Vellos Brickstreet Grill
115 SE 1st St, Gainesville, FL, 32601
Vellos Brickstreet Grill Menu
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Address :
115 SE 1st St
Gainesville, FL, 32601 - Phone (352) 872-5556
- Website https://www.vellosbrickstreetgrill.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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S S.
Disappointed in the menu change and the service has certainly gone downhill fast. The flatbread options have changed and not for the better. They removed several that I used to go for regularly including one traditional Italian type and one called fig and pig. now it just has the fig.... Service was poor at best the last two visits. I used to visit regularly and will not return. It is a shame because it was in a good location in the heart of downtown. The bar and hotel location may be the only thing keeping this place going in the future because Gainesville has a lot better dining choices. There is never a good excuse for poor service on consecutive visits.
(2)Sara L.
I want to precede this review by letting you know that my review is based on 1 dine-in and 1 take-out experience at Vellos. The dine-in experience was bad and got worse. I ordered the Peach Barbecue Ribs. They were spare ribs and they were VERY tough; not even close to tender. Biting through the meat was difficult and using a fork and knife on ribs should not be necessary. When I brought this to the attention of the waiter he didn't apologize, he asked if I wanted to pack up to ribs to take home!? I said no thanks and he took the plate. I was so frustrated that I didn't order anything else and just wanted to leave. The worst part is that when the check came, I was still being charged for the ribs, I ate 1/2 a rib! Again, I had to ask the waiter to take it off and then a manager came to speak with me. Again, no apology but the ribs were taken off the check. It has been a long time since that experience and Vellos seems to be doing well so I decide to give them another chance, this time take-out. The food was delivered on time and everything was very well packaged. The fig and pig flat we got was good but it was heavy on the blue cheese. The club sushi roll was TERRIBLE! I ate one and threw the rest out. What chef in this world would put that on the menu? The shrimp and scallop pasta was also a major disappointment. The "cream sauce" was not creamy and lacked serious seasoning. The pasta was WAY overcooked and the scallops still had the tough muscle that attaches them to the shell; this is a huge culinary mishap. Again, I don't know what kind of chef would let that happen in his/her kitchen. Needless to say, I am very unsatisfied with Vellos as a whole. Service and food have been awful. I will never go back.
(1)Ian S.
Vello's is my "comeback kid." I was not particularly impressed with the food when I dined here first a few years back. I unwisely ordered the flat iron steak. It was, well, flat. My mistake. I was convinced to give this place another try by local food snobs. I am glad I did. Since my first experience, Vello's has been getting better each visit. Recently I tried the triggerfish. This was excellent. And I got a double portion of fish for only $6 more. Seriously, that is a deal. And the waitress we had was super friendly. In a town where service averages between horrendous and not very good, I was delighted to find a waitress who (at least seemed) to care about our experience. Vello's has now officially moved into my "best of Gainesville." But, yes, even the best in this town is still only 4 stars on a global scaling.
(4)Kailey M.
I came here for dinner with a friend while I was in town. I like it. The prices are reasonable, nice ambiance and good food. I had the steak. It was cooked perfectly and juicy. My friend had the chicken and waffle. The chicken was tender and the skin was crispy. I would come again.
(4)S B.
Almost didn't eat here due to the reviews, but glad we did! Our server Carson was terrific and very professional. The Pig & Fig Flatbread was delish, the arugula salad enjoyable and fresh, and the Chicken & Jalapeño Waffle was terrific- not too spicy. For cocktails, I enjoyed the Hawaiitini- light, refreshing and not too sweet, but we were underwhelmed with the Grandpa's Rootbeer (and we are otherwise Guinness fans). It was a Friday evening and they were busy. The original part of the restaurant seemed to have more ambiance that the expansion where we were seated. The $5 discount for checking in with Yelp was a nice perk, Glad we judged for ourselves.
(4)Scott E.
Excellent fish sandwich for lunch. Large portions ; great service.
(4)Peter V.
I visited Vellos for Dinner in April of 2014. I had a Caesar salad which was good but nothing special. It has "House made dressing, romaine, croutons and Parmesan cheese." I ordered the Apricot Barbecue Ribs for the entree. They were good. It was a decent sized portion, I think 6 or 7 individual ribs, I'm not sure. They tasted good and it wasn't tough or anything. They were a little spicy so if you can't handle that it might be too spicy for you. The baked mac and cheese that came with it was also good. I'm not normally a big mac and cheese eater but this one was nice because of the crispy part at the top of the bowl. They have a decent beer selection, you can get some local swamp head beers. You can find the prices on line on their website which is always good. (except for the beer prices, which I think were 5$)
(3)Sara C.
The fig and pig flatbread was awesome but with goat cheese instead of bleu cheese. The happy hour from 3-7 is great and the bartender Jaqui is fantastic, great recommendations and quick with drinks
(5)Chris T.
3.5, really. lots of good things going for them. service is great. Like some other reviews there seemed to be a "too salty" issue with the food - this time it was the stuffed portabello. Had a rockin' moroccan flatbread - it was superb. Texture was crispy yet moist. Redfish and chips were OK. Probably due to my own negligence, I thought it was going to be fried but it was a pan-seared fish with potatoes slices topped with watermelon salsa in malt vinegar. It was decent but overall, the dish was a lil lackluster in serving temperature and texture - although I DID finished all the fish. So, it was somewhat enjoyable but I would not order again. Chipotle bistro steak was well presented - on top of mashed potatoes and under some asparagus. The steak comes pre cut. They were pretty thick so you may wanna ask for thinner slices when you're ordering as they don't have steak knives - only butter knives. This again was not as hot as I would have liked it. I went on a Monday when they offer a free wine bottle with the order of two entrees. There is a list of probably around 7-8 wines to choose from, both white and red. This review might be a little spotty because we finished that bottle of Citra Pinot Noir (cheap but enjoyable wine), but I hope you don't disregard it completely :] I feel if you order the right things, Vellos might give you a better experience but in my opinion, while you'll probably have a good experience (service, atmosphere, etc), food-wise, it was just decent.
