I just had a Christmas eve dinner with my friends here. Amazing pan roasted cobia!! The seasoning is just right, not too salty, nor covered with sauce. The portion of the main dish is not a lot, so you can actually enjoy the food. I had a chocolate truffle torte as dessert; it is pretty darn good. The dessert was actually as big as the main meal. It was a bit difficult to find the place. It's in the shopping plaza between 2nd and University ave, to the furthest west side. Going from 2nd ave is easier if you are going north from 34th street.
(5)
John L.
"I'm considering the crispy pork belly" said the wife while we were discussing possible appetizer choices. "That's exactly what I was thinking." I replied. "I suppose I'll do the Duck Meatballs." I added. Crispy Pork Belly with Deviled Egg and Potato Salad- On the plate was a sphere of braised pork belly, breaded and deep fried with a halved deviled egg and a scoop of potato salad. Why does this presentation seem so familiar? The Ox tail dish at Ti Amo! I don't quite understand the chef's fascination with deep fried and breaded braised meats. But never mind that; the dish itself however uninspired was still pleasant. Nothing special but certainly not bad. Given the price of the app I thought it was a good value. Duck Meatballs with Mustard Greens and Curried Dried Fruit - This dish was phenomenal; absolutely mind blowing! The meatballs were cooked perfectly and not the least bit gamey, the dried fruits added just the right amount of tart/sweetness and the greens where not only cooked perfectly but also intense in flavor. World class. "What about for the mains?" I asked. "I dunno'. What are you getting?" She queried. "I'm eyeing the hanger steak. But i need to ask the server a question." I replied. Server: "Have we decided on an entree?" Me: "Yeah..uh..just a quick question though.. do you guys make your own sausage?" Server: "Yes." Me: "I'll have the Hanger Steak " Wife: "And I'll have the Red Grouper" Red Grouper Pan-Seared with Spinach and Lemon Risotto- The fish was executed consummately. The spinach was fine though non-memorable and the risotto was just okay. I don't think they use Arborio (a variety of rice considered the standard for risotto due to both its heartiness and creamy texture). Also there were two sauces on the dish, an orange one of indiscernible flavor and a green herb (parsley?) oil. Hanger Steak Grilled with Roasted Pumpkin and Sausage- The steak was a little undercooked but otherwise fine (again not stellar) and the sausage was more dense and Andouille-like rather than an Italian or breakfast sausage consistency. It had a sharp and appealing flavor. The roasted pumpkin was a little bland though gourds and squashes generally tend that way. But wait! What's this on my plate? Two sauces, you guessed it, the SAME two sauces that were on the fish dish. *face palm* For dessert I had the Pumpkin Cheesecake and the wife had the Chocolate Mousse Bombe. I thought I may have made a mistake by trying the Chocolate Bombe after I tried the cheesecake; for I felt that the chocolate flavor was muted. The wife, however, who had tasted her dessert first agreed with me; the chocolate flavor was a little understated, the sweetness could have been turned up just a tad and the cake component was a little too dry. The Pumpkin Cheesecake was solid; hardly revelational but done well none the less. Mildred's used to be my favorite restaurant in town. It no longer carries that distinction. In short, if you go, don't miss the Duck Meatballs.
(3)
Terry H.
I'm not a big fan of this place, but my wife likes it, so we go once every three years or so. We ordered two appetizers for our group; Lump Crab Cakes and Slow Roasted Pork Belly. The crab cakes were less than mediocre but the pork belly was to die for! Crispy on top, tender underneath, you don't want to pass this up. For our entree's, we ordered duck and Braised Lamb Shank. They were both very tender and tasted fine. But, it wasn't enough for me to say, "We have to come back here and get this again!" However, like I said earlier, I will get nothing but the slow roasted pork belly on my next visit because it is to die for.
(3)
Bethany M.
Whenever I come, I come with once-a-week regulars so I'm taken care of and maybe a little biased. But Bert (Gill, executive chef) tears it up. Menu is not stagnant. Original locally grown, seasonal highlights on the menu every night. ~10 entree choices, just to give you an idea. And I've never had anything--fish, duck, pork,...--disappoint. The side dishes are always particularly tasty. Tonight... Pumpkin Agnolotti with Apple and Local Bacon starter. New York Strip entree. It was listed on the menu with Mashed Yukon Potatoes, but I asked to sub the Fried Green Tomatoes which were supposed to side the Ginger Salmon. Love that they don't blink at substitutions. And was it good? It so was. Bonus for having Fried Green Tomatoes on the menu at all. I'm a southern girl after all. And oh, the martinis. I lost (always lose) count how many. Shout out to Sarah, who's been hostessing as long as I've been going, and apparently masterminded some of the newer cocktail menu additions, including the Ibarra (think cinnamon cocoa) I sampled tonight... she's a cutie and the drinks rock my socks off. The restaurant is smaller with a homey feel, but the menu has a gourmet flair I haven't tired of yet. The servers are, best guess, mostly grad students, old enough to seem surer of themselves but not yet sporting that pretentious vibe some servers at higher caliber restaurants have. Perfect place for a laid back, but classy, evening in Gainesville. I recommend Bert's other restaurants as well, New Deal Cafe (right next door) and Ti Amo downtown.
(5)
Beth G.
I have always had nice dinners at Mildred's, but I was really disappointed by the noticeable decline in service and food quality on my last visit. The desserts had always been fresh and craving-inducing, the fish and meat fresh and perfectly done, and the service prompt. That is, until.... On my last visit, a friend and I ordered drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Our drinks seemed to take forever to arrive and our server was nowhere to be found. I had ordered their version of a Sidecar, which, when it finally arrived, tasted nothing like any Sidecar I'd ever had before - and not in a good way. The most irritating part of the evening, to me, was when I tried to inquire about where my starter salad was 30 minutes after I ordered it. After about five minutes with no waitress, I flagged down another server and asked if it was just taking a while. She said, "Probably," turned, and walked away - a response that left me really annoyed. The salad did show up about five minutes later; I'm not sure if that was due to her intervention or not. I ordered a chicken dish with a wild rice risotto for my entree while my friend ordered a duck dish. I've had a lot of wild rice, but this was unpleasantly pungent and gave a weirdly gamy flavor to the whole dish. My friend, a bit of a Chinese food connoisseur who lived in China for several years, complained that he has had better duck when he purchases it from an Asian market in town. I ordered the Italian Espresso Torte for dessert and it was as delicious as ever. My friend got a chocolate cake that was flavorless and unremarkable - it tasted like something you'd get out of a grocery store bakery case. Overall, our experience was unpleasant this last time. Inattentive service, long wait times, and sub-par food really made this a miss for me. I've had so many good experiences at Mildred's that I can say that this probably won't be the last time I'll ever go there, but it definitely left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
(3)
Kristen C.
The food was good but not enough to justify the prices in Gainesville. The chairs were old and strange banquet-looking seats -- definitely not a modern look. Not much else to say but I wasn't all that impressed.
(2)
Laura D.
I've been to Mildred's twice and both times the food is fantastic, some of the best I've had in a while. Warning: you will be tempted by desserts as soon as you walk in! And I highly recommend trying one of their many cakes or cheesecakes. The food was great, the servers were very helpful. We loved the coffee we had after dinner so much, that we bought a bag of it! My main problem with the place is the ambiance. It is very outdated in my opinion. It's a rather expensive place, so I want to look nice for a dinner here. But other diners are wearing cargo shorts and flip flops (but that's getting off course). They could definitely do with a makeover. My date and I were distracted from the meal by critiquing the decor. It doesn't help that it is located in the back of a shopping center with like a dumpster site by the parking lot. However, the aesthetics of the place would not deter me from returning or recommending Mildred's.
(4)
mel c.
The atmosphere is perfect to settle in and let your tummy take a trip to la-la land....muy grownup seating but still accessible and the tunes were a good eclectic mix of good eclectic sounds. It helps that we started off with a fab bottle of Sancerre, but the menu did not dissappoint in terms of variety and flavors. We had a shrimp app and it was the BEST shoot me now shrimp i've ever had. I couldnt decide between the scallops or the jack fish w grits- but being in the south the grits won out. Most eye opening experience- the side veggies- usually an afterthought- were actually the highlight of the plate!!! Dont get me wrong- the fish was amazing- but to have the ho-hums leave me digging under the main event was a handsdown first! (They did have outside tables- jis so ya'll know- but nobody sat at them) Well done- bravo- excellente- and dankershane Mildred!
(5)
cristina o.
love this restaurant and its organic-local mentality. the food was delicious, and felt light despite being heavy dishes (ex. the risotto was not overly creamy or rich but actually felt brothy, a nice change) also, having a large selection of cakes for dessert made me wish for a place back home in miami with various cake slices to choose from for dessert....didnt actually try any cake but i sure wish i could have.... the butternut squash soup was delicious!
(4)
Miss. Foodgurl S.
I like this restaurant. It is kind of expensive, but you get what you pay for. (The quality of the food.) I always go there for special occasions: graduations, birthdays, and sometimes job promotions! The service is fabulous, even at its other restaurant next store, New Deal. The fresh made bread and white bean hummus is to die for! I would die for their pecan crusted chicken and yukon golden whipped mashed potatoes:) Oh, they are oh so good! Also, their desserts are very good. As soon as you walk in you can see the dessert display case. However, Chef Burt is so nice, and is renown throughout Florida.
(4)
Allison H.
Mildred's is consistently great food. I love that the restaurant transitions from day to evening and you could literally go twice in a day and feel like you were eating at two separate restaurants. Also, there is a lot of emphasis on sustainability and organic food and that's a cause that I can get behind
(4)
Dani W.
