Fun place, good service. Not great for large parties. They don't take reservations and didn't want to split the bill (we needed separate checks for business purposes) but they did accommodate this. I had a Paloma that was fantastic and a burger served open face with mushroom and onions. There are lots of options on the menu for for vegetarians. read more

My friend and i went there on Friday night for dinner. They don't make reservations and when we got there around 7 there was a 30 min wait for a table. We decided to sit at the bar which offered dinner menu. The food was good. Large portions. I tried grilled salmon. It definitely needed more sauce for flavor. The sweet potato fries didn't look appetizing at all since they looked brown and somewhat soggy. Overall decent place for dinner but I wouldn't go there again. read more

The Top - Side salad - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Best meal ever. 12/10 The dish is truly outstanding, with its perfect balance of flavors and textures. The crunchy pecan coating adds a delightful twist to the tofu, making it a must-try for any food enthusiast. The ambiance at Top is equally delightful, with fun and quirky decorations that add to the overall dining experience. It's definitely the best place in Gainesville to enjoy a delicious meal in a unique setting! COME HERE read more

The Top - Pecan crusted tofu - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Old school, slightly funky decor, a nice alternative to the chrome & formica strip center dining decor. It was a busy evening and service was attentive. Good assortment of flavors leaning toward vegetarian possible dishes. In other words, add your protein of choice, and tofu is an option for many of the dishes. All of our meals were very good, and their prices were not abusive. read more

been here three times in the past month, received terrible service from bartender named Gabby all 3 times. she ignored my friends and i, then begrudgingly served us after we waved her down. every time she's been so rude and disrespectful, snatching cards from our hands then slamming our checks on the counter without ever saying a word to us. I wanted to let this go the first time because everyone has a bad shift every now and then but after 3 separate occasions i can't excuse it anymore. Jonathan had to pick up her slack with our party and gave us wonderful serve and even apologized on her behalf, he's the only reason i'm coming back. every time i see Gabby working i consider leaving because of how she made my friends and I feel. read more

Sweet potato fries are usually cold and overcooked like they cook them ahead of time and then re-cook them not my favorite place but the cocktails are great because they have wonderful bartenders read more

I've been to The Top a few times, and the vibe is always great. I went with a group of friends to celebrate. I ordered the Seitan Texas Cheesesteak, which was incredibly large and possibly enough for two to eat! My 3 year old daughter quickly grabbed half of the toast, and began to nibble. The texture, and the temperature was great. I managed to finish the sandwich in about half an hour, and overall it had a great flavor and was also priced very reasonably at about $12. In terms of portion size and taste, I was very satisfied! I ended up splitting this meal with my toddler, and it was plenty for both of us. We also shared the nachos appetizer with our group, and it was incredibly delicious. The guacamole was phenomenal. read more

The Top - Seitan Texas Cheesesteak - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Fantastic! I had the chicken Chimmichuri, garlic mash and green beans. Absolutely loved it and the seasonal strawberry cake as well. read more

The Top - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Hands down my favorite place to eat in Gainesville. A varied, well-made menu with high quality ingredients and fantastic cooking. My favorite appetizer is easily the Garlic and Goat, with the Corn Nuggets serving as a great snack if I'm at the outside bar out back. Speaking of the bar, it's also one of my favorite in Gainesville when I want cocktails. Whether you're the kind of person to go for an Old Fashioned or a Cosmo, there's cocktails of all types. My favorite is the Saladita, a spicy cocktail with Vida and honey. The service here is good, they don't take reservations, but when you leave your name on the list they'll text you, so you can pass the time around the rest of downtown if the wait is long, but even at peak times it's never unreasonable, and I think the longest I've waited was 1 hour on a Friday Night in the fall. The vibe here is also fantastic. Great Weird Gainesville eccentricity with nearly tacky Americana decorations combined with art deco of days past. It's never too loud in the restaurant or the patio out back, and there's two bars, giving you a variety prepared for North Florida's varying temperaments of weather. read more

The Top - Pesto Gnocchi - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Let me start off by saying people absolutely love The Top. Because of this I've tried it several times over several years. Generally, I'll go when "the group" all decides on The Top. My problem with The Top is that there's been absolutely nothing I've eaten that I thought to myself "wow, this is good" or "this tastes excellent!" Everything I've ever had has been "fine." Nothing better, nothing worse. If you're going to deal with parking downtown and all that comes with a visit to downtown, the food should be "great," "awesome," or "wow." Service is also "fine." I've had some prejudging of the group I'm with, but that's everywhere. read more

