The Top

Trendy place with a huge cocktail menu and a tasty food menu. This place gets packed so expect a wait if you go during dinner rush.
We sat at the bar while awaiting our table to get a few drinks. The bartender was knowledgeable and attentive. It was hard to decide between all of the specialty cocktails.
We enjoyed the appetizers and entrees that we ordered. The steak was particularly good.

My number one date choice. Been here at least 5 times. its always good. service is GREAT. YOU have to get their corn nuggets as an app. it’s amazing! wait can be a little long, but it’s so worth it. very hipsterish. with amazing food.

One of my favorite places to eat. There are so many choices for Vegan diners and the food is absolutely delicious. I enjoy the staff too, they are always friendly and helpful. Love this place.

I went there with a group of 6 (mostly internationals from UF) and we wanted to seat in the back (outside part of the restaurant). The guy at the entrance told us we could go there, so we went outside and there were people having lunch. About ten minutes later, a waitress (a blonde small girl with glasses) came and told us we couldn’t seat there (even if there were two tables alone and no one waiting) and that we had to wait at least 15 minutes to be seated outside. We explained her that there was no one waiting and the guy in the entrance told us we could be there, she was rude and insisted, so we left.
I truly felt DISCRIMINATED and badly treated, I actually told her that we were not going to wait and she rolled her eyes and said ok.
The food is great, and the vibe too. But I’m never going back to a place were I felt badly treated. I almost made a formal complain but it’s not worth it.

I love this place. It never disappoints me. Great cocktails to start with– grapefruit gimlet is one of my favs. Love the pesto gnocchi (this is on repeat). Today I tried the vegan chocolate cake– great tasting, lighter chocolate cake.

Favorite restaurant in Gainesville! I can’t say enough good things. I love the veggie burger, corn nuggets, tempeh wings, pecan encrusted tofu, grapefruit martini, and vegan chocolate cake. The only thing bad is that there are typically very long waits on Friday and Saturday.

Probably the best local joint in town! The eats all taste fresh and many are unique! The environment itself is dimly lit and provides a calm, relaxing atmosphere. I found it quirky and fun to see books on tables, which provide an interesting topic for conversation! The service was also exceptional and fast; the food came out in a timely manner. Overall, I would highly recommend it!

Wow, all I can say is that I can’t believe j waited until after I graduated from UF to finally try The TOP.
My sister and I decided to come here for dinner to celebrate Galentine’s Day and the only regret we have is that we didn’t come here sooner!
The atmosphere is indeed hipster/​chill with cool and quirky paraphernalia and furniture and dim lighting to create an intimate ambiance, but you can’t help but love it, especially when you’re in Downtown.
My server for the evening, Dave (who also is the manager there), was extremely patient and helpful when I asked for menu suggestions and the wait staff made sure my water was constantly full, despite the fact that they were already busy. We decided on sweet potato fries, Rocket burger with corn nuggets, and pesto gnocchi with grilled chicken. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. I can’t wait to come back and try more items!
The Top is definitely THE TOP restaurant in Gainesville.
Sweet potato fries: ¹⁰⁄₁₀
Rocket burger: ⁹⁄₁₀
Corn nuggets: ⁸⁄₁₀
Pesto gnocchi with chicken: ⁹⁄₁₀

Since we read that this place always has a wait, my boyfriend and I went in not too hungry and ready to have a drink or two before we were seated. We indeed had to wait an hour or more but didn’t mind — the back patio area is really lovely! A nice way to start a Friday evening. And it looks like you can order food at the bar rather than wait for a table.
We went for burgers — chicken and beef — and they were pretty OK. I was jonesing for an indulgent, smokey BBQ flavor though, and their BBQ sauce is ginger flavored. I grate fresh ginger into a lot of my green smoothies and healthy Asian recipes, so when I go out for a greasy burger, that’s NOT the flavor I want. Disappointing. Wish there had been some kind of warning on the menu. Maybe there was and I didn’t notice from the pre-​meal beers. Didn’t do anything about it cuz I was just hungry, but wouldn’t order that again. The corn nuggets hit the spot though! And love that they have healthier options for when you’re not craving the grease.
Would come back for drinks and snacks because of the atmosphere, but not for a meal.

I came here with a group of 7 and I was disappointed, after hearing such great things about this place, and as a new Gainesville resident. Coming from Oakland, California, I realize I have high standards for yummy coffee and brunch. We waited forever for our food, and I think my crab cakes had one piece of crab in them. My food was cold by the time I got it, which was significantly later than everyone else who got their food.
Also, my partner was given such a hot plate that she dropped it (no one was hurt) and the waiter said NOTHING. I believe she also left a note saying as much. My good was cold, her plate hot enough to make her drop her plate. Not a wining combo.
When people go out to get together, it’s nice to actually eat together. I inquired about my food twice. I should have just canceled because I ended up eating barely any of it.
Everyone says I should just stick to appetizers and drinks should I go back. Maybe a Bloody Mary would left me buzzed and unfazed by cold crab (one piece) cake and cold eggs. I would not recommend this place.

