Pepe’s, Modern, and Sally’s Pizza, Corso’s Deli, Frankie’s, Louis’ Lunch, Duffy’s Tavern, and the food trucks down on Long Wharf. What do they all have in common? They’re just a few of the huge number of local eateries that UNH students have the opportunity to grab food from! I know for any given freshman without a car, some locations might be a little more difficult to get to than others, but make some upperclassmen friends and I’m sure you’ll be able to hitch a ride sometime.
There are so many places you don’t want to miss out on. Somehow I didn’t experience the magic of Corso’s until my junior year, and it’s something that I know regret. I could have eaten so many more delicious Italian combos by now (they even accept Charger Cash)! The point of all this is that while I agree there’s a place for all the giant franchises like Subway and Pizza Hut/Dominos/Papa Johns, there are so many amazing local places that offer some great food; it would be a crime to neglect them.
I know what you’re thinking; “won’t eating this local food mean spending more money?” There’s no really definitive answer on that one, but it definitely varies. A perfect example, just a few nights ago, I tried Tolli’s in East Haven for the first time (since its pretty close to my house), and I was very happy with the pizza I got for only 16 bucks. I’m not saying that’s cheap, but when I consider all the factors such as quality and portion size, I definitely got my money’s worth!
Another way to think about it is, why spend money every few nights getting some standard potentially mediocre food when you could be experiencing some of West Haven, New Haven, or Orange’s finest for a little bit more but a few fewer times. I’m a firm believer in paying for quality, so this is a no brainer for me, but it helps me save some money in the long run by eating out/taking out less.
If you still don’t get why anyone would want to eat local food and in general, local businesses (the success of which can greatly improve the quality of the area), then all I can say is go try some of the good stuff yourself! Words can only do so much and I’m confident that with the huge range of options, you’ll find a new favorite. If you’re one of those people who is convinced that there’s nothing to do in the New Haven/West Haven area, I can easily prove that there’s one thing to do: eat!
On that note, I hope everyone has a great week, and that you’ll all put in some good work in this last full week before Thanksgiving! There are only three full weeks left of classes, so now is the time to buckle down and work on anything that’s giving you a little trouble so you can end the semester on a good note. Good luck!