(3)Nick M.
The Atmosphere of this restaurant seems good for dates, family gatherings, and small to medium sized parties. Not a place for small children, or cheap Jager bombs. Specials Mon/Tues: Free bottle of wine with purchase of two entrees Wed: All you can drink wine and appetizers from 5 to 8pm- $20/ person (also a great time to check out the local farmers market held downtown every Wednesday) Thurs: Martini Night - $4.50 for all specialty cocktails or martinis all night My girlfriend and I split the Crab BLT, Baked Chevre, Herb Salmon, and had a Bread Pudding for Dessert. The Crab BLT is Fantastic, fried green tomatoes tossed with crab meat, Pancetta (not bacon), arugula, and a truffle aioli (tastes like a sweet garlic). The Baked Chevre is their Tomato bisq, but it has goat cheese, basil, and garlic bread -YUMMM!!! The Herb Salmon, the salmon was cooked perfectly and had a great sauce, I've never had quinoa before but I wouldn't mind trying it again. The Bread Pudding was MY FAVORITE!!! The portion is huge; it comes with ice cream too. And its only 4.50!!!! Overall a great addition to downtown, good service, good food, plus I was becoming exhausted of Harry's.
(5)Angel I.
HORRIBLE service. Walked in with my husband and almost walked out because we were not greeted by a hostess for about five minutes even though waitstaff kept eyeing us and then we were not seen by a server for quite a while! The restaurant wasn't even full. We waited too long throughout the entire process. Other than service, the ambience was egh, but the food was quite good. The food was the saving grace of this place.
(3)Ken D.
Great place for a downtown dinner!! I've yet to be disappointed here. Nice menu with reasonable prices. I've had flatbread pizzas, fish and even the meatloaf and never been disappointed. The atmosphere is nice for a dinner with friends or just a quiet booth for two. The wine list covers both ends of the price range with nice inexpensive wine and some top end wines with not a big mark-up. The Monday and Tuesday wine specials are hard to beat. So my only concern is it rarely seems crowded and I hope lots more folks will give this palce a try. Dinner here and maybe a gelato around the corner before a show or movie at the Hipp and it is a perfect night. I'd cry if they didn't make it.
(4)Carolyn W.
well we ended up coming here because Emiliano's is apparently closed on sunday's during the summer so we were looking for something in the area. it was ok, but not somewhere i would ever die to go. i would not order a drink unless its during happy hour because the prices seemed a little over the top. even then their cocktails are only knocked down $2.50. the food was ok, but nothing spectacular. they really seem to have a thing for taking something simple and trying to make it gourmet. not really my thing. the server was attentive and made a great reccomendation to get the old cuban martini (the one thing i would definitely reccomend on the menu!) but i felt that i paid a lot for mediocre food and small portions. my bf ordered the ribs and only got 5. he said they were good, but on what planet would 5 ribs actually fill up a guy? you can get much more for your money somewhere else.
(3)Matt Z.
Amazing food. The pork chop was great and they had a nice selection good beer.
(5)Doug R.
Was aiming for Ti Amo, since UT was closed this was a perfect replacement. Sangria should be served in a pitcher.
(4)Ken H.
Stopped in after a football game. The food was very poor. I had a steak and it was quite tough, ended up not finishing it. The atmosphere was dead, although the waiter was entertaining enough. Since there are better alternatives in downtown I'll not eat there again.
(1)Margaret G.
The restaurant was beautiful, but the service was very slow. I was there at lunch with three other people. We waited almost an hour from the time we entered until we received our food. It was not busy. The food was okay. We also waited a long time for our check. Would not go back for a business luncheon.
(1)Hall W.
I came here with a group of about 10 for lunch on the day for the Florida v. FSU game 2011. I ordered the "cowboy" flatbread (kind of like a mini pizza). It honestly was the best flat bread I ever had. The same is true with the soup that came along - tomato bisque. The folks aside me had salad and fried chicken (and not like KFC style chicken but heart seasoned and no oil dripping but with crunch flavor fried chicken). The service was fast with the typical dash of southern charm and friendliness. I didn't see the inside since we sat outside, but on a November day in the 70s under the shade was really comfortable and classy.
(5)Jerry M.
My best friend and I went to grab dinner here tonight after a fun wine tasting over at Half Cork'd. We were expecting tapas and flatbreads, essentially the same fare that has been offered here during every rendition of it's existence (a la Urban Flats). First, we ordered two glasses of Malbec. Hers, a Diseno, was considerably spicier and had more character ($6/glass). Mine was a bit smoother and definitely palatable. For a restaurant in downtown Gainesville at 10pm on a Saturday, I was impressed that the pour was generous and the wine wasn't overly aerated. We waited all of half an hour after sitting down (including reading over the menu and waiting for food to arrive) before getting our meals. There was no wait at the door, which is probably due to the size of the building and the amount of seating available. Her meal was just a basic Caesar salad. I always feel kind of trashy that my favorite Caesar is from Carrabba's, but this one was definitely solid. A little zestier but a good choice and went nicely with the wine. I had the vegetable calzone (goat cheese, red peppers, mushrooms, artichokes, and spinach) and it was incredible. Easily one of the best meals I've had in Gainesville in a long time. It was on the smaller side by appearance, but the actual amount of food once you began eating was more than enough. As if that wasn't enough, a side of house chips and an herb aioli came with the calzone. I don't know what was in the aioli but I put it on everything on the plate -- absolutely divine. I was never a fan of Urban Flats, but Vellos just got a new regular. Apparently drink specials also happen, so I'll be sure to follow up.
(5)Neil B.
The food is almost always excellent which is why we come back. The service is poor half the time, and merely fair on a good day. Improve that, and this would be one of the beat eateries in downtown Gainesville.
(3)Steve S.
Stopped in faster a downtown Gainesville festival. Service was fast and very good but the food left something to be desired. The curry dusted shrimp and scallop entree had very little taste which was surprising. It was nice that they offered a kids flatbread which was similar sized to a main flatbread but half the cost. Need to give it another shot.
