Face it, you’re a college student and you love pizza. So much so, that you’ve considered writing a thank you note to Naples, Italy for creating such a culinary masterpiece.
Sometimes you get lazy and restort to eating pizza in it’s less than perfect form. ie: the generic frozen kind from the store or a pizza lunchable. Before you pick up the phone to call Domino’s, check out where you can find the most wonderful pies in the 352.
Gainesville Scene’s guide to pizza:
Emma’s pick – Satchel’s Pizza
It’s hard to imagine anything better than crusty hot bread covered in a blanket of fresh tomato sauce and gooey cheese topped with any delicious meat or vegetable or fruit that you can think of. I’m pretty sure the only way to top that is to eat said pizza in the back of an old Volkswagon bus while wearing an inflatable beard. Now you might be thinking, where on earth would I be able to find this concoction of perfection?
The answer is Satchel’s pizza. If you haven’t heard about Satchel’s than you either 1) are illiterate or 2) don’t have a driver’s license, because 1 out of every 10 cars on the road (made up statistic) sports a bumper sticker showing their devotion to this rockin’ pizza joint. This Gainesville-wide love comes from the fact that Satchel’s is more than just a pizza joint, it is an experience.
The outside of the place is decorated completely in junk, from the floppy disk paneling to the flowing water fountation in the parking lot. You can Instagram anything you find at Satchel’s and you’re bound to get at least 30 likes. Inside, the walls are decked in paintings by local artists and if you see one you really like, you can buy it right off the wall.**
There’s a store filled with various gag gifts (inflatable beards sold there), old school toys, frozen bananas, and beer (I suggest Magic Hat #9); so, if you’re waiting for a table or for your pie to be baked to perfection, you are more than entertained and nourished in the meantime. The pizza is incredible and even pizza’s annoying friend Salad (any Mike Birbiglia fans out there?) is fantastic. I recommend The Deep Dish if it’s available, but make sure to clear your plans for rest of the day, because you might be too stuffed and happy to be productive.
**Self promotion: I’ll be selling my paintings at Satchel’s this summer, so go check them out.
Brittany’s pick – Bella Donna’s Italian Eatery
I-just-wanna-slice-a-pizza, yaknowhatImean?
As a proud New Yorker (er, you caught me – New Jersey-born, but close enough), Bella Donna’s Italian Eatery on University Avenue holds a special, deliciously homesick place in my heart and stomach. This family-owned, authentic Italian eatery can make a pie better than your run-of-the-mill place because their business model, ownership and pizza-making skills hail from the pizza capital of the world – the Big Apple. Its huge menu of choices doesn’t change the fact that your pizza is truly made with the freshest local ingredients and love, the primary component in all good eats. Whether you want to stay classic with a meat lover’s slice, or my personal favorite and their wildcard, a Buffalo Chicken, you’ll enjoy the warm hospitality and comfortable dining area, complete with good music, pretty foliage, friendly conversation – every time – and that undeniable feeling that you’re just grubbing in the comfort of mama’s kitchen. They do take-out and delivery, plus allow you to call-in your order so it’s hot and ready by the time you arrive, and at $1.75 a slice with free fountain refills and BYOB, this is a delicious, affordable level of sustenance that’s almost too good to be true for a broke college kid. It’s open late, and in true Italian fashion, the portions don’t skimp. Plus, how often do you find a pizzeria with plenty of vegetarian options? Don’t forget to leave room for dessert. Summer’s around the corner, and you’re going to want a crisp cup of their tangy Italian ice to cool you down.
Jake’s pick - Blue Highway Pizza
It’s far as fuck, but it’s also good as fuck.
13005 SW 1st Rd
Gytis’s pick – Big Lou’s
I went to Big Lou’s in downtown thinking I was going to run into a burly man named Lou who just happened to make damn good pizza. I didn’t meet Lou, but I did have some damn good pizza.
On the corner of SE Second Ave and Main Street, Big Lou’s Pizzeria is everything you’d want from a pizza place. Trying to grab a quick slice? Easy, Big Lou’s got you covered. More of a calzone person? I don’t get it, but Big Lou’s has got them too. It’s a nice day outside or you’re not about air conditioning? Big Lou’s has got some of the best outside seating in downtown.
My recommendation to those trying Big Lou’s for the first time is to check out some of the specialty pizzas. Specialty pizzas are the heart of any pizza place. You can get a slice of pepperoni anywhere. Hit up the tempeh pizza (a soy-based protien…trust me, it’s delicious) with roasted red peppers, artichoke, spinach and garlic and give any early birthday present to your taste buds.
Matt’s pick – Leonardo’s
Your parents are in town and they ask you where you want to go get food. You feel bad because you know you want to say, “Mark’s Steakhouse, please and thank you” but that’s too expensive. Your mind then turns to the 2nd option in almost all food ordeals: pizza. Leonardo’s Pizza by the Slice is the staple Gainesville pizza eatery. No matter how many people are standing outside the doors waiting in line to order, you know that once you’ve mentally committed to engaging your taste buds in some delicious NY style pizza or those freaking garlic knots (who the hell makes those things anyway?), there’s no turning back. Easily my favorite pizza joint in Gainesville, Leonardo’s has its fair share of beer choices, but in all reality, the pizza is top notch. If you haven’t gone, quit being an idiot and just go. People are going to continue to look at you like you have a penis stapled to your forehead until you’ve finally gone.
Via: qmato.com
Luke’s pick – Five Star Pizza
Looking for a taste of authentic Italian pizza in Gainesville? Sick of pizza that tastes cheap and lacks the passion and life that only a handcrafted pie can replicate? Tired of sitting for hours in an overpriced restaurant waiting for a slice of heaven? Well, look no further Gainesville, there is one pizza palace to soothe all your qualms. Check out Five Star Pizza.
Known around Central Florida for its legendary taste and perfect ingredients, Five Star never fails to deliver. If you want a true Five Star experience, make sure you get delivery. Within twenty minutes of a beautiful conversation with a lovely Italian, you’ll be feasting on the closest thing to authentic Italian Pizza this side of the Atlantic.
One tip of advice: the head chef at Five Star, Emiliano Cesare, recommends what has become known as the “Five Star Flip.” He says if you really want to unlock the aromas and fresh flavors of the Italian herbs and spices, flip the pizza before dining. You’’ll unlock a savory center that’ll have you thanking the Roman gods for days to come.
Image Courtesy of: Zestos Pizza
