BITE of POWER — Restaurant in Gainesville

As someone who truly wants to see this restaurant succeed, I’m writing this review with the intention of being helpful—not critical. I understand that many fellow Muslims may feel inclined to give a five-star rating unconditionally out of support, but I believe honest and constructive feedback is ultimately more beneficial for the long-term growth of the restaurant.

Many of my friends and I fondly remember this place from its earlier days as Naqs. The menu then was simple, consistent, and reliable. Since its rebranding to BOP, it feels like there’s been a greater focus on menu expansion rather than consistency in flavor and quality. While menu evolution is natural, what often sets successful fast-casual restaurants apart is a focused menu done exceptionally well. Higher prices are understandable given inflation and overhead, but they must be justified by consistently high-quality food.

From my experience working at Halal Guys, I saw firsthand how a small, focused menu could still attract a constant flow of customers. The simplicity allowed the kitchen to perfect each item, and customers knew exactly what to expect. With a new competitor now operating in Reitz Union, students will need a compelling reason to make the extra 15-minute walk—and that reason has to be unbeatable flavor and value.

Currently, some of my peers feel that BOP’s offerings don't meet expectations for the price, especially when compared to similar establishments. Several have even said that it's simply “not worth the value,” which is disappointing to hear. Of course, I acknowledge that the restaurant faces its own unique challenges—particularly operating in what is likely an expensive location. That said, a tighter, more quality-focused menu might actually ease operational burdens and elevate the customer experience.

Another concern worth mentioning is that, during a catered Ramadan event, a number of my friends reported experiencing stomach issues after consuming the food. This may have been an isolated incident, but it’s an important issue to consider and address moving forward.

I do want to note that the owner is extremely friendly and welcoming, which goes a long way in creating a positive customer experience. I truly believe in this restaurant’s potential, and I intend to continue supporting it. When the food quality improves and becomes more consistent, I’ll be more than happy to update this review...

I recently visited the restaurant, "Bite of Power," located on University Avenue in Gainesville. Unfortunately, my experience was far from pleasant. The ambiance of the place was off-putting and not at all inviting. It lacked cleanliness and orderliness, which are fundamental to any dining establishment. The staff members were not welcoming or friendly. In fact, they were quite the opposite. They were disrespectful and exhibited a clear lack of professionalism, which greatly tainted the overall dining experience. What was even more shocking was the behavior of the owner. He was freely using racial slurs, specifically the N-word, despite not being Black himself. This is completely unacceptable and offensive. Furthermore, he was making derogatory comments about the LGBT+ community. Such behavior is not only disrespectful and hurtful, but it also goes against the principles of equality and acceptance that our society strives to uphold. My experience was further soured by the fact that the restaurant seemed to harbor a racist atmosphere, which made me feel extremely uncomfortable. It was clear that respect and acceptance for all individuals, regardless of their race, gender or sexual orientation, were not values held by this establishment. The food service was slow and inefficient. It took a long time for the food to arrive, and when it finally did, it wasn't even what I had ordered. This was the final straw in what was already a highly disappointing experience. I would not recommend "Bite of Power" to anyone. This restaurant needs to make serious changes to its staff, management, and overall approach to customer service and respect...

The man working was so kind, patient, and helpful and answered all our questions as we tried to decide what to order. I do not usually leave bad reviews but this food was so bad, I feel compelled. The touchscreen for ordering was horrible, first of all, gross, you know it's not getting wiped off between guests, I witnessed that, and right before you're going to eat, yuck. Secondly, all the food options weren't listed and there were no descriptions and only a few pictures of the menu items. He had to help us order anyways, it would have been easier to just tell him what we wanted and be rung up, call me old fashioned. There was no vertical spit. Very sad. All the meats were either baked in oven or cooked on the grill, who knows when, all being kept warm in warmers and MICROWAVED before serving. The falafel is Sysco frozen falafel, or the like, with bright green food coloring insides. Updated to state that I do not think they add food coloring to the falafel bc I do not think they make it, I believe it comes like that from wherever they get it. The rice was the worst rice I've ever seen, very weird color brown, odd texture, and tasted like tap water, I did not eat it. The "salad" was tiny amount of iceberg, tomato, and red onion and the "tzatziki" was ranch dressing. The pita was ok but microwaved. The food was served in styrofoam. Bless this man for being so sweet but this was some of the worst food I've ever had to eat. I didn't take a picture because I was so grossed out and so hungry, I had to just eat what I could of it and get the hell out of there. I would never go here again. Sorry to...