George’s At Phil Nicks

I’ve been eating here off and on since 1973. I think one of the original partners passed away but it’s still a great place to eat. You won’t leave here hungry, I assure you. I would give it six stars if I could.

I thought I had already reviewed. Please excuse… Newbie…
Buffet style service for some foods such as chicken and yellow rice which was what I had.
The yellow rice was quite tasty. The chicken (I got mostly wings somehow) was ok, but lacked the overall goodness that the rice had. The chicken was off the bone tender, but tasted like it had been roasted a little too long and began to pick up the flavor of the bones as they breakdown. Not off-​putting, but just enough to notice. This could easily have been corrected by marinating prior to cooking.
All in all though, pretty decent for under 8 $ in downtown. I’ll be back!

Great BBQ, unlike any othe in Gainesville. Their grill sandwiches are also great. A charming little place.

How a place can exist right under out noses and never be tried is beyond me. George’s at Phil-​Nicks is right across the street from The Top and next to The Atlantic (both of which are frequented regularly by my circle of friends), yet I’ve never met one person who has eaten there. Their window claims in an understated manner that it’s «a good place to eat,» yet I would have no way of knowing. All that changed today, however, as I ventured inside to reveal its secrets to you!
First off, a little history lesson: Phil and Nick were Italian and Greek (respectively) dudes who opened a restaurant ages ago. They sold it to George in 2004 and he runs it to this day. George is apparently mad enough to have the lofty goal of specializing in Soul, Greek, Italian, Cuban, and American food.
One step inside the door and you’re immediately transported to the 1950s.
The kindly older woman behind the counter was even wearing a hair net! Their menu has fixed items, but also features a daily selection of freshly prepared hot dishes served cafeteria style.
They did have vegetables and rice, but I was more in the mood for a lunch item, so I tried the bare bones basic option, the cheese sandwich.
The choices for bread were plain old yet timeless white and wheat. I got wheat, toasted, with all three cheeses (provolone, cheddar, and swiss), tomato, lettuce, pickle, and mayo. I was expecting it to be decent, but nothing spectacular. How wrong I was, as this little simple gem came out chock full of deliciousness. I’m not sure what kind of cheeses they used, but they had some sharpness and flavor that exceeded my expectations.
I honestly had a really good time eating here all by myself in a completely different era. I only wish they had a soda fountain to complete the mood.
I’ll definitely go back!

If you want great, fresh, Southern food in Gainesville, this is the place. It is a gem from a different era, and it is the real deal. My wife’s family is from Gainesville, and we frequently visit. I used to live in New Orleans, a place that has several family owned eateries like this.
Phil-​Nicks has the atmosphere, authenticity and charm often lacking today in Florida. It is a one of a kind. There is nothing else is like it in Gainesville. It represents part of the soul of Gainesville, an institution that locals have been frequenting for over thirty years.
We are talking fresh produce, dishes like yellow rice and chicken, crab cakes, collard greens, and jambalaya. I just had country ham with grits, fresh eggs cooked to order over easy, fresh biscuits, and a side of yellow summer squash that tasted like they were just picked from the garden. It could not have been any better. The ribs are also great.
But do not expect fancy. Go to Starbucks if you want a latte. The place is low-​keyed, cafeteria style, but is correspondingly reasonably priced. There was not even a line or place on the credit card slip for a tip. The owners care about the food and are on-​site. Located in a beautiful building near the corner of Main and University, the interior is warm and charming with high ceilings and brick walls. It matches up well with the old-​school cooking, clean and classic but not overdone.