Bistro 1245

Ok so the building is old. But the food!!! It is one of my favorites. So yummy and cooked so fresh. Spicy shrimp appetizer is to die for! Salads are so fresh, so good.
Not being a wine lover I cannot report on that. But they sure seem to sell a lot of it. The butternut squash soup is outstanding. Never had a bad meal. I could go on. But go try this place and make your own review… needs more good reviews!

I didn’t particularly enjoy the portobello sandwich that I ordered. It was a bit soggy and had an acidic taste to it. I feel as though I maybe just didn’t order the right item, but I would definitely try something else next time. I really liked the tomato soup. There was a sourness to it, but it wasn’t overpowering. The service was mediocre, though.

The staff is great. They’re not stuffy but are always friendly. And the food has never not been amazing. Bistro is a go to for us. Also their wine tasting is awesome and every time I’ve done it the waitress has made great suggestions about which I should try. This place is cozy with a tiny kitchen which just adds to the charm. One of my favorite places in Gainesville

The food is delicious however the service is really terrible So I’ve deducted 2 stars for service.
First the good. I have enjoyed most everything I’ve eaten here. I’ve had spicy shrimp pasta, it came with large juicy and perfectly cooked shrimp and a boat load of pasta. I also had the fish tacos, which were a bit overcooked but good otherwise and I also would’ve dressed them with red onion instead of white. I had the bruschetta and goat cheese appetizer and both were tasty. I really liked the wine tasting the do during lunch. You choose 3 flavors and get half glasses of each for $ 8.95
The bad. I went to lunch around ²⁄₃ so the crowd had died down quite a bit, and by that I mean there were only two tables full. I walked inside to ask to sit outside the girl simply says «yeah go find a table». No one came outside for atleast 10 minutes. Finally a girl comes and in a friendly tone I say «thought you guys had forgot about us» she said NOTHING, set water down and walked back inside. My friend and I just looked at eachother very confused and debated leaving. I also noticed the table was sticky and very dirty so I went in and asked if it could be cleaned she said «that isn’t our table so that’s why it’s dirty but yeah I’ll do it anyways» I asked if she’d like us to move she said «no just stay» finally a waitress came and she had a little bit better attitude then the other two girls but still wasn’t very friendly.
I’ve went once since then and had a better experience with a different waitress, however based on other reviews I believe service is definitely an issue here and something management should address.

Bistro is a gem located right on university. Their garlic rolls are insane — they are so delicious. I also love their butternut squash bisque and their goat cheese bruschetta is so good. You really can’t go wrong with anything here.

The tofu sandwich on focaccia is amazing. The pasta with tofu was inedible. Way too much salt and a bizarre flavoring that needs a major reboot.

While In town this weekend, I had the pleasure of trying this restaurant. The service was quick, efficient, and knowledgeable of the menu. We tried a very good argento malbec recommended by our server kristie. She was very friendly and made the experience quiet enjoyable. We will certainly be back upon our next visit.

Their food is good. But their service is terrible. I usually just call my order in and pick it up so that I don’t have to deal with their service. This is the last time I even do that, they told me 30 min wait and I waited 1 hr for a sandwich. Not worth it.

Stumbled on the bistro (from their great reviews) leaving a football game. what a great choice! Immediately you walk in and the smell of the amazing food knocks you over! Every kind of pizza you can think of by the slice! Next door is the bistro… I walked into heaven. Best Italian I have had compared to Little Italy in NYC! Tried the spicy pasta, meatloaf and garlic knots… party in my mouth! Great service and amazing owner! Overall awesome experience!

Bistro 1245 is delicious!
I find myself in Gainesville a few times a year visiting family. While it’s nice to spend time with those you love, it’s even better to spend time with them while stuffing your face with delicious food.
We were a party of 5 and everything everyone ordered was amazing.
The roasted chicken sandwich was great, but only because I LOVE onions. If you’re not a big fan of onions, order something else because the onion jam is an onion-​y as it sounds.
My kid loved the grilled three cheese… as did my husband who ate her leftovers.
Service was prompt and friendly, and the restaurant was nice and clean.
We will definitely be back on our next trip.

