Archive for the ‘onFood’ Category

Refreshing Tea at Möge Tee

Thursday, June 2nd, 2022

When hot weather hits, one of my favourite things to do is get some refreshing cold tea. Today was no exception; after a long walk in the blazing summer sun, I stepped into Möge Tee for a moment of rest. Located a few blocks from SVA, this small trendy shop offers a variety of food, sweets, and drinks for patrons to choose from.

While I am a fan of bubble tea, I have never ventured far into the world of “new style” tea. Under the guidance of the friendly gentleman at the cash register, I ended up getting a fresh black grape tea. To say the drink was revitalising would be an understatement! I am often hesitant to try grape-flavoured things, but I am so happy that I gave this a try. It lacked the artificial nature that fruit drinks often have, instead relying on a fresh fruit taste. The boba at the bottom paired well with the subtle tartness and overall sweetness of the flavour profile. It wasn’t too sugary, making it ideal for a day marred by thick hot weather.

Pudding happens to be one of my favourite desserts, so I was thrilled by the softness of the (very cute) tofu pudding. The surface had a little bounce that gave way to silky softness. I enjoy custard and I enjoy tofu and found that this pudding happens to be a good middle ground. The tofu helped lighten the dense sweetness of the custard, allowing it to be a nice airy snack!

Growing up, I’ve eaten my fair share of eel. It’s always been something I’ve greatly enjoyed– a taste I’ve certainly grown fond of because of my father’s love for it. Eel rice balls have thus been one of my go-to bites. I have to admit that Moge Tee’s might be a new favourite of mine! It was hot, the rice perfectly sticky and the seaweed crisp. The eel was tender and the kabayaki sauce wasn’t overwhelming. Each element was balanced and ended up being a great way to end my stop. 

I can say I’m a fan of “new style” tea now! Thus, I want to go back to Möge Tee soon so I can experiment with other options. I’ll also certainly be picking up a few pudding cups and rice balls to go. If you would like to drop by to try their food and drinks, bring your student ID and the coupon below for 15% off your order.


By: Ehani Schneiderman

Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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Classic Arepas and Classic Tastes

Wednesday, May 11th, 2022

Just a stone’s throw away from Washington Square Park rests Classic Arepas, a Venezuelan restaurant offering bright decor and bright flavours. As I stepped in, I was immediately struck by the uplifting sunlight and the kind staff. The energy of the restaurant matched the energy of the May weather outside– warm and welcoming! 

I hadn’t had arepas before, so I wasn’t quite sure what to order. Jose helped me decide what to get, offering me a wide array of options from the menu. As a drink, I got the maracuya (passion fruit) juice. I am a lifelong fan of all things passionfruit! When I got my drink, I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. It was ice cold, a perfect contrast for hot spring weather, and sweet without being overwhelming. 

For food, I started with the cheese empanada. I have to say… This was, without a doubt, one of the best empanadas I’ve ever had! It was fresh and warm without burning my tongue. I loved the way the inside filling and the outside layers merged together, complementing the flavour of the other. It paired well with the maracuya juice, with the tartness cutting the softer nature of the cheese perfectly. 

Afterwards, I got to try two arepas! I had the Classic Reina (shredded chicken and avocado) and a custom with shredded beef, plantains, cheese, and black beans. They were amazing! While they had different flavour profiles, they were both delicious. The Classic Reina was milder, with the chicken blending with the avocado nicely. I liked how it allowed the dough to shine alongside its fillings! The shredded beef packed a more flavourful punch and worked really well with the sweetness of the plantains. I happen to be a lover of plantains, having grown up eating them, so I really enjoyed the way they stood out to my tastebuds. Just like the empanada, the arepas paired perfectly with the maracuya juice! 

Overall, I had a great time at Classic Arepas! The staff was kind, the food was fresh and tasty, and the energy of the space was comforting. It’s only been a few hours, but I’m already craving more! Needless to say, I’ll certainly be heading back. If you would also like to try some of their arepas, bring the coupon below and your student ID for 15% off.


By: Ehani Schneiderman

Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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Rapid Revival Restaurant Review Returns Reinvigorated: The Bean

Friday, May 6th, 2022
Hours | The Bean NYC

Kept you waiting, huh?

Initially I was planning to being this review by simply refusing to acknowledge that I hadn’t posted a single review in over half a year, and hoping people would recognize that was the joke. But then I realized that simply wouldn’t be sufficient. After all, the last entries before my disappearance both contained some sort of parodical explanation for my previous absences. Furthermore, I’m not even the review guy here anymore. They got someone new who actually knows how to read a schedule, and there’s a good chance anyone who followed my original series assumed I’d been devoured by piranhas months ago. So I think I have to admit the truth: I’ve been out for quite a while.

