<p>My son, who is applying to UF, will be in Gainesville on Sunday night, attending a high school debating tournament. I will be meeting him there.</p>
<p>Can you recommend an "authentic" UF restaurant----the type of restaurant that might be considered a famous student hangout.</p>
<p>floridadad55 I am also a Florida dad. My son just started this fall.</p>
<p>After 2 visits to gville I would recommend that you guys go the swamp. it is across the street from Library West and Murphree dorms right on Univ Ave.</p>
<p>Did you go to UF? I graduated in 81.</p>
<p>I would recommend The Swamp too. ([The</a> Swamp Restaurant in Gainesville, FL | #1 College Sports Bar](<a href=“http://swamprestaurant.com/]The”>http://swamprestaurant.com/))</p>
<p>Also Dragonfly is really popular, but I wouldn’t call it “an authentic UF restaurant.” [Dragonfly</a> Sushi & Sake | Downtown Gainesville, FL | Voted Best Restaurant in Gainesville | Modern Izakaya Concept](<a href=“http://dragonflysushi.com/home.html]Dragonfly”>http://dragonflysushi.com/home.html)</p>
<p>Satchels Pizza!</p>
<p>I graduated college in 1977.</p>
<p>But from Cornell, not UF.</p>
<p>So I am not a Gator.</p>
<p>But I might wind up being a Gator Dad.</p>
<p>I also recommend the Swamp…a bit too overpriced for what they serve(burgers, nachos), but a great place for a first visit—right across from the dorms.Eat inside or out.</p>
<p>Also recommend Satchel’s–but it is a bit hard to find…the best pizza and a funny, very funky environment…has been around forever! You can even eat in a VW van and they have a wacky items gift shop.
Also recommend The Top on another visit…it is downtown but is very popular with a very unique menu, but also lots of great basic choices (burgers, lots of variety). The Top is filled with an eclectic mix of old 50’s-70’s funky objects d’art…really fun place to eat and always crowded.</p>
<p>Gator Mom…Swamp is about as local college as you can get. If you see anything other than orange and blue or greek letters, you are in the wrong place.</p>
<p>There are some REAL restaurants, too.</p>