Even on brisk January days, New Yorkers crave ice-cold sweet treats after their savory lunch breaks. My friend Alonso Manon from Boston University visited Manhattan for a week, and we both craved dessert. 

This month is international student appreciation month, and many vendors in the New York University area are offering discounts to all students to celebrate. Manon, from Mexico City, was ecstatic to join me in tasting the various flavors that Amorino had to offer. The dessert spot, located just around the corner from the main NYU campus, specializes in their coned, creamy gelatos. 

To start, I enjoyed a thick hot chocolate topped with a mountain of whip cream and chocolate drizzle. Manon ordered a large sage-green pistachio latte.

“The pistachio flavor was not overly strong, and blended well with the coffee,” Manon said. “You can taste that they use real pistachios. It wasn’t very sweet and had a nutty aftertaste. For the price and quality, I would definitely go here for a latte over major chains like Starbucks.”

Before the main dessert, he also indulged in their unique hot chocolate affogato. One staff member poured the hot chocolate over the ice cream in front of us, enhancing our experience at the quaint shop. 

“The hot chocolate was rich but went really well with the ice cream,” he reviewed. “I usually don’t like chocolatey things, but this might have been my favorite item.”

Our main events were the macaron signature cone and gianduiotto signature cone. My personal favorite were the hazelnut and dulce le leche petals of the gelato flower, though the blueberry cheese cake and caramel were also delicious flavors. My cone had a chocolate rim, while Manon’s cone came with a singular pistachio macaron.

“I got straticella, coffee, coconut, and pistachio,” he noted. “The flavors went together perfectly, and I love the way they serve the ice cream like flower petals. Even though I might not want to pay more for the macaroon, mostly because the ice cream is filling enough, I still would recommend trying it at some point if you are looking to try one for the first time.”

In between the bustle of meetings and classes, it’s hard to find time to return to the dorms and cook a hearty meal. Just around the corner from New York University is a Fresh&Co location, with plentiful options ranging from salads, to a hot bar, to affordable sandwiches for students. 

“The chicken was well seasoned and the peppers were flavorful, though it all overpowered the avocado,” Nick Messina, a business student at Stevens Institute of Technology, reviewed. 

He ordered a chicken fresco sandwich from the wide splay of choices, served immediately after one staff member toasted it to perfection. I opted for the smoked salmon sandwich, most notable for its unique combination of scallion cream cheese and pumpernickel bread.

The balance between the thinly sliced cucumbers and tomato, paired with the cuts of smoked salmon and sprinkle of capers, made this a filling lunch between study sessions. Meanwhile the chicken fresco uses avocado, queso fresco, and roasted chicken for the bulk of its contents. A layer of roasted red peppers and a bed of tomatillo salsa is added on ciabatta bread for a delicious hot meal.

“Good consistency on the bread. It was light and airy,” Messina said.

Outside of the sandwiches is an open fridge of beverages and breakfast items to grab-and-go. The salad bar has a plethora of options for different palates, while the hot bar has mouthwatering skewers of different meats to showcase. Regardless of what someone craves for lunch, they are sure to find something at Fresh&Co for a reasonable price.

During restaurant week, the establishment is offering $8 sandwiches to students when they present the Campus Clipper coupon and valid student ID. January is international students month, where Fresh&Co is promoting their 30% off sandwiches deal. Similar deals are on rotation on the Campus Clipper website–the way students learn to save money!