One of the best restaurants in Gainesville, hands down. I had my graduation dinner here, and it was amazing. The fresh fruit cheesecake, my GOD. SO good. And the wait staff was fantastic during graduation week as well. Everyone in my family loved it. You don't HAVE to make it a super fancy night out, though. We used to go just for our regular Friday night dinners and get the burgers, which are unbelievable. Or at least they used to be before they changed them. They're still good, don't get me wrong. The goat cheese and pistachio appetizer is DELICIOUS. The calamari was pretty good. The aioli sauce is unbelievably good to dip your fries in, om nom nom. They have this one drink, the Godiva chocolate martini or something like that, and my friend and I each had one and we couldn't leave Mildred's for a few hours because I was way too drunk to drive. So hooray for getting drunk on one drink!
(5)
John D.
Absolutely one of the best places in town. I love the dedication to local ingredients, not only does it support the community but the dishes feel lively and inspired. And everything is always so fresh. There are items on the menu that you won't find anywhere else in gainesville are you going to find romanesco, amberjack and rabbit? Bert Gill's other two places in town are spectacular also.
(5)
Stockton M.
I found Mildred's on Yelp and am surprised that nobody around town knew about it. The atmosphere is sophistocated bistro style. I was a bit embarassed about being underdressed with some men in a jacket, but it's Florida and they treated me like royalty anyway. The bread is great focaccia style, subtle but k=nicely seasoned. A garlic white bean mash goes well as a pseudo-hummus. They served a great dish of grilled baby octopus, which if anything was slightly overcooked and chalky on the inside but had a nice grilled finish. Main dish was a grouper. It was slightly overcooked but also tasty. It was supposed to come with clams on the side, which they were out of and substituted with a very nice risotto (a great trade-off in my book). Other tables received very gi-normous "slices" (more like mountains) of of chocolate cakes , key-lime, or cheesecake. deserts A dessert case showed at least 15 choices. Admittedly, I tried to go healthy and avoided the temptation, but now wish I tried the key lime pie. While the menu apparently changes frequently, the lamb looked good and on another day I would definitely give it a try. Appetizers were ~$10 and entrees high teens to high twenties. Of note, the restaurant is a bit hard to find--around the back of a stripmall where a golf store and another sports store are housed. Around front, there is a more casual "New Deal Cafe" by the same owners--apparently more of a burger joint, but it could be great and I'd like to try it, especially since Mildred's has a moderate price tag attached. Would given it 3.5 stars. Almost 4 stars if the food were cooked more a point.
(3)
Victor M.
Garbage food, under-cooked so bad my steak said moo and my wife's pork chop went oink! Over priced an crappy service. McDonalds would out-do this place in a heartbeat. Very limited menu with less than 2 pages.
(1)
Jeremy C.
Great food! 5 people in party and each item was fantastic! Somewhat pricey though. Sitting outside was nice. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and friendly. Wish I could give it 4.5 stars.
(4)
Charles B.
Best food in Gainesville. Locally grown organic veggies. Cooked to perfection. Great service
(5)
Evan T.
Probably my favorite restaurant in Gainesville. Excellent appetizers and entrees, as well has some good drinks. Menu changes, and they use local ingredients. Good stuff.
(5)
Ed L.
I won a bet so I got to chose anywhere I wanted to eat, her treat. Too kewl I said, 'I want Mildreds'. Had seen the Ribeye on someones plate last time out and my curiosity was asking, just how good could a good restaurant do it? Nothings better than a bone-in ribeye for flavor and texture. Well, at least in the world of beef. But upon opening the menu, the Pan Seared Grouper splashed me in the face. Looking down further, the Rack of Lamb drew my attention. I had to let the stress of decision making lay for a while. I did this by looking at appetizers. No doubt I wanted those Blue Crab Cakes again but the fried Chicken Livers with baked bacon wrapped dates and blue cheese jumped out at me. Ooh! the stress of resisting unrestrained temptations . . Who picked this place anyway? My LDC sensed the contemplation on my face and said, "get them both". Oh, how I love her and did. She ordered a pastry wrap. Puffy, flaky filla dough rolled and filled with gooey creamy cheese and mushrooms. Back to my entree dilemma, a choice between 3 alternatives. now becoming more perplexing by the fond memory of the Maine Scallops. She asked what I had decided to order? I told her it's between two items. So I lied. She asked which ones? I said, "I DON'T NOOOO!!!!! Stop with the pressure already." I was hoping she might say order both of them, but her purse wasn't that deep. I still love her. Waiter came toward the table. I know what he's gonna want, what he's gonna ask. "have you decided?" I blurted out " Grilled Black Angus Ribeye, medium ". "excellent choice sir. " all our beef is organically hand raised at U of F. The LDC asked for another 'all veggie special'. She loved the last one here. I had done it, I felt relieved. With such good food selections, why should I like this place the way I do? I needed to chill. Here's the score. 2 Stars - Crab Cakes - Yes, I've had better, and they were here. Had to notch them down since last time. Too much filler. Inconsistent recipe or kitchen, a critical flaw when it comes to CC's. Don't mess with me. 5 Stars - Chicken Livers - Perfectly prepared. A delightful mix of complex flavors. Sugar and salt always teases my buds? Add in blue cheese and it's to the moon and back again. 4 Stars - Ribeye - Delicious from all aspects, tasted like beef, tender, not fatty, and cooked medium like I asked. 5 Stars - Pastry Wrapped Cheese / Mushrooms. - Sure to please, just try it. 5 Stars - Vegetarian Special - They always come through in this department, excellent chef. Still highly recommended in spite of messing with my crab cakes. I'll be sure to inquire about them before I order next time.
(4)
James B.
Mildred's Big City Food is delicious. Their bread and "butterbean" (really, it's like a very good hummus) is addictive. They offer fresh fish and wild game meat entrees. The game meat they offer ranges from rabbit to duck and sometimes they offer venison. Many of their items are organic/locally grown so you know the food is fresh. Their entrees are priced around $20-$30, so expect to spend more money since you will be tempted to get an appetizer. The foie gras I had was prepared very well. You CANNOT leave the restaurant without getting dessert. They will be prominently displayed when you walk in :) They offer a good bar with a friendly and funny bartender when I was there.
(4)
Mary R.
Great food. They pride themselves on locally grown foods.
(4)
Mike M.
Excellent food, great wine list, comfortable atmosphere and great staff! We attended a recent wine pairing prepared by new chef Chris and it was terrific! The grouper with the Malbec reduction was delicious! We love this place!
(5)
Jorge U.
The chicken liver appetizer & the spinach salad alone are worth the trip. The desserts are incredible -- when they're fresh. The staff is usually very attentive & knowledgeable -- I've had several excellent wine recommendations.
(5)
dave p.
We went on a Thursday night that wasn't too busy. The service was slow but decent. The bar was good and had a few special cocktails. For the appetizer we ordered the crispy pepper and Florida shrimp. It was delicious. For dinner, we got the pan seared Mexican grouper with an organic tomato risotto. The risotto was a bit al dente, but overall very good. We also got the duck entree. It was slightly undercooked, but had decent flavor. The desert was scrumptious. We got the Chocolate fudge Corruption and a Chocolate raspberry cake. The cakes were very rich and yummy. And had a good selection of desert drinks. Overall, a bit pricey for what we got, but was decent.
(3)
Elias S.
By far, my favorite place for lunch. Great food- whether I am in the mood for lighter fare- chicken salad salad is my current favorite, or something more substantial, say the brisket of beef, I am always satisfied with the freshness, tastiness, and high quality of my selections. The prices at lunch are extremely reasonable.
(5)
Ashley M.
what jimmy b. said to a t. i had a wonderful gulf of mexico grouper with risotto dish, followed by a yummy almond cake topped with fresh fruit. coming from boston, the atmosphere is nothing to write home about... but its certainly 100 times better than the majority of stripmall chains in the city. and the food was wonderful.
(4)
Jordan M.
Nice menu of local foods at fair prices, but the dishes and wife and I ordered at dinner were both heavily salted and overcooked. This is a solid spot for lunch, though, with wonderful homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches at prices comparable to those awful chain restaurants. Also, the desserts are all outstanding.
(3)
Eve A.
What I like best is Mildred's involvement in the locavore movement. A recent summer meal featured a watermelon arugula salad using fresh local produce. It'sstill one of my favorite restaurants for special occasions. The only thing that keeps it from five stars is that the service, which while always friendly, too often isn't up to what one expects from a restaurant of this caliber.
(4)
Tiffany C.
This is a nice little place to come on a date and get some good food. The entrees are about $16 and up, so have in mind that you will be spending money. As everyone mentioned they use local fresh produce. The desserts looked very tasty but didn't try any.
(4)
Joyce S.
Stopped for lunch here, actually the cafe connected to it next door. The soups were really great (homemade!) as were the sandwiches. Nice to know they use all fresh local produce etc...Just would have liked a nicer atmosphere, but will still return for great healthy food!
(3)
Laura Terese H.
Wanted to go to New Deal Cafe, but it was closed. Tables were set out in front of it with white tableclothes , for mothers day. BUT Mildreds was open and we decided it was okay to go there instead. I had been to Mildreds before, It was one of the first "lunch" dates James and I had . I remember getting an Ahi Tuna Caesar salad, but I cannot tell you how it tasted or what the service was like because I was too preoccupied with freaking out about the new man in my life!! That visit we sat outside, this time we sat inside because there were a few ladies out there who gave me the stank eye for wearing such a short skirt. It WAS windy out and I didnt want to give them a heart attack on such a sacred day. Word to your mother, its hot in florida they are just gonna get shorter. Inside Mildreds, its strange. The booths are upholstered in what seems to be leftover fabric from a Holiday Inn circa 1996. There are tables, and nooks, and when you come in there is a dessert fridge which is just so unappealing to me. Labeled food is old fashioned. We werent starving, and wanted to just get some appetizers. Mildreds menu changes with the season, you never know what your going to see. Our waitress who had a case of the mumbles brought us some complimentary foccacia bread with red lentil puree. The puree tasted like nothing, cold paste, we put salt and pepper on it to give it some life. We ordered some fries (4), and the fried calamari with spicy aioli(6) The fries were perfect! Huge portion, so huge they put it in a bucket. The calamari is fried, and then they put the aioli on top of that...so frying it becomes kinda pointless. It was really good but soggy, next time i will pull a Sally and say "on the side" to the Aioli. The place certainly needs an overhaul, though, it feels out of sorts in there. The set up doesnt flow right, its not the most comfortable atmosphere.They were also playing some seriously depressing music (think Jeff Buckley singing Hallelujah, and program from there) The service was good though, she just needed to open her mouth more, it WAS a pleasant lunch and I will definitely go back.
