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

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:  Ichiban Sushi 4401 NW 25th Place, Suite J Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 375-8880 Read My Ichiban Review  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.    Chutnees Indian Cuisine Try the Palak Paneer,  Garlic Naan, Yellow lentil daal and mango lassi. 3833 NW 97th Blvd. (352) 333-1188  Read my Chutnees Review    Deneno's (Fine Italian!)                                 Try the veal parm, lobster                               ravioli or pizza                                                    14960 NW 141st St.                                          Alachua, FL 32615                                           (386) 418-1066                                                  Sweet Dreams Homemade Ice Cream 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 Green Plantains 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).