Grain & Grog American Tavern

I have never been more impressed about a bar/ restaurant in Gainesville than this place. The chef, Ed takes pride in making what he can from scratch and Mike, one of the owners is very approachable. This is what I've been looking for. It's also family friendly.

Hubs got the burger, he said it was okay. I went with the fish tacos, which were kind of cold and dry. Chips were stale. Great beers on tap, but avoid food. We were here last week and hoped it would get better. Waited for service sitting and checking out.

Food: excellent. I love the pared down menu. The sandwich was brought out quickly and the fries are some of the best in the area. Loved the decorations that they had up for Halloween. I love a restaurant that doesn't take themselves too seriously. But i had to ding them a little: our server forgot about us and we sat there forever until the bartender took pity and brought us drinks. Also (and I get it: they're a sports bar), the nose level from the televisions was a little above and beyond since there were only a couple folks in the restaurant and none of them were watching the teles. Will definitely go back though!

We had the best experience today for brunch/lunch. Our waitress was so friendly and on top of everything at all times from re-fills to even if we needed the TV changed to a specific football game. The buffalo wings, crab and artichoke dip, and Mac and cheese were all great. It was such a nice lunch and we so enjoyed everything.

Went in late on a Sunday with a party of 7, including 4 small kids because of the reviews and due to being open until 11p on a Sunday. We were immediately met by the manager/bartender for drinks and menus. The waitress gave great food recommendations. The manager checked on us twice as well. A couple minute drive from Haymarket Iceplex if you're nearby for a game. Exceptional service. Excellent place to watch sports. Laid back crowd with great food, and 15 beers on tap. The manager is clearly a pro.

Really big fan of this spot for drinks and apps. Every cocktail I've tried has been great, and I'm a huge fan of the bacon wrapped dates. If you have kids, there's a playground across the street. If you sit next to the window, you can watch your kids while you wait for food. Big win for the whole family.

Nice American restaurants / bar, has a short menu but a good compliment of items. Could be hard to find if you don't know where to look for it. it's nestled amongst a bunch of other shops.

Came with husband and our young adult. Great atmosphere. Had a Velvet Breeze made by Steven. Best drink I’ve had in a while. I had the tavern burger, we also order stuffed mushrooms, wings, and the pork schnitzel special. Everything was outstanding. Would drive here from Stafford again for a meal. Loved it!

This is the best place to eat at their wings are well done and well seasoned .The food came out very quick and It was still hot.

Ambience= Awesome! Drink= Delish! Food= Fantastic! Service= Stupendous! Don't miss going here!

Nice place for drinks and bar food, menu is good, but small'ish. We sit at the bar most visits, the bartenders are very accommodating with their cocktails and always willing to make the customer happy. The atmosphere is good, louder with a crowd and live music on the weekends. Nice selection of beers and Guinness on draft! We've had tacos, French onion soup, burgers, wings, crab dip, fish, pork schnitzel (Oktoberfest menu), all good, not great. The downside is the men's restroom is always a mess, the exit area near the restroom is an outside smoking area and it's not maintained, office chairs on wheels sitting outside for smokers. It's a residential area, it looks tacky and the residents don't want to see that mess in their neighborhood! The neighbors may not patronize the restaurant due to their lack of exterior housekeeping. Not being critical, it's minor stuff but details matter when you want new customers and existing customers to return.

My fiancé and I grabbed a quick lunch here on the last day of our dance class next door at Arthur Murray! Well, we had walked past this location a few times before I couldn't quite figure out the hours. It always seemed closed? Or at least dark. We started with the buffalo chicken dip. Super good blend of creamy and spicy with enough chips to dip. We were very pleasantly surprised by our main meal too. My fiancé opted for the cheesesteak which had burrata!! Very different as far as classic cheesesteaks go but he ate every bite with gusto! I opted for the grilled wedge salad. I actually thought it was executed really well. I really enjoyed it. They put some crunchy pie nuts on top a yummy balsamic glaze and while it was literally just one head of Romaine lettuce, cut into grilled and plated with delicious toppings I did somehow walk out full. I also tried their beverage, called the siren. Very light and refreshing!! This business is absolutely worth a try if you are in the Gainesville area. Plenty of regulars were laughing and enjoying their time here with a beer and friends. The staff was very personable and kind which made for a good environment!

