We've had both good and bad experiences here. Generally, the food is pretty tasty, but the service can be hit or miss. Long waits, incorrect orders, etc. I do enjoy the tapas options, where you can get small plates of different items. It's fun to share the different dishes and try new things. I usually get the crab cakes and maybe the flank steak or the flatbread. Pretty yummy.
(3)
Liz L.
This place is amazing! I love the ambiance, the customer service was great both times we have been there, and most important, the food is delicious. They try to be creative serving some Cuban, Puerto Rican, Spaniard, and other Latin dishes as well. My favorites are the tostones and the churrasco. These two were delicious. The mojitos were good too. I just love their food. On our second visit we went around 5:00 pm and chose to sit outside. I liked this experience better because there were not as many people, the service was quick, and the afternoon was perfect.
(5)
Amanda A.
Everything we ordered here was delicious! Very calm, chil atmosphere and excellent service. The ceviche was awesome, as well as the artichoke chorizo fondeau. Also try the crabcakes with mango and chilli :) All for a very reaonable price and with a lovely pianist and bass player playing in the background.
(5)
James C.
I like this place, been a handful of times and have always been pretty happy with the food and drink. The tapas is really good and their specials are usually really good. The service is extremely hit or miss. Went this past Sunday for brunch and all you can drink mimosas. It wasn't really all you can drink it was more all the server felt like bringing you. Not sure if he took it upon himself to keep our party from drinking too much or he was just a bad waitress, either way, not ideal. Paying 12 bucks to gulp down OJ and cheap champagne doesn't warrant that kind of nannyism from the server. But I'll go back.
(3)
Kern D.
Highly recommend the tostones and churusca.
(5)
Jocelyn R.
I'm def a fan of Emilianos! Let's be real, Gainesville is kind of lacking in delicious food options, but Emilianos is always a safe option. I love going here for lunch. They have plenty of moderately priced sandwiches that are pretty delicious. My favorite is the asparagus croissant with melted cheese. Totally worth the calories. They also have a special lunch menu with more authentic food that I still need to try, but most people I have been with that have ordered this have been impressed. I've also been for dinner and its very good. I was there awhile ago and they had a special where all Spanish wines were half-off, which was really good. I'm not positive they still do this, but if they do, its worth it. I also like the atmosphere here and the outdoor seating. In fact, I don't know if Ive ever even eaten inside. The service has been mediocre, nothing super impressive, but I haven't had any bad experiences, just a couple of times when they probably should have had more waiters/waitresses working to deal with the amount of customers. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Megan G.
The menu is limited, but if you like authentic Cuban, this is the spot. You can do tapas which are small and good to share a bunch with a big group. P.s. if you go with a big goup, get the nachos...just do it.
(3)
Gigi A.
We went yesterday for a late lunch, and it was pretty bad. Crab cakes were funny tasting, runny and just tasted off. Perhaps they recycled the previous day's batter? I'm not sure. But it didn't taste right. Their scallop ceviche smelled like rotten fish. It was pretty gross and flavorless. It was definitely not fresh. Their fish tacos was good, according to my friend. 1 star for food, although it could have been the fact that we went in so early (they might not have prepared for dinner yet) The atmosphere is alright, but nothing to write home about. Very casual, a little dirty. It was pretty annoying as I was starving and had a pretty horrible experience. It's probably 3 stars on a good day. I had to go to Harry's next door to get some edible food. Server was alright. Won't be going back here.
(2)
Marcelo D.
Poor and slow service, stale chips, and not very good food.
(1)
Sasha P.
I had brunch at Emiliano's Cafe and it was all I was told it would be. The Cafe has a wonderful decore. Bright colors, abstract paintings from local artists, good music. We got seated right away in the back corner of the restaurant. Again, when it comes to breakfast and brunch, I become torn over 3-4 menu items. Can't they just make a sampler dish for people like me that enjoy eating a little of everything? So my options were the following: 1. Rancheros Emiliano's 2. Stuffed French toast 3. The Country Breakfast 4. The Continental Breakfast But what I chose was: 5. Tortilla Española: Traditional spanish omelet, potatoes, onions and spanish chorizos, herbed morning potatoes, and a tropical fruit salad. I also ordered a side of the buttered croissant with strawberry-guava cream cheese. Holy smokes. This Spanish Omelet was like a hybrid of an omelet and quiche. It was cut like a piece of pie and stuffed with potato chunks, chopped grilled onions, and good-sized chorizo chunks. Usually, I eat more of a vegetarian meal but this Spanish Omelet I could NOT pass up. The chorizo brought in so much flavor. It could have been bland for all I knew but the naturally salty chorizo added that special touch. The fruits were a bit soggy so I didn't eat them. However, the buttered croissant with the strawberry-guava cream cheese was amazing. The croissant was lightly toasted and with the cream cheese, it proved to be a light, yet delicious side order. I will say that I was expecting the cream cheese to be a bit more powerful in flavor but it was smooth nonetheless. My friend ordered the Grilled Atlantic Salmon with a side of mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Yum. The mashed potatoes were made with aioli, a mix of garlic and olive oil. I LOVE garlic so the garlic mashed potatoes in combination with the grilled salmon was truly phenomenal. To drink, I ordered a Passion Fruit juice, my absolute favorite! It was to die for. Again, my mouth waters just thinking of it. I also forgot to mention that instead of the usual bread and butter for starters, Emiliano's serves a Bread Pudding Cake which is fabulous. It's solid enough to retain its' shape but soft enough to melt in your mouth. Milky with hints of cinnamon throughout. Another wonderful experience with great food. I would go again in a heart beat!
(5)
Dennis D.
Came here for a date and, while it was a bit noisy, I think the place was nice! The food was good, the atmosphere different and the service was definitely above average. In fact, if there was any reason to return, it would be for the service alone. They take reservations and while it's not necessary I definitely recommend it. Since it's Gainesville, you'll want to plan your parking game out ahead of time.
(4)
Nomadic N.
Loved it, awesome jerk chicken quesadillas and yuca. Very authentic and tasty!!!
(5)
Ralph M.
Food wasn't bad, and the prices are reasonable. But, the service was rather disappointing. They also included an automatic tip, so I guess they just couldn't be arsed to make a real effort. Given the good selection of restaurants in the area, I wouldn't recommend going to Emiliano's.
(2)
H C.
We had really good food and good service. I'll admit the sangria did not have any fruit in it, but the mojito my boyfriend had was great.
(4)
Victoria P.
Emiliano's one of my favorite family owned restaurants in Gainesville. The restaurant specializes in Tapas and we made sure to order plenty. The Picadillo Empanadas were melt-in-your-mouth good. The savory flavor of the ground beef with Latin seasonings inside made the flaky outside pastry taste even better. Mom stayed away from the fried yuca frita with garlicky mojito, but I couldn't get enough. I wasn't a huge fan of the crab stuffed portobello, a baked portobello mushroom cap with crabmeat stuffing, topped with queso blanco and served over a calabaza-jalapeño cream sauce. The crab was a bit fishy and there were too many flavors mixed together, it tasted too jumbled. The artichokes were extremely light and creamy, and easy to pop in your mouth. The last thing we tried was one of Emiliano's signature tapas dishes, the Churrasco, or Argentinian Flank Steak. By itself the meat was juicy and tender, and mixed with a chimichurri sauce on top the flavor was even more intense.
(4)
K W.
My favorite restaurant for over 15 years. I eat there at least once a week. Their lunch bowls are out of this world (chimichurri is AMAZING). The tapas at dinner are fabulous. Sunday brunch rocks. They have AMAZING sangria. They have the best black beans in town. I love going there for meetings and for social events. Diego and Wanda do a fabulous job running it.
(5)
Christine W.
I had one of their feature empanadas and some the soup of the day. Both were excellent!
(4)
Damion W.
I've been a couple times and it's great. The tapas are varied and delicious. Not sure of the schedule, but occasionally they have live music. Their classic sangria is fantastic. Staff is generally very knowledgeable and friendly. If you want to fill up, order the Matahambre - a huge bowl of black beans and rice.
(4)
Chad D.
I like this place more each time I visit. The Paella is not authentic (the veggies aren't in Spanish Paella, usually) but, damn, it's great! The drinks, the service, everything I've eaten there, it's all really good. Tonight we just stopped by for a drink because we heard they had Jazz Night. We were pleasantly surprised. The music came from a really fine guitarist and an amazing older lady with a voice smooth as suede. The bottles of wine were half price. And though the selection is limited, we had a really nice Argentine Pinot Noir that kicked ass. We had a couple of nice tapas, as well. The Chorizo and Vieiras (scallops) in sauce were better than we expected. This is not a Cuban or Puerto Rican restaurant, this is Latin Fusion, or maybe something else. But the place has its heart in the right place. We will keep coming back often.
(5)
Karen S.
This was a great place! We had dinner here & came back for lunch. Food was great. We shared the Argentine steak and the empanadas. The sweet plantains were great. For lunch I had the chicken bowl which I also enjoyed. Service was a bit slow but still enjoyable. We sat in the patio area and it was great.
(5)
Vicki M.
Food is good, everything else is not so great. Service slow, dirt restrooms, no changing tables for babies. Don't be fooled by the so called " I can make a Cuban coffee" liars!
(3)
Joe H.
Great food. Good Price. I like the outdoor seating and atmosphere. Would recommend as a good business lunch or date night..
(4)
khara a.
So overall I would have rated this at a 4 but the service was so horrible, in fact when we walked through the door we had two girls fighting over who didn't want to help us!! Finally one of them said I can help you. She seemed to not want us at her table and was very discourteous to us anytime we asked for something. So I give 2 stars instead!! The empanada appetizer was amazing...yummy! My meal was ok (good but a bit bland for a "curry chicken" wrap). My mother ordered the Caribbean mahi-mahi and was told tilapia would be prepared as a replacement for the mahi-mahi since they were out. My mom said that would be fine to substitute the fish assuming that the tilapia would be a served in an equivalent to the amount of fish you would get if it was the mahi-mahi. But no, it was just one small piece of tilapia. Not only was the amount of tilapia not comparable to mahi-mahi the tilapia had hardly any Caribbean sauce and when she asked for more sauce the waitress brought out the sauce and it was frozen (not like the melted sauce that was served on the tilapia). So my mother had to let the sauce sit there and tried splitting it with a fork in order to melt before putting it on the fish. The waitress wouldn't refill our drinks until the end of our meal when we no longer needed a refill, and honestly after what we had experienced I was afraid to dare ask for a refill of my drink without her raising an attitude with me. I don't know how the servers are trained but seriously this is no way to greet and treat a customer. I am from California and I'm out here visiting my mother for my birthday and she told me how awesome this place was and after this experience there is no way I would go back. We honestly should have received some sort of compensation for my mother's meal since it was not prepared well at all and for the waitress who had serious attitude issues. Service was so awful we couldn't believe we were treated this way that we just paid and left without bringing it to anyone's attention, some things are just not worth the battle especially when we were having such a great day, it was best just to pretend we never ate there and not let it ruin our great day of shopping and pampering. On the way out there was a father and son who asked us if we just ate there and we said yes, he asked how it was and we replied food was good but the service was horrible, but alright food. They walked in and stood there waiting for someone to assist them and they were smart and turned around and walked out, then they went to Harry's instead! We didn't mean to turn them away but they found out first hand how awful the service was going to be and left. I can say that while we ate we saw some of the male servers and they were awesome and had big smiles on their faces and even cleared a plate off from our table since our waitress wouldn't. Too bad the female servers weren't more like the guys were. Politeness and helpfulness goes a long way for a customer whose about to leave a good tip or not!
(2)
David W.
