I tried Pub & General recently with a friend after looking for a trending local place to eat in town. It's located a little NE from where I usually end up dining, but most of the drives in Gainesville are not further than 20 minutes max. Parking at the location was ample even though it seemed like they share a lot with an apartment complex. We ended up going for dinner but I saw that they also serve lunch. I wonder if the atmosphere would be different for lunch. The restaurant is dimly lit in a chic vintage manner. I liked the wallpaper and different seating options available. Because you order at the counter and find a seat with a table number, I liked that we could choose where we wanted to sit. Our food did not take too long to come out. Maybe around 15 minutes, but I figure it would differ per business and time you arrive. We decided to order from the meat & cheese charcuterie a la carte options, and we ordered two meats and two cheeses which come with bread and some fruit on the side. The charcuterie was worth the money we spent and I'd recommend it because the great variety they have. That day we were both feeling pasta so we ordered the Bucatini pasta. After ordering, I also noticed they had a specials board daily, so I would recommend trying that since it would be made from what they brought in that day! The bucatini pasta was not too salty and the pasta had a perfect cook. I especially enjoyed it because the freshness of the vegetables added into the dish. Overall, our experience was very nice and I would definitely recommend this place for an intimate group of friends, date, casual hang out. We didn't get to try any of the beer or wine selection they had but I noticed most people there had gotten a drink. Will try that the next time I visit. This will def become a regular place for me! read more

See all

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

Great Food! Great Patio Space! Brought my parents by another "must try" Gainesville restaurant. They were impressed. Everyone enjoyed their food. Fries. Burger. Wings. Are always a must for me! read more

Public & General - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I had no expectations when I decided to stop in and try it, so it was hard to disappoint. But it kinda did. Self serve I understand, but can't be bothered is something else. No greeting, just a simple sign that says order at the bar and seat yourself. I got to the bar and saw three stacks of photocopy menus. Bartender walked by several times and could have asked if I had ever been there or even an I'll be right with you, but no. I finally figured out the menu and waited while he took care of the approx 15 people at the bar, obviously those tips are his bread and butter! I ordered and he handed me a number placard for my table and said nothing. I ordered the fried green tomatoes and the Artichoke and Caesar Salad. I enjoyed the Tomatoes which were served over some arugala with a wonderful vinaigrette!! The Caesar dressing left a lot to be desired! Since no one ever came and asked if everything was okay, I had to wait for someone to walk by to ask for more dressing because I thought they had just put too little dressing, but it turned out, it was just tasteless. It definitely needed more Parmeggiano or even some anchovy! Anyway, after getting my own can of soda from a cooler up front, I'm disabled by the way, my lunch with tip cost me $30. A bit much since I left with the taste of disappointment and rude service in my mouth. Of course, if you're on the East side and trying to impress some"fru fru " friends or clients, and have big pockets and an alcohol budget, I'm sure this place will suit well. But not a place for the average person. read more

Cool spot for groups, couples, friends, all kinds of gatherings. Wide selection of cheese and charcuterie. We went for dinner with a group of 6 and didn't have to wait which was great. Servers are really nice and attentive which for me is always a plus. The food is good, but not anything to swoon over. We had various entrees. The pork belly sandwich is really popular but for me it had a weird aftertaste--not sure if that was some ingredient in the cream sauce or what but it was quite jarring. The BBQ mushroom burger was decent but the mushrooms were a tad bit salty. The snapper is great and the gnocchi is airy and not mushy. Definitely well cooked. Standouts are the lemon cheesecake and the dill fries. If you're a drinker, you can just order some cheese and charcuterie or have a liquid dinner. Cool ambiance. read more

See all

Interesting eclectic decor, staff and menu! Order at the bar. Sit inside or outside. It was a Small menu but we found something for everyone and it was very quick and delicious. Not your average food, a bit different, more vegetables than usual american places which I really appreciate. read more

I enjoyed the overall relaxed atmosphere of the bar. You walk in, pick up your menus and/or place your orders at the bar. They brought out the food relatively fast and fresh. You really can't beat the price for the type of burger and special dill fries you get, but I had to dock a star due to how salty the patties were. If it weren't for the salt, the burger would've been 10/10 because the flavors and textures were all there. Unfortunately, I had to drown my burger in ketchup to alleviate the saltiness of the patty. I enjoyed having a different take of fries, and the tomato aioli was decent. Overall a good experience, but I wouldn't get the burger again. read more

