Food Traveler Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 136

Satchel Raye Satchel’S Pizza What local eateries would you recommend to friends? I love Gyro Plus. And Steamers, too. My tastes are simple. I'm not a fancy dinner sort of guy. What is it about your restaurant that brings cus- tomers back? For some places it’s the location. For others, the atmosphere or service or menu or special event or… I hope it's all those things. I am always working on so many things at once; the decor, the music, the cleanliness, consistency and service. First and foremost, everyone loves pizza, so we've got that going for us. But we also want to make a comfort- able environment for kids, and for celebrations and community gatherings. I talk to the employees all the time about the importance of getting repeat customers and how we must offer something spe- cial. I hope that something special is good food and service in a bright and colorful surrounding. Jeff allen DRagonFly SuShi & Sake comPany What local restaurants do you enjoy? I think the Gainesville food scene is really underrated. There are quite a few true gems in and around town that I love: V’s Pizza, Adam’s Rib Company, Paramount, and Reggae Shack to name just a few! What can you tell us about a dish your cus- tomers enjoy most? People always think about sushi when you men- tion Dragonfly, but I think—I hope—everyone who comes in is blown away by what my team is able to do across the board. The simplicity of the tuna tataki, the sweetness of the wontons, the umami of the miso black cod and the inventiveness of our omakase specials. Everything we send out of the kitchen has a backstory, and they’re all so inter- esting. mike manfredi SWeet DReamS When you’re not eating ice cream, where do you go to dine? Four of my favorites are Mildred's Big City Café, Satchel's Pizza, Leonardo’s 706 and Las Margaritas. your ice cream flavors are nearly unlimited. What are some of your favorites? A triple scoop. Chocolate, Turkish Delight, and Hazelnut.