I’m not going to tell you why, though. We’re not friends. I’ve never even met you. You don’t get some sort of unique insight into my personal life. That information is between me, my therapist, and my deep-seated trauma.

Speaking of deep-seated traumas, this is actually the third time I’ve tried to do a review of The Bean. The previous two failed because it turns out there are a lot of coffee shops named The Bean. They’re all owned by the same people but the one I was specifically supposed to review was the Broadway one/ I should have looked on the coupon.

The Bean isn’t a resteraunt, and it’ll tell you that. It’s a coffee shop that prides itself on smoothies and happens to have a bit of food. I treat it like a resteraunt only because that’s what it says in the name of the article. The atmosphere is pretty typical inviting coffee shop stuff, but welcoming even if the chairs are a little small.

For the obligatory food part of the meal I ordered the spinach quiche. I had never eaten quiche before but it looked nice. The cheese was very fluffy and flavorful, and the spinach tasted like spinach, which is nice if you’re someone like me who likes spinach. The crust was somewhat doughier than I expected, though I’m not sure why I expected anything since this was my first time ever actually eating quiche.

Even though this was a coffee place, I didn’t order coffee because my sister drinks too much coffee for both of us. I got the banana smoothie with peanut butter chocolate protein powder instead because I eat too much chocolate for both of us. I was initially very confused as to why the smoothie was pink, but I quickly realized the cause when I started drinking and realized it tasted not just like bananas and peanut butter, but also strawberries. Actually I couldn’t taste the chocolate at all, but it was obviously present in the form of black specks and the smoothie tasted great anyway so I can’t complain.

I also ordered a brownie due to my aforementioned chocolate issue. I was not a given a brownie. A brownie contains flour and has a doughy texture. This was fudge. Fortunately it tasted great and I love fudge anyway.

Verdict: 7/10 Absent Interns

Since the last few times I said I’d do these more regularly came right before increasingly longs gaps, I will reverse the effect by promising to vanish into the luminiferous aether.


By: Alexander Rose

Alexander Rose studies satire at NYU Gallatin and wishes he was actually just Oscar Wilde. He is interested in writing, roleplaying games, and procrastination. Describing himself in the third person like this makes him feel weird.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  

At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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Chillin’ Out at Cutlets Sandwich Co.

Sunday, April 17th, 2022

On a beautiful Friday afternoon, I walked over from class to Cutlets Sandwich Co. for a bite to eat. The interior was modern and cheerful, lit up by both the front window panes and the friendliness of the staff. The airiness of the storefront complemented the upbeat Spring breeze of New York City streets– a welcome respite from a week full of long assignments and lectures.

After perusing the (impressively) extensive menu, I decided to order their #3 on a roll. The sandwich was made up of their signature chicken cutlets, fresh mozzarella, broccoli rabe, balsamic vinegar, and basil pesto. I was excited to try this option, as I am an avid fan of all things broccoli rabe and basil pesto related! 

The sandwich did not disappoint– there was ample filling and each ingredient was able to stand out on its own while still working with each other. Often, I find that sandwiches can be overwhelmed by breadiness. This wasn’t an issue though; I didn’t have to remove any excess, so it was certainly well balanced! I appreciated that it was warm too– I’m not quite fond of cold mozzarella when I order a roll. The chicken retained its crispiness and wasn’t dry! It was seasoned well and paired nicely with the nutty taste of the pesto. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was! I immediately was sad to have finished it when I took my last bite. 

A friend who had ordered the #14 (cutlets, mozzarella, tomato, basil, and pesto) told me that they give the food a 10/10 and would certainly be back! We relished our Brooklyn Best peach tea and peach tea lemonade, a subtly sweet and refreshing way to cap off the meal.

Cutlets Sandwich Co. is only about 15 minutes away from The New School– and I’m super excited about this! I look forward to heading over again soon to try some of their other options. Their food was a great way to end the school week and kick off a nice Spring weekend! If you would like to try their sandwiches, use the coupon below for $6 off your first order with the code CLIPPER!


By: Ehani Schneiderman

Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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Rainy Day Hibachi at Okinii

Saturday, April 9th, 2022

On a rainy Spring day, a friend and I visited a restaurant south of Washington Square Park. Okinii, located on Thompson Street, offers a variety of sushi and grilled foods. Upon entering, the staff greeted us and asked if we wanted to be seated at one of the hibachi grills. Since it had been a while since either of us had this, we agreed and were escorted to our seats.

