By Juliette Bolle-Leon
Many students want to branch out from eating on-campus, yet struggle to find somewhere affordable and quick enough to make it back to class on time.
Grand Rapids Community College students complain about being stuck in a rut when it comes to dining on campus, and for good reason. Subway and naan pizzas, even with variety, can get repetitive. Especially in a time crunch, many struggle to find a fast, affordable option that isn’t “junk food.” However, if one is willing to explore, they can save gas money and walk to one of the many restaurants within 15 minutes of campus and still be on time for their classes.
Kiana Vu, a 19-year-old pre-communications major, says she’s tired of the food on campus.
“I’ve been avoiding eating on campus for a while,” Vu said. “So I think it’s time to leave campus.”
Sushi-Yama, located just a 10-minute walk from campus, is an establishment in the basement of McKay Tower at 146 Monroe Center St NW. Its placement inside McKay Tower leaves it out of the public’s eye, but that doesn’t deter the fans of the restaurant.
Ko Niltasuwan, an 18-year-old completing his gen-eds at GRCC, frequents the place at least once a week. “I was hungry one day, and (my friend) told me about a good sushi spot that’s close by,” Niltasuwan said. “Whenever I’m with a friend and we’re both hungry, we walk to Sushi-Yama and eat there.”
His favorite order? The fried sweet potato rolls. Many believe it’s the perfect vegetarian option, and Niltasuwan believes it’s the best sushi in the city. Even better, two orders of this roll cost less than $10 and leaves you feeling satisfied. With its 4.7-star review on Google, everyone is allowed the satisfaction of quality sushi, without the price often associated with it.
Just up the road from the Calkins Science Center, Corewell Health holds an impressive cafeteria at 25 Michigan St NE. With a Qdoba, a Z! Eats, formally called Zoup and a Starbucks, students can choose from a variety of meals or beverages in one stop. Z! Eats has expanded its menus to include more than just their various soups. Macaroni and cheese, sandwiches, salads and flatbread pizzas are now on the menu. Qdoba’s menu stays true to its Hispanic inspiration with burritos, tacos, quesadillas and protein bowls. Starbucks holds its famous coffee, pastries and assorted sweets to a high standard. Without waiting even 10 minutes, students are able to order hot, filling food and still make it in time to any of their classes.
Gita Pita, a family-owned business, serves authentic Mediterranean food to the people of Grand Rapids and can be found between Fulton and Jefferson at 2 Jefferson Ave. With homemade flatbreads, cubed meat and spices worth writing home about, Gita Pita holds itself up as a pillar of the Grand Rapids community. Its integration of authentic Mediterranean cuisine brought all the way from Jerusalem, has brought them 10 years of success in Grand Rapids. Even better, it’s often less than a 10-minute wait for the food, with great customer service alongside every order. With over 1,000 positive reviews, eating fresh, authentic cuisine has never seemed so enticing.
And who can skip out on a sweet treat? A small cafe proud of its baking, LeMacaron in Grand Rapids, now under Sugar Bar Sips and Sweets, is located at 132 Monroe Center St NW. The store is family-owned, with the franchise having over 70 locations and being named the #1 macaron franchise in the United States. Nick Morofsky, a 20-year-old English major, discussed desserts worth walking for.
“Their food is extremely rich and very sugary, but it’s so good,” Morofsky said.
Although pricier, its raving reviews make it worth exploring. With a menu covering French sodas to house-recipe cappuccinos to even homemade cheesecake, the entire menu could satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. With the final stretch of the semester coming up, treating oneself and taking in the fresh air can make all the difference in handling the daily stressors of campus life.
If pastries may be too much for your craving, Poke Poke Sushi Unrolled, also known as the Boba Bar at 20 Fulton St serves sweet and savory teas, alongside poke bowls with fresh seafood and vegetable options.
“It’s kind of a Subway style where you get to pick your own things from the bar itself,” Vu comments.
Although many places have not been mentioned, that’s only more reason to explore the city. When given more than just a 30-minute lunch break, exploring the cultural melting pot that is Grand Rapids can help students find their new favorite restaurant. With so many small restaurants near campus, all that’s left is for a customer to open a new door and fill their appetite with something new.
