World's Fare

Consistently ranked the number one national university for diversity since 1997 by U.S. News and World Report, a campus such as Rutgers-Newark requires palate diversity. Fortunately, food purveyors in and around campus have gotten the message. If you’ve been raised on the outstanding food traditions of Asia and the Middle East, as have an increasingly large percentage of Rutgers-Newark students, faculty and staff, or are just a fan of these cuisines, you’ll be pleased with the offerings available nearby.

On -Campus Dining at the University Club

With its all-you-care-to-eat, $10-lunch buffet, the elegant University Club at the Paul Robeson Campus Center (350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard), frequently offers a variety of ethnic cuisines. As for Asian fare, menu items range from delightful stir-fried Szechuan vegetables to savory General Tso’s chicken. Lunch is served daily, 11:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m.

Finding Falafel in Newark

Falafel and other Middle Eastern treats are relative newcomers to the campus environs. In January 2011 the area welcomed its first restaurant dedicated to these popular foods, Pita Place, at 150 Halsey Street. At Pita Place there is much to recommend, and the prices are modest. The popular vegetarian side dishes - hummus, baba ghanouj and tabbouleh salad - are all excellent and very fresh. The falafel is just about perfect - nicely spiced, not greasy, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Closer to campus, the University Cafe at University Square (155 University Avenue) offers falafel, gyro and chicken kebab sandwiches, and platters. The falafel is flavorful, the beef gyro is nicely seasoned and tender, and the chicken kebab tasty. Accompaniments of rice, pita bread and salad are quite filling.

The falafel/pita sandwich at 1 Park Bistro at Rutgers Business School (1 Washington Park) is rather good. In addition, the Bistro offers a delicious "Mediterranean Masterpiece" sandwich with goat cheese, hummus and veggies, as well as chicken souvlaki and beef gyro.

Back on Halsey Street, two pleasant eateries offer more Middle-Eastern menu items: an inexpensive hummus snack plate can be ordered at the Art Kitchen (61 Halsey Street), and freshly prepared Greek salad and Mediterranean salad can be had at Harvest Table (27 Halsey Street).

Trekking For Tasty Thai

It comes as no surprise that one of Thailand's national dishes, Pad Thai, is a hit at the House of Thai Cuisine (59 New Street). Their Pad Thai has all the elements you'd expect: stir-fried rice noodles, chicken, shrimp, eggs, scallions, crushed nuts, bean sprouts and more. Add a second side dish of fried rice (the cashew nuts are a nice touch!) and a crispy vegetarian spring roll, and you have a meal fit for a king - all for about $10.