(3)
Paul S.
One of the best restaurants in Gainesville. I have been to Mildred's for lunch many times and, on occasion, we have gone there for dinner. It is a very clean restaurant, great service, and the food is incredible. From there unique soups to their steak, they do not have a menu item that I have not loved. Plus, they use local farmers for all of their ingredients. Probably the reason the food tastes so fresh. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
(5)
Rick K.
We were able to have an early supper here after a long day. Our experience with food and service far exceeded our expectations. Our server, Lorena, was very attentive and offered good insight. The salmon was explosive in flavor and the pompano was perfectly prepared. The tips were crunchy on the edges, yet perfect in the middle. The desserts were also exceptional. Don't be fooled by the exterior - this is a first class restaurant.
(5)
Shane R.
I and some guests visited a few weeks ago. We were completely thrilled with the entire experience! The service was helpful and thorough. Since many of their entrees are varying from standard fares, we decided to try a number of different meals. Each item we tried was simply fantastic! I would definitely visit Mildred's for an awesome dining experience. The food was so good we found ourselves repeatedly discussing it as opposed to our regular conversation. Enjoy!
(5)
Amy F.
I have to admit, I was not expecting much from this restaurant since this is a college town and not known for its food. OH BOY WAS I WRONG. This place is wonderful. The waitress was extremely knowledgable about the menu and wine list and had valid opinions about both--she didn't just tell me the 'specials,' she told me what she likes and put genuine feeling behind it. She was very honest about comparable dishes. I had the coconut lychee martini to begin (fabulous), and then the pork belly appetizer with my phenomenal bottle of white Bordeaux. It absolutely negated my workout from earlier in the day all by itself, but it was worth it. Very flavorful, and be sure you eat the apples and red pepper with it! Very good pairing.. Next was the pumpkin parsnip soup. It might be a little heavy for some, but I loved it. It really brought out the acidity in the wine. I will say I didn't finish it, but only because there was a lot! Then the cobia. Omg, talk about melt in your mouth. The sauce is a little tangy, which pairs well with the strong flavor of the fish. I quickly realized I was going to need another stomach for this dinner!!! And then there was dessert...FYI, as soon as you walk in the door, you see all of what they have to offer, so you're thinking about it throughout the entire rest of your dinner! Just sayin! Chocolate strawberry mousse cheesecake. It's definitely rich, definitely yummy, and I definitely had to take much of it back to my hotel... And then someone had to roll me back to the hotel because I was so stinking full! Great place! Ask for Marpessa! She's awesome! :)
(5)
Charles S.
Excellent food, even better service. Mildred's is a great place to wow friends or family without spending a lot of money. They use local produce, meats and seafood and really let the quality of the ingredients speak for themselves. It is refreshing to see the quality of food they turn out while supporting local suppliers. The wine list is very notable too. Highly recommend for a nice dinner. Go next door to New Deal and get a burger for lunch (best in Gville.)
(4)
Reed B.
I don't get it.... perhaps it isn't "big city" enough for me? I went for lunch (which during the week is counter service) and had their take on a grilled cheese sandwich. Unfortunately, it was made very sloppily, had chewy bacon that was a bit gross and was missing one of the advertised ingredients. The salad was average...but the desert was the big disappointment... The cake we had was hard as a rock and tasted slightly of freezer burn. Very disappointing. I am giving it three stars because my dining partner enjoyed her sandwich (although she said it was Panera quality for a few bucks more), and I have a feeling that dinner would be a much better experience.
(3)
Chris B.
Last night was a big bust! The salad greens were fresh, but no dressing at all not even a taste of a simple olive oil. The hot creamy soup was sweet but other than that no flavor. The pork was terrible as it was tough and had no flavor. I think it had recently come out of the freezer. The bread was not up to the quality that it has been in the past. What has changed over the years as you once were always able to get a great meal here? The only thing that was right was the wine. Please work on training a new chef.
(1)
Jim B.
Always delicious. Always. New Years Eve - a choice of a tasting menu with a zillion options, or just order of a more limited menu. My party of 4 diners went with the menu. The crispy grilled pompano over a zucchini squash fritter was superb! My order of sear scallops with an amazing cream sauce inspired, and the pork loin - sublime. My salad (blue cheese, greens, raisins, whole walnuts & a light drizzle of balsamic) was out-freaking-standing. We killed the cachaça with our caipharina orders, but I only wanted one anyway. We ordered a single chocolate cheesecake strawberry mousse dessert that the 4 of us could barely finish. Service was well done, speedy and friendly. My only disappointment was that the pecan crusted chicken is no longer on the menu. I loved that dish. My total bill (salad, drink, entree & 1/4 of the dessert + tax and tip) was just 50 bucks. A bargain for NYE in my opinion. And it was a superb meal. My only complaint: They're a bit heavy on the salt. I neglected to put in my "no added salt please" order admonishment, but I powered through.
(5)
Tessa M.
Maybe I'm just not that fancy and I love to eat more. But I can go to Mcalister's and get better service for a cheaper price and just as good food. The food is good but the price is way too much! It's clean but for that amount I should get service. I have to refill my own tea what's with that?!
(2)
Anna K.
Great value for the high quality of food experience. Innovative menu that changes often. We had rabbit liver kabob as an appetizer - amazing! Duck confit with veggies was great too. Highly recommend, especially for the area. it can compete with many upscale place in New York City, but costs half as much.
(5)
Adam S.
I am really impressed with this place. The bread comes with a tasty homemade riccotta spread. I had the calamari for an appetizer which was not chewy at all. It was intermingled with sweet pickles which worked oddly well. I had the lamb sausage and chop dish for the entree. The lamb was well cooked and the squash casserole it was served with was quite flavorful. Apparently the lamb is raised right on campus which makes it especially fresh. The staff is friendly, and the prices seem quite reasonable to me. I would definitely recommend a trip here.
(4)
Victoria P.
Mildred's Big City Food is all about sustainable dining and it shows in the restaurant's delicious food and seasonal menu. Executive Chef Bert Gill takes great care to find the freshest ingredients for his succulent dishes, while still supporting Gainesville's farmers. Small yet classy, Mildred's is perfect for an intimate Sunday date night. We were one of three couples enjoying the dining room's modern aesthetic. My favorite part of the decor were the oxidized copper seashells adorning the walls. Out of all the appetizers, the Mussel Fritters were the obvious choice. Much like conch fritters, the mussels were battered and deep fried to perfection. The twist? Bite size morsels of bacon added a smokey flavor to the traditionally seafood based snack. I was immediately intrigued by the pairing of Red Snapper, Pumpkin and Sausage and definitely wasn't disappointed when the dish came out. The sear on the snapper was brown and crisp, while the chunks of pumpkin gave the dish a playful orange color. The sausage added a hearty texture to the buttery filet of fish and each bite was like a harvest of flavor. My date is a sucker for salmon, so the Salmon with Artichoke Hearts and Onions was his go-to dish. Plated on a bed of onions and artichoke hearts, the salmon flaked away with a touch of the fork. His favorite part was the creamy sauce. Sort of like a hollandaise, it made the already rich salmon taste even better. I almost turned down getting dessert and I'm oh-so-glad I didn't. This decadent piece of Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake immediately put me into a sugar coma. The combination of chocolate and peanut butter was just right, while the Reese's cup on top proved to be a nice touch. It was a little too rich to finish all at once, but you better believe I raided the fridge for a chocolatey midnight snack.
(4)
April O.
Another one of my favorite spots that I heard was slipping. Tragic news! Jimmy and I both agreed that we needed to check it out as his pre-grad school graduation dinner. I arrived early and seated myself alone at the bar, prompting a server to come over and offer me a drink while I waited. I latched onto a Hendrick's gimlet, which turned out to be a huge mistake for me. Jimmy took a sip when he arrived and grimaced. "Wow, that's ... um." "Yeah," I sighed. As soon as we were seated, the same server came over, immediately perceived that I couldn't get through the drink and offered me a new one. When I protested against putting her to trouble, she brushed it off and told me to pick whatever I thought I might like. I chose a peartini and she returned with it shortly, bringing their delicious bread as well. She was back within two minutes eyeing the martini glass, which was still nearly full. "You don't like it, do you?" Shamefaced, I shook my head. Without an ounce of attitude, she immediately offered me another drink. It took her over a minute to persuade me that it was really no trouble on her behalf, and I finally decided on a caipirinha. After that fiasco, we were both ready to eat. We ordered zucchini latkes and braised pork belly to start. The latkes were reminiscent of Chinese scallion pancakes, but more solid, and delicious with the dollop of horseradish butter. The pork belly was crisp on top, meaty in the middle and silky with fat underneath. We devoured it quickly before nibbling on the bed of cauliflower florets and roasted potatoes. By now the server was back. "I gotta ask, how do you like this drink?" I chuckled. "It's good. Thank you." So lesson learned--the bartenders here have heavy hands. It puts the value into a $9 specialty drink, but lightweights and Curious Georges be warned. Dinner arrived, bright with color. Jimmy had a fillet of wahoo over gorgeous root veggies. I had 1/3 of a rack of lamb, lamb sausages (seriously!) and chickpea stew. The sausages were intensely seasoned and salty, but the flavor mellowed against the mild garbanzos. I had a bite of Jimmy's wahoo and a roasted radish; both were excellent. Dessert was a shared slice of peach melba cake, complete with peach schnapps cooked right in. Delicious as always. I've noticed a few reviews that end with "We spent $200 for 4 people and it wasn't worth it" or some variation of that sort. I did the math when I was there on Tuesday--most expensive entree of the night was $23, most expensive appetizer was $11, most expensive specialty drink was $10, most expensive salad was $8, dessert is almost always $6. That's a $60 meal, but that's for the five most costly items available, so dinner for four shouldn't deflate your wallet unless you ordered accordingly. I'll be back ... I have to verify that my excellent evening wasn't a fluke. ;) 5 stars.