Public & General - Burger ($6) and Large Dill Fries ($14) - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Came for lunch with my wife and parents. It was a bit busy, but we were able to find a table outside. I collected everybody's order and went up to the bar and placed it. Side note: not really sure why they don't have waitresses- it's kind of annoying. But then again I'm probably being a bit bougie. We ordered 3 burgers and a falafel sandwich, plus regular and dill fries plus roasted cabbage. When the order came out, the food looked delicious, but they somehow brought out a house salad instead of roasted cabbage and cheese on burgers that asked for no cheese. We all scarfed it down and it was very tasty. All in all, the food experience was great. But the service issues had me kind of upset (the orders coming out wrong, and no waitress). read more

I'm sad to post a 3-star review for a locally owned place. I want to support locally owned restaurants and shops because they're awesome. These places bring in new and interesting things to our town, especially a town like Gainesville where we seem to have a box store or restaurant chain for just about everything (even if these chains are half-sized compared to what you'd find in other towns). However, P&G just misses the boat. The first time we went, we had no idea what to do. We had to ask someone in the front at the meat counter what we needed to do. See, you go up to the bar and place your order and then grab a place to sit. But the signage for this is limited and we stood around like dopes for a few minutes before asking what to do. Since then we have noticed a more prominent sign or perhaps we just knew what to do. Placing the order is another issue. The bar is packed. So it's not the best place to place an order. You can stand there for a good while waiting on someone to notice you or you can be rude and yell out, "Hey give me some food, yo!" The bartenders look at me, cash clutched in hand, and move on to the person next to me. I hate it, I feel overlooked, but I feel worse when I make eye contact with the server/bartender and then they walk away. I'm not a hipster but my money is just as good. I always make my husband, who has RBF like a pro, place our order. The menu is limited. This is really a place that serves drinks and food on the side. It's also not a place for picky eaters. It's relatively expensive too and salty. It's always really salty. But the food comes out pretty quickly. And it's pretty good. I could eat the fries all on their own. The burger is pretty darn good too. But, as I've said in other reviews, we already have, like, a bazillion other burger restaurants in GNV. Seating is hard when it's busy. And it's so damn loud. Oh my gosh is it loud! I don't think this is an architectural thing like it is in other places. People are just feeling good and they're having a good time but they get louder and louder and louder...it's just too much. The music being loud doesn't help either. The big plus is that I've seen very few children. YAY! There is at least one place in GNV where I can go and not have kids running and screaming about. It's just nice to not have to censor myself at a pub that is mostly about drinking because mom and dad didn't want to leave the kids with a sitter or go to one of the million family friendly joints in GNV. read more

Mixed bag. On one end was a solid 5 stars. The other....a sad, lonely 1 star which brings the review to a 3. Stay away from the burgers unless med rare or rare is your thing. One mistake...no problem, it happens. But, friend was finished eating their meal before the replacement burger arrived...which wasn't well done either and just shy of medium rare again and wasn't appropriately expedited by any standard. Wait and barstaff were appropriately concerned, however, and the charge was removed as well as other items in our order (unexpected but appreciated.) EXCEPTIONAL cheesy grit cubes and brisket tacos to DIE for. Previous visit had excellent brisket sandwiches, too. 5 stars for their brisket! If burgers had been our only experience, though, we wouldn't be going back. Hoping our next visit will bring this up to 5 stars (ignoring any burger option lol) read more

Food was average, at best. The fries were not fresh and tasted like they had just been reheated. The pork sandwich didn't have any salt and turkey Philly was not appetizing either. Also ordered a white bean hummus which was ok, but not enough to improve the meal. Maybe it was a bad night for me because the place was packed so it must be popular. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I will be back here. read more

The food was pretty good! Service was very quick but we did order at 1pm on a Sunday. It's an okay place to go, I enjoyed the outdoor seating. The bar staff was kind of lacking in hospitality but could have been that I wasn't ordering a drink just getting food? I'd go back again for sure! read more

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

Very disappointed in dinner last night. We have never had a bad anything there. But, there's always a first for everything. My husband had the cheeseburger and fries. The fries were greasy, greasy and they needed to be cooked a bit more. I had the crawfish etouffe. It was $16 or $18. There was probably $5 worth of etouffe. Had I known the portion was so small, I would have ordered a salad, too. Then it was the weirdest etouffe I've ever experienced. It was like putting vegetable soup over rice. We had take out so we could not try to resolve the issue right there. Sorry P & G. Be awhile before we come back, IF we come back. read more

