The owners of Leo's 706 are great people. The employees are the same throughout the years *minus a few dish rats* So the owners must be doing something right. I absolutely look up to Steve and his wife, Sandy. Please eat at this restaurant, I'd be sad if I saw it go under.
(5)
Jane B.
Leo's 706 is my favorite place to eat in Gainesville. It's eclectic and has something for everyone. My favorites are their pizzas as well as their garlic rolls (with what seems like half a stick of butter on them...mmm). They also have amazing seafood and salads.
(5)
Belen C.
I went there for the Sunday Brunch and I had the organic blueberry pancakes which were delicious. My boyfriend had the salmon benedict with an Irish cream coffee. The pancakes were fluffy and filling. A stack with about 4 huge pancakes. The salmon benedict was also delicious. Unless you're an alcoholic, I wouldn't recommend the Irish coffee. It had about only 2% coffee.
(4)
Jessica S.
I came here while on business in Gainesville. The food was quite good, the service was... mostly absent. I had the seafood pasta that was delightful. We also tried the Cesar salad and a raspberry tart thing for dessert. Both excellent. However, our server was no where to be seen during the majority of the dinner. I would give this place more stars if that she had been more attentive, or at least even checked in with us.
(3)
Reba B.
A Gainesville tradition for many decades now. The Sunday brunch is particularly awesome - really unique hot and cold options, much more creative than the usual brunch fare (though that is on offer too). Dinner is standard but good quality Italian food and pizza. I am very glad that they seem to have imposed a somewhat more professional/stricter dress code on their servers in the last few years - for awhile when we went to eat there we would too frequently be treated to the sight of the server's belly button or tongue piercings. I have no problem with people piercing whatever they want but I don't want to have to see that in my face when I am going out for a nice dinner!
(4)
Darcy F.
About three months ago my family and I had a pretty bad dining experience here, but I am happy to announce that this evening's experience was much better. I am updating my previous review and thankfully, adding more stars. Once again, my husband and I were dining with our daughter and dog. We were quickly greeted by our server, Jordan. He was great! He brought our drinks out quickly, brought a cup with a lid on it for our 4 year old and brought a bowl of water for the dog. Our rolls came out in a timely manner and were piping hot (and delicious). Our entrees were really good. I went for the tofu stir fry and my husband had the tenderloin stir fry, which was one of the specials. Both were great. The tenderloin was cooked perfectly at medium rare and my tofu stir fry was very flavorful. Our daughter had the kids cheese pizza and of course she loved it, what kid wouldn't love a pizza?! They have options for kids, they just aren't listed on the main menu. Tonight was a great dining experience. It was what we once remembered a 706 experience to be. Here's to hoping our next visit will be just as great!
(4)
Ping N.
The brunch buffet was delicious. A good selection of dishes. However, the setup of the buffet really needs to be revamped. The buffet line was set up at the back of the room with only one possible pass through, causing a very crowded situation. It's unpleasant for the diners waiting for food and I can only imagine what it's like for people with tables right next to the buffet. I'm sure it's not a very relaxing or pleasant situation.
(3)
Katy S.
This review is solely for the brunch, as I haven't had a dinner at 706 in over 10 years. Anyway..... This place is fab-u-lous. 706 has been around for a long time and I remember enjoying the brunch when I was a college student. I must say, I enjoy it even more as an adult! It has super cute decor in here, which makes for a nice dining experience. Our waitress was very prompt and brought us a big carafe of mimosas upon order. I went for the brunch buffet and was very impressed with the spread. Everything from french toast to smoked salmon, to curried vegetables, to mac n cheese, the blueberry cobbler. They had a great spread and everything I tasted was great. I also wanted to give special kudos to the chef. He truly has a passion for his work and every time he would bring out a plate of food for the buffet, he would joyously announce what he was bringing out. He also walked around and dropped off potato pancakes for everyone in the restaurant. It is great to see someone so happy to be doing what they love. All in all, 706 is awesome. For $18.95 all you can eat, the breakfast buffet cannot be beat. Please, do yourself a favor and check it out!
For me, this is a sentimental favorite. I used to come here ~30 years ago for their weekly specials when I was looking for a deal. If I recall correctly, we could get a calzone with every single possible filling for $2.99, and then order a pitcher of beer for a few bucks and get six free garlic rolls. It was a very effective way to eat for a week in one sitting and get a slight buzz at the same time! Over the years, this local favorite transformed in to one of the top restaurants in Gainesville. They have a full bar, plenty of seating in multiple tastefully decorated rooms, and a broad menu of modern italian-influenced cuisine. Our favorite is the unique item that has survived on the menu for multiple decades. We just had it again a few days ago and it remains as delicious as ever. It's the Salmon Lover Pizza with salmon, caviar, capers, red onions, cream cheese, and fresh dill. Different is good and in this particular case, different is delicious! Try it! You might like it! To the owners, if you ever consider taking this item off the menu, please send us a message so I can order it one last delicious time!
(4)
Caroline J.
I've been here twice, once for dinner and once for brunch. For this reason, I'll rate my cumulative experience at this venue. This place is the upscale version of a UF staple, Leonardo's Pizza. My food has been nothing but delicious- I recommend any of the pastas for dinner, and the raspberry-drenched French toast for brunch. Alternatively they offer a substantial brunch buffet that also looks promising and fresh. The feel of the restaurant is refreshing, comfortable, and eclectic. Prepare to be tempted by the dessert case as you head toward your seat. One dining room has dark red walls, gothic mirrors juxtaposed with fresh colorful paintings reminiscent of the 1920s flapper scene. My only negative is that sometimes when they are busy, it will take awhile for the waiter/waitress to address any needs. With that said, the food I've enjoyed was definitely worth a small wait. Besides the aforementioned, the waitstaff is consistently polite and friendly. Do stop by Leonardo's 706 for a calm and relaxing meal out. It's a nice respite from the usual chain restaurant fare.
(4)
Scott D.
Great garlic rolls. Waitress was friendly & service was awesome (continuous water refills). Big Leo pizza & Botticelli were super! A little pricey but well worth it!
(4)
Matthew H.
Only got the Peanut Butter Pie but it was awesome. Def recommend it. Def would share would with a person or two. Would be difficult to eat it all by yourself but it tastes so good i can see people giving it a shot.
(5)
Sue N.
Garlic rolls with fresh tomato sauce to dip in, every vegetable in the garden salad, crab cakes full of crab , not fillers and seafood stuffed bouillabaisse with dip worth broth.. That's what makes this place worth repeating!
(5)
Cary W.
Are there last night with my lady. I ordered the Agave with chicken and added spinach. It's one of the best meals I've had in Gainesville in a while. Also the garlic bread was served with whipped Herb garlic butter and was outstanding.
(5)
K C.
So, we came here on a recommendation from friends. Have to say that the garlic rolls were my favorite part of this meal, cuz I can't wait to go back and get more! We had the Blackened Grouper and Grouper Madagascar. Both were excellent, and we had enough to take home. We thought the Caesar salad was tasty, but too heavily covered in dressing (we asked for no anchovies, which was happily accommodated). The Lemon Tartini that we spied in the dessert case on the way in (wasn't on the menu) tasted like a mix between key lime and lemon meringue --- very yummy!! Going back this weekend for pizza --- and those freakin garlic rolls that have been in my dreams all week .... :-( *Minus one star for slower service than we would have liked, but there was a large group near us, so .....
(4)
Neil B.
Recently back in Gainesville, wanted to celebrate having a newborn with my wife. \ Because we have a newborn, we couldn't eat at the restaurant, but no one eats at 706 for the plain-jane ambience anyway except for sophomores in college on a third date. You eat there because you believe the menu is interesting, the chef cares and you trust that the food will be fresh and worth it. Our belief was damaged on this occasion. Maybe it was neglected because it was a delivery order, although if that's the case, why offer that as an option? More likely, the line cooks just didn't pay attention. That's inexcusable. Her food was fair to good-- tofu stir fry, presented a bit sloppily and it lacked salt but a reasonably good dish. My dish- the chicken gorgonzola pasta- is a sentimental favorite but I asked for no pecans. This is because the pecans infuse the whole of the dish with pecan and there's no need for that-- the gorgonzola ought to provide the flavor. Furthermore, I have a mild pecan allergy, so failing to follow a simple instruction generates an inedible dish at a cost of 20 dollars. As a New Yorker, I'm accustomed to spending 20 dollars on things you shouldn't spend 20 dollars on-- but I didn't think a quality dinner at a reasonable price was one of them. We won't order delivery from 706 again. And we probably won't be back for a long time. Two stars in the hope this was a bad night not reflective of the positive experiences we used to have at this place. Otherwise, y'all know what the rating would be. Gainesville has outstanding eating options. Go to another, where they still care about making the customer happy and paying attention.
(2)
Daniel B.
A bit over-priced for the quality of food, but overall left satisfied. Had a nice salad, can't remember what type though. The garlic rolls are a must.
(4)
Howard C.
Sunday brunch - excellent buffet. Lots of imaginative, well prepared selection for such a small buffet area. A very nice selection of vegetarian dishes, as well. Highly recommended. Appreciated the staff person (was this Leo?) passing trays by the table as they came out of the kitchen before landing on the buffet table. Every item had was great - even the complimentary ginger spiked OJ cocktail.
(4)
Peter F.
Service is friendly, pizza is very good, but Crab Bisque is watery.
(3)
Sonia T.
Such a capricious place! I've been here with friends for the Monday jazz several times and for the bluegrass a few others. We liked the atmosphere, the music was great, and the food not too bad. The pizza is pretty good, though the crust seems more fried than baked. Perhaps they use too much oil when baking it?... The pasta we've tried left to be desired, especially since it was kinda pricey. I guess 706 does a good job of describing the food on the menu, 'cause we sure got tricked by the pasta. Anyway, here's my beef with them. I've had their desserts. I particularly like the chocolate cake; it's not too sweet, has good flavor, and there's no fake Publix pastry-like taste to it. I should mention that they offer a huge slice, which I have bought before many times. Well, last time I was there with my friend we ordered the cake. This measly piece of cake arrived, let's say 1/3rd of the normal size. I asked the server what was up with that and he said it depends on who cuts the cake. !!!!! What??? This slice costs $6! I'm bitching away with my friend thinking we just got jipped. Let's see how much they charge for it, maybe they decided to serve a smaller slice and lowered the price? Nope, the price was the same as before. This is BS, let's say something about it on the way out. So, the pretty hostess, who cut the cake for us says that there's no standard slicing, it depends on who's cutting the cake. What??? Your portion was way bigger all these other times and now it is barely there. She looks at us with this strange expression of: "What else do you want? I told you what the deal is!" No "I'm sorry. Would you like to talk to a manager, or could I make this up to you? I'll discount your cake by half?" Discounting the cake by half would have been appropriate in this case, thank you very much. But, none of that happened. It must be hard to divide a cake into equal slices and keep that consistent, I know. Anyway, pretty lame experience in my opinion. Same issue addressed twice and nothing was done about it. Redonkulous! Yeah, you can keep your cake!
