Elizabeth Sims
Weekender Editor
Hungry and already tired of the Sodexo Cafe food? Pinched for cash but stir-crazy and desperate to escape campus? These five restaurants will keep you within your budget but will get you off campus and enjoying the local fare.
1. Roosters Café and Grille
5785 Northampton Blvd
Although this place is open for just breakfast and brunch, it’s well worth heading there after a long night of “activities.” It offers eggs to order, omelets, pasta, sandwiches and homemade sides. Every plate is filled to the edges and you always get more than what you pay for.
2. Bilus Colombian Restaurant
544 Newtown Road
If you’re feeling like trying a new ethnic food, then head to Bilus for some out-of-this-world Colombian dishes. Locally run, it offers pollo asado (grilled chicken), trucha (trout), crawfish, and passion fruit milkshakes. It’s open until 10 p.m. and offers massive margaritas, which you can enjoy while watching sports on its numerous televisions.
3. Sunrise Pizzeria
4848 Virginia Beach Blvd
Head to this place if you’ve got a friend who leads a gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian lifestyle. It has a wide variety on its menu, including custom pizzas, gyros, tiramisu, and rustic sandwiches. What’s even better is that you can order delivery from the entire menu and have it sent directly to your room. Try the spinach ravioli and meatballs for a filling meal that will also guarantee you’ll have leftovers.
4. Dawg House Grill
928 Diamond Springs Road
This place is everything a good grille should be; it has sauces on the table, TVs up, and everything from chili cheese fries and chicken tenders to subs and gyros. However, the specialty, as one can tell from the name, is the selection of crazy hot dogs, including chili-smothered dogs, dogs with cheese and chopped onions, and dogs with various toppings crafted daily by the cooks.
5. Fat Philly’s
2700 Azalea Garden Road
This is not the place to go if you are watching your weight. These Philly cheesesteaks are large and in charge, and take no prisoners. You may be a little hesitant to head into the restaurant at first, mainly because it looks run-down and like a place where drug deals go down, but have no fear. The owners and staff are great people and very welcoming. Also, if you’re 21 or over, you can have a beer with your cheesesteak. Just don’t drink and drive.
