Taste for Travel: Drive-Worthy Dining
Delicious discoveries are on the horizon. Make plans for your next culinary escapade with stops at some of Gainesville and Alachua County’s hidden gems and iconic eateries.
Will Travel for Pizza
Alachua County’s dynamic food culture encourages innovation and creativity, leading to the emergence of unique pizza establishments that offer inventive toppings, artisanal ingredients, and even vegan options catering to diverse palates. Dine inside a 1965 Ford Falcon van and slice into the thick-crust “Satch-Pan” at Satchel’s Pizza. Tackle the “Big Leo” and renowned garlic rolls at Leonardo’s Millhopper. Watch your pizza take shape and cook in the wood-fired oven at Humble Wood Fire. Find specialty pizzas and Italian entrees at Blue Highway with locations in Tioga Town Center and Micanopy. In High Springs, get pizza, salads, oven-baked wings and more at Prohibition Pizza.
Find the Best Barbecue in Unlikely Places
Recognized by Southern Living and Garden and Gun for the best BBQ in Florida, Pearl Country Store is found at a gas station in Micanopy, one of Alachua County’s nine municipalities. Revolving shelves from the smoker produce fall-of-the-bone chicken, brisket, pork and ribs. In addition to sides of beans and mac and cheese, save room for tempting treats from the dessert case including pies, cakes and banana pudding.
Explore Chef-Driven Menus Featuring Local Ingredients
Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille offers upscale comfort fare and innovative twists on traditional dishes featuring local ingredients from Hawthorne Creek Creamery, Quincy Cattle, locally roasted Opus Coffee and beer crafted by First Magnitude Brewing Company. Savor farm-to-table dining at Afternoon, Alpin Bistro, Bingo Deli and Pub, Blue Gill Quality Foods, Local Provisions, Public and General and Superette Wine and Provisions.
Pop-up events and dining experiences offer one-of-a-kind opportunities to meet culinary teams proudly preparing hyper-local ingredients. Look for seasonal dining experiences at Swallowtail Farm.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Look for Basque burnt cheesecake at Baby J’s and Alpin Bistro. Mosswood Farm Store and Bakehouse offers decadent sweets including filled croissants, bear claws, peanut butter brownies and more. Find croissants, cakes, tarts, cookies and more at Uppercrust. The selection at BakerBaker is inspired from global flavors including blueberry-almond Danish, chocolate croissants, blueberry scones, Nutella kringle and more. Get a taste of Cuba at Mi Apá Latin Café with guava pastries, flan and tres leches. Grab cookies, brownies and cupcakes at Colsie Coffee in High Springs. Get donuts, cake, sticky buns and more at Main Street Sweets and Eats in Newberry.