(1)
RC A.
706 used to be a great local restaurant but that couldn't be further from the truth these days. In the past year or so this place has plummeted in both the quality of the food and the service- not to mention it seems grossly overpriced. Their dishes used to have real flavor and quality ingredients but on my last trip I encountered neither. My friend ordered the Chicken Gorgonzola and the chicken was chewy and under-seasoned, and the usually rich Gorgonzola cream sauce was bland and soupy. I ordered the Chicken Botticelli and had a similar experience - bland. I used to really enjoy the food here but I doubt that I will be returning any time soon.
(1)
Jessie Y.
The food was great. I had the king salmon, garlic rolls, and raspberry cheesecake. All fantastic, however, the service was terrible. The waiter seemed offended that we asked for drink specials and our food took a very long time on a Monday night! We asked for something special for our friend because it was her bday and he again seemed totally put off. Again the food was great but the service soured my experience.
(2)
Kristin H.
In theory, the brunch buffet should be awesome. A big variety of tasty-sounding dishes. In reality, it was the most picked over buffet I've ever seen. We got there around noon on a Sunday. The place (and the buffet) was still open for hours, but half the dishes at the buffet were empty except for the crusty remnants of the food they once held. The staff didn't even bother to remove the plates to keep things looking nice--they just stayed there, with their little tags showing you all the tasty things you would LIKE to be eating. No mac and cheese, no blintzes, no french toast, no pulled pork, no asparagus, no lots of other stuff. I've never seen anything like it. And they don't warn you about this BEFORE you order! Maybe ordering off the menu would be OK. But the buffet was depressing.
(2)
Carly A.
Wow. I first had the hummus, shiitake mushrooms, and veggie lover salad to start off. It was all very tasty and fresh! Then I had the black bean soup which was also So good. For my entree they allowed me to create my own pasta( I am vegan) which I had tomatoes, basil, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and roasted garlic on angel hair pasta. It was so good I had to order another! The atmosphere is quaint and the service was outstanding. Our server Josh is the best server in Gainesville in my opinion. That may seem a little extreme, but I assure you to ask for him and see. What a wonderful experience eating at Leonardo's!
(5)
Bill G.
We had brunch here, it was fantastic! I had the Cajun omelette, very tasty. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Bruce F.
Excellent dinner in Gainsville university neighborhood. Dinning outdoors is a treat too.
(4)
Hannah B.
706 is a Gainesville staple and definitely worth the visit. Go for brunch, you won't regret it, it's amazing.
(4)
Mike W.
Having recently returned for dinner with friends, I found myself overall more impressed with Leonardo's than I was back a couple years ago when I gave them a three-star rating. The menu looked more impressive--especially the non-pasta dishes--but I'm not certain if they've updated it recently or not. The atmosphere is the same as always and fairly welcoming and the service was fine, if not especially personal. The waiter seemed a little rushed and another waiter I spoke to in passing seemed nearly rude, but at least they were prompt and getting things done. As to the food, the lamb I ordered was very good if a somewhat small portion and the raspberry-white chocolate tart, which is a long-time favorite dessert of mine, was as exceptional as always. I still feel Leonardo's isn't quite all it could be, but I'm starting to feel it's a very good alternative to The Top, which is often overly crowded and can be hit or miss on the non-burger dishes, though their drinks and desserts are also always spot-on. Leonardo's (and their Bistro location too, alas) have long (also like The Top) been known for sometimes lackluster service but in general I couldn't really complain there. It's certainly a worthwhile option for a nice dinner and I'll have to try their brunch, too, which is what everyone seems to really rave about.
(4)
C. R.
Two words-sunday brunch. It's never failed us (we go early). So many delicious vegetarian options. My favorites are the fennel salad, the cucumber salad, mac and cheese, hummus and flatbread, tofu stirfry, I could go on and on. Not to mention the delicious brunch punch, muffins, and hot latkes-all complimentary. We've been many times for dinner over the years too. In fact we had our rehersal dinner there many years ago. That too has never been a disappointment. They know how to cook tofu! Really well. I never venture far from the tofu agave which is heaven in a dish. The cocktails and pizza are great too, as are the salads. A lot of people mention poor service, but we've never encountered it. The service has always been great.
(4)
David P.
I had the asparagus and artichoke California pizza and it was excellent. The crust tastes fresh, crispy, and is just the right thickness. The pizza was light, but satisfying and a unique taste experience. Combined with a local draft beer, coffee, and dessert, this was an inexpensive, fresh, and delicious meal!
(5)
Phillip F.
Tonight was the third or fourth time I've eaten at Leonardos 706. Each time I visit it seems to get better. Service was top shelf and the food was terrific. The portions were generous and the overall flavor and seasoning was spot on. They were very busy and had to wait about 30 min past our reservation, but not bad for a Saturday night at 7pm when school is in session. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good meal without pretension.
(4)
Adam L.
Pretty good Italian restaurant. The ambiance is nice and their jazz night is cool. The service was just okay when I went and for the price you pay the food isnt up to par. Don't get me wrong I did enjoy it.
(3)
Brad K.
Took the family here for dinner on 9/2/2011 Before I start, take a look at the photo I uploaded, note the pizza shot where the bottom of the pizza is white with flour. Yech, it was like eating dough. While the pizza was cooked, and had great toppings and flavor, it was totally ruined by the kitchen and cook not doing quality control. Every time you took a bite you got the good toppings taste first, than a mouth full of white flour from the bottom turning to uncooked dough in your mouth. I understand why they powdered the bottom with flour so it doesn't stick to cook surface. But they should know better, thus down from 5 to 3 for us. Service was not great. Our waitress was serving both inside and outside tables, obviously to many tables on a busy Friday night. She wasn't attentive at all. I had to ask the buss boy for water, and the front door host had to cash us out. Can't say we'll be back anytime soon. They still offer some of the better fare in Gainesville. But demoted 2 stars for now. See my photos, you'll see what I mean.
(3)
Casey F.
I was really excited to eat here, but it was honestly the worst service I have ever had. After sitting for 33 minutes and no one coming to our table we had to leave. Very disappointed.
(1)
Alexander D.
Leonardo's 706 falls into the Good-for-Gainesville category. It claims it's italian, though a better description would be "Itali-Southern-esque". While the menu features pizza and pasta, the food seems to exist in some alternate universe where drowning rolls in garlic butter or spaghetti with cream sauce seems all too common. We ordered two entrees, the scallops and the lambchops. Both were prepared very well. Not memorable, though as the Yelp 3-star suggests, "A-OK". The ambience is very casual and good for a group, though definitely not a date. The dessert list was embarrassing so we decided to pack up and head elsewhere. If you go to an Italian restaurant looking for apple pie, this might be your place; however, I was hoping for something more traditional.
(3)
Vi H.
Must try's: Mussels, Caesar salad, Salmon pasta, Thai chicken pizza and the garlic knots! Under the same ownership as Leonardo's, these you must not pass up. I think I could go just for the rolls alone. Live music was in the company of our dinner and our waitress was attentive. Definitely a come back spot with my family and friends.
(4)
Chase P.
I love this restaurant!! I'm a vegan and this place has great options for me. It is one of my favorite spots to have a nice dinner at. The food and ambience are great.
(5)
Ken D.
706 has been here for so long I'm surprised it is so far down the rating scale. We dine out frequently and this is the only restaurant in Gainesville that has delivered good food every time, never a slip. I'd put them in my top 10 list. They also have a more reasonable wine mark up than other restaurants. Seems the trend is going to 3+ times retail on wine and I can only describe that as gouging. I do wish they would serve bread rather than the rolls they have, the sauces deserve to be eaten. Maybe a BYOB item, Bring Your Own Bread?
(4)
Monika K.
Brunch at 706 in Gville after a LSU win prior to heading back to reality down south... group wasn't impressed with the only limited to brunch menu, brunch punch was tasty , mini muffins-peach and vegan chocolate were also a nice touch, salmon eggs benedict for the entree, pretty salty and wasn't too impressed. I didnt find much that tickled my fancy. the buffet seemed interesting but not impressive for its price around $20, . service seemed slow and we got stuck in the dark back room. maybe I'm spoiled and used to eclectic deliciousness that can be found at a sofla brunch
(3)
Melissa S.
Great local spot skip the chain places and go local. This place had been in Gainesville for 20 plus years and we are never disappointed. Great service with the right price. Had the boulibase and it was excellent. Everything was fresh and cooked well.
(4)
Paula M.
I'm a little flummoxed by Leonardo's categorization of itself as an Italian restaurant, but I think it's a solid dining experience. Prices are reasonable and service is attentive. The 706 rolls are a dream for lovers of bread, butter, and garlic. I had a fish special of some sort that came with coconut jasmine rice and was satisfied but not blown away. Similar reaction from my dining companion, who had the teriyaki scallops. I wouldn't take anyone here if I was looking to impress, but I have no real complaints about it.
(3)
Jim B.
This review is for Sunday Brunch: ZOMG Nom nom nom. So, me and the lovely redhead were hungry, and having rolled outta bed too late to make it to the Top for brunch (Seriously? its over at two? Hipsters don't eat that early, dude! WTF?) we headed to Leo's 706 for a lovely repast. Glad we did actually. Getting there just after 2, the buffet was not a great option (it was winding down for sure) BUT the manager (?) Steve indicated that if we wanted to order off the menu, we could still sample off the buffet. That was a very nice gesture, and made me very happy. I made a small plate of the salmon with dill, the lox with capers and onions, and a scoop of the mac & cheese for nibbles whilst we awaited our entrees. They also delivered a couple of fresh latkes to the table while we were waiting. A fresh fruit punch and muffins are included when you order. I opted for the crab benedict, she went with the challah french toast... (I uploaded pix) DAMN that was amazing good stuff. Fresh crabmeat (NOT Krab), perfectly poached eggs, nom-delicious hollandaise and these wonderful potatoes on the side. Her french toast was smashing good. We sat outside and enjoyed the spectacular Florida February weather. She also had an Irish coffee which she said was tasty. They offer unlimited bellinis, but we were still recovering from Saturday night and skipped that option this time. Do yourself a favor and check this out.
(4)
Terri D.
Mediocre food with curt, unfriendly service for expensive prices. My family and I recommend that you check out one of the many other fine dining establishments in Gainesville instead.
(2)
Nelli P.
I have been to Leo's 706 only once. Neither 706 or Bistro are very vegan friendly but I accompanied some friends there for lunch. Our server was exactly what a server should be: friendly and attentive. Nothing about my meal was memorable. Seriously. I can't even remember what I had. What I do remember, however, was they had vegan chocolate cake that day. This struck me as odd since the menu didn't have very many vegan options yet they had vegan dessert! I'm all about that. The cake was very, very good. It was, "Are you sure this is vegan? Are you suuuuuuuuuure???" good. I ordered it with the intention of sharing as I didn't want to be a glutton - but glutton it was once I had the first bite. It was moist and rich with a great texture and delicious fudge frosting. If they have it during your visit, give it a try, it's not awesome by vegan standards, it's awesome by any standard. Dear Leo's 706, if you ever set up some sort of system that will notify people whenever you have that cake available, please sign me up! - Nelli ...now that I think about it, it's very possible I ordered cake for my meal...