(3)Brenda S.
I love this place. Every time I am in town I eat here. I always get the Triggerfish. It is absolutely the best meal I have ever had. The service is slow but the food makes up for it. Thursdays are $4.50 martinis. I had the Black Cherry White Russian and it was fantastic. If you ever make it to Gainesville this is definitely the place to go for dinner .
(4)Donald S.
Ok, I'm having fried chicken with jalepeno waffles. So far server was attentive, and food was delivered quickly. Wow what a disappointment. Old-style fried chicken must refer to pre historic times. Maybe I'm wrong but old-style fried chicken means nice crispy coating. They were clearly fried, but I could have accomplished same thing in my oven. If they were dusted with anything, it had to be cornmeal. The waffles... Another disappointment. Who puts pickled anything on a waffle? Tasted like eating lemons, and absolutely no bite from the peppers, also, I'm sure the vinegar from the peppers affected the batter for the waffles. Gooey inside. I'm guessing the vinegar canceled the baking soda in the batter and it never rose and takes longer to cook. Maybe I'm wrong though. Does anyone "like" the jalepeno waffles?
(1)Brian S.
Came in on a Saturday night. It was pretty slow and only had two servers. We were greeted promptly but waited 15 minutes for our drink order. Food came out sooner and was excellent. If they served guests faster I would come here more often.
(1)Audry P.
This place was terrible. They were slammed when we went...Friday night of a home football game weekend. First off they gave us a 45 minute wait..ok fine. But when we go inside to wait at the bar there are several open tables. Why is there a wait when there are open tables? The drinks are way overpriced so I opted not to get one. We finally sit down and order. Our food takes forever, not to mention I ordered a salad which doesn't even come until minutes before our entrees. The salad was full of slimy, wilted lettuce. Gross! My pork stack was just meh. I would have rather been eating the pork tacos at the Jones B-Side. My bf's steak and potatoes came out cold. The only upside to the meal was they ended up taking his entree off our check since we complained. I can't believe this place is supposed to be a more upscale restaurant. The manager did not have it together and the kitchen staff definitely did not have it together. I will not be back!
(1)Thomas F.
Food was good, had the Mahi tacos. Service was weak at best. If you are looking for a quick lunch, it will work.
(3)Eunice C.
My sisters-in-law took me here for a birthday lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The ambience was very nice, I love the brick and the interior has lots of booths. I had the Briskstreet salad, very good. And the Brickstreet meatloaf with mashed potatoes and string beans. Very nice presentation. I don't normally order meatloaf when there are so many other items to choose from but the menu description was so mouthwatering, I just had to give it a try. Just one tip to our server: if you offer coffee, make sure it is fresh and hot! Other than that, it was a very nice lunch.
(4)Kyle D.
I've eaten here twice now, and I will likely not return for a third trip. The food is not exceptional, though the prices are reasonable. The second time we went, they were offering a free bottle of wine with the purchase of two entrees, which was a pretty good deal. The interior of the restaurant is problematic, as it features the highest TVs-per-patron ratio I have ever seen. Seriously, there are TVs lining all the walls. It makes for a weird atmosphere since the restaurant looks like it's supposed to be a classy dining experience, but still has more TVs than a serious sports bar.
(3)Adrienne F.
Although I do agree that some of the items here can be on the salty side, the food is still a great departure from much of what is offered here in Gainesville. And it is also very reasonably priced. The drink specials are an added bonus to the great food.
(4)Gary M.
I went for lunch I had the Blue Cheese Chips and Mahi Tacos Chili-lime slaw, pico de gallo, guacamole It was amazing
(5)Ryan F.
App: crab BLT. Served on 3 fried green tomatoes which were overly fried. Bacon overcooked and crab was "meh" Pork chop was ok. A bit charred Overall: nothing special. Might be back to try their steak, which the waitress recommended, but no rush at all.
(3)Ping N.
Based on a recommendation on Yelp and from our server, we got the Peach BBQ Ribs and was sorely disappointed. The ribs were mushy and had no texture or flavor to it. It tasted like pre-chewed meat for old people. We also got the redfish and chips and it was much better than the ribs but still not fantastic. The watermelon salsa was probably the best part of the meal. If you go on Mondays and Tuesdays, you get a free bottle of wine when you order 2 entrees on the same check. The wine we were given was not great but it was free.
(3)Gigi A.
They have wonderful bartenders who seem to know what they are doing. Their food is pretty good. Their baked brie is a hit. The fig jam and the crackers that come with compliment the brie well. The waitress was lovely and service was very fast. The atmosphere is nice, but when we went they had live music and it was just too loud. The poor guy was just belching into the mic and that killed the mood a little. 3.5 stars. I will probably be back because this is still one of the better food options downtown :-)
(3)Jim B.
So, at one point this place was called Urban Flats, and then apparently something happened with that franchise concept, so the owner revamped the menu and changed the name. Regardless, from a customer point of view, a seamless transition IMO. Still great flatbreads, the same awesome Alexa behind the bar, and same well appointed, modern but not flashy interior. They still have Wine Wednesdays (which is a great value) and various other weeknight happy hour dealios going down. Bumped them up from 3 to 4 stars this time around, as I've now had three good experiences there.
(4)Ka T.
I heard about this place from a few others that lived locally in the area. Many of them have not tried the place out since it has changed names. I decided to give it a try with a few others. The patio location is excellent for people watching so I was definitely entertained. The food seemed reasonably priced which kinda surprised me consider the atmosphere of its interior. As our food was delivered promptly and looked and tasted good. Nothing too special, i would give it another try next time i visit.
(3)K W.
Love Vellos!!! Not only to dine there but for catering. Chef Charles is AMAZING. He did an fabulous job catering my grandmothers 100th birthday creating things just for her. I've had them cater many events I've worked on and it's always been a big hit. I have lunch there on a regular basis for meetings and everyone I've taken has loved it. Their salads rock. I love the spicy roll on their appetizer menu. Their flats are out of this world. Seriously Chef Charles rocks it. Can't wait to have him cater another one of my events.
