The Ivy League usually calls to mind beautiful campuses, extra smart students, gothic architecture, and astronomical tuition prices, but the students that attend these eight schools in the northeast are also part of their surrounding communities. The cities differ widely from each other, but they all influence and contribute to the lifestyles the students enjoy. And part of the student experience is eating; these are young, hard-working kids after all, and their minds are always on the next meal. If you’re new to the area, touring college campuses, or just looking for a different place to try over the summer, check out the restaurants below from your favorite university.
Harvard University – Cambridge may not be a huge city, but it hosts two major universities, Harvard and MIT, so it has to have plenty of dining options. Plus, if you feel like you’ve exhausted what Cambridge has to offer, Boston isn’t far away.
- UpStairs on the Square is a great new American and Italian restaurant, perfect for a romantic date or dinner with your parents while they’re in town visiting. It has two different dining rooms: the first floor is the Monday Club Bar, which has an ever-changing seasonal menu of “casual haute cuisine,” and the second floor is the Soirée Dining Room, which is more upscale with a menu prepared by chef Steven Brand and his staff with seasonal and local ingredients.
- If you’re looking for something different, try the Afghan food at the Helmand Restaurant. The rave reviewed dishes are pricey but well worth it especially considering the comfortable atmosphere and their famous flatbread that’s baked in their wood-burning oven.
- Cambridge doesn’t have a place in the pantheon of great Southern cuisine cities but local restaurant Hungry Mother represents its Virginia roots well. Boasting a rich dinner menu with multiple courses, a massive drink menu, and a late night menu (10:30pm-1am), there is something for everybody.
Columbia University – Columbia may be way up in Harlem, but students have access to all the wonderful international cuisines and glamour prevalent in New York City.
- For breakfast, try the freshly baked pastries at the Hungarian Pastry Shop where Columbia students come to study or socialize. There’s even seating outside for beautiful summer mornings.
- If you’re looking to dive into the ethnic cuisine of NYC, go to Zoma for some excellent Ethiopian food. If you’ve never had Ehtiopian, the experience itself is unique and exciting. You’re encouraged to eat with your hands by mopping up your food with injera, a traditional spongy bread.
- Tom’s Restaurant, famously used for the exterior of Monk’s Diner in Seinfeld, has been a mainstay for Columbia students since the 1940s. The menu features classic American food and students come in droves at 3 a.m. for a milkshake and fries with gravy.
Princeton University – Princeton students may spend most of their time chowing down at the ten “eating clubs” on Prospect Avenue (they also drink beers at each club for their Prospect 10 tradition), but even the laziest students like to venture into town for some variety.
- Late night, Elements is a great place to refuel for brunch. It’s pricey but they serve fresh, light salads, as well as heartier fare like their French toast with Vermont maple syrup, bacon, pecan, and vanilla ice cream or their steak and eggs with “48 hour” short ribs, fried eggs, and home fries.
- If you’re looking for something a little cheaper or just craving a big sub, Hoagie Haven is the perfect stop. It’s been around since the 1970s and features a huge variety of hot and cold hoagies and sandwiches, including the Heart Stop, made with cheesesteak, bacon, and eggs.
- For dinner, local Princetonians rave about the fresh, delicious sashimi and sushi served at Ajihei Sushi. It’s tricky to find but worth seeking out.
- And for dessert, head over to the Little Chef Pastry, which has an unbelievable selection of exotic cakes, tarts, and pastries that will satisfy any craving.
University of Pennsylvania – Philly may not always be sunny, but U of P students still love getting off campus for some of the delicious eats the city has to offer.
- Bui’s Lunch Truck posts up basically on campus, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. It draws students from all over for delicious breakfast sandwiches at very reasonable prices.
- The Reading Terminal Market, located near City Hall, is a must-see for newcomers to Philly. The massive, warehouse-like building is filled with vendors and places to eat from Amish markets to bakeries to restaurants and this maze of wonders has something for everybody.
- And if you’re going to be in Philly, one of your first priorities should be eating a cheesesteak. Everyone’s heard of Pat’s and Gino’s, but locals favor Jim’s Steaks. It’s been open for over 70 years, and desperate out-of-staters can order the famous cheesesteaks shipped to them overnight.
