This is a place we used to love coming to eat on a Friday date night. But after the same stagnant menu we lost interest. Three years later and the menu is tweaked but essentially the same. With variations from the old it is nothing new. Oh wait. The prices have gone up and the bartenders added some new drinks. The ambiance is always nice but with the door opening and closing the brisk breeze makes you reach for your coat. So what did we eat? Short rib on toasts ~ toasts soggy and the cheese was equivalent to white a velveeta in texture. With two toasts it was heaping with short rib. Totally unnecessary. Spread it out on four toasts ... make them crispy and use all that meat between the four. Top the off with a little cheese, pickled red onion and your greens. No one wants to eat toast with a knife and fork. I got the Salmon with Mushroom risotto. This was a nice dish but I'd 86 whatever the red sauce was. Totally clashes with the dish. My husband got the grilled Caesar with salmon. Honestly this is a rip off. The up charge for the salmon is ridiculous. My husband didn't like the loose leaves of romaine. It's really difficult to cut the romaine on a 4x8 plate. Last and most difficult to complain about is because I understand how difficult the job is but the service was not good. Our server had tunnel vision. I sat at the table 10 minutes just to get my check back. Asked for a tea I never received. I could go on, but I've done enough damage for one review. read more

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I'm giving this five stars because they really went above and beyond in terms of our requests. My friend was visiting in town and really wanted the truffle Mac and cheese at Embers. We weren't able to get a reservation so we went to Spark. We sat at the bar and it was a SLOW start. It was a couple of minutes before we were greeted. It was a Saturday a little after 6 pm. It wasn't busy at Spark but I presume their service tickets were heavy. The bartender accommodated the Mac and cheese request which was awesome. We both ordered steaks and they were delicious. So was the Mac and cheese. We got a dessert to go and haven't eaten it yet but it looks delicious. read more

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Granted they were busy on 2/14 that said. My shrimp was dry and the pasta served with it was bland no flavor and over cooked and the shrimp was dry and chewy. My crab bisque had one small chunk of crab. I ordered a glass of wine w my entree and it did not arrive until I was half way thru. Not the dinner i was expecting for the price read more

I had dinner at Spark last night; sat at the bar. The atmosphere was fun, people at the bar were friendly and all talking to each other. The bartender was great! I was there alone but felt completely comfortable. The steak was so good and perfectly cooked. Loved the prosciutto cheddar cheese grits, but the spinach was not that great. Had great wine and a yummy expresso martini (on the house because they made an extra or something . I definitely recommend Spark! read more

Spark - Expresso martini - Gastropubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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This was an experience I really enjoyed. I could have easily given Spark 5 Stars. The two gentleman behind the bar were amazing and service was efficient. They managed a full bar with ease. The food was served hot and all details were covered. You could tell it's a kitchen who cares about what they're serving. Here's the only thing I can pick on...the water is terrible! It tasted like tap water, unfiltered. Spark, you need to investigate this. I had a nice glass of Pino, then requested some water to go with it...After every other detail seemed to be well covered across the whole experience, this one, an important one in my opinion when your guests are walking in from 100* heat, has been overlooked. Keep up the good work but take care of this detail! read more

This is a true gastro pub - cozy without feeling claustrophobic, great menu and full bar. Get there when they open at 5 or expect to wait. They don't take reservations. read more

Fun night out with friends! Great service (but as it got busier service declined) our waiter good the lack of staffing is not his fault. Food was excellent but it took some time to come out. Nice place to come to after a days work. Cool vibe! We will be back. read more

Spark - Menus and great drinks - Gastropubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Loved it. Good Service, different dinner options. All was very good. The duck with sweet potatoes and brocollini was spectacular! A T read more

spark is our go-to date night restaurant. The drinks are fantastic (love the smoked old fashioned). My wife and I always order the short rib flat bread and the filet and lobster croquet. Always delicious, been here many times and will always look forward to our next visit. read more

TLDR: Get there at a decent time to grab a seat. Get the ribeye. I don't know why I haven't been sooner! We were both in the mood for steak so we decided it was finally time to give Embers a try but found they were pretty booked up, so we walked over to Spark instead and got a corner booth. The space is kind of small but it has a bar that can seat about 10 people (not socially distanced) and about 8 tables. I had a few libations -- good flavors and pretty stiff. Food: I got a medium rare ribeye with rosemary fries and hubs got the filet mignon with asparagus. I LOVED the ribeye. It came with a velvety cheese sauce and sautéed onions and peppers and tasted like a fancy deconstructed Philly cheesesteak. If you're into that you'd love this. The fries were divine. Hubs really enjoyed his filet and actually ate the asparagus which is saying a lot. I didn't try much of his dish so I can't really give many details on it. I feel like we ate dessert but honestly I was so hung up on the ribeye that I can't even remember anything after that lol. It was that delicious. read more

