenty of beloved spots operate that way. But it's worth knowing before you sit down, because the rhythm of your meal will depend on it. At the bar, things work more traditionally: your order is taken and delivered to you without any legwork on your part. First-timers would do well to scope out the setup before choosing a seat. The centerpiece of my visit was the french dip, and I'm pleased to report it earned its place on the menu. A french dip is one of those deceptively simple sandwiches that can go wrong in a surprising number of ways: the beef can be dry, the bread can disintegrate, the au jus can taste like it came from a packet. None of that happened here. The sandwich arrived in good shape: the beef was tender, the bread held up to the dipping without turning to mush, and the au jus had enough depth to make the ritual of dunking feel worthwhile rather than perfunctory. My sandwich arrived in a reasonable amount of time. Not rushed, not forgotten. For a weekday lunch crowd that was sparse at best, a long wait would have been a bad sign, so the appropriate timing was reassuring rather than impressive. Still, food that's hot and arrives when it should is a baseline that not every kitchen reliably clears, so credit where it's due. The portion was satisfying without being excessive, and it was the kind of lunch that leaves you comfortable and functional for the afternoon rather than pinned to your chair. Whether the rest of the menu holds up to the same standard is an open question, but the french dip alone gives you reason to be optimistic. The bartender on duty was friendly in a genuine, low-key way. She was attentive without hovering, conversational without being intrusive. In a quiet lunch setting, the person behind the bar essentially sets the tone for the entire experience, and this one set it well. There were no fumbles, no waits for attention, no moments where you found yourself looking around for someone to flag down. The interaction was smooth and pleasant from start to finish. It's worth noting that a slow weekday lunch is not exactly a stress test for service. The real measure of a bar staff is how they perform when the room is three-deep and everyone wants something at once. But a server who is cordial and competent when things are easy is at least starting from the right place. The restaurant wasn't busy during my visit, which is to be expected at lunch on a weekday. A slow midday crowd is hardly a referendum on a place's quality. What the quietness did allow for was a clear-eyed look at the space itself, unburdened by noise or crowds. Public and General has the feel of somewhere that isn't trying to perform atmosphere. It doesn't lean heavily on concept or aesthetic gimmickry. Public and General's name suggests something communal and unfussy, a place for people rather than a place for Instagram, and the interior appears to follow through on that implicit promise. Whether that low-key quality translates to a lively, convivial experience on a busy Friday night is something worth investigating on a return visit. Public and General is not a place that will redefine your relationship with food. It is, however, a place that does the fundamentals well: a solid sandwich, prompt service, a pleasant bartender, and an honest, no-frills environment. If you're in the neighborhood on a weekday and want a lunch that won't disappoint, the bar stool and a french dip is a combination I'd recommend without hesitation. Sometimes that's exactly enough.

We had time to kill, waiting for graduation and sat at the bar and had an appetizer and a couple…read morebeers. The bartender was very personable. We got the Caprese appetizer with prosciutto. It was good. Uneventful and could've used another piece of prosciutto. Cozy, dark wood bar. Old-school look, which is nice.

This spot consistently serves the best drinks in town. They offer fun, creative cocktails made with…read morequality ingredients, and the bartenders are really talented. I've been for several of their themed menu including '80s Miami Vice, the (current) Harry Potter, and of course, their over-the-top Christmas menu. Honestly, the holiday season doesn't feel complete without a visit here for the festive lights and delicious seasonal drinks. The only downside? The decor can be a bit cheesy (looking at you, bubble mural), but the drinks more than make up for it. Definitely worth a visit if you're into well-crafted cocktails!

Baby J's is such a great Vibe, especially when they have the Live Jazz music. But just so you are…read moreaware before you go they do have a cover at the door for live music. It was only $7 which is very reasonable, but I think it changes with whoever is playing. The Décor and the style of this place is really classy and makes you feel like you're not in college town. One thing that i feel could be better is some of the quality of the drinks. We did have the espresso martini which was perfect. But we also ordered a long island and the bubblegum mocktail. Both were nothing special. The bubblegum one tasted like thick cough syrup that I couldn't even finish it. Overall, this place is great and we definitely will be back to see another show.