Great quality but accessibility issues and awkward ordering system knocked this place down from 5 to 4 stars. We heard great things about this place from a local. We were glad to see the food did not disappoint us. There was some confusion about why our cheese/meat platter came after our pasta order instead of before. The first issue we had was when we found out we had to order at the bar instead of being seated first. As a result, we felt uncomfortable with people waiting behind us, walking back and forth behind us. On top of that, the menu was in such small print that I could barely read it. If we were seated first, I would have felt more comfortable pulling out my phone to magnify the small print and make a better decision about our orders. That said, after we placed our order, we were told to pick a table which was a bit silly. There wasn't any with good lighting that would make it easier to lipread in a loud environment. The saving grace is that one of the bartenders knew sign language to make it more enjoyable with ordering our meal. We would certainly eat here again but will be more prepared to find a table with good lighting first before we place an order at the bar. read more

I'm probably being extra harsh with my rating because I'm extra mad that this place is constantly being talked about as having the best burger in town and I fell for it. I fell hard. It was a birthday dinner night and I was having trouble coming up with a new, exciting place to eat at with food we were all in the mood for. Then inspiration hit...Public and General! The best burger in all the land according to every article I've read. So we went. This was our second visit as on the first visit a few months ago we left due to the wait for food being over 2 hours. We ordered the burgers for our dinner (obviously) and a large order of the hand cut fries - which was an enormous portion. My brother, whose birthday we were celebrating, remarked what a small burger it was. And he was not wrong. As for the burger itself...meh. That's right. Meh. It's like burgers you make at home. And I hate eating burgers I make at home because they taste like I made them at home. And that's how these taste. There's an interesting sauce that tastes like it might have some horseradish in it, probably mayo based, but nothing exceptional. All in all, it was super underwhelming. The fries that were not overcooked were good. They came with house made mayo to dip them in which is vile, but I hate mayonnaise so I can't fault anyone for that. Since it was a birthday we did have carrot cake, which inexplicably arrived before our dinners, but whatever. The carrot cake was alright, but not great. In the end we were glad we tried what we kept hearing about and now we can move on and not go back. read more

See all

Love the atmosphere and environment on the restaurant. The staff is extremely friendly. The soft cheese is my recommendation. I'm not too familiar with the items on the menu and the staff was helpful to go through them with great recommendations. read more

See all

I really loved this place! I cannot wait to go back! The atmosphere is super cozy and hipster. There is a bar in the back, and plenty of tables. It feels similar to the Top which is my fav. There also was a cute patio with seating, but because it was so dark we didn't get to sit out there. I went on burger night, Tuesday. The burger was not as big as I was hoping, but it was delicious. Top 3 burgers in my life. I will go back there for the burger asap! We also tried the dill fries which were super yummy! And, I finally got to try a Charcuterie which is a sliced meat and cheese board with bread and sauces. It was super fun! It would be the perfect thing for a group of people, or to eat as a meal with some alcohol to pair. Overall, I am so excited to have this restaurant in town, and I am bummed it took me so long to try it out! read more

See all

I think this might be the best hidden secret of Gainesville. The food and drinks are amazing. You can tell everything is fresh and everything is done with love. read more

Public & General - Best drinks in Gainesville! - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

See all

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

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

You can find this hidden gem in a part of Gainesville that you wouldn't normally expect to go (I certainly didn't). Located at the Northeast part of town, this place boasts multiple seating areas (I counted at least 3-4). I loved the indoors by the bar with the dim lighting and the chatter of others dining around my friend and I. My friend and I ordered the burger because we heard it was one of the best in town and I found it to be top two for sure (paralleled only by Square1). I got dill fries on the side, a large beer to go with them and ended up sharing a cheese board with my friend. Everything was absolutely delicious. The meat was so juicy but didn't feel too greasy and the buns were perfect. I can't wait to go back with a group of my friends to introduce them to P&G and try more of the food here. One thing I can think of for an improvement is if they used baguettes for the cheese board to make the experience more authentic. That's just a personal preference! Check out the wide variety of beers and wines they offer and the rest of the pictures! read more

