If it's your first visit to Gainesville, I would ABSOLUTELY suggest going to Metro Diner. It's the perfect brunch restaurant with a classic, homey vibe. The waiters/waitresses are always so warm and welcoming, and the food compliments just that. It radiates Southern hospitality. The first time I went here, I was so surprised with the quality of food I was served. The Chicken & Waffles -- AMAZING. It's a great place to go with your parents and grandparents, but even just your friends as well. I don't have any negatives, honestly, but I would suggest avoiding coming at around 11AM/12PM as that is prime lunch time and it can get very crowded with long waiting times. Overall a splendid experience and will definitely be returning soon! read more

Ordered my fav chicken tender plate. It was over cooked and dry. My friend ordered the burger medium. Got it well done. We told the server. I ate 1 tender and she ate half her burger because it was busy and server came at end of meal. Only received $5. Off. Do better Metro!! We were there last Sunday afternoon. Don't remember our servers name Nit sure what else you need read more

Holy cow the food at this place is awesome! We came in from out of town for an appointment and saw this diner had good reviews and decided to check it out. SO worth it. Most places you come in an hour before close and the food is usually so so. Not here. The waiter was extremely friendly and attentive. I ordered the Mac Stack based on other reviews and my partner ordered the chicken Parm as well as the cheese fries! His were great but my Mac Stack was divine! Ha! I can't stop thinking about that cornmeal waffle with the maple butter! Will be back to try everything else on the menu! Thanks, guys! read more

Metro Diner - Chicken parm in the back left corner, cheese fries in the middle & Mac Stack on the right - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Went to Metro after doctor's appointment. The staff was very helpful with my daughter who had surgery the day before. We were seated in Julia's section and we were in for a treat. Met with a contagious positive attitude from Julia who took our order promptly. She was very attentive to not just our table but her whole section. This young lady is an asset to your business and made our experience even better than before. We had a delicious breakfast for the three of us in a quaint diner with a home-like feeling. We will be back when we are in town visiting our grand babies and daughter and her husband. Well done Julia, you did yourself proud. read more

I have been here a few times now and it has been a great experience from beginning to end. I love the staff, the food and the selections. I have never been disappointed. I met the new manager last night and got to meet the franchise owner as well. Great people, great attitude and very knowledgeable. It's great to visit a diner, whether it is a mom and pop or franchise and they stick to their roots and keep their integrity. Metro Diner started in 1992 in Jacksonville, FL and has been featured on Diner's, Drive-Ins and Dives. They now have over 50 locations and are still growing. Keep up the great work. read more

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This place is solid. Always packed yet service and timeliness of food never lack. Food is pretty great across the board. Definitely recommend. read more

Food was very good with many traditional diner favorites. Well made and flavorful. Service was decent and well informed. Not overly kitchy or cramped like some seem to thin a diner shoukd be. A definite favorite for us. read more

Until last night we thought the Fried Chicken Dinner was among the best in town - whether eat-in or take-out. Not any more. The chicken was not juicy, the skin was overly crunchy and thick. There was no gravy with the mashed potatoes. Next time we'll go to Popeyes! read more

I have breakfast here every time I am in Gainesville. Everything is good fast and efficient. Might have to wait a bit but it's worth it. read more

Metro Diner - Menu and awesome art decor - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Delicious food that aren't too pricey at all - local pride! It is located at such convenience spot and my wife and I are happy to always stop by for a grub anytime during the day. read more

Metro Diner - Ruben sandwich with sauteed vegetables - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Went back after 2 years, and thankfully Metro Diner still has the same great food and impeccable service. We stopped on our way to Atlanta, and were a bit scared when we saw that the place was packed. We didn't want to spend too much time dining, but still decided to give it a shot. Service was quick and the food was delicious. We ordered the Metro's Holy Davoli Burger and it was absolutely delicious. We were so full afterwards! The prices are more than reasonable for what you get, and the place, although usually packed, still has that diner feeling. Also, $2.99 for mimosas or bloody mary's all day is a steal! read more

