Article: Tips for On-Campus Foods Off-Campus -

Words and Photos by Shannon Minor

Have you ever found that if you eat on-campus just one more time then you might as well just not eat at all? Constantly fitting in the same places to eat at during your daily routine can become very mundane and put a damper on your taste buds. So when your mouth is watering for something different, here is a list of local restaurants within walking distance from campus that can satisfy your yearning desires for change and with great specials too!

Sandwiches
Few sandwiches can compare to those at Bleeker Street; however, if you find yourself in the mood for something new, Mojo’s Philadeli is a good alternative. Located near the Cary St. Gym on the corner of Laurel and Cary St., Mojo’s offers inexpensive sandwiches of all different varieties. The lunch special for $6.00 includes sandwiches such as a Flatbread Sandwich, 7” Philly Cheesesteak, and a Buffalo Chicken Flatbread Sandwich which all come with a side of pasta salad or chips and a beverage. Other options near campus include Jimmy John’s, Jersey Mikes Subs and Tropical Smoothie. Tropical Smoothie has a great deal of when you purchase a sandwich, you can add a smoothie for $3.00. Stuffy’s Subs, located on Harrison St., offers sandwiches from as low as $3.75 to $5. Their menu includes classics like ham, turkey and cheese subs. They also have the Stuffy’s Famous, which includes ham, cooked salami, cappacola and provolone for $3.75 for regular sized sandwiches. In addition to sandwiches, Stuffy’s offers hot subs, sandwich salads and burgers. Boo’s Brown Bag located on Main Street offers a grilled cheese sandwich for $2.99 and a Boo’s Brown Bag Special of a monster grilled cheese, beer battered fries and a drink for $7. They also have a free delivery service.

Salads
Many enjoy a delicious salad; however, they can become dull when eaten all the time. The Harrison Street Café, located at 402 N. Harrison St., has fresh, diverse and scrumptious salads, all vegan! Their House Salad includes a spring mix with tomatoes, sprouts and sunflower seeds and is only $3.95. All of their dressings are homemade and vegan. Their Power Salad may be a bit more expensive, but is reasonably priced at $7.20. It includes red lentil balls, falafel balls, baked tempeh strips and diced Asian tofu steak, creating a filling yet scrumptious meal. You can also get a cup of the soup of the day with a small house salad for $6.75. Right across the street is Edo’s Squid, which also has a diverse selection of salads. The Arugula Salad for $8 includes the tasty and strongly spiced arugula leaves, cheese, and a light dressing. Elephant Thai located near the Cary St. Gym on W. Cary St also has delicious salads for a good price. Their Papaya Salad includes shredded green papaya with spicy limejuice, carrots, peanuts, tomato, string beans and shrimp for $6.50. Another interesting option is the Beef Salad for $6.95, which includes grilled sliced beef mixed with lime juice, chili, tomato, cucumber, carrots, onions, scallions and cilantro. Elephant Thai’s salads are both reasonably priced and include numerous different ingredients within each salad, making them stand out against other regular house salads.

Pan-Asian
Stir-fry on campus at Nao & Zen is as delicious as it is filling, but there are also many pan-Asian cuisine places located within walking distance of campus. For starters, Panda Garden, located near the Grace Street Theater, offers a lunch special for $4.95 and dinner special for $6.95. Both are a combination of your choice of vegetarian main course with either a vegetable or pork egg roll with vegetarian rice. The menu includes other very reasonably priced foods such as dim sum, soups and various meat options like shrimp with mixed vegetables, kung poo chicken, shredded pork with scallions and many more. China Dragon, located at 1110 W. Main St. near Oliver Hall offers a lunch special from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. with all items priced from $4.75 to $5.90. Other restaurants close to campus that will satisfy your Asian food cravings include Mama’s Kitchen and Good Taste, both located on West Grace Street. Good Taste has an extensive menu with options ranging from around $4 to $6.

Pizza
Don’t be so quick to overlook the local Richmond pizza joints when you have a longing for some pizza. Many places near campus offer deals that can give your taste buds an adventure away from the typical cheese and pepperoni. Piccola Italy Pizza & Subs definitely provides the college-town pizzeria feeling as well as big slices for a reasonable price. What’s great about Piccola’s is you can order your pizza by the slice or as a whole, so it’s a great place for either a group or a more intimate affair. The pizza is served freshly made, with overloading amount of toppings and with various different styles, including New York style, Sicilian style and vegetarian. Piccola’s is located right near Oliver Hall on West Main Street. Aladdin Express Restaurant is another option, offering a medium cheese pizza for only $7.99. This is good place to go with a group of friends for a low key and chill environment. Also located nearby to Aladdin’s on W. Broad St. is Extreme Pizza which has pizzas for $6.95 and up. Still located very close to campus, about a 7 minute walk, is Pie at 214 N. Lombardy St. Every Tuesday night, you can get any pizza normally priced at $12.00 for half off. A favorite is the Godfather, which includes mozzarella cheese, Italian sausage, pepperoni, ham and fresh ricotta cheese. Another popular pizza is the Moe Greene with mozzarella, marinara, black olives, ham and artichoke hearts.