A very consistent restaurant that will never disappoint. I have come here on a regular basis and I make it a point to call before I leave as the wait time can be crazy sometimes. It's a good option if you wanna have a dinner night or just a drinks night by the bar with your friends. A perfect location that's not too hard on your pockets. The great part is they have vegan options too. And are open for Sunday brunch. I have tried their burgers, pasta's and Entrees and I've like them all. But I'm always a bit partial to the pesto gnocchi..it's just awesome. The dessert's need a special mention. They have vegan cakes too and all of them are great. It's the perfect ending to the meal. The portions are very generous. Last but not the least, be assured to see the staff who are always smiling and ready to help. If you are in Gainesville..this place is definitely worth the shot read more

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The Top is on the list of a Gainesville must do. Whether it's for cocktails or their delicious food, the mellow atmosphere makes this a hip spot dinner spot. This restaurant is situated in a convenient and accessible part of Downtown Gainesville. There is plenty of street parking, a garage, meters, etc... around the general vicinity and it only takes a block or two if you're cheap like me and park for free! The dinner rush at this restaurant is NO JOKE! It's a popular place often frequented by families, students, young professionals and they often come in large groups. Upon arriving you may have to wait but I have found that sometimes a 40 minute estimate may only end up being 20 minutes. There is indoor seating and patio seating in the front and back. The indoor seating sounds a large bar that serves as a focal point and is a great place to grab a cocktail or local beer while waiting for your table, if you can find a spot! The Top has eclectic decorations and very dim lighting which contributes to it's hipster vibe. The outdoor patio on a sunny day is a great place to enjoy beautiful weather while catching a game on a big screen with a bar ready to serve drinks! The menu is EXTENSIVE featuring a lot of options for all kinds of palettes. There are vegetarian and vegan options that are equally as appealing to carnivores! You cannot go wrong with anything on the appetizer list but my recommendations are the corn nuggets, buffalo tempeh, and nachos! I am more of a handheld meals kind of girl so I prefer to have any of their amazing burgers or sandwiches. The last page of their menu has specials that also highlight the ability of their staff to mix a variety of ingredients to make a flavorful meal! I love the rocket burger, the widowmaker, and most of the others. You can select a variety of patties for their burgers including blackbean, angus beef, chicken, and falafel. I'm a big fan of their pork belly and kimchi sandwich. I have not had an entree but I've heard great things from those I've been with! DO NOT SLEEP ON THEIR SWEET POTATO FRIES. They come with an amazing dipping sauce that I'm not even sure I know whats in it. Everything food wise is great and worth a try. Especially their chocolate vegan cake! I love The Top and often frequent for dinners or after bar snacking! If you go prepare to wait for a table and once you you're at the table. My friends and I joke that we need to reserve our waters because we may dehydrate expecting a refill but I've noticed that they're more on the ball about that! They definitely have a laid back vibe and generally leave you alone which is awesome when you're there with great company versus on an awkward first date, trust me! read more

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I love the food. It's a little different. When I went there they were serving gnocchi (my favorite Italian pasta (made with potatoes) which I make with red sauce but they made it with pesto. It was excellent!! read more

A more than pleasant surprise, particularly for the vegetarians in our group. Even the children's menu has exciting new options. The pecan tofu was everyone's favorite. We all left feeling satisfied and healthy. (And the service and drink menu were too.) read more

The Top - Even the kids were thrilled . - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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The top is hands down the best restaurant in Gville. It never fails. Make sure to get the peanut butter pie for dessert!

Favorite food and atmosphere in Gainesville. Order the grapefruit gimlet, you won't be disappointed.