Came during happy hour and can't ask for more. Cocktails were incredible and Crybaby's fries and…read moreburgers never miss

Really cool jazzy location .... I will be back…read more I'm not sure but I think they do serve food ?

We visited this bar for the first time yesterday. It's such a vibe, the decor inside is so cute…read more It has an intimate vibe and is perfect for a place to meet up with your friends or for a date night. The drinks were delicious, and they also serve food here. However, we did not grab a bite to eat. The ladies were very friendly and bubbly. I can't wait to come back and visit again.

Came here for brunch. Free valet if you're visiting the restaurant. Score…read more Our server, Benjamin was beyond amazing. Super friendly, fun, adorable. We tried Canella Negra, pumpkin espresso martini, and a cucumber alcohol alcoholic drink. All were delicious. For breakfast, we started with the brussels sprout salad, which is fire. My daughter and I both had the American breakfast which was cooked perfectly, bacon and sausage were on point, breakfast potatoes were delicious My girlfriend and my daughter's boyfriend had biscuits and gravy. I could've eaten that too. It was so good. For dessert we had Keylime pie, which was outstanding. I highly recommend Covey kitchen and cocktails and would definitely come back again.

We love Covey Kitchen whether for brunch, dinner, or enjoying live jazz music during happy hour on…read moreWednesday night, the vibe, food and drinks is always great. Tonight we got the onion crusted salmon which was so fresh and delicious and flavorful. These were paired with the red skin mashed potatoes with Boursin and were so yummy. For drinks I tried the Alma Roja and the cinnamon infused Cointreau was a really nice touch. Overall the service was great and I would highly recommend this hidden gem.

Amazing flavor!! I had the cheesy TVP and was pleasantly surprised by the flavor contained in the…read moreplant protein. Honestly something I could see non vegetarians enjoying. We also tried the green Chile chicken empanada and it had the just the right amount of kick.

I really had high hopes and I was truly hoping to give this place better than a 3…read more We arrived around 8:20 pm and were seated right away with no wait, which was a great start. We ordered drinks and chips and salsa, but everything took quite a while to come out. By the time our actual food arrived, it was already 9:15. I did really enjoy the chips and salsa, but this is the first restaurant I've been to that does not offer free refills on them. If the wait is going to be that long, it would be nice to have something to snack on in the meantime. The atmosphere had some nice touches, especially the lemon tree, which I loved. Unfortunately, there was an on and off septic smell coming from next door that took away from the experience. For food, I ordered the chicken, steak, and pulled pork soft tacos so I could try a variety, and they were all good. My husband ordered the gator and shrimp tacos. He enjoys spice, but said the shrimp was way too spicy and ended up giving him heartburn all night, especially since the menu did not mention any heat. Our drinks were good, and I really liked the design of the menu. It was also nice having napkins already at the table, and the bathrooms were very clean. One downside was the water. I appreciated the large glass, but it tasted heavily chlorinated and was not very drinkable. Our server did apologize for the delays, which we appreciated, and overall the food felt like a good value, especially if you are going during lunch specials. With a few improvements, this place could easily be a much better experience.

Very cozy bar, the drinks were amazing, immaculate vibes. The bartenders were very sweet as well…read more Also great location for outdoor seating.

Great spot! Great drinks, good bartenders. Prime location. I really don't have anything bad to say…read more I like the vibe. I hope it doesn't get too busy here, there isn't much room. I'll be back!

This establishment has a really cool vibe. It's great for a night cap or a little pre dinner drink…read more There aren't too many seats inside but plenty outside on the patio. At the time we went they did not have any food/snacks. Staff was really friendly.

I absolutely love this and it's my go-to spot whenever friends or family come to visit. I bring…read moreeveryone here because I know they'll have a great experience. The team is incredibly attentive and welcoming, and the atmosphere is small and intimate. Its not too loud, so it makes it a perfect for actually enjoying conversation. I also love that they have a rotating menu, so there's always something new to try. If you're in the mood for something specific, they're more than happy to make a custom drink if you just ask. It's such a special little gem.