Spark - Filet Mignon with asparagus - Gastropubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Food is absolutely amazing! Service is on point. And the ambience is perfect. This is a great place. If you want to have a few cocktails and an appetizer. If you want to have a full dinner, you can do that too. Just amazing. read more

Spark is the gastrobar attached to embers steakhouse, and it might just be better than the steakhouse itself. Definitely one of the best values for a gourmet meal you can find. Where else can you get a filet with truffle butter for $30? I had to order that! And it accompanied by their signature lobster croquette, which is deep fried mashed potatoes with lobster, what more could you want? The service is excellent and they have some creative drink options. Make sure you get here early because it's all open seating and fills up fast read more

Spark - Filet with truffle butter and lobster croquette - Gastropubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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This was our first "date night" since moving to Gainesville and we'd heard great things. We arrived around 7pm and there were a couple open seats at the bar. I do need to note that classes don't start for another week, so it will undoubtedly be busier on the weekends once school is in full swing. Anyways, we started the night with cocktails. I really enjoyed the Lavender BlackBerry Martini. It was refreshing and not overly sweet. We started with the charcuterie board. There was salami, roasted pork & sliced sausages. I've never been served roast pork on a charcuterie platter before, but the bites were perfectly tender and the apple dipping sauce complimented it perfectly. For my main, I ordered the Caesar salad with beef tenderloin skewers. My husband ordered the duck. My salad was really delicious and they accommodated my request for only beef and no shrimp, which I was happy about. My husband loved the duck - he said that it was cooked perfectly medium rare. His dish included both wings and the duck breast. He said he would order it again. For dessert, I ordered the Bananas Foster Cheesecake. Wow! The brown sugar rum sauce was heavenly. The crust of the cheesecake was out of this world. I will definitely order that again! All in all, a delicious date night. The only complaint was that service was slow despite there being several open tables -- the bartenders weren't especially attentive to us. Hope to come back and update my review to 5 stars. read more

Overview: 5/5 This was our first time to Spark. We've been to their sister Restuarant (Embers) but we're looking for something one step down from "fine dining". Spark fit the bill!! This is a bit pricey but well worth it if your looking to treat yourself to a nice upscale dining experience. Ambiance : 5/5 A cozy "small" restaurant with a full bar setting. The table were appropriately spaced during Covid and the staff wore a masks. This place is mostly for couples and small parties of no more then four. Food/Drink  5/5 We started with a couple of cocktails (expresso martini and gin smash) - fabulous. I order the filet mignon with a lobster croquette - delicious. I substituted the asparagus for mushrooms (for an up charge - ) sight annoyance... My steak was perfectly cooked medium. The croquette was light and tasty. My wife had rib eye with a cheese sauce and fingerling potatoes - wonderful. We finished with a chocolate torte that was to die for. I'm not much is a dessert person but this was hard to resist. We finished off with a couple of expresso coffees. Service : 5/5 Waiter was attentive but not intrusive. Got everything right on the order and was pleasant. Conclusion :  we will definitely be back but go early (5pm) when they open. They fill up quickly. read more

Lovely Wednesday night with friends! Not too crowded before 7 pm. Excellent service. Had the filet mignon and it was perfect! read more

Spark - Filet mignon with lovely sauces! - Gastropubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I thought my waiter was attentive and I received my appetizer and entree very quickly. He also made sure to check up on me. The food was delicious. I ordered the beef tartare, lobster mac and cheese, and the burger. I was very pleased that I received a whole lobster tail and not something diced & mixed in with mt mac and cheese. The burger was probably the best one I have had. Will definitely come back read more

Spark - Lobster mac n cheese - Gastropubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This is one of my mother's favorite restaurants. I can see why. The atmosphere is quiet and cozy, yet sophisticated enough to make the meal feel special, with the white table clothes, the candles and the high backed booth seating. It also offers the more casual option of sitting at the bar or on high top bar tables. We regularly find ourselves ordering the petite fillet which is always perfectly done, smooth and fully flavorful. The lavender blackberry martini is a delicious favorite... read more

Cucumber Martinis were great. Everything else not so much. The charcuterie board was chunks of meat and burnt bread. The escargot was a muddled mess. The desserts, lemon layer cake and chocolate torte, were good, but not great. I'll be back but for drinks only! read more