Ohhh man. We were looking for a place to eat brunch on a Sunday morning. We first went to another place, but the wait was too long so we ended up going to The Top. BOY, thank goodness we did!! Our wait for 6 people was about 40 minutes, but the waiter kept checking in with us to make sure we knew he didn't forget about us. Once we got seated outdoors, our waiter came quickly and was so welcoming to us. Our table ordered the blueberry vegan french toast and the sweet potato fries for appetizers. THEY WERE AMAZING! And then, individually, we ordered an omelette, the Top Benedict, Southwest Tofu Scramble, burrito, and chicken and biscuits. They were all phenomenal, but especially the Benedict and the burrito. We highly recommend all of these dishes! For dessert, we got the vegan chocolate cake as well as the hummingbird cake. The chocolate cake was perfectly dense, and the hummingbird cake was very yummy, sort of a hybrid of banana bread with carrot cake. We LOVED them. The Top has really perfected their vibe. The lights are cute and the wall decor is awesome! Love it and we left so happy! read more

The Top - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Food is good just a little pricey. I went during the pandemic and they charged 18% gratuity and didn't say nothing until AFTER the check came. read more

Normally I take pictures of my food but this restaurant was too dark to get good ones so my description will have to do. Our party of 4 had a 35 minute wait on a summer Tuesday night. It was worth it. The Top was recommended by a local friend and it didn't disappoint. We all ordered burgers for an entree with either fries or sweet potato fries and shared a corn fritter appetizer with horseradish. I didn't care for the sauce our server brought with it and asked for horseradish which was and is the perfect accompaniment to any corn fritter. I also ordered a Lady Anne cocktail which is a pear liqueur and mint. It was delicious and a great start to the meal. My burger, the True Blue, was cooked perfectly (although if it was too pink I wouldn't have seen it in the light anyway). The French fries were limp and not "well done crispy" as I requested though. My dinner mates tried The Classic and The Maradona burger and everyone was very pleased. I'm looking forward to returning and sampling other things on the menu. I should also mention our attentive pierced and tattooed server. She was very helpful, friendly, and attentive without being a pain in the ass. read more

The Top - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The Top is my happy place. I don't live in Gainesville so it is a special treat to come into town and hit up all my favorite and nostalgic places. I love the look of the place. It has a "tongue-in-cheek" vibe when it comes to décor and there is just random, goofy stuff all over the place. It has a major hipster feel to it. The Top is huge! They maximized their space and have a nice outdoor seating area with a bar in addition to the nicely-sized bar and dining room inside. The craft beer and cocktail list is absolutely fabulous and who can argue with college-town prices? The menu is massive with options for everyone in your group. You can bring your vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and straight-up carnivore friends in and everyone will be happy. The burgers are particularly good and they have some unique options. I am a meat-eater but I tried their tempeh and it is the best I have ever had. My advice is: be prepared to wait. The bar is first-come-first-serve but if you want a table (particularly on weekend) you will wait at least an hour. I noticed they also have a Sunday brunch that I am eager to try. read more

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Great service, great food, great atmosphere!!! Highly recommend! #1 for us! Kim is the best bartender!

Hi The Top, I love you!!! I have now been to The Top twice and this place is always amazing. This is a popular place, and no matter when you go, most likely you will have a little bit of a wait. I went on a Wednesday around prime dinner time and had about a 15 minute wait for first available, which meant we sat outside, but it was better than waiting an hour or more for eating inside. The place is awesome, it's hip, modern, and cool. I find the inside to be a little on the louder side, but that is just because of how busy they are. Our waiter did a great job and was very attentive after he took our food order. Tracking him down to place the food order did take a few minutes, but I do not think this is worth loosing a star because he did a great job overall. We had the corn nuggets which were really good. It pretty much tasted like you were eating creamed corn, but fried in a small ball. I found these to taste really good. They have a very large menu and lots of daily/weekly specials to choose from. The person I was with had the goat burger, and substituted the fries for a salad, which looked really good. I have the BBQ platter that came with coleslaw, mac & cheese, and corn bread, and it was HUGE. Most likely the biggest piece of BBQ I have had. I thought on the menu it was pork, but I think it was a beef rib, as it kind of tasted like pot roast. I had it two days in a row. Past times I have been here I have had the Burgers. They have so many burgers and they all taste really good. I highly recommend them! Overall it was a great trip to The Top! I would suggest that on a hot day you may want to wait to eat inside. Another tip would be to try to get there prior to 6 pm as it seems to get really busy around that time. Finally, brunch here looks amazing and I for sure will be going to that in the near future!!! read more