Emiliano's is a Gainesville institution. Their breakfast is wildly good, and authentically Cuban. The DePaz family has been getting it right for a long time now, and the Sunday brunch lines are evidence of this.
(5)
sara c.
I thought this was an italian restaurant...it was too late to turn back once I was seated. Prices are too high for the miniscule portions; the pork was pure fat. My friend got a sandwich (the only moderately prices item on the menu)....which was small and dry. Service was poor, had to fight for the waitress's attention. I know she wasn't busy, because I watched her stand inside and do nothing.
(2)
April O.
**This review is based on the specialty Valentine's dining alone. Your mileage may vary as always.** I said I'd never be back, but I figured Valentine's Day was as good a time as any to kiss and make up with Emiliano's. So I dutifully called ahead to request a reservation, and were told that they weren't accepting any, but that there was no wait for a table. On V-Day? Cool! ... until we got to the restaurant and were promptly asked for that reservation that we didn't have! Nonetheless, we were seated almost immediately on the lovely patio and served by a nice young lady who started me off right with red sangria and brought my husband a Continental. Highlights: His duck. I don't know how they managed to cook a duck breast to the texture of fine pate without destroying it, but they absolutely frikkin' NAILED this one. Excellent. Lowlights: The baked brie. Heavily over-seasoned baugettes, and brie covered in a mango-jalapeno chutney. The sugar and salt were duking it out in my mouth, and unfortunately I was losing on all rounds. If I hadn't been in a public restaurant surrounded by strangers I would have spat it out. I haven't decided how I feel about my dinner, since I didn't have a very large appetite tonight and I only ate a few bites. I'll update this review tomorrow after I reheat it. Bonuses: The Hare Krishnas who came by, complete with drums and trumpets! The older couple who clearly didn't know what they'd be getting when they ordered ceviche. Listening to them try to convince the server to fry the seafood was possibly the funniest thing I've heard all week. So ... three stars for the duck and my sangria, but I'm still not ready to add them back into my regular rotation.
(3)
Justin F.
My first taste of Gainesville... and I gotta say it was pretty great. The tapas were calling my name but, I ended up going with the jerk pork on recommendation from the waitress. The pork must have been slow braised for a really long time because it literally pulled right off the bone and was still super juicy. The mashed potatoes were fine, but didn't really seem to make much sense with the meal, but it's forgivable. Came with a couple of plantains smothered in the tasty jerk sauce as well which were a nice addition. If i'm ever back in town, would love to check out more what the have to offer.
(4)
Belen C.
I think this place is pretentious and overrated. I'm sorry but there's no way that Latin food can be gourmet. It's comfort food, you really can't dress it up. I was not impressed with their small empanadas and I wasn't impressed with their overpriced arroz con pollo. This place may look nice on the outside, but I'm not coming back here again.
(2)
So H.
I have been here for lunch and dinner many times and it's never disappointing! I especially love their lunch specials. $7 for a bowl and you get to pick your protein, vegetable, and sauce plus a free soda/iced tea. My favorite is the steak with yellow rice, sweet plantains, and chimichurri sauce. yum! It is usually a little too greasy though. Other items off the specials menu are slightly expensive, but the quality is great. One of the best Latin/Spanish restaurants in Gainesville. I've always had great, attentive service from the staff as well. Great place for a date night or for a special occasion. There is indoor and outdoor seating.
(5)
Apple C.
Not impressed. Came for brunch on what turned out to be art fair weekend. They had a special menu and were only 25% full when I arrived with a group of 6. Slow, forgetful waitstaff, and the food took about 40 minutes even though the place was almost empty at 11:30. Once it finally arrived, the french toast with strawberry-guava cream cheese was great. Breakfast burrito was cold and flavorless. Conch fritters were greasy and seemingly undercooked. The rest (benedicts, sandwiches) were "just ok" Waitstaff attentiveness was appalling in the first place, especially so considering they were only 25% full and several servers could be seen. Perhaps bc gratuity was added given group size? I will not be going back voluntarily.
(2)
leah s.
Lunch today was nice... all Vegan and healthy, by choice, since I had lunch with Tracy and she's vegan, I let her choose the tapas menu and we shared everything. The menu included fried yucca, tostones, black bean soup, three flavors of hummus... and some dipping sauces... the best of which was the chimmuchurri, we took the leftover of that home with us! Good portions, service was efficient, hummus lacking in flavor and had a definatley weird texture, so we didn't take those leftovers home! Nice lunch atmosphere, but nothing to write home about. Happy hour there seems more fitting and more fun!
(4)
Y Y.
I have tried their brunch menu and we all ordered different things. I like their variety, the atmosphere and the service is nice. The food is reasonable.
(2)
Lynn H.
I've always loved this place. We went for birthday dinner, and everything was excellent (aside from some slow service in the beginning.) The gazpacho was amazing!!! I'll be back for that alone. Tanya, they used a variation of my onion sauce on the black beans but added diced tomatoes. While ropa vieja is my usual order (and quite tasty I must say) I had vaca frita this time. For a dish that can easily become dry, it was finished perfectly with just a hint of lime. I've been here for brunch recently, too. I'd highly recommend the stuffed French toast. Heaven! And it's so big you could split it and still leave full. While the inside is nice, the patio invites leisurely dining and good conversation.
(5)
Mary R.
if you are in the mood for good spanish food this is a great place. their menu offers a variety of food and prices.
(4)
Steven H.
Emiliano's possesses the sort of ambiguous climate that could lend itself to nearly any social exchange. It is intimate enough to attract couples searching for a romantic evening, yet the whimsy of the the multicolored walls and unusual artwork soften the edges and encourage a "let your hair down" attitude. The overall decor is upscale enough to give one the feeling of a higher end restaurant, but with the laid back comfort of a family friendly establishment. I went for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon, and the restaurant was nearly empty. Downtown Gainesville is unlike similar areas in larger cities. It is not the bustling business crowd of urban professionals, but a smaller group of college students between classes and construction workers building the byways of southeast Gainesville. There was only one server on duty, though I was promptly recognized and seated. The "lunch" menu at Emiliano's consists of entirely of traditional Spanish Tapas. Luckily for this food lover the rest of the menu was not off limits. As an appetizer I ordered the Yuca Rellena, mashed yuca fritters with a spanish pork filling.The fritters are served in a martini glass atop mixed bitter greens; ten out of ten for presentation. The yuca batter was akin to the fried corn bread found in Jamaican festivals, and the pork filling was astoundingly simple while still being bright and delicious. I ordered the Arroz con Pollo as my entree. Bone in chicken served over Spanish rice with plantains and black beans on the side. This dish is my go-to when visiting new Latin restaurant. It is meant to be simple and flavorful, but is not easy to pull off. Such a traditional Spanish dish is a good measure for the rest of the menu. Whether good or bad, most of the other entree's will follow suit. The chicken was cooked to utter perfection, but lacked any flavor whatsoever. Moist, tender and falling apart on the fork with no detectable attempt at seasoning. The bed of yellow rice below met the same horrible fate. Cooked well but with uninspiring taste and florescent vegetables reminiscent of bad Chinese take out. The only redeeming quality of this meal was the small cup of black beans served on the side. When dumped over the rice and chicken the beans added a missing element to the dish that made it possible to choke down this culinary train wreck. The two or three plantains I was served also delivered some interest to an otherwise bland meal. Sticky and sweet the fried plantains were the closest thing to tradition I could find. The desert menu is an interesting mix of seemingly traditional pastries and somewhat new-age pseudo-Mexican fusion. I ordered a house original, the dark chocolate chopotle cake. The presentation was beautiful. Dark cake on a white plate with chocolate and strawberry sauces swirled about the edges. The initial taste was that of any other "gourmet" chocolate cake. But after the first bite it becomes apparent why this cake is a favorite among patrons. A subtle heat follows the sweet chocolate at the front of each mouthful. Not nearly enough to be uncomfortable, but a small kick to the taste buds as if to say, "Hey, I'm here!" It is surprisingly good and deceivingly addictive. Emiliano's Cafe gets 2 of 5 stars, and I feel that may be generous. The over all meal left much to be desired and I walked away feeling let down and put out. First impressions go along way on the plate and table, and I can see no reason why I would ever return.
(2)
Eric A.
Emilianos is about as authentic a Latin restaurant as Olive Garden is fine Italian Bistro. It is locally owned and run and not a chain, but still, it's not very good. The first time I ever ate there, the waitress actually said "arroz con poLLo" with a L instead of a Y sound. I think I will use Emiliano's to embark on a greater trend in Gainesville Restaurants. I call it "Gainesville Gourmet." My brother calls it "Faux Fancy." And another friend simply calls it "Mediocre." I think my other friend really nailed it with his one word description, but I'd like to elaborate. This town abounds with restaurants that operate under the guise of being gourmet. They appear to be fancy. But when it comes down to it, they've got nothing to back it up in terms of quality. They're big budget movies with no script. Emiliano's is "Last Action Hero," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. I've eaten here as a carnivore and a vegetarian and can say that their meat dishes are no better than Flaco's and surely aren't worth the extra cost. Furthermore, their tapas are boring and uninspired. The meal pictured above is the corn cake napoleon. It's described as "venezuelan style corn griddle cakes layered with roasted marinated portobello mushroom, manchego cheese, roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, black bean-corn salsa, topped with corn tortilla straws, garnished with roasted red pepper coulis and parsley-garlic coulis." Overall, it's not that good. Which brings me to the next important aspect of Gainesville Gourmet: nothing is simple. It's all overly complex. Read the ingredients of the dish above again. Do you think you'd get that kind of fluff if you actually ordered this in Venezuela? Would you be presented with two coulis-es? Absolutely not! Rather than go for authenticity, Emiliano's (like so many other places in town) goes for a fusion. They call themselves pan-latin cuisine, which means the chef doesn't know how to do any single style good enough to pull it off. He therefore must disguise and bastardize the flavors into a hodgepodge of conflicting spices and flavors. Maybe it's because I grew up in Miami that I feel this place is so inadequate. When you eat Latin food cooked by real Latins, tradition and simplicity reign supreme. Don't mess with perfection and you'll be sure to produce tasty food. I don't know. It's just plain mediocre.
(2)
Chelsea A.
Everyone tells me how good this place is so I have really tried to give it a fair chance. I came on 4 different occasions: 1 for brunch, 1 for lunch, and 2 for dinner; and was consistently disappointed. There food is just not very good and is not cheap. There are so many other places nearby that offer better food at a better price.
(2)
Lauren J.
Still three stars, because the service was atrocious this past time we visited. The yuca rellenos are really fantastic, what is better than fried yuca? Fried yuca filled with stewed pork. Everyone raves about their brunch, but go early because apparently by 1pm they run out of everything. I had the Benedict Arepas which were arepas topped with portobello mushrooms and poached eggs finished with a picante dijon cream. My dish was delicious, but heavy. I expected it to be hardy, but if you aren't starving order the half portion. It was a truly brilliant hangover cure. Dan had the breakfast burrito, which he inhaled. I thought his was boring, but he was happy, so I guess that is what matters. I will certainly return if only for the yuca dishes, yum yum.
(3)
James B.
Just had Emiliano's for brunch for the 2nd time. This time I ordered a scallop ceviche and a black bean and corn empenada. The empenada came first. I think the green sauce was a cilantro aioli. It wasn't bad, but I could have made a better one at home! It was very crispy, but the insides were definitely lacking, and at $2.50 I'd expect a little more. The ceviche was a mixed bag. On one hand, the scallops had good flavor. On the other hand, at $8.50 I expected a little more. It was served in a martini glass...with nothing else. I guess I was supposed to eat them without anything because the waitress (who was very friendly) acted surprised when I asked if it came with chips. In the end I stole some of my friend's chips, and I was not too happy when at least 1/2 of the glass was just full of lime juice. 2 stars for good flavor, but the execution and finishing touches are lacking. I may return for their regular entrees and update this review.