I can't believe I have posted a review until now. I have had various children in college, in Gainesville, since 2016. Needless to say I have been to The Top numerous times. This is the most consistently excellent restaurant ever. To start off always order a FM Vega. It is better here than at the brewery. Then get the corn nuggets or clams depending on your preference. For your main try a burger, the trout, or the steak. All are wonderful choices. Heck, my 82 year old couldn't even find something to complain about. Never had dessert here because I have always been to full. But I did have a FM honey bee citrus to finish off the evening last time and it was quite lovely. read more

Eclectic little restaurant with dim lighting and fun vibes. Bar area on the one side but then booths and outdoor seating available. Booths I believe add to the experience of the space, providing intimacy, but not isolating, great for catching up with friends or a date night. The food itself was above average with great variety. I did order burgers both times I was there and it was cooked as requested. I ordered sweet potato fries as well, which if you like the thinner type of fries this version is for you. Got to give it a 4 for the space, food and service. I do think it stands out in the area as one of the more popular restaurants. read more

Whenever I'm in Gainesville I make sure to visit The Top. It's one of my favorite restaurants mainly because everything I've tried has been amazing! I love coming here because all the servers are really nice, the service is great and so is the food. The restaurant decor is super quirky and different so that adds to the experience. Yesterday, my boyfriend and I decided to order take out from them at 9:30 and it was ready in 15 minutes. They have a great system set up for take outs, everyone was wearing masks and gloves. My absolute favorite thing from The Top though, is 100% the Vegan Chocolate Cake. I don't know how they do it but it tastes like heaven!!! Definitely visit The Top if you're in or live in Gainesville. You will not be disappointed. read more

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I used to love this place -- the food was awesome, I knew the people... It just isn't the same now. Food's not quite as good anymore. Ambiance is different... And the people who work there are just not very friendly. IDK... I think I'm done coming here. I get sentimental about how it used to be and now I'm always disappointed. read more

Slow service and was placed outside after waiting over 2 hours for a table when it was cold outside because they skipped our name in the table waitlist Food and drinks were mid Giving them 2 starts instead of 1 since it was UF/FSU weekend read more

Cool laud back vibe and kitchy room with a very mixed crowd (a plus!). Called ahead about wait times and planned accordingly. Food was solid and about what I expected from a neighborhood spot. Friendly and fast (but not rushed) service. read more

Nice hipster gastropub in the heart of downtown Gainesville. Parking is limited but the restaurant and bar does have ample seating inside and patio seating along Main St. There is a great selection of beers, drink specials, and food specials. I opted for some wahoo fish tacos which were delicious. The Brussels sprouts were a bit garlicky for me but still quite tasty. The corn nuggets and peanut butter pie were amazing! It's been over 10 years since I last came here but still quite the place! read more

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Everyone in Gainesville knows The Top is the top-- it's always packed for a reason, and I personally enjoy being seated on the back outdoor patio. I'm a sucker for a nice breeze and a mood-setting string of white lights. What makes The Top so special? Most importantly, the food is great, but it also has a unique, very cool atmosphere with a highly professional and informed waitstaff. I might be considered boring in so far as what I've tried and love from the menu, so sorry! But I love the fried tofu and fried chicken strips from the appetizer section-- I have made that a meal by itself a couple of times. Then I absolutely love the build your own burger. I don't eat beef, but I love love love chicken sandwiches and cheese. I have most certainly tried multiple variations of chicken sandwiches with different sauces, cheeses, and toppings-- they offer various "burger" styles where you just pick the meat or vegan option. And FYI: my mother had a pricy seafood entree once and said it was to die for. The last time I went, I ordered one of only two pasta entree offerings on the menu. Ever since the incredible Francesca's closed due to the pandemic, there has not been a great, original (imo) Italian restaurant in Gainesville. So I took a chance at The Top, I don't recall the name of the dish, but it had delicious al dente noodles and fresh tomatoes and garlic-- it was refreshing and quite good! I thought, "fantastic. Now I have found a place that can at least satisfy the craving of fresh, original Italian food." I do plan on trying another Italian dish the next time I visit. The Top is a wonderful place. Expect and plan for a wait for a table. You'll have a nice time and a delicious meal at a fair price. read more

Great place to meet up and enjoy a nice meal with drinks . The staff was friendly and welcoming.

