We visited at the end of the lunch rush on Saturday. The server was overwhelmed and made us aware of that fact. We didn't have unreasonable expectations so the wait was not a big deal. We did sit without drink refills for 10-15 minutes two different times which shouldn't happen in a place this small. The food came out quickly but it was wrong and poorly cooked. The peach tea is very good, but sadly the rest of our food was definitely below average and below expectations. It was about $54 for two people and that included an appetizer which isn't too much but I did expect good food. Not a great experience. We visit Gainesville a few times each year so we'll try another place next time. read more

Our road-trip led us to Gainesville, hungry for a sit-down restaurant with mashed potatoes. Sarah's description "Mom-&-pop, neighborhood nook with eclectic decor providing down-home American meals & desserts" hits the nail on the head! The atmosphere and decor fell in line with their rich history, "Built in 1860, the building originally housed a well-known saloon downstairs and a brothel upstairs. Sarah's is named for the original madam of the brothel..." Our table ordered the Red River Valley Brisket and the Lobster and Shrimp Ravioli. The brisket was baked in a raspberry chipotle sauce (YUM!) with white truffle oil smashed potatoes and green beans with sautéed bacon + caramelized onion (YUM!). The brisket was tender and extremely flavorful. I was jealous of my husband's plate. The ravioli was served with a Sarah's salad (YUM!). The ravioli had plenty of lobster and shrimp within the pasta...something I haven't found in other lobster ravioli dishes. Props to Sarah's for the generous portions! To end we tried the chess pie and triple chocolate brownie. Both desserts were delicious! Full of flavor and wonderful textures. Service was good. We weren't offered a drink menu but I'm sure they're as tasty as the food. read more

See all

A couple of weeks ago we were in the area when hunger struck. Sarah's had excellent reviews and was super close, so hungry wouldn't turn into hangry! Very important for me... or rather, those around me, lol. We arrived around 11:30am on a Saturday and there were only two other parties seated (and spread out) which was great! This was the first time in months that both my husband and I felt comfortable dining in somewhere, and it was a really nice experience. We missed it the first time, they are on the corner and have a green awning. There wasn't any available parking out front, but plenty to be had on the side street. It's much larger than it appears from outside and has a variety of seating. We were greeted and told to sit anywhere. This place is too cute! I love all the details that go into the décor- the wood work, the signs, the chandelier- it was really adorable! I somehow felt both fancy and quaint when I entered, like I was going to have high tea! :) The front half is a mix of different size and style wood tables with an eclectic mix of chairs (varying from just wood to several thicknesses of cushion). Then there is a bar with really cutsey stools with backs and matching cushions. Although I'm not sure that dining there is allowed since that is also home base for the staff and where the registers are- seems like social distancing would be difficult. The back half has the restrooms (for bad boys and shady ladies, lol) and half booths that looked really comfortable. We had a table by the front window with a nice view of the square. I was perfectly comfortable with my cushioned seat, but my husband found it too hard after being there a while, so we might investigate the bar or back half of the restaurant next time. It was obvious all the food was made from scratch and that was refreshing, both in selection and taste. It wasn't a perfect lunch, but it was a really great lunch with a lot of potential and I honestly look forward to returning. If we weren't in the midst of a pandemic in freakin 2020, service may have struck me as young and inexperienced. However, I know this particular job isn't easy during normal times and keeping up with all the changes for restaurants and less foot traffic creates an understandably strange atmosphere at times. It was mostly just odd that ones of the girls kept asking if we were good even when we hadn't received anything, and the way they split their duties was a bit inefficient, but everyone we met was very polite. Servers wore masks, although when we went to the back to use the restroom, one girl emerged from a door on the left sans mask and seemed surprised to cross paths with me by the bar. I guess I caught her transitioning to her break or something. While waiting on our food I saw a gigantic salad on the other side of the room. It would seem at least some portions are very large! My husband ordered the brisket sandwich with homemade chips for $9.88 and his portion was quite fair for the price and there was some left over. I tried a piece of brisket and while it tasted pretty good, it wasn't very tender (which is just my preference with brisket). Those chips though! I really like their chips- the thick and crunchy kind, yum! I rarely bother with chips at most restaurants, but I would order these again and again. I ordered the lunch combo for $8.88 because I'm a fan of anything that lets me try more than one thing. I went with a half chicken salad sandwich and a cup of corn and crab chowder. Honestly, I found the chicken salad a bit runny for my preference but that was overshadowed by how fresh everything tasted. Those grapes were perfect and refreshing and like coming across a little treasure each time. That chowder, oh my that chowder was fantastic! The jalapeno cornbread crumble was a genius move with a flavor and texture that really complimented the chowder. As I got to the bottom I did think red peppers seemed out of place, not that I cared. I would gladly order this by the gallon on every visit. Delicious! Hey, guess what! You get a free dessert with yelp check in! When I asked if this was something they honored, the server went to check and came back to say it was only for dessert bars, not for pies or cakes. Hey, no worries here. Free is free and dessert is dessert! That day they had the choice of triple chocolate, lemon and cheesecake, which was actually sopapilla cheesecake. The flavors matched what I would expect from a sopapilla and a cheesecake, but I wasn't big on the texture because it was a little too chewy. Perhaps I should have asked for it to be warmed. It had a really nice presentation though and the cakes and pies in the display case looked really good. It was a really pleasant first trip and I'm very enticed by all the tasty food being made from scratch. I genuinely look forward to returning to their charming dining room and trying more of their menu- as long as there is chowder and chips!! read more