Spark - Best cucumber martini in town! - Gastropubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Me and my boyfriend came here for a night out, and got the last table they had inside (first come first serve basis). I was a little skeptical based on the reviews on here, but the food was really good! For appetizers, we got beef tartare, crab bisque and duck wings. The beef tartare and duck wings were delicious. I've never had duck wings before, but the glaze on them was sweet and tangy and made them taste so good paired with their crispiness. I would definitely recommend either of these dishes to share! The crab bisque we decided to get because the waiter said it was rated best soup in Gainesville, but unfortunately it did not live up to the hype. It wasn't bad, but I would not be ordering it again. For main course, we split the shrimp and sirloin skewers with grits. The shrimp and steak were very well cooked and seasoned to perfection. The grits tasted delicious, they were just slightly rich for my liking. I would recommend this dish, but be warned that the grits are a little intense. The cocktail I got might have been one of the best cocktails I have had recently, I don't remember the exact name but it has orange liqueur/ ingredients in it and I believe gin. Would definitely recommend this or any of their cocktails! After this meal, I want to visit Embers!! read more

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We have eaten here at least a half dozen times & this time was subpar. The server was pleasant but the service itself was slow. The short rib flatbread was delicious but our entrees were lacking. The filet was very petite & fatty. The duck was flavorful, however, the portion was very small & not filling. The salmon was very good. For the four of us our check was approx $235. We do not feel we got our $ worth & most likely will not return. read more

I had a wonderful meal tonight at Spark. My group started with a round of watermelon daquoris (their take on the Hemingway.) The drinks were delicious! For starters, my husband and I tried the braised short rib flat bread while the other couple in our group tried the crispy long duck wings. Both were phenomenal! Dinner was filet mignon with lobster croquette. Hubby had an 8oz lobster over 4 cheese mac and cheese. My steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Lobster croquette was hot and crispy. The aioli and siracha really pulled the dish together to one awesome meal. Husband loved his food as well. Dessert was good too but the highlight for me was the food before it. To top it of, our waiter was great. He was very attentive without being too overbearing. He overheard us talking about going to a movie soon and he made sure we got our food in enough time to enjoy dessert. read more

I was in gainesville over a year ago and was happy to be back just to eat at this glorious spark/embers restaurant. So to start. Spark is the bar side of Embers (4.5 stars). This side bar is a better value to dine at I don't know how it's just a 3 star yelp rating!? I really don't have to do much explaining but look at my photos of the food. The dinner i posted is only $26, featuring a filet mignon topped with truffle butter on top of a lobster croquette, asparagus, chive aioli, spicy sauce... That sounds cool, but let me explain it you in a balance/critical vibe. The steak and truffle butter brings a hearty savory mouth explosion that can't be topped. You then grab some asparagus and dip that in the fresh chive aioli to neutralize what was In your mouth from the steak leaving you with a new found freshness. Then you grab some fried lobster croquette and add the spicy sauce and aioli to give you a spicy fried cheesy bite. Then back to the truffle filet, and it all comes full freakin circle. I'm not kidding if you do this sequence you will be losing your minds. Also this place has incredible incredible blue crab soup that's won contests and insane home-made cocktails. The other photo is the duck legs, which are just so tangy and fried heaven. I got the same two courses last time I was here over a year ago and I don't regret I did it again. read more

Spark - Duck wings, perfectly fried in a tangy citrus sauce. Bomb.com - Gastropubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Saturday night. Not Impressed Really disappointed Service slow, only one waiter, did not check as to how the entrees were or fill water glasses. Steak skewers were burnt. Very noisy. Over priced for amount of food and unable to substitute side. Been there won't go back read more

The Rulebreaker is great!! Victor is fantastic and is so much fun. We love this place! read more

Spark - "The Rulebreaker" - Gastropubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

My favorite restaurant in gainesville by far. I always come here for birthdays and anniversaries! The food is excellent, my personal favorite is the filet and crab croquette! The wait staff is always attentive and polite and I love the calm atmosphere. Gives me an excuse to get dressed up but doesn't make me feel like i'm in a stuffy fancy restaurant, the perfect in-between. Good for small groups as there are few tables, and the place itself is quite intimate. read more

This is one of my favorite places in Gainesville. Great ambiance, friendly attentive staff and above average food. Must try the prime rib with smoked Gouda and onions. read more

Spark - Prime rib with smoked Gouda and onions - Gastropubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I will start by saying I had high expectations because I have dined at Embers which is connected, and had a great experience. I came in to Spark and sat down immediately as there was four seats available. There were four servers behind the bar and I use the term loosely as only one person was serving. My husband and I waited for 15 minutes before I asked the young man shining wine glasses if he was available to take an order... The person who I asked for suggestions seemed about as familiar with the menu as I was. I left and came next door to Embers to try and salvage my Friday night... Quite disappointing after all the hype and commercials. read more

Spark - A whole lot of movement and not a lot of action... - Gastropubs Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