(2)
Bryan S.
Brunch here was amazing. It was pretty low key (on a Sunday at 11am, surprisingly) which is always nice when a lot of the brunch spots around are overflowing on the weekends. The food was top notch and our waitress was sharp, friendly, and knowledgeable.
(5)
Lisa V.
I give it a five for 1) the best sangria ever 2) the best brunch on Sundays. Their tapas are mediocre but their brunch is my favorite by far. My husband and I always share a French Toast and a Crab Benedict. We can't stray from it because we love it THAT much. Yum.
(5)
Katie S.
Really good cuban food. Small dining area, but good ambiance inside and out.
(4)
Ashley P.
I'm a big fan of Emiliano's Cafe and they have many different types of flavors to choose from. Although some of the tastes have been a little too exotic for me, I enjoy their selection of 20+ different tapas !
(4)
Alex E.
Considering the availability of cuisine like it in the city, Emiliano's is a good place. The service is generally pretty good, the menu offers a pretty good amount of selections, and the food is pretty solid. My one complaint would be that it's a bit pricey for what it is. Also, if you have had authentic Arroz Con Pollo; you will be underwhelmed.
(4)
Fritz L.
I suppose a little pricy for the area, and not as good as Ceviche in Tampa for near the same $, Emilianos is still good food and service. Of the 10 various tapa we had, including ceviche, jerk shrimp, plantains, crabcakes and shrooms, only the mussels tasted "off" and were returned. We had a good bottle of a '05 Malbec and desserts and coffee.
(4)
Jorge U.
I always seem to end up here outside of usual meal times when the place is pretty empty so the staff is pretty attentive. I've enjoyed both the churrasco and the guava barbecue ribs from their lunch menu. What really got my attention though was the selection of juices for the mimosas -- guava, mango & passion fruit in addition to the usual orange juice. I love a good mango mimosa and they know how to do it right.
(4)
Your M.
Emiliano's is hands-down one of the best restaurants in Gainesville. Located right in downtown with indoor as well as outdoor cafe seating, Emiliano's offers atmosphere that you just can't get in the many Gainesville strip mall restaurants. The wine list is extensive, and on Wednesdays they have jazz and 1/2 price wine. The sangria is also excellent. As for the food, I have only ever ordered from the tapas menu because I like being able to try a variety of dishes when I'm eating out. I would highly recommend the mussels and the stuffed artichoke hearts. Also great is the chorizo and scallops. For dessert I have only tried the tres leches, and it was good, but not quite to die for. When people ask me for a restaurant recommendation in Gainesville, I almost always point them in the direction of Emiliano's. The food is much better than hit or miss places like the Top, the service is always great, and I've never had a wait. Plus, wine and tapas - makes for a fun and delicious meal!
(4)
eddie d.
This review is for brunch. We thought maybe it was a mistake when we got there and remembered it was graduation weekend, but we were seated very quickly and saw our server right away. She was kind enough to take our order and put it in first before taking the large table of ten or so's order, so our food would come out quicker. For drinks we had cafe con leche and crab cakes as our appetizer. The coffee was decent but those crab cakes are pretty much the best i've ever had. Hardly any cake. For entrees, I had the Rancheros and she had the Salmon Benedict. Both came out pretty quickly considering how packed the place was. The dishes were beautiful and delicious. Eggs cooked perfectly, correctly seasoned, good portions. Overall, probably the best brunch I've had in Gainesville. We were feeling so good about our meal that we ordered 2 passion fruit mimosas and downed them before leaving, completely satisfied.
(5)
Belle C.
Good food; interesting brunch menu. Nice atmosphere, especially out on the patio.
(3)
Lydia L.
I ordered catering through Emiliano's, and can't say one negative about the experience. I'd never had a seafood/chicken combo paella, but their recipe is top-notch. Chock full of all kinds of goodness; plenty of seafood, vegetables, and the chicken was not overwhelming at all, allowing the dish to taste very authentic. The black bean side dish, as well as the grilled seasonal veggies, were both excellent. The veggies had a lot of variety and flavor, and maintained their crispness throughout the event. For dessert I ordered the flan which was plentiful and tasted (and smelled!) out of this world! By far the best flan I've ever eaten. Everything about this order was great--easy, tasty, great value, great service. I look forward to dining in the restaurant next time, and trying many more dishes from the exciting menu they offer.
(4)
Ron T.
My son and I were driving straight through from central WI to central Florida, and wanted something different for a late lunch. We googled up Emiliano's and thought it sounded worth a try. As soon as we got off I75 I thought this was a dumb idea- traffic was horrendous and we were on a tight schedule. But it turned out to be worth it. Food and service were great. We arrived at 3:55 pm which is 5 minutes before they stop serving Lunch, but the host was very pleasant and seated us on the patio immediately. While waiting I read some negative reviews and again thought this might be a mistake. Shouldn't read negative reviews because the service and food was great. My small salad was tasty and had a generous serving of curried Jamaican chicken salad. It came with a sampling of salad dressings which were all tasty and out of the ordinary. I was looking for an excuse to dislike my waiter Blaze because he was young, tan and very handsome. I am getting old, uglier every day, and pasty faced from a long WI winter. He wouldn't give me an excuse, he was friendly and efficient so I had to give a good tip. Glad we stopped!
(4)
Mrs. H.
Emiliano's is okay. But just okay. It is a bit pricey and well, the flavors are just not as authentic as I'm used to. The Ropa Vieja had too much onion. I felt like I was being cheated out of meat. The beans just didn't have "it". More sofrito, please! The flan was good. If you are craving good ol' Cuban/Puerto Rican food, I regretfully say this one misses the spot.
(1)
Logan f.
Their patio is nice........I cannot say the same about their food. I have eaten there twice and each time it has been disappointing. Three stars go to the atmosphere and nothing else.
(3)
Anonymous P.
Always delightful, refreshing Latin-influenced food. There's no better place to have lunch in Gainesville than on the patio at Emiliano's.
(4)
Olivia N.
Don't have time to see the real GaudÃ? Come to Emiliano's for a slice of Barcelona. The outside dining area is exactly how I remember Spain being -- comfortable, artsy, a little bourgeois, and of course dotted with those (strangely) tasteful metallic dining tables. The service has always been friendly and prompt here. I also used to come on Monday nights to see my thesis advisor play jazz piano (they have a sax, piano, and singer on some nights). Today I went for an early lunch with a friend, and Emiliano's didn't disappoint. The 2 empanadas (1 chicken, 1 beef) were deep fried and golden...the fillings were savory (beef) and a little garlicky balanced by lime and tomato (chicken). The sauces provided either a spicy kick or a creamy Dijon-inspired accessory to the palate. The mango mimosa was sweet and fresh but tastefully pungent (if I pay for alcohol I expect to taste some of it!). The criticism I have is for their orange juice which my friend ordered...it tasted like faded out Tang and tap water. It's a bit pricey, but well worth it. I guarantee it's less expensive than a round trip to Barcelona.
(4)
Astrid B.
I came here for valentine's day brunch, and as i am a boricua living in gainesville, i was craving some of the menu items this place had to offer. I ordered the puerto rican piñon, which i regret. I felt like the rice could've been better and portion was too large. The tostones as a tapas option are sound though, and i had a good natural guava juice. Maybe i ordered the wrong thing, because my boyfriend liked his quinoa burger!
You can't go wrong here for drinks or tapas. However, I would like to highlight the Sunday brunch at Emiliano's. This is easily my favorite restaurant in Gainesville, and for good reason. It's beautiful and the ambiance provides a feeling of crisp Latin flair. For Sunday brunch, I recommend either the Guava Strawberry Crepes, or the Brie and Mushroom Crepes. (Sense a trend?) don't miss out on their tropical flavored mimosas, either. (Guava is unbelievably good)
(5)
Sam B.
We had some very good food here. Very old San Juan (Puerto Rico). Waiting to see how desert is now.
(5)
Jill S.
Great food, had the empanadas, lunch bowl, and the soup, all came out in a few minutes and tasted great!
(4)
Jim W.
Stopped in for lunch. Service was quick, waitress was attentive, food was great. Had the quinoa burger and subbed rice and beans for fries. Great place for lunch, will come back for dinner soon.
(4)
Connie C.
They are very generous with their portions, and provide great service to their customers. The arroz con pollo is good (chicken could use more flavor) and they bring out like 6 hot sauces for you to try if you're a spice obsessed person like me. All in all, good atmosphere, good music, and the prices aren't bad. The Tostones are also good but they are bit overpriced. I recommend it!
(4)
Kaitlyn T.
Best food and Martinis in downtown Gainesville. Get the conch fritters. Do not hesitate. Do it right now. As for entrees, I order the curry chicken salad with soy shallot dressing when I want a coco Chanel. It's incredible.
(5)
Joe C.
Visited town for the first time.. What a gem of a place! Great and friendly staff with amazing food of course.. I had the piñon and the French toast and I instantaneously fell in love with the place upon my first bite!
(5)
Justin D.
This was one of the worst brunch experiences we have had. We were excited to try Emiliano's for brunch as we had walked by and saw the menu a few weeks back. We showed up about 10 minutes early for our 11am reservation and were seated near the back. After 10 minutes had passed no one came to our table although many servers noticed we we there. I flagged down a server and she apologized, let us know she's not our server, but took our drink order anyways. 10 more minutes have now passed and we had not received our drinks or a server. The hostess walked by and I let her know what was going on. Eventually a server who had walked by our table and served 2 other tables around us came by and apologized. He took our drink order again ms came back after 5 minutes but then he left even though we were ready to order. We waited another 10 minutes for him to return and when he did we had to tell him we were ready. We ordered what we thought would be delicious mojo pork Benedict and Cuban Benedict. Our server came back and apologized and said he thought we were waiting for 2 more, talked to the manager and they were going to comp our drinks and rush our food. The food was rushed alright. It was cold and bland and my mojo pork Benedict was missing the caramelized onions that may have given it more flavor. The manager stopped by to apologize and ask how everything was. When I said not great he asked "is my food not good?" I replied actually it's missing the caramelized onions it's supposed to come with. He was offended but said he would get me the onions. He returned with the onions between 5-10 minutes later after the dish had already gotten colder and I had finished most of it. It was extremely disappointing as this was our first experience and we were looking forward to it. If the servers had not ignored us, the food was halfway decent, or the manger was more compassionate about our less than average experience we may have given it another try. The service was just as poor as the food and we are not likely to return.
(1)
Jenny R.
Our server was great!! We had the churrasco and arroz con pollo...just the thought leaves me speechless! Amazing food! Great ambiance and very clean.
(5)
Kenneth L.
What a gem. Been coming to Gainesville for over a year on business and somehow I missed this place. The place has a wonderful ambiance and the food is terrific. You have a choice of tapas and entrees. The empanadas were to die for. I had the grilled chicken with arugula and corn cakes. Absolutely terrific. There's music. Great jazz band even in a Monday night. The best was my server Kalvin. Nice guy and very attentive. I highly recommend this great restaurant when you are in the area.
(5)
Amaury Y.
I hated this place. I went for a friend's birthday dinner and I thought I was going to get much more for what I paid. It's one of those places that changes Latin food so much and tries to make it so "fancy" that it loses its original taste. I ordered the fried calamari and it was honestly so, so bad. It did not taste like anything. A friend ordered arepas and had to send them back because they tasted horrible.
