Top Five Places for Off-Campus Lunch

Sixth hour: Every upperclassman’s favorite period. Off-campus lunch makes the entire school day more bearable; a break from the classroom environment and good food is just what students need to get through the day. Where one chooses to go for lunch, however, can make or break the entire lunchtime experience. Obviously, the most economical option would be to go home or to a friend’s house to cram as much food down your gullet as you can before its time to head back to the school. Another option is staying in the building for cafeteria lunch, closing your eyes, and pretending you’re eating something else. Every now and then, however, it’s fun to go out to one of the many great restaurants we have in the area. Following is a list of restaurants, in my opinion, that provide the most enjoyable lunchtime experience. My criteria included distance from the school, price, and, most of all, taste.

5. Windy City (410 N Race St)

Located minutes away from the high school, Windy City serves Chicago-style foods like hot dogs, Italian Beef, and polish sausages. If you’re feeling especially hungry, they also serve the biggest burger I have come across in Champaign-Urbana: the double gyro burger. Piled high with two patties and plenty of gyro style lamb meat, the burger is served with fries and cucumber sauce to give it an authentic gyro taste. Windy City would have made it even higher onto my list, except that it can take a bit longer than the other restaurants on the list for your food to be ready, especially during the lunch rush. You can certainly finish your food in time, but I always feel a bit more rushed than I would like. Windy City is probably a better lunch destination on weekends or half days, but it still makes my top 5.

4. Rosati’s  (701 S Gregory St)
Rosati’s individual pizza slices are a quick and easy option for off-campus lunch. A large slice and a drink if five dollars, and it is located on Gregory Street near Subway, J. Gumbo’s, and more making the entire area the best place to head towards for lunch. If you ever have more time than just one period, they serve a very good taco pizza, which can be ordered thin crust, double dough, thin crust, or stuffed. They also serve a variety of pastas that are good for a lunchtime order.

3. Lil’ Porgy’s  (101 W University Ave.)
Lil’ Porgy’s barbeque has been a long-time local favorite. Their sweet and tangy barbeque sauce has won them an impressive collection of awards from local media and competitions. One can get to Lil’ Porgy’s from UHS in a matter of minutes, and the wait after ordering is extremely reasonable. Although it can often be crowded, I would recommend Porgy’s as an off-campus lunch destination. They serve quality ribs and tips, slow cooked on wood, as well a variety of daily specials including pork and catfish sandwiches. Their best special, in my opinion, is the Sunday special of a half-chicken with fries and a large drink all for just five dollars (although this deal is not available on school days). Their lemon shake-up is also one of their classics, and goes great with any item on the menu. Lil’ Porgys on University Avenue is a close, tasty, and affordable place for lunch.

2. Sunny China Buffet  (1703 Philo Rd)
For many high school guys like myself, lunchtime is a race against the clock to see how much food you can eat before returning to school. For those who don’t really understand the concept of being “full,” there’s no better option than an all-you-can-eat buffet. Sunny China Buffet, located on Philo Avenue in Southeast Urbana, provides students with a chance to pile plate after plate full of lo mein noodles, orange chicken, egg rolls, and many other Chinese dishes. Sunny China is owned and operated by the family of Urbana High School senior Jiahong Chen. “My Dad and Uncle came fro Fuzhou, China in 2005 and opened the restaurant,” said Chen. Chen has worked in the restaurant since the age of 8, and is familiar with all of the dishes they serve. “My favorite is probably General Tso’s chicken,” he said. “I think Sunny China is a good place for lunch because it’s not very expensive and there’s a wide variety of food.”

1. J. Gumbo’s  (700 S. Gregory St)  The food at J. Gumbo’s Cajun and Creole Cookin’ keeps me coming back every week. There are so many new flavorful things to try each time I go, and a week without a trip to J. Gumbo’s is a bad week. Each dish on the menu is served over a bowl of white or brown rice, although you can also get it in a tortilla or on an open-faced Po’ boy. Popular choices include Drunken Chicken, Voodoo Chicken, and if you can handle some spice Chicken Red Hot is a personal favorite of mine. For those who prefer mild dishes, the Chicken Zydeco is a delicious non-spicy option. Feel free to try a sample of any dish before ordering. The staff at J. Gumbo’s is extremely pleasant and helpful; the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant is one of the major reasons it is number one on my list. Senior Maxwell Dragoo also participates in the weekly trip to J. Gumbo’s. “My week is always going downhill until I go to J. Gumbo’s,” said Dragoo. J. Gumbo’s is located on Gregory Street on campus, conveniently close to the high school. J. Gumbo’s is a perfect lunch destination due to time, distance, price, and most of all the food is fantastic.

HONORABLE MENTION: PAPA DEL’S  206 E Green Street  (217) 359-7700
Papa Del’s is one of the most well-known and beloved restaurants in Champaign-Urbana. As far as taste goes, it places very high on my list. Due to its west campus location and 45 minute preparation time, however, it didn’t make it on the top 5 options for Urbana students. I am, however, including it as an honorable mention because if you time it right, you could enjoy a quality deep-dish pizza during sixth hour. If the order is called in sometime during 4th or 5th hour, it is possible to arrive at the restaurant just as the pizza is ready. This gives you enough time to eat in, quickly box up the leftovers, and head back to school. This could provide an enjoyable option for lunch on special occasions, or especially on half-days when there’s no time restriction.