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Where to eat in Gainesville: Angela's top picks/Gainesville, FL restaurant guide

By
Real Estate Agent with Classic Properties

I absolutely LOVE food.  I'm not sure love is even a strong enough word for it, but I immensely enjoy savoring good food and plan my day around this act of mastication.  Pre-career I had time to indulge in cooking at home.  That was a different time in my life and I find myself being exhausted at the end of the day and not wanting to deal with preparing a meal, so I find myself picking up food from restaurants on the way home instead.

I have lived here for around 17 years at this point, which is long enough to at least get your feet wet in exploring Gainesville's culinary offerings.  I'm quite fond of "Mom and Pop" operations and less interested in chains, as you will see by my list below.  These are some of my favorite picks in Gainesville:

Favorite Sushi place (yes Dragonfly is good too,
but I live in NW Gainesville and this is less of a hassle.)  
I've been going here for about 8 years.  For those that
aren't fond of eating raw fish, there is a huge selection of
cooked rolls and even several rolls that don't contain fish.
My favorites are the florida, eel, spicy salmon tempura, bagel, 
spicy tuna and crispy rolls: 
4401 NW 25th Place, Suite J
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 375-8880
Favorite mexican:
La Fiesta (NW location)                 
9513 NW 39th Avenue               
(352) 335-8484     
Newberry Rd. location
7038 NW 10th Pl
(352) 332-0878 
MY OTHER FAVORITE HAUNTS:
 
Northwest Grille                                      
5115 NW 39th Ave                             
(352) 376-0500 
                                  
Liquid Ginger
101 SE 2nd Place, Ste. 118
(352) 371-2323   
                          
Satchel's Pizza                                                     
NY Style Pizza                                       
1800 NE 23rd Avenue                        
(352) 335-7272                                    
If you like NY style pizza,
you've got to check this out.
Their pesto pizza with feta and
tomatoes is amazing.   
Try the Palak Paneer,  Garlic Naan,
Yellow lentil daal and mango lassi.
3833 NW 97th Blvd.
(352) 333-1188 

 
Deneno's (Fine Italian!)                                
Try the veal parm, lobster                              
ravioli or pizza                                                   
14960 NW 141st St.                                         
Alachua, FL 32615                                          
(386) 418-1066                                                 

Plantation brown sugar, pineapple
upsidedown cake and lavender/blueberry/honey
flavors are to die for.
3437 W. University Avenue
(352) 378-0532

 2nd Street Bakery  &                                     
 Coffee House                                                   
 1511 NW 2nd St                                              
 (352) 505-5039                                                
 Great coffee and espresso-based
 drinks, delicious fresh baked
 breads, pastries and brioche.  The
 tempeh sandwich on the citrus-herb
 bread is fantastic. 
The Top (Unique Vegetarian and Meat
dishes.  Delicious food.)
30 N Main St.
(352) 337-1188 
Mr. Han's Chinese Restaurant                   
6944 NW 10th Place                            
(352) 331-6400                                  

Na'Guara Latin Corner
5240 NW 34th St
(352) 225-3555 
Falafel King                                           
Great gyros, spinach pie,               
lentil pie, falafel                          
and grape leaves                       
4445 SW 35th Terr #260              
(352) 379-8182
       
Uppercrust Bakery
Try the rosemary-garlic baguettes,
artichoke stuffed bread, tapenade,
and white bean dip. 
4116 NW 16th Blvd.
(352) 376-7187
Latino Cuisine
5150 SW 34th Street
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 378-1930

Great portions, prices and food.
I love the Chofan Nuevo Latino (Latin Style
fried rice).  Absolutely one of the best things
I've had in some time.  The downside is that it is
not consistently good.  It tastes different everytime
I get it, and the first time was the best.  Ever since
then it has paled in comparison. <sniff>
The seafood patty (empanada) is also tasty. 
I can't manage
to try anything else on the menu because
I'm addicted to the rice. 

            Make sure to check out these fine establishments:
The Fresh Market                                                   Sunflower Health Foods
Prime meat, fresh fish, gourmet                  Knowledgable staff helps you
spices, condiments, olive oils,                      find the right supplements
bulk foods, coffees and baked goods           87 SW 34th St.
4120 NW 16th Blvd.                                    (352) 372-7482
(352) 376-1024

Dorn's Liquor and Wine                                  
The Wine experts! Over 100                       
imported cheeses in the cheese gallery.   
Caviar, chevre, pate, fine chocolates          
4140 NW 16th Blvd.                                            


 
 

 

 

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).

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Angela Elliott is a licensed Florida REALTOR® with Classic Properties Realty Services 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 GainesvillePro@yahoo.com.  A portion of all my closed transactions will be donated to Second Chance Rescue and Rehoming: http://secondchancerescueandrehoming.org/

Comments (4)

Terrie Leighton
Ferrari-Lund Real Estate - Reno, NV
Reno Real Estate Agent ~ Selling Homes in Reno

Angela - Well, if I ever get to Gainesville, I will know where to go! I am a lover of food as well. Yum, yum!!

Apr 27, 2008 04:13 PM
Kevin O'Shea
Coldwell Banker - White Plains, NY
White Plains, NY Real Estate

Great idea to post restaurants.  Making me hungry.

All the best

Apr 29, 2008 06:59 PM
Aaron Bosshardt
Bosshardt Realty Services, Inc. - Gainesville, FL

I would thow El Indio on there. Great Veggie Burrito and their hamburgers are the best kept secret in town. A quick great tasting lunch for under $5 is something everyone needs these days.

Nov 11, 2008 10:08 PM
Mel Jones

Let the professionals at www.sellingrestaurants.com help you sell your restaurants.  Give us a call. We do nothing but sell restaurants, bars and clubs.  No one sells more restaurants, then www.Sellingrestaurants.com.  We are a full service restaurant brokerage company.

Jun 06, 2010 05:58 PM