The Top - Huge portion! The BBQ special - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Started off with the corn nuggets, not a big fan of corn but it was surprisingly delicious, it comes with a garlic ranch creamy sauce that was amazing . Ordered the mushroom and pesto frittata and it was okay my boyfriend had the club breakfast sandwich which was a much better choice than mine. My favorite part of my plate was the sweet potato fries, they were very good. The place is nice, it has a full bar, offer happy hour, dim lights ,decor it's okay,nothing out if this world. Plenty of parking. Price is decent.Service was very good, our server's name was Jimmy and he was very polite and attentive. read more

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This is a great place for a date. The bar inside is aesthetically on point, as is the atmosphere. The place is usually packed and I often wait 45 min to get in. It's nice because they will give you a text when you're table is ready so in the meantime you can hop to a bar next door for a drink and simply walk back when you get the text. The real plus is the back patio. There is another bar there, and fantastic tables with romantic candles ;). It has a tropical "vibe" and they play music that isn't embarrassing. I love their burgers. Would highly recommend. I once got a chicken dish.. stuffed with crab. This was... gross. Do not. Otherwise, everything else I've had there is great. read more

I would die for this place. That's how good the food is and I love the atmosphere as well! Never let down and the sweet potato fries are more than delicious. Wish I could eat here for breakfast lunch and dinner 24/7/365. Unfortunately, that's not possible and my body probably would not be happy with me either LOL. read more

The Top - Widow maker chicken burger with sweet potato fries - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Good food ! Great service. The restaurant was very lively and nicely kept. great ambiance.

Came here for dinner during my visit to Gainesville. I was very impressed on their COVID protocols and social distancing efforts. Not only was everyone practicing safety measures, but the staff encouraged it in a kind way. Made me feel safe and calm the entire visit. We had the corn nuggets to start the evening, they are delicious. A must have during your visit. We then had the Tom Patty Melt and also the Love & Rockets. Both burgers where delicious and savory. The cooked them to order and fresh. Our server had various tables but she always knew when to come check-in with us but also anticipated the right time of when we needed refills. Do know they are currently adding an 18% gratuity to your bill to help with the staff wages. The outside host made us aware of this charge before we even walked inside of the restaurant along with the other COVID rules which we appreciated very much. We had a great time, great service and no wait time to be seated. We look forward to visiting again during our next visit. read more

The Top - Tom Patty Melt with French Fries - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Been coming here since college. They have a great atmosphere and you can't go wrong with any of the burgers

We were meeting family in Gainesville and this place has four stars on yelp. We were not disappointed. The food was awesome, service was amazing and it was a great place to hang out with family. read more

As usual I sat at the bar. I was served quickly despite the barman being busy with a very packed house. Apparently word is out that this place is pretty great. The decor is dark and... trendy, I guess? I'm getting old. The area around the bar was crowded without being uncomfortably packed. The volume was loud, but not in a way that would impede a conversation with someone next to you. Take a date, a friend, or maybe two (friends, that is), but I would probably advise against showing up with a big party if it already looks busy. I started with a corn soup, which was delicious. It wasn't just your basic corn chowder, but rather darker in color, and more complex/savory in flavor profile. It was paired with a small slice of plain bread... why make things complicated when simple will do? It sopped up the soup and whet my appetite perfectly. My main course was the sweet and spicy fried tofu. It came piping hot and served with rice and broccoli, which were both cooked and seasoned well. The sauce on the tofu was spicier than I expected, but pleasantly so, and the tofu was a good firm texture, although the outside could have been crunchier since it was billed as being crumbed/fried. I finished up with a grapefruit gimlet, which was strong but refreshing. Overall a really pleasant experience... this place can likely serve as a good spot for dinner, dates, fun, or drinks! read more

The Food is good but a bit pricey. Drinks are a bit pricey., Place Very loud and crowded. Service is adequate. read more

