224 reviews
#1 of 64 Restaurants in Gainesville$$ - $$$, American, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options+1 940-612-4782+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Tue
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wed
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thu
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Fri
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sat
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Ratings and reviews
4.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
CUISINES
American
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
features
Is this restaurant appropriate for Kids?
Details
About
Sarah's On The Square, located in the restored Grand Central Saloon in Gainesville's historic downtown square, offers a unique spin on comfort food favorites. With a warm, historic and family-friendly atmosphere, a friendly staff, and of course, fantastic food, you'll feel right at home here at Sarah's. From artisan salads to chicken fried steak to burgers and fries, you'll find just what your tastebuds desire. Make sure to save room for our delicious homemade desserts! We also have catering options -- call and inquire today!
CUISINES
American
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
224 reviews
Excellent
149
Very good
47
Average
16
Poor
9
Terrible
3
Reilly1104
Denton23 contributions
Feb 2021 • couples
My husband and I stayed February 13th at The Shady Lady as a short weekend getaway, and booked a reservation for dinner that night. Despite the cold front and snow storm on the way, the restaurant went above and beyond to provide a beautiful romantic atmosphere, fantastic food, and even had a few special cocktails for the occasion. Although the steak and chicken with our sides was filling enough, we couldn't resist trying one of the desserts they had on display. Our waitress was exceptional and friendly, giving us great service along with some fun history about the building and its origins. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and look forward to visiting again!
Written March 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna H
Thank you for the wonderful review. We are so glad that you had the chance to enjoy such a special evening with us. Our desserts are our favorites, so we're happy you saved some room to try them! We hope to see you again soon.
Written March 12, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jrmlcow
Grand Rapids1 contribution
May 2020 • none
Called with a last minute request for a bridal lunch and they took care of everything. They provided a menu that was exactly what we wanted and had the details arranged with just one phone call. This could have turned into a huge hassle and stressful situation but they made it easy and provided everything we needed. I even made a last minute addition to the order and they were very accommodating and I coiuldn't have been happier with their service.
Written June 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
missolivias
Jrmlcow, Thank you SO much for choosing us to cater for your bridal luncheon! We're incredibly glad to hear that we exceeded your expectations.
Written October 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wander Woman
Daytona Beach Shores1126 contributions
Dec 2020 • none
Wonderful lunch today!I had the chicken enchiladas which were really yummy and my daughter had the chicken spaghetti and she likes that a lot. Sadie our server was very helpful in accommodating food allergies and was very friendly. We stop here every time we are in the area and always have a lovely lunch.
Written December 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna H
Thanks for coming in! We're glad you enjoyed your meal and our staff. We hope you'll come again soon!
Written January 4, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
D K
Austin9 contributions
Jun 2023 • couples
My wife and I went here for lunch on a Friday afternoon around 1 PM, past the peak lunch crowd. My expectations were just another diner with ordinary food. I was pleasantly surprised to learn otherwise, this place was/is fantastic! It's an historic saloon/brothel converted into a restaurant and B&B. The building is quaint, lovely, and well decorated inside. The tables are well separated creating a sense of space and privacy. The dining room has high ceilings, the lighting is great, and the waitstaff is attentive, engaging, and pleasant. The feature dish that day was hamburger steak with mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. Each item was expertly prepared, seasoned, and presented. The food was delivered quickly and served piping hot. I've been walking this planet for many decades now and I can truly say that it's the best small town dining experience in my lifetime. Even more amazing is how reasonably priced it was. At $12 it cost little more than fast food to eat in a clean beautiful dining room with service from cheerful people that seemed to enjoy that they work there. It exceeded my expectations in pretty much every dimension of dining experience. I'll be back.
Written June 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna Hertel
We are so happy to hear that your experience at our historic saloon-turned-restaurant exceeded your expectations in every way! We're delighted that every aspect of your visit was enjoyable and we're honored to be considered the best small town dining experience of your lifetime. We can't wait to welcome you back for another fantastic meal!
