Tup Tim Thai, second Kilwins open, new Satchel’s in works

A new spot for Asian cuisine across from the University of Florida campus is now open for business, along with another place on the west side of town that will satisfy anyone’s sweet cravings.

Across town, a Gainesville favorite is adding a long-awaited second location with a new twist, and a national chain is shaking up its menu with new breakfast offerings.

But in the game of pizzas in Gainesville, you win or you close, and one location is no longer firing up hot pies for hungry customers.

Here is this week’s restaurant news:

Tup Tim Thai opens on West University Avenue

Tup Tim Thai, a restaurant specializing in Thai cuisine and sushi, opened recently at 1232 W. University Ave.

Manager Kate Namphochai said it took two years to rebuild and get up to code, so it’s wonderful to finally open it to the public.

She said another Tup Tim Thai restaurant has been operating in Jacksonville for about 15 years, but the three business partners at the Gainesville location wanted to open up at what they considered to be a great location near the university, other dining options and apartments.

Tup Tim serves traditional Thai noodle and rice dishes, as well as stir fries, curries and hibachi. Also on the menu are an assortment of sushi rolls and sashimi pieces. Several vegetarian and vegan menu options also are available.

Lunch entrees ordered for dine-in between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. come with a complimentary spring roll and soup of the day. About two dozen sushi rolls are included in the $5 sushi menu, available all day.

Namphochai said her favorite roll is the Yum Yum roll, a deep fried roll that contains spicy tuna and salmon and is topped with spicy mayo and eel sauce.

Co-owner Christopher Santasiero, who also owns Chaba Thai restaurant in Johns Creek, Georgia, said he is excited to introduce a new, family-run business to the area, as opposed to another corporate food establishment.

“We feel we are truly blessed,” he said. “We know the recipe for success is great food, good customer service and good location, and we’ve got that going here.”

Tup Tim Thai is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Satchel’s to open second location at 4th Ave. Food Park

After 17 years serving up beloved salad, pizza and calzones in Gainesville, eclectic pizza joint Satchel’s is slated to open a second location later this year.

Satchel’s Squared will open in the 4th Ave. Food Park in the Innovation District, where it will specialize in Detroit-style square pizzas and a waffle breakfast, said owner Satchel Raye, who will run the business with longtime Satchel’s employee Mark Rodriguez.

Raye said he’s planned opening a second location twice before, once in 2012 and again in 2016, but fires caused significant damage at Satchel’s as both plans were coming to fruition, quashing expansion plans.

“The fires really changed everything and took things off the table,” he said.

Raye said he traveled to Detroit last year to try the city's increasingly popular style of pizza, known for its extra thick crust and very crispy bottom. Initially, he wanted to add the pizza to the original Satchel’s menu, but it would have required a lot of extra kitchen space to allow the dough to rise.

“It’s hard to add another thing to our current menu,” he said. “It’s a lot of extra work that we don’t need since we’re already busy.”

So instead, a single-size Detroit pizza will be served up exclusively at Satchel’s Squared. And while more than 30 toppings are available on the Satchel’s menu, a pared-down selection of toppings will be included on the finalized Detroit pizza menu.

For the first time, Satchel’s is expected to be open seven days a week, take credit cards and serve up a waffle breakfast (also in the form of squares).

The waffles are a favorite recipe Raye developed and serves his family every Christmas and whenever family or friends come to visit. His favorite way to chow down on them is with a side of bacon and cold glass of milk.

“I like good, craveable foods,” Raye said. “The way a following has formed in town for our pizza and salad, I feel like the same thing is going to happen with our waffles.”

He said the waffles are so good, no toppings are necessary. Satchel’s Squared will serve plain and gluten-free waffles with real butter and real maple syrup, and perhaps a powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar shaker on the side.

The inclusion of gluten-free and vegan options is essential for Satchel’s Squared because people with those dietary restrictions don’t always have the most convenient or delicious options when it comes to dining out.

“I want to have the best vegan and gluten-free options available,” Raye said.

Satchel’s Squared plans to open by summer or fall this year.

Second Gainesville Kilwins opens in Butler Town Center

The chocolate, fudge and ice cream shop Kilwins opened its second Gainesville location Wednesday in Butler Town Center.

The dessert shop is behind the Whole Foods Market at 3625 SW 32nd Court, Suite 40. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Gainesville’s first Kilwins location opened in 2018 at Celebration Pointe.

Wendy’s to roll out breakfast menu

Fast-food chain Wendy’s on March 2 will introduce a new breakfast menu featuring items that pay homage to fan favorites. A Breakfast Baconator, Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit and Frosty-ccino are among the options diners will have.

Also on the breakfast menu: sandwiches topped with hand-cracked eggs as well as savory and Applewood-smoked bacon.

The first 100 vehicles to make a purchase through a Wendy’s drive-thru on March 2 will receive free breakfast for a year, according to a company news release.

Now closed: 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza

1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza, a chain that opened a Gainesville location in May 2018 at Butler North, 4062 Plaza Blvd., Suite 20, closed its doors recently.

A nearby location in Lake City, at 2511 W US Highway 90 in the Lake City Mall, remains open. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.