If you're in the Gainesville area and are seeking breakfast/lunch bliss, The Metro Diner is your best choice. I Stayed in Gainesville for almost a week, as Huricane Dorian forced me to evacuate SE FL and travel to Gainesville. My hotel recommended The Metro, and for very good reason: 1. Great food- the menu has all the typical breakfast options, plus wonderful Southern fare such as Chicken/Belgian Waffles, Shrimp and Grits, Southern Omelets and Crab Cake Eggs Benedict. They cook your eggs just as you like 'em. The bacon was the best I've had in a diner. 2. Very good service- the managers are always visible and helping to expedite orders and assist the servers. The kitchen works like a well-oiled machine. Two thumbs up! 3. Moderate prices = good value. 4. Location- good location close to the hotels and the UF campus. I'm looking forward to returning to Gainesville- perhaps to see a Gator football game and explore the downtown area. I'm definitely returning to The Metro Diner. (it's not just a breakfast place. They are open until 8 pm. Lots of good lunch/dinner choices on the menu). read more

Metro Diner - The counter, where I like to sit. The cooks are friendly and it's fun to watch them cook your meal. - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Everyone needs to know the food and service is phenomenal. No disrespect to all the fantastic servers, Isabell made me feel like when I'm at the Ritz Carlton. If your looking for a great meal, sandwich with soup, fish and chips and chicken tender plate you can't go wrong. read more

Just had a great breakfast here with a friend. Decent service, excellent food (highly recommend the eggs Benedict). Loved the vibes of this diner! Thanks for a good experience. read more

They have Good food with huge portions. The service is good and the food came out quick!

The wait wasn't too bad for a Saturday morning (we waited about 45 minutes) and sat outside. Everything was delicious! Definitely recommend the cinnamon pancakes and huevos rancheros! So so yummy! Bloody mary is also tasty with the perfect amount of spice, food got to the table quickly. read more

Metro Diner - Cinnamon Roll Pancakes - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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We returned for breakfast and Metro Diner did not disappoint! The sweet and spicy chicken biscuit was awesome! They should bottle this sauce. I don't think I can enjoy fried chicken again without it! The breakfast burger and bissel breakfast were also great. We all left full and happy! read more

Metro Diner - Chicken and Waffles - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Again, thank you to Yelp!!! This is a popular local spot here. When we went in, it was really crowded but they seated us quickly. Once we ordered it didn't take long for the food to arrive. What I didn't expect was the large portions we were give. I was very pleased for the amount of money we spent , we were given hefty portions of food. We ended taking a lot of food home, SCORE!!! That means no cooking for the next day which is always a plus. The only con I saw here is how close the tables were to each other. Some times when the waiter would walk by he would brush up against us or our table. Overall it's a great place to eat and take children read more

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Awesome spot for brunch. Large portions and very fresh hot food. Staff are friendly and the atmosphere is like your local diner. Will definitely be back! read more

Metro Diner - Egg sandwich with avocado, bacon, and more - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This a nice place to enjoy morning brunch and coffee. The food is good. We tried Fried Chicken. The crust was crisp and chicken was tender and juicy. Fried and homefries are good too. Service is no doubt good. read more

Metro Diner - Steak sandwich and fries - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Great food and great servers! The shrimp and grits along with the chicken and waffles are both worth the stop in.

The food and service was top notch. I ate the chicken and waffles with a side of grits and eggs.

It was a very busy place when we arrived, but we were seated immediately, our food arrived quickly, and the service was great. Good coffee. I had the house salad with grilled chicken, and my husband had the oatmeal. read more

This was a good home cooking type of restaurant. Very clean and good service. I had chicken tenders, he had Shepard's pie. The offered lots of specials on a large chalkboard in addition to the regular menu. read more

Usually come for breakfast. Today we stopped in for lunch. As always the food was amazing. Chicken and waffles, pot roast, burger and a cheese steak sandwich. The pot roast was so tender w/potatoes, carrots and celery(just like Mom would make). Chicken and waffles comes with syrup/Louisiana hot sauce on the side for dipping. Burger was nice size and cooked med well as asked and juicy. Cheese steak was tender with onions and peppers. This will now be one of our go-to lunch spots. read more

Best place in Gainesville for brunch! Mimosas were delicious, good portions, good presentation read more

