Cute little restaurant with big flavors. The branzino blew me away. I felt like I was judging a top chef episode with the winning dish. Complex and balanced flavors with a great variety of textures (crispy skin, capers, fried onions, mint, etc). The cornbread pudding was also a winner. I would come back just for this dessert. My only beef was the speed of service. Drinks took 15 minutes, entrees took 7, and dessert took 25. I wish the server would have waited until we had a few sips of our drinks prior to ordering our entrees. Unfortunately this did impact the dining experience. I hope the speed of service can be more consistent read more

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We had the ricotta toast, the octopus, and the Caesar salad to start. The salad is huge - definitely meant to share or create leftovers. The ricotta has a touch of sweetness to it so if you're a strictly savory person, I would consider this before ordering. The entrees were unbelievable. The short rib falls apart with a fork and the oxtail adds incredible depth to the bolognese. The drinks are well made and you aren't left with the did-they-just-wave-the-bottle-over-my-drink feeling. Cannot say enough good things and I would recommend this restaurant to everyone who asked. We went the Friday that the smoke hood broke and the fire alarm went off such that we couldn't re-enter the building. How restaurants handle situations following a wrench being thrown into the norm always speaks volumes about the capabilities of the staff. They quickly transitioned us all to outdoor seating and the night continued on. The service was immaculate and Reza was incredible. read more

Celebrated my husband's birthday tonight here at The Dunbar. This gem is set in a two story home with the first floor used for dining. I love the ambiance. The table tops look like scalloped flowers and they paired them with cool modern chairs. They also have a beautiful bar in a separate room. Definitely make reservations as seating is limited. Here's what we chose: Octopus: the flavors shine here with a total Caribbean vibe. For the price point though the octopus was small. The potatoes took over the dish and the octopus seemed like an afterthought. Plus these are the same potatoes that are offered as a side dish. Would like to see more than one tiny tentacle and the potatoes diced. Paradise Park: so much flavor look at the ingredients plus add cinnamon. Epic of Thyme: this is essentially a dirty martini. Read the preparation. Lady next to us sent hers back but my husband loved it. Farmer's Salad: piled high this is a gorgeous salad. With a shear of hummus on the bottom and the lettuce and trimmings pile high with a light dressing this is totally worth sharing. Pork Chop: nice thick cut served with a nice sauce and butter beans. So yummy! Short Rib: sitting on a serving of polenta the short rib was delicate and just came apart on the fork. With a beautiful reduction sauce this was perfectly prepared. Roasted potatoes: hindsight we didn't need to order these. Not a huge fan of them after the octopus. They are cooked through but really form. Not fork tender. They are beautifully seasoned. Overall we had a wonderful night. Price point is high as is expected because of the limited seating. Definitely worth the experience. Impressive they've only been opened since December. read more

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Finally got a chance to try The Dunbar and wasn't disappointed! I took my husband for his birthday, he's Haitian and loves food so I was excited to see what he thought! We gave the restaurant, food and service a 9/10! His NY strip had the most perfect sear, my oxtail gratin was perfectly seasoned and the Haitian Mac was literally on brand authentic. We also received the Kremas dessert for a birthday surprise not pictured and OMG! I'm also dreaming about the spritz mocktail, definitely a must try place! Ready for the next seasonal menu to come back and try. read more

