<p>We will be visiting before students return for the Spring Semester - so I am wondering where are some good places near campus to eat lunch/dinner. Also, planning on staying at the Holiday Inn in College Park - so suggestion for dinner places close to the Holiday Inn would be appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>Ah, Holiday Inn is kinda up route 1 a bit from all of the action…(and by “far” I mean a mile up the road lol).</p>
<p>The coolest places to eat are downtown CP, South down route 1 about 1 mile, though there is a Shoppers with a Mama Lucia and Hard Times Cafe in the same plaza about half a mile North up the road from the hotel. </p>
<p>In between downtown and the hotel, but South down route 1, is a plaza about across the street from campus, across a big apartment complex called the “View” and behind a McDonalds (it’s a bit hidden) with a great Lebanese restaurant run by two graduate students, really into supporting local musicians, a great place to spend your money at and great food to boot. It’s called Mosaic Cafe.</p>
<p>Also in that same place is a restaurant called Hanami, which is Japanese food, and the atmosphere is very nice for parents but I’m kinda eh on the food. Others seem to like it a lot though. </p>
<p>Not in that plaza and a little North of it is “Berwyn Cafe” (you’re gonna have to mapquest this one, it’s pretty hidden). Berwyn Cafe is where the hippies and activists hang out, and it is a totally vegetarian joint but it’s cool for the experience! (Or if you’re a vegetarian!) </p>
<p>Downtown there is a lot of places with limited seating (they always have a seat open but it’s not like a nice sit down restaurant), except for Bentley’s, which is a big sit-down place that has great All-American type cuisine (burgers, sandwiches, etc.). The food is decent but it’s really the college town atmosphere there that is great.</p>
<p>If you’re willing to be in a slightly smaller restaurant, I think Kiyoko’s has great, huge servings of very Americanized but delicious sushi as well as stir-fried type stuff and other things on the menu, or if you like a chicken sandwich I’d suggest Peruvian-style Chicken Rico (nice decor in that place but the menu is small…you better like chicken!), and across the street in the CVS plaza there’s Jason’s Deli (nice sandwiches with more variety but alas it’s a big 'ol chain, tho there is FREE soft serv ice cream w/ purchase and lots of sit down space), Noodles and Co (as much as I hate to suggest it it’s a nice place to sit down in and the food is good, even though 9 dollars for noodles is a little crazy).</p>
<p>And if you’re willing to venture even further south down route 1 (about 2 miles) there is Franklin’s Restaurant, which is a huge family friendly place with a huge menu and a cool general store type thing. </p>
<p>And about 1 mile South of THAT is Rhode Island Reds, a cafe that oftentimes has special “dinners” but call ahead to ask for prices and what’s on the menu. Otherwise it’s just a lunch place.</p>
<p>And for dessert, I suggest Yogi Berry for delicious frozen yogurt for cheap prices in all flavors (well cheap depends on you - they price by weight so only get what you’ll eat!) and lots of toppings. Or bubble tea from Yami Yami, if you’re adventurous like that. Both of those are downtown. </p>
<p>Gosh so much food in College Park…I miss it…my mouth is watering.</p>
<p>Franklin’s is a great place. A little before Franklin’s is the Calvert House Inn which is good if you want some seafood. I personally like Hanami in terms of Japanese food–the place has a nice small setting.</p>
<p>In terms of faster food, can’t go wrong with Chipotle and Jason’s Deli is great. Jimmy John’s subs are great too.</p>
<p>Here’s an old thread on the same topic…
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/778524-decent-restaurants-around-college-park.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/778524-decent-restaurants-around-college-park.html</a></p>
<p>Marathon Deli. That’s it. That’s the list.</p>
<p>umcp11, thanks for the most thorough response to this question that I’ve seen! How do you find Franklin’s (in the dark)? Is there a landmark? We were unable to find it last time we tried.</p>
<p>Franklin’s is the first restaurant on the left after you pass where Rt1 intersects with 450. You’ll see a sizeable parking lot and their purple lit up sign on the side of the building. It sticks up.</p>
<p>Since someone posted that old thread, an update…I mentioned Jaspar’s which is near the Holiday Inn in Greenbelt. We went to eat there the other night when I picked up DS after his finals but apparently they had a fire and are undergoing renovations, so currently closed.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions!!! Are there places that are walking distance from UMD? We’d like to see where students typically hang out. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hanami and Mosaic Cafe must have essentially 100% student clientele (at least, that’s all I ever see in there). It is closer to the engineering buildings on campus, as well as several popular student apartment complexes (The View, Parkside, etc.) Mosaic Cafe often has student performers which would be kinda neat if you caught one.</p>
<p>But in terms of the area where “students hang out” as opposed to where they just eat a lot, well, downtown is definitely your best bet since that is where all the bars are ahah - that is closer to South Campus/the chapel. Downtown is where the plaza with CVS is (Jason’s Deli, Noodles, etc.) and where Kiyoko’s and Chicken Rico and Bentleys are. Yami Yami and Yogi Berry are also in the same area…Yogi Berry is closer to campus by the Chevy Chase bank, Yami Yami is by the Book Exchange/Book Holder’s. Marathon Deli is right across from campus, in fact, running along the side of the building that houses Yogi Berry (Yogi Berry is parallel to route 1 and Marathon Deli will be perpendicular).</p>
<p>Berwyn Cafe attracts more diverse clientele as it is not walking distance from campus, but a lot of students definitely hang out there because it’s, well, cool and alternative, I dunno.</p>
<p>Franklin’s is on your left driving away from campus, and the landmark is a big blue sign with a pinkish red target on it and “Franklin’s” written in yellow. See this picture:[Franklin’s</a> Restaurant, Brewery & General Store](<a href=“http://www.franklinsbrewery.com/]Franklin’s”>http://www.franklinsbrewery.com/). I also spot it by the big parking lot like somebodynew said, although if you’ve never been there you might not immediately recognize the lot as such (it’s not perfectly flat and Stepford-like, like a Giant parking lot is :P). Students go there with their parents or on special trips, but it’s definitely not walking distance!</p>
<p>But if you’re into the diner/all American/anything you can get/breakfast all day type thing there’s Plato’s. Many students walk there from downtown but it is not in the “thick of things”. It’s by the Quality Inn/across from Zips/where Route 1/Guilford intersect. Past the Applebees. </p>
<p>Yeah there’s LOTS of food D:</p>
<p>With a neon sign like that, I’m not sure how we could’ve missed it but I will search again on our next trip. Thanks.</p>