We love Grain & Grog! Everything we've eaten there has been delicious and they have great cocktails. They also have a lot of beer options. Their portions are big and we have yet to try something we didn't like.

What a hidden gem in Haymarket! The food was really good. I enjoyed the wings and fries!The live music was a nice spin however, if made the restaurant very noisy so I had trouble hearing my friend who I had a meal with. My server was amazing!! The service was really fast as well!

The restaurant is tucked into the corner of a shopping center. My friend and I arrived at 4p on a Sunday. We were seated promptly and our drink orders taken. I had The Siren for $12 (citroc peach with lemon, agave simple syrup, soda water & lemon zest). I expected it to be ok but it was absolutely delicious! My friend had Chardonnay (not sure which) which she enjoyed. I had the shrimp & pork belly skewers for $16. They had a tasty sweet-ish glaze (yum-yum sauce!) and were served on Napa slaw. I paired them with the charred romaine salad ($14) with bacon, pine nuts, and a balsamic glaze and olive oil drizzle. The salad was really tasty, and the only charge I would make is a bit more balsamic. There was enough of the 2 dishes to fill me up and bring half home. My friend had the fried pickle chips ($9) and seared salmon bulgogi ($28). She liked both but especially the pickle chips (a sizable order). She also took 1/2 her salmon home plus cheesecake to go which she said was really good. Service: Everyone was extremely attentive. Every worker who passed our table stopped to help us, ask us if we needed anything, ask us we we were enjoying. The woman at the front desk was cleaning menus. The bathroom was clean. Ambiance: It was a bit noisy as the afternoon wore on and the restaurant got busier. It was almost too loud to hear my friend speaking by the time we left. I noted that they have live music Friday & Saturday nights, so those would not be the times for me to return - which I will. The chairs were hard wood but comfortable enough. I wish Yelp gave 1/2 stars as I would have given another 1/2. The noise was the only reason for less than 5 stars. We enjoyed the drinks, food, and service and will definitely be back!

First time trying Grain and Grog. Excellent staff...outgoing, attentive, and quick. Restaurant has a neat ambiance (cozy) and a solid bar with nice TVs. Food was great too...had the Tavern burger. Their in house root beer was out of this world. Definitely recommend trying Grain and Grog. We will be back!

The service was excellent and the chicken finger appetizer is delicious. You should definitely get it. The stuffed mushrooms were great as well. I look forward to trying more items.

Bottom line - the 3.5 star yelp ratings is really unfair. This is solidly a 4* and maybe that's the problem. The food was excellent! It was Flavorful, unique, and well presented. The beer was cold and they had many many great local options. The cocktail menu was amazing. Service was as expected for the area. The restaurant was casual. But here's the thing their prices are way too high...about 20-30% too high for what the food is. And here in lies the problem the perception of value is lost. The salad in the picture was $15, add a $8drink, and tip your meal is over $30 for a lunch salad. Get a second drink you are nearing $45. The value was missing for the price point. Even though the food was good. Let's bring it home...when you have the price that high you have to generate the perception of value. So the very solid 4* can't get a 5* and gets dragged down by a few annoying posts.

Recommendations from the NoVa Foodies Group did not disappoint. Dinner at Grain & Grog was excellent. Service was on point. Atmosphere was laid back. Will definitely visit again!

Food was excellent. Portions are ample, staff attentive and courteous. Waitress was willing to put Hockey Game for enthusiast.

Glad I got to make it here as there's been a lot of buzz about this place. Grain & Grog did not disappoint and both Jessie, the owner and Ryan provided exceptional service. Poutine was off the hook and everything was delicious. My Monte cristo was one of the best I have had in a while and their mac & cheese was superb. More importantly, Grain & Grog is filling a void by being Gainesville's new farm-to-table restaurant.

Good food, atmosphere, friendly bartenders. They care about their craft and how they do things.. impressed and delighted. To bad they are 3 hours away from home. They are tucked away in a shopping center but worth the search and find. Will be back again when coming through from DC

We always sit at the bar and we love it here! Any day of the week is fun and the bartenders are super friendly. When we first went we didn't expect there to be live music but they have some GREAT musicians that come here.

