STORY BY ALEX PAYNE
Between classes, many students look for a quick and cheap place to eat. Luckily, the Drake area is full of places that cater to students.
Subway, Planet Sub, Jimmy Johns, China Place and the Library are just a few of the many places just off-campus to grab a bite to eat. There are many hidden gems out there, and McDonald’s is not the only quick and cheap choice.
Many students choose Jimmy John’s. Being right across the street makes it a great place to grab food on the go. For other students, it is an easy choice for a delivery on campus.
For Junior Mariah Lewis, having food delivered to her on campus saves her valuable study time that she would have to usually use to pack up her stuff and walk to the restaurant.
Although having the food delivered on campus may be nice, it does take a little extra effort.
“You have to plan it if you’re going to do it,” Lewis said.
Delivery can also be slow and restricts an individual to one area until their food arrives.
Besides Jimmy John’s, there are multiple restaurants that offer affordable meals. Right next door is a small restaurant called China Place.
The restaurant’s lunch menu is a smart choice for anyone wanting a good meal for a low price.
China Place offers 33 different lunch specials ranging from $5.62 to $6.15. They are open for lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There are many other places to eat off-campus, from burgers to tacos to gyros. Coffee places also offer some meals along with a great place to hang out.
Just east on University from campus is Mars Café. Going south on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway leads to Smokey Row.
“The coffee is fantastic,” Lewis said. “You can hang out for hours on end.”
While coffee shops have a welcoming atmosphere and decent food selection, there are a few places just off campus that offer sit-down service.
The Library, located west of campus on University Ave. boasts famous homemade nachos. They were awarded the best nachos in Des Moines by Datebook. The unique restaurant is small, but students like the hominess.
South of campus on Cottage Grove is Woody’s Smoke Shack. Woody’s offers a wide variety of barbecue and is home to Iowa’s best cornbread, according to their website. They brag that it is so good that even honey couldn’t make it taste any better.
While there are quite a few options to eat on campus, like Hubbell Dining Hall and Quad Creek Cafe, there are other options for students looking to mix it up a bit. For students who do not have meal plans, the area restaurants are important.
From carry-out, delivery, drive-thru and sit down, the Drake neighborhood offers an array of places to eat.
