I travel for work and try not to eat at chains and support local. This place came as a recommendation from a colleague. This was okay, but not memorable. I'm really sorry, but the quality did not justify the price for me. . I had the huevos rancheros and immediately regretted it. It was one tortilla/tostada with black beans and tomatoes with two eggs covered in cheese. No distinguishing flavors, even the grits were bland. I feel like a coward for being so agreeable when the waitress asked me how everything was. It's what I get for ordering huevos rancheros in Gainesville. The service was impeccable, the space was cute, the menu looked diverse and thoughtful, so I do commend that. It's likely my problem I ordered something and had expectations, so you should go anyway and make your own conclusions. read more

Brunch is the meal of champions. Having a dessert-like breakfast and a burger on the same table is magical and has resulted in my brunch adventures being numerous and diverse. East End Eatery is a solid representation of quintessential brunch staples with a cozy, charming atmosphere in a humble area of town. The Space Located just west of Waldo Rd on E. 6th, EEE is right off of the road and pretty plain Jane from the exterior. Parking is limited but this is the type of joint where pulling onto the grass is perfectly fine. Walking in the air is immediately lifted from Podunk Town, USA to a clean and vibrant southern hospitality that you'll instantly vibe with if you've a mind for brunchy goodness. Wicker baskets hang from the ceiling, a little waiting nook sits with magazines and menus to pass the time during a wait, and they even have a wall o board games to round out that "our home is your home" attitude. The Service Because of the location and style of food I pretty much only find myself here on a whim in the AM. My most recent trip was during the work week so they weren't busy but prior to this I distinctly recall wait times being really long (as well as needing to park a fair bit further than at the place next door). It can be kinda odd to get your name on the list when they're packed also. That said even with the down tempo visit I just had the service was casual, which doesn't appeal to someone who dropped $ on a coffee. They were pleasant when interacting so no dings for "bad" service but, for real, having to wave you down to grab the bill just reminds me that I never got refills and THEN I start to get sour. The Food They don't have competition near by so that makes them stand out in the area by a lot, but even when comparing them to solid eateries in the area they old a strong position on my "best of" list. Catering to vegans and vegetarians, rotating tasty specials, and a solid iced coffee keep me pretty content from the start. When I last went I had: - Cinnamon Raisin French Toast (B+): about 6 small pieces that left me satisfied without being stuffed. They're thin too which is appealing compared to mega-sense cake-like French toasts. - Smoked Gouda Grits (B): Simply and the cheese is a nice touch, but clumpy and uneven in temperature Final Thoughts: I like 'em and won't hesitate to go back on my way to or from the airport/area. That said, I live closer to better places that cost just about the same and are not "cash only" like this spot is. Great for the area, good in general, and pleasant for a simple, comfy Sunday morning. read more

East End Eatery - Cinnamon Raisin French Toast w/ Smoked Gouda Grits - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

East End Eatery is quickly becoming one of my favorite places for Sunday brunch. I've been here about three times within the past month or so and every visit has been a good experience. The restaurant is set up really well with multiple dining areas. Indoor seating, outdoor seating and an inside dining room for families that's fully equipped with a play area. Amen for that kid friendly dining area -my daughter loves it! Service has been great on every visit. All of the employees are extremely friendly and greet you with a smile. They're knowledgable about the menu and have happily answered all of my annoying questions! The food is delicious! I love the blueberry waffles, which can also be made vegan or gluten free. My daughter has eaten her weight in the turkey bacon, so I'm going to say it's pretty great since she's a totally picky eater. The house bean French press coffee is awesome, according to my coffee snob of a husband. They are cash only, so plan ahead. If you happen to forget, there's an ATM inside the convenience store next door. Yummy food, kid friendly and nice people -we plan on becoming regulars! read more

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I really wanted to love this place. The good... the organic French press was so yummy! There are a ton of vegan substitutions you can request. The grits are smoky Gouda Delish! The menu has a number of Benedicts and real "dishes" that required thought, instead of the usual piece-meal that most places serve at breakfast. The bad... French toast was overly wet inside, my son didn't care enough to return it. The crab cake in my Benedict was overdone on one side leaving an inedible crust. Overall, the play area for one of my kids and the vegan options for my other kid makes it worth giving the food another try sometime in the future. read more

