The Top is one of my all time favorite restaurants in town.  I really like "different" food and get tired of the same old run of the mill stuff.  The Top definitely delivers.  My favorite appetizers from The Top are the corn fritter nuggets & garlic dipping sauce and sweet potato fries.  The Top has seared sashimi grade tuna dishes, filet, vegetarian selections featuring plenty of tofu (try it blackend) and tempeh, pastas and homemade desserts (try the vegan chocolate cake and peanut butter pie).  The Top also has a full service bar and are renowned for their Mojitos.  I usually get the Bombay and Tonic - extra lime.

We pulled up at the Top at around 9:30 p.m. last Saturday night.  Parking can be difficult, but by some unknown stroke of luck, not only did we get a parking spot, we were seated immediately in one of the comfortable booths.  The Top has a unique decor and features a photo booth in the back by the desserts. 

The service is always good.  I read a few negative reviews as to service online, but I've never had an unfriendly or unaccomadating waiter here.  My waiter did, however, raise an eyebrow as I took a picture of the Mojito you'll see below, so I awkwardly said I was profiling the restaurant.  Unfortunately I didn't receive any kick backs or samples for this feat, but the delicious food I was eating washed away my dissapointment quickly.

We devoured the corn fritter nuggets before I remembered my mission (to take pictures for you good folks), so let's go right into the entrees:

~PESTO GNOCCHI WITH BLACKEND TOFU~

Delicious and perfectly cooked potato gnocchi pasta in a pesto cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and ciabatta bread on the side.  I ordered mine with blackend tofu on top, but you can have it plain or with chicken.
The plate was artfully put together when it arrived but I started eating and forgot to take a pic beforehand again!  What can I say, my mouth was watering.

~ THE TOP BURGER WITH SWEET POTATO FRIES ~

~BLACK PEPPERCORN ENCRUSTED FILET IN BRANDY CREAM SAUCE ~

Served with mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus.  My companion said the peppercorn was a little overwhelming (and scraped some off) but that the brandy cream sauce was very good.  He said the steak, however, was absolutely cooked to perfection and was great quality (and he's a steak guy).

~ THE TOP MOJITO ~

The Top Location:

The Top is not open for lunch and is closed Mondays.  They are open Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.  Call for hours, but I believe they open at 5 and stay open quite late the other days of the week.

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Angela Elliott is a licensed Florida REALTOR® with Century 21 Classic Properties in Gainesville, FL. Please visit my profile for more about me and browse my Gainesville, FL real estate website for additional Alachua County information and listings. Your phone calls are always welcome at (352) 256-7038 as are your e-mails to angela.elliott1@century21.com.  A portion of all my closed sales will be donated to the Alachua Co. Humane Society (View my mission statement).