A Fork in the Road: A Not-So-Complete Guide to Food and Drinks on Campus

By Anton MacFadyen & Tristan van der Mieden

For first-year students, deciding where to eat and drink around campus can be a daunting and difficult undertaking. As two veteran second-years, we hope to impart our wisdom after months and months of sampling some great (and some not so great) places around Columbia. From where to get the best macchiato on campus to which spots stay open late, this handbook will let new and experienced SIPA students alike make the most of Morningside Height’s culinary offerings.

Best Campus Coffee

Don’t be fooled by Publique’s proximity. It is Nous, in the Philosophy building that takes the crown for best coffee at Columbia. Whilst not as trendy as Joe's, it is cheaper, less pretentious, and not brimming with undergraduates. Despite being run by the same owners as Publique, this coffee tastes like it's been made with an extra bit of love and care.

Nous also offers a good change of scenery: Unlike Publique, where SIPA students go to chitchat and bump into their crushes, at Nous you’ll actually be surrounded by people getting work done.

The grass sometimes really is greener, and the lawn outside Nous makes for the perfect coffee sitdown spot. Top tip: Try the avocado and chicken sandwich if you’re in a rush.

Best Lunch

We couldn’t decide between two titans of Morningside Heights, and so our award for best lunch is split.

The U Bar and Grill (AKA UBar) offers an amazing student menu: $5 for a plate of delicious, hot food, unquestionably making it the unsung hero of Morningside Heights. Pepper chicken with rice and beans will put you in a beautiful food coma for that post-lunch Quant lecture. Non-Americans, do be warned that the 36 TV screens simultaneously showing different sporting events will be somewhat offensive to your senses, but you get used to it. If you’re feeling extra stressed, grab a two-for-one beer at lunch on Monday.

Roti Roll is an uncut gem, so don’t be put off by appearances. A mango lassi with a spiced chicken or spiced potato and chickpea frankie is, in our not so humble opinion, about as good as it gets. You will walk out smelling of roti for the rest of the day, but it's a worthwhile deal.

Best Happy Hour Spot

There are about 20 bars offering happy hour deals around Columbia. In order to do right by our faithful readers, we took it upon ourselves to conduct extensive field research. This has yielded a single establishment that hits the trifecta of price, atmosphere, and convenience.

Amity Hall happy hour is a cultural event that you will all come into contact with at some point this semester. A daily happy hour from noon to 7pm is cause enough to celebrate, but each day has its own little special. Take Tuesday: Aside from their usual $6 beers, or $24 buckets and pitchers, they also offer $5 cheeseburgers until 11pm. For the non-beer drinkers, fear not, you can slurp on $6 cocktails or enjoy a nice glass of wine for as little as $8.

When thinking about where to get some liquid courage after a long day of class, take a stroll down to 109th street, and know that you at least managed to get the best deal in town.

Honourable mentions include Ellington in the Park and The Expat.

Best Late-Night Eatery

There are a few serious contenders for this category. We wouldn’t be any good as food critics if we gave all our secrets away in our first article. But to uphold our journalistic integrity, here is our winner and runner up:

Haji’s has—if you’re not afraid of greasy paws—many great options for a quick bite at any hour of the day.

The real winner, though, is Hooda Halal. If you haven’t heard of it, you’ve definitely smelled it and seen their distinctive orange bags. Pop across campus to 116th and Broadway for a quick meal before returning to Lehman. Order the lamb over rice (falafel if you’re vegetarian) with white and spicy sauce.

The best part? They’re open 24 hours a day, so whether you’re yearning for a post-night-out carbo load or simply looking for some midnight Lehman fuel, they’ve got you covered.

While we couldn’t possibly cover all options, we hope to have provided some useful tips and insights for those in search of food and drinks around campus. If you feel strongly about this or believe that we overlooked your favourite eatery, let us know and we’ll endeavor to cover it in the next issue!