From its humble start in a single location in Jacksonville, Florida, Metro Diner has grown into a significant culinary empire in a few short years. I have been a fan of Metro Diner for years. In fact, my first experience at Metro Diner was at the original location in Jacksonville when my daughter and I stumbled upon that location when heading back to Orlando, Florida from a trip up to my home state of New Jersey. We were both instant fans of the establishment. The Metro Diner can claim its history back to 1938, though that was when the building was built and opened as a diner. In the early 1990's, 1992 to be exact, the Metro Diner was rebranded as the Metro Diner and in 2000, the Davoli Brothers (Mark and John) purchased the Diner and their father came on board a few years later and Metro Diner began expanding throughout Jacksonville, Florida. In 2010, the Metro Diner was featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" and the popularity of that particular Food Network television show brought this diner its own level of popularity and with that popularity brought even more expansion. With that expansion came change. Unfortunately, one if those changes was a more streamlined menu and one of the items dropped from the menu was my favorite item at the Metro Diner. This was a pork tenderloin sandwich with bacon and lettuce. Truly a fantastic sandwich, but unfortunately, it fell to the wayside. The Metro Diner still has some fantastic options. Their burgers are pretty stellar. My daughter originally had the chicken and waffles, which is still her favorite item on the Metro Diner's menu and is still on the Metro Diner menu today. Overall, I had a great experience at this particular Metro Diner, even if I could not have that fantastic pork tenderloin sandwich. I would definitely recommend this particular Metro Diner and I give it five stars. read more

I've never had chicken and waffles before and was looking forward to this before we leave the south. I feel like it's sort of a rite of passage thing! Today was the day! Our server was funny. He made the spicy maple syrup mix for us, following *very precise* recipe XD... It was good, I like the kick! The fried chicken was amazing- crispy skin, tender meat and very flavorful. It was too salty for my husband's taste but good for me. I must say that I'm not a big fan of sweet chicken, so if I had a choice, I'd just use hot sauce and not maple syrup (I feel like I might have said something sinful just now...) The strawberry butter was very good, but I didn't have it in me to use the whole thing. I felt like I needed an cardiac angiogram after this meal, but hey, now I can say I've had chicken and waffles! About the seating, it was very crowded. Tables were somewhat close together. Clear dividers were used between different parties, but it was a little awkward trying not to look at the strangers next to you. Overall: Food quality: 4.5/5 (tasty but so not good for you) Portion size: 5/5 (a LOT of food, enough for 1.5-2 meals) Service: 4/5 (our food came out late, but our waiter was attentive and funny) Atmosphere: 4/5 Seating: 3/5 read more

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Was enjoying breakfast today with some dear friends until one of them spotted a roach crawling on the floor near us in the inside dining room area . Yes, this is Gainesville, Fl and yes, we have bugs, but to see this while you are eating breakfast is a little disheartening. I was too put off to let the Manager know and even left my leftover food I was taking home. I will be calling them. read more

Great comfort food and even better service. It was easy to see why the place was full. read more

Metro Diner - Meatloaf and grilled cheese - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The food was absolutely DELICIOUS, I had the Carnitas Scramble Bowl, the flavors were incredible. The waitress DeeDee was very nice and helpful, she was also very cheerful and happy to do her job! The service was wonderful. The place itself is pretty cool, the music is spot on!! It kinda reminds me of a diner from around 60s 70s, lol. I love this place so much, definitely coming back! read more

Metro Diner - Carnitas Scramble Bowl - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

In town from Los Angeles for a Gators women's gymnastics meet. Found this spot. Great service and great food!

Moved to the area 3 months ago and Metro Diner has become a regular spot for us. Every meal is great. Best corned beef hash i have ever had, biscuits and gravy with country fried steak is spot on. Only thing better than the food I the service from Kyle. Make sure to sit in his section. read more

Solid breakfast spot with some flaws. I ordered coffee and was served a very mediocre cup with those little packages of half & half. I hate those things; they're an environmental nuisance, and they contain chemicals. Our server, Kyle, was excellent, and made an attempt to track down some half & half in a carton, but the cooks had used it in their recipes. I appreciated the attempt, he really is a great waiter and kept us entertained. So, I'll skip the coffee if I return. I ordered the avocado toast, without the everything bagel seasoning and with the diced tomatoes the side, and a single egg, poached medium. The bread they use is advertised as whole grain bread, but it's really white bread with some whole wheat and grains in it. An inferior bread, which is problematic in such a simple dish. The tomatoes were the palest and most tasteless I've ever eaten. The avocado was excellent, and they loaded it on. The egg was poached nicely, so they know how to handle eggs. My husband had the fried chicken Benedict on a biscuit, and he said it was great, so they do some things well. Really not 5 or even 4 star worthy in my estimation. read more

Metro Diner - These are a disappointment. Environmental nightmare. - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Great food and service. Normally come here for breakfast but decided to try dinner and food was great.

