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 should frame my review of Metro with the fact that I tend to in general avoid traditional American food, especially what we might call diner food, and see it as rather unhealthy and just as hot, heavy, food that doesn't appeal to me. I eat mainly Asian food and especially sushi, so something like meatloaf has no appeal to me at all. That said, I was curious to try Metro Diner as friends were raving about it and the Yelp reviews for it were very encouraging. The space they went into wasn't promising: it had been two retail spaces in the aging shopping plaza off 34th Street. That said, Metro has totally transformed the space by tearing out a wall and opening it up into a decent-sized yet not huge restaurant with an open kitchen. What's really amazing though is they made it look like it, their restaurant, had been in place for years already: the floor, cabinets, and other interior elements look slightly worn and it would be perfectly easy to believe the diner was entering its second decade of faithful service to the community instead of being a brand new restaurant. This aesthetic suits Metro well and they've carried it off with deft skill. The staff is mostly young and very outgoing, though it's clear they still need to organize things a bit more: no less than three waitstaff waited on me and it was at times unclear who was really the lead and who was just a food-runner, but they all were trying very hard to do their best. Three members of the management team also spoke with me about my experience there and they all were sincere and obviously concerned about the performance of their new restaurant. The staffing just seemed quite heavy for the middle of the afternoon. Perhaps as they gauge their needs, they will adjust their staffing accordingly. As to the food I tried their shrimp and grits which is a decent amount of shrimp over two grit cakes and covered with a very thick gravy-like sauce. I cannot call it a healthy dish or one I'd want very often and there are much healthier approaches to shrimp n grits as a traditional Southern dish for that matter, but it was tasty and the portions certainly were very generous. The chicken and waffles on the menu also looked very good and a friend in Jacksonville (where Metro is from) hails this as his favorite dish at the diner. So my verdict is this: Metro is doing a very good job at what they do, at the type of food they've made their focus. It's not a type of cuisine I myself will eat very often at all, but for what it is, they're doing a great job with it and have a very attentive approach to customer service as well. I think there is a place for that in this town and with the location they went into, Metro should be able to reach a lot of people for breakfast, lunch, or an early dinner (early, as they close at eight, which is basically four in the afternoon to many college students). read more

Metro Diner - Shrimp and grits at Metro. - 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Even though the Metro Diner rests that Guy Fieri "Diners, Dine-Ins and Dives" visited was located in Jacksonville, the restaurant located in Gainesville was on our route. The food was delicious! We definitely recommend the Shepherd's Pie and the Roasted Turkey Plate. read more

Metro Diner - Shepherd's Pie - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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After two disappointing meals in Gainesville we decided to try this place. We arrived at a slower part of the day and were seated quickly. The menu is varied and priced well. Me and the kids ordered breakfast dishes which included grits and biscuits and gravy. Hubby had a a pot roast dish that looked and smelled good too. Definitely clean, friendly, and tasty. read more

Metro Diner - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Dinner food. Good. Fast. Plentiful. Cheap. Hard to find in Florida so kudos to them. Fast service. Hot food. Seating could be better. Would go back if I'm Jax read more

I love Metro. Whether going alone or in a group my food is always fresh and quick. The staff makes you feel welcome and the menu has many staples but the specials always have great options. read more

I've lived in Jacksonville, Florida for ~18 years so I was really excited to hear that they would be opening a Metro Diner here in Gainesville! Service: 3/5 The wait wasn't as bad as I was expecting, especially because I'm used to waiting at least 20 minutes in Jacksonville for a seat. As soon as I came in, I was seated right away while I waited for my friend to come. When she arrived, we looked over the menu for 10 minutes and no one had come to talk to us, not even to tell us that they would be right with us. I flagged down the hostess after waiting an additional 10ish minutes and we finally got our waitress to the table. She did try to be more attentive throughout our meal so I did appreciate that. Price: 4/5 For the portions you get, the price is worth it. Some prices might seem a bit high (around $15 for an entree) but the others are actually really reasonable. Expect to pay around $10 for other entrees. Food: 4.5/5 I personally feel as if I am never disappointed with the food. But I haven't tried much on the menu. Their chicken and waffles are amazing! Crispy and juicy with just the right amount of seasoning, home made strawberry butter on fluffy golden waffles. The waitress also mixes the syrup with hot sauce for u to dip the chicken in which is interesting. I've also had their Yo Hala French toast which was heavenly. Sweet and filling! I recommend this place for sure! They were on the Food Network for a reason :) read more

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My husband and I ate breakfast here in morning and were beyond happy with our meals. I had the shrimp and grits and they were the absolute tastiest I have ever eaten. They are not your typical dish. Our server was kind enough to let me know that the grits are actually served in "cake" form and highly recommended them. I was NOT disappointed! My husband had the biscuits and gravy and was extremely pleased with his choice, also. We sat at a table outside and thoroughly enjoyed our meal, the service and the atmosphere. 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