(5)
Claire S.
Yum-o! Like this place, everything here is grown locally so it's all fresh. Had the escargot as an appetizer. I like; this was my fav part of the meal so good so good. Also the foccaccia w herb butter they bring out is amazing; the lady asked if we wanted more bc me and my boyfriend ate all of like a couple of meatballs. I had the grouper as my entree and it was very good, so fresh, and the butternut squash and onions were delicious. Tried my bf's lamb and this was good too. Everything is very good and fresh here. Top notch.
(4)
Emilia B.
LUNCH - we go at least once a week for their fresh, fulfilling lunchtime items. The staff is friendly and helpful. The ambiance is comfortable. I especially like the tuna melt, chicken curry salad, bacon/blue/pecan salad, bruschetta points and soups, and fontina sandwich. DINNER - dressier and pricier than their lunch, but well worth it. The menu items change frequently, but there are some standards that don't. The ambiance is comfortable and romantic. You must try one of their desserts, which are always on display at the front of the restaurant. I didn't especially like the raspberry torte due to the heaviness/buttery-ness of the cream filling, but check out the chocolate bombe, any cheesecake, anything with lots of chocolate...they do this extremely well.
(4)
Deborah H.
I found Mildred's to be a decent attempt at "big city food." While the bread with butterbean spread was a delicious start, my quail entree was overdone. That may be my fault for ordering quail in Gainesville. Anyways, the calf liver was passable, and the duck was easily the best dish out of what we ordered. We ordered an unnecessary amount of desserts, but the key lime pie is the only thing that really stood out to me: they used REAL key limes, the custard was light and subtly sweet, and the crust was close to perfect.
(3)
Belle C.
My favorite restaurant in Gainesville because it serves my favorite kind of food (simple preparations and fresh, high-quality ingredients), the service is attentive without being intrusive, and the homemade desserts are fantastic.
(5)
Leslie D.
Stopped by Mildred's on accident as I was letting my phone catch up to the satellite's. Once we opened the car doors, we knew this was the place we had been looking for while driving thru Gainesville. Once the doors opened, I thought it was going to be to fancy to eat lunch at. We soon learned that they have 2 separate seatings; one for lunch and one for dinner. The sandwiches on the menu sounded intriguing, but we decided that we were in the mood for burgers. My boyfriend ordered for a starter the chicken livers with grainy mustard and maple syrup. Odd combination, but they really worked together. I had the blue cheese bacon burger which had the most moist and tender beef and not an overload of bun. The man had the mushroom swiss, which was just as good. They get their meat from the agriculture department from the college and aged it which explained the juicy quality of the meat. We also ordered to go the pumpkin cheesecake and the chocolate cheesecake topped with strawberry mousse. If they are this good for lunch, the next time we are in town we will have to try their dinner menu!
(4)
Lauren J.
I will preface this review by saying that I will give Mildred's one more chance. Only one. My fiancee and I yelped Mildred's before arriving, and I noticed that an overwhelming number of reviews commented on the service, or lack thereof. I still wanted to try it out as they use fresh local ingredients and rotate their menu daily. I support any restaurant that has embraced the locavore movement, a rarity in Gainesville. We arrived at 2:15 on Sunday (today) for a late lunch. We were greeted and seated in a banquette. Our hipster server greeted us and asked for our drink order, I ordered a round of waters and asked for more time to decide regarding a cocktail. She quickly brought our waters, but did not stick around to record our cocktail choices. 7-9 minutes later she came back, out of breath as we had watched her literally sprint from table to table, of which there were three. I ordered a Pinot Grigio, and Dan ordered a Sam Adams, which were swiftly served. For lunch we shared a spinach and goat cheese salad to start. I ordered the crab cakes appetizer for my lunch, and Dan ordered the Club sandwich. The salad was dressed well, not too much dressing, not too little. The goat cheese was creamy and delicious. The salad was accented with poached pears. Overall, it was was a delight. Our entrees arrived, my crab cakes looked a little small, but I quickly realized that they were just stacked really high, making them the perfect portion. Dan's sandwich was enormous with thick cut bacon, thick pieces of ham and turkey. The sandwich was pulled together with a yummy thousand island dressing. His meal was paired with an oil and vinegar based pasta salad, whose flavor can be described as subtle. Our food was truly delightful and I was pleased to find a restaurant that offered food that excites me. I even began planning our return for dinner. You may ask, why then, would you give Mildred's only two stars? This is where the fun begins. As we were finishing our meal our server simply disappeared, I mean she vanished. We neatly stacked our plates and awaited her return with our check, and waited, and waited, and waited! There was not a sole employee in the entire restaurant. We waited for 15 minutes until a server arriving for the dinner shift (it was 3:00pm) appeared. I knew this was my only chance to ask for our check. Unfortunately this girl was brand new, I asked her to find our server for us and she returned to tell us that she was in a meeting. A MEETING??? We were still in the restaurant, and this chick checked out for a meeting? I expressed my fury to this poor new server but assured her that it was not her that I was upset with. She apologized and brought us our check. The new shift manager arrived immediately after and offered us drinks to go for our troubles. What am I at Sonny's, yes a sweet tea to go will cure everything...NO! Finally our server and the lunch manager appeared, The manager apologized profusely and comped our meal. He understood my frustration and asked us to give them one more try. Mildred's, for now received two stars because the service was so atrocious. As I said, I will try one more time, as the manager finally made things right. It is sad that an establishment with such great selections, would offer such poor service.
(2)
Eric A.
Mildreds is the epitome of "Faux Fancy," the zenith of the pretension scale, the lowest cost to quality ratio that there could be in town. They are all hype and no substance. Don't get me wrong, the food isn't bad. It's just nothing special. I ate a sampling of multiple dishes, including many meat based meals, to reach this conclusion. To start, I had the spinach, goat cheese, pistachio and persimmon saladThe first thing I noticed was that the dressing was way too strong. If you're going to include several unusual items in your salad (especially the subtly unique flavor of persimmon), you can't overload us on the salad dressing. It was very flavorful, but a bit over the top. The spinach was extremely large and thick, making for a very chewy texture. It wasn't bad, just unusual. Someone else in our party got a salad that included "dried fruit" which just turned out to be raisins. For the entrees, we sampled the menu quite thoroughly. One dish was pan seared grouper with spinach and lemon risotto.According to the meal's eater, "The grouper was great, totally fine and crispy. There was no sauce on it, but it was good and the way I like it (light fried/seared fish). The risotto was really not good. The rice wasn't cooked long enough and it wasn't creamy. I've made risotto twice before and it's been better than that." In my opinion, after sampling the fish myself, it was very flavorless and boring. Combined with the miserable risotto, this dish was aesthetically pleasing, but tasted like a dud. Another meal was the duck with glazed chestnuts. According to the meal's eater, "The glazed chestnuts were surprisingly good. The duck was fine, it was duck. I was not impressed. It wasn't bad, but nothing special." In my opinion, the duck was quite gamey. It actually tasted stinky to me. I didn't try the chestnuts. I had the burger. I don't eat beef more than once every 6 months or so, but I do know that Mildred's serves local, grass-fed beef (along with as many other local ingredients as they can across the whole menu). I felt the need for meat tonight and this was honestly the only reason I suggested Mildred's. It was a good burger and the fries were tasty, although oversalted. The final meal, which I didn't photograph was the pork chop with bacon mac-n-cheese. According to the eater, "It was like they took 3 different dishes and put them together. The flavors didn't go together at all. It was so weird. The pork chop had a barbeque sauce that bordered on teriyaki. Then there was weird mac n cheese with bacon and steamed veggies with a butter sauce. It was a very strange combination of 3 completely different sauces that you wouldnt put on the same dish. It was as if the chef didn't think of how the elements of the meal would go together." I personally, didn't try this dish, so I can't add or detract from that. I also tried someone's Pumpkin Bisque, which was quite delicious. Overall, with 7 people eating at the same table, none of us were impressed. The price tag was quite high (around 25/person without drinks). I don't mind paying 25 dollars for a meal, and honestly don't consider it terribly much money for a great meal. It's just that no one had a great meal. Easily, the best item was the burger, which is a weak statement. If the place didn't put themselves out there at a high end/gourmet level, I wouldn't have been so harsh in this review. They call themselves "big city food," but unfortunately, the biggest city any of these chef's has been to is Gainesville, FL.
(1)
Francesca M.
Love this place. Everything tastes so fresh and the fact that the produce is all local makes it even better!
(4)
Andrew H.
One of the areas best restaurants with top notch service. This is a cosy little restaurant with a welcoming feel and a culinary quality that will not disappoint. We started with the escargot and crab cakes and it was clear that the quality of food served was worthy of five stars. The wine selection was vast and the waiter did not miss a beat and suggested a great second bottle that complimented the meals perfectly. For dinner I ordered the sword fish served with polenta and kale. The fish was fresh and a good size portion. Overall a very pleasant evening at one of the areas best restaurants.
