Just peachy: Peach Valley Cafe

Greek omelet with baby spinach, feta cheese and roasted red peppers, served with breakfast potatoes and toast

With the first Gator football game of the 2009 season and labor day all falling on the same weekend, the buzz in and around Gainesville is contagious. Alumni are returning to catch the first game. Friends are visiting to experience the Gator spirit and families are taking advantage of the long weekend by pouring into town.

To kick the football weekend off, head to Peach Valley Cafe, off of 34th Street, which serves up food for champions. Breakfast is available all day long, lunch is served starting at 10 a.m. and dinner's available by 4 p.m. Plus, the portions are big. One buttermilk pancake fills an entire dinner plate; wraps are served with salty fries, coleslaw and a pickle; and omelets are come with some combination of crunchy breakfast potatoes, flaky biscuits, stick-to-your-ribs grits, fried bacon or sausage.

I went this weekend with a group of girlfriends and one of their mothers in celebration of life, good friends, good football and a great start to the school year. Though I was the only one hungry for lunch, I chowed down on my chicken curry salad wrap, and the rest of them happily devoured their breakfasts.

The waitstaff at Peach Valley Cafe, composed of mostly college kids, can be a bit testy, but special orders tend to come out correctly and hot. The restaurant itself, while nothing spectacular to look at, has plenty of seating areas, which keeps the line on a Saturday morning moving swiftly.

Sitting outside with a large party (so long as you don't mind the heat) is a pleasant way to enjoy hearty food and the beaming Florida sun. For those more inclined to strong air-conditioning, the inside is fine too.

No matter where you chose to sit, before you growl in The Swamp, fill your growling tummy with Peach Valley Cafe. For breakfast or lunch, it's just peachy for a pre-game bite.

For the Senses (on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the lowest)
Noise: 1
Smell: 2.5
Taste: 2.5
Sight (presentation): 2

My end of the date rate the plate: Worthy of another fork. Not the best I've ever had, but it'll do.

Peach Valley Cafe

3275 SW 34th Street, Gainesville, Fl, 352.3761834.

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