See all

Went to P&G for the first time tonight with a group of coworkers. I went in feeling pretty prepared about the strengths and maybe some shortcomings based on other tips and Yelp Reviews. Granted, this review is somewhat based on having higher expectations. We didn't eat any of the small plates which did look to be unique but went for "the safe bets." A cheese board, a charcuterie board, and a dill fry were the foods we sampled. For $15 each board of the chef sampler/ featured cheese and meats which were combined into one tray, I was pretty underwhelmed. The ham and salami were decent but nothing unique. The chorizo sausage like someone else mentioned was chewy and mediocre. The few cheeses were a Gouda, a semi soft cheese, and a chèvre. The best part of the actual board were the pickled veggies on the side. They were garlicky, salty, & delicious. The bread which was served with the charcuterie albeit likely homemade, really would have benefited from a light toast or drizzle of olive oil. Now on to the fries. I was seriously looking forward to these famous dill fries but let me tell you, total miss. Soggy, under seasoned, very little dill, and the roasted tomato mayo was just ok but way tiny for the amount of fries. I'll be honest, we ordered a large and of between my husband and I, and other friends, if we ate half of the order, it was a lot. They were just super underwhelming. I'd definitely suggest those who think these fries are good, to try somewhere like Loosey's truffle fries with their various aioli or beer mustard. And although others mentioned maybe they sat under a heat lamp and weren't hot, in our case, their fryer either had too cool of oil leaving a limp and soggy fry or they overcrowded the basket, not allowing them space to cook through and crisp. Now on to the drinks. We're not beer people but if you are, you'd probably love this place. They definitely had a nice selection. I stuck with water tonight which is self serve and truly wasteful that it's in a cheap disposable plastic cup when there are tons of better alternatives. My husband had an old fashioned, which in our home is our signature drink, and it wasn't bad but not truly anything out of the ordinary. If you do go, the burgers look homemade but a little small for what you're paying. Everyone else at our table had the burgers but I just wasn't feeling it tonight. Of super importance... there is no service other than food being brought from the kitchen. You order at the bar for food and beverages. That's totally fine but if I didn't read it in a review, you'd never know unless you went with someone who's gone to P&G before. So out of my super long review, the take away was try the small plates which are unique but leave the charcuterie, fries, & burgers to those who truly specialize in those things. Pretty unique beer list and decent liquor selection to choose from. Not where I'd take a toddler or your elementary school aged children as it is a bit of a hipster vibe tavern & not super kid oriented. I wish them well but can't say I feel strongly enough about going back anytime soon for a second visit. read more

As I entered public and General I was greet with a smile by the manager Patty. I asked if they had a bar. She said yes and walked me to the bar. The bar was small quaint setting. Patty explained the micro brew menu On the wall. After tasting 2 samples. I ordered the Upland brewing a champagne lager. After a minutes the bartender May brought the beer to me. This beer was a blonde with a lite taste. After about 10 minutes I asked Patty what she recommended for a snack. She said the house favorite was the Dill Fries. It seem like a short wait the fries came. They had a dipping sauce which was a Great complement to the fries. Let me tell you they were awesome. I was giving a 5 star but gave 4. The bathroom trash was over flowing. Also, I kept being distracted by a man at the end of the bar. The man was kinda of loud and also was having a drink. Later I could figure out. That the man was one of the owners. I kept conducting business with the bartenders and all the customers could hear. Hopefully next time they'll take it to the back of the house for any kind of business meetings. Mgr and two owners working on computers at the end of bar. Kinda distracting. Probably should have meetings in back of the house read more

Met a colleague for lunch yesterday. It is a bit odd to order at the bar but it worked. The ambiance is warm and inviting. The decor is cool and overall the place was really clean I had a burger and my friend and I split the dill fries. That is right I said dill. They were amazing! My mouth is watering just thinking about how yummy they were. The burger was the perfect size. I ordered it medium and it was spot on. I will be visiting again! read more

The food was delicious but the service was not as good. I came on a Sunday 30 minutes after they opened and my big group sat down immediately. The scenery is comfortable and the prices are affordable. I enjoyed the mimosa bucket and their dish called, "home- made bacon". (It was more than just bacon) However, I waited over 5 minutes at the bar before an employee greeted me. They did seem a little busy and I was willing to wait to order however I would have at least liked to have been greeted. My food also took an hour to cook. I noticed when I left, there was a sign that mentioned cook time was 45 minutes. Food was great but if I were to eat there again, I would order to go. read more

Public & General - Home-made bacon dish - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I've been here quite a few times now and it's always been consistently delicious! This is such a hidden gem in Gainesville, in city full of chain restaurants or over priced places trying to come off as creative and innovative Public & General is a breath of fresh air. My husband and I enjoy fresh and creative food and Public & General thrives in both aspects, they constantly deliver fresh food arranged into smart dishes that keep it simple yet elegant. Their menu is constantly changing, but in that fun way where you're excited to try the next new creation. They offer a decent selection of wines, beers, and amazing deserts. They also cater to vegetarians, I never have a shortage of options! The employees have all been extremely friendly.. except one, but we didn't let her effect our love for this place. Overall I feel as though this is the best restaurant in Gainesville that offers something for everyone. read more