Based on all the reviews I have read and word of mouth, I was surprisingly disappointed with my experience at Bistro 1245. I went at around 6pm on a Thursday night, the place had other customers but wasn’t packed. I decided to order the pasta with shrimp and sautéed spinach because I had heard wonderful things about the pasta dishes they offer.
The food came out in a timely manner, the portion size was decent, however, I was disappointed in the flavor. The pasta was bland. The sauce definitely needed more seasoning and the shrimp wasn’t seasoned at all. The service was also horrendous after the food came out. My friend and I sat there for about 15 – 20 minutes, hands in our laps and food pushed to the center of the table. No one came over to ask if we were finished or wanted checks, I had to flag the hostess over to ask to clear the table.
The only reason I am giving this restaurant 3 stars is because I would like to give it another chance. I noticed they have wine tastings for $ 8.95 and the cheese plate looked enticing. I think I’d enjoy coming here for a happy hour with friends and hope my experience will be better then.

This place is a charming bistro that emulates Italian cuisine in combination with club sandwiches. They have a large wine collection that I’ve heard good things about. I tried their pesto chicken when I dined here and I wasn’t too impressed but then again I have high standards with Italian food bc I spent an entire summer living with a host family that gorged me with pasta. But I digress, the pasta wasn’t that bad, the chicken was just a little dry. My friend got their classic sandwich and he liked it a lot. The service is pretty good and they are attentive. The restaurant is connected to Leonardo’s so you can have a nice wine n’ dine and then switch over to casual pizzas if you wish. It’s a small restaurant though but it’s not a huge deal. Overall, not a bad place.

Lunch with the guys during my fiancées bridal shower. AMAZING escargot that her grandfather tried not knowing what it was… he was a fan! Great ginger marinated seared duck on a salad nicoise as well. Fish tacos were a hit, as well as the steak sandwich my brother-​in-​law to be didn’t even share a bite of! ;) A finishing touch of crème brûlée made the lunch complete and grandpa smile! :)

I am a sucker for Bistro 1245’s Seared Tuna Club and their Butternut Squash soup. The staff is always nice and helpful and I like the fact that you can have a late lunch. Great prices and close to campus.

Life changing experience. It was my friend’s birthday and the set up was awesome, even for a group of twelve. The crab cakes were unbelievably perfect. If I could only have one caesar salad preparation ever again, and it were this one, I would die happy. The creamy butternut squash soup was simply a joy. I will be back. Bistro 1245 is perfect for a date, to bring your family, or just to get some food to eat alone!

This was our first time here and left such an impression that were already planning our next visit. Bistro 1245 was recommended to us by a friend and highly suggested getting the prosciutto mozzarella sandwich with a side Caesar salad. It was flavorful and fresh especially for being so simple. My wife decided to try the 3 cheese grilled cheese with a cup of tomato soup. Again, both were simple, delicious, and packed with flavor.
My wife was able to try their wine tasting that day as well as have a couple beers for myself. The selections for both were impressive.
Our Food came out at a nice pace allowing us to enjoy our drinks without ever feeling rushed.
I should add that we arrived at opening and it happened to be a holiday, so we were the only ones there. Our waitress was attentive and very friendly. It’s disheartening to see so many other reviews contradict this.
I can understand how a small place like this can struggle with service when busy. Personally, I’d make it a point to come back during lunch time instead of dinner to avoid such rushes and service issues.
TL;DR — Great food, great service, great prices. Will absolutely be back.

Service was a disaster today. Food took FOREVER to come out, even people who ordered soup or salad to start with had to wait at least 40 minutes to get it. I think there was one guy making all the food. I saw some people give up and leave. I ordered pasta and it was ice cold when I got it. Maybe just a between-​semester glitch, but don’t go there if you’re in a hurry.

The food is great, I’ve liked everything I’ve ever eaten. My issue is the service and the bathroom. There are never more than two wait staff and the place is most always packed.
Also, the bathroom to this place is OUTSIDE around the back and open to the outside. It feels like a gas station bathroom and not much cleaner, which really bothered me for such a good restaurant. It’s also hot during the day for lunch and the wait station is open to the side of the place so you see and hear them scrapping and clattering all the dishes. And on a side note, I didn’t see the waitress wash her hands once after busing and waiting on almost every table in the place.

So delicious.
I have had about everything on the menu and have never been disappointed. My all time favorite is the prosciutto mozzarella sandwich and the watermelon salad.
The wine selection is pretty great too, and the place always smells heavenly.
Sometimes when they get super busy the service can suffer, and the place is super itty bitty so seating is limited. Both those things in mind, I think it is really worth the wait.

This is a little hole in the wall gem of a spot to eat. We sat right down immediately for lunch and got salads and the three cheese sandwich. Both delicious. My salad could have used more dressing but I’m a sauce person so that’s likely just me!
Delicious and liked the atmosphere but the outdoor bathroom is… Unique.