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Public & General

4.2 (278 reviews)
ModerateBars, New American
Closed • 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Public & General Photos

Business Info

PUBLIC & GENERAL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Hipster
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Public & General

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Reviews With Photos

Burger
Emily W.

I'd describe this place as nice casual. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Gainesville. Grab a menu, find a spot to sit, and order at the bar. They give you a number and bring your food/drink to the table. Reasonable prices and great variety of craft cocktails. The burger was good, but I honestly liked the pork tacos more! Everyone at the table agreed that we would have liked the fries to be a bit crisper. Probably will return to try their cheese and charcuterie offerings!

Chocolate peanut butter cake slice
Alyssa M.

I really liked the food here, I got a sandwich with a side salad and both were unique and delicious. The chocolate peanut butter cake was very rich and tasty, though a bit dry. The service here is interesting as you go up to the bar to order and then they serve you at your table, but the servers were still very attentive and helpful. The lighting is very dark inside but it's a cute atmosphere overall with the vibe of a brewery.

Mayra B.

I went back in a weekday and I don't know who was back there but my food was made with LOVE. I got the buffalo chicken sandwich with fries and it was too good for words. I absolutely loved it and it's now my favorite thing to eat. Highly recommend their ranch which I believe is homemade . Will definitely come back!

Howard Wapner & friends (Jazz)
Watermelon E.

I came here for the live music, Howard Wapner's trio. Great atmosphere. I haven't ordered any food or drinks yet, but you can't order from the table, I just learned. I was waiting for the dirty dishes from the previous diners to be cleared away from my table. It was a longish wait, but the restaurant is pretty full. First time here. It says it's a grocery store but it really just looks like a hipster restaurant where you order at the bar.

Burger, Caesar salad, fried green tomatoes
Lindsay A.

It's been a while, but we hit #publicandgeneral. The friend green maters had whipped goat cheese, and was a hit! The Caesar salad (large shown) was good and filling without protein, with a tinge of anchovies and bites of artichoke. It might not be for everyone who isn't expecting the anchovy addition, but that is the classic Caesar. The burger was good, smaller and seemingly in a hand-made bun. Happy hour from 3:00-6:00 was a bonus. Gator game bound!

Wings
Misty M.

A nice little stop on our way to the spring, Public & General was an interesting little find with some good specials and wide open seating. The dill fries were delicious and the kids enjoyed the chicken and burger. My BLT was rather greasy which was unexpected since it was on "local sourdough", but I still managed to enjoy half of it. The craft beer selection had a little for everyone also, which is always a good touch. Overall, I'd love to return and try their dinner menu, and in the meantime might enjoy lunch with a different pick.

Unique Beer menu
Richard L.

A hole in the wall joint that pleasantly surprised. Looking for a dinner close to the airport and decided on Public. Warning there is no visible signage at night, so good luck finding it without GPS. Once inside, you go to the bar for menus and ordering. You find a table and the food is brought out to you. The menu is small but perfect if you are hungry for a good meal. They have many hard to find beers and solid taps. They also have a separate wine bar with someone to assist. We opted for dry rub wings, a Buffalo Chicken sandwich, and the Brisket sandwich. I highly recommend the Buffalo Chicken. Service and staff are excellent. We will return.

German beer
Joshua W.

Went here for a relaxing lunch after a long few days with two of my sisters. We love this spot, especially the outside seating in the back patio. Cole is awesome and made me miss being back in my hometown. Good service for how busy the place was. Very popular spot with great beer on draft and reasonably priced wine. 10/10 would recommend this spot. I love the food and always an easy going vibe.

brisket hoagie

Cocktails are always a 5 out of 5!! We got the Gin Basil and Aviation cocktails. Always tastes fresh and consistent. Food's a solid 3.5 stars, but it's a fair trade off for how good the cocktails are. We've gotten the brisket hoagie, burger, and wings. They're good for bar food, but usually on the dry side and light on flavor. Well worth the visit for the cocktails!!

Pan seared snapper with a Fuji apple and roasted fennel vinaigrette over ginger infused rice with broccolini and carrots
Evelyn M.

Went for dinner with friends and had one of their dinner specials and am so glad I did. I ordered the pan seared snapper and it was prepared perfectly and the portion size was great. Even though it was a Friday and they weee busy the service was still great and they were so friendly. Definitely recommend for a chill night out with great food.

Pork taco lunch special
Tara C.

We were a bit skeptical when we drove up but were pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. Moving from a big foodie city we have had trouble finding decent food options but Public & General did not disappoint. The cocktails were great as well as the food and service. We had Gin Basil Smash and a Cuke Ellington for cocktails, both refreshing and delicious. We had the burger and pork taco lunch specials. Both great. Glad we didn't drive on by to look for something else. We will be back.

