No matter what, finals week will always be hard and stressful. I find one of the best ways to curb that is to eat some comfort food. I love a good cheesy mac and cheese or steaming hot dumplings with a fruit tea. There’s no shortage of great local businesses off-campus here at Rutgers University, so try something new this finals week. Here’s a list of local spots to enjoy some comfort food.
- La Catrina
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Located on Easton Ave, La Catrina serves up authentic Mexican food with lively and colorful decor surrounding the space. The prices are affordable with good-sized portions. They have all of the classics like tacos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They also recently added tacos de birrias and a quesa-birria which has been trending over social media lately!
- Fritz’s
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Fritz’s is a small restaurant/cafe established in New Brunswick in 2015. What I love about Fritz’s is their mission and dedication to making food with fresh and local ingredients. They often have seasonal items that utilize ingredients from local suppliers. Also, they have great comfort classics like mac and cheese and massively juicy chicken tenders. They even serve a large selection of pastry and bakery treats to satisfy any sweet tooth.
- Lobster 3
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Okay, this one is located in Highland Park, but it’s not far from New Brunswick, and the delivery is worth the wait. Lobster 3 serves classic Chinese dishes that will warm your soul and belly. They have plenty of appetizers that you can share with your roommates and a variety of entrees, all at an affordable price. Plus, when you order online, you can get a free order of pork soup dumplings through Yelp!
- Friend’s Cafe
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Located on the corner of Robinson Street is a quaint stylish cafe that opened recently. They sell a glorious amount of pastries, baked goods, and breakfast items that are all made fresh in-house by the co-owner. They have all the staples of a coffee shop mixed with the owner’s Persian background (give the Persian black coffee a try!). They always have a daily special going on, making their menu always exciting and fun. Give this place a try if you need a new place to study or grab a coffee and pastry to keep you awake! There’s also outdoor seating!
- Ta-Ta’s Pizza
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Ta-Ta’s has some of the best around campus. While they don’t open until 3 p.m., they are open late, which is great when you’ve been out and need to grab a bite to eat. I absolutely recommend their margherita slice. The tomato sauce and copious amounts of fresh basil on top make it flavorful and delicious. The penne vodka slice is also fantastic; I’d put the vodka sauce on everything. If you love pizza like me, you definitely need to check this place out.
Remember to not get too caught up in the hustle and bustle of finals, and take a break to eat. If you’re around campus this finals season, these restaurants are a great place to satisfy your cravings or try something new! I hope you find a new go-to spot from this list, and it brings you some small joy during finals week.