Opinion
Mixing up your daily menu with downtown cuisine in River Falls
November 4, 2011
Are you tired of eating the same cafeteria food every single day, three times a day? I have only been on campus for two months and I am already eager for a change. Fortunately, there are many options for food choices in town that are just a short distance from campus.
You will not have to get tired of campus food any longer, just as long as you have some money. And being a broke college student, that might mean you have a few dollars. But if you are looking for new food, here are some places you should try near campus: Luigi’s Pizza, like the three other pizza joints in town, is located right on Main Street and is only a short walk from campus. I’ve eaten at Luigi’s three times already in my first two months here, and it was definitely not a disappointment. Their pizza is very delicious and filling, though one thing I would change is to have it be less greasy. If it were less greasy, it would be perfect.
Even if you do not like pizza, Luigi’s has different options that you can try. They have the calzone, which is basically a pizza inside a biscuit. The calzone is delicious, but if you order it, I recommend you don’t eat anything more that day. They are huge and will keep you full for perhaps a few days. There are also other Italian options that you can try, like spaghetti or ravioli.
Another cool feature at Luigi’s is their free delivery service. I strongly recommend you take advantage of dining at Luigi’s or ordering some for your dorm room at some point in college.
Steve’s Pizza is also on Main Street, right down the street from Luigi’s. My friend and I ordered a pizza from Steve’s only once, so that is my only experience with them. Their pizza is also very delicious, just your standard take-out pizza, but it is extraordinarily greasy. I feel as if there is a pattern forming here. I suppose most pizza joints have greasy pizza. That is the only drawback of ordering a pizza. Steve’s also has free delivery, so save some room one Friday night and order from Steve’s to try it out.
The other two pizza joints near campus, Pizza Hut and Dominoes, are chain restaurants, so I am hoping you know what they are like.
I am going to change the focus a little bit and go to Mexican food. I ate at the Mariachi el Loco for the first time two weeks ago.
The location is extremely convenient; it is right across campus on Cascade. The atmosphere at Mariachi el Loco is very lively and welcoming. It draws in a large crowd, so going to dinner will be packed, though I was quite satisfied with the service there.
The food tasted like authentic Mexican food and was very delicious. Although if you order one of something, for example, one enchilada, it will probably not be substantial enough if you’re absolutely starving, so I would recommend always ordering two.
They also offer a plethora of special Mexican desserts, such as flan. Whether you love Mexican food or it is something you do not eat often, I strongly encourage you to eat there a few times during your time at UW-River Falls.
The River Falls Family Restaurant is a little far from campus; it’s not in walking distance. But when I went there, I was satisfied with it.
The atmosphere is very quiet and homey. The service is very good and everyone there is really nice. The food there was simple, everyday food, but it wasn’t bad. I had a chicken sandwich and enjoyed it very much. My parents commented by saying the soup was very delicious and they would definitely go back and have it again. This is, just as the name suggests, the perfect place to go eat when your family is in town.
There are of course plenty of other little cafés and chain restaurants right near campus, but these are just a few that are special to the town of River Falls.
Going out to eat at the restaurants nearby is a great way to get out once in a while and try something new. So, if you’re like me and need a change in what you eat every day, be proactive and try a new restaurant.
Cristin Dempsey is an English major and music minor from Eagan, Minn. She enjoys writing, playing the flute and swimming. After college she would like to pursue a career as an editor.