Came by recently with a part of nine. They don't take reservations less than two hours in advance, so we had to join the waiting list. We were afraid with the live music that it might be up to an hour wait (we were told). In point of fact, we got seated maybe five minutes after we arrived. (They indicated at that time that it was actually a longer wait for indoors than outdoors despite decent weather.) I split the Baked River Mushroom appetizer with my wife. We had expected stuffed mushroom caps of some sort; but what it actually is is chopped mushrooms and vegetables in a dressing (brown butter sage and balsamic reduction) served with thick dark bread as a platform. Pretty good. I also had a bit of the Spinach Artichoke dip (good) and the Gator Bites (which have quite a bit of fried onion mixed in with the gator) (quite good.) For an entree, I had the Duke's Macaroni with Blackened Chicken (which they mixed in.) Quite delicious, but it did leave quite a lot of oil (over a tablespoon) in the plate. It was a very large portion. We had dessert plans elsewhere, so skipped their rather large dessert options. Our server was outstanding, friendly, taking care of everything. Except for the very long wait between ordering and getting our first appetizers and soups. (Not such a wait before the entrees came.) 20% gratuity added for parties of eight or more. read more

Great FOOD. Good service from Jules. We had Nachos for an appetizer. We had the Salmon was good but a little dry. Burgers where good. All Good here. read more

See all

In all fairness this isn't our first time to the Great Outdoors. [[HIGHLIGHT]]And each time has been very good, from the outdoor motif (complete with hanging canoes) to the alligator skinned seats to the great service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started with the smoked salmon dip, always a good choice here particularly with the cream cheese and lightly smoked samon. We shared a blue springs burger, loaded with a good supply of blue cheese plus lettuce, tomato, onions and a moist bun. We ordered the parmesan fries but initially didn't get them. However our waitress quickly replaced the plain ones which were good in their own way. My husband had a draft beer that was cold and well poured. Overall it was a great visit. read more

Great Outdoors Restaurant - Blue Springs Burger - American Near Me - High Springs, Florida

See all

So far I'm impressed. I'll update after I eat. Kelly is a great server, she's got it going on. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice outside area with fire pit tables.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's GOOD! All of us had a good meal. My shrimp & grits was very tasty, pork belly & andouille sausage complimented very well. Hubs had Ginnie burger & loved it. Sis had chicken Sammy & it was juicy. SIL had gone wild burger & said it had a great flavor. read more

See all

Great food great service great atmosphere - so glad we stopped in. Fried tomatoes with a side of grits were a terrific starter. Well done.

I have visited the Great Outdoors a total of 5 times now and never again. We always go in groups of 4-6 and every time we have had problems with our orders. Something is either forgotten, made wrong or just plain distasteful with someones order in our group. Tough Steaks, dry food, undercooked or overcooked. Most waitresses we have had seem miserable and bothered to even be there. With the way they advertise, I always gave them another chance. But like I said. Never again. read more

We had the mushrooms appetizer and it was phenomenal. The chicken flatbread was great and the smoked fish dip was also fantastic. With the great service, was Definitely a 5 star experience. read more

Excellent location. Food is good. Mahi mahi, steaks, salads were excellent. Try the pork belly appetizer. And the bread pudding dessert is exceptional. Had the Banana Pudding Martini - a definite recommendation!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great outdoor patio with live entertainment.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]A really fun place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Consistency ! Great food reasonably priced ! Wonderful service in a timely manner ! Outdoor bar & dining !

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Historic eatery that preserves the history of its site.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] That was once a pharmacy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nestled in historic downtown lake city the ambience is upscale dining rememence of the early twenties.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The French onion was delicious wishing a larger portion and the rooa vieja is an amazing addition that is hard pressed to find outside Miami. The staff is very friendly and prompt. read more

Great Outdoors Restaurant - Historic sign - American Near Me - High Springs, Florida

See all

My husband grew up around High Springs and has always spoken fondly the Great Outdoors restaurant. This weekend, we finally had a chance to visit, and decided to stop by this local gem--and I'm so glad we did! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was absolutely wonderful--warm, inviting, and thoughtfully decorated with authentic touches that reflect the charm of the area.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It really set the tone for a memorable dining experience. Our server, Chris, was fantastic. He offered honest and thoughtful recommendations, and his attentiveness made us feel truly welcome. I ordered the redfish piccata, and my husband had the shrimp po' boy--both dishes were fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. So happy I finally got to experience this spot, and we're already looking forward to coming back. A must-visit if you're in the High Springs area read more

amazing food, amazing ambience super professional service. I had the red fish piccata. My wife had Southwest salad bowl with chicken. The food was all perfectly seasoned, cooked, and presented, etc. Just wonderful wonderful experience. we especially loved our Server, Jules. She led us to the right drink selections, and the right entrées that will perfect for us. she even brought out extra simple syrup for my old-fashioneds. We highly recommend Jules, and we highly recommend great outdoors restaurant! read more