I've been to Metro diner several times for breakfast and have always been very impressed. The wait staff is always so efficient and check on us several times. However, we decided to go for dinner for the first time. We received again, wonderful service, smiling staff, and really good food. read more

Coming to this establishment I was very intrigued to try their dishes. I am a huge fan of breakfast/ brunch items so this place was exciting for me. I have tried many diners or local breakfast places in the area and they don't really do it as well as Metro Diner. I was very impressed with many dishes I have had the past few times I've gone. There's barely to none of Metro Diners in southern Florida. So, it's definitely become one of my comfort food places in the area. My favorites are the steak and scramble bowl (a classic!), any of the benefits, any pancakes! I love their bread pudding, it's such a delightful dessert to have after a meal. The servers are always so friendly and attentive! This place has yet disappointed me. I appreciate how they pay attention to detail. It makes me want to come back to eat more often! read more

Metro Diner - san francisco benedict - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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This location is very busy on the weekends., The food came out as requested, made properly and fresh. The atmosphere was very crowded and elbow to elbow, but for the diner style eatery that says above average. read more

My first time here was today. The diner is SUPER busy, but that wait time was quick! That place was full from the inside, out. Still, my partner and I got a table in about fifteen minutes. I served for a long time, so I felt for the hosts & servers, but everyone was super nice. From the time we walked in and reserved to the time we left, everyone was super cool. I didn't talk to him, but the busser had a really cool mustache. I ordered the chicken and waffles on a biscuit. It was so good. The tenders were juicy and the biscuits were so fresh and buttered. I also got the fruity waffle and a side of bacon. Both were really good. Our server was AWESOME! Her name was Olivia. Even though the place was packed, we didn't feel rushed at all. She was super kind! We sat outside, where it was heated. I wasn't so sure about doing that at first, but it was so toasty and honestly more spacious than the inside seemed. Next time we go, we're gonna sit outside. The portions were pretty big. I'm a small dude, but I can eat. Both my partner and I got two meals, a side, a waffle, two mimosas and a glass of milk for about fifty bucks. I'm definitely coming back! Food was great, service was amazing and all for a cheap buck. Thank you, Olivia! You made our first experience dining there amazing!! read more

The food might have been good when it was first cooked but when I had to watch it sit under the heat lamp for 25 minutes then it wasn't fit to eat and I asked her to bring me another waffle and it was worse than the first one. So if you can't service a lot of people then why want you hire someone else to work. It's not the server fought I blame this on the management. I'm a food critic and I would give it a zero* if I could. read more

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I am back in Florida for a couple of weeks for spring break with my twins and we stopped in at the Metro Diner in Gainesville for breakfast before heading out to see my patents. Even though Metro Diner is a chain, it embodies the essence of local hometown. When we arrived, there was plenty of tables available so we opted to sit outside and enjoy the morning. Our server came over to our table, took our drink order while we perused the menu. The patio was a popular option for people and was filling up quickly with hungry people. A couple sets of customers had their dog with them which added a level of fun. The dogs were super well behaved and the younger crowd enjoyed visiting with them. Our server came back, refilled out drinks, and took our order. In no time flat, our breakfast was being brought out to our table. The breakfasts we ordered looked ready for a photo shoot but more importantly were very tasty. There was plenty to eat also as the meals included plenty of food. I ordered the Bissell Breakfast with came with two eggs to order, your choice of meat, hash browns or grits, and a short stack of pancakes. I opted for over medium, sausage patties, and hash browns. Everything was hot and tasty! Exactly what was needed to fuel us for the day. If you have read my reviews, you will know I am a firm believer in local and supporting local businesses. Even though the Metro Diner isn't really "local", it has the feeling of it and that qualifies in my opinion. If you are in the Gainesville Florida area, check out Metro Diner. They do more than breakfast and if breakfast is any indication, everything else will be good also! Finally, the staff is awesome! Helpful, friendly, and genuinely glad you are there. read more

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This is one of those diners where you can find just about anything on the menu. It was hard to choose but given the number of pictures on Yelp/TripAdvisor, I knew I had to go with the chicken and waffles. This is a generous half a fried chicken with a large Belgian waffle with strawberry butter. Perfectly crispy, savory, crunchy, chewy, and sweet. There's a reason it is a Metro Diner favorite. I would for sure order it again, even with dozens of other great-sounding menu items. I will definitely be going to Metro Diner again. read more