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Wow! That dinner was spectacular, unique, tasty, comfortable and included great service! Add in the historical location and live music that didn't overpower, and we were absolutely blown away. I tried to get reservations and utterly failed. Booked. I subsequently found out there is a waitlist feature on OpenTable and behold, I got a message at 11pm on Tuesday that there was a sudden opening! I clicked within 5 seconds and bam, we had a table Saturday night at 5pm opening. Perfect! Our waitress was Shae. She did a very fine job serving us. While I parked the car in a nearby lot and walked over, my wonderful wife ordered me a fruity but not sweet mocktail since I'm on the wagon. Little did I know it what would happen... Dylan the bartender whipped up the best mocktail I'd ever had! Mock gin for botanicals, a little Haitian pineapple jam syrup, club soda and grated cinnamon. Incredible! We enjoyed every element of our meal but the appetizer was worth describing here...my expectations were low because I was thinking prosciutto on toast sounded safe. Instead, it was unique and incredible. Sourdough toast, Confiture d'Ananas jam made in house (recipe from Haiti including pineapple), prosciutto, and whipped goat cheese (which I skipped for dietary reasons but, my wife enjoyed). Zowie! Taste explosion! The octopus was well seasoned and prepared, the chicken dish was crispy yet succulent the miso garlic cabbage was uniquely incredible. I could go on and on! Come for the food but enjoy the service and the incredible history. This building was the only hotel that would accept black guests during segregation. BB King, Ela Fitzgerald and many more stayed here to perform in Gainesville, a town known for appreciating music. Life is good when a historic building is respectfully preserved and reopened for generations to both understand and appreciate. read more

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I can't think of too many true fine-dining options in Gainesville beyond the usual steakhouses, but now I definitely have one to add to the list: The Dunbar. I was excited to try this place after reading so many strong reviews. The ambiance strikes a nice balance -- semi-fine dining with a touch of casual warmth. It feels elevated without being overly formal. We ordered the oxtail ragu, lamb, prawn, and Caesar salad -- more than enough food for two people. The oxtail ragu was a bit disappointing; it wasn't as rich or flavorful as I had expected. The lamb and prawn were both well-prepared and enjoyable. Surprisingly, the Caesar salad was the standout for me -- fresh, well-balanced, and probably my favorite dish of the night. Overall, a solid addition to Gainesville's dining scene with a polished atmosphere and thoughtful menu. Definitely worth trying, especially if you're looking for something beyond the standard steakhouse experience. read more

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This is a wonderful place for a cozy dinner. The staff are friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is relaxed and elegant. The food is absolutely delicious and although it's a small menu and we had a group of both vegetarians and carnivores, we all found things we loved. read more

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This place deserves all the praise it receives and more! The staff is lovely and service was surprisingly quick. Lots of drink options: cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine, soda, etc. Absolutely need to return for the short rib and the berry cookie dessert. I promise you will get an elevated experience while having the comfortability of dining in a homey restaurant. read more

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Incredible gem to have in town! Amazing food and drinks, great service and love the vibe of the place.

My dad decided to treat my mom and I to an early Valentine's Day dinner, and I have had my eye on this spot because Yelp and social media. We made reservations about a week ago for Thursday night at 5:15. Be mindful that you will need to park across the street at Haven hospice attic as they are working on their parking lot area. We were greeted by the host and she was very friendly and nice. We were served by our waiter Christian, who gave us a rundown about the restaurant which has southern and Haitian flair which I love. I was very excited because I love Haitian food and there's not a lot of that here in the area. The inside of this restaurant has so much history as this was a historical black hotel. My dad loved it because he mentioned that back in the day this hotel hosted people like B.B. King here so it brought back memories to my parents who grew up in Gainesville. We immediately ordered our appetizer, which were the prawns and the lamb chops. Also, my parents ordered the hibiscus Agua Fresca and the Haitian lemonade while I ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. The restaurant started to get packed and our food was brought out to us by one of the owners who came to check in to make sure everything was going well which I loved. The lamb chops were crusted and had this creole aïoli sauce that was very rich and flavorful. These lamb chops were so good. They're like something I've never had before. The meat was very tender and seasoned. I really enjoy the prawn appetizer the most, as it had a kick from the epis, which is a Haitian marinade. The prawns were huge and so flavorful, and I highly recommend these, especially dipping the crostini in the sauce. Because it was busy, it did take some time for our entrée to come out. However, once they did come out, we all got to sample each other's dishes. I had the oxtail Ragu, which was a great take on an Italian dish with large chunks of oxtail meat. It was very flavorful and filling. My dad had the short rib entrée which was very tender and seasoned. My mom got the branzino, which I only got to try her Haitian black rice or better known as Diri djondjon. It was so good perfectly cooked and I literally wanted a single side of it myself. The mac & cheese is very creamy. It's not like that typical soul food mac & cheese however it was really good. And to end the night, based on all of the recommendations and looking around in the restaurant, we went with the cremas cornbread pudding. When I say this was the star of the show. Pro tip: make room for this dessert. It was perfect with the cornflake brittle on top of the ice cream and the soft cornbread custard. I love this Haitian take on this southern staple, and the cremas drizzle was the cherry on top for me. The food was executed very well, and I do want to come back here to sit in their bar area for some appetizers and drinks with friends in the near future! read more

