Civilization - Gainesville

Nice place, chill vibe.. Waiting time was at least 15 min to sit, 10 min for drinks, and 30 min for food. Great menu and options, fresh local food (drink pretty small) The service was fine, serving without too much effort. Overall seems like designed to sell food, good food, but less of a restaurant experience.

When we visit Gainesville two or three times a year we make a point of having a meal at Civilization. It has become one of our favorites! The ingredients are fresh and the recipes are innovative such that these dishes are not offered in our area, for sure! We began with an order of Lemon Ricotta Bengiets which I highly recommend. Someone at the table will always have Swamp Eggs; we feel it's the best thing on the menu! Whoever came up with the idea of collard greens, potatoes and eggs is a genius. This time we added grits Florentine and the Challah French Toast. There were multiple orders of Applewood bacon on the table all expertly prepared. The service is attentive without hovering and the atmosphere is delightful. Everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves!

Get there early for brunch so you can get a table! We arrived a few minutes before open and got the second to last table. The food was delicious, the service was okay. Was not offered coffee refills and servers not very friendly, but they were also very busy! Picture shows avocado toast with poached eggs and grits. So good! Beignets and the croissant sandwich in the background.

The food is really good, and there are 2 or 3 vegan options just so you know. It is a co-op so everyone who works there has a vested interest in your dining experience. Once in a while there was a weirdo working there, but overall, they provide excellent service from start to finish, even though there's often a wait. I enjoy the Pakora Pancakes which are made from chickpea flour and come with a cilantro mint Ginger chutney, and the avocado sweet potato burrito was divine with their home-made hot sauces. Wow!

Civilization is a great place to get brunch in Gainesville. They have a wide variety of brunch options all very unique. Pictured is the black beans and rice breakfast. In addition to the black beans and rice it includes two poached eggs, avocado, cheese and fried tortillas. The other item pictured is the frittata that included red and green peppers, manchego cheese and green olives. Finally if you have a sweet tooth check out the Lemon Ricotta beignets with a rasberry dipping sauce. The service is fast here and they do a good job making sure your drinks are full and bringing anything you need quickly.