EXPENSIVE!!! waited in line for 45 minutes before I could get a drink at the bar. Service was very slow. Pretty sure the good reviews are just bots because this place is overrated. Waited 90 min to get a table, 40 min to get our food and as I wrote this, I still haven't gotten my check back after 15 minutes! Please... JUST LET ME LEAVE! read more

Overpriced and you wait too long. Whole bunch of smelly hipsters too. Chicks with armpit hair type vibe. But they do got decent drink deals and a good ambiance. read more

Came here for a date night and we both had a fantastic experience. As other reviews warned, we had a thirty minute wait on a Sunday night but we weren't upset by that as it was what we expected based on other reviews. Once we were seated, we had very prompt service from our waiter, Matthew, despite him being so busy. He was absolutely fantastic and made sure our free refills of soda kept coming and that we had everything we needed (hot sauce, water, more apps, you name it!). I ordered the San Diego chicken and my boyfriend got the pepper sirloin. Overall we both really enjoyed our meals, my boyfriends only complaint was that the sirloin had a bit too much crushed pepper on top and it drowned out other flavors. My San Diego chicken was great, just a tad bland on the inside of the breast but nothing some hot sauce couldn't finish. We both chose to get double sides of mashed potatoes and we didn't regret it - it was delectable. Overall this place has a cool hipster vibe, is good for family and dates, and has great service. We also couldn't complain about the portion sizes and definitely have food for tomorrow (; read more

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I was sitting at the bar waiting to be seated at my table (bout an hour wait) and there was a chair missing from the bar section. I was told this by a bartender. After seeing a waitress use another tables chair, since they mentioned a chair was missing, I went ahead and took a chair from a table that had 4 menus seated on it. Which seemed to be an extra chair not in use. I was promptly approached by Sabrina, who very rudely told me that the chairs for dinner are not the same chairs for the bar. I explained to her that I was told a chair was missing, and that since I saw another chair taken by someone else, I thought it was okay. I love this place, the food, the bartender was great as well, but Sabrina the manager really needs to be checked on her customer service. And maybe don't tell guests that there are things missing if you aren't going to rectify it. This used to be my favorite spot, but after tonight i doubt i'll be returning. update - the table didn't even end up using the chairs. there were 2 open seats and we stood for an hour. read more

The restaurant got great reviews and I loved the vibe when we walked in. They offered lots of vegetarian / vegan options. Started off well. But the first three things we ordered were 86d for the evening. That sucks. But what are you gonna do? We picked something else and away went the waiter. 20 mins pass. No food. Some tables got some but it was slow going. Waiter says it will be "right out". 30 minutes. A few other tables get food. 35 minutes. We're getting antsy. Haven't seen the waiter. 40 minutes. Still nothing. We find the waiter and he says he'll check. We tell him we're planning to leave if it's not really soon. More tables get food. No waiter. At the 45 minute mark, we got up and left. The waiter had not checked; he was taking an order at some other table. We simply told the guy it's been too darn long and that we were leaving. Lots of weird stares as we walked out. But all we had to that point was water so who cares? I've never been to a restaurant that cared so little. Not a "we're really backed up" or "how about if we offer you some breadsticks". Nothing. Nada. It's an hour and change (including the time to take the order) that I won't get back. How was the food? No idea. Never got any. We wound up going with fast food because it got late. I will never go back to what turned out to be "the bottom" read more

Gainesville staple. The food variety and quality is genuinely impressive. Very hip ambiance -- definitely can hang out for a cocktail or two or three. Waiters are super hipsters, but it definitely aligns with the attire of the venue. Conveniently located in the most popular sector of downtown. read more

