Restaurants in Gainesville

“I ordered two Cortados (forgot to take pics), both were very good. I got one with whole milk and one with almond milk( I always wanted to try, but after tasting I don’t recommend). I definitely suggest staying with the whole milk. Very cool atmosphere and the owners were extremely nice and friendly. They wanted to listen to their customers and see if there was any drinks they could consider adding to the menu. I told them plain sparkling water to have with the cortado and they liked the idea and were going to look into getting some. Not many coffee shops where the owners are so welcoming, friendly and ears open. I recommend stopping in and getting a coffee of your choice, you won’t regret your experience.

Cortado ratings (I try to do with all places I visit):

(only because it didn’t come with a sidecar) but 3 bc it came in the right glass. Lots of places don’t know how to serve a proper cortado.
Coffee (was a simple heart, I forgot picture)”

“Great service and food !!”

“We always get good service. Elmer and Yanira are two of the best examples.”

“Amazing every time we go!!! Yum yum yum!”

“Pakwaan Indian Cuisine in Gainesville is an outstanding choice for a family meal. Visiting with four family members, we were warmly welcomed into a spotless, inviting, and modern space, setting the tone for a relaxing evening together. The staff's hospitality was top-notch—friendly and attentive throughout our visit. For drinks, we enjoyed their refreshing mango lassi and, for the adults, a round of thoughtfully crafted cocktails from the bar—each beverage paired perfectly with our meal and added a special touch to our dinner. Appetizer highlights included the papadum with flavorful chutneys, crispy samosas, and the sought-after chili chicken—all served hot, fresh, and packed with authentic Indian spices. Our main courses were equally memorable. The classic chicken tikka masala and chicken madras came out bursting with flavor and were complemented beautifully by fragrant basmati rice and soft, garlicky naan. Vegetarian standouts like dal tadka, paneer makhani, and palak paneer truly impressed the whole family, demonstrating authenticity and skill in every bite. To finish, the kheer dessert delighted everyone at the table. Highly recommended for families looking to treat themselves in Gainesville VA.”

“Love the food and ambience was also amazing ❤️”

“Está tan rica la comida en Sazón Latina. he ido dos veces en familia y ordenamos, lomo saltado, tacos, pescado frito, pupusas, pollo con camarones, chicharrón con yuca. La comida save tan rica y fresca. Cada platillo ha sido buenísimo. la atención que te dan también es exelente, te sientes bienvenido. Angie nos atendió hoy y fue tan amigable y profesional con nosotros. The food at Sazón Latina does not disappoint. my family and I have tried several different dishes and each one has been amazing. the food tastes incredible, and the ingredients are fresh and too quality. The service is wonderful, very friendly and welcoming. I'm amazed that the place wasn't packed both times I've been there, but if you're thinking about it, go try it and spread the word on this local business.”

“From start to finish everything was perfect and the food is authentic and delicious!!!”

“We can’t thank you enough at Ourisman Kia Fairfax for catering our Holiday party !! Everyone loved it especially the brisket and ribs !!”

“Such a GREAT place to eat. The staff are so warm and welcoming, makes me feel at home. Love the people and of course the amazing juicy barbecue. You just got yourself a new regular!”

“I was out in Gainesville for a surgery and research pizzas to bring home to Manassas and decided to try Manhattan Pizza because of all the positive reviews I'm so glad that I did. It was the best pizza that I've had in a very long time we will be traveling back that way next time we want pizza and to try their Gyros and subs. They were so friendly when I picked up my pizza it was just a very positive experience I appreciate that they take pride in their pizzas.”

“Amazing quality of food! Staff were friendly! And the place was clean”

“Excellent food and service!! Friendly staff reasonably priced. Very nice and clean restaurant. I highly recommend!!!”

