Flavor * * * * *
Uniqueness * * * * -
Price $$
Comfort/Convenience * * * - - (more than a bit off the beaten path)
Price Ranges:
Appetizers $7-13 (really just the salad)
Drinks $5 or more (beer only in the restaurant, liquor in the back)
Entrees $3-13 per person, though a whole large pizza is 17
Desserts $3-7
Boy, what all to say about Satchel's?
Well, let's start with the fact that there's a VW bus out front with seating for people who just feel like they have to be different (I admit, I stuck my head in. It was weird, ok?) and that they have a junk "museum" at the back (more on that later)
Inside isn't too terribly remarkable. A small, wood-floored and mismatched tabled interior covered floor to ceiling with local art for sale (this is a college town, after all), a play area for kids. And other people looking through those little viewmaster toys you may remember from your childhood (And by people, I mean adults)
Once I was talked out of my preoccupation with the toys and into looking at the menu I was bemused to find we had wandered into a place that made their own soda. Not beer, but soda. And you could get yourself a flight! So, being with family (who, by our reasoning, all shared the same cooties by osmosis), we ordered one and sat down to try. Basically it included their versions of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, root beer, Sprite, ginger ale, and a fizzy lemonade. I think we were all shocked to find we really kind of liked the Diet coke (their version uses Stevia and was just...really good. I don't know how else to say it) and really they were all great. They had a little card that came with it too that explained how everything was made, why sometimes it will taste different (they make it in small batches), and why they did it. I ended up with a ginger ale in the end since it was a little on the spicier side just like I prefer.
On to the food! My aunt insisted we just had to have the salad (they only have the one kind: the Satch Salad) and I was not particularly impressed, but I have to say I'm more of a greens-crouton-dressing person, and this was an everything-but-the-sink salad. The rest of the party really seemed to enjoy it, although eyes were bigger than stomachs and we ended up taking half of a large home (for a party of five)
The pizza caused some seriously intense debating. Unlike 99.999999999% of all great pizza places, Satchels does allow you to order everything completely custom by the slice (I know, I gasped too!), but it still can add up for a larger party. Bickering ensued before everyone decided that, for the peace of all involved, we should all order whatever we wanted on our separate slices and just swallow the extra charges.
We waited...
Waited... (Their menu does warn you that it can take up to 45 minutes on a busy day for pizza. Ours didn't take this long, but be forewarned)
Watched some people with those blasted viewmasters (it was seriously irking the whole table by now)
And were delivered hot, gooey-cheesed, fragrant, and delicious pizza slices!
I don't know how they do it, exactly, but no topping were migrant from other pizzas, no crust seemed old or pre-cut, and each slice seemed like it had just been cut from a full-sized pizza with the same toppings. Each slice was hanging off the plate on both sides (easily the size of a large hand) I doubt very many people order a red sauce, garlic, basil, and ricotta pizza (let alone some of the odder orders at the table) so that can't be possible, but that's what it seemed like. I ate every last bite. I ate my crusts. I eyeballed other crusts (and was told to mind my own plate)
And THEN the viewfinders were brought. They had 3D pictures of the desserts in them (all posed next to little western figurines)! I know we looked like a bunch of rubes, but it was a really cute touch.
Unfortunately, we were too full to eat any of the desserts and had to regretfully decline.
But no trip to Satchel's is complete without a trip back to the junk museum (complete with working junk fountain and the largest piece of lint ever removed from a dryer) and the gift shop, which also housed a bar and, that night, a very talented Jamaican singer. It was very kitschy, very fun. Full of all those random little things you never really see anymore but are fun as gifts (woopee cushions!)
Word to the wise: Satchel's does not take credit!
Satchel's Pizza
1800 NE 23rd Ave
Gainesville, FL
