When you finally decide that it’s time for a break from seeing all of your classmates at the dining hall and you go out to dinner for a change, you’ll realize that no matter where you go, you can’t escape your peers.
For a school with over 29,000 undergraduate students, you might think it would be impossible to run into the same 20 people every day — but even in a neighborhood as diverse as Greenwich Village, there are a handful of quintessential restaurants around campus that students never fail to flock to. So if you’re going to have to sit across from Dominic from your Spanish class regardless, it’s preferable to do so with good food and a margarita in hand.
5. Little Ruby’s Cafe
198 E. 11th St.
Starting off on a controversial note is Little Ruby’s Cafe. Known for its bustling brunch scene, the Australian diner pulls NYU students to its quaint dining room for a below average meal. You’re probably at Ruby’s for a nice bowl of spicy vodka pasta and to gossip about the annoying first-year in your class, but you can’t really do that when they’re sitting two feet away from you. Given that the chain has a location directly across the street from Third Avenue North, as well as locations in the West Village and Murray Hill, its hard to not feel pulled into Ruby’s orbit, but the overpriced entrees are enough to force your wallet shut. With so many better options within blocks of Ruby’s, I have to wonder why anyone would go there.
4. Café Maud
132 Second Ave.
Café Maud is the American big sister of Little Ruby’s. Similarly overpriced, the location on St. Marks Place and Second Avenue has a distinctly millennial vibe — something that often seems to appeal to Greek-lifers. If you walk past the outdoor seating section on any given afternoon, you’re sure to see five people you know chatting away while sipping on espresso martinis. Where Café Maud fails in terms of its minimalistic vibe, it makes up for with its incredible happy hour menu. New York might just be the only place in the world where $9 for an Aperol spritz is considered cheap, but when I see prices that low, I know I’m getting two drinks minimum. Café Maud is far from my cup of tea, but if I had a hankering for a spritz, I’d know where to go.
3. San Marzano
117 Second Ave.
Walking into San Marzano is equivalent to walking into Downstein. At each table in the dining room, you’ll see tables full of people from each corner of NYU as they chow down on their build-your-own pasta. Who needs the Olive Garden in Times Square when you can indulge in a delicious bowl of pasta right by campus? While San Marzano does not have unlimited breadsticks, it has delicious garlic bread and some of the best sangria I’ve ever tasted with its fruity, floral notes. This Italian eatery is versatile — it can act as a casual place for a quick bite with friends or as a fancy yet cheap meal for date night. Though NYU students are abundant here, the meal can compensate for your forced proximity to peers.
2. Klong
7 St. Marks Place
Klong has recently become one of my favorite places for a casual dinner in the city. At any time, I can walk over to this Thai hotspot and have basil fried rice on my table and a mojito in hand within 15 minutes. It is perfectly situated on St. Marks Place with proximity to many NYU dorms for easy access. Unlike other popular Thai restaurants like Soothr, Klong has a perfect NYU student to regular New Yorker ratio, allowing for uncensored gossip while still being in community with fellow students. Additionally, Klong has a very aptly priced menu. I never want to feel like I have to scrap pennies together to get a filling pad thai, so going to Klong always feels like a safe bet.
1. La Palapa
77 St. Marks Place
La Palapa is the equivalent of a high school cafeteria in the best way possible. When I walk into the taqueria, I feel like I’m eating dinner with every single NYU student I’ve ever met, when in reality, I vaguely know 75% of the patrons. The vibe of this restaurant is perfect: The lights are dim, tables are nicely spaced and even though you might have a few opps in the dining room, everyone can become a friend at La Palapa. Additionally, this place has some of the best deals in New York City. For only $20, you can get a quesadilla, a plate of rice and beans and a frozen margarita. While the food sounds like very basic Mexican cuisine, it is so delicious that it will make your tastebuds dance. Dishes like the Al Pastor Quesadilla have perfectly balanced tastes intertwining umami pork with sweet pineapple. Not once in my life have I craved a plate of rice and beans until I experienced the glory of La Palapa. You’ll catch me here every Tuesday night for the rest of my life.
Contact Dylan Henschen at [email protected]