“We had a very wonderful experience at Olive Pizza & Grill . the food was delicious, customer service was top notch and the staff were really polite and kind, For Vegetarians also this is the good option,”

“Margaritas always nails it! Customer Service is always very very friendly. For take out they get you in and out quickly. And best of all my picky husband really liked their chicken cheesesteaks. As a Philly native he is very particular and Margaritas as I said nailed it! #newregulars”

“I always LOVE the food from this location. My favorite dish will always be the rose tteokbokki, I can’t find that at many other restaurants and I love it specifically because it’s not too spicy for me. My 7 year old and I are a fan of the boneless soy garlic wings! I’m still navigating how to utilize the points on the app but I’ll get there eventually :) .”

“Outstanding food, one of the best peruvian restaurants I have ever visited. Clean, great service and the chicken was outstanding.”

“Order the Key Lime Pie! 💚”

“1st time here. Delicious crab cakes and crab and hush puppies. Nice atmosphere and very good wait staff. we are from Ohio and we're visiting and stumbled across this place by accident and so glad we did. we will be back when we go back to the area.”

“This place never disappoints—easily our favorite Korean BBQ spot in town. The food is consistently top-notch, with perfectly marinated meats and sides that hit every flavor note. The steak? Absolutely phenomenal—tender, flavorful, and grilled to perfection.

What truly sets this place apart is the service. Evan, our server, is a standout every single time. Attentive, friendly, and genuinely passionate about making the experience memorable. He’s a big reason we keep coming back again and again.

Highly recommend for anyone craving quality Korean BBQ with exceptional service!”

“Husband and I eat breakfast on Sundays at Gainesville Diner. Such a friendly atmosphere, our food is always delicious and hot. Amy is always our waitress--she is absolutely amazing, always friendly, and makes us feel as though we are her very dear friends. She brings us our coffee first thing without us even having to ask for it. The food is great, but Amy is what makes Gainesville Diner so very special.”

“We tried this place for the first time and it quickly earned a spot on our favorites list. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel welcome. Our waitress, Farrah, was fantastic--she was warm, attentive, and had just the right mix of professionalism and friendliness that really stood out.

The food came out surprisingly fast, which was impressive given how fresh and hot everything was. We started with the cheesy bacon fries and paired them with the BBQ ranch (that's what I call it), and it was an absolute game-changer--rich, flavorful, and something we'll definitely be ordering again. Every bite tasted like it was made to order, not rushed or thrown together.

The atmosphere was just as enjoyable as the food. The restaurant had plenty of seating, so it never felt cramped, and everything was spotless and well-kept. What stood out most was the sense of community--many of the staff seemed to know the customers by name, creating a warm, welcoming vibe that made the place feel more like a neighborhood gathering spot than just another restaurant.

Between the top-notch service, delicious food, and how quickly everything was served, this place checks all the boxes. We'll absolutely be back to try more of the entrees on the menu.”

“Oh my goodness. The food: AMAZING. The service: AMAZING. This was our first time here and we will definitely be coming back. ❤️ Thank you for making our date night wonderful.”

“Good restaurant with a variety of American foods. Burgers are excellent. Bar has a lot of TVs for sports. Seems to have a regular following.
Since leaving this review I have received reheated fries rather than fresh fries so I revised my review appropriately”

“Clean, bright, and good vibes all around. A great spot to chill and enjoy some spicy food. Laid-back atmosphere with good music and a welcoming feel. The chicken was perfectly crispy and juicy—easily some of the best Nashville-style hot chicken I’ve had!”

“The Steak and Cheese Sub was very good and delivery was fast. I highly recommend this restaurant!”

“Sarah is excellent bartender and server. We always enjoying seeing her for brunch on Sundays.”

“We waited 15 years passing by this pizzeria - tried it tonight - and WOW!!!!! This pizza was phenomenal!!! Everything from the cheese, to the crust…. We will be recurring customers! Best pizza hands down!! Don’t miss out on 15 years like we did!”

