<p>I posted this on the Vanderbilt forum, but thought I might get a quicker answer here. I would like to buy a gift card for a friend's son who will be a freshman in the fall to a local student favorite near the campus. I have done this in Ithaca for a Cornell kid and would like to do the same for my Vandy friend. Does anyone have any suggestions for places that the kids like and are close to campus?
Thanks for any and all help.</p>
<p>When my daughter and I visited Vanderbilt we stopped at Panera for lunch before heading home. Can't guarantee that its a huge student favorite, but my college aged son loves it and it is really close to campus. I iknow they have gift cards since I just got one for my son. Panera</a> Bread Home</p>
<p>I know the Mellow Mushroom is very popular as is the San Antonio Taco Co. You can google them to get their number. I'm not sure how their gift card stuff works but I know they are always packed.</p>
<p>Also popular chains: P. F. Chang's, Maggiano's. Chili's is on the Vandy card, so my d has never needed a gift card there. There's a Bruegger's where my d likes to get bagels in the morning, a Starbuck's, and a Barnes & Noble, in addition to Panera.</p>
<p>I usually get gift cards to the student store (tshirts etc). You can call the Vandy bookstore to get one. Mellow Mushroom and Panera are good suggestions. Pancake Pantry, too.</p>
<p>Here's another vote for Mellow Mushroom - it is a super, Southern, college-based pizza chain. Although my son would prefer PF Chiang's.</p>
<p>Second on Pancake Pantry-delicious!!!</p>
<p>Will he have a car or a friend with a car? If so, send him a gift card to this place:</p>
<p>Loveless</a> Cafe</p>