(3)
Charles S.
Leonardo's has been around for a while. They consistently deliver quality food as well as quality service. Wine list has something to offer to everyone and usually there is decent live music. The atmosphere is casual but not too casual. A great place to take family visiting in town for a fun night out, or a date if you want a little more intimate environment. Menu caters to all types of diets and food is always cooked well and served hot. Definitely worth a try.
(4)
Shannon B.
Sunday brunch: A definite must! They serve complimentary muffins and brunch punch- a refreshing combo of several different fruit juices, ginger, and several other ingredients. The complimentary muffins (delish) were: chocolate cheesecake, apple cinnamon, vegan chocolate, and pineapple cheesecake. I ordered off the menu and my boyfriend did the buffet for $16. The french toast, $9.95 was AWESOME. The raspberry sauce on top of the french toast was divine, topped with banana slices and toasted pecans. The bread was thick-sliced and toasted to perfection. The buffet had a wonderful selection (that I happily sampled off of my bf's plate), consisting of everything from salmon and Moroccan chicken, to eggs, ham, and pastas. If you're hungry enough the buffet is a great option. I was completely stuffed after my french toast, so I chose well for me :) Dinner: The bf and I have also been here for dinner, and it was also very good. My grilled fish was yummy, and the bf's grilled chicken salad was also great.
(4)
Joe L.
One of my favorite restaurants in Gainesville. They have the best caesar salad in town, the rolls are amazing, and I normally order the filet and have never had it taste anything but outstanding. We have some family that visits on occasion and this is where they always want to go, especially to enjoy the sea bass special. I don't have any problem rating this 5 stars. You can accomodate many different budgets here as well.
(5)
Lydia L.
Sunday brunch here is a must-try! Great service, great food. I experienced brunch here, and it was the closest any Gainesville restaurant has come to a great New York spot. In fact, it beat a few NYC brunch spots on my list. It started with great service, a friendly server bringing us the house "special juice" which was light and exquisite (and absolutely perfect after a night of drinking), fresh, hot coffee and an assortment of mini-muffins. What a great start, and we didn't ask for any of it! I loved the place after the first five minutes. They offer an incredibly impressive Sunday brunch buffett, which puts the concept of American buffets to shame. It leans toward the "unch" side of brunch, and I was feeling more on the "br" side, so I opted for one of the tantalizing selections on the breakfast menu--a pesto and salmon omelette. Excellent! The muffins, juice, and fresh coffee never stopped coming unless we said "no more", and the chef came around twice to offer us tastings from his kitchen (one was potato pancakes that were perfectly crispy, flavorful, not greasy, and tasted homemade yet professional!) I will absolutely be back to this place for brunch, and in time, for other meals. So far, no brunch spot in Gainesville has come close to comparing to my experience here. The only reason I held out on giving this place five stars is because the interior is a bit dark and could benefit from a remodeling. I've heard the dinners here are great, so maybe I'll be back soon to give it's fifth star.
(4)
Logan f.
Its okay. Its kinda overpriced. Satchels is kicking their butts. Their desserts are decent.
(3)
Belle C.
This has got to be the most overrated restaurant in Gainesville. I just don't get it. It's essentially a pizza joint with a few more ambitious-sounding things on the menu that are supposed to class it up, I guess. It just doesn't work. There's no reason to go here.
(1)
Jorge U.
If it looks like a pizza joint & tastes like a pizza joint it probably is a pizza joint. Not much else to say except that the service sucks.
(1)
Alex H.
When I was in school this place was on the short list of places to either impress a date or bring your parents, and given its proximity to campus is frequented by a fair number of students (even despite what I then considered astronomical prices). So I wondered what I'd think now that I've moved on from Gainesville and am the grown up and sophisticated Yelper that I am today. In short I was pleasantly surprised. The caesar salad was delicious. Anytime effort is placed into making what you'll see on virtually every other restaurant menu in America good is a good sign in my book. Mussels were also one of the best examples I've ever had. Seriously, order them. Garlic knots...these go without saying. Can't say the filet was of the knocked-out-of-the-park variety, but still cooked perfectly and served with some yummy mashed potatoes & grilled asparagus. Oh, and just in case you want to relive those penny-pinching college years, they'll let you bring in wine for a small corkage fee. Leonardo's wasn't without its flaws: the place was packed for graduation weekend and they had some pretty awful fold-up chairs in use, and the spacing between courses was not well executed. These issues notwithstanding, the service was excellent and is about the only time I can recall the team-server concept actually working out. Kudo's Leonardo's. You're still on my Gainesville short list.
We hadn't been to Leonardo's 706 for a while, certainly not since they'd done a partial renovation and created the Jazz Room. Initially we were seated in the non-renovated section at arguably the worst table in the house, but a quick request to change tables was happily granted and as soon as a table became available we moved to the far more vibrant and fashionable Jazz Room. Our meal that evening was reminiscent of previous 706 meals: a mixed bag. We started with a couple of salads, which are always terrific (and quite large). The Caesar was crisp with a nice peppery bite and the Organic Salad was a zesty mix of fresh greens, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds and a generous amount of creamy goat cheese. For entrees we chose an order of Mussels, which are listed under appetizers but are substantial enough to be a main course, and the Blackened Grouper served with pasta and fresh asparagus. The mussels themselves were plump and juicy but the dish was diminished by a white wine cream sauce that was thin and under-seasoned. The rolls served with the mussels were visibly overdone. The Blackened Grouper was a moist piece of fish accompanied by perfectly grilled asparagus but again the dish suffered from under-seasoning. In this case, both the red pepper cream sauce served with the fish and the angel hair pasta on the side were under-salted and generally bland. Ultimately this dish wasn't worth the $20.95 price tag. Yet the most significant lapse of the night was the timing. We barely had time to enjoy our superb salads when the entrees arrived. We didn't appreciate the rush and our small table for two really couldn't handle more plates. While we enjoyed the music and certain elements of our meal, overall too many things were "off" for a truly enjoyable evening. Caesar (small) $5.95 Organic salad (small) $5.95 Mussels $8.95
(3)
Steve P.
I've never had a bad meal or bad experience here. Incredible Sunday brunch and the owners proudly parade the fresh dishes out as they restock the buffet. The "miffins" and brunch punch are included and just add to the value. We take a lot of out of town guests here and wow them every time.
(5)
Michael W.
I had brunch this past Sunday. It was my first time. Overall, I had a great experience Service was awesome Waiter food knowledge was good. The buffet had a variety of vegetarian dishes and smoked and baked salmon. iN addition i ordere the french toast. Let me tell you,.... that was one of the best french toast I have ever had! no syrup needed or artificial sugar.. they added banana and chestnut, blueberry homemade sauce.. the texture of the food and balance of flavor was spectacular.. Not too sweet, or too soggy or sour. Baked Salmon from the buffet- cooked perfectly! not dry along with nice butterly lemon sauce. Smoked salmon just perfect - not too strong of a smoke taste nor salty. I will definitely go back to try other dishes.... their mac and cheese looks tempting but I was too full. Anyhow, overall the buffet price was worth their quality of their food along with their cooking skills.
(4)
Jennifer L.
As a college kid you rarely spend more than $10 on a meal. But on those special occasions when Mom and Dad were visiting or when a boyfriend planned a special meal, Leonardos 706 was always the best place to go. Its not a fancy restaurant. Its funky and unique. Very comfortable and casual, actually. Now that we're long past college-aged, my husband (the old boyfriend) and I always stop at 706 when we're in town. Aside from seeing the Gators win, it's the highlight of our trip. The salads are amazing. Fresh, organic ingredients. Gorgonzola dill dressing is the best. I've had lots of entrees here, but my hands-down favorite is the Mona Lisa. Crusted chicken breast stuffed with decadent cheese plus pasta and grilled asparagus. The best entree on the menu! Sometimes they run out, so order it early. Last weekend we had a bottle of wine, two salads and two entrees for about $75 (tip included). Can't ask for a better date night in Gainesville than that!
(5)
Margarita C.
A negative review on here means you've never been to brunch. Dinner here is just good but made better by the live music. It's not over the top blow your socks off best thing I've ever eaten BUT that's what you get for ordering pizza. Spend a few bucks more and you'll get a decent pasta dish. Their desserts are excellent and I can't get enough of their rolls in my mouth (yes, the same doughy, yeasty deliciousness served at their two sister restaurants). So good. While dinner is good, Sunday brunch is phenomenal. Like I can't breathe I'm so full of yummy food phenomenal. Most of the breakfast items are around $10 and it's $6 to add the buffet which is normally $16. I always add it on and take the entree home for the same price. My meals here are always the same. I eat half of my organic blueberry pancakes served with raspberry sauce and whipped cream (one of the best things I've ever eaten), tell myself I need to save room and proceed to the buffet. The moroccan chicken and macaroni and cheese are honest to God one step closer to heaven.At some point I'm given brunch punch (not a fan of ginger but a bonus) and amazing little miffins (mini muffins). If I'm lucky, one of the owners comes around with latkes and sometimes take-home bread. The only thing I can fault Leo's on is service. I've never come here in a hurry. Sunday brunch is always a little too relaxed. While the owners are quick to respond to requests, your actual server may or may not go missing. I've been here a dozen times and have only once gotten anything that resembled decent service. I've since moved from Gainesville but a Sunday trip back to the Gator Nation is in order if only for a single bite of their glorious mac and cheese.
(5)
Brandon D.
For some reason, I rarely think of going to 706 but it is one of Gainesville's best restaurants. Somewhat expensive but priced well for what you're getting. The garlic rolls are the best I've ever had. The food is all really good. They have jazz nights, which are cool but can be crowded.
(5)
Paul D.
The best place for dinner in Gainesville. I've only been twice, but both times were outstanding with excellent food (reported by all diners in our party), and fantastic service. The do a nice mint julep too.
(5)
Catherine C.
I came here for Sunday brunch on the first day of my visit to Gainesville. I was starving, so a buffet sounded like a good idea. It's not your average buffet-- they have some very original dishes coming out, and constantly are replenishing with new choices throughout brunchtime. I think it was one of the owners that would come out from time to time and serve people up with a fresh bite of something or other, which was a nice and friendly touch. We got to brunch a little bit late, so a lot of the things we had to choose from had been largely picked over, but new things eventually came out as we ate. Nothing was particularly memorable, and I basically slapped down a bunch of small bites of different things on my plate, but I remember thinking most of what I tried was pretty good. Kind of like picking over the salad bar at Whole Foods, but mostly warm stuff. I kind of got the impression that the cooks were decent home cooks who were having fun in the back throwing trial creations together along with some core basics and sending it out into the world. I enjoyed their house made brunch punch, although I kind of wish the servers would have come around to pour us another. I wasn't starstruck with the place, but it was okay, and I did leave feeling stuffed. I think if we had gotten there earlier in the day it wouldn't have felt so helter skelter, and I might have had a better idea of what the breakfast part of brunch was like. Not a whole lot of meat choices, so if you're feeling carnivorous, this is not the place for you for Sunday brunch. I think I must have shown up too late for bacon. :(
(3)
Chelsea B.