East End Eatery - Kids area - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

We ordered take out on Monday: Vegan Meatloaf with potatoes and green beans. It warmed us up and was quite tasty. Thanks East End Eatery for preparing such delicious vegan comfort food. FYI, I recall that they have a vegan menu which may still be available for take out items. Ask when you call. Please support this local business that never disappoints, vegan or not. What are you waiting for? read more

Always a winner for weekday lunch Daily specials with soups, quesadillas, wraps, panninis, and other entrees Service is top notch with care and friendliness a priority Prices are low, cash only keeps that in line. Free soup on Fridays on occasion and a Sunday brunch that's a winner read more

East End Eatery - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I am so grateful for this place. I can now get my gluten-free sandwich fix. It is such hidden gem and it is LOCAL! They have gluten free and are eco friendly? I've visited several times before this review and I am finally getting around to writing it. I bring my mom here when she visits and she loves that she can get a gluten-free waffle. All their food is amazing for breakfast or lunch. Also the owner is so incredibly sweet. Note they do not take cash but you can Venmo or use card. read more

I came in a group of 4 and was told the wait would not be long, however, 2 groups of people were sat before us even though they arrived after us. I inquired about it to the staff and they acted as if they had been preparing our table already but I saw them run off to find people to set up our table after I asked. They sat us immediately thereafter and we're pretty attentive to us throughout the rest of our dining experience but I'm just a stickler for bad food service. I ordered one of their specials which was the Fiesta Benedict which consisted of chorizo sausage, guacamole, English muffin, etc. The egg Benedict wasn't runny at all, I didn't even notice there was guacamole on my English muffin, and there was some mystery sauce all over my Benedict which I think was supposed to be salsa but tasted more like spaghetti sauce. However, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't great. I was told that they were famous for their cheese grits so I tried my friend's, but once again, it wasn't bad, just not great. If anything, order their potatoes if you have the option of ordering a side. The ambiance of the place was unique, it had a lot of board games for children and is definitely family friendly. It reminded me of a small farmhouse or a little BNB. The waiting area was just a little awkward because it has a small table and only a few seats in the middle of the restaurant so my friends and I ended up standing while we waited to be seated. Also, they have a very small parking area out front so it's a bit of a challenge. You have to park on the side in the grass if there is no more parking available. Overall, the breakfast/brunch place was average in my opinion, I probably wouldn't go back. read more

East End Eatery - Fiesta Benedict - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The cutest place for breakfast!!! The food is amazing and they use fresh eggs. Biscuits are so soft and the service is super fast! Not a lot of parking so get here early. read more

East End Eatery - Simple and delicious food! - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

East End Eatery was a great spot for brunch! The location is not ideal, but the service was good, restaurant environment was bright and cozy, and the food was great! Would definitely recommend the french toast. They are also cash only. If you don't have any, you can use the ATM at a convenience store across the street. read more

East End Eatery - French Toast - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

We had a group of 8 on a Sunday morning, so there was understandably quite a wait. We were very confused when we walked in, and there was no place to add our name and no staff to greet people... There was only a cluster of more confused people waiting and wandering. After trying to get passing servers' attention, a nice gentleman finally asked for our name and scribbled it on a notepad. About 30 minutes later, we were sat at a couple nice tables pulled together by the front window. Our server was very friendly and efficient! Their menu for Sunday brunch, while limited, was absolutely awesome. So many vegan and gluten free options. I decided on gluten free blueberry waffles with bacon, and they were so tasty! Usually gluten free pancakes and waffles have a bit of a funky taste... Not these. Would definitely order again. The rest of my group seemed to enjoy everything as well. Highly recommend! read more

East End Eatery - Gluten free blueberry waffles and bacon! - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

One of my favorite places to go during the week when I have an early morning. The environment is bright and open, yet also personal and allows for intimate conversations with the people that come along. This restaurant is the only place I know of in Gainesville that has an impressive array of gluten free breakfast and classic lunch options. I have celiac disease and always feel safe and welcome eating here :D read more

cute lil' place tucked away somewhere in east Gville, their waffles were delicious. Try them. Cash only. read more