(5)Samantha C.
Came here on a whim when I was looking for what use to be here.The times that I have been here have been doing down hours or when no one is really in town (One in the middle of a home football game and in the middle of a summer/fall break). However, both times I came with really larges parties of 10+ and service was excellent for something with 10+ people. They split the checks for all of us which was great! Food is fantastic for the price. The flats are all really good. As well as the Chicken Florentine. I'm not a fan of the flatiron or any of the steak just because I dont like my steak cut up into pieces for me. I'd rather have one giant slab and then cut it myself. The specialty cocktails are good. Something different. I would definitely continue to trying them. Definitely a good and modern place for a college student to eat at.
(4)Dawnya H.
Saturday before last my husband and I went to to Vellos because per their website they have Swamphead beer and the menu sounded good. They had the beer and the food was very good. We had the Funji flat and Mahi tacos. The only thing I would I would do different next time I get the tacos get the sauce on the side. It was tasty but messy. Last Saturday before the game a group of us met there and the food was just as good as the week before I would highly suggest trying the red fish with watermelon salsa!!!
(4)Wajiha A.
Went for a quick jog with my fiance towards Downtown and stumbled upon this place. The place was great and clean, and the hostess/waitress was attentive and super accommodating. We ordered the Mediterranean dips which wasn't bad, but it wouldn't be something we'd come back for. The brickstreet salad was REALLY good, along with the flatbreads we had gotten. It felt light and appropriate to eat after a run.
(4)Mieu B.
My husband and I tried this place on our anniversary. Had nice ambiance. The service was great. Our waitress was very friendly and patient in answering all our food questions and refilling our drinks. Food came out very fast. For appetizers, the bleu cheese chips and crab BLT tasted really good, although I wished the bacon were crispier and that they would put more lump crab meat on. I ordered the limited time special that day: Swordfish with couscous and plantain coleslaw. Fish was grilled perfectly and covered in green chimichurri that complement the fish very well. I wasn't a big fan of the couscous as I thought it tasted heavy and too cheesy for the dish. The plantain coleslaw was delicious though. My husband had the chicken and waffles. He thought it tasted alright, although the waffles were a little doughy. The breading on the chicken was sweet, although the meat itself was rather bland. The jalapeno flavor of the waffles was very light and perhaps could've been slightly more enhanced. The pancetta butter paired well with it however. Overall, he felt the dish was okay, but not up to the standards of the rest of the meal. We went there for Gainesville restaurant week. They had a $30 three-course special that, if you added up the menu prices for each item, was potentially even a few dollars more expensive than the individual items themselves.
(3)Frank S.
Mahi tacos were very good, but a word to the wise, they were on the slightly spicy side. BBQ peach ribs were also very good with some 'kick' to them! Crab bisque was excellent. Wasabi wedge was different, but still good & keeping with the theme it was as you can guess, spicy. I would have preferred to side step the cucumbers. Both our kids had bacon cheeseburgers that were cook perfectly. Being as though it was St. Patty's day, they had a drink special called Grandpas Old Root Beer. Definitely asked them to make one if these for you, they were an excellent replacement for the Jon Daly I was looking forward to. Both are adult beverages if u didn't know. This place is a great alternative to my other favorite Downtown G-ville haunt, Dragonfly. Give it a try next time u r in the area.
(3)Elizabeth R.
We went here for lunch a few months ago, I would have given it a 1 star but the flatbread with hummus was really good. I got the redfish and chips...omg so so bad, not fresh and way overcooked. My fiance got the pulled pork sandwich which was decent.
(2)April O.
We returned here purely by accident. We were actually on our way to 101 Downtown. As we passed by Harry's and looked to the left, we both stared, looked at each other and said "Vello's?! What ...?" and that was the end of our dinner plans at 101. If you've eaten here before, you'll find that some items are the same, and some are new. We started off with drinks--Hawaiitini for Mr. O. (cosmo with pineapple juice) and Champear for me (Absolut Pear, Midori, sparkling wine). Both of these drinks were very good--I actually intend to try making Champear at home sometime. (For his part, Mr. O says it can be done with Sprite.) And because we were there for Happy Hour (5-7) they were $4.50 instead of $7-8. Score! We ordered the Baked Chevre appetizer to start. I was expecting something akin to baked brie, but instead we got a bowl of basil-tomato bisque with the disc of cheese placed inside to slowly crumble, and several pieces of garlic toast. This was delicious, even more so once the cheese completely disintegrated. It reminded me of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich, which was probably the idea. I happen to really like tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches though and am highly biased towards them, so take this opinion with a chunk of rock salt. We both flip-flopped on dinner. I thought hard about the Peach Barbeque Ribs, and he was considering the Cornmeal-Dusted Redfish. But in the end, he got the ribs and I went with the Crab Cakes. These cakes are a bit different than the ones you normally get in Gainesville. They're chilled. They fall apart as you fork into them, which makes me think that they're hand-balled right before serving. They're served atop dill sauce, which is really tasty. They come with a side of arugula and citrus salad, and it's all quite good together. The Peach Barbeque Ribs are just that--glazed ribs basted quickly with a peach sauce. The sauce is on top of the meat, not marinated in, but as long as you realize that ahead of time, they're still pretty good. This dish is served with baked macaroni, and I think this was the only item that failed. The panko breading on top is pretty salty. The macaroni noodles and sauce underneath are pretty salty. Taken together? Hope you don't have a cut in your mouth. Yowza! I was too stuffed to get any dessert, once again. 2 drinks (on Happy Hour), 1 tea, one appetizer, two entrees = $50 before tip. That's pretty reasonable. Service was attentive and friendly. We'll return. 3.75 stars.
(4)Laura Terese H.