Metro Diner - Chicken Benedicts with bissle breakfast. Everything was good! - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Had an excellent experience today at Metro Diner!! I was craving breakfast food but my husbands not a huge breakfast eater. This place serves Breakfast AND Lunch ALL DAY The only pancake options that I seen was a 12" pancake..the menu isn't very large and doesn't have a lot of food value combinations in my opinion. Pretty much eggs and a meat is your only combination option. I couldn't even find pancakes and eggs...which is weird it thought. We were told a 30 minutes wait. They do that texting wait thing so you don't have to stand there the whole time and listen for your name. We went to the fish store next door and walked to the old Winn Dixie. They texted us in about 20mins. Zack was our waiter AND HE WAS AMAZING!! He was genuinely kind and had a HUGE smile. He would make us laugh but wouldn't linger too long. Our order was also perfect, fresh, and hot. He refilled our drinks promptly. Metro Diner has outdoor seating (beautiful!) and sale T-shirt's with a gator on them for $13 and if you wear it in, they discount you 10%. For one pancake, one coke, and one burger with frys we were at $20 Yikes!! Overall good experience read more

Metro Diner - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The food here is amazing! Best breakfast food in Gainesville. Service is also always superb. My only complaint is that sometimes it feels like you are back to back with some of the other parties. That downside does not stop the cool feeling of the place. It feels like an old school diner that everyone can enjoy. Highly recommend! read more

I'd been in Gainesville for 3 years and I'd never gone to this place, but I'm so glad that I did! I went for brunch on Saturday and it was overall pretty good. The potato hash had the perfect crisp to it and went really well with the sausage links and shortcakes. Eggs were cooked exactly how I like them. One thing that fell short with me was the biscuit. It was dry, so it didn't sit well with me. However if I had ordered it with the gravy, I'm sure it would've been alright. Another thing was that the coffee tasted strange. It had a weird tangy aftertaste. Not what I usually prefer for my coffee haha.. Nonetheless, I'm definitely coming back to try the rest of the menu! read more

Metro Diner - Bissell Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Great spot for breakfast. Room as a bit noisy but manageable. The wait is a bit long but absolutely recommend.

If you're into plain American dinner food, then this place is probably to your liking. I tend to like more seasonings. The food , service, and ambiance wasn't bad, just not really to my liking. read more

The happiness I felt in my soul when I saw this place I'm from South Florida and we don't have Metro Diner anymore but I enjoyed my chicken & waffles with the Strawberry Butter & spicy syrup a treat to my tummy Metro Diner never disappoints, and Myra ( I hope thars the correct name) made it even better She was polite & attentive, the good came out really quickly read more

This place was exceptional! It was a cute, large diner with lots of room! We had Julia as a server, and she was fantastic! She was very attentive, compassionate, and on top of everything! Though it was busy, the service was great! The chocolate milk we had was really yummy! It tastes different from other chocolate milks and was great! I had the cinnamon role pancakes and my fiancé had the carnitas scramble bowl. Both were excellent! The pecans on the pancakes were a perfect addition to the cinnamon! It also had cinnamon butter which was delicious! The carnitas scramble bowl was very delightful and flavorful! We are sad that we don't live around here to eat here more often, but we are so glad that we got to experience this place! Thank you to all the wonderful staff! read more

Metro Diner - Cinnamon Roll Pancakes and Carnitas Scramble Bowl - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Decent food, ok service, very expensive for a diner. Had a good meal, would likely go back, but, not before I check out a few other places in Gainesville. read more

My family and I tried to get brunch at Ford's Garage, but walked out before we ordered because the service was awful. We then went to Metro Diner which was a few minutes away. It was very busy, but the estimated wait time was on point. Our waiter, despite having all of his tables filled, was extremely attentive and he got all of orders right. I don't normally go to chain restaurants (like Ford's) and this was a great reminder to stick with the local spots. My whole family was pleased with what they ordered and we will definitely be enjoying Metro Diner on the regular. read more

Their grilled cheese with bacon and tomato sandwich is the best..!! Service is always great..!!

Great option for breakfast and brunch. High quality food in a traditional American diner. Love it.

Metro Diner is really good. Great food. Very consistent. The chef specials are fun. Eat here. It's great. I've always had great service too. Because this diner is so good, it's always busy at peak times. Be prepared to wait for a table. Even though it's located near a strip mall, parking can be challenging during those peak times. read more

Metro Diner - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Always have a great time when I go there. This is the only place that I've tried several things on the menu. I'm usually a picky eater and not really adventurous with menus, but no problem with that when I go to that diner. read more

The service is great and the food is excellent. What's not to like? The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable and the clientele seem happy and welcoming. It's a happy place to be. I enjoyed my food on a throughly nasty, rainy day. read more