See all

Entrees not so good. Desserts did look great though! Sis not live up to our expectations .

Food was good and the service was great once we got seated and got a waitress, but I must say, the we walked in (our first time) and were NOT greeted by 1 person when we arrived. The sign "seat yourself" was fine, but it would have been nice to at least have received 1 greeting since there were at least 4 to 5 people around the bar area. " Welcome, please come in and someone will be with you shortly" would have sufficed!! read more

Service and food were amazing! Can't wait to go back. I was trying to avoid eye contact with the desserts.....glad I failed!

Delicious and quaint! Great local family and great food! Great historical venue as well. We love this place!

Great service especially since we were one of two larger groups. The food was good and fresh (no frozen french fries). The decore reflects the age of the building - be sure to ask about the history. We were invited to go upstairs and see the bed and breakfast section but most of us did not. read more

My wife and I would highly recommend Sarah's on the Square located on the historic downtown square in Gainesville TX. They offer a variety of entrees, sandwiches, soups, and salads. All made from scratch. We live 30 minutes south of Gainesville and we go there 3 to 4 times a month. My wife "always" gets the Chicken Spaghetti and we think it's one of the best items on the menu. They are also open for dinner on Friday's and Saturday's offering more dinner options than the lunch menu. During our most recent dinner experience, I had the beef short ribs and they were absolutely fantastic. Trust us, you won't be disappointed. The food is always top notice and Donna and her staff are simply awesome. When you visit, please take the time to ask about the history of the location and where Donna got the name of Sarah's on the Square. read more

This place is a jewel. Great food, great service and extremely friendly folks. Loved their chicken salad croissant

We chose Sarah's due to the location, menu and 4 stars on Yelp for my birthday dinner 8/3. I wish we had read all the reviews before we came-such a disappointment. There were several miscues, but the major one was serving a prime rib cooked medium plus when I requested medium rare. The server took it back to get it corrected, but returned stating they weren't allowed to serve it medium rare! What? Never heard of such a thing. She could not clarify, and when we asked for the manager, were told the manager was on a cruise. When we asked for the person in charge of the kitchen, she said there wasn't anyone except maybe the bartender. At the very least, the menu should state medium rare is not an option for prime rib. The server did offer a complimentary replacement and dessert, so I chose the crab cakes. The crab cakes were ok, but arrived lukewarm, but I was pretty much done at this point and declined the dessert. My husband ordered the chicken spaghetti and the other two ordered the lobster ravioli which they said were good. I and another person in our party ordered salad as a side, but they were not served before the entree. I had also ordered the mashed potatoes, but green beans arrived on the plate with the prime rib. In retrospect, maybe I received someone else's order, I don't know, but the responses we got did not line up with that. read more

I always come to Sarah's when I'm In town visiting family. The food is always fresh, high quality ingredients. I love their tuna salad sandwich on sourdough! We always grab dessert after the meal, it's a treat to try several because every dessert is SO delicious ! The latest mini pumpkin pie / pumpkin pie lasagna was so tasty I almost grabbed another one Togo :) The ONLY complaint. We had a group of 5, very simple sandwiches and salads. Nothing special or complex. They took 1.5 hr. To bring our food out. We were so hungry by the time we actually got our meals. Other two top tables had came in after us, got their food before us, ate and were closing their tabs before we received ours. The waitress did tell me that she thought the kitchen staff was cranking out the small tables first before even getting to ours. That shouldn't happen, hopefully they take care of this. I was with my mom and aunt who are older and hadn't eaten breakfast. It was kind of a mess waiting that long. read more

The service is great! It is a restaurant for a certain age group and social class. Although it's affordable, the menu and ambiance is set. You won't find bikers or hippies in here. If you're up for something different or would like a taste of living in the big city is like, I recommend to start here. read more

We found this place by accident and I'm glad we did. We've been here twice and the food is amazing!!! The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because of the service. When my food arrived this last time, it was cold. They redid it which was nice but I had to sit and watch everyone else eat. Not fun. Would've been nice if they would've comped my meal. But I know covid has messed everything up for a lot of businesses. I'll be going back to give them another shot. read more