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The Dunbar is the best place to eat in Gainesville. We decided to eat out tonight for Valentine's Day instead of attempting to find an available place on Valentine's Day. For a Thursday night the place was busy, we booked for 5:15pm, and so glad we did. There is a certain ambiance about the place in a good way. Everything ordered was so fresh and delicious. Appetizers, lamb chops and prawns kicked off the start of a great meal, I had the Branzino with black rice and spicy slaw(similar to pikliz) I would have been happy with just the rice. As a side the vegan Mac &cheese was good as well. The drinks Haitian lemonade and the Hibiscus with a cinnamon stick was absolutely refreshing. The finale was the Cremas cornbread pudding topped with ice cream and cinnamon sprinkle. You will not be disappointed so plan a visit soon. read more

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This was an excellent experience. At the moment it is reservation only. I had a 7pm reservation. We ordered the prawns appetizer to split. It was delicious and came with a bit of a spicy sauce. I had the pork chop which was also pretty good. He had the lamb chops. He loved them but I will say they were fried which I did not expect. We also tried the Mac and cheese and the potato sides. We tried both desserts which were both huge and excellent. I'm not a huge cornbread fan but it was soft and delicious. The dining area is a minimalist vibe but it is cozy. The bathrooms are all gender and were clean! I love seeing this. I would absolutely return. read more

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The Dunbar is one of my new favorite GNV spots. The food was amazing. I had the lamb, oxtail ragu, cornbread pudding, and berry doobie cookie. I had a taste of the half chicken and miso cabbage (getting this next time fr) from my friends and they were good too! The ambiance was nice with a musician playing and low lights. The service was also amazing, our server was very attentive and everyone was so nice. I keep telling everyone to go check The Dunbar out. I'll definitely be back in the future very soon! read more

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To those fortunate enough to grow up, live, or go to school in Gainesville, there's a shared understanding that there's something magical about it. Whether it's the Swamp in the Fall, a perfect cup of coffee from Karma Cream, or wandering into The Lynx (the bookstore you never knew you needed until it pulled you in), the city has a way of quietly charming you. And yet, somehow, all of that falls short of the dining experience we had at The Dunbar. The moment you walk through the door, you're greeted with the warmth of an old friend's home. The restaurant occupies a beautifully restored house that somehow manages to feel both elegant and deeply inviting. Our server, Akayla, guided us through the evening with thoughtful recommendations, incredible attention to detail, and a warmth that reminded us how special it is to have a date night and simply try something new. The chef and owner, Sheldon, was kind enough to greet us and even brought us an amazing cocktail. Every drop of liquid we consumed was pure gold. Now the food... I'm from Miami, and sadly (my fault) I've never had jerk chicken or Haitian food. I don't eat dark meat chicken, but I consumed that entire plate. If I could bathe my tastebuds in that sauce for the rest of my life, I would. The appetizers were the perfect prelude to the ethereal symphony of flavors that stemmed from the entrees seamlessly flowing towards the perfect last bite, the banana pudding dessert. My wife hadn't been having the best day, but this meal, the people, and the ambience, healed her. Magic is embedded in the culture of this city, and the cauldron at The Dunbar and its sorcerer, Sheldon, have created the perfect potion for an enchanting dining experience. I'm so thankful for everyone we interacted with and every bite of that jerk chicken. We will definitely be back again to inhale the entire menu. read more

