The TOP

The Top in Gainesvilles Was the Weird, Wonderful Restaurant Where I Always Wanted to Work | Bon Appétit

"A beloved Gainesville neighborhood spot that began in 2000 as a hole-in-the-wall called Footlights in a former five-and-dime, this restaurant is a warm, hodgepodge social destination known for its loyal regulars, raucous annual music-week crowds, and staff-driven traditions like hiding golden baby dolls and late-night DJ sets that spin everything from The Jesus and Mary Chain to Rihanna. Its cozy, character-filled interior (complete with a tiny two-person booth, a carved brown bear lamp, and a spinning-toy logo) has produced memorable moments from celebrity bar sightings to a romantic, candlelit power outage, and it lives up to its tagline—Good Food, Good Folks, Good Times—by serving an eclectic menu that ranges from sweet potato fries and a vegan chocolate layer cake with tofu frosting to macadamia-crusted trout, mushroom ravioli, and 13 different burgers, including the Widow Maker with a chile-espresso rub. Quirky staples like corn nuggets with creamed corn and a creamy garlic dipping sauce, tofu melts with seitan bacon for Fest crowds, the roasted garlic and goat cheese spread, blackened salmon, and an ever-tempting parade of desserts (notably a much-raved-about peanut butter pie, bourbon chocolate torte, and carrot cranberry cake) keep locals coming back; for many staff and patrons it’s more than a restaurant—it’s a formative community and a place of lasting memories." - ByZoë Sessums