Food is fantastic server Addison was so good and the atmosphere is perfect do yourself a favor drive to Gainesville to try this rare gem I have eaten her 3 times always so good and scrumptious deserts the best part is the changing menu always something different and good ! read more

Just discovered Sarah's on the Sqr in Gainsville, TX. Wonderful spot. Worth a road trip. Lynette had the shrimp quesadilla which was very good. I had the meatloaf with brown gravy, green beans and creamy mashed potatoes. Nice size portions with very good flavor. The atmosphere is worthy of a date night. Located in an old building with lots of original touches and beautiful decorations. The service was friendly and helpful. Plus.....the prices are very reasonable. read more

See all

Excellent dining experience right across from the Cooke County Courthouse. Robust business on a summer Saturday evening, we were able to get seated without reservations (the website could do more to highlight reservations by phone). Great drinks, food and service and for a very reasonable price. You will not be disappointed! read more

Cute downtown building, plenty of seating, fast service and amazing food so this place checks allllll the boxes. We walked over from a neighboring building when we were in town for a business trip. The queso appetizer was excellent - chunky, meaty, cheesy delish. I ordered the quiche and salad and the quiche was fully loaded with veggies. I was expecting a little slice but nope, this quiche is "deep dish" style! Had to try they chowder so between it all, I was stuffed! Service was excellent and prices are extremely reasonable. Really great experience all around! read more

The list "World's best burger" on their menu! Pretty cocky right? Well guess what! IT IS! Best burger I have had period! The sweet sour dough bun is delish! Meat patty perfectly cooked, and OH! The seasoned fries are to die for! We will definitely be back! read more

Sarah's is a hidden gem in Gainesville! It has a tearoom feel, with great prices, and charming service. I don't have much reason to be in the area that often, but when I am, I make sure I eat lunch at Sarah's! Upon walking in, you usually seat yourself and a waitress will be with you shortly. This place is all about southern hospitality, and while it may look fancy, the servers remind me of diner waitresses, and they treat no one like a stranger. They do have a different special of the day, and you really can't go wrong with any of them. One of my favorites is on Monday, with the tomato mozzarella pie. It is essentially a quiche with an Italian flair. Besides that, they also have some standard southern favs like chicken fried steak, and chicken spaghetti. I typically order a sandwich, with a half cup of the crab bisque. I have to have it every time I come, it's loaded with flavor and she tops it with a little jalapeño cornbread to really take it to the next level. Do not leave without trying something out of the dessert case! Luckily for you, they have it placed right in the middle of the dining room to taunt you, and you won't forget to choose something. I highly recommend the peanut butter pie! This is a great restaurant not just for the area, but just a great stop in General. If your passing through, I highly recommend! read more

Sarah’s On the Square - An order of the rolls- a must for every visit - American Near Me - Gainesville, Texas

See all

My friend and I had a delightful lunch. We tried the fried green beans and they were great. Service was great. The restaurant was filled with charm read more

great service ambience and good. good old days of a restaurant taking time and not trying to usher you out. highly recommend.

We drove over 45 minutes to have the delicious food and it did not disappoint. The fried green beans and sauces were perfect. The rolls were soft and tasty. The chicken spaghetti was savory and the salads crisp and fresh. The service was not the absolute best, which was what I had experienced in the past. Our server was not timely with refills and seemed to pay more attention to the needs of regulars/other tables. The owner was receptive of our feedback on the service and was willing to make it right. That speaks volumes to me and I will be back to her business because her food is delicious. read more

Everything was so good! We had Chicken Fried Steak and Chicken Spaghetti dinners, and we took desserts of Lemon Bar and Trip,e Chocolate Brownie home for later. The Sarah's Greek side salad with sliced apples and pecans was also exceptional, delicious homemade Greek dressing was amazing. Eclectic historical building, good service. We will definitely return when in Gainesville again!! read more

Walked in for Mothers Day after validating they were open days before. Their website did not say anything about requiring reservations nor did any signage on the door. My family drove two hours to meet me and were pulling up. I walked in to grab a table and noticed the sign out front that said seat yourself, and grabbed a table in the back after waiting 5 minutes at the front. A waitress came back to tell me that it was reservation only and immediately asked me to leave and instead of offering to look for the next available. read more

Hungry or not, if you're anywhere near this place you should stop to eat. Loved the location in a downtown building on the square. Food and service both outstanding. read more

We were going to stop at Cracker Barrel... but thankfully saw Sarah's not too far away. Everything was so good and service was great. So glad Chicken Spaghetti was recommended otherwise I truly would have missed out. Yum! read more

