One of the most important things to learn after eating the food at the prestigious dining halls of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's is where to go for some real food. We eat very well for college students who don't mind having three-day old cold pizza, but when you want to try a little more familiar fare, you need to know your options. Between South Bend and Mishawaka, there are plenty of places other than the dining hall to get some nourishment.
The Staple of Any College DietPizza is as important to a college student as getting good grades, and many of your old favorite establishments have shop around here.Bruno's Pizza: A local joint, Bruno's is in both South Bend and Mishawaka and is a great place for both dining out and ordering in. They serve dinner from 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 11 p.m. For delivery, make sure to call at least a half an hour before closing. Call (574) 273-3890.Domino's Pizza: Of all your options, this is the closest to campus. Until Sept. 1, they deliver on Mondays through Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. As of Sept. 1, their schedule changes and they are open an hour later every day, except for Sunday. Call (574) 271-0330.Marco's Pizza: With great cheesy bread and decent subs, Marco's is more than just a pizza place. They deliver Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Call (574) 243-1122.Papa John's: This is the most popular pizza place to your average Notre Dame or Saint Mary's student. You'll likely find at least one in your dorm every weekend. They've got the latest hours in the area, an obvious plus for late-night snacks. They deliver Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. Call them at (574) 271-1177.Pizza Hut: As classic as they get, Pizza Hut is familiar to just about everybody. They claim to have "the best pizzas under one roof." They'll deliver from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Call (574) 273-9944.
Late-Night CravingsNothing helps better on those late nights than keeping up your strength. And even if you get your homework done by six every night, sometimes it's fun to get out on the town and exercise your freedom. When it seems like most of the world is asleep, there are a few places still going strong to offer you a place to hang out. The Huddle is open until 2 a.m. and Recker's is 24-hours, but when you want to get off campus, where do you go? Denny's is well known for serving breakfast at any time, but they have a broad menu overall. The local Denny's is at 52626 US Highway 33, just north of Saint Mary's and the toll road ramp. Steak 'n Shake is on the corner of Grape and Douglas, just a few miles east of campus. It's well known for its thick shakes and famous "steak burgers." Denny's and Steak and Shake are both open 24 hours.Nick's Patio is also open 24 hours a day. It specializes in American grill food, has a nice atmosphere and fairly decent food. It's a nice place to gather with friends when you need to get away; located on Ironwood, it's a pretty convenient spot. Another local late-night place is The White House Restaurant, also known as Fat Shirley's. Like Nick's, it offers run-of-the-mill American dishes. It's a bit more of a drive than Nick's, located out on the corner of Mishawaka and Twyckenham Dr. The restaurant is renowned as being filled to the brim with "character." But when you're hungry for spaghetti at 5 a.m., you probably won't be choosy. If you haven't learned already, you will soon come to realize that, for late-night Mexican food, nothing is better than Boracho Burrito. Located at 1724 N. Ironwood Dr., it's just a stone's throw from campus. Started and run by two Notre Dame graduates, it is a very student-friendly business ready to cater to your burrito needs. They're open on Sunday and Monday till 2 a.m. and the rest of the week until 4 a.m.
Ethnic FoodThe Golden Dragon Restaurant: The quickest and cheapest Chinese food near campus located on 3302 Portage Ave., this restaurant is offers delivery until closing. They are open Monday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call (574) 243-8800 to place an order.Hanayori of Japan: This is a really fun Japanese restaurant, where you get to see all of your food prepared right at your table! Located on Grape Rd., the prices are fair and the night is guaranteed to be an awesome experience. The Malabar: Located on the corner of 1640 South Bend Ave. adjacent to campus, The Malabar serves delicious but moderately pricey Indian food.Siam Thai Restaurant: Just minutes from the Notre Dame and Saint Mary's campuses, Siam offers a great environment in which professional and novice Thai connoisseurs can enjoy good food. Siam is located at 211 N Main Street in downtown South Bend. Star of India: Located at 620 W. Edison Rd. near Grape, Star of India has decent and cheap Indian food. They have an excellent lunch buffet from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. for just $6. Don't forget to try one of their delicious mango shakes to complete a great culinary experience.Those Old Familiar PlacesIf you're looking for those old familiar chains that you remember from your home town, have no fear. Grape Road has a strip of restaurants with national names that you should recognize: Olive Garden, T.G.I. Friday's, Outback Steakhouse, Chili's, Lone Star Steak House and Don Pablo's.
