Alright, this is one of those times that I must say some honest words that aren't all glowing and…read morepositive but I shall be fair as well. This is a good restaurant on the verge of greatness, short version. The longer version reads like this: First, the service here at Sanctuary on the Square is warm, fast, a pleasant feel. And the space itself is cool, on an awesome little small downtown square, so lots of positives to mention. Now, I LOVE tapas. IMO it is a cuisine tailored to the show off chef, but that also means it must be done with flair, beauty and flavor. LOTS of flavor... and that's what was missing here tonight. The goat cheese croquettes were nice and the shrimp scampi was too, but is "nice" what the kitchen is hoping to hear? I'm thinking not. Even the blue cheese on the gorgeous wedge salad was a tad underwhelming. Three dishes and I did not finish even one of them. Now, to be fair, I have very high standards and a breadth of food experience, so if the kitchen insists I expect too much, they could be on to something. And honestly I'd bet this was a mid-week off night, so ultimately I suggest you give it a try and decide for yourself. For me, though, it came in just under the standard I'm looking for. Cheers until the next one!

We came in on a Saturday night as a party of two with no reservation, and they were kind enough to…read moreseat us. Our waiter was pleasant, attentive, and genuinely tried -- so none of this reflects on him. We tip regularly, and we still did, because the issues we experienced felt more like management and kitchen pacing, not server error. The biggest problem was the timing of the food, and it was honestly awful. Our soups and appetizer came out almost at the same time, which I could have overlooked -- but then the entrée was dropped on the table immediately after the soup, with no pacing at all. It wasn't even our waiter bringing the food; it was other staff members just setting plates down without checking where we were in the meal. Because my entrée was seafood, it cooled down quickly while I tried to finish the earlier courses. Then the scallops came out undercooked, partially clear in the center. When I mentioned it, the waiter said it's a common complaint because they don't cook them long or they fall apart. He took them back, and they came out more cooked -- still not great, but at least edible. The dish itself (with black bean hummus, corn, and avocado) wasn't worth the price. The corn tasted like cold canned corn, and overall the entrée just didn't feel special. My husband had the spinach, chicken, and bacon salad and enjoyed it. Both soups -- tomato basil and butternut squash -- were delicious. The brie rosemary dip was just okay. There were a few flies around the table, which was annoying, and the inside is a bit dark, so more lighting would help. I can see myself coming back to try more soups, salads, appetizers, and burgers here, but I'll avoid the dinner entrées unless reviews become more consistently positive. There's definitely room for improvement, especially with pacing and kitchen execution.

Met up with some friends for dinner at decoy last night. They took reservations which was not…read morenecessary. Specialty drinks were amazing. I had a Jesse Jewell. Phenomenal. They have a large bar. A nice set up for live music which they had someone playing Saturday evening. Ordered the decoy burger. One of the better smash burgers I've had in a while. Server was great. We went back to play duck bowling. He moved our deserts over to the lanes. The Crème brûlée was delicious as well. The duck bowling is a little expensive, $60 an hr but we had a good time. They also have golf simulators and putt putt.

Decoy is the perfect mix of delicious food and fun! We had technically and made a reservation for a…read moreFriday night but to be honest I don't think we needed it because this place was massive. We got a great table for our party and we ordered some drinks. My only complaint is I could tell our server as new at this because I felt quite forgotten at times as he would just disappear but otherwise it was a great experience! The cocktail menu had a bunch of great choices and I loved my drink! For an appetizer, we got a flat bread and some spinach and artichoke dip both of which were amazing! Super tasty and flavorful. For my main, I got the chicken caesar wrap with fries and this was a massive wrap! Super yummy and I loved that the salad was finely chopped. Overall, the food was super delicious and I wish we had gotten a chance to play some of the games in this place because the vibes were great! Great spot and addition to downtown Gainesville.