First of all, it's a very attractive room. When a friend and I went around 6:30p on a weeknight, there was one other table and a couple of people at the bar. Couples did come and go while we were there. Noise level was perfect, but I've also been there when it's been full and it goes up proportionately. We ordered the Chef's Charcuterie Tasting ($18) to begin with. It was better than good, but not anything to crow about. A little skimpy on the meats, the cheeses were nice, but the spreads were maybe about a 1/2 teaspoon or so. I had just returned from Switzerland / Italy, and the board was light and overpriced by comparison. For dinner, my friend had the 1/2 Pistachio Crusted Black Grouper ($16) which she enjoyed to the last forkful. The pistachios were pretty chunky. I make this at home and pulverize the pistachios, but it's purely personal taste. I had the sliced, crisped duck over a rather soupy quinoa. The duck was great! It was cooked as I asked and there was just the right amount of crunch to the skin. We decided to split the beignets, which were a perfect and light ending to our dinner. I thought they were better plain than with the included chocolate sauce. All in all, a successful evening. There was a single waiter/bartender covering the room for the most part and there weren't any glitches until we ordered dessert. By the time we were ready, there were, count 'em, five waitstaff behind the bar making drinks. We probably waited for 20 minutes and only got them when we drew our water's attention to the fact that we were still waiting. NOT the end of the world, just a lack of focus. That being said, I'll be back! read more

I hate this place in principle, but it gets 2 stars because the food is ok. I've been eating at Embers since they opened and love it. I'm now single and had a hankering for a couple items. I get there and as I knew, Spark was there, so I had to the bar. Unfortunately, they fucked with the menu. Same place, share the same kitchen, but you're charging me more for a much more limited menu and I can't get my favorite items? WTF kind of business model is that? Not to mention that my favorite scotch went up by $5 a glass. The atmosphere was loud and annoying. If I wanted annoying bar mates and people in gym clothes, id have gone to a sports bar. What a waste of $70 for an ok "meal" and overpriced scotch. I won't be back. read more

I really liked this place. Had the burger and a glass of red wine. Excellent! For dessert, I had the lemon cake and an old fashion. Both were great! read more

We have been to Embers, a dozen times or more and never had a bad meal! We decided on Sparks tonight as sometime simple. I purchased the Grilled Skewers of Shrimp and Prime Tenderloin On Spicy Prosciutto and Cheddar Grits. Outstanding flavor. The shrimp was great but the prime tenderloin was comparable to a chain restaurant quality. The meat was chewy, lacked flavor, but tolerable. For a chop house, I would assume the steak on either side, at main restaurant or bar side would be outstanding, but I was wrong. I'd suggest not getting this entree, maybe not the steak at all on this side since the waiter stated that the bar used a different kitchen and Chief that Ember uses. read more

I was very disappointed for the second time in this restaurant/bar. The food was good but overpriced. There was deception in the making of the cocktails. I asked for Cointreau and watched the bartender put triple sec. When I questioned him he then told me that they didn't have Cointreau. The second Cosmo that my husband ordered they made with kettle one instead of Belvedere. Again I questioned what vodka he used and he admitted that they were out of Belvedere. Deception, poor quality, high prices = we won't be back. read more

I really wanted to give a 5 but you should never have a gorgeous place without the very best service. The food can't be any better BUT the service is terrible. Way under staffed. I was shocked because when you go to Embers the service is fantastic. When I asked the waiter what was going on he said that it's like this all the time. I don't recommend Sparks. read more

We went for a family event and went to sit at a table that was allegedly "first come first serve." As they were cleaning off the table for our party, a very self entitled patron came up to us to state the table was for him and his party after they "waited for a long time" comfortably at the bar. The wait staff failed to communicate with the management and gave the entitled man the table, after his wife gave the manager an earful of her own sense of entitlement. To say that they value every patron would be a stretch. We won't be returning. read more

The food was ok, nothing special. The wine was as always these days skimpy. But the noise! That was something special. People shouting at the bar. The TV going with a football game. And on top of that management decided to play loud music. Very poor experience. We will not be going back read more

Wavering between two and three stars...like others, based on the quality of food and service of Embers, I had high expectations. The menu was more limited than I thought it would be, and the space was LOUD and kind of cramped - on a weeknight. Cocktails, although a little pricey, were fine good ingredients well-mixed and combinations with a little flair. The short ribs flatbread was good, too, but the grilled Caesar paled in comparison to Mildred's with little cheese and not that much lettuce, which was either not super-fresh or overcooked. Most disappointing was the charcuterie platter - fairly sparse with two cheeses, one inedible. I enjoy a variety of strong-flavored cheeses, but this tasted foul, like ammonia and mildew? After each of us tasted a nibble, we left it alone. When I mentioned it to our server and suggested that someone in the kitchen might want to taste it before they serve any more, he assured me that it was fine because "we have lots of cheese back there that really reeks." Only 2 servers were on hand to tend bar and serve, which made for longer waits. Beignets for dessert were truly outstanding but not enough to bring us back for a second visit - read more