slides: College Guide 2013: Best Places To Eat On A College Budget
Thursday, November 14, 2013
GoLocalProv College Guide Team
Going out to eat with friends can be expensive and unrealistic when living on a college budget. It is common to assume that the only way to eat a decent meal for a reasonable price is to eat at home or in the dining hall. These restaurants, however, offer great food for great prices so you can catch a break from that repetitive dining hall food without emptying your wallet.
Related Slideshow: College Guide 2013: Best Places To Eat On A College Budget
Our college lifestyle experts have hand-picked these restaurants as great dining options for students on a college budget. Enjoy!
Always cheap, always delicious
One of the great miracles of human existence is that wings are inherently easy to find cheap. Wings Over Providence is one of our go-to spots, perfect for delivery. For dining in (and some great beers), check out the English Cellar Alehouse at 6 pm on Mondays—just 40 cents per wing until 10:00!
Wings Over Providence: 725 Hope St, Providence - (401) 274-9464
English Cellar Alehouse: 165 Angell St, Providence - (401) 454-3434
Check out GolocalProv’s College Guide on best places to get wings later this week!
(Photo: Navin75, Flickr)
Save on six-packs: bring your own
Haven’t budgeted for that cucumber-lime-and-elderflower martini this week? If you’re 21+, that shouldn’t mean you’ll go without a drink with that dinner out. A great way to save some cash is to find BYOB restaurants—we recommend Sakura on Wickenden Street in Providence. Delicious Japanese cuisine with a six pack of Shipyard Pumpkin Head ale or a bottle of Smoking Loon from Campus Fine Wines around the corner? Sign us up. Bonus—split the cost with your friends, and suddenly you have some spare change for one more California roll.
Sakura: 231 Wickenden St, Providence - (401) 331-6861
Campus Fine Wines: 127 Brook St, Providence - (401) 621-9650
For more about drinking around campus, keep an eye out for GoLocalProv’s College Guide on the best bars to grab a drink!
Eat like your free t-shirt depends on it
College students have been known to take some extreme measures when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck on dinner. Luxe Burger Bar in downtown Providence should be your next conquest, with its Everest-sized meal known as the Frankenstein Burger. Four Gold Label burgers. Two jumbo Nathan's all beef hot dogs. Four slices of smokehouse bacon. Four slices of American cheese. All topped with Hereford black bean chili, coleslaw, and relish. On buttered rolls, no less, and served with a double order of fries. If you’re daring enough to finish, you get a free t-shirt. If not, leftovers for days.
Luxe Burger Bar: 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence - (401) 621-5893
(Photo: JefNickerson, Flickr)
Love the simple things
Fried rice often gets overlooked in favor of more showy examples of Asian cuisine, but it shouldn’t—it’s one of the most filling and versatile dishes on a budget. If you’re near Newport, Tokyo House can’t be beat. Closer to the heart of Providence, try Sura on Westminster Street. Bonus: if the fried rice at the pan-Asian restaurant near you isn’t your favorite, try the scallion pancakes. They’re usually under five dollars, and they’re always delicious.
Sura: 232 Westminster St, Providence - (401) 277-9088
Check out GoLocalProv’s College Guide on best Asian Cuisine and Best Sushi later this week!
(Photo: TSuhlin, Flickr)
Eat like a king on a jester’s budget
If your taste is on the expensive side, fear not—just watch for specials! Lots of local restaurants have Facebook pages and Twitters, some just have Yelp reviews and personal websites, but chances are, you’ll be able to find information about special deals somewhere. It might take some poking around, but it’s worth it to budget in that four-cheese baked pasta you’ve been craving. Over 21? Look for drinking specials! Check out Rue de L’Espoir on Wednesdays for a custom burger and beer for just $12.50.
Rue de L’Espoir: 99 Hope St, Providence - (401) 751-8890
(Photo: mosespreciado, Flickr)
It’s the size of the fight in the dog—or burger
Sometimes it’s not the size of the burger that matters, it’s the price. At Harry’s Bar and Burger though, so does the taste. The regular price for a set of two sliders is always under $7.00, and if you go between 3 and 5 pm, any day of the week, they’re half price. Bonus if you’re over 21: amazing boozy milkshakes.
Harry’s Bar and Burger: 121 N Main St, Providence - (401) 228-7437
I swear, it’s as healthy as a Chobani!
In college, you could have ice cream for dinner if you really wanted to—who’s going to stop you? But if you want to go a little healthier, try froyo. Most shops charge by weight, so you can perfect the fine art of getting the most bang for your buck. If you’re a Brown student, you’ve probably grown to love FroyoWorld on Thayer Street.
FroyoWorld: 219 Thayer St, Providence - (401) 865-6055
(Photo: elise.hui, Flickr)
Don’t get up
In that economics class you took freshman year, you learned that there’s more to cost than just dollars—there’s also convenience. As in, you’re willing to pay a couple of extra dollars for delivery so you don’t have to put on real pants. Here’s another instance where splitting the cost with your friends or roommates can save you tons, and save everyone a trip across campus. Check out GoLocalProv’s College Guide on Best Dorm Delivery Food later in the week for some tips on getting what you want delivered right to your doorstep.