I'd love to try this place for brunch one morning. I had dinner here for the first time last night. The experience belongs to an ongoing (positive) trend I've been having with Gainesville dining lately. For a long, long time I thought Gainesville had little to offer in the way of fine dining, but lately I've been eating well, or getting lucky. I went with a small group. I ordered the Aruba with chicken (angel hair pasta, avocados, tomatoes, white wine sauce). The chicken was cooked to perfection, and I loved the white wine sauce. The portion was huge, but luckily my two guy friends were able to help me out. The other people in my party ordered fish (grouper and sea bass). I tried both, and even though I'm not a fish person, both were great. One of the fish dishes was topped with a delicious carmelized sauce. We also ordered a bottle of wine (a malbec from Argentina) which my roommate recommended. We also a raspberry tart and multi-layer chocolate cake for dessert. Both were good, although the raspberry tart out-shined the chocolate cake, but the entrees were definitely the best part of the dining experience.
(5)
Soren B.
I go here every week--love it.
(5)
Andrew H.
This is, quite handily, the most overrated restraint in Gainesville. Prices are high, pretentiousness abounds, and the wait staff is crustier than the pizza. If you like cheesy abstract art and overpriced pizza, this place is for you!
(1)
Michael L.
706 is a Gainesville institution, and you have to go and try it for yourself at least once if you are in town, and form your own opinion. It can be pricey but if you don't want to spend much you can get some great salads and pizzas for about $10. Also be sure to try it again for Sunday Brunch, which is full of unusual dishes, many vegetarian many not, and quite a bit different from the usual menu (more middle-eastern/pan-Mediterranean rather than Italian-focused) Honestly the best brunch I have ever tried, especially if you like trying new things (lots of traditional fare available too, they have the absolute best steak & eggs or pancakes you can find anywhere as well!)
(5)
Utteeyo D.
We were visiting Gainesville during New Year, and our friends took us here. We went for the Sunday brunch. I think this place easily puts itself at the top 1% of restaurants I have been to, here in the US. A delicious and unconventional spread of eclectic dishes. If you live in Gainesville and have not been here yet, you are really missing out on exquisite food. If you are visiting Gainesville, I strongly urge you to consider their Sunday brunch...you will not regret it. By the way, my wife and my friends are vegetarians, and they had plenty to choose from.
(5)
JEWELe M.
Went here for a work dinner. The dinner was surprisingly good since I wasn't sure how well the steak would be prepared and such (nothing compares to Smith & Wollensky!). I ordered the steak and potatoes entree. The steak melted in my mouth with the potatoes. I will give it a B. Also, I took a slice of the Chocolate Mousse to-go since I had no more room to grow after the main course. For Gainesville, Leonardo's 706 is decent for a steak dinner!
(3)
Tu-van L.
A quaint place to go on a date where you can enjoy each other's company and enjoy a tasty special meal. The decor and ambient (jazz? electro-ambient?) music adds to the relaxed mood. I've had better food but it's pretty good. Can't go wrong with what you order.
(3)
Aimee C.
Leonardo's 706 is where you'd go on your hot date with the cute boy from fraternity row.. :) i love you guys and your garlic knots.. you're sweet sweet sweet finger licking goodness... i miss you..
(4)
Mrs. H.
It's undoubtedly more elegant than it's other Leo's counterparts, but the food is nothing special and overpriced for what it is. If impressing your date means spending more money than you should for pizza and pasta, then yes this is your place.
(2)
Mark G.
One of my favs in Gville! One of the best things about this place is the great laid back atmosphere.Pasta Madagascar for $15.Hey now!! Finish it off with an triple shot of espresso and a lovely slice of tiramisu.
(4)
mary p.
I like the relaxed and artsy atitude of the place. My favorite items are the seafood, but love the organic salads too. My daughter loves the chicken gorganzola and the garlic rolls. The have music as well.on certain nights which adds a party atmosphere
Really good food, great wine list and the service was great! Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Brea G.
We just went to Leonardo's 706 for brunch and it was pretty darn good. The inside of the place is done in unfinished wood and it really has the feel of someplace that used to be either a pizza joint or a dive bar. It's pretty dark, which I'm guessing is because they know it would look like shit in the light. I had the 5 cheese omelet and it was super tasty. The potatoes that came with it were *really good - unfortunately the serving size was about 2" square. Good food but disappointing for the price. My omelet was $12 and the brunch buffet was $16 It always amazes me when restaurants skimp on something like potatoes. It would probably cost them 30 cents to double the serving size of the potatoes and everybody would be telling their friends about that great restaurant and the pile of great potatoes. I'll definitely go back for breakfast and I'd like to try them out for dinner as well.
(3)
Denise H.
Had not been here in years, but can not wait to go again. My friend is on a low sodium diet and went with a white pizza to avoid the sauce. I had the rosemary and walnut encrusted chicken breast over angel hair pasta with mushrooms and a cream sauce. It was amazing and will be my go to meal whenever I go there. Of course those yummy rolls with the fluffy garlic butter can not be beat!
(4)
Vincent W.
Really like this place, especially when they have the live music playing. It's nice place to sit back enjoy the music with a drink in your hand. Their food aren't bad either, a little pricey but not too bad. Got to taste their pizza, salad and the rack of lamb. The pizza was nice since it was nice and hot and they weren't really cheap on toppings. The lamb was ok but IMHO, i don't think it's worth the price. It's nice place to have dessert too. A good place to visit for music and good place to visit if you want to treat yourself to dinner that aren't chicken strips, some type of bowl, cheap pizza or fast food.
(4)
Nicholette M.
I hate how all three venues are on the same website but all are in different locations. Anyways, I showed up here expecting this to be the Leonardo's Pizza spot and I was disappointed. So instead of leaving, I ordered a beer during happy hour and left. Happy Hour is from 4-6 I believe and they have a nice little outside patio in the front. The weather was beautiful so that def relieved most of my pain and frustration.
(2)
Travis L.
This is one of Gainesvilles nicer places but doesnt advertise much at all. We went with a large group so i let some of the service get by like longer ticket times ajd i had to remind the server to get my drink that i ordered. Overall, it was a good expierence and i would certainly go back. I ordered stright cheese pizza which was pretty good. They try to class up the pizza a little too much with herbs but overall a solid pie. The place has a great atmosphere that doubles for a fun group dinner or romantic date night.
(4)
Ryan F.
Brunch: (Treat. Yo. Self. youtube.com/watch?v=jcwx… ) The Buffet: Great selection of chicken (moroccan), salmon, ham, pasta, various salads, pastries, french toast, fruit, etc. $16. I have quite an appetite so I think it's worth the price. complimentary mini muffins and ginger brunch punch When I go back I will order from the menu, as I wanted to sample the buffet on my first 706 brunch. The rest of the menu looked appetizing as well: crab eggs benedict, blueberry pancakes, french toast (challah bread) - of which smaller portions avail at the buffet. Dinner: A quality experience as well. I had a grilled chicken salad which was awesome. The gf's fish was a winner.
(4)
melissa r.
My boyfriend grew up in the area eating Leonardo's pizza, he wanted to show me the place on a recent visit to Gainesville. We weren't disappointed. He said the inside was just like he remembered and the pie was delicious, deep dish with lots of meat, green peppers, cheese and onions, the BIG LEO. And of course we had to start with the garlic knots. It was so good, we shared the leftovers for breakfast! The owner, since the 70s came by to chat, like everyone else, really nice.
(4)
Fiona M.
I have been here 5 times and only one of those times has been a slight miss. I can not believe I have lived in Gainesville for so long and only recently discovered this place. Great menu delicious food! One of the best pizzas I have had in my life (salmon lovers). The one miss I had involved the disappearance of our waitress. We almost filed a missing persons report. We were left looking at a glass of water wondering if dinner would ever be served. We finally received our dinner from another member of the wait staff. My dad ordered the filet with mashed potatoes. He is an Irish lad who is partial to warm potatoes. To his horror the potatoes were cold. This was inexcusable; the kitchen and wait staff were not in harmony. I think they were having an off night which made us have an off night. The experience was prolonged due to the late arrival of our food. I will go back because the good experiences definitely outweigh this small mishap.
(4)
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Address :706 W University Ave
Gainesville, FL, 32601
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
AB C.
The owners of Leo's 706 are great people. The employees are the same throughout the years *minus a few dish rats* So the owners must be doing something right. I absolutely look up to Steve and his wife, Sandy. Please eat at this restaurant, I'd be sad if I saw it go under.
(5)Jane B.
Leo's 706 is my favorite place to eat in Gainesville. It's eclectic and has something for everyone. My favorites are their pizzas as well as their garlic rolls (with what seems like half a stick of butter on them...mmm). They also have amazing seafood and salads.
(5)Belen C.
I went there for the Sunday Brunch and I had the organic blueberry pancakes which were delicious. My boyfriend had the salmon benedict with an Irish cream coffee. The pancakes were fluffy and filling. A stack with about 4 huge pancakes. The salmon benedict was also delicious. Unless you're an alcoholic, I wouldn't recommend the Irish coffee. It had about only 2% coffee.
(4)Jessica S.
I came here while on business in Gainesville. The food was quite good, the service was... mostly absent. I had the seafood pasta that was delightful. We also tried the Cesar salad and a raspberry tart thing for dessert. Both excellent. However, our server was no where to be seen during the majority of the dinner. I would give this place more stars if that she had been more attentive, or at least even checked in with us.
(3)Reba B.
A Gainesville tradition for many decades now. The Sunday brunch is particularly awesome - really unique hot and cold options, much more creative than the usual brunch fare (though that is on offer too). Dinner is standard but good quality Italian food and pizza. I am very glad that they seem to have imposed a somewhat more professional/stricter dress code on their servers in the last few years - for awhile when we went to eat there we would too frequently be treated to the sight of the server's belly button or tongue piercings. I have no problem with people piercing whatever they want but I don't want to have to see that in my face when I am going out for a nice dinner!
(4)Darcy F.
About three months ago my family and I had a pretty bad dining experience here, but I am happy to announce that this evening's experience was much better. I am updating my previous review and thankfully, adding more stars. Once again, my husband and I were dining with our daughter and dog. We were quickly greeted by our server, Jordan. He was great! He brought our drinks out quickly, brought a cup with a lid on it for our 4 year old and brought a bowl of water for the dog. Our rolls came out in a timely manner and were piping hot (and delicious). Our entrees were really good. I went for the tofu stir fry and my husband had the tenderloin stir fry, which was one of the specials. Both were great. The tenderloin was cooked perfectly at medium rare and my tofu stir fry was very flavorful. Our daughter had the kids cheese pizza and of course she loved it, what kid wouldn't love a pizza?! They have options for kids, they just aren't listed on the main menu. Tonight was a great dining experience. It was what we once remembered a 706 experience to be. Here's to hoping our next visit will be just as great!