The Top is a classic in Gainesville. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very cool, and great for a gathering of friends. The menu has a ton of amazing options that are vegan friendly, but one of the most well-known are their burgers. I ordered the Widow-Maker and I don't know that I can eat any other burger and be happy. Great quality and great flavor. It took a while for the food to come out but it was worth it once I started eating it. The service is friendly there too. read more

The Top - Widow-Maker Burger - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I'd heard great things about The Top for awhile, so I was pretty excited to finally get to try it while I was visiting Gainesville for work. The atmosphere is super eclectic and has a really fun vintage feel. I would love to go back when it's not so busy to explore and have more time to take it all in. However, I wouldn't be surprised if it's always busy because this restaurant is a must-visit and has obviously become a staple for Gainesville residents. My colleague and I ordered allllll the things and we were not disappointed. We loved the peanut butter pie the most though. Amazing. Parking can be a little tricky because it is in downtown Gainesville but it's super simple to get dropped off there by a Lyft or Uber. read more

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Two words: disjointed and inconsistent. I have been to The Top many times and have had some very nice meals and experiences and also my share of unfortunate ones. The place comes off as a kind of "campus" (the way the megachurches use it) that seems somewhat haphazardly planned out and managed, there are so many different types of seating options, all with their own regulations and varying degrees of comfort/accessibility. It is also strange to me that the whole Top operation throughout Gainesville has this total frenetic energy and they are constantly changing things up in ways that don't make sense and which make the experience and product worse. Some highlights from recent visits: -The staff behind the bar kind of just hangs out with each other, like they're having a party we were lucky to be invited to. Always a bit of an attitude and lots of side eyes, but if they know a patron you'd think you were at that person's party and you get to watch the love fest. Late night they turn the music up way too loud (terrible screamo or something of the like). They will turn it down if you ask but usually somebody goes behind them and turns it back up by the next song. Again, their party. I usually eat at the bar because the wait for tables tends to be very long. The maitre d's tend to be a little snide too. -The food is inconsistent. The last two visits, my fries were cool. The corn nuggets, which I find somewhat expensive for what they are, were so cold as to be inedible. (For some reason, sometimes they let you substitute corn nuggets for fries for no upcharge, other times it's not possible to sub them whatsoever - it's also unclear sometimes when something is gonna be an upcharge). The burgers tend to be a bit sloppy, strangely conceived and thrown together without much care. I got the datil burger (the monthly burger), which was a total grease and fat bomb and datil was an afterthought. The description was enticing enough but the execution was a catastrophe, like something from the Heart Attack Grill. They will not cook anything rare (they will let you order it, you are not getting it!). My dining companions have always liked the other entrees, though they seem to have eliminated the specials, so all I really come for is unhealthy bar food. It feels worse to indulge when the food isn't prepared excellently. -The drinks are nice and reasonably priced - lots of beer on tap and the cocktails are well made. -The place is loud and dark, though they do keep it cool (maybe that's why the food ends up so cold). -My biggest issue is probably related to accommodation. I went recently with a friend who is elderly and the maitre d' originally said it would be about a 15 minute wait, so we tried to find a place to wait, originally the seating against the wall by the bar. The stools were too high for her to sit in them safely (without feeling like she was sliding out) so we went out back and sat at the corner of the back bar. Again, there are many different types of seating, all with their own requirements, and most aren't really accommodating. After some time, the maitre d' found us and said the table would take a bit longer so we were free to keep waiting or to just stay where we were. By this point my companion was in a lot of pain from sitting at the bar, her knees were giving out, though it seemed like we had no option but to wait there, so we ordered our meal. By the time it was delivered we needed to move, but they had given away our table. They were able to get us a table inside (after much back-and-forth) and the process of moving was somewhat awkward. In all, I hope they can step back and think about what their broader goals are, because in many ways, as the kids say, "this ain't it." read more

YES, YES, YES!!! Love coming here. Do yourself a favor and have the corn nuggets! There is also an outside area with a bar and pool table. Parking is street parking. read more

My daughter and I are vegan and we LOVE the fried pickles with vegan ranch and the vegan Caesar with blackened tofu. Everything that's vegan that we've tried has been good. We don't always get great service (in fact the best service we've received was when we sat at the bar). However we still go whenever I'm in town because of the great vegan options. read more

The Top - Vegan caesar with blackened tofu. Vegan patty melt with sweet potato fries. - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

