16th Avenue Diner — Restaurant in Gainesville

I’ve been here a couple of times and it was such a no-frills, no-surprises experience that it never occurred to me to write a review until I started recommending it to people

I gave 5 stars because I want to help these folks out but in all honesty, a perfect diner is perfectly ordinary and 4 stars is the perfect amount of stars.

Despite a bustling breakfast rush I was seated immediately, got my coffee, and a minute later my server arrived. Friendly but not overly friendly; too much pep and chatter makes me edgy first thing in the morning. My coffee was refilled exactly as often as I like it to be, when my mug is a little less than half full and the coffee is starting to cool. I ordered my food and it was brought to me so quickly it was like it was the only order up.

The menu is bare-bones diner fare. If you’ve ever been to a diner you won’t need it. I got an omelette with peppers, ham and cheese and bacon and toast on the side. All perfectly ordinary, as if someone better at cooking than me made it, but not way better. Please don’t try to blow my socks off with a ham and cheese omelette. The bacon was crispy but not burnt. The toast was golden brown, a little toastier than many diners do it. You want to hear the toastiness when you spread your butter. The omelette was fully cooked but not too hard on the outside, and the fillings were a good proportion. The coffee was good. Not too strong, not too weak, not too hot or cold. A little cream and sugar doesn’t turn it into a milkshake.

The decor was so ordinary I can recall nothing about it. Which is, as you know, the perfect diner atmosphere. Regulars chatting with their favorite server, news papers rustling, that kind of vibe. Those kitschy 50’s-themed diners always have a juke box playing, jarring color schemes and rock-n-roll memorabilia all over the place. That stuff annoys me.

I got my check as quickly as I finished my meal. The bill was exactly how much I would expect to pay for breakfast. I left without giving any of it a second thought. It’s kind of out of my way so I don’t stop in often, but now that I think about it, it might just be the most ordinary, most perfect diner in Gainesville. If you’re looking for A) food and B) normalcy, I highly...

This is by far, the best diner in Gainesville. Believe it or not, their burger is better than most restaurants in town. Breakfasts are expertly cooked right in front of you, perfect to order, and they use quality ingredients. Their French Toast is always perfectly cooked, served hot off the griddle with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Family owned, and the staff work efficiently, like a well- oiled machine. It is getting noticed for sure, but still rarely too busy to get a seat, and I love sitting at the bar because the service is best, staff are so friendly, and I get to watch them prepare the food to order right in front of me! This is a hidden gem in town, and I almost hate to let the secret out for fear of it being overrun for weekend breakfast like 43rd street deli or flying biscuit. If you want a great local family owned place to get great food and great service, don't miss giving this place a try. It has become my whole families favorite weekend breakfast, Brunch, or Lunch spot, and we are lucky to live right around the corner. Seriously, next time you want a great burger for lunch, I swear they serve one of the best burgers in town! My wife likes rare burgers, and literally this is the only place in town that cooks it...

Great, cute, friendly local spot. To be honest, I'm apprehensive to give a full blown review of what I enjoy about this diner, as it's comfortable and quiet and seemingly a hidden gem.

The breakfast offerings are simple, as is the decor. That being said, my experiences have been consistent, the staff has been remarkably patient and kind to each other and to guests, despite being busy, busy busy.

They have a decent variety of options. Wouldn't deem it particularly vegan friendly, but believe there are a couple of options. Small space hidden amongst some random shops on 16th Ave, with very limited hours.

Reasonable prices, reasonable portions. Humble but great, especially given some of the higher ticket options in the area that have been underwhelming proportionately in value and quality. Decent variety with French toast, pancakes, omelettes, hash browns, home fries, etc standard breakfast fare.

Note no outdoor seating, no waffles. Ample parking in the lot and...