School’s out, but you need to hang around — and you’re hungry. Your problems are solved! Here are the best restaurants or cafes around MA.
1. Black Coffee and Waffle (8.5/10)
2180 Marshall Ave
A 4 minute drive from school
A great place to study, or go hang out with friends.Their specialty waffles and coffee are the best combo for an after school snack, or a sharable between friends. I had the Apple Struddle Waffle, which was a delicious treat to go with my iced mocha and I would highly recommend. But they don’t just have sweet waffles, they have savory ones like the Loaded Potato waffle, which is a hash brown waffle. Their menu has a wide variety of coffees and waffles with something for everyone.
2. Los Ocampo (8/10)
2186 Marshall Ave
A 4 minute drive from school
Although its one of the further places on the list, Los Ocampo’s tacos make up for it. Their menu is filled with authentic Mexican foods, dishes, and more. I had a pretty basic taste with the tacos. The tacos are delicious and very flavorful, and I really liked the atmosphere is a fun and upbeat restaurant, a place that would be fun to go with friends or family. The specialty sodas they carry also add to the experience.
3. Longfellow Grill (7/10)
2990 W River Pkwy
A 8 minute walk from school
An expansive menu with something for everyone. I had one of the signature burgers, The Blue Plate Deluxe Burger. The burger comes with bacon, crisped onions, cheese, and their take on the 10k Lakes sauce. The burger itself was delicious, but I wasn’t a fan of the sauce. For sides I highly recommend their house-made chips. Price wise is pretty good for what you get. Longfellow is a great restaurant for a dinner with friends, or a casual hangout. They have a nice patio that opens up in the summer, a nice addition for the warmer days.
4. Loons Coffee (9/10)
4648 E. Lake St
A 8 minute walk from school
I would argue that Loons Coffee is one of the best places to get your coffee before school. Its super close and even walkable from Minnehaha, but its not just that, they have amazing coffee that is pretty affordable because all students and teachers get 10% off their coffee. It is also a great place to go study with some friends after school. I got a mocha with oat milk, and it was a perfect quick coffee to grab before late start.
5. Hi-Lo Diner (8.5/10)
4020 E. Lake St
A 15 minute walk from school
A great place for dinner, my friend and I went right before the Snodaze dance and its a great spot for pre-dance dinners. It’s got that classic American diner feel which is great for fun photos. The best parts of Hi-Lo is the all day breakfast. I got the Fodero Breakfast, a classic eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast combo. My friend got a BLT with tomato soup. Both meals were great, and the price was good for what you get. The place is very casual and is close to Minnehaha, which makes it a great spot to go grab a bite to eat during finals, or after school with some friends.
6. Turtle Bread (7.5/10)
4205 E 34th St
A 14 minute walk from school
From past experiences, Turtle Bread has really great food. Although this time I was unable to try an actual meal from Turtle
Bread, the tuna salad spinach wrap I tried was delicious for being a grab-and-go
item. A bit of a disappointment is Turtle Breads hours, they are open from 7 AM to 4 PM but don’t serve food the whole time. Lunch service stops around 2:30, and after that, they have limited to-go options, usually consisting of pre-made sandwiches and wraps. These are convenient and affordable options that are filling and tasty, making it a good option for a quick bite
after school. The atmosphere is that of a cafe or coffee shop and is a good place to go study on a weekend or a free period.
7. Francis Burger (8/10)
3900 E Lake St
A 19 minute walk from school
Francis Burger Joint differs from many places on this list because it is entirely plant-based. I went into this not knowing what it would be like and left with Francis being one of my favorite places I tried. Their burgers and chicken products taste like it’s real meat, and the chocolate milkshake was flavorful and tasted like a real milkshake. Francis is a great place to grab a bit to eat during finals week with friends, but it also has a great atmosphere for a pre-dance dinner with their decor consisting of cool wall art and funky neon signs. The
price is a little more on the expensive side, but it is a specialty restaurant.
View map of restaurants here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/5/edit?mid=1xWlS-4iYz8q_CY1yySjvzp6J9bfoDHE&usp=sharing