East End Eatery - Vegan blueberry waffle mmm - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I went on a double date to East end and it was a mixed bag experience. Some people enjoyed their meals, others were indifferent. My boyfriend ordered the breakfast burrito and liked it, but the waiter didn't ask what side they wanted and gave them grits, in retrospect was fine because its what he would've ordered anyways. The burrito also came so much more delayed than the other three meals that we were halfway done with our food by the time he got his. Another ordered an omelette with basil pesto, ham, mozzarella. The omelette was by far the best thing I tried on our table. It was well seasoned, the ham wasnt too salty, and the cheese was perfectly melted inside. I ordered the spinach eggs benedict. The hollandaise on the Benedict wasn't as thick as it should've been so its flavors didn't really come through. The main issue I had with it was the amount of garlic. I am a lover of garlic, but the sauce they had on it was overwhelming and gave that burning feeling on your tongue from when you eat too much garlic at once. Along with the rest of the table, I ordered a side of the Gouda cheese grits. We were all a bit disappointed because when you see the phrase "cheese grits" you think cheesy, gooey,creamy grits. What we hoped for was Gouda throughout the grits, but what we got was a little bit of Gouda grated on top of the grits. The waiter we had was a bit complacent with us for my taste. We went without drink for awhile and it took long for him to come back to the table so that we could ask for the check. The check was another line of worry because it is incomprehensible. I understand that smaller places have shorthand for the cooks to better expedite things, but I would like to be able to see what I ordered and a price on it so that I know when I get to the register there aren't any discrepancies. read more

East End Eatery - Spinach eggs benedict - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Great local joint. Good food and pleasant atmosphere and good service. Definitely recommend it. Good hearty breakfast offerings!

Summary: Food and coffee fairly good. Service Mediocre at best Kid Friendly Cash Only Sad to give it a 2 Second trip to East End. Food and coffee is fairly good but service was mediocre at best. Our server looked completely exhausted so maybe that was it. We were seated at a 3 person table that sits against one of the large front windows...we had 4 people. Coincidentally enough a couple was sat at the 4 person table right next to us. Don't sit there if you can at all avoid it. At the right time there is a near unbearable glare off the car windows that makes it pretty uncomfortable. Our server said she didn't see our second child but also didn't offer us a larger table. We are not the type to complain and it would have either been to make the couple switch with us or go back to waiting for a table. We opted to deal. I had issues with my Eggs Benedict that caused them to comp it and me to not be able to finish the other half. Freaking sucked. One thing I really like is that they have a play area for children in a back area with table around it. If you have busy children you can imagine how valuable this is. They serve children's orders on kid friendly plates with kid friendly utensils, I can appreciate that. Pictured: Fiesta Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros and Kids Eggs, Bacon & Grits. read more

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Stopped for Breakfast ordered French toast and bacon and soda $13.39 which is fine if the bacon hadn't tasted microwaved the French toast bread was made from a hoagie bun barely touched either because of taste. Went to pay and was told no debit cards, cash or Venmo which I had neither of, I understand times and changes but it would have been nice to have been told before ordering. read more

Happy to find this gem. I got the eggs Benedict and loved it. Friendly service and good vibes on the patio. Don't forget to bring cash- they do not accept card. read more

Great Coffee yummy Meat loaf super Friendly great service No credit cards Cash only Will be back read more

If you like eating in a musty place filled with dusty, old books and relics like you would find in a flea market, then this is the place for you! They are still in extreme COVID hysteria mode, with signs warning you to wear a face mask upon entering and bottles of sanitizer everywhere. The food was nothing special. Honestly, we were there a few weeks ago, so I don't even remember what I had; I.e. not a memorable experience. My wife remembers she had French toast with bacon. The French toast was rather dry and flavorless and the bacon was terrible! The service was okay, but we were the only ones there. No credit or debit cards accepted, only cash, checks or Venmo. read more

