One of the major problems that face students in college is where to eat. However, as far as food goes, there are many tasty and healthy options. Thanks to the best restaurants in state college, they are often just a few blocks away from campus.
Are you wondering what the best restaurants in-state colleges are? Do you want to know their location and find direct links to their website? This article would serve as a full guide. Let’s dive right in.
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What are the Factors to Consider Before going to the Best Restaurants in State College?
Location
When choosing a restaurant, location is frequently one of the most crucial considerations for customers. What is the distance from your dorm? Do you need a car to get there or can you walk there? Pick a location that you can walk to if you can.
Atmosphere
Next is the atmosphere. While the food may occasionally be delectable, what about the surroundings? Not very good. The entire dining experience might get ruined by a bad restaurant atmosphere. You ought to go somewhere where you can appreciate the environment in general.
Choose a location where the music isn’t too loud or harsh as another item to bear in mind.
Check Reviews
Before visiting a restaurant, you should always look at reviews and pictures posted on various food guide websites. Going through reviews would save you the stress of getting there and being disappointed.
Food and beverages
Your lips and stomach may occasionally have a longing for a certain cuisine. If there is only one restaurant in your area, your options may be very limited.
The menu needs to be enticing to your taste buds on other days. When there are numerous eateries in one college, this might be particularly significant.
Value for your money
When dining out with a large group of family or friends, choose a restaurant that offers good value. Especially if one person is footing the cost alone.
You don’t have to be penniless or frugal, but pick a location within your means. When you pay the bill later, you must be happy with what you received.
Consumer assistance
Does a particular eatery have a bad reputation for providing excellent cuisine but excellent service? I assume you wouldn’t want to go there.
As a result, check to see that the restaurant you choose to eat at offers prompt, courteous service. While we’re on the subject, be sure to be respectful and courteous to them as well.
You can encounter delays if the restaurant is really busy a lot of the time. Instead of losing your temper, evaluate the circumstance and take appropriate action.
Sanitation
This is a crucial consideration to keep in mind when picking a restaurant. The hygiene standards of a facility are crucial, regardless of how excellent or horrible it appears to be. When you initially enter a particular restaurant, get a drink and use the restroom.
It might reveal a lot about the area’s general cleanliness. Check to see if the chairs and tables are clean and sanitized adequately.
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Cost of Eating in the Best Restaurants in State College?
If a busy student frequently eats out, food costs might ruin a budget. You might get shocked to see how much money students spend on eating. In actuality, many schools are thriving off of those ideas.
Lunch at a restaurant typically costs $12.75. The majority of restaurants mark up food by 300 percent, making the average meal cost $4.25 to produce. Every week, the average American eats out 4.2 times.
Although precise statistics are lacking, it is safe to infer that American college students dine out more frequently than the typical person.
Most people do not eat every meal for $12.75. For a three-meal deal, that works out to around $18.75 per day. Some of the rises are due to colleges improving their dining areas. They also improve their menus to attract more prospective students.
There are now several places that serve made-to-order omelets for breakfast. Seafood buffets for supper, vegan and gluten-free alternatives, and unlimited desserts are not left out.
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Top 15 Best Restaurants in State College
#1. Momofuku Ssam Bar in New York City, New York
In 2004, Momofuku Noodle Bar was started by its founder, David Chang. Two years later, he opened the Momofuku Ssam Bar on Second Avenue in New York City. Momofuku Ssam Bar is a popular place to eat. It is currently run by Sara Jimenez, and Matthew Rudofker is its executive chef.
The best American-Asian dishes at Momofuku Ssam Bar are its “large format” whole rotisserie duck, slow-cooked bo sam pork shoulder, and dry-aged rib eye. The restaurant is only a 10-minute walk from New York University.
Diners say the pork is “to die for.” Its shareable culinary delight comes with a variety of mouthwatering sides. This makes the dishes perfect for groups of friends and family who come to visit.
Ranking #1 on our list, it is no doubt that it is one of the top restaurants in state college.
Visit Momofuku Ssam Bar in New York City, New York
#2. o ya – Boston, Massachusetts
Students should know that it takes about ten minutes to get to o ya from both Boston University and the University of Massachusetts Boston. The award-winning chef Tim Cushman and his sake-sommelier wife Nancy own this cozy Japanese restaurant.
The chicken wing ballotine on their creative menu is so well made. A friend of a New York Times reviewer said, “It’s like a chicken bone just melted in my mouth.”
In 2013, OpenTable reviewers named o ya the sixth-best restaurant in the U.S. In 2014, The Daily Meal said it was the second-best Asian restaurant in the country. O ya is one of the top restaurants in state college.
Visit o ya – Boston, Massachusetts
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#3. QUI – Austin, Texas
GQ magazine said that qui in Austin, Texas, was America’s best new restaurant in 2014. It is one of the best restaurants in the state college.
Even though QUI is a Filipino restaurant, its Asian-themed menu is also influenced by its location in Texas. The owner and head chef, Paul Qui, is from the Philippines.
He is responsible for daring cross-cultural dishes like dinuguan. This is a Filipino stew made with pork blood and served with gnocchi and mushrooms.
