Satchel's

My dad took us all out for lunch at one of the most unique restaurants I have ever been to while we were in Gainesville last week. We went to Satchel's Pizza, a restaurant on the east side of town. And while the pizza was delicious, you could say that people come to Satchel's for more than the food. The atmosphere and energy vibe in this place make it truly unique.

According to the owners' philosophy, a restaurant should offer more than delicious food. Good restaurants should also provide a relaxing environment with friendly service. So the owner of Satchel's pays his employees well, treats them like business partners, and offers a happy place for folks to relax and get fed.
See that blue bus outside the building? You can eat inside the bus! The kids were bummed about not getting to eat at one of the tables in the bus but the atmosphere inside the restaurant proved entertaining. The walls were decorated with artwork. I fell in love (pun intended) with this one. It was my favorite in the room.We all ordered the lunch special, which was a slice of pizza and salad. The salad was amazing and full of unique flavors. I wish I had written down the components and purchased a bottle of the house dressing so that I could try to recreate it at home. My pizza was a slice topped with mushrooms and spinach. Yum.

After lunch we walked around back to the Satchel's store. The store is really a gift/junk shop, filled with unique gifts and toys that would be hard to find elsewhere. There was also a homemade fountain out back. Amelia, Jack and John all loved watching the assemblage of tin cans, pulleys, and other assorted devices spinning the water around.

There are a hundred collections of junk (the owners call it junk) around the various buildings and in the store. They are neatly labeled and the store will provide a list of all hundred items if you want one so that you can complete the scavenger hunt. The photo below shows a collection of old cameras hanging from the ceiling of the bar out back. Just one of the hundred collections of priceless objects around the grounds.The garden had this mural with face cutouts of Adam and Eve and a rocking racoon in front. I was happy that all three kids posed nicely for this shot! Jack looks like a happy man. We didn't have to twist his arm to ask him to be the one to ride on the racoon.
And a close-up shot of Amelia as Eve. If you are ever in Gainesville, I highly recommend you go to Satchels! Your mind and tummy will be happy you did.