Very good breakfast. Fun decor and a very relaxed atmosphere. Was able to spend time with friends over a great meal. I highly recommend the East End Eatery but they just took only cash (or check) so be sure to plan ahead. read more

East End Eatery - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The setting is a nice homely place with a great variety of breakfast brunch options. I've had a pleasant experience with food and service here and I hope I can come here for more of their vegetarian options. I've had their paninis and tempeh optioned foods and they are amazing. They also have a variety of hot sauces to choose from. This is also a great morning study place and I hope one of these days I'll drop by to study and eat!! read more

This place can be a bit hit-or-miss - I've been there for breakfast when everything came out perfectly cooked, when the coffee was hot, and the menu specials were tasty. And I've been there more than once when (even shortly after opening) the coffee was lukewarm, the grits were lumpy, the specials were a bit weird, and my "over medium" eggs came out either burnt or with runny whites. My guess is they are running on a shoe string, and like all shoestrings, are vulnerable when something breaks or someone is off sick. For me, this is a cross-down drive, so, although I really like to support small businesses like this, I'll probably not get back very often. Too bad - it's a fun and funky concept. read more

Attention all places that serve breakfast/brunch in Gainesville: You have just been schooled! The space is excellently arranged with lots of natural light and the children's area is....absolutely impressive! In fact-- I can't believe they sacrifice so much floor space (room for about three 4-tops at least) and put so much effort (read labor costs) into keeping the kid's area so clean and well organized. The decor is Ikea meets minimalist grand ma' with a little Jetsons thrown in (backs of chairs); sort of a powder blue Twilight Zone diner....all in a good way. The ambiance is clean, light, airy and with enough design elements to be inviting. "What kind of coffee do you serve? Is it Sweetwater" I asked. She grimaced. "It's organic but..." something was eating her up inside..."it's not local." She said with a face as if bracing for the firing squad. I wanted to say: "And here I was thinking it's impossible to grow coffee beans in Florida" but I didn't know if she would take it jokingly. "That's fine. I'll take a cup." I said. The coffee was good. Breakfast Burrito- I had a choice of proteins (sausage, bacon, turkey sausage,or tempeh), cheese and veggies. I knew I wanted sausage and cheddar but for the veggies, it seems that my options ran the gamut of every vegetable in the kitchen. I then did what I usually default to when I can't make up my mind...I left it up to the kitchen. "The kitchen?" the server asked a bit confused. "Yeah. Whatever vegetables the cook thinks will go well with sausage and cheddar." I replied. "Okay." She affirmed. It was beautiful; perfectly seasoned with the right proportion of each ingredient. They really knocked this one out of the park! Blueberry Waffles- Crispy exterior and wonderfully moist inside they were served right out of the waffle iron. The batter and its subsequent execution were both on point. I don't know whether or not the sausage patties (served on the side and in my burrito) were homemade but they were cooked well and were as good as they needed to be. Cash only? I don't care. Closed Saturdays? I don't care. Open only for lunch? I don't care. Why not? Because this is one of the few places in town that are doing it right and raising the bar. They can cook and have wonderful sensibilities for salting/seasoning (as well as interior design). I will no doubt be coming back for lunch (in fact...I can't wait to come back and have a sandwich) and more Sunday brunches and wish them nothing but much success. Note to lesser breakfast/brunch establishments in town: The game is in Check. read more

Three stars because cash-only in 2014 is an unforgivable and ludicrous business practice for which there is no excuse other than, "we inconvenience our customers intentionally and want to wait to change until the 'evolve or die' ultimatum". Wonderful service, nice yet ultra casual fenced-in patio, great food. We've been here a few times and are happy it exists as it's super close to home and always enjoyable. Gouda grits are gluten-free. Always plenty of veggie options. Portions are easily finished in one sitting and are priced fairly. Crap tons of specials, check the board on your way in (though the servers always have them down, too). Get a French press and a daily scone as soon as you sit down and figure out the rest later. There's an ATM at the convenience store next door, which is, again, totally shitty and ridiculous because the restaurant is asking you to leave their restaurant to pay a ridiculous fee to get money to go back to their restaurant to eat. I'd really rather give that money to a nice server or spend it on scones. GET A SQUARE, ok?! read more

