Satchel's Pizza — Restaurant in Gainesville

7/21/21 Pizzas, community, art, upcycling and a whole lot more!

So we’re staying at an Airbnb tonight and the owner shows us around our super cool digs, and then asks if we are going to eat out and what kind of food we like.

He recommends the pizza place of his artist friend, called Satchels, letting us in on the fact that his artist friend and several tile artists are creating a fully tiled exterior, and that he’s going to have a plane (yes, an airplane) that you can take your meal in.

Literally none of what he said remotely prepared me for the fact that we would be walking into the coolest restaurant in the world.

Yes, the building and grounds are a work of art.

Yes, his staff earns a living wage (what a breath of fresh air!).

Yes, his business funds a bunch of different grants to community organizations.

Yes, the food is fun and creative. And yes, there are vegan options. (Our server’s boyfriend does their tempeh - FOUR KINDS!) There’s even homemade sodas, that he put time money and effort to develop (seriously, get the flight and taste something natural for a change), which he pumps instead of the chemical swill put out by the major brands. And the business is truly cool.

Eat in the bar, the restaurant, or how about the VW bus?!?! Get lost in all his upcycled artistry and the tile work. Buy a plant. Or some toys. Knock yourself out.

But the real treasure here is the staff at Satchels. Live original music was being performed in the bar. Both bartenders were friendly and sweet. Our server, Summer, was a delight, and beyond helpful. Aiden, who tag-teamed with Summer to assist in getting our fresh, hot, food out to us, and making sure we had all we needed to enjoy our meal, were sweet, kind, enthusiastic and delightful in every way you could hope from servers. The hostess was all cheer and helpfulness as well, and when we paid our tab, the gentleman behind the counter was completely...

AMAZING food! The Satch Salad (I think that's what we got??) was 🌟OUTSTANDING🌟 It was HUGE (certainly enough for 2 people to enjoy, though my boyfriend ordered it for himself... I had a lot of it though lol mainly bc it was such an excellent portion!) The dressing was delicious and there was an abundance - yet it was not at all overpowering! (Which, in my opinion, is difficult to achieve with a vinaigrette type of salad dressing... But dang if they didn't hiT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD!) The greens were fresh and had the right amount of 💥CRONCH💥 The "extras" (nuts, craisins, fruits, veggies, etc) were flavorful and delicious... And this was just the salad! Honestly though? I would come back again JUST FOR that incredible salad, I swear to GAWD. Then the pizza we got? It was absolutely scrumptious! There were so. many. options! When it came to pizza toppings!! Honestly - the food in general was simply phenomenal. Lastly the dessert menu... It was presented on one of those old click-thru things that you look through like binoculars but it shows you pictures? They're called View Masters, if I'm not mistaken. Very cool idea. Excellent execution! We got a cannoli and HOLY MOLY WHAT A CANNOLI! The outer shell was flaky and soft, yet perfectly crunchy too! The filling was flavorful and captivating... It was the 💋🤌🏼Perfect end to the meal.

Then after the meal was over, there was another area that was like a gift shop... but also a bar?? So many cool things you could buy too!!! Plants! Stickers! Magnets! And sooo much more!

Everything about this place was captivating, cool, and interesting.

DEFINITELY going to...

Satchel’s Pizza in Gainesville, FL, isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an experience, a sanctuary of flavors that speaks to the heart of what great food is all about. My wife and I have made this spot our haven, visiting a few times a month to indulge in what we consider the pinnacle of pizza craftsmanship.

The journey begins with a salad that redefines what a salad can be. Fresh, vibrant greens topped with feta deliver a symphony of flavors, a perfect precursor to the main attraction. Then there’s the pineapple pizza. In a world where pizza often finds itself in a battle between tradition and innovation, Satchel’s strikes the perfect balance. The crust, a delicate dance of crunch and chew, supports a bold combination of cheese and sweet pineapple, each bite a reminder of why we keep coming back.

But Satchel’s is more than just food. It’s a testament to the eclectic and the genuine, a place where the decor is as vibrant and unique as the flavors they serve. We’ve introduced countless friends to Satchel’s, and without fail, it becomes their favorite too. It’s not just a Gainesville staple—it’s a culinary landmark that embodies the spirit of the community it serves.

Satchel’s Pizza is a place where food isn’t just consumed; it’s celebrated. It’s where you’ll find the kind of honest, unpretentious food that reminds you why you fell in love with pizza in the first place. If you’re anywhere near Gainesville, do yourself a favor and experience it...