MoviesA classic form of entertainment found anywhere is the two-hour divulgence into the lives of people, or even animals, which provides students relief from the hustle and bustle of everyday stresses. Whether actually going out sounds appealing, or simply dashing into the movie store to rent that film you've been dying to see, South Bend provides.Family Video can be found on Main Street near Wal-Mart. Blockbuster Video has two locations in the area. One is on the corner of Hickory and McKinley and the other can be found on the corner of Ironwood and State Road 23. With all these locations, one is bound to find the movie selection to satiate even the most random desire.But if you feel like actually getting out of those pajamas and associating with people, the movie theater is a great way to spend some time. Movies 14 is on the corner of Hickory and Edison; it typically plays all the mainstream movies and has a student discount when you show your ID. Showplace, a bit of a longer drive, has some of the same movies, but also features less mainstream films for the artistically-inclined. Showplace is south on 31 on Chippewa Road across from Chippewa bowling ally, another hot spot for some good times with fellow students.
In and out of South BendThe airport covers all needs as far as traveling. It serves as not only an airport, but also as a bus and train station. With flights to Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Atlanta, getting out of the Bend to wherever one needs to go is not difficult.For all the breaks, one can take a taxi to the airport, get a nice friend to drive or take a direct bus from campus to Chicago, making holiday transportation easier and, many times, less expensive.The local bus system is called Transpo and students without cars can utilize it to get to the mall and other places throughout the city. Maps and schedules are posted at the bus stops across campus.
ShoppingIncoming students who are accustomed to big-city shopping will find South Bend sadly lacking in this area, but most students who aren't used to picking out clothes in Mall of America-type shopping centers will find the Bend more than adequate for average store runs. You'll find all your basic needs such as groceries, dorm room supplies and furniture, drinks and SYR gifts.For everything you needed to pack but forgot, or for everything that wouldn't fit into your overstuffed family van, Meijer and Target are the answer for all-purpose necessities like futons, shelving, alarm clocks, fans, CD's, posters, muffin tins and just about anything else your heart desires. Target is also stepping it up in the coolness factor, with designers like Todd Oldham selling brightly-patterned dorm décor that might make your tiny cubicle look better.Both stores are also handy for grocery runs, as is Martin's Supermarket. Even though there is never a pressing need for on-campus students to stock up on groceries, there are always snacks or soft drinks offered in a greater variety than the Huddle. Meijer is conveniently located at 5020 Grape Rd., Target at 1112 Scottsdale Mall and Martin's at 314 N. Ironwood.For clothes shopping, University Park Mall has a variety of stores including The Limited, Lerner, Express, American Eagle, Abercrombie, Marshall Field's, Gap, Banana Republic, B. Moss and other non-clothing stores for jewelry, accessories, toys and other fun buys. UP Mall is also located on Grape Road, and a bus from Library Circle goes directly there.
Road TripsIf you've already adopted an apathetic attitude toward classes by the time the first study days of your freshman year roll around, some road trips may be in order. There are also options close enough to be manageable as weekend trips on non-football weekends, for activities like concerts or legal drinking for 19-year-olds.The possibilities in Chicago are endless and include parks, shopping, restaurants, museums, music and nightlife. The drive is less than two hours on I80-90, or you can take the South Shore Train if you don't want to worry about parking. Speaking of the shore, there's even an accessible beach for those missing the water. A trip to the Dunes is only an hour away, and you can even stay to camp for a small fee. Farther away but just as full of possibility, if not more, is Windsor. Two years until you're legal? Take a trip to Canada for gambling and nightlife, where the legal drinking age is 19. There are also more cultural attractions like galleries, monuments and amusement parks, all only four hours away. Also quite a drive, but well worth it for thrill seekers, is Cedar Point. Located in Sandusky, Ohio, Cedar Point has roller coasters that put other amusement parks to shame, and the park stays open on weekends well into the fall. Check for times before heading out, at www.cedarpoint.com.
Health ServicesShould you need immediate medical attention, the closest hospital is St. Joseph's. Most likely, the on-campus University Health Services will be able to meet your needs. The Health Center is open at all times, while physicians are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. The Health Center, open 24 hours, is located near the main building.Other places to fill prescriptions include Meijer, Wal-Mart or Osco Drug. The University Health Center does not prescribe birth control, but prescriptions can be filled at Planned Parenthood on 1818 Miami St. as another health resource.
Contact KC Kenney at kkenney@nd.edu, Christie Bolsen at cbolsen@nd.edu and Sarah Vabulas at vabu4547@saintmarys.edu