We absolutely love this new watering hole with a great atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food. The crab dip is the best I've had and fried pickles are another go to! We've tried a lot of dishes but tend to have our favorites such as the burger and wings.

GUYS! If you havent been yet - you're missing out! They have been open a little over 2 months now. Their menu and drink selction are top notch! OMG the Rueben DAVOON. And the aesthetic of place It's moody with beautiful wood accents throughout. But I have to say the staff was the icing on the cake! Shoutout to Mikey & the guys that came all the way from Cali to help open this place up See yall soon!

Everything great about a restaurant/tavern is right here in this hidden gem. I recommend you come hungry. Di not pass on that amazing Creme Brulee

Absolutely fantastic service, food/drinks and experience! Went out last night for dinner to the restaurant / bar, and had a wonderful time there. The staff were amazing and friendly; they were attentive and super helpful recommending different drinks and food. Their wings are one of the best I've had. They had live music last night, and it was great not having to scream to hold a conversation - as it was not overly loud. The artist was talented and enjoyable. I highly recommend trying it out. They have a great menu with lots of options. The other folks that were there were also complimenting the food, service and quality! Will definitely be back.

I had 2 Partly Cloudy IPAs and left my credit card on the table. It's good beer! I had the Buffalo chicken sandwich. Tasted good. Next time I'll ask them to make it more spicy! Great fries and pleasant atmosphere. Live music too.

Sorry, I really wanted to like this place given the concept and location were perfect. After 3 visits, the last being a Thursday night @7pm, I don't plan to come back. Food is fairly good, if you ever get to order it. Service is absolutely horrible. you may get greeted and then have to flag down server just to order. Last visit finally got an order in and never saw my server again, had to flag down someone after 40 min of waiting for the bill, Bill delivery was a problem on all three visits. We were not rushed, leisurely 90 minutes. They may claim to have staffing issues, but what I saw were sufficient people for a half empty room, but confusion and idle chatting. It was not the kitchen at fault. They need systems for follow-up with guests, but a real clue is an empty glass at the end of the table. 2 visits, I never got the chance to order a second beer with dinner. Odd problem at a tavern. I predict a closure on the horizon as guests drift away and don't return.

Food, ambience, service, and music is always great. I've had more meals than I can remember here not all have been amazing but all have been great. Pricing could be a little lower but understandable and competitive with other local franchises and restaurants. Hate seeing negative reviews from folks only visiting once so thought I'd add my review here and usually don't. Hoping some of the specials become a little less expensive but love the food and people thus far at this new local restaurant just love it.

Great attentive service and great conversation with the staff. Meatball appetizer is awesome and a great value. Monte Cristo was unique!!

We were exited to try G&G last weekend but didn't end up staying because they quoted a 2 hr wait despite open picnic tables, which we completely get because of staffing. We reached out to management and they said they were working on it and to try them again. We came early tonight to try out the restaurant and were excited! There were issues with the food... 1. Mozzarella sticks were cold in the middle 2. Salad was missing the dressing. Replacement dressing that was brought out was almost solid and not pourable. Salad also had bagged cheese on it. 3. Kids burger was burnt to a crisp Waiter felt super bad and was nice enough to take things off the check. Overall, not great food. And on the way out, I overheard them telling people that there was a 2 hr wait despite open picnic tables and a bunch of staff behind the counter. If I had a restaurant I'd want as many people there as possible. I really wanted them to succeed and had been exciting while waiting the past 6 months. First impressions are important and the one they left with me and other folks I know is NOT positive. Hopefully they turn it around.

We chose G & G to celebrate my birthday with friends. We had a fantastic experience and the food was AMAZING! Every food item we received was full of flavor and great portions. The drinks were fantastic and you can't beat the customer service and overall ambience! Highly recommend!! We traveled from over an hour and will continue to do so for this great place! Pictures are of the Teriyaki wings, Tavern Burger, and Lump Crab & Shrimp Carbonara. We also had mozzarella sticks, and cheesecake but at those too fast! Haha

Great food and service. Very comfortable. A nice place to watch the game and grab a bite.

