The Dunbar

Rachel-Diaz Evans a month ago

My 4th visit and it's still my number 1 restaurant in Gainesville. Celebrated my birthday with the best drink, appetizer( conch ceviche) Ceasars salad and dinner( a delicious and spicy Jerk chicken).The menu has changed a bit but it's still has an amazing selection. I consider the Dunbar a Michelin star restaurant. Restaurants of this caliber periodically change some menu items. To top it off our waitress (Shay), who was training our waiter provided us with dessert (banana pudding)to celebrate my birthday 🎂. Thank you Dunbar!

Ashley Cuccurullo 2 months ago

Our dinner at The Dunbar last night was one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. Above all, the food was absolutely outstanding! We enjoyed the miso cabbage, jerk chicken, Haitian mac and cheese, and the cornbread pudding. I can’t even express how over the top amazing the food was!! I’ve never had cabbage or jerk chicken SO GOOD. The restaurant is moody, elegant, and interesting. Lighting is great, the seating is comfortable, and THE MUSIC. The musician played swanky, mellow, blues guitar, and the singer who joined him was lovely as well. It felt like we were dining in another place and time. Our server Shay was wonderful, and the food runners/server assistants were kind and helpful as well. I highly recommend dining here and supporting this local gem. We will be coming back again and again!

Sonji Xavier-Borden 3 months ago

The Dunbar in Gainesville offered more than just a memorable meal, it delivered an evening rich with history, culture, and atmosphere. Once a haven for Black travelers during segregation, the Dunbar stands as a powerful reminder of resilience and community, a place where people of color found welcome when they were excluded elsewhere. That legacy still lingers in its walls, adding depth and meaning to the experience. Our evening there was was lovely. My husband ordered the New York strip, perfectly prepared and full of flavor, and with a unique crisp, while still warm and pink inside. Being an island girl, I enjoyed the oxtail polenta which was, rich, comforting, and delicious. The evening was elevated by live music that seemed almost too perfect to be real. It wasn’t until I turned around that I realized the beautiful voice filling the room was coming from a live performer singing in Creole French, adding a soulful and unexpected layer to the evening. The Dunbar is easily a 10 out of 10 in Gainesville, Florida. Ideal for a romantic date night or a meaningful evening with friends. It is not just a restaurant; it is an experience rooted in history, culture, and genuine hospitality.

Joe Rivera 3 months ago

Whenever we are in town, we have to make sure to stop by at Dunbar. I’m talking about on the road, on our way to Gainesville, we put in a reservation because this place is probably the best place I’ve been in town. I’m not glazing. The Mac is a need and I absolutely love the original and the new monthly menu. Our waitress gave the best service. We ordered Shay’s banana pudding and we had the funniest interaction with our waitress because we didn’t realized it was named after her. She was so humble being the creator of one of the best banana pudding recipes I ever had. The jerk chicken and Bronzino were amazing. The jerk chicken had that yummy spice to it. My stomach gets upset from coconut rice but it was so good I had to eat it. My partner always gets the Bronzino and with the new menu, they made a few changes to it and he thought that it was still the best food in Gainesville. This spot is a must visit.

diana r 4 months ago

This restaurant’s atmosphere was very nice, they had live music/entertainment that is a nice touch along with the dim lighting. The Kola Dunbar drink was good but a few of the other drinks we wanted to try were sold out. The shrimp and grits were excellent! The roasted potatoes side was also great. The oxtail gratin was ok. The banana pudding was delicious! I think the service could have been better - we had to wait quite a while to get water and the check.