Ah, off campus lunch! One of the most exciting privileges that comes with being a senior. It’s still winter, so a lot of people have been staying inside for lunch, but as the weather gets warmer and people are more willing to venture outside here are some of the places that I would recommend for off campus lunch.
Note: these are in no particular order, but I did give each place a rating out of 5 based on convenience, price, and ~of course~, based on food.
1. Dunkin’
Alright, so this one is technically just a coffee place (hence the 4 out of 5 star rating), but it still deserves a spot on this list. Don’t get me wrong–Dunkin’ has some food like sandwiches and donuts–but the options are limited so I would recommend just getting a drink to bring back to school where you can eat the rest of your lunch. Some pros: it’s very close (about 5 minutes away), has a drive thru, has parking spaces, is very cheap (a small iced coffee is just over $2!), and if needed you can order ahead with the Dunkin’ app.
Rating: 4/5
2. Everdine’s
I found this place over the summer, but it is also a great place to go for lunch if you are willing to drive and park in Downtown Naperville. It’s menu is mostly composed of grilled cheese, but there are a ton of options. More specifically, you can choose the type of bread you want, the type of cheese (cheddar for the win!), any toppings you want (including bacon), and if you want any soup on the side. If you are getting soup, I would recommend the smallest size since the portions here are pretty big. The average meal will rack up to around $9, so while Evedine’s isn’t exactly expensive I wouldn’t recommend it if you are looking for a cheaper option. Note: it can get pretty busy, and since there is no order ahead option I would proceed with caution. It is definitely not the place to go on a late arrival day since you will be in a rush trying to get back to school.
Rating: 4/5
3. Culver’s
Just recently built, but nonetheless a great choice if you want something nearby. I don’t know how the drive thru service is, but inside there is a very short wait time, which means you won’t feel rushed trying to get back to school. There are also a ton of options. You could get a meal, share a basket of fries, or just go for ice cream. Personally, my favorite menu item are the cheese curds. While I wouldn’t say Culver’s is cheap, it isn’t very expensive either. If you are trying to save money though you could always get a kid’s meal, which actually gives you a lot of food for the price.
Rating: 4/5
4. Portillo’s Hotdogs
This is probably one of the most popular spots for off campus lunch. Which makes sense, considering that it’s close, there is a drive thru, it has parking, and it’s fairly cheap. There are also a ton of options for food, so whether you are trying to eat healthy or just want a burger and fries there is something for you. They also have an order ahead option, which is great if you want to go inside and eat since there can be a wait sometimes.
Rating: 5/5!
5. MOD Pizza
I’ve been to this place on the weekend, but I haven’t personally tried it for off campus lunch, so I don’t know how the wait times would be, but MOD is a great option if you are looking for a quick helping of pizza. It’s located in Downtown Naperville (so you will have to find parking), but it’s worth it. Like some of the other places on this list, there is an order ahead option which you could use. Note that a mini pizza will cost you $4.87, so the prices are pretty good here too.
Rating: 4/5
6. Five Guys Burgers and Fries
This place is pretty far away located at the edge of Downtown Naperville, and it can take awhile to get your food, but I would still recommend it. I believe it has an order ahead option through the mobile app as well, so if you are worried about time you could try this. Five Guys is a little pricier than the other options on this list, but you get a lot for your money with large portion sizes. They also have free peanuts in the restaurant, which is great as long as you don’t have an allergy.
Rating: 3/5
7. Chipotle
Along with Five Guys this is one of the farthest places on the list located at the edge of Downtown Naperville. However, you shouldn’t have a problem getting back to school since the wait times are pretty short and you can get your meal to-go if needed. I also believe they have an order ahead option, but you really won’t need it. If you end up going I would personally recommend the burrito bowls, but anything else will be great too. Chipotle can start to get expensive when you add toppings, but there are still things on the menu you can get for a cheaper price. Overall it’s a great option for people who are looking for something a little healthier.
Rating: 4/5
8. Noodles & Company
This is another one of the places in Downtown Naperville that I’ve been to, but not for off campus lunch. I’ve heard the wait times are pretty short though, especially if you order ahead, so you don’t need to be as worried about time. The prices are also pretty good considering you get large portions. I would personally recommend getting the Wisconsin Mac & Cheese if you end up going here.
Rating: 4/5
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While of course there are a ton of other restaurants and coffee shops, I hope that you found at least one new place to try from this post! Anyway, that’s all for now, but make sure to return to my blog later to see more listicles (list articles) and other content.
Thanks for reading 🙂