(5)
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Address :3445 W University Ave
Gainesville, FL, 32607
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Il P.
I just had a Christmas eve dinner with my friends here. Amazing pan roasted cobia!! The seasoning is just right, not too salty, nor covered with sauce. The portion of the main dish is not a lot, so you can actually enjoy the food. I had a chocolate truffle torte as dessert; it is pretty darn good. The dessert was actually as big as the main meal. It was a bit difficult to find the place. It's in the shopping plaza between 2nd and University ave, to the furthest west side. Going from 2nd ave is easier if you are going north from 34th street.
(5)John L.
"I'm considering the crispy pork belly" said the wife while we were discussing possible appetizer choices. "That's exactly what I was thinking." I replied. "I suppose I'll do the Duck Meatballs." I added. Crispy Pork Belly with Deviled Egg and Potato Salad- On the plate was a sphere of braised pork belly, breaded and deep fried with a halved deviled egg and a scoop of potato salad. Why does this presentation seem so familiar? The Ox tail dish at Ti Amo! I don't quite understand the chef's fascination with deep fried and breaded braised meats. But never mind that; the dish itself however uninspired was still pleasant. Nothing special but certainly not bad. Given the price of the app I thought it was a good value. Duck Meatballs with Mustard Greens and Curried Dried Fruit - This dish was phenomenal; absolutely mind blowing! The meatballs were cooked perfectly and not the least bit gamey, the dried fruits added just the right amount of tart/sweetness and the greens where not only cooked perfectly but also intense in flavor. World class. "What about for the mains?" I asked. "I dunno'. What are you getting?" She queried. "I'm eyeing the hanger steak. But i need to ask the server a question." I replied. Server: "Have we decided on an entree?" Me: "Yeah..uh..just a quick question though.. do you guys make your own sausage?" Server: "Yes." Me: "I'll have the Hanger Steak " Wife: "And I'll have the Red Grouper" Red Grouper Pan-Seared with Spinach and Lemon Risotto- The fish was executed consummately. The spinach was fine though non-memorable and the risotto was just okay. I don't think they use Arborio (a variety of rice considered the standard for risotto due to both its heartiness and creamy texture). Also there were two sauces on the dish, an orange one of indiscernible flavor and a green herb (parsley?) oil. Hanger Steak Grilled with Roasted Pumpkin and Sausage- The steak was a little undercooked but otherwise fine (again not stellar) and the sausage was more dense and Andouille-like rather than an Italian or breakfast sausage consistency. It had a sharp and appealing flavor. The roasted pumpkin was a little bland though gourds and squashes generally tend that way. But wait! What's this on my plate? Two sauces, you guessed it, the SAME two sauces that were on the fish dish. *face palm* For dessert I had the Pumpkin Cheesecake and the wife had the Chocolate Mousse Bombe. I thought I may have made a mistake by trying the Chocolate Bombe after I tried the cheesecake; for I felt that the chocolate flavor was muted. The wife, however, who had tasted her dessert first agreed with me; the chocolate flavor was a little understated, the sweetness could have been turned up just a tad and the cake component was a little too dry. The Pumpkin Cheesecake was solid; hardly revelational but done well none the less. Mildred's used to be my favorite restaurant in town. It no longer carries that distinction. In short, if you go, don't miss the Duck Meatballs.
(3)Terry H.
I'm not a big fan of this place, but my wife likes it, so we go once every three years or so. We ordered two appetizers for our group; Lump Crab Cakes and Slow Roasted Pork Belly. The crab cakes were less than mediocre but the pork belly was to die for! Crispy on top, tender underneath, you don't want to pass this up. For our entree's, we ordered duck and Braised Lamb Shank. They were both very tender and tasted fine. But, it wasn't enough for me to say, "We have to come back here and get this again!" However, like I said earlier, I will get nothing but the slow roasted pork belly on my next visit because it is to die for.
(3)Bethany M.
Whenever I come, I come with once-a-week regulars so I'm taken care of and maybe a little biased. But Bert (Gill, executive chef) tears it up. Menu is not stagnant. Original locally grown, seasonal highlights on the menu every night. ~10 entree choices, just to give you an idea. And I've never had anything--fish, duck, pork,...--disappoint. The side dishes are always particularly tasty. Tonight... Pumpkin Agnolotti with Apple and Local Bacon starter. New York Strip entree. It was listed on the menu with Mashed Yukon Potatoes, but I asked to sub the Fried Green Tomatoes which were supposed to side the Ginger Salmon. Love that they don't blink at substitutions. And was it good? It so was. Bonus for having Fried Green Tomatoes on the menu at all. I'm a southern girl after all. And oh, the martinis. I lost (always lose) count how many. Shout out to Sarah, who's been hostessing as long as I've been going, and apparently masterminded some of the newer cocktail menu additions, including the Ibarra (think cinnamon cocoa) I sampled tonight... she's a cutie and the drinks rock my socks off. The restaurant is smaller with a homey feel, but the menu has a gourmet flair I haven't tired of yet. The servers are, best guess, mostly grad students, old enough to seem surer of themselves but not yet sporting that pretentious vibe some servers at higher caliber restaurants have. Perfect place for a laid back, but classy, evening in Gainesville. I recommend Bert's other restaurants as well, New Deal Cafe (right next door) and Ti Amo downtown.
(5)Beth G.
I have always had nice dinners at Mildred's, but I was really disappointed by the noticeable decline in service and food quality on my last visit. The desserts had always been fresh and craving-inducing, the fish and meat fresh and perfectly done, and the service prompt. That is, until.... On my last visit, a friend and I ordered drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Our drinks seemed to take forever to arrive and our server was nowhere to be found. I had ordered their version of a Sidecar, which, when it finally arrived, tasted nothing like any Sidecar I'd ever had before - and not in a good way. The most irritating part of the evening, to me, was when I tried to inquire about where my starter salad was 30 minutes after I ordered it. After about five minutes with no waitress, I flagged down another server and asked if it was just taking a while. She said, "Probably," turned, and walked away - a response that left me really annoyed. The salad did show up about five minutes later; I'm not sure if that was due to her intervention or not. I ordered a chicken dish with a wild rice risotto for my entree while my friend ordered a duck dish. I've had a lot of wild rice, but this was unpleasantly pungent and gave a weirdly gamy flavor to the whole dish. My friend, a bit of a Chinese food connoisseur who lived in China for several years, complained that he has had better duck when he purchases it from an Asian market in town. I ordered the Italian Espresso Torte for dessert and it was as delicious as ever. My friend got a chocolate cake that was flavorless and unremarkable - it tasted like something you'd get out of a grocery store bakery case. Overall, our experience was unpleasant this last time. Inattentive service, long wait times, and sub-par food really made this a miss for me. I've had so many good experiences at Mildred's that I can say that this probably won't be the last time I'll ever go there, but it definitely left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
(3)Kristen C.
The food was good but not enough to justify the prices in Gainesville. The chairs were old and strange banquet-looking seats -- definitely not a modern look. Not much else to say but I wasn't all that impressed.
(2)Laura D.
I've been to Mildred's twice and both times the food is fantastic, some of the best I've had in a while. Warning: you will be tempted by desserts as soon as you walk in! And I highly recommend trying one of their many cakes or cheesecakes. The food was great, the servers were very helpful. We loved the coffee we had after dinner so much, that we bought a bag of it! My main problem with the place is the ambiance. It is very outdated in my opinion. It's a rather expensive place, so I want to look nice for a dinner here. But other diners are wearing cargo shorts and flip flops (but that's getting off course). They could definitely do with a makeover. My date and I were distracted from the meal by critiquing the decor. It doesn't help that it is located in the back of a shopping center with like a dumpster site by the parking lot. However, the aesthetics of the place would not deter me from returning or recommending Mildred's.
(4)mel c.
The atmosphere is perfect to settle in and let your tummy take a trip to la-la land....muy grownup seating but still accessible and the tunes were a good eclectic mix of good eclectic sounds. It helps that we started off with a fab bottle of Sancerre, but the menu did not dissappoint in terms of variety and flavors. We had a shrimp app and it was the BEST shoot me now shrimp i've ever had. I couldnt decide between the scallops or the jack fish w grits- but being in the south the grits won out. Most eye opening experience- the side veggies- usually an afterthought- were actually the highlight of the plate!!! Dont get me wrong- the fish was amazing- but to have the ho-hums leave me digging under the main event was a handsdown first! (They did have outside tables- jis so ya'll know- but nobody sat at them) Well done- bravo- excellente- and dankershane Mildred!
(5)cristina o.
love this restaurant and its organic-local mentality. the food was delicious, and felt light despite being heavy dishes (ex. the risotto was not overly creamy or rich but actually felt brothy, a nice change) also, having a large selection of cakes for dessert made me wish for a place back home in miami with various cake slices to choose from for dessert....didnt actually try any cake but i sure wish i could have.... the butternut squash soup was delicious!
(4)Miss. Foodgurl S.
I like this restaurant. It is kind of expensive, but you get what you pay for. (The quality of the food.) I always go there for special occasions: graduations, birthdays, and sometimes job promotions! The service is fabulous, even at its other restaurant next store, New Deal. The fresh made bread and white bean hummus is to die for! I would die for their pecan crusted chicken and yukon golden whipped mashed potatoes:) Oh, they are oh so good! Also, their desserts are very good. As soon as you walk in you can see the dessert display case. However, Chef Burt is so nice, and is renown throughout Florida.
(4)Allison H.
Mildred's is consistently great food. I love that the restaurant transitions from day to evening and you could literally go twice in a day and feel like you were eating at two separate restaurants. Also, there is a lot of emphasis on sustainability and organic food and that's a cause that I can get behind
(4)Dani W.
