After being at UMass for almost three years now, there are certain food places around town that I go to to make me feel better or when I am craving something very flavorful. Conveniently, they are all within a walking distance or are a bus ride away from the UMass campus. I personally enjoy trying new places and expanding my palate, but here are my top five consistent comfort restaurants:
1. The Works Cafe
It wasn’t until spring 2021 when I was bored one day and decided to try The Works Cafe in downtown Amherst and I fell in love with it. My go-to order is the BBQ chicken panini, and it is amazing. It always comes out piping hot, and all the flavors mixed together make for a solid meal. The ambiance of the place is very chill and relaxing. I often see students doing their work there or just hanging out for a while. I appreciate how they have outdoor seating and am looking forward to the warm spring weather to eat on the front porch.
2. Ginger Garden
I don’t hear a lot of people talk about Ginger Garden, but if you haven’t been yet, you are definitely missing out on some great dishes. Basically, the first time my mom came to visit me after I moved into college freshman year, we went there. Now, it has become the place that I go to whenever someone in my family comes to visit. I normally order General Tso’s chicken with white rice and scallion pancakes as an appetizer. There is a restaurant near my hometown in New Jersey that has a very similar vibe, so this place always reminds me of home.
3. Moge Tee
For a very long time, I never understood why people were so obsessed with boba tea. At first, I thought it was strange to have these chewy tapioca balls at the bottom of your drink. But, after I saw my friends constantly order it, I had to try it — I haven’t turned back since. It has become a staple place to sit and hang out for me and my two friends who introduced me to this place. I have never ordered anything else besides the Oreo Milk Tea and it hits the spot. Every. Single. Time.
4. Antonio’s Pizza
Fourth is, of course, Antonio’s. When I first came to UMass, everyone was raving about this place, I felt like it was part of the student culture to try it at least once. I had never been to a place that had so many unique types of pizza. It is crazy how some of the options sound like a crazy combination to be mixed with pizza, but it actually works! My favorite meal is ordering one slice of the chicken, bacon, and ranch pizza and one slice of buffalo chicken. I am always so full to the point of sickness afterward, but it is definitely worth it.
5. Crazy Noodles
Last is Crazy Noodles in downtown Amherst. I remember going there for the first time in the spring of last year and ordering the Vegetable Fried Rice. The amount of times my friends and I have ordered from that place is crazy. It has almost become an inside joke between all of us. It is a very chill place to just sit down, talk, and hang out. Plus, it is right next to Insomnia Cookies, which is good if you are like me and need to have something sweet after a meal!
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