This place has a case of the Boringitus. I had never been here before, and was invited to join some friends here in our beginning journey to a night of bachelorette partiness. We had reserved a table for 10/12. They stuck us in the back by the bathrooms and seating was tight. First off walking into the place, my shoes stuck to the floor and so did everyone elses who came in. It was like a secret password to sit at the table , someone would come in ...find us...and the second they reached us say "my shoes are sticking to the floor" and we let them sit down. Our waitress was overly perky, her name was Ellie? L. E.? I dunno. My friend told me they had good martinis so we looked at those (the menu is too freaking big by the way and not item count, no the actual menu is bigger than the table can hold , bigger than someone should be holding in front of them, if I have to push away from my seat to accommodate a menu....) I decided on the "lady in red" martini, L.E. told me point blank "no one likes that" Didnt tell me why...so I got the "Old Cuban" 7$. It was okay, tasted like a weak Mojito, mostly sugary sweet. The rest of our party showed up and correctly got the password, and we all proceeded to order appetizers and meals. I am not sure what this restaurant is, in terms of food. Its all over the place. "american" sushi, baked cheese, Flatbreads, hamburgers, pork chops, fish, pasta, reubens, ribs, chicken and waffles, steak, wasabi salad, meatloaf. Its tagline is "enjoy the rich history and flavors" but I am not sure they even know what that means. We decided to share food, got the Mediterranean dips (7.50) which is seasonal hummus/tapanade and flatbread. We also got the Roasted Vegetable FlatBread (9.99) which had Tomato Pesto, mushrooms, onions, red peppers, spinach and cheese. The seasonal hummus turned out to be plain hummus, pesto, chipotle and a green olive tapanade. It came on a candle holder (im serious I took a picture) with the barely warm flatbread triangles underneath. they all tasted like paste, except the chipotle one tasted like spicy paste. we did not finish even one of the tiny scoops. The Flatbread comes out on a fancy pallet. It was so bland and luke warm. It had no "roasted" flavor, the spinach was really dry, the other vegetables were discernable from the other. The Cheese was gummy, the sauce was just a vehicle for the vegetables to be embalmed in, the dough was undercooked and floppy. We didnt finish that either. Other people got food and this is the census: French dip 10.99- Chewy, bland, dry and the chips that came with it were the best thing on the plate. Pork Chop-14.99- Two people got this, noticed that one persons chop was 2 times the size of the other persons. They had no steak knife to cut it only a butter knife and the waitress said they didnt have a real knife so they sawed away at them...they were undercooked and ...you guessed it. BLAND as anything. Chicken Florentine 13.99- Drowning in the "light cream sauce" she said it was like wallpaper paste, she didnt finish it. Herb Roasted Salmon 14.99- Dry, overcooked and she said "it tasted like salmon, nothing special" she didnt finish it. Shrimp and Avocado wraps 8.99- the standard appetizer wrapped in a lettuce leaf, it was too watery, and needed seasoning. I actually watched as she ate it and the amount of "juice" that came out was so wierd ...it got all over her dress..we had to call for club soda. If you design food to be picked up, make sure you can freaking pick it up. AN 18% gratuity was added to our table for being a party of 6 or more. I would never come back here, I wouldnt recommend eating here to anyone. not one of us enjoyed our food, in fact most of us left half of it on our plates. The bride to be, who got the pork chop, covered her plate up with a napkin and turned to me and said "I dont like wasting food but this isnt food" We had a good time cause we are awesome, no thanks to the droll atmosphere and shitty food.
(1)Junjie J.
The food was fast, it is fairly good. The service was 5 out of 5, Kevin and Lance was our waiter.
(4)Rachel S.
Never coming back again. My friend ordered the "blue cheese chips" and when it came out the plate was literally filled with publix potato chips drizzled in balsamic. I got one of the more pricy items on the menu, redfish, no flavor whatsoever. Can't understand how this place has stayed open for so long.
(1)James J.
Nothing is more successful in Gainesville than a snazzy place that does not mind its patrons acting casual. Vello's Brickstreet Grill takes a page from this book and offers a nice atmosphere and a gourmet menu, as well as a hefty price tag if you are not careful. An overall pleasant experience, I fear the limiting factor of this establishment lies in letting the casual environment result in casual service. The Space Vello's sits just south of E. University amongst the lively downtown businesses. As I hinted at previously, everything about the place would indicate you had stepped into the creme de la creme of Gainesville, were you to not understand the golden rule of Gainesville: shorts are always acceptable. Plenty of TVs are stationed throughout and the area is inviting for how large it is. The Service I found the service to be weakest link of the experience: we were a party of 3 coming to celebrate the end of classes and, for me, graduation from UF. One of my friends wanted to come but was not that hungry, and ordered an appetizer instead of going for a meal. She received the appetizer, found the dish very unpalatable, and mentioned this to the server. His first question was: "Did you even try it?" He did wind up eventually comping it and apologizing. Throughout the meal we all found ourselves out of water for a length of time greater than 10 minutes on a less-than-busy night, though this was made more tolerable by the boozy beverages, and when the bill was brought to the table it took almost 30 minutes before the server came back to process the check. All of that said, the man waiting was pleasant throughout the rest of the evening and prompt for other aspects of the meal, like noticing a finished beer and fetching another or checking to see if an item on the menu was out. The Food Everything on the menu appears to be crafted with the integrity of an upscale place, and the price tags certainly match this opinion. I went for a classic Chicken Florentine, and my friends had the aforementioned appetizer (a shrimp and avocado lettuce wrap), the apricot ribs with baked mac-n-cheese, and a molten lava cake. My entree was definitely tasty and there was plenty of it, such that I carried home a hefty portion of leftovers. The chicken came moist in its own right, and the pairing of creamy, rich white sauce with refreshingly bright tomatoes, all atop a bed of pasta, made for an excellent recreation of an otherwise safe menu option. The appetizer obviously has not been cast in a favorable light, nor did I try it. The dish came in the form of 3 beds of lettuce with a shrimp and pico blend with a wedge of fried avocado which I thought looked pretty solid, price not factored in. I cannot comment on the flavor except to say that turning away an item after one bite is usually not a good sign. Next the ribs and mac looked great and my friend, though petite, managed to tackle all but one of the ribs by the night's end. Her main critique was of the mac-n-cheese, which she said was lacking a strong enough cheese presence to justify having a layer of bread crumbs coating the top. Lastly, the gal who could not stomach the wraps decided to aim straight for the desserts, and ordered the molten lava cake. The cake was apparently on the verge of being 86'ed, but we managed to get one to the table and it was very much to my liking: rich, hot, and with a very superb restraint on the sweetness. The outer layer was reported as dry, however, by the one who actually ordered it. PRO TIP 1: Monday and Tuesday you get a free bottle of wine with purchase of two entrees if they are on the same check PRO TIP 2: Checking in with Yelp currently grants $5 off your entire bill without restrictions PRO TIP 3: The lava cake takes 20 minutes to prepare, so factor this into your timeline Final Thoughts I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere of the place but it is apparent that this is factored into how much you are going to pay for the more important parts of eating out. They have a lot of perks to be taken advantage of if you keep your eyes peeled and my experience with the food was really excellent, but even then I felt the intermittent service on a slow Tuesday night held me back from really ever having the chance to be wowed by Vello's. I have not written it off for the future, but I have found similar prices for better service in town, as well as lower prices for a matching food quality and service level.