My friends and I were in town for the Gators game this past weekend and stayed in High Springs. We found this restaurant kind of on a whim since it was close to our Airbnb. Our server whose name unfortunately is escaping me, but was a very friendly and funny young lady, made our experience very enjoyable! She had a great sense of humor and well-rounded knowledge of the menu and answered any questions that we had (if an owner or manager sees this I know that her boyfriend also works there so hopefully that narrows it down so you know which girl was fantastic!). We got fried pickles to share, which are always a hit in our group. I then enjoyed the fried green tomatoes and the pork belly, both of which had different type of grits on the side, one being a grit cake and one being grits more in their natural state. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience and the noise were very enjoyable as well. It was a good level of sound where you could hear each other at your table, but also know that everybody else was having a good time too.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would absolutely go back! read more

See all

Great food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice outdoor patio with live entertainment.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Dog friendly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We all shared a plate of nachos. They had generous toppings. The coconut shrimp was delicious, as was the sauce. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Beautiful full bar with lots of taps.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The beer bucket is good value. Our staff was hard working read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Very nice place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It was our first visit. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor was beautiful lots of natural pictures of the springs and animals with Wood and brick accents.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Some of the food was a bit out of our element but we ordered the burger with onion rings bacon cheese and bbq sauce with a side of home made ranch and the chicken Alfredo. It was all delicious. read more

My husband and I took my mother to the Great Outdoors Restaurant for lunch because we had eaten there before a few years ago and it was wonderful. We went on a Friday and the food was so delicious and so fresh and our service was fabulous, the seafood was cooked to perfection and the salad was so fresh!! I would recommend stopping here if you want to give your tastebuds a real vacation to flavor land!! read more

Went there this evening for a dinner for five people. The hostess and waiter were top notch, great service! Unfortunately my steak was far from good. I ordered the 8 oz filet mignon medium rare. The steak did come out cooked medium rare, good start. But I could barely cut it with a sharp steak knife and had to chew it aggressively to not choke on it. I love this place but never ordering a steak again. read more

We were waited on today by Rebecca C who did an outstanding job and made our whole meal a pleasure. We started with Fried Mushrooms- hot crispy and large - delicious with a dipping sauce. Also one cup of Tomato Basil Soup- was pretty thick - almost like a cup of marinara but is was delicious- could have been a little hotter. For our entrees- hubby had the Blue Burger cooked perfectly medium - delicious and messy! With a side of steak fries. I had the Chicken Toscana Flatbread- lots of crema, basalmic, cheese and chicken - enough to feed 2 at least - took more than half of this home. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is decorated in the Great Outdoors motif of course and the background music was '80's and 90's - perfect![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They offer a full bar and many house specialty drinks. We will be back with our friends in 2 weeks - they were all jealous we came without them!! read more

See all

Marvelous restaurant. Walking in.... you can feel the cheery vibe !! Part of the Downtown Main Street District..... several shops to walk around is pleasant. We met friends to have drinks and hamburgers. We were not disappointed... at all !! . We sat at a high top in the bar.... Gina was our Bartender this afternoon. What a delightful lady. Very attentive without being overbearing. We ordered the Springs Burger with fries and a side of coleslaw. The burger was seasoned well and cooked perfectly to our temp... med/rare. Fries were very crispy on the outside. Enough for us to split. Definitely recommended !! read more

Great Outdoors Restaurant - American Near Me - High Springs, Florida

I dined in on a Sunday evening at the bar. The bar was never full but there were always a few other people than me. The bartender was very friendly and prompt with the service. I ordered the grouper piccata- I was a little disappointed that the grouper had been deep fried and then topped with the piccata but it was still very delicious as the breading isn't too thick. I substituted Mac and cheese for the mashed potatoes- the Mac and cheese was alright, the sauce was good but I don't think it goes well with the penne. Overall, I had a good experience. I would return again. read more

