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BY LENA WONG

In print | August 28, 2007

You’ve only been at Swarthmore for a few hours, and you’re already overwhelmed. The questions you might be asking yourself are: Will I ever be able to sort through all these new dorm items and see the floor of my room? (Yes, when you move out in May). Will I actually remember the names of the hundreds of overenthusiastic Swatties I meet? (No, but that’s what the Cygnet is for). And, most importantly, where can I squeeze one good meal out of my parents’ wallets before I have to brave Sharples? Here are some suggestions from returning students:

Swarthmore (“The Ville”)

Da Vinci’s Cafe (1 Park Ave): Frequently visited by students looking for a place to study, Da Vinci’s Café offers delicious food options at a reasonable price. (Not to mention that is has free wireless!) Their menu includes a wide array of coffees and teas, including a beverage called the Red Eye, which includes two shots of espresso. Pair these drinks with any one of their many sandwich or salad options. If you’re lucky, you might even be treated to live music along with your dining.

The Co-Op (341 Dartmouth Ave): Although The Co-Op is mostly regarded as a high-end grocery store, it boasts an impressive deli with options for salads and sandwiches. The Co-Op also carries gourmet delicacies to bring back to your dorm — try Bobbi’s Hummus; it’s to die for and it’s made right here in Philadelphia.

Renato’s Pizza (8 Park Ave): Flex your new collegiate status by ordering the student special — one large cheese pizza and large soda for only $9. Otherwise, Renato’s offers various types of pizza (anything you could want, basically) as well as subs, water ice and many other types of hot food.

Media (10 minutes away by car)

Nadia Thai Cuisine (42 E State St): Come here for reasonably priced, but utterly delectable, Thai food. The restaurant was formally a noodle bar and still maintains much of its original menu. Locals often boast that this is one of the best restaurants in Media.

Fellini’s Café Trattoria (106 W State St): With hefty portions and an intimate atmosphere, Fellini’s is a solid choice if you’re in the mood for Italian. Monday night is opera night, when singers perform arias for the dining crowd. The restaurant’s menu is extensive, varied and fresh — what more could you ask for?

Iron Hill Brewery (30 E State St): At Iron Hill Brewery, what a customer drinks is just as important as what they eat. The restaurant boasts a list of fresh house brand beers, as well as mouthwatering contemporary American cuisine. In 2006, the brewery was voted “Best Brewpub” by Philadelphia Magazine.

Philadelphia

Getting to the city:

SEPTA: Take the R3 Media/Elwyn, which is the train that stops right on the edge of campus. The most important stops to get you into downtown Philadelphia are Market East, Suburban and 30th St. Station. Trains depart from Swarthmore every hour and are very punctual, so be there on time. Schedules can be found at http://www.septa.org.

Philly Shuttle: This won’t be available until the school year officially commences, but it’s an option often overlooked by Swarthmore students. In order to book a shuttle (for anywhere from one to six people at a time), simply log onto https://secure.swarthmore.edu/phillyshuttle/login.php, and sign up. The Philly Shuttle will drop you off and pick you up at various points in the city and you won’t have to shell out any money for the service.

Once There:

Alyan’s (603 S 4th St): A small middle-eastern eatery located right on South Street – Philadelphia’s mecca for the young and hip. The food is said to be extremely well-priced and very tasty. It’s worth it just to poke around South Street, too.

BookBinders (125 Walnut St): The City of Brotherly Love’s most famous restaurant is BookBinders. The original BookBinders opened over 140 years ago and the restaurant still serves quality seafood and is home to the world’s largest circular lobster tank.

Gino’s and Pat’s (1219 S 9th St and 1237 E Passyunk Ave): Searching for the perfect Philly Cheesesteak? These two cheesesteak stands have been battling each other for years (Pat’s claims to be home to the original cheesesteak.) They are located right across the street from one another.

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