After a long day, slaving over a home-cooked meal is the last box a person wants to check. However, it can be difficult to satisfy the taste buds without cooking or breaking the bank. To those looking to dine on a budget, here’s a list of the top five meals under $20 in Gainesville ranked from least to most expensive for when cooking at home just isn’t in the cards.
The Gainesville staple is known for its scratch bagels, which are made with water from New York to achieve their authentic taste. The store offers 13 flavors of bagels – ranging from $2.90 to $3.25 – and eight types of cream cheese. After a recent change of ownership, the establishment added another location to its beloved brick and mortar. Now, there are two new locations, including a mobile location at 3601 SW 2nd Ave.
After purchasing space in City Food Hall Gainesville, Luke’s is now also located under The Standard at Gainesville. Guests could often be seen lined up outside of the iconically red-painted mainstreet location. Now, Gainesville locals can enjoy bagels from whichever location is closer to them.
If basic bagels aren’t a desired bite, Luke’s also offers breakfast and deli sandwiches as a heartier alternative. The sandwiches, served on bagels, can be loaded with a host of options, including a BLT and egg and cheese option.
Luke’s Bagels on main street is open daily from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Luke’s New York Bagels at 150 NW 13th St Suite 10 - is open from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday.
Second on the list is Satchel’s Pizza, a restaurant some deem a staple to the Gainesville food scene. The restaurant entices its customers with eclectic metal, signs made from recycled materials, funky wall art, a knick-knack shop and a sky-blue bus parked outside serving as one of many seating options for its vivid fanbase. The establishment is hard to miss with its repurposed art, appealing to the young, hungry college students looking for a slice. While the 34 options for toppings and lengthy menu can be overwhelming to the untrained eye, pie connoisseurs know this kitchen will leave mouths watering regardless of pizza order.
While Satchel’s is best known for its pizza, the restaurant also offers famous salads and homemade sodas. The drinks are free of artificial sugars and are made with cane sugar, a healthier alternative. One of the menu’s staples is the soda flight, a serving of six different soda flavors with a range of creative names, such as Emma Lemma Lemonade and Ginnie Ginger Ale.
The pizza party continues with the restaurant's everyday lunch special, which promises a salad and a one-topping slice for only $9. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the order can be a smart option for a quick bite and a (mostly) full wallet.
Satchel’s Pizza, located at 1800 NE 23rd Ave, is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
A common option for Poke and Bubble Tea fans alike, the restaurant is conveniently located just across UF campus at 1800 W University Ave. Often full of students looking for a healthy, cheap meal, Pokébowl Station not only offers seven flavors of bubble tea and 10 signature poke bowls, but it also boasts build-your-own options. The station offers a “one-protein poke bowl” for $10.95, with an extra $3 charge for each additional protein.
The quick-service restaurant includes both bar and table seating, and is open from 10:30 am to 9 p.m. daily.
The Japanese and Asian fusion restaurant sports a high-end feel, with dim lighting and a large menu to appeal to many different tastes. Located in the heart of downtown Gainesville at 101 SE 2nd Pl, Liquid Ginger offers the city a wide array of sushi options.
With a wide range of options for the sushi lover, many Gainesville locals have taken advantage of the “lunch combo rolls.” Any two rolls can be purchased for $13, or any three rolls for $16. For the sushi beginner, Liquid Ginger has basics like California Roll and the Tuna Roll. With options like the Golden Apple Roll – listed at $13.95 without the special – it also provides options to branch out.
Liquid Ginger offers many different types of sushi, including the Eel Avocado Roll, Philadelphia Roll, and Avocado Asparagus Cucumber Roll. The restaurant includes both traditional and more unique flavors to fit its patrons needs.
Liquid Ginger is located in downtown Gainesville at 101 SE 2nd Pl, and is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner Monday-Thursday, as well as open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Dinner Friday-Saturday is from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Sunday, they are open from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Known for its hosting ability during “Bachelor Mondays,” Swamp Restaurant is the pinnacle of the SEC experience. With a homey feel, the establishment looks like something straight out of a southern feel-good movie. Its large outdoor seating area, spanning two stories with a wrap-around balcony, makes it the perfect place to watch television on the huge outdoor TV screen, whether it be football or reality TV.
The award-winning Freshman 15 Burger features an 8 ounce all-beef patty topped with American and Pepper Jack cheese, and after adding bacon, jalapenos, caramelized onions and fried egg, it’s easy to leave mouths watering. Aside from burgers, the menu includes traditional southern food such as wings, chicken sandwiches and a variety of salads.
Swamp Restaurant is located at 1104 SW 2nd Ave and is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; and Sunday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Contact Rachel Mish at rmisch@alligator.org. Follow her on X @mish_rache62827.
Rachel Mish is a junior English and business major and the Fall 2024 Food Reporter for The Avenue. In her free time, she enjoys playing pick-up basketball or sewing a gameday outfit.