The Top is known for their burgers and for good reason, they are the best in town. Friendly disclaimer: Be prepared to wait for a table, especially on weekend nights. FOOD (5/5): I have only had the burgers here so I can't speak to the whole menu, but every single meal I have had here has been incredible. My recommendations are listed below: Lil' Kimchi - A burger topped with homemade kimchi and pork belly. Easily one of my favorite burgers here. Reuben Burger - Burger on rye with corned beef, sour kraut, and cheese. A large burger that has an incredible taste. For even more meat, add bacon. Burger Du Jour - Burger on a brioche bun with ghost pepper jack, pork belly, pineapple, fried onion, sriracha aioli, arugula, and roasted red peppers. Not always available but always good. SERVICE (3/5): Hit or miss depending on server. AMBIANCE (5/5): One of the cooler, more hip places in Gainesville. If you want a dope local place to eat, The Top is the place to go! read more

The Top - Burger special - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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VERY EXPENSIVE. Noisy and slow service. Over priced well drinks. Parking lot is horrible. I expected much more.

Great food but I wouldn't fill recommend since it's very dark, impossible to park, long wait times and high prices. If you make a reservation and are willing to pay then it is definitely worth stopping I think. read more

I'm not a hipster but The Top let me in any way. It's dark and moody, the music is too loud, the voices are too loud, it's crowded... but if you want the damned finest chicken fingers in Gainesville, The Top is the ONLY place to go. Screw everybody else. The chicken fingers are divine. They are perfect. That's how I should end this review. Oh, the Amaretto Sour I had was the absolute best one I've ever had in my entire life. I had two which was like having four. I don't drink and I'm a total lightweight when I have an occasional drink, so that first one was the reason I went back for the second, I wasn't thinking clearly. The Top is always packed. Ask for first available otherwise, you'll be waiting for a while. If you have a big party, go early. Sit at the bar if it's just two of you but be prepared for everybody to be in your business because it's a busy joint. Best chicken fingers on the planet. The servers and the hosts can be hit or miss. I've had great experiences with the bartenders and been completely ignored other times. My last visit was pretty good. We were seated right away, our server was pretty attentive, our food was great, it was just really loud the whole time. Even chickens would commit cannibalism because these chicken fingers are so good. The Top is a staple in Gainesville. Everybody goes there at some point. You put up with the bad because everything else is usually really good. read more

A great food hub for Gainesville. I would say that they make some of the best burgers in G-ville. Great ambiance too. I can always get a reliably good meal there. read more

We went to The Top for a special occasion, and our entire party was thrilled. Definitely try the fried pickles! Everything was delicious! Great options for vegans and vegetarians too, which was half of our party. read more

Amazing food and lots of options if you are vegetarian or gluten free. Everything I've tried here is amazing. My only complaint is that it a little dark inside and can be hard to navigate with small kids, and parking downtown can be rough. But this is Gainesville staple and the staff are amazing people. read more

Damn this was good and I love the environment. Such a fun and laid back vibe. The food was delicious and quickly served. Our service was tops and super kind. Love this place and will return always. read more

Best food in gville imo. My favorite thing is the black bean burger. Great atmosphere for a night out

The food was great. The skirt steak sandwich had a ton of flavor. The ambiance was chill and relaxed and the service was on point. Would definitely recommend. read more

Love this place. Fantastic for vegetarians. I had a risotto and it was divine. The only reason for 4 stars and not 5 was the wait to get a table. But hey, long wait times are the norm at place with good food, right? read more

Came here to celebrate my little sister's 21st. They said her ID was fake and threatened to confiscate it. Once they realized they made a mistake, they returned her ID but refused to serve her. Totally killed her birthday vibes. We left and celebrated elsewhere. The bartender could've used used less attitude and the bar could've used a scanner. This place isn't what it used to be. Two stars because it used to so be fun. read more

The Top was highly recommended to my 'new to town' self. I went in around 6 pm on a Sunday. It was annoyingly busy. They have a small private parking lot (I got lucky). I later learned that there was a music festival, that may have been the cause of the rude crowd. But once it died down a bit is was a cool atmosphere. Service was always attentive. Sat at the bar with Chris, she was great. They had happy hour all day that day and they have plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. I forgot the name of what I had but I opted for a vegan meal. Flavor was great without being too bold. The meal tasted fresh. It had eggplant, prepared perfectly, not soggy or slimey. I do plan on going back before I leave town. read more

The Top - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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