We went to Skogie's on a Friday night in June. We had only been there once before with a large…read moregroup and wanted to enjoy a meal by the lake. This night, they had live music and dinner specials. We ordered the appetizer special which this night it was Boudin Balls - sausage and shrimp with cheese, rice and Cajun seasoning, battered and fried. For our meals, we ordered coconut shrimp (and upcharge from Gulf Shrimp platter) and my boyfriend ordered the dinner special, Cajun seafoood pasta - spaghetti with a Cajun Alfredo sauce with octopus, calamari, shrimp, scallops, and clams. All the food was absolutely FANTASTIC and the service was phenomenal as well. We had our order taken, appetizer, and food in under 15 minutes. We were so impressed with the specials, and their portion sizes were huge. We couldn't stop talking about our meal when we got home - we will be back!

We went to the Sunday brunch buffet. The food was decent, just not great. This meal was WAY…read moreoverpriced. After enjoying eating there in the past, this was very disappointing.

What a great place!!! The food is absolutely amazing! The service is also top notch! We recommend…read morethis place 1000%! There are daily specials and a full bar! (You can google the daily specials.) Jason is our regular server and he remembers you, and tries very hard to remember your "usual"! My wife and I recommend everyone to give this place a try! Robert and Kathy, Lula, Ga

Definitely recommend this place. There is something on the menu for everyone and they have daily…read morespecials as well. Robert at the bar is top notch. He can make some amazing cocktails, he can even make suggestions if you tell him some of what you like. His service and personality is exceptional and hard to find these days. We have had him numerous times and he has never failed us. Wednesday night wings for 0.50 is our favorite. We will definitely be back.

If I could, I would give Cotto 6 stars. Located in the historic square in Gainesville, GA, Cotto…read moreModern Italian restaurant was one of the best dinners we've had in a long time. Compared to south Florida's cost of living, the pricing is surprisingly inexpensive for the quality and service. We brought our standard poodle with us, since we were on vacation. We enjoyed their outdoor seating, which was spacious and relaxing. We were welcomed and really made to feel at home. For my south Florida friends, if you are passing through north Georgia, Cotto's should definitely be on your itinerary.

Atmosphere is beautiful! My husband and I have been there several times celebrating special events…read moreand taking guests and friends as well... only disappointment is the hit or miss service. Starts out great and then declines:(

Luna's catered a birthday party at my home in December. The food was amazing and Jason (one of the…read moreowners) & his staff were unbelievable. They took care of every detail, from setting up the tables/chairs & linens, to serving the food, to mixing drinks to clean up. The entire experience was seamless. We will definitely use them again because they offer such high quality and great value. We have also eaten at the restaurant in downtown Gainesville. The food is excellent there as well.

This is a review for the Easter brunch only…read more I'm sure my grandparents would've loved this place if they were still around. You got your white tablecloths, rooms full of retirees, and a vibe that hasn't changed much since the Reagan administration. Unfortunately, there was none of that live music that this place is known for. My family and I came for the Easter brunch buffet @ $55/person. The menu looked great: herb crusted prime rib at the carving station, shrimp and grits, Belgian waffles, deviled eggs, bourbon glazed carrots, cheesecake dessert squares. But the reality was that it's more like an upscale hotel breakfast. Safe, mostly bland, and probably exactly what the "usual" crowd there was looking for. The bacon was overcooked and shriveled. The deviled eggs didn't even have any paprika. And who puts a giant vat of syrup BEFORE the waffles? And their signature strawberry punch would've tasted way better chilled or iced instead of being kept at room temperature. The prime rib was what made it all worth it. It was tender, juicy, cooked just right, and the horseradish took care of their seasoning problem. That carving station is what saves the day along with the fantastic staff. Even the manager was great to talk to. I just wish the rest of the food was better than "meh." A couple of tips: call for reservations, there's no online booking. Parking is annoying because of the app. If you don't have a walker, just use the giant free public lot one block over on Main Street. Also, the "Order" button on their website goes nowhere. Maybe just replace it with "Menu," Luna. Looks like Mother's Day is getting the breakfast buffet brunch encore, so if you want to experience what I did, go for it. I probably won't be back even though the regular menu looks interesting.

Went in here the first time expecting standard pub/lake food and was pleasantly surprised. The…read moreblue cheese chips and tacos were fantastic and Jayme was a great server. If you like house made chips, this is a great spot.