Burger
Jamielee T.

The casual, relaxing atmosphere of Public and General is a welcome change from the busy scenes on Main Street. Many locals bike here to enjoy the local brews on tap, inspired healthy eats, and dog-friendly patio area. The staff are friendly and helpful. The Dill Fries are my favorite menu item. I envision a happy future meeting friends here and ordering just those with a couple tap beers. The cheeseburgers are also excellent, with a perfectly charred exterior and soft interior complemented with fresh cucumber slices, onions, lettuce and your cheese of choice on a sesame seed bun. One of the best Bleu Cheeseburgers ever!

Old Fashion with house rye

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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the burgers and fries, creative drinks, friendly service, and a welcoming ambiance.

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8 years ago

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3 years ago

Great laid back vibes, good food, friendly staff. Surprisingly not busy on a Thursday night!

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8 years ago

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4 years ago

Consistently delicious. Been coming here since 2015 for great cocktails and food. Great casual spot in Gainesville for foodies.

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9 years ago

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7 years ago

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6 years ago

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5 years ago

Good food and atmosphere. Outside seating and dog friendly. Far enough out to be calm on a busy day.

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7 years ago

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8 years ago

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10 years ago

Business owner information

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Emily S.

We're glad you enjoy our atmosphere and we hope to see you soon!

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7 years ago

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10 years ago

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Emily S.

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4 years ago

It's an amazing cozy spot and the service is great. The food is great and always fresh.

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7 years ago

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10 years ago

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Emily S.

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11 years ago

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5 years ago

Came for brunch and service was insanely slow. Food was just okay, based on this experience I wouldn't return.

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8 years ago

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11 years ago

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10 years ago

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8 years ago

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10 years ago

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Emily S.

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6 years ago

Great mix drinks. Creative dishes. Good wine selection. Menu has changed slightly due to Covid , but still worth a visit

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Ask the Community - Public & General

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afternoon - Day burger

afternoon

4.1(385 reviews)
1.0 mi
•$$

I've been enjoying Afternoon since the very start. I've watched the decor evolve. The patio is a…read morebig favorite. I prefer inside, as I'm a people watcher and I love to see "the machine" work when I'm dining. The crew is always very fun and kind. I admire how well the training seems to be. The food is just healthy, simple and done right. They use some actual imagination and ingenuity while still maintaining a scratch kitchen and not completely going crazy. I admire this. It's not easy. Produce is a gamble daily. Meat prices are insane. Afternoon does not compromise. I never needed anything more than a blood orange mimosa and avocado toast, maybe the occasional Dutch baby or pasty. However, the mystery, mystique, whimsy and steadfast "fresh to death" food stance will make you want to try new things here. I am a vegetarian, but more than that I'm picky and they have always had more than enough delectable options. I was happy with brunch... and now I'm elated and estatic about the new dinner service. I've visited twice for "After Dark" and it was exceptional. It has some real creativity without sacrificing your health. I'm a fanatic. Please give them a visit and try something new. Life is too short to skip meals at Afternoon! I love them and you will too. Not many spots in Gainesville cook food that is good for you to eat daily. They also brew coffee and they are in a pretty fun neighborhood. Across from Cypress & Grove Brewery. Same parking lot as Serendipity & Working Food. It's the Entertainment District so you can grab a cocktail and walk your dog home! I don't get paid for reviews (yet) :)

I went to Afternoon for a brunch with a couple of friends on a Monday morning in October. Our…read morereservation was at 9:30am, & they seated us as soon as we arrived. We were seated outside, & it was a lovely day. I got the Cheddar & Chive Scone ($5, on their seasonal menu), & I really liked it! It was baked perfectly to be crispy on the outside & soft & doughy on the inside. I also got the Dutch Baby, because I was intrigued by how unique it sounded. I enjoyed it! It's described as an oven-baked pancake, & it has thinner edges & it's really soft in the middle; a bread pudding type of consistency. The seasonal toppings they used this day were caramelized apple pieces & a light glaze, & I thought both of those elements worked well with it. They weren't overpoweringly sweet, which I was a little concerned about at first. The portion was good for the $14 price; I took a bit of it home as leftovers. My friends, who both got The Big Break, thought the scrambled eggs were soft & well-seasoned, with a higher quality taste than a typical diner. The bacon is cured in-house & was crispy & delicious. My only gripe with the experience was how long it took to get our food. From the time we ordered to the time we received it, it'd been 40-45 minutes. Since it didn't seem very busy, this seemed excessively long. Overall, lovely place, reasonable prices, good food. I recommend it!

Photos
afternoon - Merchandise and wifi info

Merchandise and wifi info

afternoon - Breakfast Burrito

Breakfast Burrito

afternoon - Crispy potatoes

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Crispy potatoes

Public & General - bars - Updated October 2026

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