See all

I was expecting a lot more here. They didn't have soup (which I came for) so I tried some other things. Fries were fresh cut, but overdone. Burger just average. Tomato sandwich was good, bun was cold? Cabbage salad didn't thrill me. Wish I would have liked it more. I wanted to. Outside patio was inviting, place looked nice inside, just a little dark. I'll give it another try sometime. read more

See all

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

This used to be my favorite place to bring friends and family for a great burger. The burgers are not the same. The person who waits on you ask you how do you want your burger. You tell the person medium. The writes down medium but when your burger arrives it is well done and dry. Again, I tried this three different times either lunch or dinner. Either the leadership is lacking or training needs to happen with the cook staff. read more

Nice atmosphere, great wine and beer selection, friendly service. And most importantly: WIFI!! Nice outside and inside seating, lighting is dim (I like it darker), the bar area is large. read more

Public & General - Beer menu - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

8/1/2020 Even with COVID issues, this place is still VERY good. A great selection of COLD beer, charcuterie and Cleese plates, plus a SMALL menu of VERY good food! Thank you P&G for not compromising your quality! Caine was GREAT with suggestions and made us an amazing charcuterie! Thank you! read more

There's an Irish pub feel about this restaurant; it's dark and it smelled delicious. The wait for our food was a little longer than I expected for the lunch hour. We enjoyed the hamburger and pork confit. The dill fries were delicious. Crème Brulee was sent over to us by a faithful regular who loves this place it was extraordinarily delicious. I almost cried--I don't know if it was because I was shocked and caught off guard by the selfless gesture of the nicest and coolest perfect stranger and that's never happened to me before, or it tasted so wonderful. It must've been all the above, but I pulled myself together and enjoyed myself and the moment. I'm going back, and I hope the generous PG fan is there. I might get to surprise him in made for TV fashion as well. I love groovy people and great food. read more

See all

This review is as overdue as having a solid restaurant in the area Public & General itself occupies. All roads lead to a very bright future for this spacious, tasty gastro-watering hole and I'm excited to see them grow more comfortable in the neighborhood. The Space A bit east of the interest at Main St. and 16th Ave., the building this crew took over appears very similar to medical/business plazas but definitely afforded ample space, nice tree coverage, and zero parking hassles. Come in through the front to find a small market with various beers, wines, and coolers, as well as a counter for food orders on the left. Further back comes the bar area with TV and taps. What's crazy is that besides these areas there's also an outdoor patio, and even a playroom-esque area with games, toys, and books for kids. When I was checking the place out I found it oversized for the activity that day, but I can see the appeal of having room to work/grow. The Service Process is pretty simple: walk to the counter, look at the 2-3 menus of separate offerings they have for the day (as another notes, it'd be best to just slap 'em all somewhere consistent rather than sprawl it out), choose, and sit anywhere with your number. I found the staff super friendly, knowledgeable, and effective. There wasn't much need for continued watch for me apart from refilling my coffee and handing me food, but the bartender engaged me and the gf happily for most of the meal (and fielded several questions too). I could see the "we'll come find you" method being risky if they get surges of business but for now it seemed fine. The Food We came in when brunch was an option on a Sunday. For them, brunch came in the form of a "taco bar" type of deal but...truthfully...the "bar" was a few (no doubt tasty) items left out in the middle of a dimly little section of an empty room. It wasn't so much anything seeming risky as much as it being so lackluster. The barkeep said they were mega-awesome when I had already opted for another item off the main menu, but presenting the tacos so "it's over there and help yourself" was a big turn off. What I did get though was: - BBQ Mushroom Sando (B+) - Dill Fries W/ Tomato Aioli (A+) The sandwich came with a heap of tasty, well-cooked shrooms that were even further elevated by that fresh-made bun. The bun had some trouble dealing with the sauciness but that's pretty much the only down side. The fries, however, were impeccable! Fresh dill and salt exactly balanced with the light frying of delicious potato, then dunked into a cool flavorful tomato (sun-dried I believe) aioli. It's a burger's best friend and a side that may be among the best in town. Get them if you go. Final Thoughts The man in the kitchen was once a cook for my personal favorite place in town. I had high hopes for the food, which were met, but came knowing the area might not initially give them the business they deserve. As they get more popular they'll no doubt get polished and grab that 5th star from me! read more