Metro Diner - Half a fried chicken with a Belgian waffle and strawberry butter. So delicious. - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Metro diner is the perfect place for a good tasty breakfast or brunch! I would recommend trying the meat lovers omelet if you're a fan of traditional breakfast items. It comes with different sides that can be customized to your order! The chicken and waffles are also really good. The chicken is especially crispy and it goes super well with the hot and spicy syrup that they give you. The strawberry butter puts a nice aromatic twist to the waffles. When put all together, this dish is extremely tasty. read more

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We waited at least an hour for a table here while visiting family in Gainesville. The vibe was really cute so I assumed the food was going to warrant the wait...no. The eggs Benedict were bland, the eggs were well done so no runny egg (sort of the point) & the English muffins were rubbery & tasteless. The pancakes weren't cooked all the way through & you could see the batter inside. The omelettes were again, bland. Basically we hated everything. The staff was nice-ish, service was fine but nothing exceptional. Because the restaurant was so busy we couldn't hear the person next to us so, not ideal for a brunch with family of all ages. If I could have my money back, I would've asked for a refund. It was absolutely disgusting. read more

Great little spot for a good breakfast! Garrett our waiter was awesome. We made some changes to our order and he was happy to help. The food came out fairly quickly and was very good! My coffee cup was never empty and everybody was so kind. I recommend coming here 100%! read more

Metro Diner - Veggie egg white omelet with tomatoes and fruit - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Our group of 5 wanted a casual dinner with options to satisfy everyone's preferences. A quick search pointed us to Metro Diner and I'm so glad it did! We ordered shrimp and grits, fried chicken dinner, fried chicken sandwich and Philly cheesesteak. Every meal was delicious!! We also ordered onion rings and cheese fries as appetizers which were equally as good. The shrimp and grits were made with cheese grit cakes and the most perfect shrimp sauce. So good!! The chicken was fried with a batter that tasted like a typical flour batter but it was sooo light and crispy! All of our meals came out piping hot and in short order. The service was just as good as the food. Definitely adding Metro Diner to my Gainesville favorites list!!! read more

Metro Diner - Fried chicken platter - HUGE - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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I purchased the chicken and waffles and the chicken was so greasy I vomited 5 mins later from leaving the parking lot. I was very disappointed because I love diners such as this. read more

As always the service is great, quick to be seated, the food is always amazing and the atmosphere is homey , the staff is always curious and they give military discount, unlike most places in town, read more

Was looking for a solid diner in the Gainesville are and I found it! Metro diner is a local favorite with all your go-to diner favorites. Waffles, omelettes, eggs etc... I have been two times, one time I ordered the fruit topping waffle and the other a classic egg, bacon and hash brown breakfast. Both orders were exactly what you'd want from a local diner. Hearty ingredients, cooked to perfection and generous portions. I recommend Metro Diner to anyone that needs a quick fuel up! There is outdoor seating available, booths inside with covid plastic separators and a counter for people dining solo. Bottom Line: Metro diner is bustling with quick and friendly service, good quality food and that "at home diner" feel. read more

Metro Diner - Fruity waffles - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Good food. Good Service. Fair prices. I like Eggs Benedict & Vegi Omelets. Cheese Grits and breakfast potatoes. read more

Food was great, tasted good, served hot. We ordered an appetizer and they served our meals without giving us the appetizer. The asked if we still wanted it. I said yes, and they STILL never brought it. Finished my meal and never got a refill on my iced tea. Great food, lousy service. Place was more than half empty, no reason the waitress couldn't keep up. read more

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Great very nice way better than peach valley cafe shits ass just go here. This needs 85 characters

The food is always great. The fried chicken is amazing. Love the pot roast. The service is always great

Walked in & got seated right away. Our server was Meredith. She was really great & she kept checking up on us even after we got our food. We ordered 2 chicken dinners. I was not expecting that much food! My meal was 1/2 a chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, & a biscuit. You can definitely tell the food is homemade. Some of the best fried chicken I've ever tasted. Sides were also really good. The music was not loud at all, so we didn't have to yell across the table. Only down side was that the booth seats were really hard. read more

Enjoyed a really nice brunch at Metro Diner. The dishes were tasty and the service was attentive without being overwhelming. A solid choice for a weekend meal. read more

Metro Diner - Avocado Bacon Scramble Bowl - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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I think this restaurant exemplifies what people are willing to settle for nowadays. It's extremely ordinary. I had the western omelette. The eggs were good, but all of the ingredients inside such as chunks of ham, onions and mushrooms, were just barely cooked. The wheat toast, taste like it's right off the grocery store shelf. And though I received a huge order of hashbrowns, whatever type of oil they are using, burns easily and ruins the flavor of the potatoes. And why do restaurants serve dry toast? Surely 95% of people like buttered toast, right? In fact, the server immediately asked me if I wanted butter. I'm guessing everybody asks for it. Then you get ice-cold butter which will not melt on your quickly cooling down toasted bread. I'm not knocking them down for that because many restaurants are doing the dry toast thing, but I think it's a bad practice. The place was packed. The price is fair. The service is good. So, if you like ordinary food, this is the place for you! read more

Metro Diner - Menu - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Shrimp and grits were amazing! Service was great, seated immediately, food was served quickly. My server Audrey was great.