(4)Ping N.
The brunch buffet was delicious. A good selection of dishes. However, the setup of the buffet really needs to be revamped. The buffet line was set up at the back of the room with only one possible pass through, causing a very crowded situation. It's unpleasant for the diners waiting for food and I can only imagine what it's like for people with tables right next to the buffet. I'm sure it's not a very relaxing or pleasant situation.
(3)Katy S.
This review is solely for the brunch, as I haven't had a dinner at 706 in over 10 years. Anyway..... This place is fab-u-lous. 706 has been around for a long time and I remember enjoying the brunch when I was a college student. I must say, I enjoy it even more as an adult! It has super cute decor in here, which makes for a nice dining experience. Our waitress was very prompt and brought us a big carafe of mimosas upon order. I went for the brunch buffet and was very impressed with the spread. Everything from french toast to smoked salmon, to curried vegetables, to mac n cheese, the blueberry cobbler. They had a great spread and everything I tasted was great. I also wanted to give special kudos to the chef. He truly has a passion for his work and every time he would bring out a plate of food for the buffet, he would joyously announce what he was bringing out. He also walked around and dropped off potato pancakes for everyone in the restaurant. It is great to see someone so happy to be doing what they love. All in all, 706 is awesome. For $18.95 all you can eat, the breakfast buffet cannot be beat. Please, do yourself a favor and check it out!
(5)Rashonna T.
I took my daughter to brunch for her 21st birthday along with 8 other of my favorite people for mimosas! 7/9 had the brunch buffet which in my opinion was amazing! Such a wide assortment of dishes from around the world of flavors! Beautiful breads, cobblers, multiple fruit dishes from figs to watermelon salad, veggies galore! Vegan options, tofu scramble and roasted beets or garlic, mushroom sauté... So much variety, all so tasty! The lunch was completed with a personalized slice of cake (7 layer chocolate!!) the service was very personable and timely:) I can wait to go back again.
(5)Dave W.
For me, this is a sentimental favorite. I used to come here ~30 years ago for their weekly specials when I was looking for a deal. If I recall correctly, we could get a calzone with every single possible filling for $2.99, and then order a pitcher of beer for a few bucks and get six free garlic rolls. It was a very effective way to eat for a week in one sitting and get a slight buzz at the same time! Over the years, this local favorite transformed in to one of the top restaurants in Gainesville. They have a full bar, plenty of seating in multiple tastefully decorated rooms, and a broad menu of modern italian-influenced cuisine. Our favorite is the unique item that has survived on the menu for multiple decades. We just had it again a few days ago and it remains as delicious as ever. It's the Salmon Lover Pizza with salmon, caviar, capers, red onions, cream cheese, and fresh dill. Different is good and in this particular case, different is delicious! Try it! You might like it! To the owners, if you ever consider taking this item off the menu, please send us a message so I can order it one last delicious time!
(4)Caroline J.
I've been here twice, once for dinner and once for brunch. For this reason, I'll rate my cumulative experience at this venue. This place is the upscale version of a UF staple, Leonardo's Pizza. My food has been nothing but delicious- I recommend any of the pastas for dinner, and the raspberry-drenched French toast for brunch. Alternatively they offer a substantial brunch buffet that also looks promising and fresh. The feel of the restaurant is refreshing, comfortable, and eclectic. Prepare to be tempted by the dessert case as you head toward your seat. One dining room has dark red walls, gothic mirrors juxtaposed with fresh colorful paintings reminiscent of the 1920s flapper scene. My only negative is that sometimes when they are busy, it will take awhile for the waiter/waitress to address any needs. With that said, the food I've enjoyed was definitely worth a small wait. Besides the aforementioned, the waitstaff is consistently polite and friendly. Do stop by Leonardo's 706 for a calm and relaxing meal out. It's a nice respite from the usual chain restaurant fare.
(4)Scott D.
Great garlic rolls. Waitress was friendly & service was awesome (continuous water refills). Big Leo pizza & Botticelli were super! A little pricey but well worth it!
(4)Matthew H.
Only got the Peanut Butter Pie but it was awesome. Def recommend it. Def would share would with a person or two. Would be difficult to eat it all by yourself but it tastes so good i can see people giving it a shot.
(5)Sue N.
Garlic rolls with fresh tomato sauce to dip in, every vegetable in the garden salad, crab cakes full of crab , not fillers and seafood stuffed bouillabaisse with dip worth broth.. That's what makes this place worth repeating!
(5)Cary W.
Are there last night with my lady. I ordered the Agave with chicken and added spinach. It's one of the best meals I've had in Gainesville in a while. Also the garlic bread was served with whipped Herb garlic butter and was outstanding.
(5)K C.
So, we came here on a recommendation from friends. Have to say that the garlic rolls were my favorite part of this meal, cuz I can't wait to go back and get more! We had the Blackened Grouper and Grouper Madagascar. Both were excellent, and we had enough to take home. We thought the Caesar salad was tasty, but too heavily covered in dressing (we asked for no anchovies, which was happily accommodated). The Lemon Tartini that we spied in the dessert case on the way in (wasn't on the menu) tasted like a mix between key lime and lemon meringue --- very yummy!! Going back this weekend for pizza --- and those freakin garlic rolls that have been in my dreams all week .... :-( *Minus one star for slower service than we would have liked, but there was a large group near us, so .....
(4)Neil B.
Recently back in Gainesville, wanted to celebrate having a newborn with my wife. \ Because we have a newborn, we couldn't eat at the restaurant, but no one eats at 706 for the plain-jane ambience anyway except for sophomores in college on a third date. You eat there because you believe the menu is interesting, the chef cares and you trust that the food will be fresh and worth it. Our belief was damaged on this occasion. Maybe it was neglected because it was a delivery order, although if that's the case, why offer that as an option? More likely, the line cooks just didn't pay attention. That's inexcusable. Her food was fair to good-- tofu stir fry, presented a bit sloppily and it lacked salt but a reasonably good dish. My dish- the chicken gorgonzola pasta- is a sentimental favorite but I asked for no pecans. This is because the pecans infuse the whole of the dish with pecan and there's no need for that-- the gorgonzola ought to provide the flavor. Furthermore, I have a mild pecan allergy, so failing to follow a simple instruction generates an inedible dish at a cost of 20 dollars. As a New Yorker, I'm accustomed to spending 20 dollars on things you shouldn't spend 20 dollars on-- but I didn't think a quality dinner at a reasonable price was one of them. We won't order delivery from 706 again. And we probably won't be back for a long time. Two stars in the hope this was a bad night not reflective of the positive experiences we used to have at this place. Otherwise, y'all know what the rating would be. Gainesville has outstanding eating options. Go to another, where they still care about making the customer happy and paying attention.
(2)Daniel B.
A bit over-priced for the quality of food, but overall left satisfied. Had a nice salad, can't remember what type though. The garlic rolls are a must.
(4)Howard C.
Sunday brunch - excellent buffet. Lots of imaginative, well prepared selection for such a small buffet area. A very nice selection of vegetarian dishes, as well. Highly recommended. Appreciated the staff person (was this Leo?) passing trays by the table as they came out of the kitchen before landing on the buffet table. Every item had was great - even the complimentary ginger spiked OJ cocktail.
(4)Peter F.
Service is friendly, pizza is very good, but Crab Bisque is watery.
(3)Sonia T.
Such a capricious place! I've been here with friends for the Monday jazz several times and for the bluegrass a few others. We liked the atmosphere, the music was great, and the food not too bad. The pizza is pretty good, though the crust seems more fried than baked. Perhaps they use too much oil when baking it?... The pasta we've tried left to be desired, especially since it was kinda pricey. I guess 706 does a good job of describing the food on the menu, 'cause we sure got tricked by the pasta. Anyway, here's my beef with them. I've had their desserts. I particularly like the chocolate cake; it's not too sweet, has good flavor, and there's no fake Publix pastry-like taste to it. I should mention that they offer a huge slice, which I have bought before many times. Well, last time I was there with my friend we ordered the cake. This measly piece of cake arrived, let's say 1/3rd of the normal size. I asked the server what was up with that and he said it depends on who cuts the cake. !!!!! What??? This slice costs $6! I'm bitching away with my friend thinking we just got jipped. Let's see how much they charge for it, maybe they decided to serve a smaller slice and lowered the price? Nope, the price was the same as before. This is BS, let's say something about it on the way out. So, the pretty hostess, who cut the cake for us says that there's no standard slicing, it depends on who's cutting the cake. What??? Your portion was way bigger all these other times and now it is barely there. She looks at us with this strange expression of: "What else do you want? I told you what the deal is!" No "I'm sorry. Would you like to talk to a manager, or could I make this up to you? I'll discount your cake by half?" Discounting the cake by half would have been appropriate in this case, thank you very much. But, none of that happened. It must be hard to divide a cake into equal slices and keep that consistent, I know. Anyway, pretty lame experience in my opinion. Same issue addressed twice and nothing was done about it. Redonkulous! Yeah, you can keep your cake!
(1)RC A.
706 used to be a great local restaurant but that couldn't be further from the truth these days. In the past year or so this place has plummeted in both the quality of the food and the service- not to mention it seems grossly overpriced. Their dishes used to have real flavor and quality ingredients but on my last trip I encountered neither. My friend ordered the Chicken Gorgonzola and the chicken was chewy and under-seasoned, and the usually rich Gorgonzola cream sauce was bland and soupy. I ordered the Chicken Botticelli and had a similar experience - bland. I used to really enjoy the food here but I doubt that I will be returning any time soon.
(1)Jessie Y.
The food was great. I had the king salmon, garlic rolls, and raspberry cheesecake. All fantastic, however, the service was terrible. The waiter seemed offended that we asked for drink specials and our food took a very long time on a Monday night! We asked for something special for our friend because it was her bday and he again seemed totally put off. Again the food was great but the service soured my experience.
(2)Kristin H.
In theory, the brunch buffet should be awesome. A big variety of tasty-sounding dishes. In reality, it was the most picked over buffet I've ever seen. We got there around noon on a Sunday. The place (and the buffet) was still open for hours, but half the dishes at the buffet were empty except for the crusty remnants of the food they once held. The staff didn't even bother to remove the plates to keep things looking nice--they just stayed there, with their little tags showing you all the tasty things you would LIKE to be eating. No mac and cheese, no blintzes, no french toast, no pulled pork, no asparagus, no lots of other stuff. I've never seen anything like it. And they don't warn you about this BEFORE you order! Maybe ordering off the menu would be OK. But the buffet was depressing.
(2)Carly A.
Wow. I first had the hummus, shiitake mushrooms, and veggie lover salad to start off. It was all very tasty and fresh! Then I had the black bean soup which was also So good. For my entree they allowed me to create my own pasta( I am vegan) which I had tomatoes, basil, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and roasted garlic on angel hair pasta. It was so good I had to order another! The atmosphere is quaint and the service was outstanding. Our server Josh is the best server in Gainesville in my opinion. That may seem a little extreme, but I assure you to ask for him and see. What a wonderful experience eating at Leonardo's!