Our waiter, a friendly and attentive man, asked us if we wanted anything to drink. We ordered some green tea; it came out hot, perfect for a cold and windy day, and was steeped so that the elegant nutty flavour came through. Our waiter always made sure our cups were topped off with fresh tea!

Pondering over the menu for a while, we decided to both get the shrimp and steak combo. All hibachi meals come with either white rice or fried rice and a soup or salad. I ordered the soup and white rice whereas my friend ordered the salad and fried rice. The miso soup had a nice mild flavour, the scallions and tofu complementing it. The salad was crisp and fresh with a sweet dressing. Both were great light options to start the meal off with! 

Soon after we placed our order, Steve, our chef, came out. His energy and friendliness were contagious and had us grinning as he prepared our food! He started with the fried rice and then moved on to the vegetables, and then the steak and shrimp. The entire time, we chatted and joked and marvelled at the way he expertly handled the food preparation and flames. It was certainly a great mid-week pick-me-up and Steve definitely knows what he is doing!

Steve’s hibachi skills aren’t just for show– the food came out perfectly! Steak and shrimp can be chewy and tough if over or undercooked, but both were on the grill for the right amount of time. They were also seasoned so that the salty-sweet flavour of the sauce came through– but they didn’t overwhelm the natural flavour of the meat! The fried rice wasn’t greasy or overly oily and paired well with the vegetables. Everything balanced out nicely, and I ended up cleaning my plate and leaving with a full stomach! 

Okinii was an incredibly fun stop! I will definitely head back– especially with a group of friends. The staff are great and the food is tasty and always hot. If you would like to visit Okinii, use the coupon below for 15% off either your first online order or your in-house visit with your student ID!

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Restaurant Review: 16 Handles

Wednesday, March 30th, 2022

Upon arriving at 16 Handles in East Village, Manhattan, my friend and I were greeted with friendly customer service and fresh-smelling frozen yogurt. While small, the establishment was very clean and inviting. Neo, the owner, called and explained to one of the employees at the toppings counter our purpose for being there was to conduct a food review. The worker at the counter then pointed us to the back where the flavors were. I especially liked the bar table posted against the wall, which made it easy to sit and wait as we decided what flavors to get.

Super good chocolate yogurts from 16 Handles!

For my yogurt, I chose a cookie dough and chocolate fudge mixture with graham cracker shavings on top and some sour gummy worms as a little snack on the side. My friend chose a more elaborate mixture; vanilla, cookies and cream, and fudge chocolate topped with nuts, oreo chunks, and mini mochi ice cream bits. We took a seat at a small booth located near the back of the restaurant and chowed down. I’m not really a fan of ice cream or frozen desserts, so I was not expecting much from the flavors I chose. However, within the first bite, I was completely blown away. The chocolate fudge flavor was so rich and complimented the lighter, milkier flavor of the cookie dough. Topped with the dry graham cracker shavings, it added a slightly crunchy texture to each bite. I already knew I’d love the sour gummies, so I ate those on the side, but I did not expect to like my yogurt so much! I finished it completely, which again, is unheard of for me, and I even tried a bit of my friend’s yogurt, which was also extremely rich in flavor. There was an employee bathroom near where we were sitting, which had a sign on it advising customers not to use it. However, my friend had to use the restroom urgently, and when asking the young man at the counter, he unlocked it for us and explained we could use it for as long as we were eating there. That was also a nice touch to the experience.

Overall, I would definitely come back and order more cookie dough and chocolate fudge dessert! The customer service was great, and the flavors were incredible. 10/10, would recommend! College students get Buy One, Get One Free on Wednesdays with the Campus Clipper coupon. 


By: Alex Muniz

Alex Muniz is a Junior English Major at Pace University. She currently resides in Jackson, New Jersey where she works for Campus Clipper and Arts Management Magazine: Next Gen. Her ultimate goal is to publish a creative fiction novel and to work as a Scientific Journalist, primarily in cosmology and earth science.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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A Good Day for Goody Fresh Dim Sum

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022

Along the bustling sidewalks of 6th Ave rests Goody Fresh Dim Sum, a small restaurant that serves… Well, dim sum! Upon walking in, I was met with images of the restaurant’s dishes and a bright-but-cosy aura. The staff were friendly and kind, immediately offering a nice change of pace from the brisk outdoors. It was a welcomed energy, as the conclusion of midterm season had left me craving warm vibes and tasty bites. 

I hadn’t had dim sum in quite a few years; in my quickly paced New York City life, I simply let more and more time pass since my last venture into a cuisine I loved. I was excited to finally have some again – and Goody Fresh Dim Sum did not disappoint. It was difficult for us to narrow down what we wanted to try since there were plenty of mouth-watering options. After spending more than a few minutes wondering what to go for, our waiter offered some house recommendations.