Our food was delicious. My husband had the corned beef and he was delighted to find that it was homemade. My friend enjoyed the shepherds pie and even our 8 year old was happy with the macaroni and cheese. Our waitress Olivia was extremely attentive. We got refills of the soda before we could even ask for them We would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Early morning airport run from Ocala so I thought I'd stop in for breakfast. While it wasn't busy the team was very engaging.....from Ashley the see to Zach, who I'll assume is the manager. I ordered a veggie omelet, hold the peppers, it was pretty outstanding. It had a plethora of asparagus, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and of course say CHEESE, please. Strong recommendation for this menu item. What's the negative if there has to be one.....hmmm...their menu is loaded with yummy breakfast items but they are labeled with the calories, Uugghhh REALITY SUCKs. I'd not eaten here before, but tried it at the Yelp murder mystery party and have wanted to ever since.....so glad I did. Thanks Metro, maybe you'll consider bringing the Diner to Ocala! read more

Metro Diner - Metro Diner.....7:10AM - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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People. Skip the chain restaurants at exit 384 in FL and set your GPS for Metro Diner. Comfort food to the MAX. Fried chicken. Pot roast. Breakfast all day. The waffle had maple bacon and was one of the best waffles I have ever had.... and girl has had some waffles, OK... Gabriel was our server and he was an angel, indeed. Made great suggestions and steered us away from other items, which is THE REASON you want a go-to pro server! We will be stopping back in here when traveling again. YUM. Make sure you get the house sauce if you get chicken. It's got a KICK and as Gabriel said, "it may change your life." read more

Early lunchtime and the place us bustling. We check in and are told it should be about ten minutes. We get called in only 8 minutes....nice! A cold, crisp, tart mimosa is delivered promptly but It is so cold in the restaurant I need to grab a sweater. I highly recommend layering for comfort. I had the San Francisco Benedict which adds avocado and tomato to the classic. These simple additions add such freshness to the classic that I am an instant fan and the hollandaise is silky smooth with just the right amount of lemon to it. I try my son's fish and chips and it is cooked perfectly with crisp flavorful batter. My husband guards his chicken Benedict like a starving man so I just have to judge by the empty plate and the swiftness in which it was inhaled. The only reason it got a four and not a five star was the fact that I was freezing even after getting a sweater. read more

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My husband and I came here for his birthday breakfast and I must say, he was a happy happy man by the end of it! The service was incredible, the food was even better! The best breakfast place by far that I think we have ever enjoyed. The service was super quick, the waitress was very attentive and sweet as sugar. If it wasn't a four hour drive from our home in southern Florida we would eat here every weekend! Highly recommend you visit here. They also sell their bread, and the 7-grain is the way to go! Healthy and so so yummy. Thank you for a wonderful birthday breakfast! read more

Metro Diner - Top - Bissell Platter Middle - Croissant French Toast.. will never eat regular French toast again!! Bottom - Avocado Breakfast Sandwich - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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I came for breakfast with my childhood best friend - she loves this place & requested it on a Sat. & since I arrived before her - got outside seating which had no wait vs. eating indoors w/a +15 min. wait. My best friend is an Epidemiologist for Alachua County for Covid-19 contact tracing & we are being extra careful eating outside - all employees were good about wearing their masks, so we appreciated it a lot! I started with their $2.99 mimosa - I ALWAYS get this at every Metro - oj & bubbly is the best - very, very good & a full glass w/the right amount of oj, so it's not just juice! For an early lunch, I got their Chicken & Waffles - chicken was an abundant serving, couldn't eat it all - already knew that I'd be needing a To Go box to bring back to my hubs 'cause he loves my leftovers. The chicken was moist - loved the perfect balance of salt - makes a huge difference and the crispy, golden exterior was so delish. Ask for a side of strawberry butter to go w/the waffles! You can order any entree and request half the portion if you prefer & even though we went during breakfast - they also had lunch available. My friend's burger looked fantastic - only $10 approximately! Meals affordable & servings are huge! Sign up email for coupons & alerts on yummy deals to checkout! read more

Metro Diner - Chicken & Waffles $15.99 + Mimosa $2.99 - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Busy, very busy and crowded at lunchtime. However the waitress was very attentive to our needs and the food was good. Definitely a viable option if in the area. read more

Good place for breakfast. Cinnamon bun pancakes are outstanding, but too much to eat.

We love their iced coffee!! My go to meals are chicken pot pie, and the fried chicken eggs Benedict! Don't forget to grab some cheese grits while you're at it! read more