(5)Bill G.
We had brunch here, it was fantastic! I had the Cajun omelette, very tasty. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Bruce F.
Excellent dinner in Gainsville university neighborhood. Dinning outdoors is a treat too.
(4)Hannah B.
706 is a Gainesville staple and definitely worth the visit. Go for brunch, you won't regret it, it's amazing.
(4)Mike W.
Having recently returned for dinner with friends, I found myself overall more impressed with Leonardo's than I was back a couple years ago when I gave them a three-star rating. The menu looked more impressive--especially the non-pasta dishes--but I'm not certain if they've updated it recently or not. The atmosphere is the same as always and fairly welcoming and the service was fine, if not especially personal. The waiter seemed a little rushed and another waiter I spoke to in passing seemed nearly rude, but at least they were prompt and getting things done. As to the food, the lamb I ordered was very good if a somewhat small portion and the raspberry-white chocolate tart, which is a long-time favorite dessert of mine, was as exceptional as always. I still feel Leonardo's isn't quite all it could be, but I'm starting to feel it's a very good alternative to The Top, which is often overly crowded and can be hit or miss on the non-burger dishes, though their drinks and desserts are also always spot-on. Leonardo's (and their Bistro location too, alas) have long (also like The Top) been known for sometimes lackluster service but in general I couldn't really complain there. It's certainly a worthwhile option for a nice dinner and I'll have to try their brunch, too, which is what everyone seems to really rave about.
(4)C. R.
Two words-sunday brunch. It's never failed us (we go early). So many delicious vegetarian options. My favorites are the fennel salad, the cucumber salad, mac and cheese, hummus and flatbread, tofu stirfry, I could go on and on. Not to mention the delicious brunch punch, muffins, and hot latkes-all complimentary. We've been many times for dinner over the years too. In fact we had our rehersal dinner there many years ago. That too has never been a disappointment. They know how to cook tofu! Really well. I never venture far from the tofu agave which is heaven in a dish. The cocktails and pizza are great too, as are the salads. A lot of people mention poor service, but we've never encountered it. The service has always been great.
(4)David P.
I had the asparagus and artichoke California pizza and it was excellent. The crust tastes fresh, crispy, and is just the right thickness. The pizza was light, but satisfying and a unique taste experience. Combined with a local draft beer, coffee, and dessert, this was an inexpensive, fresh, and delicious meal!
(5)Phillip F.
Tonight was the third or fourth time I've eaten at Leonardos 706. Each time I visit it seems to get better. Service was top shelf and the food was terrific. The portions were generous and the overall flavor and seasoning was spot on. They were very busy and had to wait about 30 min past our reservation, but not bad for a Saturday night at 7pm when school is in session. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good meal without pretension.
(4)Adam L.
Pretty good Italian restaurant. The ambiance is nice and their jazz night is cool. The service was just okay when I went and for the price you pay the food isnt up to par. Don't get me wrong I did enjoy it.
(3)Brad K.
Took the family here for dinner on 9/2/2011 Before I start, take a look at the photo I uploaded, note the pizza shot where the bottom of the pizza is white with flour. Yech, it was like eating dough. While the pizza was cooked, and had great toppings and flavor, it was totally ruined by the kitchen and cook not doing quality control. Every time you took a bite you got the good toppings taste first, than a mouth full of white flour from the bottom turning to uncooked dough in your mouth. I understand why they powdered the bottom with flour so it doesn't stick to cook surface. But they should know better, thus down from 5 to 3 for us. Service was not great. Our waitress was serving both inside and outside tables, obviously to many tables on a busy Friday night. She wasn't attentive at all. I had to ask the buss boy for water, and the front door host had to cash us out. Can't say we'll be back anytime soon. They still offer some of the better fare in Gainesville. But demoted 2 stars for now. See my photos, you'll see what I mean.
(3)Casey F.
I was really excited to eat here, but it was honestly the worst service I have ever had. After sitting for 33 minutes and no one coming to our table we had to leave. Very disappointed.
(1)Alexander D.
Leonardo's 706 falls into the Good-for-Gainesville category. It claims it's italian, though a better description would be "Itali-Southern-esque". While the menu features pizza and pasta, the food seems to exist in some alternate universe where drowning rolls in garlic butter or spaghetti with cream sauce seems all too common. We ordered two entrees, the scallops and the lambchops. Both were prepared very well. Not memorable, though as the Yelp 3-star suggests, "A-OK". The ambience is very casual and good for a group, though definitely not a date. The dessert list was embarrassing so we decided to pack up and head elsewhere. If you go to an Italian restaurant looking for apple pie, this might be your place; however, I was hoping for something more traditional.
(3)Vi H.
Must try's: Mussels, Caesar salad, Salmon pasta, Thai chicken pizza and the garlic knots! Under the same ownership as Leonardo's, these you must not pass up. I think I could go just for the rolls alone. Live music was in the company of our dinner and our waitress was attentive. Definitely a come back spot with my family and friends.
(4)Chase P.
I love this restaurant!! I'm a vegan and this place has great options for me. It is one of my favorite spots to have a nice dinner at. The food and ambience are great.
(5)Ken D.
706 has been here for so long I'm surprised it is so far down the rating scale. We dine out frequently and this is the only restaurant in Gainesville that has delivered good food every time, never a slip. I'd put them in my top 10 list. They also have a more reasonable wine mark up than other restaurants. Seems the trend is going to 3+ times retail on wine and I can only describe that as gouging. I do wish they would serve bread rather than the rolls they have, the sauces deserve to be eaten. Maybe a BYOB item, Bring Your Own Bread?
(4)Monika K.
Brunch at 706 in Gville after a LSU win prior to heading back to reality down south... group wasn't impressed with the only limited to brunch menu, brunch punch was tasty , mini muffins-peach and vegan chocolate were also a nice touch, salmon eggs benedict for the entree, pretty salty and wasn't too impressed. I didnt find much that tickled my fancy. the buffet seemed interesting but not impressive for its price around $20, . service seemed slow and we got stuck in the dark back room. maybe I'm spoiled and used to eclectic deliciousness that can be found at a sofla brunch
(3)Melissa S.
Great local spot skip the chain places and go local. This place had been in Gainesville for 20 plus years and we are never disappointed. Great service with the right price. Had the boulibase and it was excellent. Everything was fresh and cooked well.
(4)Paula M.
I'm a little flummoxed by Leonardo's categorization of itself as an Italian restaurant, but I think it's a solid dining experience. Prices are reasonable and service is attentive. The 706 rolls are a dream for lovers of bread, butter, and garlic. I had a fish special of some sort that came with coconut jasmine rice and was satisfied but not blown away. Similar reaction from my dining companion, who had the teriyaki scallops. I wouldn't take anyone here if I was looking to impress, but I have no real complaints about it.
(3)Jim B.
This review is for Sunday Brunch: ZOMG Nom nom nom. So, me and the lovely redhead were hungry, and having rolled outta bed too late to make it to the Top for brunch (Seriously? its over at two? Hipsters don't eat that early, dude! WTF?) we headed to Leo's 706 for a lovely repast. Glad we did actually. Getting there just after 2, the buffet was not a great option (it was winding down for sure) BUT the manager (?) Steve indicated that if we wanted to order off the menu, we could still sample off the buffet. That was a very nice gesture, and made me very happy. I made a small plate of the salmon with dill, the lox with capers and onions, and a scoop of the mac & cheese for nibbles whilst we awaited our entrees. They also delivered a couple of fresh latkes to the table while we were waiting. A fresh fruit punch and muffins are included when you order. I opted for the crab benedict, she went with the challah french toast... (I uploaded pix) DAMN that was amazing good stuff. Fresh crabmeat (NOT Krab), perfectly poached eggs, nom-delicious hollandaise and these wonderful potatoes on the side. Her french toast was smashing good. We sat outside and enjoyed the spectacular Florida February weather. She also had an Irish coffee which she said was tasty. They offer unlimited bellinis, but we were still recovering from Saturday night and skipped that option this time. Do yourself a favor and check this out.
(4)Terri D.
Mediocre food with curt, unfriendly service for expensive prices. My family and I recommend that you check out one of the many other fine dining establishments in Gainesville instead.
(2)Nelli P.
I have been to Leo's 706 only once. Neither 706 or Bistro are very vegan friendly but I accompanied some friends there for lunch. Our server was exactly what a server should be: friendly and attentive. Nothing about my meal was memorable. Seriously. I can't even remember what I had. What I do remember, however, was they had vegan chocolate cake that day. This struck me as odd since the menu didn't have very many vegan options yet they had vegan dessert! I'm all about that. The cake was very, very good. It was, "Are you sure this is vegan? Are you suuuuuuuuuure???" good. I ordered it with the intention of sharing as I didn't want to be a glutton - but glutton it was once I had the first bite. It was moist and rich with a great texture and delicious fudge frosting. If they have it during your visit, give it a try, it's not awesome by vegan standards, it's awesome by any standard. Dear Leo's 706, if you ever set up some sort of system that will notify people whenever you have that cake available, please sign me up! - Nelli ...now that I think about it, it's very possible I ordered cake for my meal...
(3)Charles S.
Leonardo's has been around for a while. They consistently deliver quality food as well as quality service. Wine list has something to offer to everyone and usually there is decent live music. The atmosphere is casual but not too casual. A great place to take family visiting in town for a fun night out, or a date if you want a little more intimate environment. Menu caters to all types of diets and food is always cooked well and served hot. Definitely worth a try.
(4)Shannon B.
Sunday brunch: A definite must! They serve complimentary muffins and brunch punch- a refreshing combo of several different fruit juices, ginger, and several other ingredients. The complimentary muffins (delish) were: chocolate cheesecake, apple cinnamon, vegan chocolate, and pineapple cheesecake. I ordered off the menu and my boyfriend did the buffet for $16. The french toast, $9.95 was AWESOME. The raspberry sauce on top of the french toast was divine, topped with banana slices and toasted pecans. The bread was thick-sliced and toasted to perfection. The buffet had a wonderful selection (that I happily sampled off of my bf's plate), consisting of everything from salmon and Moroccan chicken, to eggs, ham, and pastas. If you're hungry enough the buffet is a great option. I was completely stuffed after my french toast, so I chose well for me :) Dinner: The bf and I have also been here for dinner, and it was also very good. My grilled fish was yummy, and the bf's grilled chicken salad was also great.
(4)Joe L.
One of my favorite restaurants in Gainesville. They have the best caesar salad in town, the rolls are amazing, and I normally order the filet and have never had it taste anything but outstanding. We have some family that visits on occasion and this is where they always want to go, especially to enjoy the sea bass special. I don't have any problem rating this 5 stars. You can accomodate many different budgets here as well.
(5)Lydia L.