The curry-style pasta and sea eel tacos on Qui’s seasonal menu also sound very exotic. Qui won the “Best Chef: Southwest” award from the James Beard Foundation in 2012.
That same year, he also won season nine of Bravo’s Top Chef reality show. Also, it only takes five minutes to drive to the University of Texas at Austin.
#4. La Belle Vie – Minneapolis, Minnesota
La Belle Vie is one of the top restaurants in state college. It says, “Good food is always personal.” The fact that the well-known Minneapolis restaurant is only a ten-minute drive from the University of Minnesota is great news for picky students there. Both the service and the food got 29 out of 30 from Zagat in 2014.
Gayot put this restaurant on its list of the “2014 Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S.” Tim McKee, the restaurant’s owner and executive chef makes delicious Mediterranean-French food. Some dishes, like grilled dry-aged beef with dried apricots and pan-roasted poussin with summer squash, are especially good. The great food at La Belle Vie also helped McKee win the “Best Chef: Midwest” award from the James Beard Foundation in 2009. He was also nominated for this award in 2007 and 2008.
Visit La Belle Vie – Minneapolis, Minnesota
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#5. NAOE – Miami, Florida
NAOE in Miami, Florida, got named one of the “20 Top-Rated Restaurants in America” by Zagat in 2014. In 2013, Forbes Travel Guide gave the Florida restaurant five stars. Kevin Cory, the owner, and head chef is popularly known as the “sushi master.”
He makes Japanese food at this tiny diner, which can only fit eight hungry people at once. In this kind of setting, it’s natural for people to feel closer to each other. Customers can expect service that’s almost as well-known as the food itself.
Students from the University of Miami will want to drive the 20 minutes to NAOE for bento boxes and ice cream that tastes like soy sauce. It is one of the top restaurants in state college.
#6. Rasika – Washington, D.C.
Rasika, a modern Indian restaurant in Washington, D.C., is less than two miles from George Washington University. It is one of the top restaurants in state college. Rasika serves consistently good food, like tandoori lamb chops and honey-drizzled cod with dill, along with tasty Indian bread.
Zagat says that the food is “extraordinary to perfection,” and he says the same thing about the service. The Washington Post called the interior “alluring,” and the open kitchen is a big part of that.
This is a big part of why Ashok Bajaj’s restaurant is so popular. The fact that the average bill is only $51 per person doesn’t hurt either.
Also, at the 2014 James Beard Foundation Awards, executive chef Vikram Sunderam got named “Best Chef” in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Visit Rasika – Washington, D.C.
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#7. Bacchanalia – Atlanta, Georgia
When people go to Atlanta’s Bacchanalia, they are in for a treat. Clifford Harrison and Anne Quatrano, the restaurant’s owners and chefs grow many of the ingredients on their farm.
This makes the menu very fresh and in season. It is one of the best restaurants in the state college.
If students from the nearby Georgia Institute of Technology can convince visiting family to make a reservation, for $85 they can expect a serving of five courses of modern American food that Gayot called “distinctive and rich with detail.”
At the 2014 James Beard Foundation Awards, Quatrano got nominated for “Outstanding Chef.”
The restaurant was also nominated for “Outstanding Service.” This is more proof that it’s worth a trip.
Visit Bacchanalia – Atlanta, Georgia
#8. Le Pigeon – Portland, Oregon
Le Pigeon is one of the top restaurants in state college. The chef and owner of Le Pigeon in Portland, Oregon, Gabriel Rucker, has won two James Beard Foundation awards. The first one was for “Rising Star Chef of the Year” in 2011.
The second was for “Best Chef: Northwest” in 2013. Also, Zagat gave Le Pigeon’s French-inspired menu a score of 28 in 2014. This put it firmly in the range of “extraordinary to perfection.”
When you look at the dinner menu, you’ll see dishes like foie gras and vadouvan curry terrine, and beef cheek bourguignon that sound delicious. The food is usually served in a beautiful room that’s built around a showy open kitchen. The restaurant is also only a six-minute drive from Portland State University.
Visit Le Pigeon – Portland, Oregon
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#9. Joël Robuchon Restaurant – Las Vegas, Nevada
The Jol Robuchon Restaurant is a high-end French restaurant at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It is, to say the least, an expensive place to eat.
Claude Le Tohic is in charge of making what Zagat says is the best food in Las Vegas right now. The current “menu degustation,” or tasting menu, will cost diners an eye-popping $425.
However, they will get an amazing 16 courses, such as langoustine ravioli with truffles, beef rib eye, and caramel mousse. The best part is that the restaurant is just over 1.5 miles from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It is no doubt, one of the best restaurants in state college.
Visit Joël Robuchon Restaurant – Las Vegas, Nevada
#10. Per Se – New York, New York
Per Se is one of the top restaurants in state college. Students and their families from nearby Fordham College at Lincoln Center should ignore the noise of shoppers at Time Warner Center and go into what The New York Times has called “the best restaurant in New York City.”
Thomas Keller, a well-known chef, owns Per Se, and Eli Kaimeh runs the kitchen. He does great modern French-American food.