Great Outdoors Restaurant - Grouper Piccata and Mac and Cheese - American Near Me - High Springs, Florida

Awesome food, [[HIGHLIGHT]]fun vibe[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], excellent and friendly service! This was a great lunch spot after kayaking down the river! read more

See all

On a friend's and family trip after a long drive from Miami, we decided a night out was well deserved. It was a Thursday night and they had a bottled wine special making everything taste better. I decided I wanted 2 appetizers instead of an entree and I got the French onion soup which was really flavorful and rich. My 2nd app was the Mac and cheese. This did not disappoint either. The rest of our group (7 of us) got the fish picatta and the plates were licked clean. Our server was Michelle (I think) and she was attentive and fantastic. She gave us a few places in town to check out. I'm pretty sure we had the best server in the place. After dinner we finished our cocktails in front of the fire while chatting. They didn't rush us out and we stayed and really enjoyed our time. read more

Great Outdoors Restaurant - Good company and good food and a great restaurant - American Near Me - High Springs, Florida

First time at this restaurant. It did not disappoint. I had a wedge salad with add on grilled chicken breast. My husband got the pork chop with bourbon sauce. It was filling but not too much. Next time we are this way we'll stop in again. Stephanie C was our waitress. She was pleasant, knowledgeable and attentive. read more

Great Outdoors Restaurant - Wedge salad with grilled chicken breast - American Near Me - High Springs, Florida

Awwww really enjoyed this place after a long day on the itichituchnee! From being in and out of the cold water all day you work up a hunger! John knew about this place and took us here, they were warm and welcoming when we came in! :) I think we all enjoyed our food here, everything tasted great! It's funny, I ordered a wedge salad and it was good, but wayyyy too much dressing for me, I should have asked for it on the side because I use very light dressing. So my dish was my least favorite but I tasted everything else and thought it was really good. read more

Great Outdoors Restaurant - Fish n chips, yummy! - American Near Me - High Springs, Florida

See all

Food was good and [[HIGHLIGHT]]nice atmosphere[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] but pay cash if you go. Large portion of fish. Recommend caution to Tourists. read more

Food was good and our server was great! The front hosts was a bit frazzled to what seemed like seating issues. This place is worth the try if you are in the area. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The play live music out back but it's loud if that a factor for you.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

See all

My peeps and I stopped in for lunch on $10 Tuesday lol. I ordered the blue burger medium rare. The Pretzel bun was a nice surprise. The burger was unusually tender. It came a slice of a gorgeous beefsteak tomato, lettuce and pickles.. and perfectly cooked fries. I wish I would've remembered to take a picture of it because the presentation was excellent. A friendly staff and pleasant atmosphere were also present. Don't hesitate to give this place a try! read more

We were literally driving by Great Outdoors Restaurant and thought this place look cool, so we turned around and I am so glad we did!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The dining room is absolutely beautiful with lots of cool artwork from springs in the area.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server Kristin was friendly and attentive, with great suggestions. We started with the Nut N Berry salad, one of the best salads I've ever eaten, then the coconut shrimp and ended with the Gone Wild burger with truffle fries...they were all exceptional!! read more

Great Outdoors Restaurant - We dove right into the burger so the photo only shows the very last bite lol - American Near Me - High Springs, Florida

See all

While our server was lovely and the food was average, my husband and I have sadly gotten food poisoning from the restaurant. While we ordered a steak and pasta, we weren't safe in doing so. For that reason, I would not recommend this restaurant. read more

We came here on a Thursday afternoon after shopping at the little shops in downtown High Springs Florida. We grabbed a couple of drinks at the bar and shared a appetizer, chicken flatbread which was pretty tasty. I heard this place is pretty hopping on the weekends It has a huge back patio and sometimes has live bands on the weekends. The inside is beautiful full of aged wood and has great history. There is limited parking in the front on the street but there is also parking in the back. I think that this is one of the best restaurants in this area I must see if you're down this way. read more

Great Outdoors Restaurant - Cool Murals in downtown high Springs - American Near Me - High Springs, Florida

We love coming to this restaurant! The steak was great. The MahiMahi was slightly dry but seasoned very well. Our waiter, Chris, was fantastic! He was very friendly and took time with us and other customers but was very efficient. Will definitely be back. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Vibes were good[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], service was poor, food was cold and not very good. Bill was extremely expensive.