Ate here hoping the food would live up to its expectations. Nope. The fact that I am vegan probably didn't help. But, I called ahead to make sure that they had vegan breakfast options, which he replied to with tempeh scramble and waffles. They don't even have vegan butter!! Why on earth would you have vegan waffles but no vegan butter!? I decided to go with a breakfast burrito with tempeh scramble on the inside instead of eggs. What I got was tempeh crumbled (no taste) with tomatoes in a tortilla...with potatoes on the side. It was the worst most bland vegan breakfast burrito I have ever tasted. Couldn't finish it. They also had some guy on the register who had no idea what he was doing, and the costumer service was terrible. So, if you're vegan, this place is not for you. read more

I decided to try this place based off Yelp reviews and the pictures of smoked Gouda grits. It was kinda in a sketchy part of town. They are a CASH ONLY business which I didn't like in the age of The Square and what not... luckily I had my check book on me otherwise I would have had to walk to the convenient store next door to use the ATM (Where I just witnessed a heated argument in the parking lot). The décor inside was super cute kinda cluttered in an organized way. The waitress was very nice and the setting was quiet. I did like what I ordered but I wasn't blown away. I didn't really taste the gouda in the grits but this may be my fault...I might be coming down with a sinus thing. I think I'll give these guys another chance and edit my review after. They did have a cute little play area for the kids I know my daughter would love. :) read more

Every time I go here I'm impressed. It goes to show how a locally owned little eatery on the east side can be the perfect choice for lunch. They are working on an extension which will include outside dining and I can't wait for it to finish. So above the bangs of hammers and whining of drills I ordered the special which was lasagna for $7.95. Amazing. Home cooked perfect - huge portion and a side salad of mixed greens for $7.95. They had the option of veggie or meat lasagna and being the meateranian that I am, I chose the latter. Delicious. The customer service here is always excellent and I have never had a meal that wasn't great. Food comes out in about 5 minutes. Perfect for a weekday lunch. read more

This place is really nice. It has a nice home like feeling to it. The patio herb garden is nice for lunch. read more

East End Eatery - Haha! I'm in the picture - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The atmosphere was very welcoming and the decor was very cute. There were paintings on the walls, which made me like this place more because it seemed like they had an appreciation for art. We ordered the Huevos Rancheros and it tasted amazing! Our server was very nice and polite. This is a cash only joint. At the time we did not have cash on us, but went next door to grab cash from the ATM, which was not a big deal. Overall, great food and atmosphere. Strong recommendation! read more

I was pooped from some long hours on my solo road trip and was not going to eat fast food. The atmosphere is adorable here. They make you feel very welcome. The food was very good, very fresh and certainly cooked with love and pride; you can taste it. Excellent prices, but cash only, so make sure you have some. I had a chicken salad wrap with an orzo salad, which I couldn't finished. My server offered a sweet tea to go too. She and some other patrons gave me advice on where to go nearby to stretch my legs before heading back on the road. Love this place! read more

One of my favorite brunch places in Gainesville! Lunch is good, too. I love the atmosphere - it's bright, friendly and spotless. The decor is really cool, clean-line Ikea furniture and the owner, Sandra's catering (Elegant Events) equipment artfully placed around the place. Since it opened, I have tried many menu items and everything has been super fresh, tasty and thoughtfully prepared. Quality food, great service, and a friendly vibe. There is a tempeh scramble dish I usually get for Sunday brunch that's delish, but I've also had their omelettes and various specials. This is the only place whose grits I find tasty as well - they are creamy and flavorful! Everything is extremely fresh. Recent brunch menu items: Shrimp Cakes St. John with Poached Eggs & Orange Hollandaise, Pecan Crusted Flounder Salad topped with Peach Salsa over Mixed Greens with Champagne-Chive Vinaigrette, Strawberry-Watermelon Salad over Mixed Greens and Red Wine Vinaigrette, QUICHE: Roasted Red Pepper, Asparagus & Sharp Provolone, Eggs Florentine OR Eggs Satchmo.... Their lunches are good - there are usually two soup choices, several salads and sandwiches, a couple of quiches, and quesadilla or meatloaf or another special. This is a lovely neighborhood place for those of us on the NE side of town and worth the drive for everyone else. The back patio is cute. Check it out. read more