Written June 30, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Florida50Couple
23 contributions
Jun 2021 • none
Close enough to I-35 to make a pit stop and enjoy a great lunch! On the way back from the Winstar Casino, (only 15 min away!).. stopped here for a great lunch of Quiche for me and Quesadilla's for my wife.. both were outstanding, and loved the old time ambiance of the place. Going to be a regular stop when we travel near gainsville. Quiche comes with Sarah salad (feta, green apple, pecan) for $10.88 and the Quesadilla was about $9.95 with chicken mushroom onion and cheese..
The staff is friendly and attentive as a bonus.. get there early.
Written June 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna H
Thank you for stopping by on your way home! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed the meal and our charming restaurant. We hope to see you again on future trips!
Written July 2, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PatriotGal
Fayetteville330 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
Have wanted to eat here for years but timing has never worked out. Loved the old-west, Victorian atmosphere. Menu is interesting - how often do you see chicken spaghetti on a restaurant menu? I went with that since it seems to be a specialty and it was very good, nice and creamy but not enough chicken. I enjoyed Sarah's salad but ordered blue cheese dressing which was excellent. My daughter ordered their quiche and did not find it to be filling. Service was good but they did not have tables spaced out enough for the virus protocols. I'm glad I finally made it but am not in a rush to return. Heads up: not an easily accessible place. It is on the courthouse square with high steps down to street parking. Someone in a wheelchair or walker would have a difficult time.
Written July 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
missolivias
PatriotGal, thank you for your review. We hope to go above and beyond the next time you visit us! Our protocol for ensuring tables are spaced includes us reducing seating to 50% fire capacity. As well, the best way to access our building for wheelchairs/walkers is to enter the sidewalk at the handicap-accessible corner of Elm and Commerce. We hope to see you again soon!
Written October 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marla B
McKinney23 contributions
Jul 2022 • none
I'm writing this in the spirit of constructive criticism as I understand the restaurant business is HARD. In late July I met 3 friends here for a special occassion. Service was really bad. Food was marginally good; edible but nothing to rave about. At the suggestion of our server, I ordered the chicken spaghetti and it was fairly bland/flavorless. Maybe I just got a bad scoop out of the pan. Supposedly it's a "top favorite" but I can't understand why and only ate about half of my food. One of my friends ordered a simple sandwich, and did not get what she ordered. When mentioned to the server after a lengthy delay to check on us, we got a blank look and no offer to replace with what was actually ordered. I don't understand the hype of this place.
Written September 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna H
Marla, we are sad to hear about this experience. We strive for top quality food and service-- both of which seemed to have been lacking on your visit with us. We certainly appreciate the feedback from you and will share this with our staff in the kitchen and on the floor. We hope you'd be willing to give us another try in the future so that you can understand the hype and love of Sarah's on the Square!
Written September 22, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrea D
Oklahoma City3 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
Cute little restaurant inside. Service was great, everyone was super friendly. I had the chicken spaghetti and the pasta was great, the chicken was dry but the waitress and manager were very attentive and fixed the problem. My husband had the burger and he said it was very good. We also had the sopapilla cheesecake bar and it was delicious.
Written October 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna H
Thank you for visiting us! We're so happy you stopped in. Thank you for your feedback and for letting our staff know of any issues. We're happy we were able to fix that for you and can't wait to have you in soon.
Written October 22, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brandon N
1 contribution
Jul 2022 • family
My wife, child and I stopped here to grab a bite. It was self seated and we waiting for about 10 minutes before we were even acknowledged. The staff acted like they could care less to be there. Once our server approached to take our drink order my wife ordered a sprite and I did as well, the waitress somehow mistook my drink for a water, looked at me and said water then walked away. She then comes back with two waters. I’d post her name here but she never cared to introduce herself either. Another couple came in after we did, they were greeted enthusiastically by our server and offered the special menu and got their drink order taken. As we are waiting for our food order to be taken, the other couple gets to order first. Then we got to order. Not to mention she was much happier to serve them, gave them more recognition, hell they even got straws! We didn’t get offered anything, not a kids menu, not straws, not even a high chair or anything. We get our food and as far as anything good goes into this review, it’s the food. Their food is amazing. The service needs major attention. Anyways, we get asked once how our food was once, and the other couple gets asked three times! My wife and I have never felt more disregarded in a restaurant ever. Oh, and my wifes salad had a hair in it. Needless to say we will not be back here and we will not be recommending this place to anyone.