Don't bother unless you have 3 hours to kill to get dinner with your 4 & 6 year old. Lots of hair in their salads. Good luck getting a waiter to acknowledge you. Pass on this place.

Service and food were great, will be back in the near future if I visit Virginia again.

Service was SO nice and attentive, our server was Ryan and he was great. Food was really good no complaints

I was excited to try this place but it was very underwhelming. First I will say I loved the atmosphere which had a cozy feel. I was there on a Saturday night and they had an acoustic guitar player who was very good. The service was slow, which is understandable because they just opened and i know the kinks have to be ironed out. When we sat we were immediately met by our server who got our drinks. Then two other servers came by for drink orders, then we sat...and sat. It took a while to take our food order. Two things we ordered they were out of, which again i understand for a new place. Never checked on us after we got our food. Never asked if we needed condiments. Never brought our water and a friend had to ask multiple times for a straw. My husband settled on charred romaine. It was not charred and I'm sure it never made it to the grill. Then he ordered chicken wings which were already getting cold. One wing came out with feathers still on it. Im not sure how it even made it to a plate or even the fryer but it was so off putting he couldn't finish them. It is going to be a good while before we give this place another try.

Another great evening and meal at Grain and Grog! Service is on point. Super friendly and helpful. Another fun musician that adds to the atmosphere on a Friday evening. And of course, very good food

My husband and I tried Grain & Grog for the first time 2 nights ago. I ordered this Lemon butter chicken over Jasmine rice with a side of steamed broccoli. The meal was so bland and lacked seasoning. It appeared that my chicken breast was boiled, then seared to give it grill marks and a squeeze of lemon juice on top (that's it, no other seasoning); the rice had no taste and the broccoli was crunchy. My husband said his meal (pork chops) were just o.kay. We ordered to-go for my kids, chicken wings and chicken tenders and they said it was also not good. This is one place I'd never go to again.

We arrived when they open at 3pm Monday and Tuesday. Other days it's 11am. Clean, nice decor and atmosphere. Welcomed by several staff. They seem happy working there and work together. We ordered the Crab dip with crostini bread, onion rings and a Monte Cristo sandwich with raspberry jam and fries. Absolutely everything was exceptional. The crab dip was thick, creamy and had a wonderful balance of flavors. The onion rings were lightly breaded and not greasy and perfectly cooked. The Monte Cristo sandwich wasn't deep fried but was grilled on both sides then finished in the oven. It was flavorful and came with raspberry jam as it should. I honestly don't eat a lot of fries but theirs are delicious! I asked for ranch to dip them in and they have better ranch than most any other restaurant. I did eat most of them. My sis may have stolen a few. All the staff worked together to make sure our food was good and we were impressed with how happy they all appeared to be. I'll definitely do the drive to eat there again. I had someone tell me that they had the best burger they've ever had there. (Tavern Burger). I'm persnickety about burgers so I'm looking forward to trying it out!

Stopped in here for dinner after hearing a number of good things. We were greeted and seated promptly and fortunately beat the dinner rush as the place was full by 6 PM. We tried the buffalo chicken dip which was fantastic. We also shared a salad and the chicken lettuce wraps. The wraps were tasty but a bit dry. The salad was fantastic. Service was excellent We will definitely return and check out some of the beer options as well as explore the dinner menu.

Absolutely horrible experience all around. Came in on a crowded weekend & were told we had to wait because they didn't have enough staff to clear the dirty tables. So you're waiting looking at dirty tables all around. Finally got seated and our waitress took our drink order & brought them out just fine. She then took our food order. And that was the last we saw of her. Because she was clearly assigned to start making drinks behind the bar after that. We watched as at least 5 other tables received their food & drink refills before us that had been seated after us. After about an hour she came over and in a surprised manner asked if everything was ok. When we informed her that we'd really like the food we ordered she seemed surprised. I guess at that point she went and put our order in since she clearly forgot. The mediocre food finally arrived. Let me just say if you can't serve a grilled cheese with melted cheese you really shouldn't pass yourself off as a restaurant. How much more basic can you get? The rest of our food was also very bad. The only positive was that another server ended up comping our food without even being prompted as he could see what a disaster it was. Blech. I will never waste my money at this fake trying to be cool local farm to table dump ever again. What a scam

We Were so excited to go here opening week but it wasn't meant to be. Maybe the universe was telling us something because when we were able to get in to eat, the food was bad... like REALLY inedible and 3 out of the 5 of us got bad diarrhea... for days!!! Sorry, I love to support local businesses but not at the expense of our health.

