Hungry? Tired of the unexciting options that constitute on-campus cuisine in Philadelphia? If you’re looking for something less greasy (not to mention gas-inducing) than Taco Bell, check out some of these restaurants around the city. You might need to shell out a few extra bucks, but it’s worth it to escape that potent lunch truck odor-at least for an evening.

One of my favorite restaurants in Philly is La Crêperie Café, located on 17^th and Sansom Street. This adorable French bistro has a huge assortment of crepes to satisfy any craving or preference you have. There are traditional varieties (the gâteau de crêpe au jambon features ham, swiss cheese, spinach, mushrooms, and garlic), creative blends (the la gourmande includes turkey, eggs, crème fraiche, mushrooms, and herbs de Provence), and the really creative variety, like la Philadelpiene, which is the crepe’s answer to a traditional Philadelphia cheesesteak.

La Crêperie Café is a low-key yet elegant dining option. Grab a few friends and enjoy the French pop music playing in the background, admire the cheery yellow walls, and pull up a rustic blue rocking chair. Pair your crepe with a glass of their delicious homemade iced tea. Oh, did I mention the dessert crepes? Picture strawberries, bananas, blueberries, nutella, ice cream, and whipped cream served in a delectable crepe, sprinkled with powdered sugar. Or maybe you’d like to pair your nutella with some peanut butter. And perhaps you’d like to substitute pear and add some roasted almonds. Anything you want, La Crêperie Café can make it happen – and they’ll make it happen oh so deliciously.

Perhaps it’s Mexican fare, not French, which really strikes your fancy. Lolita, a Mexican BYOB restaurant in Midtown Village, is a pricy option, but their braised boneless short rib with a smoked bacon-chayote-potato gratin and grilled asparagus is spicy, hearty, and delicious. Their margarita mixes are tasty, too, even if you drink them tequila-free.

If “Mexican” screams “BURRITOS” to you, not gourmet entrees, then I’ve got a real treat for you. Check out MexiCali, located on 40^th street, and satisfy your craving with delicious chicken, steak, pork, chorizo, and vegetarian options. And the prices aren’t bad-you can get a fantastic chicken burrito with rice, pinto beans, cheese and salsa for only $4.79, which, nowadays, is quite a bargain.

Continuing on with the theme of sandwich wrap options, you simply must stop by Pita Pit, located just a block away from La Crêperie Café. You can customize your own pita, creating a meal that’s as healthy as you’d like it to be. Or, you can pile on the hummus, load up on guacamole, or add extra bacon. It’s all up to you.

Are you a fan of Thai food? I sure am, and my favorite place to get my Thai on has to be Lemongrass, which is in University City on 37^th and Lancaster Ave. Stick with the classic pad Thai dishes if you’re unsure about this cuisine, but if you’re feeling adventurous, I recommend the Evil Jungle Princess. The name is fantastic, and it’s a wonderfully seasoned and spiced chicken and vegetable dish.

French, Mexican, Thai… are you wondering if there’s any good ol’ fashioned, classic, hearty American food to be had in Philadelphia? You can bet on it. New Deck Tavern, in between Drexel and Penn’s campuses on 34^th and Sansom, is a classic English pub, full of post-workday crews of rowdy businessmen in suits, college kids chugging whatever’s cheapest on tap, and clusters of twenty-somethings gossiping and drinking cocktails. If you really want to have a true English pub experience, order the fish and chips or their rich shepherd’s pie. To me, however, the true reason to go to New Deck is for the burgers and fries. Sometimes, a thick burger and a pile of steak cut fries is just what I’m hankering for.

I almost forget to mention my absolute favorite kind of food – sushi! You’re in luck, for as an amateur sushi connoisseur, I’m somewhat familiar with the Japanese offerings in the Philly area. First, there’s Ajia, located on 31^st and Walnut, which features an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet that, at $20 a person, is quite a bargain. Make sure you come hungry, though! Nara, on 40^th and Spruce, and Mizu Sushi Bar, on south 40^th Street, are two other delicious options. Mizu offers fast deliveries, reasonable prices, and adorable (and free) soy sauce containers that resemble metal, but are made of plastic. Other Japanese (or fusion) restaurants that offer sushi, including Pod, Fuji Mountain, Morimoto, and many others, are more high-priced but definitely worth an occasional treat.

If you’re on the lookout for great eats in Philadelphia, you won’t have to travel far to encounter numerous delicious finds, no matter which area of this fabulous city you call home.

Julia Perch is a junior at Drexel University studying English. She is currently the editorial co-op student for the Drexel Publishing Group and the managing editor of DPG Online. She can be reached at pg@drexel.edu.

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