August 19, 2009 by Carlos A. Lopez NMSU Round Up
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Campus Dining
Left to their own culinary devices, most college students would either starve or set dorm rooms ablaze – both unacceptable outcomes.
It’s with good fortune, then, that there is a vast variety of restaurants located on or near campus; some of which serve food that is almost as good as homemade, while others are the ideal place for a Thursday night drink.
First, inside Corbett Center, are Taos Cafeteria and Crossroads. With a revolving menu and an all-you-can-eat food motto, Taos is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Near Taos is Crossroads, a food court that is home to several small restaurants, including Chic-Fil-A, Miso Asian Restaurant, and Fresca Grill, a Mexican restaurant.
Frenger Food Court features similar fare and is located across from Zuhl Library. This multicultural food court has four restaurants with Mexican, Indian, Pakistani and Chinese cuisine.
On the gourmet side, 100 West, a student-run fine dining restaurant, is located inside of Gerald Thomas Hall, under the management of the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management school. For a small price, 100 West invites customers to feast on both American and international cuisine.
Outside campus, the best pizza and Italian food is found at Zeffiro Pizzeria Napoltena and SI Italian Bistro, respectively.
Pizza is crafted with the utmost care at Zeffiro, using the best quality ingredients. Baked to a crisp perfection at an oven-temperature of 850 degrees Fahrenheit, the pizza is nothing short of delicious and is prepared in the same tradition as authentic Italian pizza.
An imaginary trip to Italy would not be complete without dining on home-style meatballs and spaghetti and fettuccine alfredo at SI Italian Bistro. Be sure to save room for dessert — they have the best in town.
For Pacific Rim cuisine — sushi and spring rolls — The Mix and Mix Express are two unique sister restaurants that serve this style of food.
On Mondays, the Mix hosts Izakaya nights, a happy hour with discounts on food and drinks.
Students of drinking age who are looking for an extended happy hour, a good choice is Dublin’s Street Pub or Buffalo Wild Wings. Both places provide the ideal environment for college crowds and have various drink specials.
Southern New Mexico’s most authentic Mexican food can be found at ¡Andele! in Mesilla. With a rich and velvety green chile sauce and salsa bar, ¡Andele! serves the best smothered burritos and enchiladas in town.
Freshly brewed coffee and colorful environments, can be enjoyed at Milagro Coffee y Espresso and Spirit Winds. The easy-going atmospheres at both places are perfect for enjoying caffeinated beverages or holding impromptu study sessions.
For lip-smacking, finger-licking barbecue, try Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, a newly established smoke-pit restaurant. Slow-smoked meats like Southern-style pulled pork and brisket are served daily at Dickey’s.
For a casual date, a classic dinner and movie combination is always a favorite. At Cineport 10, the new movie theater inside the Mesilla Valley Mall, customers can dine, either before or after a movie, at the Launch Pad Café, a full-scale restaurant perched high above, and inside, the theater.