One of the best restaurants in Gainesville, hands down. I had my graduation dinner here, and it was amazing. The fresh fruit cheesecake, my GOD. SO good. And the wait staff was fantastic during graduation week as well. Everyone in my family loved it. You don't HAVE to make it a super fancy night out, though. We used to go just for our regular Friday night dinners and get the burgers, which are unbelievable. Or at least they used to be before they changed them. They're still good, don't get me wrong. The goat cheese and pistachio appetizer is DELICIOUS. The calamari was pretty good. The aioli sauce is unbelievably good to dip your fries in, om nom nom. They have this one drink, the Godiva chocolate martini or something like that, and my friend and I each had one and we couldn't leave Mildred's for a few hours because I was way too drunk to drive. So hooray for getting drunk on one drink!
(5)John D.
Absolutely one of the best places in town. I love the dedication to local ingredients, not only does it support the community but the dishes feel lively and inspired. And everything is always so fresh. There are items on the menu that you won't find anywhere else in gainesville are you going to find romanesco, amberjack and rabbit? Bert Gill's other two places in town are spectacular also.
(5)Stockton M.
I found Mildred's on Yelp and am surprised that nobody around town knew about it. The atmosphere is sophistocated bistro style. I was a bit embarassed about being underdressed with some men in a jacket, but it's Florida and they treated me like royalty anyway. The bread is great focaccia style, subtle but k=nicely seasoned. A garlic white bean mash goes well as a pseudo-hummus. They served a great dish of grilled baby octopus, which if anything was slightly overcooked and chalky on the inside but had a nice grilled finish. Main dish was a grouper. It was slightly overcooked but also tasty. It was supposed to come with clams on the side, which they were out of and substituted with a very nice risotto (a great trade-off in my book). Other tables received very gi-normous "slices" (more like mountains) of of chocolate cakes , key-lime, or cheesecake. deserts A dessert case showed at least 15 choices. Admittedly, I tried to go healthy and avoided the temptation, but now wish I tried the key lime pie. While the menu apparently changes frequently, the lamb looked good and on another day I would definitely give it a try. Appetizers were ~$10 and entrees high teens to high twenties. Of note, the restaurant is a bit hard to find--around the back of a stripmall where a golf store and another sports store are housed. Around front, there is a more casual "New Deal Cafe" by the same owners--apparently more of a burger joint, but it could be great and I'd like to try it, especially since Mildred's has a moderate price tag attached. Would given it 3.5 stars. Almost 4 stars if the food were cooked more a point.
(3)Victor M.
Garbage food, under-cooked so bad my steak said moo and my wife's pork chop went oink! Over priced an crappy service. McDonalds would out-do this place in a heartbeat. Very limited menu with less than 2 pages.
(1)Jeremy C.
Great food! 5 people in party and each item was fantastic! Somewhat pricey though. Sitting outside was nice. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and friendly. Wish I could give it 4.5 stars.
(4)Charles B.
Best food in Gainesville. Locally grown organic veggies. Cooked to perfection. Great service
(5)Evan T.
Probably my favorite restaurant in Gainesville. Excellent appetizers and entrees, as well has some good drinks. Menu changes, and they use local ingredients. Good stuff.
(5)Ed L.
I won a bet so I got to chose anywhere I wanted to eat, her treat. Too kewl I said, 'I want Mildreds'. Had seen the Ribeye on someones plate last time out and my curiosity was asking, just how good could a good restaurant do it? Nothings better than a bone-in ribeye for flavor and texture. Well, at least in the world of beef. But upon opening the menu, the Pan Seared Grouper splashed me in the face. Looking down further, the Rack of Lamb drew my attention. I had to let the stress of decision making lay for a while. I did this by looking at appetizers. No doubt I wanted those Blue Crab Cakes again but the fried Chicken Livers with baked bacon wrapped dates and blue cheese jumped out at me. Ooh! the stress of resisting unrestrained temptations . . Who picked this place anyway? My LDC sensed the contemplation on my face and said, "get them both". Oh, how I love her and did. She ordered a pastry wrap. Puffy, flaky filla dough rolled and filled with gooey creamy cheese and mushrooms. Back to my entree dilemma, a choice between 3 alternatives. now becoming more perplexing by the fond memory of the Maine Scallops. She asked what I had decided to order? I told her it's between two items. So I lied. She asked which ones? I said, "I DON'T NOOOO!!!!! Stop with the pressure already." I was hoping she might say order both of them, but her purse wasn't that deep. I still love her. Waiter came toward the table. I know what he's gonna want, what he's gonna ask. "have you decided?" I blurted out " Grilled Black Angus Ribeye, medium ". "excellent choice sir. " all our beef is organically hand raised at U of F. The LDC asked for another 'all veggie special'. She loved the last one here. I had done it, I felt relieved. With such good food selections, why should I like this place the way I do? I needed to chill. Here's the score. 2 Stars - Crab Cakes - Yes, I've had better, and they were here. Had to notch them down since last time. Too much filler. Inconsistent recipe or kitchen, a critical flaw when it comes to CC's. Don't mess with me. 5 Stars - Chicken Livers - Perfectly prepared. A delightful mix of complex flavors. Sugar and salt always teases my buds? Add in blue cheese and it's to the moon and back again. 4 Stars - Ribeye - Delicious from all aspects, tasted like beef, tender, not fatty, and cooked medium like I asked. 5 Stars - Pastry Wrapped Cheese / Mushrooms. - Sure to please, just try it. 5 Stars - Vegetarian Special - They always come through in this department, excellent chef. Still highly recommended in spite of messing with my crab cakes. I'll be sure to inquire about them before I order next time.
(4)James B.
Mildred's Big City Food is delicious. Their bread and "butterbean" (really, it's like a very good hummus) is addictive. They offer fresh fish and wild game meat entrees. The game meat they offer ranges from rabbit to duck and sometimes they offer venison. Many of their items are organic/locally grown so you know the food is fresh. Their entrees are priced around $20-$30, so expect to spend more money since you will be tempted to get an appetizer. The foie gras I had was prepared very well. You CANNOT leave the restaurant without getting dessert. They will be prominently displayed when you walk in :) They offer a good bar with a friendly and funny bartender when I was there.
(4)Mary R.
Great food. They pride themselves on locally grown foods.
(4)Mike M.
Excellent food, great wine list, comfortable atmosphere and great staff! We attended a recent wine pairing prepared by new chef Chris and it was terrific! The grouper with the Malbec reduction was delicious! We love this place!
(5)Jorge U.
The chicken liver appetizer & the spinach salad alone are worth the trip. The desserts are incredible -- when they're fresh. The staff is usually very attentive & knowledgeable -- I've had several excellent wine recommendations.
(5)dave p.
We went on a Thursday night that wasn't too busy. The service was slow but decent. The bar was good and had a few special cocktails. For the appetizer we ordered the crispy pepper and Florida shrimp. It was delicious. For dinner, we got the pan seared Mexican grouper with an organic tomato risotto. The risotto was a bit al dente, but overall very good. We also got the duck entree. It was slightly undercooked, but had decent flavor. The desert was scrumptious. We got the Chocolate fudge Corruption and a Chocolate raspberry cake. The cakes were very rich and yummy. And had a good selection of desert drinks. Overall, a bit pricey for what we got, but was decent.
(3)Elias S.
By far, my favorite place for lunch. Great food- whether I am in the mood for lighter fare- chicken salad salad is my current favorite, or something more substantial, say the brisket of beef, I am always satisfied with the freshness, tastiness, and high quality of my selections. The prices at lunch are extremely reasonable.
(5)Ashley M.
what jimmy b. said to a t. i had a wonderful gulf of mexico grouper with risotto dish, followed by a yummy almond cake topped with fresh fruit. coming from boston, the atmosphere is nothing to write home about... but its certainly 100 times better than the majority of stripmall chains in the city. and the food was wonderful.
(4)Jordan M.
Nice menu of local foods at fair prices, but the dishes and wife and I ordered at dinner were both heavily salted and overcooked. This is a solid spot for lunch, though, with wonderful homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches at prices comparable to those awful chain restaurants. Also, the desserts are all outstanding.
(3)Eve A.
What I like best is Mildred's involvement in the locavore movement. A recent summer meal featured a watermelon arugula salad using fresh local produce. It'sstill one of my favorite restaurants for special occasions. The only thing that keeps it from five stars is that the service, which while always friendly, too often isn't up to what one expects from a restaurant of this caliber.
(4)Tiffany C.
This is a nice little place to come on a date and get some good food. The entrees are about $16 and up, so have in mind that you will be spending money. As everyone mentioned they use local fresh produce. The desserts looked very tasty but didn't try any.
(4)Joyce S.
Stopped for lunch here, actually the cafe connected to it next door. The soups were really great (homemade!) as were the sandwiches. Nice to know they use all fresh local produce etc...Just would have liked a nicer atmosphere, but will still return for great healthy food!
(3)Laura Terese H.
Wanted to go to New Deal Cafe, but it was closed. Tables were set out in front of it with white tableclothes , for mothers day. BUT Mildreds was open and we decided it was okay to go there instead. I had been to Mildreds before, It was one of the first "lunch" dates James and I had . I remember getting an Ahi Tuna Caesar salad, but I cannot tell you how it tasted or what the service was like because I was too preoccupied with freaking out about the new man in my life!! That visit we sat outside, this time we sat inside because there were a few ladies out there who gave me the stank eye for wearing such a short skirt. It WAS windy out and I didnt want to give them a heart attack on such a sacred day. Word to your mother, its hot in florida they are just gonna get shorter. Inside Mildreds, its strange. The booths are upholstered in what seems to be leftover fabric from a Holiday Inn circa 1996. There are tables, and nooks, and when you come in there is a dessert fridge which is just so unappealing to me. Labeled food is old fashioned. We werent starving, and wanted to just get some appetizers. Mildreds menu changes with the season, you never know what your going to see. Our waitress who had a case of the mumbles brought us some complimentary foccacia bread with red lentil puree. The puree tasted like nothing, cold paste, we put salt and pepper on it to give it some life. We ordered some fries (4), and the fried calamari with spicy aioli(6) The fries were perfect! Huge portion, so huge they put it in a bucket. The calamari is fried, and then they put the aioli on top of that...so frying it becomes kinda pointless. It was really good but soggy, next time i will pull a Sally and say "on the side" to the Aioli. The place certainly needs an overhaul, though, it feels out of sorts in there. The set up doesnt flow right, its not the most comfortable atmosphere.They were also playing some seriously depressing music (think Jeff Buckley singing Hallelujah, and program from there) The service was good though, she just needed to open her mouth more, it WAS a pleasant lunch and I will definitely go back.
