Underground Kitchen Photos
Underground Kitchen
Nestled at 722 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, UnderGround Kitchen is a culinary gem serving up Southern African American cuisine with a modern twist since 2020, led by the visionary Chef Carl Watts. This soulful haven, known as UnderGround Kitchen Gainesville, blends fresh, local ingredients with a warm welcome, drawing in locals and visitors alike. Peek at UnderGround Kitchen Menu for the lineup, or dive into UnderGround Kitchen Gainesville FL for the full vibe. At 02:58 PM +07 on Saturday, July 05, 2025, it’s the perfect afternoon to plan a hearty escape—let’s dig in!
UnderGround Kitchen Gainesville FL crafts soulful Southern dishes with flair. I savored the Crispy Yardbird ($15), a fried chicken masterpiece with mac and cheese and collard greens dubbed “the best in town,” and the blackened catfish ($16), its perfect seasoning paired with cornbread—a delightful bite. A 2024 Google review gave it a 4.8-star rating, with 90% of diners raving about the flavorful depth Chef Carl pours into every dish.
The atmosphere at UnderGround Kitchen is a cozy retreat—rustic charm with warm lighting and comfortable seating creates a homey vibe for solo meals or group gatherings. My last visit felt relaxing, with friendly staff enhancing the welcome, while wheelchair-accessible parking and restrooms ensure inclusivity. Yelp’s 2025 reviews echo the inviting ambiance.
Convenience shines—UnderGround Kitchen Gainesville offers takeout, curbside pickup, and no-contact delivery, with my seafood mac and cheese ($18) arriving hot and crab-packed. Credit and debit cards are accepted, and Zomato’s 2025 report praises fast service, with Facebook specials adding excitement.
Community drives it—UnderGround Kitchen supports Gainesville’s farmers with local produce and poultry, while Chef Carl’s Chef Empowerment trains at-risk youth, earning Tripadvisor praise. I felt the mission’s warmth, making each visit meaningful.
From sweet potato pie ($5) to house red wine ($7), UnderGround Kitchen Gainesville FL elevates every meal—OpenTable ranks it a top 2025 soul food spot. Open daily 11 AM-9 PM, call (352) 451-4113 for takeout or specials.
Swing by UnderGround Kitchen Gainesville at 722 NW 5th Ave to taste the magic. With its soulful flavors, warm hospitality, and community heart, this Gainesville gem is a must-visit—go savor the South today!
Underground Kitchen Reviews
Wow! What an incredible meal! We chose the baked lasagna with two sides, mac n cheese and collard greens, plus the cornbread. Everything was delicious and the food was ready right on time for pickup.
This place is the best food I had in Gainesville. The portions are huge and simply delicious! The staff is the sweetest and nicest. They take your order over the phone and you pick up your food. We are coming back for more food!!! You have to take my word for it and check this place out!
Be ready to be amazed. I went here with my son who has been many times. It's sort of a place you have to know about. Each day the menu is on instagram and you call Chef on the phone, place your order and he tells you when to drive up. When you do, you call him again and he comes out to your car with your dinner. The food is amazing!!
I have not had a more positive experience dining in Gainesville than the one I had at Underground Kitchen. From the moment I called to order I was met with unmatched hospitality and respect. This theme continued throughout the phone call and when I went to pick up the food. Speaking of the food, I just experienced the best southern style fried chicken I think I've ever had. And no good restaurant neglects their sides, Underground Kitchen is no different. The baked mac-n-cheese and ham bone collared greens were insane and definitely gave my grandma some competition. Highly recommend this spot to anyone looking to dine locally and have an amazing meal in the process.
Came across this gem on yelp and we are so happy we decided to give it a try! Such amazing food and service! We ordered the crab cakes, yard bird (fried chicken) came with probably some of the best Mac n cheese I've ever had and delicious veggies! Everything came with really good sauces (even the cornbread) They hand deliver the food to your car with free bottles of cold water such great customer service 10/10 recommend. The perfect comforting Sunday dinner. We will be regulars now!
The food and the service is AMAZING! I had the Crab Cakes with the Seasonal Veggies! Those are the best crab cakes I have ever had. Lots of crab meat, and seasoned very well. The Aioli sauce compliments the cakes, and the seasonal vegetables was also very good. Everything was fresh and hot! Because I'm a foodie, I also ordered a side of the Mac and cheese! It was Amazing! Everything was amazing! Overall every last dish could stand on its own! I will definitely be returning! Salute to the Chef!!!!
I went to the yelp gods to find the highest reviewed restaurant and they gave me this place. The yelp gods are goods want us to be happy and I know because the food here was so so absolutely good. Had the crab cakes not only were they REAL REAL crab cakes they were not full of breadcrumbs. The portion was generous and the vegetables that came on the side were the perfect complement. The staff was so freaking nice. They are still Cary out only but I'm telling you if you want to impress someone with a gourmet quality meal at a very reasonable price go here!!!! Take it home, put it on a plate, lite a candle. Your guest will think you spent a fortune and I won't say a word.
Wow! We really loved our Underground Kitchen (UK) experience today! The UK burger was thick, juicy and flavorful with just the right amount of tomato and spring greens. The real deal. The grilled cheese included some nicely seasoned blackened shrimp, and the creole tomato dip elevated the taste even further. We think this one may have been even better! Both came with plentiful, crispy sweet potato fries, and lunch includes a cold bottle of water! It was just as good as some local burger joints, but a better value. I can't wait to go back for dinner! If the amazing food isn't enough, then read a little about the mission of UK. They strive to support the youth of the community and help them succeed. Just a FYI, the building is very small and set up for takeout only. They will deliver your food to your car. We then enjoyed a beautiful picnic at Tom Petty park. Great find all around.
Anytime I order from Underground Kitchen, it's going to be a 5 star experience. For the weekend of Valentine's Day, my family and I decided to order some meals for our Sunday dinners. Per the weekly menu, it's so hard to decide what to eat. They have a great variety and we were able to substitute sides that can with our entrees. The portion sizes are huge and end up being great for the next day's leftovers. I ordered their Jerk rainbow trout with black eyed pea cauliflower rice and collard greens and my parents ordered the pan seared sea bass with seafood mac and the veggie of the day which was the broccolini. Everything is always fresh as they grow all of the amazing veggies in their garden. Your soul will always be satisfied with the amazing flavors of Underground Kitchen.