An insider look at York’s other food options

Shane Hebel
Contributor

The Student Centre has always been a popular noon-time choice for hungry students. And York Lanes isn’t far behind, with its wide variety of semi-cultural food.
Next on the list are the various cafeterias on campus – the ones that are frequented by students living in residence who relish the 20-step walk back to their room. However, there is another side to the story of food options at York.
Nestled beyond deserted hallways and in basements is an assortment of lesser known, but well-liked, restaurants that add another aspect to the food situation on campus. I strongly encourage you to check out a few of these places, if only to give you another story to tell of your university escapades.

The Underground

The Underground is probably one of the most well known restaurants on campus, thanks largely to pub night and the fact that it’s located in the basement of the Student Centre. Their diverse menu and bar caters to a large number of students who every night seem to be out looking to down a few spirits. The prices are reasonable (you can expect to spend about the same as you would at a Jack Astor’s or Kelsey’s) and the atmosphere is fun and exciting. If you don’t want to leave campus but want to enjoy a fun, sit-down restaurant, the Underground should be one of your first stops.

Orange Snail
Buried in the basement of Stong College, the Orange Snail is not a well-known destination for students. Unless you frequently find yourself in Complex 2, it can be quite a walk.
It has a great familial atmosphere, however, with friendly staff and great food. They serve food with a Caribbean and North American cuisine theme in the $5 to $15 range, and also have a lunch buffet every day of the week.
The relaxed atmosphere of the Orange Snail is definitely a selling point to most students and it’s definitely a nice place to enjoy a casual and social meal with friends.

Executive Dining Room

While it may not come as much of a surprise, the Schulich building also hosts an executive dining hall. Its classy de?cor, a fancy menu and the ability to host gatherings with up to 275 people are what distinguish this restaurant from all others on campus. While an evening there would definitely be one to remember, frequent events mean that people usually have to make reservations to ensure they’ll be able to get in.
The price range of the dining room matches that of comparable upscale restaurants – you’ll probably be paying at least $30 by the time you’re through with your meal. While it is an experience, this definitely isn’t a practical option for students who want to just grab a quick bite between classes.

Las Nubes Coffee
Even though this coffee shop is right on Campus Walk, many students walk past it without even knowing it’s there. The huge glass wall that offers students only a peek of it doesn’t seem to help, either.
Las Nubes, however, offers a service it is well known for on campus – its fair trade effort. Las Nubes strives to only serve coffee that has been approved as fair trade, and even describes their sustainability efforts on a board beside their cash register. Since they only sell coffee and some simple snacks, you can expect to spend less than $5.
This fair trade option may be a great alternative to the long lines that congregate outside of Tim Hortons every day.

The Grad Lounge

Deep in the south hallway of Ross is the Grad Lounge. As the name suggests, this mini-cafeteria is exclusive and lets in only people who are of le- gal drinking age – sorry, first years. They offer a wide variety of typical cafeteria food (chili, soups, sandwiches, etc.) and have a separate eating area inside the lounge.
If you’re up for the walk, its exclusivity is a nice change from some of the overcrowded food centres on campus.
You can expect to spend around $10 to $20 in this lounge depending on your order and whether you choose to buy alcohol.

Tuchners’ Pub
Tuchners’ is a little restaurant located in the basement of the Schulich School of Business that serves hot deli foods (hamburgers, pizza, inter- esting specials of the day) to a mostly business student crowd. It has a vibrant and social atmosphere but can be quite a walk from other buildings. You can expect to spend $10 to $20 at this location.

Country Style Kosher Coffee
In a Winters college hallway lies a cafeteria-style eatery that offers a crucial choice for some students – kosher
foods. For students who have this dietary restriction, this is a great option for a cafe? that has a sociable atmosphere and healthy food options. They serve typical cafe?-style foods including hamburgers, hotdogs,
soups and salads and run in the $10 to $15 price range.

Absinthe Pub and Coffee Shop
Commonly known as “The Ab,” visiting this student pub is a must. Located in the basement of Winters College, The Ab has a vibrant party atmosphere and is usually quite full in the evenings. They offer a wide selection of snacks (nachos, chips, etc.) as well as a healthy variety of liquor options. The food prices are extremely reasonable (between $5 and $10 for food) so your bill depends largely on how much alcohol you feel compelled to drink.
There are many more food options than what you get in the Student Centre and York Lanes. If you take the time to explore York, you’ll find a wide variety of other restaurants on campus that you’ll enjoy and that will allow you to fully satisfy your food needs. Explore and enjoy!