(3)Paul S.
One of the best restaurants in Gainesville. I have been to Mildred's for lunch many times and, on occasion, we have gone there for dinner. It is a very clean restaurant, great service, and the food is incredible. From there unique soups to their steak, they do not have a menu item that I have not loved. Plus, they use local farmers for all of their ingredients. Probably the reason the food tastes so fresh. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
(5)Rick K.
We were able to have an early supper here after a long day. Our experience with food and service far exceeded our expectations. Our server, Lorena, was very attentive and offered good insight. The salmon was explosive in flavor and the pompano was perfectly prepared. The tips were crunchy on the edges, yet perfect in the middle. The desserts were also exceptional. Don't be fooled by the exterior - this is a first class restaurant.
(5)Shane R.
I and some guests visited a few weeks ago. We were completely thrilled with the entire experience! The service was helpful and thorough. Since many of their entrees are varying from standard fares, we decided to try a number of different meals. Each item we tried was simply fantastic! I would definitely visit Mildred's for an awesome dining experience. The food was so good we found ourselves repeatedly discussing it as opposed to our regular conversation. Enjoy!
(5)Amy F.
I have to admit, I was not expecting much from this restaurant since this is a college town and not known for its food. OH BOY WAS I WRONG. This place is wonderful. The waitress was extremely knowledgable about the menu and wine list and had valid opinions about both--she didn't just tell me the 'specials,' she told me what she likes and put genuine feeling behind it. She was very honest about comparable dishes. I had the coconut lychee martini to begin (fabulous), and then the pork belly appetizer with my phenomenal bottle of white Bordeaux. It absolutely negated my workout from earlier in the day all by itself, but it was worth it. Very flavorful, and be sure you eat the apples and red pepper with it! Very good pairing.. Next was the pumpkin parsnip soup. It might be a little heavy for some, but I loved it. It really brought out the acidity in the wine. I will say I didn't finish it, but only because there was a lot! Then the cobia. Omg, talk about melt in your mouth. The sauce is a little tangy, which pairs well with the strong flavor of the fish. I quickly realized I was going to need another stomach for this dinner!!! And then there was dessert...FYI, as soon as you walk in the door, you see all of what they have to offer, so you're thinking about it throughout the entire rest of your dinner! Just sayin! Chocolate strawberry mousse cheesecake. It's definitely rich, definitely yummy, and I definitely had to take much of it back to my hotel... And then someone had to roll me back to the hotel because I was so stinking full! Great place! Ask for Marpessa! She's awesome! :)
(5)Charles S.
Excellent food, even better service. Mildred's is a great place to wow friends or family without spending a lot of money. They use local produce, meats and seafood and really let the quality of the ingredients speak for themselves. It is refreshing to see the quality of food they turn out while supporting local suppliers. The wine list is very notable too. Highly recommend for a nice dinner. Go next door to New Deal and get a burger for lunch (best in Gville.)
(4)Reed B.
I don't get it.... perhaps it isn't "big city" enough for me? I went for lunch (which during the week is counter service) and had their take on a grilled cheese sandwich. Unfortunately, it was made very sloppily, had chewy bacon that was a bit gross and was missing one of the advertised ingredients. The salad was average...but the desert was the big disappointment... The cake we had was hard as a rock and tasted slightly of freezer burn. Very disappointing. I am giving it three stars because my dining partner enjoyed her sandwich (although she said it was Panera quality for a few bucks more), and I have a feeling that dinner would be a much better experience.
(3)Chris B.
Last night was a big bust! The salad greens were fresh, but no dressing at all not even a taste of a simple olive oil. The hot creamy soup was sweet but other than that no flavor. The pork was terrible as it was tough and had no flavor. I think it had recently come out of the freezer. The bread was not up to the quality that it has been in the past. What has changed over the years as you once were always able to get a great meal here? The only thing that was right was the wine. Please work on training a new chef.
(1)Jim B.
Always delicious. Always. New Years Eve - a choice of a tasting menu with a zillion options, or just order of a more limited menu. My party of 4 diners went with the menu. The crispy grilled pompano over a zucchini squash fritter was superb! My order of sear scallops with an amazing cream sauce inspired, and the pork loin - sublime. My salad (blue cheese, greens, raisins, whole walnuts & a light drizzle of balsamic) was out-freaking-standing. We killed the cachaça with our caipharina orders, but I only wanted one anyway. We ordered a single chocolate cheesecake strawberry mousse dessert that the 4 of us could barely finish. Service was well done, speedy and friendly. My only disappointment was that the pecan crusted chicken is no longer on the menu. I loved that dish. My total bill (salad, drink, entree & 1/4 of the dessert + tax and tip) was just 50 bucks. A bargain for NYE in my opinion. And it was a superb meal. My only complaint: They're a bit heavy on the salt. I neglected to put in my "no added salt please" order admonishment, but I powered through.
(5)Tessa M.
Maybe I'm just not that fancy and I love to eat more. But I can go to Mcalister's and get better service for a cheaper price and just as good food. The food is good but the price is way too much! It's clean but for that amount I should get service. I have to refill my own tea what's with that?!
(2)Anna K.
Great value for the high quality of food experience. Innovative menu that changes often. We had rabbit liver kabob as an appetizer - amazing! Duck confit with veggies was great too. Highly recommend, especially for the area. it can compete with many upscale place in New York City, but costs half as much.
(5)Adam S.
I am really impressed with this place. The bread comes with a tasty homemade riccotta spread. I had the calamari for an appetizer which was not chewy at all. It was intermingled with sweet pickles which worked oddly well. I had the lamb sausage and chop dish for the entree. The lamb was well cooked and the squash casserole it was served with was quite flavorful. Apparently the lamb is raised right on campus which makes it especially fresh. The staff is friendly, and the prices seem quite reasonable to me. I would definitely recommend a trip here.
(4)Victoria P.
Mildred's Big City Food is all about sustainable dining and it shows in the restaurant's delicious food and seasonal menu. Executive Chef Bert Gill takes great care to find the freshest ingredients for his succulent dishes, while still supporting Gainesville's farmers. Small yet classy, Mildred's is perfect for an intimate Sunday date night. We were one of three couples enjoying the dining room's modern aesthetic. My favorite part of the decor were the oxidized copper seashells adorning the walls. Out of all the appetizers, the Mussel Fritters were the obvious choice. Much like conch fritters, the mussels were battered and deep fried to perfection. The twist? Bite size morsels of bacon added a smokey flavor to the traditionally seafood based snack. I was immediately intrigued by the pairing of Red Snapper, Pumpkin and Sausage and definitely wasn't disappointed when the dish came out. The sear on the snapper was brown and crisp, while the chunks of pumpkin gave the dish a playful orange color. The sausage added a hearty texture to the buttery filet of fish and each bite was like a harvest of flavor. My date is a sucker for salmon, so the Salmon with Artichoke Hearts and Onions was his go-to dish. Plated on a bed of onions and artichoke hearts, the salmon flaked away with a touch of the fork. His favorite part was the creamy sauce. Sort of like a hollandaise, it made the already rich salmon taste even better. I almost turned down getting dessert and I'm oh-so-glad I didn't. This decadent piece of Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake immediately put me into a sugar coma. The combination of chocolate and peanut butter was just right, while the Reese's cup on top proved to be a nice touch. It was a little too rich to finish all at once, but you better believe I raided the fridge for a chocolatey midnight snack.
(4)April O.
Another one of my favorite spots that I heard was slipping. Tragic news! Jimmy and I both agreed that we needed to check it out as his pre-grad school graduation dinner. I arrived early and seated myself alone at the bar, prompting a server to come over and offer me a drink while I waited. I latched onto a Hendrick's gimlet, which turned out to be a huge mistake for me. Jimmy took a sip when he arrived and grimaced. "Wow, that's ... um." "Yeah," I sighed. As soon as we were seated, the same server came over, immediately perceived that I couldn't get through the drink and offered me a new one. When I protested against putting her to trouble, she brushed it off and told me to pick whatever I thought I might like. I chose a peartini and she returned with it shortly, bringing their delicious bread as well. She was back within two minutes eyeing the martini glass, which was still nearly full. "You don't like it, do you?" Shamefaced, I shook my head. Without an ounce of attitude, she immediately offered me another drink. It took her over a minute to persuade me that it was really no trouble on her behalf, and I finally decided on a caipirinha. After that fiasco, we were both ready to eat. We ordered zucchini latkes and braised pork belly to start. The latkes were reminiscent of Chinese scallion pancakes, but more solid, and delicious with the dollop of horseradish butter. The pork belly was crisp on top, meaty in the middle and silky with fat underneath. We devoured it quickly before nibbling on the bed of cauliflower florets and roasted potatoes. By now the server was back. "I gotta ask, how do you like this drink?" I chuckled. "It's good. Thank you." So lesson learned--the bartenders here have heavy hands. It puts the value into a $9 specialty drink, but lightweights and Curious Georges be warned. Dinner arrived, bright with color. Jimmy had a fillet of wahoo over gorgeous root veggies. I had 1/3 of a rack of lamb, lamb sausages (seriously!) and chickpea stew. The sausages were intensely seasoned and salty, but the flavor mellowed against the mild garbanzos. I had a bite of Jimmy's wahoo and a roasted radish; both were excellent. Dessert was a shared slice of peach melba cake, complete with peach schnapps cooked right in. Delicious as always. I've noticed a few reviews that end with "We spent $200 for 4 people and it wasn't worth it" or some variation of that sort. I did the math when I was there on Tuesday--most expensive entree of the night was $23, most expensive appetizer was $11, most expensive specialty drink was $10, most expensive salad was $8, dessert is almost always $6. That's a $60 meal, but that's for the five most costly items available, so dinner for four shouldn't deflate your wallet unless you ordered accordingly. I'll be back ... I have to verify that my excellent evening wasn't a fluke. ;) 5 stars.