The staff is so friendly and the blubbery washer is Leslie Knope approved! I really appreciate the vegan and vegetarian options. The food has been excellent every time I've gone read more

After being pleasantly greeted by a server at the door, he allowed me to read the specials board and then showed me for a perfectly placed table in a quiet corner of a beautifully decorated cafe. He then brings me a water with a lime AND lemon so that I didn't have to choose (so cute!). While looking at the menu, I tell my server that I'm vegan and he informs me that the owner is vegetarian and that they have vegan cheese, sour cream and tons of other options for me. LOVE! I have a vegan quesadilla with spinach, tomato, corn, salsa and vegan sour cream. I also have a cup of the BEST DAMN GAZPACHO I have ever had! Everything was cooked perfectly and the service was amazing. The owner was so pleasant and came to my table to say hi and talk to me about their brunch (which I will definitely be attending). They only accept cash, which is awesome. Banks make way too much money off of restaurants already, so I'm glad to see someone not giving into it. Pricing were low considering the vegan ingredients I had added into my meal and the cost of the nice Togo box I had. Portion was huge so an office buddy got half of my meal. The whole office loved it too! I absolutely love the concept behind this eatery, the atmosphere, the food and I love to see east gainesville businesses do well! read more

Word of warning: the restaurant is cash only. I can respect that. My mom owns a deli and has to shop around every year to make sure the banks aren't charging her an arm and a leg for every swipe. As a small business, she wishes she didn't have to but, to each his own. I have heard a lot about East End and was excited about going. I didn't realize that their weekday breakfast would be different from their weekend brunches but, I knew with the power of the Internet, I could have anticipated that. I ordered the blueberry waffle with poached eggs and bacon. The eggs were a tad overcooked to my taste and the bacon was unevenly cooked. I'm not picky but I do love crispy bacon. My friend enjoyed his veggie omelet but loved my blueberry waffle even more. When a waffle is done well with fresh fruit, it's pretty evident. East End does a fine job, but then again, can a waffle be anything but great or gross? My expectations were higher for sure. I was hoping for an ambitious menu with daring choices. I'm a big supporter of local businesses, so if you're ever craving for a good ol' breakfast, East End is not a bad choice. read more

Healthy food, small portions, only take cash for payment. A bit of hassle in modern times if one forgets to go to the ATM before hand. Food, so, so. read more

This is our neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot and I honestly don't know how we ever lived without it! The lunch specials are great with a fine selection of everything from good old comfort food to vegetarian and vegan options. Breakfasts are also stellar, with one of the finest selections of omelets and benedicts in down. They also serve French press coffee, which is a personal favorite! read more

I'll keep it brief: 1 hour wait for a table and another 40 minutes waiting for 3 orders to come out. My crab cake benedicts were semi warm along with the grits. The eggs were overdone and hard. Same for another plate in my group. Unfortunately, I saw the wait time issue repeated in various tables. Most had to go to the counter for their bill. I was excited about eating with my family, but uncertain if I will return on a weekend during peak hours. It's clear they cannot handle the tables in their restaurant. read more

Went for brunch yesterday, and wow - this is a GREAT building and location. Kids area inside, gorgeous outdoor tables, everything clean and nice. Some might even say Asheville - esque. The food was good, very clean flavors and ingredients. I think this is a wonderful place for any picky eaters (you know who you are) - you know what you are getting here and it shows. A highlight was the wall of boardgames - this is the place to go to play board games while you wait for food! It is very laid back and casual as well, and the rumor is they will start having dinners in June, and maybe beer and wine? Keep up the good work folks! read more

I'm traveling and was in town just for a night, so I checked Yelp for a highly rated Mom & Pop restaurant (I like to support local owners). I had the French Toast with medium poached eggs, potatoes, and bacon. Everything was excellent and the staff is very friendly. Very pleasant experience. read more

East End Eatery - American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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