As a self-proclaimed foodie and lover of eating out, I was worried that the food at Lehigh and the surrounding area would be disappointing. After two years of trying different foods on campus and off campus, I have concluded that it's not hard to find good food in Bethlehem. There are options for all kinds of eating from the picky to adventurous.
Eating on Campus
For first years, there are two dining hall options. The first is Rathbone which is located near the Centennials. The second is Lower Cort which is inside of the University Center. Let me start off by saying dining hall food isn't bad. While there are some nights when I tend to stay away from certain dishes (*cough* the Asian food dinners), there is always something to eat.
Rathbone has a lot of customization options for your food. During breakfast hours, you can order an omelette or eggs. Most of the time, they also offer breakfast sandwiches which are a highlight of my breakfasts. For lunch and dinner, there is a pasta station where you can choose the fix-ins (meat, veggies, etc.) and the sauce. My personal favorite sauce is a mixture of the marinara and Alfredo. If you aren't big into pasta, then you can choose options from the salad bar or opt to have a sandwich, wrap or panini made for you. Every day there is also pizza out as well as burgers and grilled cheese. If none of those things appeal to you, there are even more options. There is a vegetarian section, a healthier eating section and the regular section where they change the food daily. You can go onto the Dining Services website to see what they will be serving each day. Also, don't forget to check out the desserts and the self-serve ice cream.
Lower Cort has daily rotating dining options, as well as pizza, pasta and burgers. Personally, I found myself going to Rathbone more as a freshman because it was closer to my dorm. Both dining halls offer similar types of foods and the typical college staples of pizza and burgers. For me, the highlight of lower is Jeanie the Crepe Lady. During lunch Monday to Thursday, Jeanie makes custom crepes. She is really funny and loves to chat with students. She even has a Twitter dedicated to her. Cort closes earlier than Rathbone and is not open on the weekends, which is also something to keep in mind when planning where to eat. During lunch time on Fridays, both dining halls offer chicken finger Friday. Try to get to lunch early on this day because the lines get even longer at peak times.
If you don't have time for a sit-down meal or just want a snack, there are a lot of dining options scattered throughout the campus. Located above Lower Cort is "Upper." Here you can spend your dining dollars, gold plus and sometimes meals (depending on which meal plan you are on). There are different little vendors you can go to including Asian food, sushi, a grill, Mexican, salad and sandwiches. Also at Upper is Pandini's, which offers Italian food including pizza, pasta, salads and (really good) Parmesan fries.
If you want coffee, you can find a coffee stand/shop in both libraries (Linderman and FML), Rauch Business Center, the Bookstore and Upper. If you want to venture off campus, there is a Saxbys Coffee Shop near campus square.
For those late-night food cravings, there is the magical Hawk's Nest. Hawk's Nest is a great meeting place for the end of a night out or a midnight snack during exams. They are known for their milkshakes, which really hit the spot after a long day. If you're a fan of bacon and ranch, the "feel good" fries and mozzarella sticks may be for you.
For those who don't want to leave their dorm rooms, there are a lot of take-out options. There are many places that offer delivery in the area in a variety of cuisines including Mexican, Asian and Italian. If you use GrubHub, they send you 10 percent off coupons after you order a few times.
Venturing Off Campus
If you're feeling adventurous and want to leave Lehigh to eat, you can either stay on the South Side of Bethlehem or take a 15-20 minute walk to the North Side. On the South Side, some of my personal favorite places to eat include Deja Brew, the Goose, Jenny's Kuali, Asian Bistro, Sal's, Johnny's, Alexandra's Bistro and Euro Yogurt. Deja Brew is a coffee and sandwich shop and is definitely worth visiting to see the cool decor inside and to try a Dalai Latte or one of their sandwiches (the Asa Packer is a personal favorite).
If you're a fan of bubble tea, the only place to get it in the area is at Euro Yogurt. They also have great Asian food. Don't be intimidated by the menu that's only in Chinese, if you ask, they have an English version. If you go to the Goose, make sure you look up their "secret" menu. Those are the sandwiches you should be trying. I recommend the Matador with ranch!
For breakfast or brunch, my go-to places are Alexandra's Bistro and Johnny's. At Alexandra's you can get a large plate overflowing with great breakfast foods for under $10. Growing up in New Jersey, I ate a lot of bagels. While you can never find a bagel as good as the ones from home, Johnny's comes pretty close.
On the North Side, there are some great places to go with friends for a special occasion or with parents when they come to visit. A fan favorite is the Apollo Grill. Note, you should make a reservation, and they are closed on Sundays. Try their sweet potato fries! Some other places to try are Thai Thai, Tapas on Main, Brew Works and Mama Nina's. Brew Works has amazing burgers and huge portions, so you can usually get two meals of out dinner if you like leftovers. Mama Nina's also has larger-than-life portions so make sure you go hungry or get a to-go box! Their house specialty appetizer is mozzarella bella which is basically friend mozzarella with their homemade red sauce and spinach. It's amazing.
Obviously there are a lot more restaurants off campus, but these are just a few of my favorites. You have four years at Lehigh to try as many places as possible!