We were visiting a friend in Gainesville who has frequented The Top for several years dating back to college. They brought us here and I have to admit, I wasn't expecting it to be as great as it was! The restaurant is a lot bigger than it looks! The interior is really fun! They feature some really great art pieces and really it's all about the vibe here. The staff are all so friendly and service was excellent. They have a fairly large outdoor patio area in the back that also has a full bar. And I love that they cater to both carnivores and plant based eaters. They also are family friendly, pet friendly but also a great spot for date nights or getting drinks! The drink menu is amazing! They had some great options that you don't really find elsewhere! We ordered and shared... Fried Corn Nuggets & Creamy Garlic Sauce (Addicting and DEADLY) Sesame Tuna Greek Salad Sweet Potato Fries & Creamy Garlic Sauce (The sauceeeeee!) San Diego Chicken Everything was good. Prices are reasonable for what you get. Definitely a Gainesville gem! read more

The Top - Sesame Tuna - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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This place is great for a bite to eat with friends and family! The grilled cheese sandwiches are something great that you have to check out for yourself. I'd definitely recommend trying their buffalo chicken sandwich. I had it and it was one of the best sandwiches I've had in a long time. Expect moderate wait time when it's busy and not the cheapest prices, but other than that this place is worth a try! read more

I've been meaning to come to The Top for several months but heard they were always crowded and had a very long wait time. We decided to take our chances on a Friday at 5:30 pm. Good decision because we were able to get a table immediately, although outside seating would've been 25-30 minutes. Getting our first drink took a little bit of time, about 13 minutes. Once our server started she was very attentive and service time was no longer an issue. They have a nice selection of drinks with a full bar. We made it during happy hour so that was a nice surprise. The drinks we ordered were made perfect, but they don't serve Bloody Mary's. She made that clear as soon as my husband ordered one. I didn't know this, but the menu has a lot of vegetarian selections. For appetizers we got the kimchee cauliflower and the goat cheese with olives and bread (can't remember the name). I'm good with or without meat but chose the stuffed chicken breast with crab. It was a hard decision between that and the eggplant dish. My husband got the bowtie pasta, which was surprising because he is a big meat eater. He loved it and said everything was cooked perfectly. We were very happy with the ambiance, the service, and the excellent food. read more

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The Top is probably our favorite restaurant in Gainesville. Their food is always delicious and their drinks always strong. We have tried pretty much all of the appetizers and they are delicious. I try to get something new each time I go. I'm a vegetarian and the selection is amazing for veg heads and meat eaters alike. This trip we got the tofu triangles with spicy peanut sauce and corn nuggets to start. They also serve a spicy peanut tofu dish as an entree which is a Top favorite for many. They have a special going on right now for mushroom ravioli and that's what I got for my entree! It's mushroom stuffed ravioli with a brown butter and sage sauce. It was a large portion and super delicious. I'm not a huge mushroom fan but these were delicious and not rubbery. I hope the Top adds this as a regular menu item! read more

The Top - Mushroom ravioli - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Came to Gainesville for a weekend getaway and found this impressive spot. Here's my brief evaluation of the venue: Ambiance: Dimly lit, laid back, restaurant and bar with vibing music in the background. There are games and TVs by the bar area. Gets a little loud after 6PM by the bar, but overall great place to grab drinks and dinner. Good for any occasion. Street parking (free for up to 2 hours) available. Happy hour ALL DAY on sundays :) Food/drinks: Scallops appetizer: fresh, tender, slightly sweet, seasoned and seared to perfection served with a creamy kimichi aioli and topped with a crunchy sweet potatoe string fries. Brussel sprouts: pan seared and lightly seasoned. Burger: well seasoned burger with crispy string onion and bacon, beefy mushrooms, cooked just how I requested (medium). Served with skin on fries. Grapefruit gimlet: slightly sweet and tart martini, pretty strong. Transcient artisanal the juice is loose IPA: refreshing, fruity, slightly tart. Taste almost like a Hefeweizen. Cookie: giant cookie made with peanut butter, chocolate chunks, and oatmeal. I asked to have it warmed up and it tasted like it just came out the oven. Hit the spot!! Definitely recommend!! read more

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Loved the vibes and food at the Top!! I had heard a lot about their corn nuggets before going, and I was so excited to try them. I can definitely see what the hype is all about! The corn nuggets were crispy, sweet, savory, and super creamy all at the same time!! Would definitely recommend getting this :) My friends and I also ordered the Widow Maker burgers, and they were delicious! The patty was perfectly medium rare, and it was super juicy and packed full of flavor. One of the best burgers I have had. We also ordered the carrot and cranberry cake, which was so so good and a good finish to the burgers we had. Definitely can't wait to come again! read more