- Whether it’s for dinner or just a late night slice, Lorenzo and Sons is the best pizza place in town. Located on South St. in a little hole-in-the-wall, this place has great sauce and toppings and it stays open late for all those partying students.
Cornell University – Ithaca may be in the middle of nowhere in upstate New York, but this little college town has some great food.
- College Town Bagels is the local favorite for bagels, including specials like Long Island honey wheat and spicy Italian as well as artisan breads and sandwiches.
- For the environmentally conscious, the Ithaca Farmers’ Market is a great place to eat. Everything that’s sold there from Sri Lankan food to burritos is grown within 30 miles of Ithaca.
- If you’re looking for something a little spicier, try Taste of Thai. The large interior has an authentic, comfortable atmosphere (food is served in elegant Thai-design china), and the food is very reasonably priced.
Yale University – New Haven’s claims to fame are the invention of the hamburger, the lollipop, and the world’s best pizza. Those are hotly debated assertions but the quality of the food available to Yale students is not.
- For early mornings, get your caffeine fix or a quick bite to eat at the peculiar Koffee on Audobon. It’s located in the arts district and has a very bohemian atmosphere, not for everyone, but the drinks are excellent and they have freshly baked muffins and bagels.
- Those interested in the history of the hamburger should definitely check out Louis’ Lunch, the self-proclaimed “Birthplace of the Hamburger Sandwich.” Featuring a beautifully simple menu that maintains the integrity of its origins in the late 1890s, this is definitely the place to go for lunch.
- Dedicated to sustainable, eco-friendly dining, Bespoke is a great dinner spot. The menu offers delicious farm-to-table dishes like horseradish-crusted salmon with garlic-spinach puree and pistachio-crusted pork loin with roasted tomato puree, potato gratin, and garlic mint oil.
Dartmouth College – Hanover may be one of the forgotten Ivy League cities, but it was ranked the second best place to live in America, and it certainly is no slouch in terms of culinary delights.
- Partake in a Dartmouth tradition (since 1947) and order from the breakfast menu all day at Lou’s. The menu features great breakfast items with a Mexican twist including the Chipotle turkey hash and the breakfast quesadilla.
- For lunch or a lively diner (there’s often live music) head to Molly’s Restaurant and Bar, a local favorite that has brick oven pizzas, fresh pastas, and a famous half-pound burger.
- Like Ithaca’s Farmers’ Market, Zins at the Hanover Inn offers excellent Upper Valley cuisine using locally produced ingredients. Zins serves a wide variety of dishes from fresh seafood to regional game, like duck and quail, and the wine selection is extensive.
- For a good college dining experience, The Canoe Club is the place to go. The décor is rife with iconic Dartmouth memorabilia, there is always live music, and the food is regional and fresh (the Canoe Club Shellfish Stew is a favorite).
Brown University – Rhode Island may be tiny but its claims to fame include the highest number of coffee and doughnut shops per capita in the country and the third most restaurants per capita. Doughnuts aren’t for everyone (although the Rhode Island police must be happy) but Providence has a wide variety of cuisines to please any taste.
- For affordable, delicious, local, and vegan-friendly food, AS220’s artsy atmosphere and neighborhood feel are a perfect fit for any Brown prospective. The staff is extremely understanding of all allergies and is willing to adapt and change items on the menu to suit special needs.
- La Laiterieis a great lunch spot, serving seasonal influenced bistro-style cuisine in a personally designed, rustic interior. Doubters should know that part owner and chef, Matt Jennings, earned a nomination for Best Chef in the Northeast in the 2011 James Beard Restaurant Awards.
- No trip to Providence is complete without an elegant meal at Al Forno, an authentic Italian restaurant that uses a wood-fired grill and locally produced foods. Delicious dinners include Roasted Honey Glazed Duck Leg and Grilled Sausage or Roasted Gorgonzola Stuffed and Bacon Wrapped Veal Cutlets. For dessert try the Plum Jam-Filled Crepes with Crème Anglaise.
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