The Top has both indoor and outdoor seating, and their patio is open! Opened in 2000, restaurant is definitely a favorite for many locals who love its vibrant atmosphere, signature drinks, and quality food.
I really like burgers from the Top, but I absolutely love their cake!
If you haven’t tried their Vegan Strawberry Layer Cake ($7), get it while it lasts! It is made of local organic strawberries and you can even taste the subtle crunch of seeds in the frosting. The layers of cake are so moist and rich combined with the frosting.
But I’m getting ahead of myself, so let’s start with drinks! The Top is known for their specialty cocktails and there are plenty to choose from whether you like vodka, tequila, rum, or gin.
The Lady Anne ($10) is delicious if you like refreshing, tart drinks. It’s made of Absolut Pear, Domaine De Canton, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and fresh basil leaves served on the rocks. The fresh basil went really nicely with the lemon.
Maybe you want something a bit stronger and sweet. If so, the Italian Manhattan ($9) is a great choice, made with Rye Whiskey, Disaronno, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters with a cherry for style~
You can choose from the variety of burger choices they have, and can pick your patty whether you like angus beef (+ $2), local grass fed beef, grilled chicken breast, fried chicken breast, black bean or beyond burger (+ $2).
The Widow Maker Burger ($15) is very filling and the chili-espresso rub on the patty was not overpowering at all. It comes stacked with fried onions to add a crunch, bacon, mushrooms, aged white cheddar, smoked gouda, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. It is a hefty burger. It did feel a bit heavy towards the end, so I preferred to add ketchup to add some more flavor. You can choose a side with any burger so I got the corn nuggets (+ $1). These have a crunchy outside and creamy corn-kernel filled inside. They are SO good with the creamy garlic sauce!
The Maradona Burger ($13) is a flavorful masterpiece with chimichurri, sautéed onions and peppers, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. The pictured side is also corn nuggets.
I applaud The Top’s commitment to pay their employees a living wage (guaranteed starting $15 per hour), as they are part of the Living Wage Coalition. The current 18 % tip included in the bill is split among all the staff and anything extra goes to the server!
They also have an events department that hosts events at The Wooly concert hall, and The Depot venue in Depot Park.
Whether you are just visiting or a local to Gainesville, there are many reasons to stop by The Top!
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