(2)
FT P.
Unpretentious. Good ambience. Really had low expectations, but absolutely loved my salmon dish. Seated perfectly with an orange glaze. Quinoa cooked just right. So glad we decided to have dinner here. Red sangria was pretty darn good too!
Terrible service! Went, or tried to go on Wednesday evening for dinner. Sat for about 10 minutes in the sparsely filled restaurant while the waitstaff bsed with multiple other tables. Other nearby tables seemed to be frustrated also. Never was approached by any member of the waitstaff. Walked out, never to return.
(1)
Mel B.
This place is mad hit or miss in every way. Sometimes, you get awesome service and sometimes you get the most inattentive server in the entire world. Sometimes the drinks are awesome - like the strawberry cucumber mojitos or the red wine sangria - and sometimes they just suck - like the Bloody Mary's or the margaritas. Sometimes the portions are huge and the food is amazing - e.g the mushroom melt, the Mediterranean flat bread, the chicken and rice. Other times it's like... what... what am I paying for... exactly? I don't mind playing Russian roulette with this place because I know what to order but more picky and plucky customers may not be so easy-going. Outdoor seating, good for brunch, lunch and dinner. Mojito and sangria pitchers highly recommended.
This place is terrible. I walked in with my girlfriend pre-fest. There were other punk rock people there so I didn't feel out of place. The look on the hostess's face, though, told me I was wrong. She sat us. Then we waited ten minutes for a waitress to take our order. The waitress took our drink order (water and a soda) then said she'd be right back. She went in the back, came out and took ANOTHER TABLE'S ORDER. She then went to enter THAT table's order. My girlfriend asked if I wanted to leave, and I said yes. Wish I could speak to the quality of the food, but the rudeness of the staff prevented me from it.
(1)
Sara D.
The Churrasco was seasoned & cooked to perfection. Black beans & rice & maduros accompany the meat. All this was washed down by a Mojito. Jeff helped me with the selection. Every waiter seems very nice. Ask for bread & butter- you'll get a surprise. I'm contemplating dessert.....:-0
(4)
Juan E.
Keep the menu. Fire the staff. I went to Emiliano's riding an avalanche of recommendations from locals and UF college students. "You can't go to Gainesville and not try Emiliano's" they said. However, the service at this locale is EXTREMELY disappointing. Upon entering we were not greeted, but told to "hold on while I get this out of the way." As we sat on our table, we had our drink order taken (the only glass of water that I would've had had I not asked for refills every time), and then left to wait until our meal arrived. There was no silverware delivered with it hour meal, and upon asking I got a "oh yeah" instead of an apology as I had to make the waitress return to our table. Never mind that she was socializing with another table, and it had to interrupt her never station in order to be noticed. Or when her friends mentioned to her that I was in need of something. The food was great, but when the service is this bad - it just makes you question whether you should go back at all.
(3)
Ana S.
We sat outside and the ambiance was excellent! The waiter was great and so was the food!! The black beans were delicious and so were the plantains. Yum!
(5)
Mike B.
This was a really good restaurant. My chicken sandwich was awesome. My son really liked his chicken quesadilla and my daughter enjoyed her wrap. Didn't give it 5 stars though because my wife was just luke warm on her arroz con pollo dish. The coconut and chocolate dessert (can't remember its name) was awesome!!! The Flan was so-so.
(4)
Jennifer P.
Good food, good service. However, Drink specials are a bit watered down and the chorizo was actually kielbasa or just regular smoked sausage.
(3)
Marina L.
Place looked neat and classy. Prices a bit higher than I'd prefer, but we decided to give it a try. I got jerked chicken coca, my friend got strawberry crepes. Both were about $12 each. When they came out, my dish looked like about a 6inch cracker with five small pieces of chicken on it and five tiny dried pieces of pineapple. It looked like an overcooked bite-size pizza with half the toppings you'd expect... Strawberry crepes were just as depressing. Two tiny dessert type crepes a regular size man would eat in three bites with a couple of flavorless strawberries. I can honestly say I have never been as disappointed with a meal as much as at this place... The quality and size of dishes per price is utterly ridiculous. They even charged me extra for a little side of sauce I requested to help me choke down the food...
(2)
Angel E.
I think it's the best place I've been in Florida. Great food! Great staff! The place place was very clean. Can't wait to go back here again.
(5)
Ping N.
There were no fruits in the sangria, or any alcohol. It tasted like Welch's grape juice. Really expensive Grape juice! The yucca bites were good but everything else we ordered was not good. The nachos Cubanos was really lackluster. How do you make nachos bland??? The clams and chorizos dish was wayyyyyy too salty and the fried calamari was overcooked and scrawny, like over-fried little pieces of pure batter. Will not be coming back!
(1)
Angel C.
Decided to go to Emiliano's after reading the reviews on Yelp. Started with the empanadas, one chicken one beef. They were good but not great. Ordered the churrassco steak for dinner with yellow rice, black beans and amarillos (sweet plantains), steak was seasoned well, rice was good, beans were adequate but here is where they lost some stars, I was almost done with all of my sides before the server ever checked back in...I hadn't been able to eat the steak because it was not cooked to the ordered temperature and there wasn't a quality check until I was full on the other sides. She did take it back and get it brought to temp but by then the damage had been done. Onto dessert, tres leche cake...Fantastic! Overall a good experience but not great.
(3)
David M.
I visited Emiliano's recently while passing through Gainesville. The experience was for the most part unremarkably so it is difficult to complain or to praise. Unlike many Yelp reviewers, it seems, I did not have any service issues. Servers were neither slow nor fast. Food arrived hot but not too hot. Servers were all friendly and pleasant. I ordered a calamari po' boy. It was not the best I have had, as the calamari was overly fried and crunchy, but it was not greasy (the kiss of death). My main complaint was with the roll on which the po boy was served, as the roll was a bit stale. I ate my meal. I would go back and try other menu items but I cannot claim passion -- whether pro or con -- for Emiliano's (yet).
(3)
Lisa K.
YESSSSSS!!! Finally had a chance to try this place! Tostones were tasty, though could have been a little bit crispier and they don't have the best sauce - the garlic and oil mojo I'm used to, but tasty alternatives nonetheless. And MOFONGO!! Yesss!!! Very tasty, similar to what I've had in Puerto Rico. The paella was also very yummy and they allow you to order for one so if no one else wants it you don't have to miss out. I had a taste of the Ropa Vieja and it had a nice flavor, and the mojitos were excellent! Such a happy tummy!!!
(5)
Ikam A.
I have been to this restaurant once while I was in college, and it was good. THis last time I went was the second time, and I liked it a lot better. they added tapas to their menu, which is great. We had wine and tapas for our anniversary here. It's not fancy by any means but it was a nice chill pace to eat.
(4)
Jason L.
Simply the best! I am a big fan of the beef empanadas. You can't go wrong with the Ropa Vieja or Arroz con Pollo. If you have room I recommend the tembleque for dessert.
The food was a 5, the service a 3, and the bathrooms a 1 so this averaged out in my mind to a 3-4 total experience. I had the Cuban breakfast sandwich and it was sooo good. My husband had the Cuban Benedict and he said it was also very good. It was hard to pick something on the menu because it all sounded delish!! Our server wasn't much help in making our selection, she hadn't apparently tried too many of the dishes on the menu. That's a pretty big turn off for me at a restaurant. As for the restrooms - gross!!! Dirty, smelly, bleech. It makes me worry about what the kitchen looks like.
(3)
Elizabeth R.
Unfortunately they changed their menu and removed the items I liked to get...The last time I went I got the sabrosa salad which was decent with mahi on top. The fish was very overcooked and dry. My husband got the steak he usually loves and he said that this time it was lacking in flavor and a little boring. It's a real shame that something changed. Maybe they got a new chef?? This restaurant is now just okay, too bad.
(3)
Danae B.
Service was horrible. The food was sub par, without even taking into consideration that they served us the wrong meal. Ordered a Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, was served a Veggie Breakfast Burrito instead. Understandable mistake, but then the side of chorizo we ordered was dry and over-cooked. Carafe of mimosa was 98.99% orange juice. Server kept disappearing. To second bite check, no follow-up whatsoever. Would not return.
(1)
Chelsea B.
I feel like this should be a really great restaurant, but each time I've visited I've been less than impressed. I thought I wouldn't be returning after several disappointing visits, but my friend recently started working here, so I made an exception and visited him one night. In the past I've always ordered from the tapas menu and been sufficiently disappointed (I also studied abroad in Spain, so maybe my tapas expectations are a tad too high), so on my last visit I ordered the arepas de maiz. I love arepas (I prefer Venezuelan over Colombian style), a food I've only discovered since moving to Florida. It's too bad my favorite arepa-making friend just moved to Atlanta, but I know that when I'm desperate I can always go to Emiliano's for my arepa fix; they were that good. I still think Emiliano's tops a long list of overrated restaurants in Gainesville, but if I have several more visits as good as my last I'll have no choice but to change my mind.
(3)
Devin H.
The food is subpar for the amount of $$ you'll be laying down. I've had bad service here, but the final time I went I had the worst service in any restaurant in Gainesville. The server was in attentive and flirting with older guys at a table next to us. So it was blatant she wasn't busy, it was also obvious she didn't know the wines. The manager came out a couple times to check on us as if he could tell we were being ignored by our waitress. At the end of the night I asked for a box and after too long of a while the waitress came back and asked if I wanted her to box it up or did I want to do it myself, I said you can decide and it was this weird, awkward dance until I finally did. It was a super awkward experience. The service is Not worth it for the food.
(1)
Stan R.
Delicious food at a great price. They just need to fix the urinal in the men's room
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Eve P.
We've had both good and bad experiences here. Generally, the food is pretty tasty, but the service can be hit or miss. Long waits, incorrect orders, etc. I do enjoy the tapas options, where you can get small plates of different items. It's fun to share the different dishes and try new things. I usually get the crab cakes and maybe the flank steak or the flatbread. Pretty yummy.
(3)Liz L.
This place is amazing! I love the ambiance, the customer service was great both times we have been there, and most important, the food is delicious. They try to be creative serving some Cuban, Puerto Rican, Spaniard, and other Latin dishes as well. My favorites are the tostones and the churrasco. These two were delicious. The mojitos were good too. I just love their food. On our second visit we went around 5:00 pm and chose to sit outside. I liked this experience better because there were not as many people, the service was quick, and the afternoon was perfect.
(5)Amanda A.
Everything we ordered here was delicious! Very calm, chil atmosphere and excellent service. The ceviche was awesome, as well as the artichoke chorizo fondeau. Also try the crabcakes with mango and chilli :) All for a very reaonable price and with a lovely pianist and bass player playing in the background.
(5)James C.
I like this place, been a handful of times and have always been pretty happy with the food and drink. The tapas is really good and their specials are usually really good. The service is extremely hit or miss. Went this past Sunday for brunch and all you can drink mimosas. It wasn't really all you can drink it was more all the server felt like bringing you. Not sure if he took it upon himself to keep our party from drinking too much or he was just a bad waitress, either way, not ideal. Paying 12 bucks to gulp down OJ and cheap champagne doesn't warrant that kind of nannyism from the server. But I'll go back.
(3)Kern D.
Highly recommend the tostones and churusca.
(5)Jocelyn R.