Sunday brunch here is a must-try! Great service, great food. I experienced brunch here, and it was the closest any Gainesville restaurant has come to a great New York spot. In fact, it beat a few NYC brunch spots on my list. It started with great service, a friendly server bringing us the house "special juice" which was light and exquisite (and absolutely perfect after a night of drinking), fresh, hot coffee and an assortment of mini-muffins. What a great start, and we didn't ask for any of it! I loved the place after the first five minutes. They offer an incredibly impressive Sunday brunch buffett, which puts the concept of American buffets to shame. It leans toward the "unch" side of brunch, and I was feeling more on the "br" side, so I opted for one of the tantalizing selections on the breakfast menu--a pesto and salmon omelette. Excellent! The muffins, juice, and fresh coffee never stopped coming unless we said "no more", and the chef came around twice to offer us tastings from his kitchen (one was potato pancakes that were perfectly crispy, flavorful, not greasy, and tasted homemade yet professional!) I will absolutely be back to this place for brunch, and in time, for other meals. So far, no brunch spot in Gainesville has come close to comparing to my experience here. The only reason I held out on giving this place five stars is because the interior is a bit dark and could benefit from a remodeling. I've heard the dinners here are great, so maybe I'll be back soon to give it's fifth star.
(4)Logan f.
Its okay. Its kinda overpriced. Satchels is kicking their butts. Their desserts are decent.
(3)Belle C.
This has got to be the most overrated restaurant in Gainesville. I just don't get it. It's essentially a pizza joint with a few more ambitious-sounding things on the menu that are supposed to class it up, I guess. It just doesn't work. There's no reason to go here.
(1)Jorge U.
If it looks like a pizza joint & tastes like a pizza joint it probably is a pizza joint. Not much else to say except that the service sucks.
(1)Alex H.
When I was in school this place was on the short list of places to either impress a date or bring your parents, and given its proximity to campus is frequented by a fair number of students (even despite what I then considered astronomical prices). So I wondered what I'd think now that I've moved on from Gainesville and am the grown up and sophisticated Yelper that I am today. In short I was pleasantly surprised. The caesar salad was delicious. Anytime effort is placed into making what you'll see on virtually every other restaurant menu in America good is a good sign in my book. Mussels were also one of the best examples I've ever had. Seriously, order them. Garlic knots...these go without saying. Can't say the filet was of the knocked-out-of-the-park variety, but still cooked perfectly and served with some yummy mashed potatoes & grilled asparagus. Oh, and just in case you want to relive those penny-pinching college years, they'll let you bring in wine for a small corkage fee. Leonardo's wasn't without its flaws: the place was packed for graduation weekend and they had some pretty awful fold-up chairs in use, and the spacing between courses was not well executed. These issues notwithstanding, the service was excellent and is about the only time I can recall the team-server concept actually working out. Kudo's Leonardo's. You're still on my Gainesville short list.
(4)Coty S.
Of course I have to love Leo's because I was raised in G'ville. But, this is my least favorite of the three restaurants. This is mostly due to price, with the same quality of food as the other locations. I recommend coming to this location for entrees and desserts only that are not available at the other locations. My favorite entrée is the Gorgonzola Alfredo with pistachios on top. No Leo's meal would be complete without their garlic rolls, the best roll you will ever have in your life. No joke. Their black forest cake is amazing!
(3)stripmallgourmets W.
We hadn't been to Leonardo's 706 for a while, certainly not since they'd done a partial renovation and created the Jazz Room. Initially we were seated in the non-renovated section at arguably the worst table in the house, but a quick request to change tables was happily granted and as soon as a table became available we moved to the far more vibrant and fashionable Jazz Room. Our meal that evening was reminiscent of previous 706 meals: a mixed bag. We started with a couple of salads, which are always terrific (and quite large). The Caesar was crisp with a nice peppery bite and the Organic Salad was a zesty mix of fresh greens, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds and a generous amount of creamy goat cheese. For entrees we chose an order of Mussels, which are listed under appetizers but are substantial enough to be a main course, and the Blackened Grouper served with pasta and fresh asparagus. The mussels themselves were plump and juicy but the dish was diminished by a white wine cream sauce that was thin and under-seasoned. The rolls served with the mussels were visibly overdone. The Blackened Grouper was a moist piece of fish accompanied by perfectly grilled asparagus but again the dish suffered from under-seasoning. In this case, both the red pepper cream sauce served with the fish and the angel hair pasta on the side were under-salted and generally bland. Ultimately this dish wasn't worth the $20.95 price tag. Yet the most significant lapse of the night was the timing. We barely had time to enjoy our superb salads when the entrees arrived. We didn't appreciate the rush and our small table for two really couldn't handle more plates. While we enjoyed the music and certain elements of our meal, overall too many things were "off" for a truly enjoyable evening. Caesar (small) $5.95 Organic salad (small) $5.95 Mussels $8.95
(3)Steve P.
I've never had a bad meal or bad experience here. Incredible Sunday brunch and the owners proudly parade the fresh dishes out as they restock the buffet. The "miffins" and brunch punch are included and just add to the value. We take a lot of out of town guests here and wow them every time.
(5)Michael W.
I had brunch this past Sunday. It was my first time. Overall, I had a great experience Service was awesome Waiter food knowledge was good. The buffet had a variety of vegetarian dishes and smoked and baked salmon. iN addition i ordere the french toast. Let me tell you,.... that was one of the best french toast I have ever had! no syrup needed or artificial sugar.. they added banana and chestnut, blueberry homemade sauce.. the texture of the food and balance of flavor was spectacular.. Not too sweet, or too soggy or sour. Baked Salmon from the buffet- cooked perfectly! not dry along with nice butterly lemon sauce. Smoked salmon just perfect - not too strong of a smoke taste nor salty. I will definitely go back to try other dishes.... their mac and cheese looks tempting but I was too full. Anyhow, overall the buffet price was worth their quality of their food along with their cooking skills.
(4)Jennifer L.
As a college kid you rarely spend more than $10 on a meal. But on those special occasions when Mom and Dad were visiting or when a boyfriend planned a special meal, Leonardos 706 was always the best place to go. Its not a fancy restaurant. Its funky and unique. Very comfortable and casual, actually. Now that we're long past college-aged, my husband (the old boyfriend) and I always stop at 706 when we're in town. Aside from seeing the Gators win, it's the highlight of our trip. The salads are amazing. Fresh, organic ingredients. Gorgonzola dill dressing is the best. I've had lots of entrees here, but my hands-down favorite is the Mona Lisa. Crusted chicken breast stuffed with decadent cheese plus pasta and grilled asparagus. The best entree on the menu! Sometimes they run out, so order it early. Last weekend we had a bottle of wine, two salads and two entrees for about $75 (tip included). Can't ask for a better date night in Gainesville than that!
(5)Margarita C.
A negative review on here means you've never been to brunch. Dinner here is just good but made better by the live music. It's not over the top blow your socks off best thing I've ever eaten BUT that's what you get for ordering pizza. Spend a few bucks more and you'll get a decent pasta dish. Their desserts are excellent and I can't get enough of their rolls in my mouth (yes, the same doughy, yeasty deliciousness served at their two sister restaurants). So good. While dinner is good, Sunday brunch is phenomenal. Like I can't breathe I'm so full of yummy food phenomenal. Most of the breakfast items are around $10 and it's $6 to add the buffet which is normally $16. I always add it on and take the entree home for the same price. My meals here are always the same. I eat half of my organic blueberry pancakes served with raspberry sauce and whipped cream (one of the best things I've ever eaten), tell myself I need to save room and proceed to the buffet. The moroccan chicken and macaroni and cheese are honest to God one step closer to heaven.At some point I'm given brunch punch (not a fan of ginger but a bonus) and amazing little miffins (mini muffins). If I'm lucky, one of the owners comes around with latkes and sometimes take-home bread. The only thing I can fault Leo's on is service. I've never come here in a hurry. Sunday brunch is always a little too relaxed. While the owners are quick to respond to requests, your actual server may or may not go missing. I've been here a dozen times and have only once gotten anything that resembled decent service. I've since moved from Gainesville but a Sunday trip back to the Gator Nation is in order if only for a single bite of their glorious mac and cheese.
(5)Brandon D.
For some reason, I rarely think of going to 706 but it is one of Gainesville's best restaurants. Somewhat expensive but priced well for what you're getting. The garlic rolls are the best I've ever had. The food is all really good. They have jazz nights, which are cool but can be crowded.
(5)Paul D.
The best place for dinner in Gainesville. I've only been twice, but both times were outstanding with excellent food (reported by all diners in our party), and fantastic service. The do a nice mint julep too.
(5)Catherine C.
I came here for Sunday brunch on the first day of my visit to Gainesville. I was starving, so a buffet sounded like a good idea. It's not your average buffet-- they have some very original dishes coming out, and constantly are replenishing with new choices throughout brunchtime. I think it was one of the owners that would come out from time to time and serve people up with a fresh bite of something or other, which was a nice and friendly touch. We got to brunch a little bit late, so a lot of the things we had to choose from had been largely picked over, but new things eventually came out as we ate. Nothing was particularly memorable, and I basically slapped down a bunch of small bites of different things on my plate, but I remember thinking most of what I tried was pretty good. Kind of like picking over the salad bar at Whole Foods, but mostly warm stuff. I kind of got the impression that the cooks were decent home cooks who were having fun in the back throwing trial creations together along with some core basics and sending it out into the world. I enjoyed their house made brunch punch, although I kind of wish the servers would have come around to pour us another. I wasn't starstruck with the place, but it was okay, and I did leave feeling stuffed. I think if we had gotten there earlier in the day it wouldn't have felt so helter skelter, and I might have had a better idea of what the breakfast part of brunch was like. Not a whole lot of meat choices, so if you're feeling carnivorous, this is not the place for you for Sunday brunch. I think I must have shown up too late for bacon. :(
(3)Chelsea B.
I'd love to try this place for brunch one morning. I had dinner here for the first time last night. The experience belongs to an ongoing (positive) trend I've been having with Gainesville dining lately. For a long, long time I thought Gainesville had little to offer in the way of fine dining, but lately I've been eating well, or getting lucky. I went with a small group. I ordered the Aruba with chicken (angel hair pasta, avocados, tomatoes, white wine sauce). The chicken was cooked to perfection, and I loved the white wine sauce. The portion was huge, but luckily my two guy friends were able to help me out. The other people in my party ordered fish (grouper and sea bass). I tried both, and even though I'm not a fish person, both were great. One of the fish dishes was topped with a delicious carmelized sauce. We also ordered a bottle of wine (a malbec from Argentina) which my roommate recommended. We also a raspberry tart and multi-layer chocolate cake for dessert. Both were good, although the raspberry tart out-shined the chocolate cake, but the entrees were definitely the best part of the dining experience.
(5)Soren B.
I go here every week--love it.
(5)Andrew H.
This is, quite handily, the most overrated restraint in Gainesville. Prices are high, pretentiousness abounds, and the wait staff is crustier than the pizza. If you like cheesy abstract art and overpriced pizza, this place is for you!
(1)Michael L.