“First time here while traveling for work and it was 💯 amazing!!! Very friendly staff and AMAZING Ribeyes! Definitely will be back and definitely recommend trying it out!! 💪🏼🔥”

“Easily the best place to be in Gainesville for all the craft beer drinkers, music lovers and BBQ eaters!!! I frequent this place on a weekly basis, not just because it's close to the house, but because it's a FUN atmosphere. There are dart boards, arcade games, board games, live music, comedy shows and good food. You can host private parties here too!!! CHECK IT OUT!!!! 60+ taps of beer and TOP SHELF bourbon/whiskey!”

“Always a 10/10 experience!”

“Love the service and friendly stuff”

“Love how they don’t use powder!!”

“Did NOT disappoint! Enjoyed a tasty meal at La Finca this weekend. Staff was friendly and attentive. Most important, the food was delish. Salsa was smooth--just a hint of heat and not too much cilantro. Beef and chicken flautas offered a great crunch and tender meat filling. Chile relleno, filled with melty cheesy goodness, was a hit! The skinny margarita was as you'd expect--good, but not quite the punch of a regular margarita. The mango-habanero shrimp was a beautiful presentation and the sauce packed a great, sweet kick--minus a star for shrimp being really over cooked (easy fix for the kitchen, though). Sounds like the new management team is off to a promising start and we can't wait to visit again!”

“I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Pizza Boli's location in Lancaster, PA, and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by their friendly staff, who went above and beyond to ensure I had a great experience. The customer service was top-notch!

The menu features an incredible variety of delicious options, and I was thrilled to see that the Gainesville location offers the same amazing menu. The quality of the food is outstanding — every bite of my pizza was bursting with flavor, and you can tell they use the freshest ingredients. Plus, they have a fantastic selection of beverages to complement your meal.

Whether you're in Lancaster or Gainesville, Pizza Boli's delivers the same incredible experience. I highly recommend both locations for anyone looking for great pizza and superb service. I can't wait to come back for more! 🍕✨”

“A hybrid fast food and seated serve restaurant. It's on you to get silver, condiments, napkins, etc. No real waiter, but food is delivered to your table. Staff were very pleasant, explaining how things worked. Pretty standard chain box restaurant with some slightly different flavors, but not as different as advertised. Still tasted nice and the medium was spicy as advertised.”

“NO DRIVE THRU/ great staff just stating no drive thru because it tricks you into thinking drive thru here and there is none. Other than that the staff again is absolutely wonderful!”

“🤣🤣🤣 It’s the perfect place to go and hang out especially if the nail salon is not open! I highly recommend the Cobb salad and Cleveland Brownie Sunday. I’ll hit the gym tomorrow!”

“Aaron C. Took my order and had fantastic customer service and really brightened my day. He is normally the only staff member to stop and have a convo which I really appreciate.”

“Usually a great expierence but two mornings in a row I’ve had to leave my mobile order because I didn’t have time to wait regardless of how early I put it in. Wasted money”

“We love Passion Fin and highly recommend the restaurant.”

“Hands down my favorite grocery store. I’m so glad I have one so close! I can’t imagine doing my shopping anywhere else!”

“Great and fast service, Chris was helpful and polite. Food was prepared fast and quickly”

“Helpful staff. Freaking great cakes! Highly recommend”

“Well it looked good on the outside... unfortunately they used the wrong cake from what I had asked for. Still waiting for my refund :( I live in PA. They worked with me via email and phone calls to make the perfect Minion Ice Cream cake for my daughter so we could celebrate her in VA. I just wish I could attach a picture.”

“went here on prom night with the gang. my boy austin was the best waiter i’ve had in a while! he even took some tuff flicks of us in our prom fits. he even helped wingman for a friend who eventually rizzed up 😛 W AUSTIN! oh also the food was great and the pazookie was way too much sugar for me but was still gas (even tho i don’t like chocolate)”

“the food is very yummy and it helps me to be healthy and i get to smile when i am in the restrauant”

“Great meal with family after watching the Reagan movie! Chips were fresh and crunchy & the two salsas were excellent! Entree's were good and I really liked their beans.”

