Da Vinci pizza coming to Gainesville and Paper Bag Deli expanding

An Italian trained chef and restaurateur is bringing his Napoletana-style pizza and pasta to Gainesville.

Da Vinci is slated to open Nov. 15 in the University Towne Center in the former Peach Valley Cafe location at 3275 SW 34th St.

Owner Mohey Osman, who has spent more than two decades in the restaurant business, said he's excited to be opening in Gainesville after enjoying great success in Bloomington, Indiana, near the University of Indiana.

"The college students are very attracted to my menu and reasonable prices," Osman said. "We did very well at IU and decided to open at a few different colleges around the country."

Da Vinci's menu features its Napoletana-style pizza cooked in a 900-degree oven imported from Italy. Build your own pizza starting at about $13 and choose from more than 30 toppings, including classics such as pepperoni and meatball, to the more unusual options like shrimp and zucchini.

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"Everything will be made from scratch — sauces, pizza, pasta — very much everything," Osman said. "We don't buy anything premade or ready to be served."

Specialty pizzas include the Da Vinci, which comes topped with Pomodoro sauce, fior di latte, pepperoni, peppadew peppers, fresh basil and hot honey, and the Truffle Funghi, which comes with a truffle garlic paste, fior di latte, Italian sausage, roasted mushroom and fresh basil.

Pasta dishes include the Bolognese, seafood ravioli, truffle tortellini and the bucatini and meatballs.

"I enjoy making food and making everybody happy, creating new things," Osman said. "Cooking is like a hobby for me and a passion. I just enjoy it so much.

Food news:New Japanese steakhouse opens in Oaks Mall; local barbecue joint closes original location

The Paper Bag Deli, which offers an all-day breakfast menu along with a variety of New York- and New Jersey-inspired sandwiches and wraps, announced on social media that it is planning to open a new location in the former home of Halo Potato Donuts off Tower Road near The Home Depot.

A Facebook video and post trumpeted the news.

"CRAZY NEWS-NEEDING LOVE & SUPPORT The Paper Bag Deli is EXPANDING our operations into our NEW Location off Tower Rd near Oaks Mall!!! Once we do a little renovation and hiring we'll be up and running very soon!!! Send prayers!!!"

Owner Richard Sterck told The Sun on Wednesday that he hopes to have the restaurant at 209 NW 75th St., Suite 30, open within about a month. It will be the third location for the deli that first opened in early 2022 at 5750 SW 75th Court — less than 5 miles from Sterck's newest space.

Sterck said he plans to keep both Tower Road locations open through at least Jan. 31, 2025, possibly longer if business can support them both.

Sterck hopes to use his newest location to help expand his catering business. Before moving to Gainesville just over three years ago, he ran a business called Rich Flavors that specialized in healthy meals to-go.

"The kitchen is definitely nice and I was like, 'If I need to take a risk, let's do it now,' we can really ramp up our catering," he said.

Sterck said two of his most popular items include the Tre Way Jay — an Italian hoagie filled with burned pork ends, maple honey ham, thick-cut pork belly, a sweet and spicy bourbon glaze, American cheese and onions onions — and the EvDaBev Crossover — think Philly cheesesteak meats French dip.

Top breakfast sellers include the French Toastwich, and the K Rock Delight, which is made with scrambled eggs, applewood bacon, smoked turkey, cheddar cheese and chipotle sauce pressed between sourdough bread.

Sterck said that while much of the menu at the new location will be the same, he plans on offering a variety of pastries, cheesecakes, cakes and more.

"It's got a huge countertop that just waiting to be filled full of stuff," he said.

Sterck opened his second Paper Bag Deli last fall at 11 SE First Ave. in downtown Gainesville.

The Paper Bag on Tower Road is currently open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The downtown location is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.