See all

We went to P & G several times before COVID, but they have become one of our favorite takeout places during this time. From the fries (dill fries are so great) to their salads/pastas to their many different entrees, we have loved everything we get from them. I know people love them for their burgers but they also have incredible vegetarian options and you really can't go wrong. Highly recommend. read more

This place has a special memory for me. Me and my best friend would go here all the time before she graduated, just to chat and celebrate life, as well as try all the new foods and beers. I went here after my first ever bodybuilding show with my family to show them how special it was. I even once got really obliterated at a UF tailgate, and Uber'd to this place for food. You know a place is special when your drunk self Ubers to it and sits down for a whole meal (I don't recommend that because the place has a nicer dress code and I showed up in a tank top, which I later regretted) They change the menu every Thursday drastically with local ingredients, and do minimal changes daily. I've tried many things here for the first time, Including a crab bisque, Duck, quail, different cakes, and beers. The list goes on. It's also a great spot for a date, from the nice indoor mood to the cute outdoor seating. 10/10 recommend always for people in the Gainesville area read more

I've frequented this place for lunch during the work week for several years and a recent change in staffing is noticeable. Hours of operations were changed with little notice on some dates and the bar staff appear to need training on efficient service such as taking food and drink orders simultaneously versus taking drink order, preparing drinks at a snails pace, and then taking food order; over the lunch hour am assuming most are on a time restraint. Appreciate the familiar faces such as Patty and miss others who have moved on such as Caine. Food is great, still a favorite but recent changes are noticeable and not for the better. read more

A little off the beaten track, public and general is a really cute little place to enjoy a drink with friends! We came for lunch and sat at the bar and the place wasn't too busy but had lots of friendly locals enjoying a beer with lunch. We got the dill fries, chicken wings, and kale salad to eat. The chicken wings were amazing! Nice and crispy and their homemade buffalo sauce offered a great kick and perfect amount of spice. Fries were very crispy yet refreshing with the dill and kale salad was very fresh! We had great service and everything was very reasonably priced. Excited to come back and try some of their other menu options. read more

See all

Awesome, multi-use space with bar, lounge, tables, and even a kids area with toys, games, and coloring books. Perfect neighborhood restaurant. Burger was $6 and solid. Actually more value than I expected. I wasn't crazy about the bun, but everything else was solid, including homemade pickles that were very unique. Cedar Key Steamed Clam bowl is Delish. Clean, savory, and sea fresh. Great selection of beers on draft. I got a Jai Alai, my goto beer these days. read more

See all

Overall, I was impressed. They have taken the space which was before them The Brew Spot I believe and made it into not only a restaurant and pub but also a small store selling beer, wine, and cheese. This space had been years before some sort of offices and at one time part of the Florida Woodlands office park which included forestry-related offices and a blueprint shop. So the space, it needs to be understood, wasn't a natural for a cozy pub yet Public & General has nonetheless made from it a very cozy, classy, little pub. That's impressive. And it was busy on a Friday night, so word is out that Public & General is here and worth coming out for, but despite the high volume of traffic, the staff seemed on point and orders were coming out promptly. The warm pasta salad I had, which was more like a pasta bowl with some greens as well as olives and other savories, was pretty good but the presentation in a stainless steel mixing bowl seemed odd: if the whole restaurant had some sort of kitchen or futuristic theme might have worked but here it seemed more like they'd ran short on table service and were resorting to serving food from the cookware. The salad was tasty however and the beer I had was also. Speaking of which, they carry a good variety of beers including some expected local brews and the unexpected like Lost Coast Brewing's beers and the Bavik Pilsner from Belgium. Now, here is the one area where I do have a complaint: the menu, not as in what's on it but how it is presented. If you sit down at the bar they'll hand you a printed menu which is just a plain piece of paper from their printer, nothing fancy, and that would be just fine were it complete but it isn't complete. At all. The chalk board up front in the store section where the wine is sold lists the same items and some more, such as a cheese board not on the printed menu. And then there is a list of today's specials, which is extensive, but it's hand-written on a freaking piece of paper and taped up randomly behind the bar. You really need a hawk's eye to even spot it and read it. Why can't the menu info be unified somehow, especially when the printed menu is so cheaply produced they could make a new one with the specials included every day if they felt like it? So I guess look around everywhere when you come in to be sure to spot all the menu items like its a treasure hunt. Otherwise, it's a very cool place and reminded me of some pubs in northern California I really liked back in the day. read more

Public & General - Charcuterie board and a pilsner. - Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

See all