“Everything was wonderful not what I expected 👌🏾”

“I found this place because we were headed to Wegmans and my 6 yr old daughter likes Sushi and wanted to try Hibachi. We had an amazing experience from the time we walked in until we finished our meal. The hostess and servers including our Hibachi chef were excellent and very attentive. Our chef, Dukey (sp) was especially attentive and friendly with my daughter and she’s already asking when we can return. She ate all of her Sushi and half of my Chicken Teriyaki which was delicious. We will be back!”

“Great food and drinks! The staff made it even more fun! Great spot!”

“1st time, wont be last. Absolutely delicious.
Had original chicken sandwich and mix of originial and honey (not the hot one) wings.
Wasn't expecting the wings to be the size they were. Very large, crispy, & juicy.”

“Yes the service slow but its a small family restaurant so you have take that into account. Maybe they should hire more but i am not sure if they get enough traffic to afford it. The food is good though. Its worth the wait. The subs are piled with a ton of meat and the pizza was good.”

“The only downside of this place is that they dont deliver. The food is so good, i go pick it up anyway. Good food, always ready quickly, reasonable prices, polite and friendly staff. Go to China inn.”

“Always at the top of my list the place to dine at!!”

“Smash Burger did a renewal, it seems. This is my favorite burger place nearby. Burgers are awesome and also surprisingly their scorching hot fries are one of the best fries, I have ever had in my life.”

“So good. We ordered a California turkey club and it was so good 10/10. The server went out of his way to get us tea and the manager brought us every flavor of tea imaginable. An indecisive person’s nightmare fr. JP the manager needs to be promoted to CEO. Loved that guy. When JP gets promoted, they can fill the manager position with our server guy George Mason (minus the George).”

“Update:I was contacted and they were extremely nice about making it right. I was told they would send a gift card which I really appreciate. I'll Update if it doesn't come I have faith it will. It did

I'm disabled and never leave the house but yesterday was my husband's 71st birthday so I thought I would gather my strength and splurge for his name day.

I asked from the smallest bone in and she kept showing me large hams, after the 3rd no they slapped another on the counter, here $50 and change opens the foil but I'm so short I can't see anything but we have been buying your Hams for decades with no issues so I said ok, I also bought 3 large sides.

I get it home open it up for his dinner and this ham is burnt jerky. I do not have the energy to take that long scary ride back to return it but would gladly show you a photo. At this point I'm not sure we will ever return. Shame on the employee for even selling me that over cooked ham.”

“Five Guys Never Fails

Ordered online and the process was super quick and easy. Walked in with no wait, and the cashier was fast and efficient. My food was ready in under 5 minutes. The burger was fresh and delicious—exactly what you expect from Five Guys. Consistently great service and quality. Still one of my go-to spots!”

“We have ordered from Afghan Famous Kabob several times for family gatherings and we have never been disappointed! The staff is friendly and helpful, the food is always perfect and delicious, and is ready for pick-up at the agreed-upon time. This past week we received wonderful service and delicious food, as always. We will always come back!! Thank you!!! ❤️”

“We love Potbelly! Nice location and friendly workers! Original Roast beef with provolone cheese, lettuce, extra pickles, hot peppers and Italian Seasoning on a white roll. My lunch date had an original Wreck with mayo, lettuce and pickles on a wheat roll. We both enjoyed a chocolate milkshake with a cookie on the straw. Sandwiches and shakes were delicious!! And two jars of hot peppers to go!!”

“We've been driving all the way down to Moby Dicks at the Kentlands, and then to the new Shady Grove restaurant, from Thurmont, MD. Yes, the food is that good! Now there's one in Frederick.���”

“We did takeout and it was great! Easy menu to understand, called and placed order super easy and quickly. Food was ready within minutes! Brought back home and it was delicious, the meat was so tender and all the veggies were steamed perfectly. Highly recommend!”

“Stopped in recently and had great service from Sofia. She was friendly and courteous and very helpful making food suggestions”

“I'm gluten intolerant , so this place is absolutely 💯 perfect for me, fresh food, huge portions and affordable prices.”