I'm def a fan of Emilianos! Let's be real, Gainesville is kind of lacking in delicious food options, but Emilianos is always a safe option. I love going here for lunch. They have plenty of moderately priced sandwiches that are pretty delicious. My favorite is the asparagus croissant with melted cheese. Totally worth the calories. They also have a special lunch menu with more authentic food that I still need to try, but most people I have been with that have ordered this have been impressed. I've also been for dinner and its very good. I was there awhile ago and they had a special where all Spanish wines were half-off, which was really good. I'm not positive they still do this, but if they do, its worth it. I also like the atmosphere here and the outdoor seating. In fact, I don't know if Ive ever even eaten inside. The service has been mediocre, nothing super impressive, but I haven't had any bad experiences, just a couple of times when they probably should have had more waiters/waitresses working to deal with the amount of customers. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)Megan G.
The menu is limited, but if you like authentic Cuban, this is the spot. You can do tapas which are small and good to share a bunch with a big group. P.s. if you go with a big goup, get the nachos...just do it.
(3)Gigi A.
We went yesterday for a late lunch, and it was pretty bad. Crab cakes were funny tasting, runny and just tasted off. Perhaps they recycled the previous day's batter? I'm not sure. But it didn't taste right. Their scallop ceviche smelled like rotten fish. It was pretty gross and flavorless. It was definitely not fresh. Their fish tacos was good, according to my friend. 1 star for food, although it could have been the fact that we went in so early (they might not have prepared for dinner yet) The atmosphere is alright, but nothing to write home about. Very casual, a little dirty. It was pretty annoying as I was starving and had a pretty horrible experience. It's probably 3 stars on a good day. I had to go to Harry's next door to get some edible food. Server was alright. Won't be going back here.
(2)Marcelo D.
Poor and slow service, stale chips, and not very good food.
(1)Sasha P.
I had brunch at Emiliano's Cafe and it was all I was told it would be. The Cafe has a wonderful decore. Bright colors, abstract paintings from local artists, good music. We got seated right away in the back corner of the restaurant. Again, when it comes to breakfast and brunch, I become torn over 3-4 menu items. Can't they just make a sampler dish for people like me that enjoy eating a little of everything? So my options were the following: 1. Rancheros Emiliano's 2. Stuffed French toast 3. The Country Breakfast 4. The Continental Breakfast But what I chose was: 5. Tortilla Española: Traditional spanish omelet, potatoes, onions and spanish chorizos, herbed morning potatoes, and a tropical fruit salad. I also ordered a side of the buttered croissant with strawberry-guava cream cheese. Holy smokes. This Spanish Omelet was like a hybrid of an omelet and quiche. It was cut like a piece of pie and stuffed with potato chunks, chopped grilled onions, and good-sized chorizo chunks. Usually, I eat more of a vegetarian meal but this Spanish Omelet I could NOT pass up. The chorizo brought in so much flavor. It could have been bland for all I knew but the naturally salty chorizo added that special touch. The fruits were a bit soggy so I didn't eat them. However, the buttered croissant with the strawberry-guava cream cheese was amazing. The croissant was lightly toasted and with the cream cheese, it proved to be a light, yet delicious side order. I will say that I was expecting the cream cheese to be a bit more powerful in flavor but it was smooth nonetheless. My friend ordered the Grilled Atlantic Salmon with a side of mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Yum. The mashed potatoes were made with aioli, a mix of garlic and olive oil. I LOVE garlic so the garlic mashed potatoes in combination with the grilled salmon was truly phenomenal. To drink, I ordered a Passion Fruit juice, my absolute favorite! It was to die for. Again, my mouth waters just thinking of it. I also forgot to mention that instead of the usual bread and butter for starters, Emiliano's serves a Bread Pudding Cake which is fabulous. It's solid enough to retain its' shape but soft enough to melt in your mouth. Milky with hints of cinnamon throughout. Another wonderful experience with great food. I would go again in a heart beat!
(5)Dennis D.
Came here for a date and, while it was a bit noisy, I think the place was nice! The food was good, the atmosphere different and the service was definitely above average. In fact, if there was any reason to return, it would be for the service alone. They take reservations and while it's not necessary I definitely recommend it. Since it's Gainesville, you'll want to plan your parking game out ahead of time.
(4)Nomadic N.
Loved it, awesome jerk chicken quesadillas and yuca. Very authentic and tasty!!!
(5)Ralph M.
Food wasn't bad, and the prices are reasonable. But, the service was rather disappointing. They also included an automatic tip, so I guess they just couldn't be arsed to make a real effort. Given the good selection of restaurants in the area, I wouldn't recommend going to Emiliano's.
(2)H C.
We had really good food and good service. I'll admit the sangria did not have any fruit in it, but the mojito my boyfriend had was great.
(4)Victoria P.
Emiliano's one of my favorite family owned restaurants in Gainesville. The restaurant specializes in Tapas and we made sure to order plenty. The Picadillo Empanadas were melt-in-your-mouth good. The savory flavor of the ground beef with Latin seasonings inside made the flaky outside pastry taste even better. Mom stayed away from the fried yuca frita with garlicky mojito, but I couldn't get enough. I wasn't a huge fan of the crab stuffed portobello, a baked portobello mushroom cap with crabmeat stuffing, topped with queso blanco and served over a calabaza-jalapeño cream sauce. The crab was a bit fishy and there were too many flavors mixed together, it tasted too jumbled. The artichokes were extremely light and creamy, and easy to pop in your mouth. The last thing we tried was one of Emiliano's signature tapas dishes, the Churrasco, or Argentinian Flank Steak. By itself the meat was juicy and tender, and mixed with a chimichurri sauce on top the flavor was even more intense.
(4)K W.
My favorite restaurant for over 15 years. I eat there at least once a week. Their lunch bowls are out of this world (chimichurri is AMAZING). The tapas at dinner are fabulous. Sunday brunch rocks. They have AMAZING sangria. They have the best black beans in town. I love going there for meetings and for social events. Diego and Wanda do a fabulous job running it.
(5)Christine W.
I had one of their feature empanadas and some the soup of the day. Both were excellent!
(4)Damion W.
I've been a couple times and it's great. The tapas are varied and delicious. Not sure of the schedule, but occasionally they have live music. Their classic sangria is fantastic. Staff is generally very knowledgeable and friendly. If you want to fill up, order the Matahambre - a huge bowl of black beans and rice.
(4)Chad D.
I like this place more each time I visit. The Paella is not authentic (the veggies aren't in Spanish Paella, usually) but, damn, it's great! The drinks, the service, everything I've eaten there, it's all really good. Tonight we just stopped by for a drink because we heard they had Jazz Night. We were pleasantly surprised. The music came from a really fine guitarist and an amazing older lady with a voice smooth as suede. The bottles of wine were half price. And though the selection is limited, we had a really nice Argentine Pinot Noir that kicked ass. We had a couple of nice tapas, as well. The Chorizo and Vieiras (scallops) in sauce were better than we expected. This is not a Cuban or Puerto Rican restaurant, this is Latin Fusion, or maybe something else. But the place has its heart in the right place. We will keep coming back often.
(5)Karen S.
This was a great place! We had dinner here & came back for lunch. Food was great. We shared the Argentine steak and the empanadas. The sweet plantains were great. For lunch I had the chicken bowl which I also enjoyed. Service was a bit slow but still enjoyable. We sat in the patio area and it was great.
(5)Vicki M.
Food is good, everything else is not so great. Service slow, dirt restrooms, no changing tables for babies. Don't be fooled by the so called " I can make a Cuban coffee" liars!
(3)Joe H.
Great food. Good Price. I like the outdoor seating and atmosphere. Would recommend as a good business lunch or date night..
(4)khara a.
So overall I would have rated this at a 4 but the service was so horrible, in fact when we walked through the door we had two girls fighting over who didn't want to help us!! Finally one of them said I can help you. She seemed to not want us at her table and was very discourteous to us anytime we asked for something. So I give 2 stars instead!! The empanada appetizer was amazing...yummy! My meal was ok (good but a bit bland for a "curry chicken" wrap). My mother ordered the Caribbean mahi-mahi and was told tilapia would be prepared as a replacement for the mahi-mahi since they were out. My mom said that would be fine to substitute the fish assuming that the tilapia would be a served in an equivalent to the amount of fish you would get if it was the mahi-mahi. But no, it was just one small piece of tilapia. Not only was the amount of tilapia not comparable to mahi-mahi the tilapia had hardly any Caribbean sauce and when she asked for more sauce the waitress brought out the sauce and it was frozen (not like the melted sauce that was served on the tilapia). So my mother had to let the sauce sit there and tried splitting it with a fork in order to melt before putting it on the fish. The waitress wouldn't refill our drinks until the end of our meal when we no longer needed a refill, and honestly after what we had experienced I was afraid to dare ask for a refill of my drink without her raising an attitude with me. I don't know how the servers are trained but seriously this is no way to greet and treat a customer. I am from California and I'm out here visiting my mother for my birthday and she told me how awesome this place was and after this experience there is no way I would go back. We honestly should have received some sort of compensation for my mother's meal since it was not prepared well at all and for the waitress who had serious attitude issues. Service was so awful we couldn't believe we were treated this way that we just paid and left without bringing it to anyone's attention, some things are just not worth the battle especially when we were having such a great day, it was best just to pretend we never ate there and not let it ruin our great day of shopping and pampering. On the way out there was a father and son who asked us if we just ate there and we said yes, he asked how it was and we replied food was good but the service was horrible, but alright food. They walked in and stood there waiting for someone to assist them and they were smart and turned around and walked out, then they went to Harry's instead! We didn't mean to turn them away but they found out first hand how awful the service was going to be and left. I can say that while we ate we saw some of the male servers and they were awesome and had big smiles on their faces and even cleared a plate off from our table since our waitress wouldn't. Too bad the female servers weren't more like the guys were. Politeness and helpfulness goes a long way for a customer whose about to leave a good tip or not!
(2)David W.
Emiliano's is a Gainesville institution. Their breakfast is wildly good, and authentically Cuban. The DePaz family has been getting it right for a long time now, and the Sunday brunch lines are evidence of this.
(5)sara c.
I thought this was an italian restaurant...it was too late to turn back once I was seated. Prices are too high for the miniscule portions; the pork was pure fat. My friend got a sandwich (the only moderately prices item on the menu)....which was small and dry. Service was poor, had to fight for the waitress's attention. I know she wasn't busy, because I watched her stand inside and do nothing.
(2)April O.
**This review is based on the specialty Valentine's dining alone. Your mileage may vary as always.** I said I'd never be back, but I figured Valentine's Day was as good a time as any to kiss and make up with Emiliano's. So I dutifully called ahead to request a reservation, and were told that they weren't accepting any, but that there was no wait for a table. On V-Day? Cool! ... until we got to the restaurant and were promptly asked for that reservation that we didn't have! Nonetheless, we were seated almost immediately on the lovely patio and served by a nice young lady who started me off right with red sangria and brought my husband a Continental. Highlights: His duck. I don't know how they managed to cook a duck breast to the texture of fine pate without destroying it, but they absolutely frikkin' NAILED this one. Excellent. Lowlights: The baked brie. Heavily over-seasoned baugettes, and brie covered in a mango-jalapeno chutney. The sugar and salt were duking it out in my mouth, and unfortunately I was losing on all rounds. If I hadn't been in a public restaurant surrounded by strangers I would have spat it out. I haven't decided how I feel about my dinner, since I didn't have a very large appetite tonight and I only ate a few bites. I'll update this review tomorrow after I reheat it. Bonuses: The Hare Krishnas who came by, complete with drums and trumpets! The older couple who clearly didn't know what they'd be getting when they ordered ceviche. Listening to them try to convince the server to fry the seafood was possibly the funniest thing I've heard all week. So ... three stars for the duck and my sangria, but I'm still not ready to add them back into my regular rotation.
(3)Justin F.