We had an amazing time at the Dunbar for my birthday. It was a last minute switch from another plan, but it turned out to be the best decision. First, the history is really important: the restaurant used to be the only hotel in the city to serve Black travelers during the Jim Crow era. The elevated southern fare pays homage to the hotel's roots as well as Gainesville's. We started with the farmer's salad, which was incredibly flavorful. A nice balance of texture and sweetness. I'm not normally a salad at restaurant type of person, but it was delicious! For our mains, we got the miso cabbage and oxtail ragu (latter not picture but inhaled). Both were feets of food magic nearing gastronomy. The oxtail was so tender, closer to the texture of braised beef. I initially thought a giant hunk of cabbage odd but quickly realized there were multiple thoughtful components to the dish. The black garlic aioli and miso butter smothered on the cabbage made the dish so unique and delicious! Although their comparative advantage is the food, the primarily rum based cocktails were simply yet yummy. I got a rum twist on a White Russian and my boyfriend got a fruitier cocktail. Finally, we got the cornbread pudding with ice cream for dessert. It came out steaming warm so the contrast of the warm rich, buttery cornbread with the cool ice cream was phenomenal. Also, our waiter and the other staff were kind and super attentive. There was also live music that was not dominating but created a romantic, soft ambience. read more

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I'm really not gonna take up your time and tell you about Dunbar the food the service everything was on point. It's a can't miss whatever you order. I had the shrimp and I had the beef short ribs and I had the sweet potato cornbread, which was delicious that my wife really really enjoyed if I can give her a 10 out of five I would but I'll stick to the five read more

This has been one of the best restaurants we've eaten here in Gainesville FL. The atmosphere was really cute, the service was amazing, and the food was delicious and came out fast! Starting with the Cesar salad, it was perfectly dressed, and had cheese and the croutons in every bite, not just the top. Delicious salad. The Lamb chops visually at first threw me off, I've never had breaded lamb chops, but it was DELICIOUS! Sooo good. Wasn't dry or anything either. The Mac and Cheese was delicious, had plenty of cheese & had peppers dispersed throughout so it had a little kick to it. My favorite thing there excluding the dessert was the Oxtail Gratin. It was amazing truly & the packed it with oxtail meat. Every bite had a lump of meat and they were not stingy with it at all. Ethan just jerk chicken and he finished his plate clean. And to top it all off, dessert was so so good. Literally nothing bad to say at all. For drinks I got the Aytini, think like an espresso martini, but smoother and less sharp! read more

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I went to The Dunbar with friends and had a great time! The ambiance was intimate and there was live music. For the appetizer we tried the lamb chop which was seasoned well and it was fried, never had lamb chop like that before but I was pleasantly surprised. For my entree I had the half chicken with tchaka succotash, pancetta, and smoked turkey. The chicken was juicy with a crisp skin and all the fixings underneath were very flavorful. It was a big portion, I definitely had leftovers. I tried their hibiscus aqua fresca which was great and reminded me of sorrel a Jamaican drink. For dessert we opted to get both the cremas cornbread pudding and berry doobie cookie. My goodness both were heavenly! If I had to choose one the pudding took first place by a slight margin! The service was great! I recommend making a reservation. This is not a spot for long dining, I would say 2 hours max due to the reservations and the space being small. I would definitely return to try other menu items and do more of a shareable option with friends. read more