The menu got three Michelin stars. Some of the best dishes are “Oysters and Pearls,” lobster poached in butter, and huckleberry sorbet.
The tasting menus for lunch start at $205. The amazing views of Columbus Circle and Central Park make the experience even better.
Visit Per Se – New York, New York
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#11. Daniel- New York City.
Students at Hunter College on New York City’s Upper East Side only have to walk a few blocks to get to a restaurant that has won many awards. Daniel is on East 65th Street and is currently owned by chef Daniel Boulud. It has three Michelin stars, which is the highest rating.
Executive chef Jean Francois Bruel is in charge of elegant modern French food. A team of more than 30 people makes it. Dinner could include mouthwatering dishes like squash ravioli followed by chorizo-wrapped swordfish. For the princely sum of $220, you can try seven courses.
#12. Coi – San Francisco, California
Coi is one of the best restaurants in the state college. Students at the University of San Francisco who want to try something new should go to Coi.
The owner and chef, Daniel Patterson, serves a modern Californian menu. It changes often based on what is available locally.
Patterson got named “Best Chef: West” at the 2014 James Beard Foundation Awards. Dungeness crab and beef tendon soup, as well as his spice cake, are two of the best things about his Coi cuisine.
The “flawless” service at Coi was also praised by Michelin. This gave the restaurant two stars in its most recent Guide. Coi also made The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2014 list.
The quiet atmosphere inside the restaurant makes it a great place to enjoy the 12-course tasting menu, which starts at $145.
Visit Coi – San Francisco, California
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#13. Alinea – Chicago, Illinois
The restaurant Alinea in Chicago is currently owned by the well-known chef Grant Achatz and the businessman Nick Kokonas. The kitchen is also run by the executive chef Mike Bagale.
The atmosphere in the restaurant’s dining rooms is better by the bold changes in lighting, and the dramatic, creative food is as good to look at as it is to eat.
Even better, students at Northwestern University’s Chicago campus and the University of Illinois at Chicago don’t have to go far to enjoy this three-Michelin-star setting.
Alinea has tasting menus with up to 22 courses. The lily bulb with the distillation of lime caviar is a standout dish. It is one of the best restaurants in the state college.
Visit Alinea – Chicago, Illinois
#14. Eleven Madison Park, in New York City, New York
Eleven Madison Park is highly ranked. It is one of the top restaurants in state college. A four-star review in The New York Times said that the restaurant was “among the most interesting and impressive in New York.” It also has three Michelin stars.
Will Guidara, the owner of the restaurant, and Daniel Humm, the head chef, have made a modern French menu that is well-balanced and exciting.
Diners can enjoy deliciously poached lobster or juicy blue-foot chicken. All in beautiful art deco surroundings.
Students from the City University of New York’s Baruch College will arrive at the doors after a six-minute walk.
Visit Eleven Madison Park, in New York City, New York
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#15. Le Bernardin in New York City, New York
Le Bernardin in New York City is one of the best restaurants in state college. It says that “fish is the star of the plate.” It is easy to see when you look at the lunch, dinner, and tasting menus.
Chef and co-owner Eric Ripert serves high-end French-style seafood that is “almost raw,” “barely touched,” and “lightly cooked,”
The elegant dining room got named after a group of food-loving monks. It is less than a mile from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York.
It is currently decorated with dramatic paintings of the ocean and shiny metal pieces. The dinner menu with a set price is $135.
Visit Le Bernardin in New York City, New York
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Frequently Asked Questions
A well-known restaurant is popular for its cuisine, and a good restaurant must have delicious food. No matter what you do, if your restaurant’s food is subpar, customers won’t come back. This is why a restaurant’s ability to serve delectable meals is essential.
The restroom is spotless.
A server arrives promptly.
Everything on the menu is in season.
You can hear the other diners at your table
The servers are trustworthy and knowledgeable.
A relaxing and comfortable environment free from disruptive outside influences. dish of a high caliber that meets the restaurant’s requirements. Throughout your eating experience, the employees at the restaurant will be courteous and kind. There should also be simple payment options.
Location.
Ambiance.
Service
Hygiene.
Cuisine.
Chef
These food quality characteristics include visual aspects like size, shape, gloss, color, and consistency as well as physical aspects like texture, flavor, and nutritional value
Customers expect, for instance, quick and precise service from nice personnel in a clean setting at a fair price in a fast-casual restaurant. Your consumers will get displeased if there is a mismatch, such as delayed service or subpar meal preparation.
Conclusion
When you take the time to deliberate, you frequently reap the benefits. This is a wonderful dining experience centered on the restaurant’s ambiance and the attitude of the employees who will be serving you.
One must take numerous factors into account when selecting a restaurant. Reviews or word of mouth are reliable sources. They give you a sense of what other customers thought of the establishment. That would be an endorsement of the eatery.
But why not take a chance and experiment every time? Taking this risk could also yield unexpected culinary delights.
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References
- tripadvisor.com– Best restaurants in state college
- tripadvisor.com– Best restaurants state college
- happyvalley.com– restaurants in state college
- yelp.com– Top restaurants in state college
- Image Link
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