My first taste of Gainesville... and I gotta say it was pretty great. The tapas were calling my name but, I ended up going with the jerk pork on recommendation from the waitress. The pork must have been slow braised for a really long time because it literally pulled right off the bone and was still super juicy. The mashed potatoes were fine, but didn't really seem to make much sense with the meal, but it's forgivable. Came with a couple of plantains smothered in the tasty jerk sauce as well which were a nice addition. If i'm ever back in town, would love to check out more what the have to offer.
(4)Belen C.
I think this place is pretentious and overrated. I'm sorry but there's no way that Latin food can be gourmet. It's comfort food, you really can't dress it up. I was not impressed with their small empanadas and I wasn't impressed with their overpriced arroz con pollo. This place may look nice on the outside, but I'm not coming back here again.
(2)So H.
I have been here for lunch and dinner many times and it's never disappointing! I especially love their lunch specials. $7 for a bowl and you get to pick your protein, vegetable, and sauce plus a free soda/iced tea. My favorite is the steak with yellow rice, sweet plantains, and chimichurri sauce. yum! It is usually a little too greasy though. Other items off the specials menu are slightly expensive, but the quality is great. One of the best Latin/Spanish restaurants in Gainesville. I've always had great, attentive service from the staff as well. Great place for a date night or for a special occasion. There is indoor and outdoor seating.
(5)Apple C.
Not impressed. Came for brunch on what turned out to be art fair weekend. They had a special menu and were only 25% full when I arrived with a group of 6. Slow, forgetful waitstaff, and the food took about 40 minutes even though the place was almost empty at 11:30. Once it finally arrived, the french toast with strawberry-guava cream cheese was great. Breakfast burrito was cold and flavorless. Conch fritters were greasy and seemingly undercooked. The rest (benedicts, sandwiches) were "just ok" Waitstaff attentiveness was appalling in the first place, especially so considering they were only 25% full and several servers could be seen. Perhaps bc gratuity was added given group size? I will not be going back voluntarily.
(2)leah s.
Lunch today was nice... all Vegan and healthy, by choice, since I had lunch with Tracy and she's vegan, I let her choose the tapas menu and we shared everything. The menu included fried yucca, tostones, black bean soup, three flavors of hummus... and some dipping sauces... the best of which was the chimmuchurri, we took the leftover of that home with us! Good portions, service was efficient, hummus lacking in flavor and had a definatley weird texture, so we didn't take those leftovers home! Nice lunch atmosphere, but nothing to write home about. Happy hour there seems more fitting and more fun!
(4)Y Y.
I have tried their brunch menu and we all ordered different things. I like their variety, the atmosphere and the service is nice. The food is reasonable.
(2)Lynn H.
I've always loved this place. We went for birthday dinner, and everything was excellent (aside from some slow service in the beginning.) The gazpacho was amazing!!! I'll be back for that alone. Tanya, they used a variation of my onion sauce on the black beans but added diced tomatoes. While ropa vieja is my usual order (and quite tasty I must say) I had vaca frita this time. For a dish that can easily become dry, it was finished perfectly with just a hint of lime. I've been here for brunch recently, too. I'd highly recommend the stuffed French toast. Heaven! And it's so big you could split it and still leave full. While the inside is nice, the patio invites leisurely dining and good conversation.
(5)Mary R.
if you are in the mood for good spanish food this is a great place. their menu offers a variety of food and prices.
(4)Steven H.
Emiliano's possesses the sort of ambiguous climate that could lend itself to nearly any social exchange. It is intimate enough to attract couples searching for a romantic evening, yet the whimsy of the the multicolored walls and unusual artwork soften the edges and encourage a "let your hair down" attitude. The overall decor is upscale enough to give one the feeling of a higher end restaurant, but with the laid back comfort of a family friendly establishment. I went for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon, and the restaurant was nearly empty. Downtown Gainesville is unlike similar areas in larger cities. It is not the bustling business crowd of urban professionals, but a smaller group of college students between classes and construction workers building the byways of southeast Gainesville. There was only one server on duty, though I was promptly recognized and seated. The "lunch" menu at Emiliano's consists of entirely of traditional Spanish Tapas. Luckily for this food lover the rest of the menu was not off limits. As an appetizer I ordered the Yuca Rellena, mashed yuca fritters with a spanish pork filling.The fritters are served in a martini glass atop mixed bitter greens; ten out of ten for presentation. The yuca batter was akin to the fried corn bread found in Jamaican festivals, and the pork filling was astoundingly simple while still being bright and delicious. I ordered the Arroz con Pollo as my entree. Bone in chicken served over Spanish rice with plantains and black beans on the side. This dish is my go-to when visiting new Latin restaurant. It is meant to be simple and flavorful, but is not easy to pull off. Such a traditional Spanish dish is a good measure for the rest of the menu. Whether good or bad, most of the other entree's will follow suit. The chicken was cooked to utter perfection, but lacked any flavor whatsoever. Moist, tender and falling apart on the fork with no detectable attempt at seasoning. The bed of yellow rice below met the same horrible fate. Cooked well but with uninspiring taste and florescent vegetables reminiscent of bad Chinese take out. The only redeeming quality of this meal was the small cup of black beans served on the side. When dumped over the rice and chicken the beans added a missing element to the dish that made it possible to choke down this culinary train wreck. The two or three plantains I was served also delivered some interest to an otherwise bland meal. Sticky and sweet the fried plantains were the closest thing to tradition I could find. The desert menu is an interesting mix of seemingly traditional pastries and somewhat new-age pseudo-Mexican fusion. I ordered a house original, the dark chocolate chopotle cake. The presentation was beautiful. Dark cake on a white plate with chocolate and strawberry sauces swirled about the edges. The initial taste was that of any other "gourmet" chocolate cake. But after the first bite it becomes apparent why this cake is a favorite among patrons. A subtle heat follows the sweet chocolate at the front of each mouthful. Not nearly enough to be uncomfortable, but a small kick to the taste buds as if to say, "Hey, I'm here!" It is surprisingly good and deceivingly addictive. Emiliano's Cafe gets 2 of 5 stars, and I feel that may be generous. The over all meal left much to be desired and I walked away feeling let down and put out. First impressions go along way on the plate and table, and I can see no reason why I would ever return.
(2)Eric A.
Emilianos is about as authentic a Latin restaurant as Olive Garden is fine Italian Bistro. It is locally owned and run and not a chain, but still, it's not very good. The first time I ever ate there, the waitress actually said "arroz con poLLo" with a L instead of a Y sound. I think I will use Emiliano's to embark on a greater trend in Gainesville Restaurants. I call it "Gainesville Gourmet." My brother calls it "Faux Fancy." And another friend simply calls it "Mediocre." I think my other friend really nailed it with his one word description, but I'd like to elaborate. This town abounds with restaurants that operate under the guise of being gourmet. They appear to be fancy. But when it comes down to it, they've got nothing to back it up in terms of quality. They're big budget movies with no script. Emiliano's is "Last Action Hero," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. I've eaten here as a carnivore and a vegetarian and can say that their meat dishes are no better than Flaco's and surely aren't worth the extra cost. Furthermore, their tapas are boring and uninspired. The meal pictured above is the corn cake napoleon. It's described as "venezuelan style corn griddle cakes layered with roasted marinated portobello mushroom, manchego cheese, roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, black bean-corn salsa, topped with corn tortilla straws, garnished with roasted red pepper coulis and parsley-garlic coulis." Overall, it's not that good. Which brings me to the next important aspect of Gainesville Gourmet: nothing is simple. It's all overly complex. Read the ingredients of the dish above again. Do you think you'd get that kind of fluff if you actually ordered this in Venezuela? Would you be presented with two coulis-es? Absolutely not! Rather than go for authenticity, Emiliano's (like so many other places in town) goes for a fusion. They call themselves pan-latin cuisine, which means the chef doesn't know how to do any single style good enough to pull it off. He therefore must disguise and bastardize the flavors into a hodgepodge of conflicting spices and flavors. Maybe it's because I grew up in Miami that I feel this place is so inadequate. When you eat Latin food cooked by real Latins, tradition and simplicity reign supreme. Don't mess with perfection and you'll be sure to produce tasty food. I don't know. It's just plain mediocre.
(2)Chelsea A.
Everyone tells me how good this place is so I have really tried to give it a fair chance. I came on 4 different occasions: 1 for brunch, 1 for lunch, and 2 for dinner; and was consistently disappointed. There food is just not very good and is not cheap. There are so many other places nearby that offer better food at a better price.
(2)Lauren J.
Still three stars, because the service was atrocious this past time we visited. The yuca rellenos are really fantastic, what is better than fried yuca? Fried yuca filled with stewed pork. Everyone raves about their brunch, but go early because apparently by 1pm they run out of everything. I had the Benedict Arepas which were arepas topped with portobello mushrooms and poached eggs finished with a picante dijon cream. My dish was delicious, but heavy. I expected it to be hardy, but if you aren't starving order the half portion. It was a truly brilliant hangover cure. Dan had the breakfast burrito, which he inhaled. I thought his was boring, but he was happy, so I guess that is what matters. I will certainly return if only for the yuca dishes, yum yum.
(3)James B.
Just had Emiliano's for brunch for the 2nd time. This time I ordered a scallop ceviche and a black bean and corn empenada. The empenada came first. I think the green sauce was a cilantro aioli. It wasn't bad, but I could have made a better one at home! It was very crispy, but the insides were definitely lacking, and at $2.50 I'd expect a little more. The ceviche was a mixed bag. On one hand, the scallops had good flavor. On the other hand, at $8.50 I expected a little more. It was served in a martini glass...with nothing else. I guess I was supposed to eat them without anything because the waitress (who was very friendly) acted surprised when I asked if it came with chips. In the end I stole some of my friend's chips, and I was not too happy when at least 1/2 of the glass was just full of lime juice. 2 stars for good flavor, but the execution and finishing touches are lacking. I may return for their regular entrees and update this review.
(2)Bryan S.
Brunch here was amazing. It was pretty low key (on a Sunday at 11am, surprisingly) which is always nice when a lot of the brunch spots around are overflowing on the weekends. The food was top notch and our waitress was sharp, friendly, and knowledgeable.
(5)Lisa V.
I give it a five for 1) the best sangria ever 2) the best brunch on Sundays. Their tapas are mediocre but their brunch is my favorite by far. My husband and I always share a French Toast and a Crab Benedict. We can't stray from it because we love it THAT much. Yum.
(5)Katie S.
Really good cuban food. Small dining area, but good ambiance inside and out.
(4)Ashley P.
I'm a big fan of Emiliano's Cafe and they have many different types of flavors to choose from. Although some of the tastes have been a little too exotic for me, I enjoy their selection of 20+ different tapas !
(4)Alex E.
Considering the availability of cuisine like it in the city, Emiliano's is a good place. The service is generally pretty good, the menu offers a pretty good amount of selections, and the food is pretty solid. My one complaint would be that it's a bit pricey for what it is. Also, if you have had authentic Arroz Con Pollo; you will be underwhelmed.
(4)Fritz L.
I suppose a little pricy for the area, and not as good as Ceviche in Tampa for near the same $, Emilianos is still good food and service. Of the 10 various tapa we had, including ceviche, jerk shrimp, plantains, crabcakes and shrooms, only the mussels tasted "off" and were returned. We had a good bottle of a '05 Malbec and desserts and coffee.
(4)Jorge U.
I always seem to end up here outside of usual meal times when the place is pretty empty so the staff is pretty attentive. I've enjoyed both the churrasco and the guava barbecue ribs from their lunch menu. What really got my attention though was the selection of juices for the mimosas -- guava, mango & passion fruit in addition to the usual orange juice. I love a good mango mimosa and they know how to do it right.