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

Let's go ahead and get this out of the way: the breakfast pizza might be the favorite breakfast item I've ever put in my belly. This thing starts with a biscuit crust (4 biscuits, more?) and is then topped with bacon, ham, sausage, cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Next comes a layer of eggs (two eggs, your choice), followed by Hollandaise sauce, onions, peppers, fried jalapeños and green onions. I *love* to eat and came hungry, but I couldn't put it down by myself. This thing is 2100+ calories so it will provide ample cushion for the game day booze you're going to consume and you won't need to eat again until tailgating time. We came early-mid morning on a Florida game day so needless to say it was CROWDED. People were everywhere outside. They told us it would likely be an hour or more wait. We actually left and ventured over to Bay Islands Coffee Company so our wives could have some dessert in a cup and we could kill some time. Upon returning, we waited a little while longer and then were finally seated. Our waiter (Charlie) was fantastic and attentive despite the huge crowd. We ordered the aforementioned breakfast pizza, the AM sandwich (Canadian bacon or sausage, fried egg and cheddar cheese on a toasted English muffin), and the spicy chicken biscuit. I can't say I remember either sandwich, but I still think of that delicious breakfast pizza. I wish I could swaddle it and rock it and admire it before eating again, but alas, we do not have Metro Diner's in Texas. Our whole meal was just a bit more than $20+ tip. When coupled with the serving size, this is great bang for your buck. When coupled with great food and great service, this is a a 5-star experience all-around. Would recommend to anyone in the Gainesville area. read more

Metro Diner - Breakfast Pizza; so good! - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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

This is a review for the Metro Diner. I rate this place a 7 or an 8/10 for the reasons below. I ordered the Western Omelet. It was decent. The eggs were cooked just right and the flavor was there. The hash browns were crispier than I would expect but still good. Overall the food was decent 8/10. The service was mediocre, mainly due to how long it took for everything. This could be due to being so busy, most every table was full. COVID has not been kind regarding staffing. Everyone looked extremely busy. So service will not impact the rating I gave. The only improvements that I can suggest to this place is to perfect the small details. Like the hash browns could use an extra burst of flavor. Maybe consider getting more variants of bread. Maybe add new and exciting things to the menu like eggy in the basket. Overall, this is a decent place to get breakfast. Give it a try and see what happens. 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

Great food. Super friendly staff. Service was quick. Left with a full and happy tummy. read more

Metro Diner - French Dip - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Great breakfast spot! Cheap, and has that American diner feel. Their hash browns are to die for!!!! read more

I came here on a weekend for brunch around 11:30, and the wait time was around 15-20 minutes. There are other shops in that plaza, so I spent some time walking around and visiting the fish store nearby! I had the huevos rancheros, which was pretty heavy for brunch but it looked delicious and was loaded with beans, egg (I got mine over easy, salsa, cheese, and tortilla chips. I would have preferred the chips to be a little less cooked since it was looking a little brown, but it was really good over all- especially when topped with a little hot sauce! The portion was big- enough to share with two people at least! My friend got the chicken eggs Benedict, which was a special for the day. I tried a little and it was really flavorful- the perfect comfort food! Our waitress was super friendly and efficient. I will be back to try some of their other dishes when I feel in the mood for a warm, comforting meal! read more

Metro Diner - Huevos rancheros -was good topped with hot sauce - Diners Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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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

This was a random pic tonight and it was magic! We tried the cornbread waffle as an appetizer. It is out if this world! My bride ordered the Philly cheese steak and it was one of the best I've ever tasted. The bread was perfect; chewy but tender! The steak was sumptuous as well. My daughter ordered a wrap. She was enthralled with her choice. She was taking notes so she could recreate it at home. I had the special. The Dressing Waffle. It was just what it says. A waffle made of dressing, covered with mashed potatoes and gravy, topped with roasted turkey and cranberries. Oh my goodness! The portion was huge and I didn't think it possible to eat it all, but I did. I just couldn't stop eating. If you are in Gainesville, the Metro Diner is a MUST! I have to find other things to do here so I can come back! 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.

I find Metro to be hit or miss. Sometimes their food is so salty as to be unpalatable. Other times it is just right. Their mashed potatoes are excellent. The turkey dinner is usually quite good. The breakfast is decent but lacklaster---I can do the same thing at home for much cheaper. I also am not a fan of what they call cheesy grits. Good cheese grits have cheese mixed in. Metro's cheesy grits are simply grits with a blob of oily melted cheddar on top. Blech. read more

Absolutely one of the best breakfast establishments around!!! Keep up the the great food Metro!

Qualifying, delicious food served pretty quickly. Friendly service. Love the eggs Benedict breakfast as well as the cinnamon pancakes

The fried chicken and waffles were amazingggg! The sweet and spicy sauce added a great touch. The service was quick and pleasant.

We love Metro. The patio is dog friendly. Even when there's a wait/line, we never wait too long. The cinnamon pancakes are so good and very unique to Metro. My husband loves the spicy honey chicken biscuit. read more

FAVORITE place to visit when in town! Pumpkin bread pudding is SO good! Breakfast, lunch, dinner - I've never had anything that wasn't great! The Bissell breakfast, biscuits and gravy, fried chicken plate, spicy honey chicken sandwich - it's all delicious! read more

Visiting from California and heard about Metro. Best fried chicken my wife and I have had at a restaurant. Delicious potatoes and my wife loved the waffle. Clean restrooms and Tracey, our waitress, was fantastic. Great experience. read more

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One of my go to places for breakfast. Good food, good portions. May want to avoid if you're on a diet tho!