(3)Rob M.
Been there twice within the last few months; won't be going back. First time, the steaks my wife and I had were really undercooked and both had to go back. I wanted medium well and she wanted medium; we got steaks that were rare as hell. However, she liked one of their salads so we thought we'd try again in the future. Wife has a birthday so I plan to take her out. I mention Vellos and she liked that idea. We arrive around 6 PM, me with cake in hand. We get seated and then were given menus that had smeared print. I ask if they had better menus but was told no, it was because they're doing a menu change or something. Okay, I guess I can deal. Waiter comes, I give him the cake and then order an unsweet tea and a Manhattan with no ice. He seems a bit distracted. I get a sweet tea and a Manhattan with ice. I try and shrug it off but my wife insists that I say something. The waiter finally comes back and I pointed out that the tea was sweet and the Manhattan had ice... he takes both and shortly returns. Again, the tea was sweet and the Manhattan wasn't remade; the ice was just removed and put in a new glass. At this point I say, "I have a bad feeling about this." and asked for the check and the cake back. The waiter made no attempt to retain us as a customer... just went and got the check and the cake. We ended up going next door to Harry's and had great night.
(1)Annie L.
It wasn't completely my favorite Italian place. It'll probably take me a few more tries to make a solid review of this place. Their service wasn't completely up to par but we did have a large party... But there was barely anybody in the restaurant. Anyways, as far as the menu,the salads are gi-Normous. I can't pinpoint a special thing on the menu. There was a lack of interest for most of the menu options. However, nothing was entirely bad but nothing extraordinary great.
(2)Arvind D.
Our food was sub par. The baked brie was not warm, it had a lump of fig jam, and the balsamic reduction was not well done. Then the arugala salad was over dressed. Finished with an under season Tuna. The service lacked a lot to be desired and it was not worth the money. Disappointed because the menu didn't deliver what I thought would be a great meal. With all the options, this would be my last one.
(1)Stephanie R.
I feel like from my last 2 visits, I really need to downgrade my 4 stars, to 2. On one occassion I ordered a flat bread that was supposed to have carmelized onions. Pretty basic concept. The onions on my flat bread were still white and a little slimy. It was kind of gross. Pretty inexcusable. Next time I ordered the chicken and waffles. Love the pancetta butter and the jalapeño waffles, although the waffles came out a bit soggy. It would be nice if they were more crispy. The chicken was also a little too reddish pink close to the bone. Probably too undercooked but I was starving and at that point I figured I had already eaten enough of it for it not to matter. Thankfully I did not get sick. Their drinks are still really good, made with fresh ingredients. Some really unique flavor combinations. Vello's, your quality is slipping.
(2)Robert T.
I'm in the restaurant biz. Service was avg. not good not bad. Adequate & friendly. Food flavor profile was real good. Had baked Brie. Brie & topping was great. The everything crisps were not my fav. Salads, Greek & Arugula were done well. I would like a crunchy element added to the Arugula. Maybe some nut or something. My wife Florentine chicken. Sauce was done very well. Chicken could have bit more moist. Good flavor. My Ribs had a great sauce. Not tender. Not smoked. Mac & cheese sauce broke but the crispy crust on top was spot on. Sweet potato creme brûlée tasted good. Could of had a bit thinner crust. Custard was smooth & good. I would have liked a more custard & less pasty filling. I noted these faults as honest constructive criticism. Give em a shot. Nice place good food.
(3)Jeannine F.
Had lunch with a friend. Menus were faded and hard to read. Friend got the French dip and said it was good. I was undecided between the Reubens and hamburger. Waitress says the Reuben is GREAT so I get that. Corned beef is tough and stringy. I flag down a waiter and say that the meat is hard to chew. He says "what can I say? I didn't cook it." He did offer to bring out something else but we had to get back to work. No offer for discount or any apology. AND when the waitress finally returned she said she had never eaten a Reuben there.. . So why did she recommend it? The parking is atrocious. Had to pay 3 dollars in a garage two blocks away. Won't back.
(3)Mich W.