This was my first time at the infamous downtown «top» and in someways it held up to it’s reputation. Although there was an hour wait the food came at a decent pace. We got an appetizer of nachos with chicken which were very good and had an extra kick. For an entrée I built my own grilled cheese the bread was a little to crispy and the roasted garlic in it were whole cloves which cute me off guard. Overall the meal was good I don’t know if it’s worth the wait but I will definitely go back. Service was good.

Great restaurant. Went in just as they opened on a Saturday, wait for table of 3 was about 30 minutes they gave us a pager. We sat at the bar area at a high top and decided to just eat there because ll we really wanted was drinks and apps.
The bar area does not serve dinner BTW.
Ordered the Chicken Fingers and Black Bean Cakes. Both apps were pretty darn good. Bartender who attended us was very pleasant and great even with the bar being slammed.
I would definitely go back again!

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, décor 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.

Although I’ve been many times just to drink, I finally had my first dining experience at The Top and I can see why everyone loves it so much!
The service is great because the waiters are very attentive and nice, even though it was busy when I was there. The atmosphere is really fun and quirky, with random little decorations everywhere that give it a hip feel.
As for the food, I was mostly impressed. My friend got the sweet potato fries and we all could not stop stealing them because they were perfectly crispy and seasoned, and the garlic sauce they come with is amazing.
For dinner I got the Belgian Style Trout — macadamia nut crusted trout served on rice and green beans. The menu says that there are mushrooms in the rice but I did not have any on my plate.
It was pretty good but not amazing, it was a little too oily for my taste because it is cooked in a butter sauce, but it was very satisfying.
One plus about this place is that the portions are huge: me and all my friends had enough food left to take it home with us.
Next time I am definitely getting ancho black bean cakes, I had a bite of my friend’s and they were the perfect texture, complimented by a fresh salsa on top. You can choose a meat option to have them with.
We also got the vegan chocolate cake. This was also a huge piece, enough to share between 5 people! I have to say, this was SUPER yummy. I’m not even a big fan of chocolate cake, especially not frosting, but the frosting on this cake was such a smooth texture, it’s hard to believe that it’s vegan.
Overall, the food here is definitely delicious, with a large menu to choose from. It is a little greasy for my liking, but if you want to satisfy your taste buds, have a ton of food to eat, and just relax in a fun atmosphere, The Top is definitely a great place to come.

I honestly don’t understand what the hype about this place is about…
We came here for a birthday dinner, and showed up at 6pm, and the surprise birthday dinner was supposed to be at 7pm. My friend told the guy at the front to write us down for 7pm, and she went out to her apartment to get something else, and when we were all there by 7pm there were no tables available. Are you kidding me?! We had to wait almost an hour to be sat down, all while standing up because there weren’t any seats available in the front to wait at.
The Top falls short of the fame given to it by local residents who, I guess, only like mediocre service and somewhat expensive prices for food.
The food took forever to get to us. Although everything was delicious, it doesn’t justify the slow service.
The place was crowded, lacked privacy, and it was loud.
Also, there’s a $ 5 cake fee for bringing your own cake to the table? What? I don’t understand why there’s a service fee for bringing your own cake.
The Top has great food, but its lack of customer service makes one’s experience a mediocre one.

The atmosphere at The Top is great for dates or just to hangout with friends. They have a great drink selection with lots of yummy cocktails and beers too. Food wise, the corn nuggets, sweet potato fries, San Diego chicken, mushroom ravioli and burgers are all so good! Try adding pork belly instead of bacon to the burgers you won’t regret it: p