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Where do I begin with the Dunbar? From the moment I laid eyes on the menu I knew it was that little extra sparkle Gainesville has been missing. From the moment we arrived, I knew we were in for something special. From the beautifully renovated space to the perfectly crafted menu, everything about the Dunbar screams sophisticated chic. If you're considering visiting, I'd highly suggest trying a little of everything. We came with a group and everyone got something different. The octopus was so tender and flavorful, Caesar salad was big enough to feed the whole tables and the lamb was delicious. Next our main courses. I knew before I even took a bite of the short rib it was going to be amazing. It certainly did not disappoint nor did the oxtail ragu. For dessert, we tried both the cookie and the cornbread pudding. My boyfriend's brother almost shed a tear at how delicious the cornbread pudding was. Overall, everything about this experience was special without being over the top. The vibes were immaculate, live music was on point. And the service was five star. The only place you need to consider for date night or any occasion is the Dunbar. 20/10. read more

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Bro the vibe in here is actually spectacular. The lighting, live music, and decor were just so amazing during our lovely dinner. Food was also very yummy, you can tell they choose their palate very carefully. We got the pork chops and shrimp and grits, along with the ricotta toast for our tizer. Super good only reason this isn't a 5 star is because they were out of a lot of the stuff we wanted to order originally. read more

Reservations for the Dunbar was set for 5:30p today, however I made the mistake of canceling instead of confirming my reservation. Ugh so annoying I attempted to reach out on IG and call them around the time I would assume they would be in the restaurant. I received a callback from the host from the restaurant and she was very nice and tried to accommodate but unfortunately, I was not able to get my table reservation and we had to sit at the bar. Parking is not the best as it was street parking or trying to find somewhere to park without getting a ticket/towed. Upon arriving, the restaurant looked nice very dark green exterior and lux but vibey. As you walk up the stairs, you are greeted by the host which she was very welcoming and showed me to the bar area. The vibes inside were dark but giving a Louisiana/creole type vibe especially with the music. The bar was small. Only had 4 seats and it wasn't very intimate as the bar staff was right in your face and you could hear conversations with them and the couple onto the side of us. but the restaurant seems to give intimate vibes which we would have enjoyed had I not messed up the reservation. Also the seats hurt after a while as we were sitting on them for an hour. The bar staff-lady in particular didn't seem very warm in the beginning actually seemed more attentive to my husband than me but not sure if it was due to her training someone but the person who she was training was approachable and nice. The lady seemed to warm up a bit at the end. My husband was given the pleasant drink and he actually thought it was very good. As for dinner, my husband got the oxtail ragu, I got the farmers salad and we shared the mac and cheese and got the berry cookie for dessert. My husband said the oxtail dish was delicious-and it had to have been because he cleaned the bowl! My farmers salad was good but the star for me was the mac and cheese and berry dessert, both of those were 10 out of 10! Like who are the cooks in the kitchen because they definitely know what they are doing! The food all came out pipping hot and presented very nicely. Definitely a nice surprise to Gainesville- it's giving grown adult vibes, great date night experience (make sure you get a table) or girls night. We definitely will be back to try more of the options we that we didn't get to try. read more

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Great food and cocktails! Service was great. Jerk chicken was delicious but spicy. Lamb was amazing as well. Highly recommend the cornbread dessert. read more

There are not enough kind words in the world to give The Dunbar the praise it deserves. The labor of love is obvious. Every detail is thought out. The wait has been worth every second. To get into detail, the space is beautiful. The staff and ownership are beyond lovely and the food is last meal worthy. We ate the ricotta toast (spoiler, it's sweet), the short rib (truly my last meal request), the roasted potatoes (a wonderful addition) and the miso cabbage (better than cabbage has ever been in its existence). read more

The Dunbar was phenomenal! The hospitality was impeccable, the decor was gorgeous, and dear lord the food!!! I highly recommend it. For drinks: I ordered the Ti Di Fe which was smoky, spicy, and delicious; my partner got the Pleasant Street which was also tasty. Food: we ordered the Ricotta toast which was so well balanced with the goat cheese and confiture (a yummy jam). We shared the Oxtail Ragu (so deeply flavored) and the short rib (I'm still crying over how good it was). For dessert we got the Cremas Cornbread Pudding which knocked us off our feet. So decadent! The service was amazing. We sat at the bar and the bartender Dylan was just a delight to speak to. Then chefs came out and asked us how our meals were (so nice). All around a phenomenal experience that I can't wait to have again! read more