The wait at Tops was way too long so we drifted around in search of dinner. After trying 2 other places which also had very long wait times, we found Vellos which promised to seat us within about 20 mins. So in spite of the mediocre Yelp rating, we opted to stay, since it was late and we were starving. The hostess was very friendly, kept us informed of how close we were to being seating. We were seated pretty quickly. The ambiance was quite elegant and contemporary. Our waitress seemed friendly enough but obviously stressed. The menu was pretty creative and interesting with items like Triggerfish with Risotto and Porcini-dusted steak etc. and the pricing seemed very reasonable for the type of atmosphere and menu, which In Orlando would be in a higher price range. We asked our waitress her opinion on a steak dish, her reply was quite odd: "Girls like it, because its cut up and you can see in the middle" At first I wasn't sure if that's what she really said, especially since it's been about 4 decades since I was referred to as a girl :) so I said "excuse me?" and she repeated it. Feeling embarrassed to ask again or what she meant I just nodded. My husband and daughter's response were "Huh???" They had heard the same thing, we all tried not to laugh too much, it was such an odd a thing to say. They served the appetizer, before bringing any cutlery to the table, which was a bit like torture as we were so hungry. But as it was Bruschetta (nice presentation, photo uploaded) we started in with hands, since we tried calling to our waitress but she was rushing around here and there without glancing over to us. We had to ask a hostess, who apologized but told our waitress to bring our cutlery which she eventually did, after the entree arrived. My steak was reasonably good, though I did not taste any Porcini flavor, but it was okay. My husband and daughter had the lamb shanks which are supposed to be slow cooked usually till its fall-off-the -bone, since it's naturally a sinewy, tough cut. It was not, so they struggled. These rubbery things refused to be cut, bitten or chewed. They lost the battle and left them mostly intact on the plates. I would not have served this item had it been my restaurant, better to apologize and say you're out of that entree. Also, remind me if I am wrong, but there are inventions called pressure cookers to resort to if they found they had to. The risotto that came with the lamb was also inedible, so strongly seasoned it made your cheeks pucker. Being Jamaican, we tend to like seasoned food, but this was way too much. They also left that on the plate. So at the end of it all, I was fine but my husband and daughter left almost as hungry as they came in.
(2)Brian F.
We came in based on strength of a review on another site. Glad I didn't read the Yelp reviews. Our food was wonderful...everything tastes fresh and warm. Our server was attentive and friendly without being overbearing. The Cuban was not pressed which was a disappointment at first but the flavors quickly made that a forgotten complaint. The Cali flatbread, fried green tomatoes with crab meat, and the beef and cheddar sandwich rocked.
(5)Brad K.
So this was our 2nd time here. The first time we said 'ehh we've had better' Leaving saying we'll back back and we wondered if it would improve. The first first was burgers and appetizers. This visit was flat breads and main entrees. Are they supposed to be know for their flat breads? They were very disappointing. I got the ribeye steak, and on a 1-5 star rating it was a 2. You could tell it was cooked and seared on a flat (non wood or grill) surface. It lacked seasoning and cooked flavor. It was a good cut of meat, it just wasn't anything special. I will not order this again. We received good service. But, we left this time trying to figure out what's good at Vellos. We will be back again, this next time trying yet again other items on the menu. Maybe we'll find something that makes them stand out and they're good at. With all the eateries we have to pick from in Gainesvillle. We don't and won't continue to go out of our way to dine at Vellos. Maybe the 3rd time will be the charm.
(2)Maureen K.
Friendly and prompt service. I lunched al fresco at a cloth-covered table and enjoyed the small city atmosphere. I tried the caprese flatbread which was Huge but unfortunately greasy. Lunch was redeemed by the excellent soup of the day (parsnip bacon!). Apparently the chef enjoys making a different soup every morning based on what is at hand and how inspiration strikes. I hope to return for another lunch or six, and plan to focus primarily on soup, though the menu offers a good range of alternatives. BTW folks at the next table ordered sandwiches which come with fries - sandwiches were also huge, on hoagie roll, and fries looked fresh and crisp. Portions remind you that this is a college town!
(3)RaShelle K.
The tomato soup tastes like tomato paste. The waffles that come with the chicken and waffles were so tough I couldn't cut through them with a knife and the honey balsamic salad dressing was straight oil. Not impressed. We should have tried the flatbread
(1)Darshan P.
We had pretty bad service when we were here. The Bar - Was not crowded, and it took forever to get our drink. And when we did, not enough alcohol. The Food - Took forever to come. When it did come, some came some didn't. It was all cold. The pizza was burnt. The steak was cooked well when we asked medium-rare. We waited so long for food in a somewhat empty restaurant that we ended up asking for a partial refund because we had such a bad experience and the waitresses knew too. The manager said she would comp our next round of drinks - which was irresponsible and unnecessary because we already a couple of rounds while waiting for our food and now she wanted us to drink more on empty stomachs! So then she said she would take off 20% off of our entire order. We get the receipt, they only took 20% off of our food and not drinks. We hope the next time we go back we have a better experience.
(1)Tiara T.
Great food great Atmosphere. Manager Kevin checked to make she service was on par. See Amanda when you go she makes amazing drinks! A true gem in Gainesville.
(5)Antoinette O.
My husband and I enjoyed or lunch here. The atmosphere is nice - beautiful bar and booths/tables. It gives a fine dining feel with good prices. We both had Caesar salads, mine was topped with shrimp and his with chicken. Both salads were delicious as was the fried green tomato appetizer and the side of bread we ordered. Kevin was our server, and his hospitality was impeccable. He was an added bonus to our beautiful meal. The food took a little while to come out, and that's the only reason this review is 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)Brynn G.
We went in on a Sunday afternoon just to get out of the rain, we sat at the bar and ordered the caprese flat bread and a couple drinks and were pleasantly surprised and how amazing the food was. The flatbread was delicious and very fresh. Friendly staff and yummy food. Will be back.
(4)Scott S.
Started with the blue cheese chips and a nice tasty beer and it was all good. Moved on to the sashimi tuna and some whiskey and they paired up great together. Service was great as well. Very friendly and attentive during the night. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Carly R.
