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June 2023 by Ruthie S.
Don't let the little country store at the gas station scare you! The ribs were excellent and the side portions were generous! Two can share! The Mac and cheese was out of this world!!
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May 2023 by Bill G.
Unless you live in the area of Micanopy FL, you are not likely to stumble across this unique diner.. I really enjoyed the movie Doc Hollywood, so when I embarked on a long drive home to Chicago from Orlando a few years back, I made a point of getting off I-75 to check out this small old town with its beautiful old live oak trees, etc. Micanopy is the town where the movie was filmed.So years later now, this was the second time I hit this town and ate at Pearls. The place is renowned for its barbecue, and I really love their sweet homemade sauce. Besides the dining, it's also a general store and a gas station. You can tell how the local people love this place, because several folks were picking up breakfast sandwiches,etc., and the vibe between them and the workers was familiar and friendly. It was breakfast time when I arrived, so I ordered eggs with sausage, hash browns and corned beef hash. It was very good, and the server was kind. I bought some boiled peanuts to go (first time trying them), filled up my gas tank, and then it was "back to the interstate."
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May 2023 by Mike H.
If you live in Gainesville (or within 100 miles of it), why are you reading this? You already know. You already know that for the last several decades this totally unimpressive (from the outside) gas station/convenience store/BBQ joint serves up the best BBQ in the known universe. The ribs are superb, with a perfect smoke ring and tender to the point of falling of the bone. The brisket just perfectly barked and exactly the right moistness. The chicken softly smoked, sweet with a crispy skin. All the sides are fabulous, especially the hush puppies and the Mac and cheese.Banana pudding dessert.Take someone you love here. They will love you back!
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March 2023 by Rachel H.
This hole-in-the-wall restaurant inside the Marathon Gas Station ....... is a must-stop if you're in the area. #hiddenGemIt's just next to Paynes Prairie, so stop by for some delicious food after a long day of hiking. This is a full restaurant with tables and chairs, inside and outside. They have a dessert case...... enough said LOL.We ordered 1/4 lb of chicken, french fries, banana pudding and a pork sandwich.. total came out to about $22 + tip. This was an overloaaaad of food for 2 people. We made the mistake of ordering food hungry LOOOOL. Plenty of food for leftovers.Chicken was moist and delicioussss. Pork sandwich was so yummy. My favorite was their options of bbq sauce. My favs: Carolina, and the mustard sauce. French fries were fried to perfection. Banana pudding was simple and yummy. The service was wonderful. Everyone was very kind and helpful when we were deciding what to order. Would absolutely stop by, the next time I'm in the area.Mark this location for your next trip to Micanopy!
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February 2023 by Jodi H.
Was recommended to us for good BBQ. The food is AMAZING!!! Applause to the smoker. But the girl working the front counter at BBQ was not nice at all. Blonde got my older wrong, when I asked her about it she argued with me and then started off to us as she walked away. Great food, get better counter help If you can't handle the busy rush you should find another job!
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December 2022 by Max A.
This was recommended by a local. First off, everyone outside the store, in the store eating lunch and all the employees were super friendly and said hello. Just good people being awesome! Lots to choose from on their menu, where do I start. Brisket! Fatty cut! Yes please! Awesomeness uber level. The flavor is perfect and the crust has some serious seasoned bark on it, excellent. Grilled cheese, perfectly grilled, lots of butter and goodness. Mac n Cheese, holy creaminess! Perfect creamy cheese and super gooey. Let's talk fries, holy crap, super crispy with some great seasoning. Just a perfect place, super happy we stopped in.
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December 2022 by Ed H.
If you want country bbq, this is the place! I have been here numerous times for whole and half smoked chicken, brisket sandwiches and pulled pork. Each time I am thrilled with the product and the service. The meat is full of flavor and is always juicy. I could not be more pleased. The people are sweet and kind and the store clean.I'll be back for more.
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December 2022 by Kaity J.
Look. Is this the *best* BBQ available in the continental United States? Of course not. This place is in fucking Florida. But if you happen to find yourself in the beautiful Micanopy area outside of Gainesville, Pearl Country Store & Barbecue is absolutely a stop that's worth your time. The Country Store itself is charming. Lots of local finds, including Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings books and information about nearby Cross Creek, the writer's beloved former home that isn't far from the Gainesville area. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, and the barbecue was perfectly respectable by Florida standards. Don't let the fact that it's tucked away next to a gas station and looks somewhat rundown from the outside scare you away. Classic country charm, for sure with this place.
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November 2022 by Helen B.
Pretty amazing. Arrived early morning about 9am and the BBQ is already ready!!Love and kudos to these folks.
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June 2022 by Scott M.
For $30 my wife and I got way more really good brisket and ribs and sides than we could eat. Total hole in the wall, behind a gas station. Go figure.
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June 2022 by Mary M.
Because of the way they treat people The owner is the reason Dumore's closed!!!!!!!!
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May 2022 by Emilio Y.
This place is amazing a hidden gem for sure. You get quality and quantity. I recommend this place 100%
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April 2022 by Ray R.
Excellent food,reasonable prices. Didn't have room for desert afterwards but they all look yummy. Can't wait to go back. If you are going for lunch I would recommend getting there by 11:30 or after 1. They are very busy during lunch. Parking is very limited. Enjoy
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April 2022 by Ariana L.
This was the first time I've eaten at restaurant inside of a gas station, and I was pleasantly surprised! Service was quick, portions were plentiful, and the food was great. The atmosphere was very relaxed - you place your food order, grab anything else you need from the gas station, and pay up front. They'll call your name when your food is ready and there's plenty of seating to sit down and enjoy it, or take it on the road. The brisket on its own lacked a bit of flavor/salt to me, but paired with their bbq sauce, it was delicious. Their mac and cheese also felt relatively light on the stomach, while still being very cheesy and saucey. I ordered a 1/4 lb. of meat for about $7 and it was definitely enough for 2 meals. Although there aren't a ton of places to grab a bite in Micanopy, I'm glad this is one of them.
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April 2022 by Jose Frank A.
This is a very informal place in a convenience store in a gas station. Most of the people that we saw coming in, were picking their food up to eat it at home. They have some tables inside and a couple of tables outside. Service is average. Food is good. Not the taste that I was expecting but it was good. Ribs were a little bit tough. Is like they are not cooking them slow. The amount of food that they serve for the price is a lot. We were very satisfied with the amount of food overall. They do not deserve 3 stars but not 4 either. I would rate them with 3.5 stars due to the way that they cooked the ribs and flavor.