Sarah’s On the Square - Chicken Spaghetti and house salad... Champagne vinaigrette wow... could have drank it straight! - American Near Me - Gainesville, Texas

We enjoyed a birthday lunch for my mom. We tried the fried green beans and shrimp tacos. They were good! It's a fun, old fashioned atmosphere! read more

Excellent customer service. Our server was informative, attentive and extremely friendly. We had desserts only and they were delicious. The sopapilla cheesecake was definitely the favorite. The location itself is clean and cozy without feeling crowded. Restaurant has a small town feel, but definitely not small town flavor! read more

Sarah’s On the Square - Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, Sopapilla Cheesecake and Lemmon Bar - American Near Me - Gainesville, Texas

The foods decent it not the best and it's pretty over price won't go again one of the most overrated places In Gainesville

While visiting Gainesville, we were recommended to try this place by a local. It's a nice little hole in the wall restaurant with a nostalgic vibe. The food was good. The server was good. Our drinks stayed full the entire meal, which is a rarity these days. The price was a bit high in my opinion, but I saw the prices before I ordered, so that's my own fault. My main issue with this place is the "Free desert" coupon that is offered on Yelp. When I presented the coupon to the server, they had to confirm with the owner. The owner did not honor the FREE part of the deal. Instead, we were offered $4 off the price of the desert. I did not appreciate this. Free means free in any dictionary. The chips an queso were pretty delicious. The meat loaf had a good flavor, but is comes smothered in brown gravy. This turns meat loaf into salisbury steak. Meat loaf should have a tomato sauce not brown gravy. The desert case had lots of selections and my strawberry pie was delicious! read more

Nice restaurant with a nice atmosphere! Good is good and prices are fair! Would defintely recommend. read more

The building is beautiful. The history of the building is interesting. The service is great. The food is absolutely delicious!! If i lived here or close by, I would definitely be back!! read more

Traveling through Texas and Oklahoma found this lovely gem in Gainesville Texas, not far from our RV site at Windstar. Sarah's on the Square isn't much to look at from the outside, but what a gem of a place for lunch. A very eclectic menu, it was difficult to choose between quiche, spaghetti, and burgers or sandwiches. I chose the "Lunch Trio" while my husband chose the Burger. My lunch trio consisted of chicken salad, fruit salad and a cup of soup. I chose the corn and crab chowder which was an amazing thick corn chowder, I didn't taste the crab in it, but loved the soup, the chicken salad and fruit salad were fresh and so yummy. My husband said his burger was juicy and tasty, an uncommon event when you eat burgers out. The only regret is there was no room for dessert, because the pastry display looked amazing. The one waitress was kept busy, but she wasn't overwhelmed, she was attentive without being intrusive offering appropriate suggestions. If you get a chance, find this little gem of a place in downtown Gainesville. Don't forget to ask about the history of the building and how it became Sarah's on the Square, we found out from the lady at the quilt store down the road read more

See all

My wife and I chose this place on a whim and we're so glad we did! The atmosphere is great with modern amenities interlaced with its rich history which you have to check out for yourself. I had the turkey burger to order with Sarah's rosemary fries and buttermilk pie for dessert and they were all excellent. The friendly waitstaff were welcoming and attentive and showed all the southern charm you'd expect, but don't often get anymore. If you're around Gainsville do yourself a favor and choose Sarah's on the Square for your lunch or dinner. read more

Food was phenomenal. Will definitely be back. To say service was SLOW would be an understatement. Long wait after being seated to be greeted by waitress. Long wait till she took order. Long wait on refills. Long wait to get bill. Long wait for her to bring receipt back. But as bad as it was we will probably be back as food was that good. read more

Outstanding spot for lunch. I had the Reuben with German potato salad, which was actually more like a hot soup. A very hot soup. The deserts were delicious, grest variety and very fresh. Sarah's has an interesting history. Years ago it was a brothel upstairs, and a saloon downstairs. The place was packed when we arrived about 1 pm, clearly this is a very popular lunch spot with locals for good reason! Highly recommended. read more

Sarah’s On the Square - American Near Me - Gainesville, Texas

We went on a Saturday afternoon and the food was okay. I can't say that it was anything more than that. I had a chicken salad sandwich with homemade chips and my guest had the country fried steak. We drank water because they do not serve sweet tea. The servers, we had three different ones, were friendly, but it was a little confusing as to who was OUR server... all seemed knowledgeable and efficient. It wasn't crowded when we went. We were seated right away but we did have a decent wait for our food. I wanted to like this place but it wasn't anything special. It didn't feel inviting and I wasn't going nuts over the great meal. I can't say I'd rush back over there. read more

Very good food, the best service around and the staff are delightful, get there early if going to lunch becausethey get real crowded

Great food and great atmosphere! Good location on the corner near the courthouse. You won't be disappointed!