After trying and loving many of the appetizers when we were at Vello's for an event, my fiance and I decided to bring our parents here when they were in Gainesville for a visit. The interior is very nice, with an open-concept, loft feel. If you read the menu, you learn that it's called Vello's because the first owner of the original building was surnamed Vello. I love a building with some history. :) We ordered the chips appetizer: potato chips, balsamic vinegar glaze, bacon, goat (or was it bleu?) cheese. Delicious. This was one of the appetizers we had tried before, so we knew it would be good. For entrees, my fiance ordered the jalapeno chicken and waffles, and I ordered the chicken salad croissant. (Looking back, I wish I would have gone with the fig and pig flatbread.) I also ordered the Vello salad instead of the chips that the sandwich comes with. (When you sub a salad for the chips, you can choose from any of their salads, which is cool.) I was very happy with the salad. For a side salad, it was a good-sized portion. It was tasty and not drenched in dressing. The chicken salad, however, was mediocre at best. While the croissant was fluffy and fresh, the chicken salad was bland and dry. It could have benefited from some curry or additional mayonnaise to make it more flavorful and creamy. My fiance's chicken and waffles was pretty good. The chicken was cooked well but was on the dry side. It was mostly tasty, but I think it could have used a little extra flavoring. The waffles were okay. (And I'm comparing this in my head to the Pentecostal chicken and waffles at Southern Charm, which are the best in town, so maybe it's not fair.) My main gripe was that they drizzle the chicken and waffles with maple syrup but do not bring any to the table. It seems like the syrup is more of an afterthought. I would have preferred a little more syrup or perhaps a little cup of it on the side. Unfortunately, my fiance was too chicken (pun intended) to ask for more. Service was good. We went for a late lunch (around 3:00), and someone decided that around 4:00 the music needed to be turned up to 11. Since we were sitting right under the speakers, this was most unnerving, but when asked, the waitress promptly turned it down to about an 8 (still too loud for my taste). Vello's has a great bar area and a nice side room for entertaining larger groups. Given my experience, I most likely would not go back for a meal but would be happy to go back for drinks and appetizers. It's certainly not bad; I just think there is better food in town and downtown.
(3)Jim W.
We were greeted and seated promptly and properly for lunch today. The hostess was very kind and our waitress was very attentive. She knew the menu, did some nice soft sells, and was off to give us a minute to think. Just what I like. Make your presentation then leave. Come back in the right amount of time that isn't too long or too short. She was spot on. Well done! The menu has a nice (but not overwhelming) selection of items for lunch fare. My date and I decided on flatbreads with an appetizer of tomato bisque soup. The bisque came out very quickly. It was very thick and tangy. A little too thick for my palate. It had some dried basil as a garnish on top. I really wished it were fresh. A splash of black pepper made it come together though. It took a few minutes extra for the flatbreads to arrive, but it was well worth it. Wow, what a meal. I had the chicken "el jefe" fajita. It wasn't sizzling from the kitchen like a typical fajita but it was really good. Grilled chicken, guac, onions, cheese, spices, and a host of other yummy ingredients all nicely incorporated on a flatbread. It sure warmed up the cold rainy afternoon that was outside the doors that day. My date had to visit the lavatory and I asked him about its cleanliness. He said it was excellent. I also noted that the floors were near spotless. Even the tabletops had been wiped so that no ring from a leftover waterglass existed. Come to think of it, I didn't find a water stain on my silverware either. Nice. Most lunch items here at Vello at between 9 and 11 bucks. Throw soup and a drink in there and its a $20 lunch. Just be prepared for that. I think the quality of service and the quality of food can command that. Vellos has a nice vibe and its clean! You can also work through the menu with minimal effort and find low fat, low cholesterol, no gluten, meals that are well prepared. I hope you enjoyed my review of Vellos. Please click one of the buttons below to let me know how I can better help you.
(4)Scott T.
For downtown it is a fine stop.
(3)Charlene C.
We went to Vello's on a Thursday night. Martinis are 4.50, but I had the Basil Watermelon Marqueriita. Delicious We started with the bacon wrapped dates. I could have eaten these for my main course. They were that good. We all had steak of some cut and all said theirs was good. We topped it off with the coconut cake! It was delicious. Good service, good food! We'll be back!
(5)Alan W.
Underwhelmed! Waitress had no idea what she was doing. My greek salad with chicken was weak and badly dressed. The Rockin Moroccan flatbread was good, but the herb roasted salmon was overcooked. I give the place a solid, "Meh." No reason to come back.
(3)Anna M.
Hubby and I had lunch here for the first time. Our waiter was pleasant and fast, no complaints there. The food however is another story. We both had salads. My husband had seared tuna on his and I had chicken. Both the fish and chicken had a lack of seasoning. The portions were good just wish it had more flavor. There are other places nearby that we will try before giving this place another chance.
(2)Amy L.
Hubby and I were getting a late start to dinner, so I checked the hours for tonight (Tuesday). Open 'til 11 pm. Good to know! We arrived around 9:15. Food was totally acceptable, nothing special. We shared a wasabi wedge salad, hubby had redfish, I had French dip. Drinks were good. But the vibe from the wait staff was so weird, I'm not quite sure how to explain it. Maybe they had had a long day and were exhausted by the time we arrived. But silverware was missing. Then after his salad, hubby asked for new fork and knife, but the waiter wanted him to hold on to the dirty utensils. (Hubby would have had to place them on the table...or hold them.) And they weren't that busy. Besides hubby and me, there were 3 other tables: a 2-top, a 4-top, and a 10-top. Last but not least, this is a restaurant with a bar, not just a bar with food service, so we were a bit shocked when someone flicked on the bright lights at 10:15. It was like a bar after last call when they want to make it clear it's "time to clear out, folks!" We didn't finish our drinks. The ambiance was ruined. We paid the bill and got out of there without even getting a thank you from our waiter. Very strange vibe. Neither hubby nor I care to return.
(2)Zoe A.
Food was okay. Had the porcini dusted bistro steak which was well cooked but had a very smokey grilled aftertaste which I don't personally care for. Ryan and Lance were great waiters!
(4)Alexa D.
friendly service...i liked that the manager came around to each table to make sure we were having a good experience. I ordered the mahi tacos, which were seasoned well and jammed-packed with flavor. I have never had any fish taco that didn't follow the traditional Mexican flavors and I was pleasantly surprised and I would order it again. My two friends ordered the peach ribs and meatloaf. They were both happy with they choices and our meal was complimented with a free bottle of wine (a deal that came with two entrees). we had a great experience and plan on returning soon!
(4)Emily L.
Note my review is not a commentary on their food. My husband and I planned to eat there for our anniversary on a Sunday night. We called to see if we needed a reservation for an 8pm dinner. They said we didn't. We show up and they decided to close early. They were still there but closed because it was slow... That would have been nice to know before we got there.
(2)Scott T.
For downtown it is a fine stop.
(3)