Posts Tagged ‘restaurants nyc’
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Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022Isabella Italian: The East Village Spot for Homemade Italian on a Student Budget
Tuesday, September 14th, 2021Isabella 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.
Restaurants Beyond Your Imagination
Monday, July 19th, 2021As my year at NYU began and I started to venture out onto the NYU campus to see the dining hall options that were included in my meal plan, I sadly came to realize how few options were provided. I decided instead to go outside my NYU meal plan bubble and see what other options I could find. As I walked around campus I found out how many vegan/vegetarian restaurants there were. I was so excited to try them all. Even my friends wanted to do this for fun and ask how many new and delicious food spots we could find and eat at. Some are more affordable than others, but one place that I know stands out to NYU students is called Sweetgreen. This green, vibrant health food take-out or sit-in restaurant is a place where I love to go eat, and it caters to anyone’s dietary needs. This heavenly make-your-own salad place has many choices of toppings, proteins, and dressings for whatever your heart desires. I can’t wait to walk in and choose from the endless options. Sweetgreen has various locations in NYC, and the one on 12th street is always bustling with NYU students. Sweetgreen was so good it even inspired Trader Joe’s to try and replicate their famous salads and dressings. Although we all love Sweetgreen, it is not the only option near NYU.
One of the many draws to NYC (and NYU students) is the vast array of food choices and restaurants to try. Washington Square Park is in the center of the action. It is surrounded by a plethora of different restaurants always busy with students wanting to try the next great meal. One place that I love walking into, Banter, is located only 5-10 min from campus. Banter is an infamous brunch spot often crowded with students. The often 20min wait for a table is definitely worth it. It is a healthy brunch spot with various options ranging from the beloved avocado toast to the amazing sweet potato fries and a burger.
If the NYU dining hall food is getting a bit old, you can continue past Banter to many restaurants stretching up and down the block. Another personal favorite is Grey Dog. Grey Dog is open all day long for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are a force to be reckoned with since they offer breakfast all day long along with other various food options ranging from tacos to salads and burgers. Their food is hard to beat as whatever you get leaves you feeling nourished and joyful inside. Grey Dog is the perfect brunch, lunch, or even dinner spot to go to. Since it is located right near the dorms, students love to just stop by with friends. There is always a table and never a long wait to get in. This cafe provides delicious foods ranging from being just right for someone’s sweet tooth to a savory flavor as well. A few doors down is another one of my all-time favorites, Peacefood Cafe, a vegan restaurant full of delicious flavors. There are many options ranging from salad bowls, to vegan sandwiches, to even fake chicken choices! This cafe is a fun place to go, do school work and enjoy a bite to eat. I would even encourage meat-eaters to step out of their comfort zone, and see how delicious vegan and vegetarian food can be. A lot of my friends personally were surprised when they ate here because even their vegan cookies and tiramisu tasted like it was the real deal!
Overall, I really do believe that there is a restaurant for any type of eater near the NYU campus. Many are affordable, especially if they accept NYU cash or offer discounts if you show your student ID. There are many different types of cuisine beyond your imagination.
By: Hanna Mandel
Hanna Mandel studies Drama at NYU Tisch in hopes of being on the big screen one day. She hopes to venture into writing, directing, and producing. She loves to travel and explore new places, as well as trying new foods!
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.