(4)Your M.
Emiliano's is hands-down one of the best restaurants in Gainesville. Located right in downtown with indoor as well as outdoor cafe seating, Emiliano's offers atmosphere that you just can't get in the many Gainesville strip mall restaurants. The wine list is extensive, and on Wednesdays they have jazz and 1/2 price wine. The sangria is also excellent. As for the food, I have only ever ordered from the tapas menu because I like being able to try a variety of dishes when I'm eating out. I would highly recommend the mussels and the stuffed artichoke hearts. Also great is the chorizo and scallops. For dessert I have only tried the tres leches, and it was good, but not quite to die for. When people ask me for a restaurant recommendation in Gainesville, I almost always point them in the direction of Emiliano's. The food is much better than hit or miss places like the Top, the service is always great, and I've never had a wait. Plus, wine and tapas - makes for a fun and delicious meal!
(4)eddie d.
This review is for brunch. We thought maybe it was a mistake when we got there and remembered it was graduation weekend, but we were seated very quickly and saw our server right away. She was kind enough to take our order and put it in first before taking the large table of ten or so's order, so our food would come out quicker. For drinks we had cafe con leche and crab cakes as our appetizer. The coffee was decent but those crab cakes are pretty much the best i've ever had. Hardly any cake. For entrees, I had the Rancheros and she had the Salmon Benedict. Both came out pretty quickly considering how packed the place was. The dishes were beautiful and delicious. Eggs cooked perfectly, correctly seasoned, good portions. Overall, probably the best brunch I've had in Gainesville. We were feeling so good about our meal that we ordered 2 passion fruit mimosas and downed them before leaving, completely satisfied.
(5)Belle C.
Good food; interesting brunch menu. Nice atmosphere, especially out on the patio.
(3)Lydia L.
I ordered catering through Emiliano's, and can't say one negative about the experience. I'd never had a seafood/chicken combo paella, but their recipe is top-notch. Chock full of all kinds of goodness; plenty of seafood, vegetables, and the chicken was not overwhelming at all, allowing the dish to taste very authentic. The black bean side dish, as well as the grilled seasonal veggies, were both excellent. The veggies had a lot of variety and flavor, and maintained their crispness throughout the event. For dessert I ordered the flan which was plentiful and tasted (and smelled!) out of this world! By far the best flan I've ever eaten. Everything about this order was great--easy, tasty, great value, great service. I look forward to dining in the restaurant next time, and trying many more dishes from the exciting menu they offer.
(4)Ron T.
My son and I were driving straight through from central WI to central Florida, and wanted something different for a late lunch. We googled up Emiliano's and thought it sounded worth a try. As soon as we got off I75 I thought this was a dumb idea- traffic was horrendous and we were on a tight schedule. But it turned out to be worth it. Food and service were great. We arrived at 3:55 pm which is 5 minutes before they stop serving Lunch, but the host was very pleasant and seated us on the patio immediately. While waiting I read some negative reviews and again thought this might be a mistake. Shouldn't read negative reviews because the service and food was great. My small salad was tasty and had a generous serving of curried Jamaican chicken salad. It came with a sampling of salad dressings which were all tasty and out of the ordinary. I was looking for an excuse to dislike my waiter Blaze because he was young, tan and very handsome. I am getting old, uglier every day, and pasty faced from a long WI winter. He wouldn't give me an excuse, he was friendly and efficient so I had to give a good tip. Glad we stopped!
(4)Mrs. H.
Emiliano's is okay. But just okay. It is a bit pricey and well, the flavors are just not as authentic as I'm used to. The Ropa Vieja had too much onion. I felt like I was being cheated out of meat. The beans just didn't have "it". More sofrito, please! The flan was good. If you are craving good ol' Cuban/Puerto Rican food, I regretfully say this one misses the spot.
(1)Logan f.
Their patio is nice........I cannot say the same about their food. I have eaten there twice and each time it has been disappointing. Three stars go to the atmosphere and nothing else.
(3)Anonymous P.
Always delightful, refreshing Latin-influenced food. There's no better place to have lunch in Gainesville than on the patio at Emiliano's.
(4)Olivia N.
Don't have time to see the real GaudÃ? Come to Emiliano's for a slice of Barcelona. The outside dining area is exactly how I remember Spain being -- comfortable, artsy, a little bourgeois, and of course dotted with those (strangely) tasteful metallic dining tables. The service has always been friendly and prompt here. I also used to come on Monday nights to see my thesis advisor play jazz piano (they have a sax, piano, and singer on some nights). Today I went for an early lunch with a friend, and Emiliano's didn't disappoint. The 2 empanadas (1 chicken, 1 beef) were deep fried and golden...the fillings were savory (beef) and a little garlicky balanced by lime and tomato (chicken). The sauces provided either a spicy kick or a creamy Dijon-inspired accessory to the palate. The mango mimosa was sweet and fresh but tastefully pungent (if I pay for alcohol I expect to taste some of it!). The criticism I have is for their orange juice which my friend ordered...it tasted like faded out Tang and tap water. It's a bit pricey, but well worth it. I guarantee it's less expensive than a round trip to Barcelona.
(4)Astrid B.
I came here for valentine's day brunch, and as i am a boricua living in gainesville, i was craving some of the menu items this place had to offer. I ordered the puerto rican piñon, which i regret. I felt like the rice could've been better and portion was too large. The tostones as a tapas option are sound though, and i had a good natural guava juice. Maybe i ordered the wrong thing, because my boyfriend liked his quinoa burger!
(3)Dr Yolanda C Leon L.
Emiliano's was a great place for dinner. Flavor and presentation of the food was great!..... I particularly enjoyed the risotto mushroom cakes that came under our entrée. The bread was soft and fresh. Only glitch....... one star for coffee. The espresso machine was broken and American coffee served tasted kind of old. However when we requested a fresh pot, our server had a fresh pot brewed for us. Our server was a class act. Very nice young man!.. Thank you Drew! Very skilled and thoughtful server. ! Dr Y. C. Leon
(5)Caroline J.
You can't go wrong here for drinks or tapas. However, I would like to highlight the Sunday brunch at Emiliano's. This is easily my favorite restaurant in Gainesville, and for good reason. It's beautiful and the ambiance provides a feeling of crisp Latin flair. For Sunday brunch, I recommend either the Guava Strawberry Crepes, or the Brie and Mushroom Crepes. (Sense a trend?) don't miss out on their tropical flavored mimosas, either. (Guava is unbelievably good)
(5)Sam B.
We had some very good food here. Very old San Juan (Puerto Rico). Waiting to see how desert is now.
(5)Jill S.
Great food, had the empanadas, lunch bowl, and the soup, all came out in a few minutes and tasted great!
(4)Jim W.
Stopped in for lunch. Service was quick, waitress was attentive, food was great. Had the quinoa burger and subbed rice and beans for fries. Great place for lunch, will come back for dinner soon.
(4)Connie C.
They are very generous with their portions, and provide great service to their customers. The arroz con pollo is good (chicken could use more flavor) and they bring out like 6 hot sauces for you to try if you're a spice obsessed person like me. All in all, good atmosphere, good music, and the prices aren't bad. The Tostones are also good but they are bit overpriced. I recommend it!
(4)Kaitlyn T.
Best food and Martinis in downtown Gainesville. Get the conch fritters. Do not hesitate. Do it right now. As for entrees, I order the curry chicken salad with soy shallot dressing when I want a coco Chanel. It's incredible.
(5)Joe C.
Visited town for the first time.. What a gem of a place! Great and friendly staff with amazing food of course.. I had the piñon and the French toast and I instantaneously fell in love with the place upon my first bite!
(5)Justin D.
This was one of the worst brunch experiences we have had. We were excited to try Emiliano's for brunch as we had walked by and saw the menu a few weeks back. We showed up about 10 minutes early for our 11am reservation and were seated near the back. After 10 minutes had passed no one came to our table although many servers noticed we we there. I flagged down a server and she apologized, let us know she's not our server, but took our drink order anyways. 10 more minutes have now passed and we had not received our drinks or a server. The hostess walked by and I let her know what was going on. Eventually a server who had walked by our table and served 2 other tables around us came by and apologized. He took our drink order again ms came back after 5 minutes but then he left even though we were ready to order. We waited another 10 minutes for him to return and when he did we had to tell him we were ready. We ordered what we thought would be delicious mojo pork Benedict and Cuban Benedict. Our server came back and apologized and said he thought we were waiting for 2 more, talked to the manager and they were going to comp our drinks and rush our food. The food was rushed alright. It was cold and bland and my mojo pork Benedict was missing the caramelized onions that may have given it more flavor. The manager stopped by to apologize and ask how everything was. When I said not great he asked "is my food not good?" I replied actually it's missing the caramelized onions it's supposed to come with. He was offended but said he would get me the onions. He returned with the onions between 5-10 minutes later after the dish had already gotten colder and I had finished most of it. It was extremely disappointing as this was our first experience and we were looking forward to it. If the servers had not ignored us, the food was halfway decent, or the manger was more compassionate about our less than average experience we may have given it another try. The service was just as poor as the food and we are not likely to return.
(1)Jenny R.
Our server was great!! We had the churrasco and arroz con pollo...just the thought leaves me speechless! Amazing food! Great ambiance and very clean.
(5)Kenneth L.
What a gem. Been coming to Gainesville for over a year on business and somehow I missed this place. The place has a wonderful ambiance and the food is terrific. You have a choice of tapas and entrees. The empanadas were to die for. I had the grilled chicken with arugula and corn cakes. Absolutely terrific. There's music. Great jazz band even in a Monday night. The best was my server Kalvin. Nice guy and very attentive. I highly recommend this great restaurant when you are in the area.
(5)Amaury Y.
I hated this place. I went for a friend's birthday dinner and I thought I was going to get much more for what I paid. It's one of those places that changes Latin food so much and tries to make it so "fancy" that it loses its original taste. I ordered the fried calamari and it was honestly so, so bad. It did not taste like anything. A friend ordered arepas and had to send them back because they tasted horrible.
(2)FT P.
Unpretentious. Good ambience. Really had low expectations, but absolutely loved my salmon dish. Seated perfectly with an orange glaze. Quinoa cooked just right. So glad we decided to have dinner here. Red sangria was pretty darn good too!
(4)Stephanie R.
I go to Emiliano's maybe once or twice a year, although I frequent downtown quite often. Why isn't this in my regular rotation, you may ask? Well, as many have said, this restaurant is VERY hit or miss. On top of that, it's also pretty pricey for a college town; I know if I'm shelling out $30 plus (for just me), possibly for dinner and maybe one drink, I want to be sure I'm going to have a good experience. But here, you can't be sure. For example, last night a party of 4 of us came in for my Mom's bday dinner. We seated promptly and then forgotten about. No water. No acknowledgement. Nothing. And then I remember, ah, this is why I don't come here often. 15 mins go by, we talk about possibly leaving and going to Harry's. I tried to flag a server about 3 times until one finally made eye contact and came over. We were not his table, but he agreed to take us on immediately since it appeared that we had been forgotten about (not sure how this happens when you're sitting right next to the bar in a heavily trafficked area). Luckily, he saved our dinner! John was very apologetic and promptly took our drink orders, assuring us that he would make sure everything was superb for the rest of the evening. Unfortunately, the bartender is/was so SLOW (another moment of déjà vu). The food was spot on, with the favorite probably being their shrimp and grits. Fresh shrimp, stone ground grits, peppers, and pancetta. It was delicious! Thanks to John the service was spot on as well! Unfortunately, servers like John don't seem to be the norm at Emiliano's, and no matter the server, it will take FOREVER to get your drinks. The food is sometimes just ok. Combine all that with the prices, and you have a recipe for a case of "meh". And on a budget, who can afford to take the risk?