The chicken salad was over priced. Lettuce, a few sliced cucumbers, a few sliced cherry tomatoes, and a sprinkle of cheese was $20. The chicken was dry. The hostess that took my order was nice. I won't be back.

Had such a great experience here. I ordered the Reuben and it honestly hit the spot--super flavorful, perfectly toasted, and just the right amount of messy. The bartender was so sweet and friendly, and she made an amazing espresso martin. The place itself is really cute, cozy vibes without being over the top. Definitely coming back.

I wanted to love it. I got the chicken dinner and the chicken was overcooked and so dry. There was zero flavor to it. I had to ask for bbq sauce to dip it in just to be able to eat it. My husband had the salmon which he said was ok. I can't see myself going back.

My friend and I stopped in here for lunch today and we split the Rueben and Monte Cristo sandwich. Both were fantastic and the fries were perfectly crispy. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and look forward to coming back.

Everything was amazing! Food, service and atmosphere were all phenomenal! Highly recommend.

Great new place! Had lunch there while watching football. Ton of staff that were super attentive, drinks and food were solid! Looking forward to going back.

The food quality was mixed between good and so so. The prices were also mixed between reasonable and too high. Service was quick and friendly.

They try hard, but the food is just not very good. Burger was over-salted. The salmon lacked flavor. The place is new, so hope they improve.

This place is fantastic! It is operated by the OWNERS and that makes all the difference. While customer service in the restaurant industry seemed to have disappeared during the COVID pandemic, it's in full swing at Grain and Grog! This approach to business can be felt as soon as you walk through the door. The atmosphere is warm, inviting and friendly and I always seem to run into someone I know. I have been here 6 times since they opened a few weeks ago and have had nothing but GREAT service and GREAT food! For lunch, the Monte Cristo and Rueben are a must try. For dinner, the Pork Chops, the Salmon and the Seafood Carbonara are, by far, superior to any other restaurant that I have tried. Being a new business with lots of interest, there can be a wait, but it's worth it! I will be back, most assuredly!

So glad there is a great cozy bar in Gainesville the owners and staff make you feel like you are at home even when they are extremely busy we will return!

Service was fast and friendly, the ambiance was as the name says "tavern". Comfortable and laid back. I love the location. You literally are at a neighborhood tavern. Ok the best for last, the food was amazing. We had the Macaroni and Cheese balls, Lettuce Wrap and the Monte Cristo. I have only found one Monte Cristo better and that was Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. That being said they are two completely different since the Cheddar's one is a batter dipped and fried while Grain & Grog is the traditional bread dipped in egg layered with meats and cheese. Both served with a raspberry compote of jam and dusted with powdered sugar. I have had many from different places and I have to say this one in number two on my list. The prices were also pretty great comparatively speaking. They also have one of the largest children's menu I have seen. This is a must eat at restaurant.

We dined here a few weekends ago and found it very clean and inviting. The layout of the restaurant is a little peculiar as it is shaped like an "U" and you cannot see from one side to the other without walking the bend. However, this did not affect our experience in the least. The server was friendly and actually had a personality that was inviting. We tried the buffalo chicken dip for an appetizer and it was a fantastic combo with tortilla chips and ranch dip. I would be hard pressed not to order it again on our next visit! For lunch we split a Cajun bacon chicken Sammy and it did not disappoint, fries were good enough no complaints. We appreciated the super clean place, industrial look with concrete floors and steel furniture with mixed wood tones. Nice TVs at the bar and a great selection of craft brews! This first visit was just the start, we will be back many more times to come!

while I understand this is a new establishment, my husband and I decided to try them for the time tonight. We placed our food ordered and waited. And waited, and waited. After an hour, we gave up and left. The staff behind the bar were waiting on tables too and they seemed to be more interested in getting out the drink orders than the food orders. I don't know that we'll go back.