I am no stranger to shrimp dumplings or siu mai… They’re two of my absolute favourite things to eat! Thus, I was very excited when these two dishes came out from the kitchen. The shrimp dumplings were pillowy, puffed up by generous amounts of shrimp. Dipping them in soy sauce gave them just the right amount of salt needed to create that complex flavour profile I love. The siu mai were seasoned just as I like them– a subtle amount of sweet to complement the savoury as you chew. When my dining partner took her first bite, she exclaimed, “These are where it’s at.” I would be hard-pressed to disagree! They just may have been the best siu mai I’ve had. What I love about these two foods is that there’s a kind of gentle mildness to them while still being packed full of flavour. They’re comforting foods to me – perhaps this is why I always go back for more!

Up next were the soup dumplings. I have been eating soup dumplings since I was a child– they were a dish I would drag my parents out to get as often as I could. These dumplings brought me back to those childhood days. The soup inside warmed my wind-chilled fingers and the filling melted on my tongue. Sometimes soup dumplings fall apart as soon as you pick them up, but these certainly didn’t! They stayed intact, only giving way when I finally took a bite. This was great, as I got to fully enjoy the soup packed inside without spilling any. These dumplings were both a pleasant throw back and warm up.

Last but not least are two dishes I hadn’t had before. A joy of mine is partaking in new foods, and I was glad to not only try these, but also love them! The first was the BBQ pork bun. The bun was soft as a cloud, and the pork inside was smothered in a sauce that was to die for. I enjoyed how the chunks of meat contrasted the fluffy nature of the bun, leading to a nice texture that complemented the taste. The other dish was mushroom dumplings. I am a fan of dumpling, I am a fan of mushrooms, and now I am most certainly a fan of mushroom dumplings! The taste of the mushrooms came through in an almost smoky way, truly letting a great flavour profile shine.

I am very happy that Goody Fresh Dim Sum is only a few steps away from The New School, as I will certainly be returning to relax and eat after a long day of classes! I am excited to go back to not only experience flavours from my youth, but to try new things as well. If you would like to also go and try out their variety of options, use the coupon below for 15% off with your student ID.


By: Ehani Schneiderman

Ehani Schneiderman is a senior studying literature and anthropology at The New School. She hopes to connect with others through writing, poetry, and cultural exchange. When she isn’t nose deep in a book or word document, you can find her paddle boarding in a bay or scuba diving out at sea.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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Re:Rapid Revival Restaurant Review Returns: Kyuramen

Sunday, October 31st, 2021

I bet you’re expecting some sort of comedic quip from me as to why there’s been so much time between these reviews. Your expectations are correct: I was at the top of a mountain in a ancient monastery of restaurant reviewers, trying to unlock the secret art of objective taste. Unfortunately they kicked me out when I told them their food tasted like crap.

Kyuramen is a Japanese restaurant that really makes you feel like you live in a country with a declining birth rate due to overwork. In all seriousness the presentation is great, the restaurant is big and pretty and you can get your own private little room to eat in. Definitely the best layout of any place I’ve reviewed so far. The menu was really huge so I just asked them to give me whatever seemed best.

I started with the pork bun. They went to a load of effort to write something on it in Japanese, but I have no idea what it says. If it happened to translate as “this tastes amazing” they’d be right, though. It’s a little too spicy but the pork and bun are both perfect and the sauce complements it well.

The actual ramen I had was the Tokyo Tonkotsu Shoyu, which has pork, an egg, bamboo, and some other stuff. The egg was just okay but everything else was great, the soup and noodles were very tasty and paired perfectly while the pork was tender and delicious. I didn’t like all of the other stuff, but even then it was a very good example of that stuff.

As a drink I had the Shirakabegura Tokubetsu Sake, which I have no idea if I spelled correctly. It was mild and fragrant, and felt very good going down even if I wasn’t a huge fan of the taste since I normally don’t like Sake.

Dessert was Matcha Pudding, which initially tasted like nothing until I added milk and then it tasted like sweet milk. It did have a great mouth-feel, though.

Verdict: 9.5/10 Kamen Riders

https://www.campusclipper.com/new/popup1.php?CUP_COD=4043


By: Alexander Rose

Alexander Rose studies satire at NYU Gallatin and wishes he was actually just Oscar Wilde. He is interested in writing, roleplaying games, and procrastination. Describing himself in the third person like this makes him feel weird.

For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  

At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.