(3)William N.
Terrible service! Went, or tried to go on Wednesday evening for dinner. Sat for about 10 minutes in the sparsely filled restaurant while the waitstaff bsed with multiple other tables. Other nearby tables seemed to be frustrated also. Never was approached by any member of the waitstaff. Walked out, never to return.
(1)Mel B.
This place is mad hit or miss in every way. Sometimes, you get awesome service and sometimes you get the most inattentive server in the entire world. Sometimes the drinks are awesome - like the strawberry cucumber mojitos or the red wine sangria - and sometimes they just suck - like the Bloody Mary's or the margaritas. Sometimes the portions are huge and the food is amazing - e.g the mushroom melt, the Mediterranean flat bread, the chicken and rice. Other times it's like... what... what am I paying for... exactly? I don't mind playing Russian roulette with this place because I know what to order but more picky and plucky customers may not be so easy-going. Outdoor seating, good for brunch, lunch and dinner. Mojito and sangria pitchers highly recommended.
(3)Nicole V.
Hands down one of my favorite restaurants in town. I've been known to treat out of towners twice in a day (different visitors for different meals). I'm spoiled by the empanadas and on a nice evening, there is no better place to relax and unwind than the patio. When my fiancé and friends want to go to brunch, we don't even have to specify where. I wish they combined the Saturday and Sunday brunch menus, though I'm not above going to brunch twice on a weekend!
(5)Carl W.
This place is terrible. I walked in with my girlfriend pre-fest. There were other punk rock people there so I didn't feel out of place. The look on the hostess's face, though, told me I was wrong. She sat us. Then we waited ten minutes for a waitress to take our order. The waitress took our drink order (water and a soda) then said she'd be right back. She went in the back, came out and took ANOTHER TABLE'S ORDER. She then went to enter THAT table's order. My girlfriend asked if I wanted to leave, and I said yes. Wish I could speak to the quality of the food, but the rudeness of the staff prevented me from it.
(1)Sara D.
The Churrasco was seasoned & cooked to perfection. Black beans & rice & maduros accompany the meat. All this was washed down by a Mojito. Jeff helped me with the selection. Every waiter seems very nice. Ask for bread & butter- you'll get a surprise. I'm contemplating dessert.....:-0
(4)Juan E.
Keep the menu. Fire the staff. I went to Emiliano's riding an avalanche of recommendations from locals and UF college students. "You can't go to Gainesville and not try Emiliano's" they said. However, the service at this locale is EXTREMELY disappointing. Upon entering we were not greeted, but told to "hold on while I get this out of the way." As we sat on our table, we had our drink order taken (the only glass of water that I would've had had I not asked for refills every time), and then left to wait until our meal arrived. There was no silverware delivered with it hour meal, and upon asking I got a "oh yeah" instead of an apology as I had to make the waitress return to our table. Never mind that she was socializing with another table, and it had to interrupt her never station in order to be noticed. Or when her friends mentioned to her that I was in need of something. The food was great, but when the service is this bad - it just makes you question whether you should go back at all.
(3)Ana S.
We sat outside and the ambiance was excellent! The waiter was great and so was the food!! The black beans were delicious and so were the plantains. Yum!
(5)Mike B.
This was a really good restaurant. My chicken sandwich was awesome. My son really liked his chicken quesadilla and my daughter enjoyed her wrap. Didn't give it 5 stars though because my wife was just luke warm on her arroz con pollo dish. The coconut and chocolate dessert (can't remember its name) was awesome!!! The Flan was so-so.
(4)Jennifer P.
Good food, good service. However, Drink specials are a bit watered down and the chorizo was actually kielbasa or just regular smoked sausage.
(3)Marina L.
Place looked neat and classy. Prices a bit higher than I'd prefer, but we decided to give it a try. I got jerked chicken coca, my friend got strawberry crepes. Both were about $12 each. When they came out, my dish looked like about a 6inch cracker with five small pieces of chicken on it and five tiny dried pieces of pineapple. It looked like an overcooked bite-size pizza with half the toppings you'd expect... Strawberry crepes were just as depressing. Two tiny dessert type crepes a regular size man would eat in three bites with a couple of flavorless strawberries. I can honestly say I have never been as disappointed with a meal as much as at this place... The quality and size of dishes per price is utterly ridiculous. They even charged me extra for a little side of sauce I requested to help me choke down the food...
(2)Angel E.
I think it's the best place I've been in Florida. Great food! Great staff! The place place was very clean. Can't wait to go back here again.
(5)Ping N.
There were no fruits in the sangria, or any alcohol. It tasted like Welch's grape juice. Really expensive Grape juice! The yucca bites were good but everything else we ordered was not good. The nachos Cubanos was really lackluster. How do you make nachos bland??? The clams and chorizos dish was wayyyyyy too salty and the fried calamari was overcooked and scrawny, like over-fried little pieces of pure batter. Will not be coming back!
(1)Angel C.
Decided to go to Emiliano's after reading the reviews on Yelp. Started with the empanadas, one chicken one beef. They were good but not great. Ordered the churrassco steak for dinner with yellow rice, black beans and amarillos (sweet plantains), steak was seasoned well, rice was good, beans were adequate but here is where they lost some stars, I was almost done with all of my sides before the server ever checked back in...I hadn't been able to eat the steak because it was not cooked to the ordered temperature and there wasn't a quality check until I was full on the other sides. She did take it back and get it brought to temp but by then the damage had been done. Onto dessert, tres leche cake...Fantastic! Overall a good experience but not great.
(3)David M.
I visited Emiliano's recently while passing through Gainesville. The experience was for the most part unremarkably so it is difficult to complain or to praise. Unlike many Yelp reviewers, it seems, I did not have any service issues. Servers were neither slow nor fast. Food arrived hot but not too hot. Servers were all friendly and pleasant. I ordered a calamari po' boy. It was not the best I have had, as the calamari was overly fried and crunchy, but it was not greasy (the kiss of death). My main complaint was with the roll on which the po boy was served, as the roll was a bit stale. I ate my meal. I would go back and try other menu items but I cannot claim passion -- whether pro or con -- for Emiliano's (yet).
(3)Lisa K.
YESSSSSS!!! Finally had a chance to try this place! Tostones were tasty, though could have been a little bit crispier and they don't have the best sauce - the garlic and oil mojo I'm used to, but tasty alternatives nonetheless. And MOFONGO!! Yesss!!! Very tasty, similar to what I've had in Puerto Rico. The paella was also very yummy and they allow you to order for one so if no one else wants it you don't have to miss out. I had a taste of the Ropa Vieja and it had a nice flavor, and the mojitos were excellent! Such a happy tummy!!!
(5)Ikam A.
I have been to this restaurant once while I was in college, and it was good. THis last time I went was the second time, and I liked it a lot better. they added tapas to their menu, which is great. We had wine and tapas for our anniversary here. It's not fancy by any means but it was a nice chill pace to eat.
(4)Jason L.
Simply the best! I am a big fan of the beef empanadas. You can't go wrong with the Ropa Vieja or Arroz con Pollo. If you have room I recommend the tembleque for dessert.
(5)Mike W.
I am surprised at the number of low-starred reviews for Emiliano's. I've been coming here for years and never have been less than impressed although I will admit some experiences have been better than others. The atmosphere is alluring, even romantic, but the layout inside and out on the patio alike can be confusing and doesn't seem to encourage the best service from the waitstaff, either. Still, overall service has always been what I would expect from a restaurant of this caliber and the staff is always well-informed on their offerings and most can carry forth a good conversation--often in Spanish--about Cuban and pan-latin food. When I was last there, they had Albita's "Cantaré" playing on the stereo and the majority of the customers appeared to be latin, also. There is no doubt Emiliano's has, via long years in business and a powerful repute for good food, won over our local latin community. I think this should count for a lot--probably more than naysayers on Yelp, in all candor. The food is overall very good, with the fish and other seafood dishes being the best. The tapas are often somewhat small in serving size (yes, tapas in general are, but I think moreso here) and they could do more traditional Spanish tapas, too--I'm tired of seeing small plates appear under the guise of "tapas"; real tapas is as much about the kind of food involved as it is about the amount on offer. My best advice: stick to more traditional Cuban fare on their menu or the specials. The main dishes have always impressed me and anything they dream up involving snapper or shrimp is a winner. Pork is hit or miss: here's the thing with many Cuban approaches to pork chops/pork roasts: it is easy to get it underdone (not in the sense it's not safe to eat, because it perfectly is, but that the flavor could still develop) or, in converse, overdone. A Cuban friend's aunt once fixed lunch for us in Orlando and explained that pork is not a good bet for Cuban restaurants and given her logic, I believe her. Again, the seafood though is most often very impressive--as are their desserts.
(4)Diana M.
The food was a 5, the service a 3, and the bathrooms a 1 so this averaged out in my mind to a 3-4 total experience. I had the Cuban breakfast sandwich and it was sooo good. My husband had the Cuban Benedict and he said it was also very good. It was hard to pick something on the menu because it all sounded delish!! Our server wasn't much help in making our selection, she hadn't apparently tried too many of the dishes on the menu. That's a pretty big turn off for me at a restaurant. As for the restrooms - gross!!! Dirty, smelly, bleech. It makes me worry about what the kitchen looks like.
(3)Elizabeth R.
Unfortunately they changed their menu and removed the items I liked to get...The last time I went I got the sabrosa salad which was decent with mahi on top. The fish was very overcooked and dry. My husband got the steak he usually loves and he said that this time it was lacking in flavor and a little boring. It's a real shame that something changed. Maybe they got a new chef?? This restaurant is now just okay, too bad.
(3)Danae B.
Service was horrible. The food was sub par, without even taking into consideration that they served us the wrong meal. Ordered a Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, was served a Veggie Breakfast Burrito instead. Understandable mistake, but then the side of chorizo we ordered was dry and over-cooked. Carafe of mimosa was 98.99% orange juice. Server kept disappearing. To second bite check, no follow-up whatsoever. Would not return.
(1)Chelsea B.
I feel like this should be a really great restaurant, but each time I've visited I've been less than impressed. I thought I wouldn't be returning after several disappointing visits, but my friend recently started working here, so I made an exception and visited him one night. In the past I've always ordered from the tapas menu and been sufficiently disappointed (I also studied abroad in Spain, so maybe my tapas expectations are a tad too high), so on my last visit I ordered the arepas de maiz. I love arepas (I prefer Venezuelan over Colombian style), a food I've only discovered since moving to Florida. It's too bad my favorite arepa-making friend just moved to Atlanta, but I know that when I'm desperate I can always go to Emiliano's for my arepa fix; they were that good. I still think Emiliano's tops a long list of overrated restaurants in Gainesville, but if I have several more visits as good as my last I'll have no choice but to change my mind.
(3)Devin H.
The food is subpar for the amount of $$ you'll be laying down. I've had bad service here, but the final time I went I had the worst service in any restaurant in Gainesville. The server was in attentive and flirting with older guys at a table next to us. So it was blatant she wasn't busy, it was also obvious she didn't know the wines. The manager came out a couple times to check on us as if he could tell we were being ignored by our waitress. At the end of the night I asked for a box and after too long of a while the waitress came back and asked if I wanted her to box it up or did I want to do it myself, I said you can decide and it was this weird, awkward dance until I finally did. It was a super awkward experience. The service is Not worth it for the food.
(1)Stan R.
Delicious food at a great price. They just need to fix the urinal in the men's room
(4)