With the school year coming up in a couple of weeks, future students may be asking themselves where they can go out to eat near their campus or university. Usually each university campus has some nice foodie places around. The following list features some of the most popular establishments in and around universities on the East Coast which have proven to save students’ lives when the hunger kicks in. Not surprisingly some of the best dining places are to be found in some of the best universities which of course does not mean that cafeterias not featured in this list or in some of the smaller schools have nothing to offer.
Columbia University, Manhattan, NY
Columbia University has a number of great eating places right on campus which can be found via the great website feature of “Whatcha in the Mood For”. Furthermore, the university has committed itself to ditching trans fats and generally promoting healthier eating choices. There’s also kosher and halal dining as well as a variety of foods suitable for those with food allergies. Last but not least, local produce is also big on the list as well as donating leftover food to a food bank.
Close to Columbia University you can find Taqueria y Fonda la Mexicana – a small but highly popular burrito joint which offers free delivery until midnight, Giant Burritos (a must!) and tacos but also some authentic south-of-the-border dishes for the ones with a more refined taste.
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cornell University is also a good place to be when it comes to dining options – offering a dining experience that is in line with the good reputation of the university itself. There is, for example, a whole video series about the food service and the people behind it, called ‘CU in the Kitchen’. Then there’s constantly events which revolve around cuisine from around the world and even the ‘plain’ daily menu always has something exciting to offer. Finally, sustainability is another one of Cornell’s priorities and is well incorporated in all its dining establishments and practices.
Outside of the university there’s College Town Pizza, a favorite eatery for many, with good pizzas at reasonable prices. Furthermore, from Wed to Sat its doors are open until 01:30 AM – for all those who need a late-night snack (bad-for-your-health as it may be).
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Reading about what is offered at dining halls in some of the universities, makes one want to go study there just because of all the good food. With vegetarian, vegan, halal and kosher options and menu items that sound like they were taken straight from a high-end restaurant’s menu, Darthmouth College deserves to be featured in this list. Not surprising – two or three times per term there’s guest chefs that make sure to offer only the best of food to the students. The website also features a menu with nutritional information about the dishes being offered as well as the option to customize search according to specific needs.
If you’re eating outside of Darthmouth, Lou’s is a logical and favorite option. Certified green and using local produce, Lou’s offers a rich menu prepared with the right mindset – since 1947!
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME
Bowdoin College is famous for its college food culture – which is reflected in it being often ranked at the top of Princeton Review’s „Best College Food“ list. Because it is a small college, Bowdoin can afford to make the food being offered a unique experience each time. Usually dishes are cooked in small batches in order to ensure that they will remain fresh. At Bowdoin there’s also an emphasis on local produce and regional dishes, alongside fruits and veggies which come from the college’s own organic garden. Finally, food is often also prepared according to what is currently being taught in the lecture halls, making it an integral part of the teaching process.
Popular food destination outside of the college – try Benchwarmers. A great place for lunch and diner, with great deals on a regular basis and high quality service. Sit down, catch a beer and watch the game.
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
How does „Top Chef Harvard“ sound? Awesome, right? It’s a yearly initiative, a competition between dorms that seeks to find the best chef among them, who can prepare a dish using only the ingredients that can be found in the dining halls. And with a menu as Harvard’s, that features a large variety of high-quality produce, the competition is quite fun.
A weekly podcast presents the menu, providing everyone with all the relevant information they need in order to plan for their upcoming meals. Food can also be ordered in advance so that one does not have to worry about what to eat today or tomorrow. And in the end, the food system keeps track of everyone’s food preferences which are linked to their personal ID number.
If one doesn’t have a meal plan at the University, there’s plenty of choices. One of them being Wagamama, a Japanese inspired restaurant with a noodle bar, offering authentic food with all the right ingredients.
This list is missing many noteworthy colleges and universities such as – the University of Georgia, Princeton University, Yale University, Boston University, Brown University and more. All of these have a food culture that is both very healthy and caring for its students, their needs as well as local production and cuisine.
The post The joys of College – Best Universities to eat at on the East Coast appeared first on Restaurant Equipment & Food Service Advice.