(5)Claire S.
Yum-o! Like this place, everything here is grown locally so it's all fresh. Had the escargot as an appetizer. I like; this was my fav part of the meal so good so good. Also the foccaccia w herb butter they bring out is amazing; the lady asked if we wanted more bc me and my boyfriend ate all of like a couple of meatballs. I had the grouper as my entree and it was very good, so fresh, and the butternut squash and onions were delicious. Tried my bf's lamb and this was good too. Everything is very good and fresh here. Top notch.
(4)Emilia B.
LUNCH - we go at least once a week for their fresh, fulfilling lunchtime items. The staff is friendly and helpful. The ambiance is comfortable. I especially like the tuna melt, chicken curry salad, bacon/blue/pecan salad, bruschetta points and soups, and fontina sandwich. DINNER - dressier and pricier than their lunch, but well worth it. The menu items change frequently, but there are some standards that don't. The ambiance is comfortable and romantic. You must try one of their desserts, which are always on display at the front of the restaurant. I didn't especially like the raspberry torte due to the heaviness/buttery-ness of the cream filling, but check out the chocolate bombe, any cheesecake, anything with lots of chocolate...they do this extremely well.
(4)Deborah H.
I found Mildred's to be a decent attempt at "big city food." While the bread with butterbean spread was a delicious start, my quail entree was overdone. That may be my fault for ordering quail in Gainesville. Anyways, the calf liver was passable, and the duck was easily the best dish out of what we ordered. We ordered an unnecessary amount of desserts, but the key lime pie is the only thing that really stood out to me: they used REAL key limes, the custard was light and subtly sweet, and the crust was close to perfect.
(3)Belle C.
My favorite restaurant in Gainesville because it serves my favorite kind of food (simple preparations and fresh, high-quality ingredients), the service is attentive without being intrusive, and the homemade desserts are fantastic.
(5)Leslie D.
Stopped by Mildred's on accident as I was letting my phone catch up to the satellite's. Once we opened the car doors, we knew this was the place we had been looking for while driving thru Gainesville. Once the doors opened, I thought it was going to be to fancy to eat lunch at. We soon learned that they have 2 separate seatings; one for lunch and one for dinner. The sandwiches on the menu sounded intriguing, but we decided that we were in the mood for burgers. My boyfriend ordered for a starter the chicken livers with grainy mustard and maple syrup. Odd combination, but they really worked together. I had the blue cheese bacon burger which had the most moist and tender beef and not an overload of bun. The man had the mushroom swiss, which was just as good. They get their meat from the agriculture department from the college and aged it which explained the juicy quality of the meat. We also ordered to go the pumpkin cheesecake and the chocolate cheesecake topped with strawberry mousse. If they are this good for lunch, the next time we are in town we will have to try their dinner menu!
(4)Lauren J.
I will preface this review by saying that I will give Mildred's one more chance. Only one. My fiancee and I yelped Mildred's before arriving, and I noticed that an overwhelming number of reviews commented on the service, or lack thereof. I still wanted to try it out as they use fresh local ingredients and rotate their menu daily. I support any restaurant that has embraced the locavore movement, a rarity in Gainesville. We arrived at 2:15 on Sunday (today) for a late lunch. We were greeted and seated in a banquette. Our hipster server greeted us and asked for our drink order, I ordered a round of waters and asked for more time to decide regarding a cocktail. She quickly brought our waters, but did not stick around to record our cocktail choices. 7-9 minutes later she came back, out of breath as we had watched her literally sprint from table to table, of which there were three. I ordered a Pinot Grigio, and Dan ordered a Sam Adams, which were swiftly served. For lunch we shared a spinach and goat cheese salad to start. I ordered the crab cakes appetizer for my lunch, and Dan ordered the Club sandwich. The salad was dressed well, not too much dressing, not too little. The goat cheese was creamy and delicious. The salad was accented with poached pears. Overall, it was was a delight. Our entrees arrived, my crab cakes looked a little small, but I quickly realized that they were just stacked really high, making them the perfect portion. Dan's sandwich was enormous with thick cut bacon, thick pieces of ham and turkey. The sandwich was pulled together with a yummy thousand island dressing. His meal was paired with an oil and vinegar based pasta salad, whose flavor can be described as subtle. Our food was truly delightful and I was pleased to find a restaurant that offered food that excites me. I even began planning our return for dinner. You may ask, why then, would you give Mildred's only two stars? This is where the fun begins. As we were finishing our meal our server simply disappeared, I mean she vanished. We neatly stacked our plates and awaited her return with our check, and waited, and waited, and waited! There was not a sole employee in the entire restaurant. We waited for 15 minutes until a server arriving for the dinner shift (it was 3:00pm) appeared. I knew this was my only chance to ask for our check. Unfortunately this girl was brand new, I asked her to find our server for us and she returned to tell us that she was in a meeting. A MEETING??? We were still in the restaurant, and this chick checked out for a meeting? I expressed my fury to this poor new server but assured her that it was not her that I was upset with. She apologized and brought us our check. The new shift manager arrived immediately after and offered us drinks to go for our troubles. What am I at Sonny's, yes a sweet tea to go will cure everything...NO! Finally our server and the lunch manager appeared, The manager apologized profusely and comped our meal. He understood my frustration and asked us to give them one more try. Mildred's, for now received two stars because the service was so atrocious. As I said, I will try one more time, as the manager finally made things right. It is sad that an establishment with such great selections, would offer such poor service.
(2)Eric A.
Mildreds is the epitome of "Faux Fancy," the zenith of the pretension scale, the lowest cost to quality ratio that there could be in town. They are all hype and no substance. Don't get me wrong, the food isn't bad. It's just nothing special. I ate a sampling of multiple dishes, including many meat based meals, to reach this conclusion. To start, I had the spinach, goat cheese, pistachio and persimmon saladThe first thing I noticed was that the dressing was way too strong. If you're going to include several unusual items in your salad (especially the subtly unique flavor of persimmon), you can't overload us on the salad dressing. It was very flavorful, but a bit over the top. The spinach was extremely large and thick, making for a very chewy texture. It wasn't bad, just unusual. Someone else in our party got a salad that included "dried fruit" which just turned out to be raisins. For the entrees, we sampled the menu quite thoroughly. One dish was pan seared grouper with spinach and lemon risotto.According to the meal's eater, "The grouper was great, totally fine and crispy. There was no sauce on it, but it was good and the way I like it (light fried/seared fish). The risotto was really not good. The rice wasn't cooked long enough and it wasn't creamy. I've made risotto twice before and it's been better than that." In my opinion, after sampling the fish myself, it was very flavorless and boring. Combined with the miserable risotto, this dish was aesthetically pleasing, but tasted like a dud. Another meal was the duck with glazed chestnuts. According to the meal's eater, "The glazed chestnuts were surprisingly good. The duck was fine, it was duck. I was not impressed. It wasn't bad, but nothing special." In my opinion, the duck was quite gamey. It actually tasted stinky to me. I didn't try the chestnuts. I had the burger. I don't eat beef more than once every 6 months or so, but I do know that Mildred's serves local, grass-fed beef (along with as many other local ingredients as they can across the whole menu). I felt the need for meat tonight and this was honestly the only reason I suggested Mildred's. It was a good burger and the fries were tasty, although oversalted. The final meal, which I didn't photograph was the pork chop with bacon mac-n-cheese. According to the eater, "It was like they took 3 different dishes and put them together. The flavors didn't go together at all. It was so weird. The pork chop had a barbeque sauce that bordered on teriyaki. Then there was weird mac n cheese with bacon and steamed veggies with a butter sauce. It was a very strange combination of 3 completely different sauces that you wouldnt put on the same dish. It was as if the chef didn't think of how the elements of the meal would go together." I personally, didn't try this dish, so I can't add or detract from that. I also tried someone's Pumpkin Bisque, which was quite delicious. Overall, with 7 people eating at the same table, none of us were impressed. The price tag was quite high (around 25/person without drinks). I don't mind paying 25 dollars for a meal, and honestly don't consider it terribly much money for a great meal. It's just that no one had a great meal. Easily, the best item was the burger, which is a weak statement. If the place didn't put themselves out there at a high end/gourmet level, I wouldn't have been so harsh in this review. They call themselves "big city food," but unfortunately, the biggest city any of these chef's has been to is Gainesville, FL.
(1)Francesca M.
Love this place. Everything tastes so fresh and the fact that the produce is all local makes it even better!
(4)Andrew H.
One of the areas best restaurants with top notch service. This is a cosy little restaurant with a welcoming feel and a culinary quality that will not disappoint. We started with the escargot and crab cakes and it was clear that the quality of food served was worthy of five stars. The wine selection was vast and the waiter did not miss a beat and suggested a great second bottle that complimented the meals perfectly. For dinner I ordered the sword fish served with polenta and kale. The fish was fresh and a good size portion. Overall a very pleasant evening at one of the areas best restaurants.
(5)