The Top - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Service is not good. The host sat us at a table and we wanted to start off with drinks and possibly an appetizer. When we told the server that we weren't going to be ordering entrées they offered the bar to us but there was not enough seats at the bar to accommodate my group of 3 & they told us that they will not serve us. Mind you, this is after we had been served water and sat at the table for a few minutes. The host told us this "policy" while the server looked confused and then said he would serve us "it's fine" as we awkwardly sat there watching them make things up as they go. I understand if you have a certain policy but you need to disclose it up front, put a sign on the host stand or something. Don't wait until you seat people and have them mid water then embarrassingly ask them to leave or wait for room at the bar. I feel like it's important to note that this was the afternoon time and there was no line/ wait to be seated. Worst experience I've had out in a while and it's really a shame because the food here is actually really good. read more

I have to say, my expectations were high based on reviews but it was disappointing to come here. Service and kitchen have gone down hill. Came in on a Tuesday evening with two friends, we ordered apps and drinks and then some burgers. Appetizer came out fast and was good (nachos), no complaints there but it's also hard to mess up nachos. Drinks were fine, nothing crazy. Now, the burgers, we were asked for the finish on the burgers. I ordered the triple cheese cooked medium. My friends order the true blue medium and the widow maker medium rare. As you can see from the photos, ALL the patties were cooked what I would describe as well done (pushing it towards medium well) cooked essentially the same. Why would you ask customers their temperature? Just don't ask then. At $15 a burger for this quality I might as well have gone to Grub and paid $10/11 per burger. And to top it off, I asked for fingerling potatoes with my order and they forgot them, gave me fries instead. Not a big deal, waitress was super nice and brought me what I had ordered. I just wish they were more careful. The waitress tried making up for it with a free slice of cake and we definitely showed her our appreciation for trying to make up for it, but I honestly wouldn't come back here again. read more

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We went to this place on Friday night. There was a two hour wait, so we made our way to the patio for same drinks and appetizers. When our food arrived, we were not given any silverware. I walked over to the waiter station and politely asked for some silverware. Soon after our silverware was delivered to us, a young man with long black hair in a ponytail accused me of invading his space and told us we would have to leave. I asked him how I invaded his space? Haas very rude, so I told him to fuck off. He proceeded to tell the manager, who was a young white female full of tattoos. She called the police and told us we better leave asap or we were going to be embarrassed. We finished our food a left. Other than the waiter and manager being assholes, the food and drinks were good. I wrote this review to express my anger as to how we were treated at this establishment. Thanks, read more

The Top - LSU Florida game - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

One of our favorite places in Gainesville. Great atmosphere and great food for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. Plus, it inspired this video: https://youtu.be/1PjqcHRhRVg read more

The Top - Some horses trying to eat my burger - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Always love the top and their food. Nothing beats the vibe on the outdoor patio with the pups.

The service is horrible! It's not just one time. I gave it two chances. And both experiences were not pleasant. I would not return or recommend others. The hostess was rude and didn't care. Even though our party arrived half an hour before they opened the door and second in line, We still waited 20 minutes to get seated. After you are seated, expect another 20 minutes for water, another 20 for ordering food, and don't expect to get your drinks reordered or water refilled. This experience happened both times with two separate servers. Food is decent. I had the tofu for the first time I was here which was good. But portion is small. This second time I got the salmon was mediocre. Corn nuggets and kimchi cauliflower were mediocre. Fried pickles were good. In conclusion, I don't know why this place has such high ratings! read more

This place was Crazy busy for a week night! There was an approx 45 min wait for a table. There was an option to set at the bar but the bar was full, so I ordered a drink and waited for my table. Our Waiter was amazing! He was attentive, engaging, knowledgeable and patient. The ambiance is low lighting and chill. There's a football table for entertainment as lots of seating options from tables, traditional booths, to open cushioned bench seats around the foods all table. The water and drinks were served quickly. The appetizer were served in under 15 minutes and fresh and delicious (The buffalo chicken fingers and the kimchi cauliflower were our appetizer of choice). I ordered the garlic shrimp and a side of green beans as my entree and boy was it bursting with flavor! The shrimp were hot, tender and seasoned very well. I highly recommend The Top! read more

The Top - Kimchi cauliflower - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Very good portions , a lot of options and a very cozy outdoor sitting area. Gives a really unique taste of downtown Gainesville.

Great food, drinks, and ambiance! Seared tuna, old fashioned, burger, and chimnuriah were all awesome.

Fun place for family, good ambiance. Food was tasty. Service was pretty good. Would go again. read more