Hands down, the Top is THE TOP restaurant in Gainesville. I can’t even count how many times I have been here. What I can say, is that I have never had a mediocre experience here. They have been able to consistently make the most delicious local food every time I have visited. Thinking about it makes my mouth water.
First, let’s start off with the atmosphere. The space was so artfully done. It has the perfect balance of quirk and cool with the antiques, mismatched furniture, and paper towel wall. The lighting is the perfect amount of dim and there is always good music playing.
The food. is. to. die. for. I love how they always have the sources of their food listed on the back of the menu. Their Black Pepper Crusted Steak is gold. If you haven’t had it, please have it. Then have it again, because it is that good. There are so many vegan options which brings me to my next favorite: the vegan chocolate cake! I would like a box of this shipped everyday to my house please. It is the most decadent, moist, and well balanced cake I have ever had. The frosting is made of something brilliant, because it is completely vegan, but it melts in my mouth and makes my heart sing. I love it so much. The corn nuggets are also a personal favorite. The garlic sauce it is dipped in is impeccable. Also take advantage of their daily specials! Many of these never reappear, so if there is ever duck, order it! Basically everything on the menu is good, so close your eyes, and point somewhere on the menu. You will not be disappointed.
The drinks are artfully made. There are so many to choose from and plenty of specials! Token Tuesday basically offers BOGO drinks. Cheap Trill Thursdays are usually good if you like PBRs or simple wells. Their beer selection is really solid and they have had a lot of really cool ones on draught.
The staff is always great. They are all so hip and great at what they do. They always look like they are having a blast. I love how the wait staff all try the specials before the Top opens every night. They always offer great insight on what to order from their expansive menu.
The only thing that is tough about the Top is the wait. On any night of the week, the wait is usually an hour + if you come during peak hours. My suggestion would be to wait it out (your belly will thank you), or go at 9PM. The wait is usually 15 – 20 minutes at this time and the kitchen is still open so you can still take advantage of the full menu.

I know my Gainesville friends are going to see this– and hate me for it. When I was in Gainesville, The Top received 5 stars in my book. However, now that I am a little more acquainted with the food world, The Top gets a solid 3.5 (4). Props to them for cheap drinks and vegetarian options, however, I have never had a stand out culinary or service experience here. In fact, the last time I came here the bar staff was extremely passive aggressive and rude.
Try their burgers with a beer, hang out at the bar, and play a game of pinball. You shouldn’t regret it (sometimes!)

I’ve loved The Top for several years. In fact, it’s one of the places I miss most after having moved away from Gainesvegas.
One’s experience at The Top can be summed up as: Eclectic. I wouldn’t take your kid here if you aren’t prepared to answer questions relating to the strange, semi-​crude artwork on the walls. However, The Top is a wonderful venue for an outing with adult friends. The waitstaff are super friendly and quite hipster, definitely interesting people.
I’ve dined and drank at The Top probably 30 times. And frankly, you can’t go wrong here. Whether you stop in for Sunday Brunch (hello crème brûlée french toast!), dinner (yummy burgers and creative cuisine), or drinks (awesome cocktails and beer list!), you cannot go wrong. Vegetarians– you’ve met your match, because The Top has both vegan and vegetarian options that would make the strictest carnivore drool.
Some favorites: Key lime pie martini, any of the black bean burgers, crème brûlée french toast!
Don’t miss out on The Top if you’re looking for an authentic albeit bizarre Gainesville experience.

I am sure many Gainesville locals will agree when I say that the Top is one of the best spots in town to eat drink and be merry. I have been there numerous times, but only recently have I ventured in for brunch on Sunday. Obviously, from what I’ve said so far, you may be able to guess that my brunch experience was positive, but it also opened my eyes to a new side of my long beloved dining spot. I felt compelled to throw in my two cents. Or ten cents. Or maybe I’ll be brazen and shoot for fifty.
A big part of the Top’s success in my opinion is the one-​of-​a-​kind atmosphere. Although it can get pretty crowded at certain times (the wait can sometimes be a little lengthy), the bustling bar is serving drinks and appetizers, the back patio provides a nice excuse for some fresh air, and if you’re feeling playful, there’s the foosball table and a pinball machine to keep you busy.
The Top’s menu is excellent. Not only are the entrees delicious (and also very accommodating for vegan and vegetarian diners), but the drink menu is also varied and extensive. There are lots of high quality craft beers, and also some very memorable cocktails, including my two personal favorites, the Thyme Traveler and the Botanist. The staff is knowledgeable and experienced, ready to answer questions or offer suggestions.
So, now that I’ve gushed over how awesome the Top is, let’s dive into my most recent experience at Sunday Brunch. In spite of the line gathering outside the doors before they opened at 11, my party of 4 was seated relatively quickly. I ordered a mimosa and a poinsettia, both which were super refreshing on a balmy Florida morning. For my meal, I had the Migas Scramble, scrambled eggs over black beans topped with pico de gallo, cheese, and sour cream. I ordered cheese grits on the side which were also tasty. As usual, the service was professional and prompt.
The big success of Sunday brunch for me was allowing me to celebrate the Top in a new light; literally. Typically when I think of the Top, I envision a late night with friends, laughing, eating and drinking. But now, I’ll also be able to spend a late morning at my favorite spot in town. Not a bad way to start a Sunday.