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Love the bar in the front and the amazing music in the dining room. Hard to believe this is Gainesville. Cocktails spectacular Food delish Great service read more

Lovely space and music. Our service was attentive. They just switched to a new spring menu this week. Pork chop and lentils dish was good. Conch ceviche, oxtail gratin, and banana pudding were excellent. Cocktails were very good but bar service seemed slow. We will definitely return. read more

We celebrated our wedding anniversary here, and everything was absolutely wonderful. The food was excellent, the ambiance was intimate and perfect for a special occasion, and the service was outstanding. We were very well taken care of from start to finish. Truly a 10/10 experience -- highly recommend! read more

Excellence. Fresh, light, honest and confident cuisine. Chef Germain has done it again! A Gainesville gem rich with history is the perfect place for revival with delicious food, and live music performed by Pierre & Chantelle was delightful. read more

The Dunbar - Oxtail Ragu and Chardonnay - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Food and vibe always on point. Even when it was just a bar with small bites. Gainesville needs more of this. What would separate The Dunbar even more is better drink service. Food comes too quick compared to cocktails and wine. Also, they need to add a mini split a/c as it's way too hot to have an enjoyable meal in the main seating area. Hope they get the drinks and a/c figured out. read more

The welcome was abysmal. We arrived 3 minutes before our 5 PM reservation. They told us in a brusque, inhospitable manner that they weren't open yet (however the front door was open). We asked if we could stand in the lobby as it was windy and rainy out. They asked us 3 to 4 times if we had a reservation and repeated that the restaurant was not open yet. I would've left but knew there was a hefty up-charge for last minute cancelations. They wanted to seat us at a tiny table against a wall with no lighting. When asked if we could sit at a better table, they said they were mostly booked but let us move to a table by a sofa that had a bit more light. Our waiter was a more amiable but not what you'd expect in a relatively pricey venue. The food was pretty good but far from spectacular. I had the dish called octopus (it said it came with potatoes) but only had just a few tiny pieces of octopus with a lot of fried potatoes. The cabbage dish was good as were the olives. No bread was served with the meal. We've checked that place off our list! read more

Food is amazing.... Dinning experience alone is great. Service is very attentive. The ambiance elegant.

The food is amazing, and the service is professional and personable. The ambiance is upscale and welcoming.

The service is excellent, with a warm family feel. We got seated right away. Highly recommend the Branzino; cooked to perfection! The extra treat was the duo guitar and vocals. read more

The Dunbar is an excellent new addition to the GNV food scene! After being open just three weeks, our group of 4 had an excellent meal! We loved the atmosphere and the staff is amazing! Food favorites included - the octopus appetizer, the branzino, the oxtail ragu and both desserts! read more

My girlfriend and I came here (without a reservation so we sat at the bar) and oh my lord the food was so delicious. We got the octopus as an appetizer- super yummy- the potatoes it comes with are nice and crunchy and hold the butter and herb sauce well. We also got the short rib which comes on a bed of moulen, which is akin to a thicker grits. I'm not a grits person but the moulen may have been my favorite part of the meal. The meat was also incredibly tender and delicious. The miso cabbage was also extremely good- very buttery and it pairs nice with the miso paste and crunchy onions to give a nice, rich, complex flavor profile. Finally, we ordered a cornbread pudding with ice cream which was gone in about a minute! The drinks were incredibly good- I recommend the old fashioned which is made with a vanilla simple syrup for a nice spin on a classic cocktail. The mezcal drink is also really good, as per my girlfriend. Our bartenders- Felipe and Jill?- were super nice and conversational, and were really great about answering any questions and guiding us through our experience. The coolest part about the meal though was definitely the ambience. The place is decorated beautifully and gave a very classy, but homey feel. 10/10 would recommend and we will definitely be back soon! read more