Tower's Guide to Eating at Gainesville's Midtown

By Seth Cohen

Nothing defines our day-to-day college experience quite like the food we eat. While Gainesville has a plethora of mouthwatering restaurants, most are located quite far from campus and require either a car or navigating the bus system to access. Yet there are still plenty of delicious restaurants located within walking distance of campus on the Midtown Strip that beckon us to their walls.

Pokébowl Station

Pokébowl Station certainly packs a punch. Much like Chipotle or Cava, this place features a variety of bowls and the option to create your own. What's more is the respectable amount of choices, from proteins to crunches to vegetables. It's normally less busy than most places on the Strip, so it's good if you're in a bit of a rush. 

My go to is a double protein bowl with tuna and salmon, topped with their delicious spicy mayo. 

Depending on your server, they can get a little stingy with toppings, but overall the bowls turn out very tasty. No meal there is truly complete without one of their delicious bobas, with the Thai Iced Tea and Brown Sugar ones standing out.

Tea Moment

Located just up the road from Pokébowl Station, Tea Moment also excels in the boba department, offering up that as well as green teas, coffee, smoothies and more. 

My personal favorite is the mango smoothie with boba, which is both refreshing and sweet and offers a heavenly respite from the heat. 

If you're in the mood for food, they offer pork dumplings and a variety of rice rolls, in addition to a couple of ice cream treats. I've gone to this place with many people and have yet to hear a complaint, so clearly they're doing something right!

Wawa

This may be a chain (and a gas station one), but it still has the quality and tastiness of any of the other places discussed. One of the few Wawas in the country without gas pumps, this place really hits.

While sporting a wide selection of quick grab and go options, it excels at it’s kiosk options - from chicken sandwiches to soups to salads to bowls to pizza to burritos to breakfast and so much more. 

The sheer variety of food is astounding, and is responsible for the long times it takes me to order and the pounds I've put on. I've never had a disappointing meal from this place, and I am quite the frequent visitor. Wawa is open 24/7, so it's perfect for anything from early bird bites to midnight hankerings, although be prepared to wait for it - it's a student magnet and can get quite crowded, especially during peak nighttime hours.

Sushi2Go

Another fantastic hit, Sushi2Go offers up some truly delicious finds. One of the most unique items there are their sushi burritos, which are as tasty and mouth watering as they sound. They also have beautiful sushi rolls and poke bowls.

The poke bowls are especially good, and are just as colorful as they are tasty. You can customize your order to be both really spicy and really mild, so it's perfect no matter what you're in the mood for. The actual restaurant itself isn't the most comfortable place to sit and can smell a bit sometimes, so I'd recommend ordering the food to go - nothing hits quite like eating Sushi2Go in your dorm late at night.

Bite of Power

Located in the same building as Sushi2Go, Bite of Power is another homegrown restaurant that serves up some killer food. A Mediterranean-American fusion that spans from burgers to gyros and meats over rice, all freshly cooked on the grill, the restaurant has a real homemade quality. 

I especially love their mango lassi, an Indian drink that's like a mango milkshake but so much better. My go to food item is the cheeseburger and fries, which is basic but done perfectly every time. 

This is the perfect place to grab dinner and lunch, as my bank account can surely attest.

Piesano's 

Is this technically on the Strip? Either way, this place serves up some high quality Italian food. Perfect for a date or parent's weekend, the atmosphere is nice and refined, and it is an amazing way to unwind after a long day.

Starting with the free garlic rolls, the dining experience is incredible: from the flatbread and calamari appetizers to the pastas and pizzas that shine as entrees to the delectable desserts that finish off the meal, everything at this restaurant is amazing. 

My go-tos are the house salad and the chicken parm sandwich with fries, with the chicken parm being fresh and tender. 

This is an amazing way to end your day on a high, and a solid choice.