Wrong night for a medium sized party. They were told at the start of the night & on the phone that…read morethere would be at least 12 of us. We ended up with a table that comfortably could seat 8, we squeezed in 12. We had another table for the kids. They were a table of 6 a few feet away. Again it was only a table for 4. But kids don't care much about that. The food was barely ok. However, I personally liked someone else's deep fried Cod & onion straws. They weren't very hungry & im glad they shared. On my bill was myself & 1 other person. We split the Steak Salad & a plate of Beef Nachos for the table. The dressing was fine, the rest was not good. Ordered the steak rare. Steak was med well, tuff, chewy & grisly. If it was tasty I would have only bothered to complain about it only having 2 1/2oz - 3oz of steak. Yeesh!!!!! I was told by 5 people the alcoholic beverages were tasty. I had ice water & I don't remember but I think I also had sweet tea. Other folks ordered appetizers for both tables. They probably should have warned me when I called for a reservation they would be having Song Bingo. All the gal did say was that "we don't take reservations, but they took call-ins". Umm, that's pretty close to a reservation to all of us. Anyway, good luck dinning there. The server was trying hard, I give her kudos. Thank you Miss Shae. Well that's my story.

If you are looking for the perfect blend of outdoor adventure, authentic Italian flavors, and…read morebreathtaking atmosphere in North Georgia, look no further than Trattoria di Montaluce. I have visited Montaluce Winery and Estates many times over the years, but I've always been on the move, never quite able to pause and soak in the full experience. This past weekend, while celebrating my birthday, my friends and I decided to change that. After a refreshing hike through the stunning property, we finally made time to stop in and it was everything I hoped it would be. The moment you step inside, you are transported. The interior aesthetics are absolutely gorgeous. There is a distinct, charming, and "campy" vibe that feels incredibly rustic and upscale at the same time. The taxidermy animals mounted on the walls add such a unique, authentic touch to the space. It's the kind of place you just don't find in chain restaurants. There is just something about a good wood-fired pizza that is unmatched. You can taste the quality and the craft in every bite. I ordered the classic Margherita pizza, and it was exactly what I needed after hiking. It was fresh, bubbly, and perfectly charred. To round out the meal, I paired my pizza with a glass of their signature apple wine. It was the perfect crisp accompaniment to the meal, capturing the essence of the Georgia mountains. Surrounded by real friends who truly celebrate you is a blessing within itself, and Trattoria di Montaluce provided the perfect backdrop for our birthday festivities. It's the kind of place where time slows down, allowing you to actually connect and enjoy the company you're with. If you find yourself finishing a day of wine tasting and hiking, and you think you might not have room for a full pizza, do not let that stop you! Order it anyway and take it home. Your future self will absolutely thank you for that delicious, wood-fired treat the next day. Whether you are a local or just visiting the North Georgia mountains, make sure the Trattoria at Montaluce is on your itinerary. It is a quintessential experience that I am so glad I finally carved out the time to enjoy. #DahlonegaEats #Montaluce #WoodFiredPizza #GeorgiaWineries #YelpElite #BirthdayCelebration #AshSaidIt #NorthGeorgiaLiving #ItalianDining #FoodieLife

Came here recently for an early dinner and had an okay time. We initially sat outside but there…read morewere bees and flies circling the table so we asked to be moved inside. The atmosphere inside doesn't remind me of an upscale winery, tables were cramped and tons of TVs were on showing sports. Food was good though!! The calamari was delicious and I loved the side sauces it came with. The mozzarella delight is amazing for mozzarella stick lovers because of the amount of cheese and perfect breading with sea salt on top. The vodka sauce pizza was okay, the prosciutto made it pretty salty but I really liked the pesto drizzled on top. The pappardelle was also good. The apple crisp skillet was mid. Wish the apples were cut up into smaller, easier to eat pieces. Our server forgot we moved inside and we saw our food sitting at the table outside and had to bring it in ourselves. Overall: pretty location and good food, service and interior aren't up to par if you're looking for a classy, high-end dinner experience I would pick somewhere else.