Local restaurants are a source of comfort that helps many students withstand these especially frigid months. With six weeks of winter left, students share diverse tastes and the dining spots they are willing to trek to despite the numbing cold.
Caitlin Shaw, a junior biology major, said she enjoys a mix of restaurants. Caitlin frequents local spots after commuting to campus, going to Jackie & Sons for brunch and Chipoba for a savory dinner.
“I eat off campus if I’m really treating myself,” Shaw said.
Shaw recommends that students try any of Chipoba’s dishes, from their ramen to refreshing poke. Tucked in the intersection between Valley Street and South Orange Avenue, Chipoba’s miso ramen with pork is the perfect remedy after her snowy walk home.
While Shaw usually cooks at home or eats at the dining hall, the variety of local cuisines enriches her campus life.
“The local dining options really improve my overall experience,” Shaw said. “I like that there are a lot of options within walking distance, and I like that we have different types of cuisines.”
Students consistently mention Jackie & Sons as a go-to brunch spot for its ambiance and proximity to campus. Jordan Morgan, a sophomore marketing major, is one of them and recommends them for the blueberry pancakes and smoothies.
Morgan said he first came across this brunch hot spot while going to CVS last semester, and now complements his midterms and finals by going to Jackie & Sons with his close friends.
Morgan lives on campus, and while eating downtown is satisfying, he said it is important to balance ordering out, cooking, and going to the dining hall.
“It's not something you can have frequently, especially as a college student,” Morgan said.
The local dining options provide an off-campus outlet for Morgan, who enjoys photographing the South Orange area and spending quality time with friends.
“It’s good to get off campus and have something nice to eat while hanging out with friends,” Morgan said.
Shane Stevenson, a sophomore psychology major, said his go-to dining spot for homemade-style Mexican and Salvadoran food is La Villa El Salvador.
Stevenson found this restaurant after going with a friend from Adelante, a club on campus, and regularly returns for their steak fries.
“I would say I'm a frequent customer,” Stevenson said.
Finding a dining spot that caters to students in both location and price is rare, but Stevenson recommends OMGyro and the Village Diner as a happy median.
Stevenson is an out-of-state student from North Carolina, so finding new restaurants is a way for him to familiarize himself with South Orange.
“Being someone who comes out of state, dining out and getting off campus is a therapeutic way to unwind and experience the town,” Stevenson said.
Commuters also find options in the village worthy of exploring. Allie Vice, a junior diplomacy major from New Mexico, said on her way from campus to Ora Manor, she loves stopping by Mozzarella, The Order, and Bay Leaf.
She doesn’t have a campus meal plan, so she often cooks throughout the week and orders appetizers to complement her meals.
“I like getting garlic knots from Mozzarella,” Vice said. “They taste great and are a really good deal.”
Vice first went to Mozzarella her freshman year and now treats herself to the occasional pesto pasta and shrimp scampi. However, price is a problem Vice struggles with. She said that unless she’s getting fast food or Cluck U, it is hard to find a spot that is consistently budget-friendly and open late in the afternoon.
“I would definitely say pricing makes a place student-friendly,” Vice said.“ For Bay Leaf, the food is amazing, but the price makes it hard to frequent there, no matter how much I love their butter chicken.”
The Order, a quaint brunch spot under the train station, is Vice’s hidden gem for a great brunch with friends, and she would recommend any student to take the short walk over to enjoy their fresh biscuits.
While she usually orders takeout once a week, the restaurant options supplement cooking at home and make her feel more connected to South Orange. With the endless foodie options, Vice said she hopes to see a new Mexican-style restaurant in South Orange to bring a taste of her hometown to Jersey.
Isaiah Williams, a junior journalism major, also lives off campus and enjoys frequenting restaurants with his teammates on the golf team.
His top picks are Village Trattoria (“Tratt”), Bunny’s, and No.1 Chinese Restaurant. Williams argues that Village Trattoria is his winter dining staple; he has eaten there ever since his teammates took him during his freshman year.
“Trattoria is my top pick, my teammates definitely put me on,” Williams said.
Whether it’s late-night takeout from Cluck U or dining in at the Tratt, seeing pirate stickers on local dining spots is a special part of his experience as a student.
While the particular tastes differed, students illuminated how local spots function as both restaurants and sanctuaries, offering comfort and human connection, whether students are getting dinner after a day of classes or studying for an upcoming exam.
Tiffany Clay is a writer for The Setonian’s Features section. She can be reached at tiffany.clay@student.shu.edu.