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Rapid Revival Restaurant Review Returns: Bareburger

Wednesday, September 15th, 2021

Around a month and a half ago I was visiting family in California when an improbable series of events led to me being taken hostage by deranged Larry Elder supporters. Fortunately after the results came in last night they all committed ritual suicide, so I am finally free to continue this series for the 5 people who still look for it.

Anyway, Bareburger. It’s essentially a burger restaurant for people who are too cool to eat a regular beef grease slab like the rest of the lumpenproletariat. Everything there is organic and sustainable and other adjectives that you usually wouldn’t associate with New York. The seating is very spacious and nice, and everything is made of wood because why woodn’t they.

They had a bunch of different burger recipes but none of them seemed like things I would like and creating my own would defeat the point of reviewing, so I just ordered the standard burger with a chocolate milkshake.

The hamburger was very good. The taste is a lot less strong than you’d expect from a hamburger, but not in a bad way. The different flavors complement each other nicely, and I don’t even like pickles. The fries were slightly lukewarm, but still tasty.

The milkshake’s taste was also a lot more mild than usual, being more milk than shake. What flavor there was was pleasantly tangy, and the consistency changed from thin at the top to thick at the bottom. It also looks like Mickey Mouse, and is therefore the greatest culinary invention of all time.

Verdict: 8.5/10 saved whales

https://www.campusclipper.com/new/popup1.php?CUP_COD=4021

By: Alexander Rose

Alexander Rose studies satire at NYU Gallatin and wishes he was actually just Oscar Wilde. He is interested in writing, roleplaying games, and procrastination. Describing himself in the third person like this makes him feel weird.

For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  

At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.



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Isabella Italian: The East Village Spot for Homemade Italian on a Student Budget

Tuesday, September 14th, 2021

Isabella Italian offers fresh, homemade, and, best of all, affordable Italian food in a charming space on St. Mark’s Place between 1st Avenue and Avenue A. The menu features top-notch pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and other classic Italian entrees. 

Isabella was originally scheduled to open in March of 2020. Owner Daniel (Danny) Rivera had to wait over a year to debut his solo venture, but the team at Isabella has managed to persevere and is now fully operating. The restaurant is clearly a personal project for Danny; you can see the care he has for the place, from the details of each dish to the name​​—Isabella is named after Danny’s 2-year-old daughter. Danny is also a partner of David’s Café next door (one of my favorite brunch spots), so you often see staff crossing back and forth between the two restaurants.

I visited Isabella on a Thursday evening, feeling extra hungry after spending the day wandering through the rainy East Village streets. It’s the perfect spot to catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time while nurturing a glass of wine and debating which pasta to order. I had a glass of the Pinot Noir, while my friend had a glass of the Pinot Grigio. I don’t normally order wine, but I’m glad I did. The Pinot Noir was lovely, perfectly complementing the cozy space.

Isabella is secretly a great spot for students. Unlike many other Italian restaurants in the area, Isabella won’t charge you $25 for a small bowl of pasta that will leave you wishing you could ask for seconds. You can get just about any pasta you like for under $15, and the portions won’t disappoint. All the pasta is from the Greenwich Village establishment Raffetto’s, probably THE fresh pasta destination in NYC. My friend and I agonized over the menu, but we eventually settled on two pasta dishes. I had the Cacio & Peppe, a bucatini gloriously drowned in butter and cheese, topped with ground pepper. My friend had the Rigatoni Medici. She is allergic to dairy, so she had the dish with their standard tomato sauce instead of the tomato cream sauce. In addition to the sauce, the rigatoni comes with peas, chicken, chopped tomato, and shallots. My friend generously shared a few bites with me, and it tasted like the homemade sauce my late Italian grandpa used to make on Sundays. Just delightful. 

Isabella also offers a variety of pizzas. Many of the pizzas feature a buffalo mozzarella—a richer, creamier, and more flavorful alternative to cow’s milk mozzarella. However, with my friend’s dairy allergy, we had the Marinara pizza, which, although cheeseless, features that delicious homemade tomato sauce and basil pesto. I devoured the pizza with such eagerness that I honestly didn’t even miss the cheese.

So students – make your reservations as soon as possible for this affordable, high-quality Italian restaurant. Whether it’s your birthday dinner or a first day, Isabella Italian will not disappoint. Students receive 10% off anytime with our coupon and student ID. 



By: Marisa Bianco

Marisa graduated from NYU in May 2020, summa cum laude, with degrees in International Relations and Spanish. She grew up in Nebraska, but she is currently living in Córdoba, Spain, where she works as an English teacher. You can find her eating tapas in the Spanish sun while likely stressing about finding her life’s purpose.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  

At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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