As young, hungry students frequenting the Village, it can be easy to get decision fatigue from the host of restaurants around. There are so many to choose from that it’s hard to know where to begin. Make no mistake, local food providers also know this, which is why they go to lengths to fight for your attention. Lucky for you, one way in which these establishments do this is through student discounts.
NYU tuition is already costing you an arm and a leg, so you might as well take advantage of these student discounts and enjoy some good food.
The Kati Roll Company
99 Macdougal St.
The Kati Roll Company sells kati rolls (shocking), which is street food in India, now found in eateries all around New York City. A kati roll is a mixture of meat, vegetables and spices wrapped up in naan, making it the perfect quick bite. The restaurant offers a 10% discount to students with an NYU ID, so if you wanted to try a new culinary experience that doesn’t break the bank, this spot is perfect.
The Bean
824 Broadway, 54 Second Ave., 31 Third Ave.
I’d bet a substantial amount of money that every NYU student will have been to The Bean by the time graduation rolls around. The Bean is a great spot to grab coffee and study, complete with complimentary wifi and big tables (if you’re lucky enough to find an empty one). It offers a 10% discount to NYU students with their ID card, which might ease your mind when feeding that coffee addiction.
Bagel Bobs
51 University Place
Though it may be small, Bagel Bobs can’t be disregarded. Friendly staff, a perfect cream cheese-to-bagel ratio and their 10% NYU student discount set this place apart from the other bagel shops around campus. Additionally, it sells bagels at half price every Monday from 4 – 7 p.m. Bagel Bobs has a wide variety of bagels and cream cheese flavors to choose from, as well as other menu options such as sandwiches, wraps and coffee.
Buttercup Bake Shop
61 E Eighth St.
Buttercup Bake Shop sells a variety of desserts, ranging from pies to puddings to cookies. However, it’s best known for its 100% buttercream cakes. The slices of cake are huge, but perfect to share with a group of friends. If you’re just looking to treat yourself, they sell individual cupcakes as well. With its 10% NYU student discount, Buttercup Bake Shop is the perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth without feeling too much guilt.
Okinii
216 Thompson St.
Okinii is a Japanese sushi bar with an extensive menu consisting of sushi, poke, ramen and much more. The aspect that makes Okinii notable is its sushi bar, where one can pick out all of his or her desired ingredients and then watch the chef turn them into a sushi creation. This might all seem too sophisticated for your college budget, but its 10% NYU student discount makes it a little more affordable.
16 Handles
153 Second Ave.
16 Handles is New York’s resident frozen yogurt franchise, with locations all over the city. It’s not often that franchises give out regular discounts, but 16 Handles defies that stereotype with its 10% student discount. Depending on your choice of toppings, frozen yogurt can be a relatively healthy dessert, so you can feel good about what you’re eating and how much you’re spending.
Space Market
1 University Place #1
If you’re a first-year living in Weinstein Hall, you probably already know all about Space Market. It’s a standard grocery store, complete with a deli, salad bar and hot food to-go bar. Space Market is open 24 hours and it always seems to have exactly what you’re craving at 2 a.m. after that night out or late-night study session. Space Market has so much to offer, and you can get it all at a discount with your student ID.
Vapiano
113 University Place
Vapiano is an Italian restaurant with an interesting and unique format for ordering food. Each customer stands in line, orders at the counter and then proceeds to watch the chef make their meal. Once the food is ready, customers have two floors of seating to choose from. Though there are many great student discounts around us, Vapiano comes out on top with 20% off.
A version of this article appears in the Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, print edition. Email Calais Watkins at [email protected].
