Restaurants near Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

This was my first time visiting Chophouse Thirteen. We were welcomed immediately when we walked in. From the minute we walked in and then taken to our table I became even more excited. The decor of the restaurant is beautiful but then the smell of the food hit me. Wow! Everyone we encountered was super friendly. The food we had was incredible!! My only disappointment was the portions are so large, I never ordered an entree. We started with the Chop Chop Shrimp and Lobster Chowder. I couldn’t eat anything more. If you have not been, I highly recommend it!

We went on Thanksgiving, our first time not being hosts and cooks to a crowd. I was a little afraid with just the two of us it might be a downer. The place was buzzing, staff were beyond friendly, smiling and sharing Thanksgiving wishes. Even customers at other tables were friendly. We started with the butter nut squash soup and the warm flavors were like Thanksgiving Day reminders all at once. The turkey dinner and desert did not disappoint either. Portion sizes were really generous. We will definitely return!

We went on Thanksgiving and we enjoyed it very much. We had reservations and we were seated immediately. The staff were friendly and attentive. The oysters were amazing, I had the fire roasted with garlic/butter and Parmesan while my partner and my sister had raw. We all had the Thanksgiving special. It was very good and we left completely stuffed. We are already making plans to go back.

We had a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner at the Columbia. Our waitress was excellent, even though she was very busy she made sure to check on us frequently and attend to all of our needs. I don’t remember her name but it was her birthday on Thanksgiving. The restaurant was decorated beautifully as always at this time of the year. We had a great table in the enclosed patio. It was pretty noisy but that is expected with all the large groups and just adds to the holiday atmosphere! We come here often as we live here and are never disappointed!

Mark's is always a favorite. Whether it is for a special occasion or just for an evening out, it is one of our top three favorites in Gainesville. The restaurant itself is beautiful with a very nice ambience. The chef and his crew do a spectacular job on preparing food and in presentation. And they change things up, so there are always some wonderful specials.  Our server last evening was Jeremy very pleasant, engaging, efficient and professional. He was happy to explain things and make suggestions. His partner Ryan was great, very accommodating and pleasant. We often enjoy Mark's while sitting in the bar area which is delightful.