The Yearling Restaurant

Well, aside from the giant rebel flag that I'm sure makes everyone feel welcome, the food was terrible. The 'cocktail lounge' doesn't include a cocktail menu, or bartenders that know how to make even basic cocktails. Two of us went, and neither of us enjoyed our meal- overcooked, salty salty fish, the other sides had no seasoning at all, and the tables were so huge we had to yell across (at a two seater table) to hear each other. Definitely won't be returning. The fried pickles were very good though, and the only reason they get even one star.

We've heard about this restaurant for a couple of years and decided to try it for a special occasion and we were not disappointed. We had the catfish dinner, catfish lite dinner, the blackened red fish and the shrimp (blackened) and grits all were delicious. The only downside was they had run out of stuffing for the the stuffed grouper.

This place and the history behind it is interesting, cozy and you feel like you belong here. Food is absolutely devine! Must try the gator, calamari, red fish and the steak!!!! This is nowwe in my top 5 favorite places to visit and eat!!

Best place for home cooking. Absolutely best live entertainment. The shrimp and grits and froglegs are off the chain! Highly recommend!

Don't let the outside appearance turn you away. The food is delicious and you will find some unusual fair on the menu. We had lunch here and both the venison sandwich and the catfish sandwich and they were delicious. You can even purchase first edition copies of The Yearling here. They also have a full bar. We really enjoyed it.

Friendly service, excellent meal, wonderful catfish and grits. Coleslaw is exceptional. Food is great, nice size portions. Pineapple cheesecake too.

Food was amazing. Gotta try the Venicin, it's to die for. Love the books. Great selection. Service was great, Debbie, our server was so friendly and made you feel at home. Definitely going back

Great food. Great ambience! Friendly staff. Highly recommend this place. We'll be back.

Some of the best seafood we've had in a long time. Even beat some of our favorites ...in the atmosphere there is amazing listening to the different musicians in the different rooms good. I definitely a must see if you're visiting the area

We spend here night in a pretty cabines. Awesome alternative to any road motel. Worth to ride some on a sideroad from the highway. Love it so much... Also, restaurant guys made us delivery to our cabines, and when we came at night, there was food. 😆

This local fixture hasn't lost its charm. Great food and eclectic atmosphere. Truly a piece of Florida history. Highly recommended. Enjoyed today's visit as I have every time I've been here.

Culturally, The Yearling might be the most important restaurant in North Central Florida. Traditional Southern fare with wild game found in the region. Quail, gator, venison, fried soft shell crab and dont forget the sour orange pie.

Loved the wild food. Good service, friendly atmosphere. Will be back for Venison.

What a fabulous and historical site great unique native Floridian food a library unique creatures from all over Florida and some great history definitely a restaurant you must go and try!!

What a hidden treasure. A lot of good game food on the menu and great service. There is a lot of interesting stuff to see. I will definitely be back.

The food was old Florida fare and absolutely delicious. The restaurant itself is quaint and, I believe, would do Marjorie Kinnan Rowling's proud. The staff was so nice!

Great local haunt with historic flare. Excellent comfort food with old southern blues music on the right days. Can't miss this place if you're in the area and ready to partake of sustenance and libations. Enjoy. You will have no regrets.

Very rustic and local food. One of the best shrimp and grits around. Salads are good and fresh. Homemade dressingsAnd the orange pie is delicious

One of the country’s best kept secrets. Place is an old Florida gem in all the best ways.

Awesome place! Top notch food!If you've never been your missing out!

If you live in the Gainesville area you have to visit this place. It is off the beaten path, somewhere in the pixel on cell coverage maps where there is no phone service. The food is very good, the staff is excellent. The menu has lots of adventurous items like gator and frog legs, and the regular stuff like steaks and burgers is very good too. The charm is the ambiance of an old place that has accumulated lots of history. It's worth the drive.

What a gem. Great seafood and service. You cannot soak in all the books and wall displays in one visit.

One of our absolute favorite places to eat. The catfish (grilled/blackened/fried is amazing. The dinner salads are awesome and even come with mandarin oranges, nuts AND the best ranch dressing! Top it off with Cross Creek history and great service.

This was a fun place to go to eat and listen to music by willie.

Wonderful place,had an amazing time,great food,service, and entertainment 😋😊

Not Seafood ... but it is the food you see typically in the forest that you get to enjoy, prepared the old-fashioned way at this old-fashioned and wonderful restaurant right out of the 1930s and even 1870s rural Florida! From the squeaking front screen door to the old blues man with his antique guitar to the waitress who brings you hot steaming frog legs and quail and Venison and alligator, you will not find a more unique place for old-time taste sensations than this restaurant in the heart of Central Florida! Highest recommendation ... and you can buy the book!

We've enjoyed eating here each time we've been. The service is always gracious. The food is always tasty. We like the venison, the roast pork, the duck, the house salad with mango dressing, and the desserts!- buttermilk pie and sour orange pie. Recommend you explore the whole place if you are fortunate to have the chance to go here.