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna H
Brandon, we are sorry that you did not receive top-quality service when dining with us. We strive to provide all of our guests with great food and service, and appeared to only have lived up to half of those expectations. We are sorry that you felt mistreated and will have a word with our team to prevent this from happening to any future guests, even during our busiest rushes. We felt that we corrected the drink issue promptly and brought you what you ordered. We were not aware of any hairs in the salad and noticed that the full salad was eaten and to-go containers were asked for for the remainder of the meal. Had this been brought up to our team, we would have happily corrected the situation.
We appreciate your feedback and we’re sorry that this visit did not meet your expectations. Please reach out to our owner at 940.665.5239 so she can make it right.
Written July 12, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
busyDsweetness
Dallas219 contributions
Oct 2020 • family
Wonderful lunch! All homemade soups, salads, sandwiches. The chicken salad was delicious-it had grapes and green onions. Yummy peach tea too. We would have tried the desserts but were in a hurry. They looked divine. I recommend!
Written October 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
missolivias
Thanks for the great review! We love all of our homemade meals and are glad you did too! Come visit us again soon.
Written November 23, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lynde
3 contributions
Mar 2021 • none
What a great time we had at Sarah's. There was a group of 13 of us and Donna and staff never missed a beat. The service was great and the food was better. If you want a great meal at a great price in a historic building, Sarah's on the Square should be on your list of places to visit.
Written March 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna H
Hi Lynde, we're so glad you dined with us! Thank you for your kind words about our business. We're glad you enjoyed everything and hope to have you again soon.
Written March 30, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Vicki T
143 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
My husband and I went there for the first time, and we enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant. Our waitress was also very friendly and that made it more enjoyable. We both really enjoyed their rolls , especially the last batch that came fresh from the oven, and we loved their appetizer. They were the "white Wings" and they had a very unique and delightful flavor to them. We would order them again and I believe this is the first restaurant we've ever been to who offered them. They came with ranch dressing and I would give their ranch dressing a five 5 , it was really good.. My husband had the short ribs and he really enjoyed those. He would give them a five 5 and said they were very flavorful and absolutely delicious. I believe he enjoyed every drop of it. I had the lobster ravioli and truly was not very crazy about it. I had a lobster ravioli in vodka sauce from a family-owned Italian restaurant before and it was absolutely delicious and I guess I'm looking for more of that flavor profile. I didn't eat that much of what I ordered, and brought the rest home. In their defense, I've had an absolutely delicious one before and so these did not come close, and I'm not a monsoon lobster lover, more of a shrimp and crab lover, but somebody else might really like them.
We did very much enjoy the ambience of the restaurant and would go there again when traveling through there.
Written April 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl H
Arlington203 contributions
Aug 2024 • family
My family stayed in Gainesville overnight to attend a show at the Lucas Oil auditorium across the border in Oklahoma. We had dinner here & it was good as a non-chain eatery. The food was good'ole Southern cooking. I had the brisket which had a good portion size. It was busy & our waitress let us know a large party had been seated ahead of us so our dinner was a bit slow. Would come again if I am back in Gainesville.
Written August 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BRADY S
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • couples
I have never had prime rib served cold and burnt at the same time. I ordered medium rare and it was tough. My girlfriend ordered pecan chicken and said it was cold and tasted sweet. I asked for a glass of water three times, never got it.
Written September 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna Hertel
Hi there - thank you for providing your feedback and letting us know about the issues you encountered with our food and service. We set a high standard for ourselves and are truly sorry to hear that standard was not met during your visit with us. Please get in touch with us on (940) 612-4782 and we'd be happy to help you out.
Cheers,
Sarah’s On the Square
Written September 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tom076
3 contributions
Dec 2023 • couples
Back again in 12/2023. Same as before
always excellent food, service, and atmosphere.
We live 70 miles away, but we still come to Sarah’s a few times a year. We’ve never been disappointed. If someone gives an average or poor review for Sarah’s On The Square, they are to be pitied since they lack the capacity to appreciate quality.
Written December 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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