706 is a Gainesville institution, and you have to go and try it for yourself at least once if you are in town, and form your own opinion. It can be pricey but if you don't want to spend much you can get some great salads and pizzas for about $10. Also be sure to try it again for Sunday Brunch, which is full of unusual dishes, many vegetarian many not, and quite a bit different from the usual menu (more middle-eastern/pan-Mediterranean rather than Italian-focused) Honestly the best brunch I have ever tried, especially if you like trying new things (lots of traditional fare available too, they have the absolute best steak & eggs or pancakes you can find anywhere as well!)
(5)Utteeyo D.
We were visiting Gainesville during New Year, and our friends took us here. We went for the Sunday brunch. I think this place easily puts itself at the top 1% of restaurants I have been to, here in the US. A delicious and unconventional spread of eclectic dishes. If you live in Gainesville and have not been here yet, you are really missing out on exquisite food. If you are visiting Gainesville, I strongly urge you to consider their Sunday brunch...you will not regret it. By the way, my wife and my friends are vegetarians, and they had plenty to choose from.
(5)JEWELe M.
Went here for a work dinner. The dinner was surprisingly good since I wasn't sure how well the steak would be prepared and such (nothing compares to Smith & Wollensky!). I ordered the steak and potatoes entree. The steak melted in my mouth with the potatoes. I will give it a B. Also, I took a slice of the Chocolate Mousse to-go since I had no more room to grow after the main course. For Gainesville, Leonardo's 706 is decent for a steak dinner!
(3)Tu-van L.
A quaint place to go on a date where you can enjoy each other's company and enjoy a tasty special meal. The decor and ambient (jazz? electro-ambient?) music adds to the relaxed mood. I've had better food but it's pretty good. Can't go wrong with what you order.
(3)Aimee C.
Leonardo's 706 is where you'd go on your hot date with the cute boy from fraternity row.. :) i love you guys and your garlic knots.. you're sweet sweet sweet finger licking goodness... i miss you..
(4)Mrs. H.
It's undoubtedly more elegant than it's other Leo's counterparts, but the food is nothing special and overpriced for what it is. If impressing your date means spending more money than you should for pizza and pasta, then yes this is your place.
(2)Mark G.
One of my favs in Gville! One of the best things about this place is the great laid back atmosphere.Pasta Madagascar for $15.Hey now!! Finish it off with an triple shot of espresso and a lovely slice of tiramisu.
(4)mary p.
I like the relaxed and artsy atitude of the place. My favorite items are the seafood, but love the organic salads too. My daughter loves the chicken gorganzola and the garlic rolls. The have music as well.on certain nights which adds a party atmosphere
(5)Evan T.
Leonardo's 706 is owned and operated by the same people that operate two other restaurants, Leonardo's By the Slice and Bistro 1245, just down the street. Unfortunately, it does not live up to its counterparts. With very overpriced and somewhat bland food, there isn't much incentive to endure the mediocre service. We stopped by Leo's 706 somewhat early, around 5:30pm, on a Friday evening. There was no wait, and the place was nearly empty, though this isn't too abnormal given the time we arrived. It's a very trendy and cozy little restaurant, with a surprising amount of seating for the apparent small size of the venue. It's an upscale atmosphere, but in a sort of trendy, pretentious way that might lend itself well to dates or business dinners and lunches. The wine and cocktail lists seemed decent and fairly extensive, though we did not sample anything from them on this particular evening. An array of appetizers, ranging from crab cakes or mussels to flatbreads or mushrooms, ends with the 706 Rolls, much acclaimed on internet restaurant reviews. We asked for a half dozen of them, only to discover that they are the same rolls as are served at Leonardo's by the Slice. This discovery wasn't necessarily a bad thing, though; those rolls are good. As at the other Leonardo's, they came with a garlic butter and a marinara sauce for dipping. I couldn't discern a difference between the two restaurants' garlic butters, but Leo's 706's version of the marinara was distinctly thinner and less interesting than it's sister version down the road. Still, good rolls, and only four bucks (though I can't recall if this is the same price as at Leonardo's by the Slice). As for main courses, the 706 menu is divided roughly evenly into pizzas and more standard upscale entrees. Judging from the menu, the pizzas are mostly smaller and slightly fancier versions of the pies served down the road, but I'm not in a position to assess them because we ordered from the more standard entrees. My girlfriend ordered the pasta madagascar, linguine with a pepper brandy tomato sauce with capers and topped with a skewer of grilled grouper. While the pasta was adequately cooked, the grouper was very dry and overdone. The sauce wasn't bad, but wasn't amazing either. At $17, it was a somewhat disappointing dish. But my order, the grouper français, was far worse. The menu describes it as "florida grouper sautéed in clarified butter, crusted and then finished with minced garlic, parsley and white wine over angel hair pasta." Translation: the blandest dish you've ever tasted. My grouper was better cooked than my girlfriend's, but not perfect. It was very slightly overdone and dry, but not too much. Unfortunately, this dish tasted completely under-seasoned. The pasta tasted completely plain with no additional flavors whatsoever - even a little extra butter or pepper would have helped. I couldn't find any hint of the garlic mentioned on the menu. Eventually, once I had finished the lackluster fish fillet, I gave up on finishing the dry, flavorless pasta. This dish, at $20, was more than just somewhat disappointing. It was terrible, and vastly overpriced as well. We weren't happy with our visit to Leonardo's 706. It lacked the simple elegance of Bistro 1245 or the pleasure of Leonardo's by the Slice. Lackluster food was dressed up, presented as something more than it was, and sold for exorbitant prices. We didn't try the pizzas, so maybe there's something wonderful we're missing there, but I have trouble believing that they are anything that much more interesting than the much cheaper pizzas you can get at Leonardo's by the Slice. Overall, I do not recommend Leonardo's 706 - it is one of the most overrated restaurants in Gainesville.
(1)Lily W.
Best. Brunch. Ever. Their $16 Sunday brunch is the best I've ever had. Even better than The Breakers' $80 brunch (is that ridiculous or what?). The brunch buffet offers an eclectic variety of dishes, each made with quality ingredients. The display is lovely because the food isn't served in vats. Each dish is prepared individually, with new selections circulating through the buffet as the brunch hours go on. The fruits and vegetables they serve aren't your standard fruits & veggies that were just cooked because they were readily available and cheapest. The homemade applesauce is wonderful. Also, a fresh and unique fruit juice concoction and miniature muffins come with brunch. I forget what exactly is in the juice, but I do remember ginger and watermelon juice being part of the medley. They have many vegetarian dishes which scored them points in my book. They've got some great salads and sautés as well. Fennel & beet salad? Mmm. (See? They use fennel. They don't shy away from a certain vegetable just because people may be unfamiliar with it. The chef knows it's delicious and uses it). An entirely unique brunch experience. If it's a nice day, sit outside. But, of course that recommendation is not specific to this restaurant. Hell, if it's a nice day anywhere, sit outside.
(5)Curtis D.
Really good food, great wine list and the service was great! Can't wait to go back!
(4)Brea G.
We just went to Leonardo's 706 for brunch and it was pretty darn good. The inside of the place is done in unfinished wood and it really has the feel of someplace that used to be either a pizza joint or a dive bar. It's pretty dark, which I'm guessing is because they know it would look like shit in the light. I had the 5 cheese omelet and it was super tasty. The potatoes that came with it were *really good - unfortunately the serving size was about 2" square. Good food but disappointing for the price. My omelet was $12 and the brunch buffet was $16 It always amazes me when restaurants skimp on something like potatoes. It would probably cost them 30 cents to double the serving size of the potatoes and everybody would be telling their friends about that great restaurant and the pile of great potatoes. I'll definitely go back for breakfast and I'd like to try them out for dinner as well.
(3)Denise H.
Had not been here in years, but can not wait to go again. My friend is on a low sodium diet and went with a white pizza to avoid the sauce. I had the rosemary and walnut encrusted chicken breast over angel hair pasta with mushrooms and a cream sauce. It was amazing and will be my go to meal whenever I go there. Of course those yummy rolls with the fluffy garlic butter can not be beat!
(4)Vincent W.
Really like this place, especially when they have the live music playing. It's nice place to sit back enjoy the music with a drink in your hand. Their food aren't bad either, a little pricey but not too bad. Got to taste their pizza, salad and the rack of lamb. The pizza was nice since it was nice and hot and they weren't really cheap on toppings. The lamb was ok but IMHO, i don't think it's worth the price. It's nice place to have dessert too. A good place to visit for music and good place to visit if you want to treat yourself to dinner that aren't chicken strips, some type of bowl, cheap pizza or fast food.
(4)Nicholette M.
I hate how all three venues are on the same website but all are in different locations. Anyways, I showed up here expecting this to be the Leonardo's Pizza spot and I was disappointed. So instead of leaving, I ordered a beer during happy hour and left. Happy Hour is from 4-6 I believe and they have a nice little outside patio in the front. The weather was beautiful so that def relieved most of my pain and frustration.
(2)Travis L.
This is one of Gainesvilles nicer places but doesnt advertise much at all. We went with a large group so i let some of the service get by like longer ticket times ajd i had to remind the server to get my drink that i ordered. Overall, it was a good expierence and i would certainly go back. I ordered stright cheese pizza which was pretty good. They try to class up the pizza a little too much with herbs but overall a solid pie. The place has a great atmosphere that doubles for a fun group dinner or romantic date night.
(4)Ryan F.
Brunch: (Treat. Yo. Self. youtube.com/watch?v=jcwx… ) The Buffet: Great selection of chicken (moroccan), salmon, ham, pasta, various salads, pastries, french toast, fruit, etc. $16. I have quite an appetite so I think it's worth the price. complimentary mini muffins and ginger brunch punch When I go back I will order from the menu, as I wanted to sample the buffet on my first 706 brunch. The rest of the menu looked appetizing as well: crab eggs benedict, blueberry pancakes, french toast (challah bread) - of which smaller portions avail at the buffet. Dinner: A quality experience as well. I had a grilled chicken salad which was awesome. The gf's fish was a winner.
(4)melissa r.
My boyfriend grew up in the area eating Leonardo's pizza, he wanted to show me the place on a recent visit to Gainesville. We weren't disappointed. He said the inside was just like he remembered and the pie was delicious, deep dish with lots of meat, green peppers, cheese and onions, the BIG LEO. And of course we had to start with the garlic knots. It was so good, we shared the leftovers for breakfast! The owner, since the 70s came by to chat, like everyone else, really nice.
(4)Fiona M.
I have been here 5 times and only one of those times has been a slight miss. I can not believe I have lived in Gainesville for so long and only recently discovered this place. Great menu delicious food! One of the best pizzas I have had in my life (salmon lovers). The one miss I had involved the disappearance of our waitress. We almost filed a missing persons report. We were left looking at a glass of water wondering if dinner would ever be served. We finally received our dinner from another member of the wait staff. My dad ordered the filet with mashed potatoes. He is an Irish lad who is partial to warm potatoes. To his horror the potatoes were cold. This was inexcusable; the kitchen and wait staff were not in harmony. I think they were having an off night which made us have an off night. The experience was prolonged due to the late arrival of our food. I will go back because the good experiences definitely outweigh this small mishap.
(4)