A piece of old Florida that must be visited! I had the blackened redfish that was cooked to perfection. The biggest treat was listening to legendary blues man, Willie Green...could've stayed all night!

Local cracker cousine at it's best. Cabin's for rent. Old Florida atmosphere. A must if you are in the area

I hidden secret off of highway 301. Old Florida Cracker style as some people like to say. A chance to step back in time to yesteryears of Florida. Everything from alligator, venison, dove, and all the varieties of seafood. Allot enough time to look around as you do a eat. Take time to eat and enjoy a meal that you cannot find many places. This is truly old Florida style dining. When you walk in and look around you feel like you have stepped back in time 50 plus years. Take the time to wander off the beaten path and visit this restaurant! It will be an experience that you never forget. A cultural experience like no other.

My favorite restaurant in northern Florida. The hush puppies are to die for and that salmon.... oh delicious! And who doesn't want to eat, listen to live music, and pick out a few books to buy?

Drove 1 hour 30 minutes with family for my birthday. Great place and amazing staff with live entertainment. Food is excellent. If it wasn't for the long drive I would definitely return.

My seven-year-old son wanted to try frog legs and alligator. Okay, fair enough, off to The Yearling we go for lunch. We walked in to the wonderful sound of Willie Green playing blues. I had heard that the restaurant has a pretty glowing rating, and this was a great start. Service here is all around extraordinarily gracious. We ordered the special with frog legs, catfish, and gator bites. As if that wasn't enough food, I also ordered the Old Boss burger. Everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection, and the portions are certainly ample... Nobody is going hungry. For lack of a better description, the restaurant looks and feels like it should, and is very comfortable. The Yearling is not a fussy place, but it's plenty clear that everyone here pays attention to the details that actually matter.

Good service. Good gator. Not happy about the roaches crawling on the walls next to our table in the bar. Completely lost my appetite.

Great atmosphere, excellent server Meghan!! Incredible live Blue musician. The food was perfect, blackened catfish over real cheese grits and sour orange creme pie! Thanks for the experience Meghan!!

The Yearling is a one of a kind place! The food and service are terrific, but the decor is beyond compare!! Just up the road from the home of author Majorie Kenning Rawlings, this out of the way treasure is the perfect destination for an adventurous getaway!!

Great food. Like most restaurants I've eaten in Florida so far, far from a chain. Interesting atmosphere.

Great service! The interior decor is extremely unique and cozy. A very different menu. Frog legs and gator on the menu. Will visit again.

We had the best meal here! Prices were in line with other restaurants, but the food was absolutely delicious!I ordered the Prime Rib Pork with cranberry/raspberry sauce, collard greens & Cesar salad. The pork was SO tender, juicy & delightful plain and even better dipped into the sauce. The collards were lightly seasoned but tender, and the Cesar salad dressing very tangy with plenty of parmesan cheese! Well worth the $18.95 price tag.My hubby ordered the Redfish, blackened, tater tots & okra with tomatoes. He loved it all! The fish was perfectly seasoned, not spicy, moist and delicious. The tots were nice & crunchy, and his okra so delicious he practically inhaled them!The exterior is nothing special but the interior is quaint & fun, especially the back dining room with the giant stuffed alligator! Looking forward to going again to try more of their specialties.

Awesome atmosphere, quite, friendly an helpful staff. Good prices, good portions. had a wonderful time. Can't wait to go back.

Really amazing place - food is GREAT - portabello mushrooms are a FAV-- atmosphere is inviting, staff is engaging - excellent value for money. Been there about 3 times - and recently discovered the CABINS -- perfect weekend getaway. Cabins are so comfy, clean & appointed with wonderful 'old Florida' decor. The staff are warm and friendly-- like good friends you haven't seen in a while! Highly recommend the food & accommodations for a complete experience.

First time I've been back since 1983. Not much has changed. The prices went way up which I expected. They no longer serve cooter which was disappointing. Still a cool spot.

It’s like a time travel back into the 70s. Food is awesome. Cabins cute and clean. Super nice and friendly stuff. We sure will come back!!

This place serves many wild animal dishes like venison, quail, and cooter (turtle). They also have more standard fare like burgers and such. The cooking is usually excellent, especially the venison. They often have live music as well. Not to mention they're historic.

Amazing food. Live music. Gator is really good. It isn't gamey.

My very favorite old school florida restaurant, the venison, gator, and pork are outstanding. Can't beat the atmosphere. Love hearing Willie playing the blues

This is a truly unique restaurant with excellent food and our service by Tammy was great! I had the venison and it was very tender and not at all gamey. The Sour Orange pie tasted like a creamsicle with chocolate drizzle!

Had a unique and wonderful dining experience at The Yearling last Sunday. Although the menu was limited due to the threat of Dorian, the food was delicious (fried green tomatoes, fried shrimp sandwich, french fries, frog legs and cheese grits), the decor is rustic and beautiful and our server was very friendly and professional. We will definitely go back!

The food was amazing! We really enjoyed every bit of our visit! We will definitely be back!!

Laid back, authentic, historical Florida at it's best. Fantastic food, service, atmosphere & location!