The food was good while I was there. However, I believe I got food poisoning from this lunch, specifically the burger, so I can't give it a good review. The food came out super quick and the waters were refilled constantly. If I didn't get sick, I would give the place 4/5 stars. read more

See all

First time I went I had chicken as a main dish & nachos for appetizer ... it was ok, second time ordered Grouper... a bit greasy.... Third time was lunch & very good... Forth time Nachos w pork not as good as the first time... had a patty melt not great instead of rye bread they used reg thick white bread. So in my opinion it was not consistently good. read more

We were very pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. We were passing through High Springs and were in need of a lunch spot and Great Outdoors was the right choice. Our server was very friendly and fast. The restaurant is clean and the decorations are very nice. The food was fantastic. We loved the fried mushrooms appetizer. I got the country shrimp and greats and man was it good! It had massive shrimp, pork belly, and andouille sausages for protein. And the tomatoes and corn and green onions made for a flavor packed bite every time. I'd definitely get it again. We're glad we found the Great Outdoors and decided to stop in. read more

See all

I had the NY strip. Wasn't terrible wasn't great. Service was good and others had burgers and other things I was jealous of. Suspect I would give a 4+ had I just ordered the burger. read more

Had the seafood platter fried was excellent. Also had the steak was very tender and juicy. French onion soup is a must have. Will def recommend. Next time I am going to have the outdoor burger. It has a mix of wild game. read more

An enjoyable experience overall. This solo diner was easily accommodated as a walk-in on a Tuesday evening. The dining room was about half full and I was given a small booth for two. It was a bit of a wait after being seated but not too bad. I looked over the "Unique selection of signature cocktails from the great minds of Spring Tavern" (the adjoining bar space) and decided on the Strawberry Crush, made with strawberry vodka, lemonade, and muddled strawberry and basil. Very nice, though only average in strength. Reasonably priced at $10. My waitress was great, available when I needed, made good recommendations, and offered insight into the one complaint I had: the slowness in getting my drink - and the second one later on. The first took so long that my entree came first and I thought they forgot, but no. It turns out there was only one bartender serving the entire dining room and the bar, nearly full because "tonight is burger night". Not good and for that I had to ding one star or it would be 5 stars (graded on a curve considering the class of restaurant and its location). But I didn't come for a burger, though there was an interesting selection and the prices were right. Instead I ordered the "Bronzed Mahi-Mahi Caribbean Style". Honestly it was among the best mahi-mahi I've had anywhere, if not the best. I'm not familiar with the term "bronzed" but I'd compare it to "blackened" but more subtle. It didn't strike me as particularly "Caribbean" but most of that flavor probably came from the compounded butter, served on the side, which I used sparingly. The fish itself was fresh, not overcooked, and bigger than most portions I've seen. I was amused that the fish was cut perfectly square, just like the square dish it was served in. I am easily amused. The fish was accompanied by sauteéd snap peas, artfully charred in spots, strips of pimento peppers, and rice which was just ever-so-slightly mushy. No matter, it really was excellent overall. I loved the room and ambience. True to the "Great Outdoors" name it was decorated with photos of nature scenes, especially of the many springs found in the area. Canoes hung from the painted tin ceiling, paddles on the walls, and pretty vintage-looking chandeliers. Walls covered in a multitude of surfaces ranging from brick, to stucco, to ceramic tiles. I liked the 2-person booths. Often booths are meant for 4 and have backs that are upright and uncomfortable. Not these. The wooden straw-seated chairs also looked comfy and went well with the rustic decor. The bathrooms had nice tile work on the walls, were clean and well stocked and smelled very nice! The other customers seemed to be a mix of couples, families (with well-behaved children), and friendly groups having a good - but not too loud - time. What I mean is, I was not distracted by boistrous rowdiness or yahoos in tank tops and shorts; it was a positive, friendly vibe. I'd definitely go back if I was ever in the area again. Highly recommended. read more

Great Outdoors Restaurant - American Near Me - High Springs, Florida

See all

This is our local go to place for it all, fun, food, drinks and entertainment! It's not uncommon for the owner to stop by your table and have a conversation with you. As with most places they are a little under staffed, but it doesn't matter overall. read more

Great Outdoors Restaurant - The Great Outdoors in historic downtown High Springs. This is the outdoor bar with live music, great drinks and awesome food! - American Near Me - High Springs, Florida

Great service,delicious food,nice variety of cocktails. Good ambiance. Lots of outside seating. If you are at High Springs definitely stop by. read more

See all