Written by Lem Atanga McCormick
The vast selection of restaurants is almost like the selection one would find in a big city, and for that, Amherst students can thank the tens of thousands of UMass students and faculty who are potential customers. Among the celebrated places around here is Antonio’s Pizza, which serves some very unusual toppings. It has a cramped little dining area and is always jam-packed. Another favorite is the Black Sheep, which serves a variety of sandwiches with all sorts of meat in them, as well as great salads. There are several good Chinese, Thai, and Italian places. All told, there are about 20 non-fast-food restaurants in Amherst, all of which are loved by students. This great selection of independent places is probably why restaurant chains are nowhere to be found in town, with the exceptions of Subway and Starbucks, with the former doing very poorly, and the latter being more of a hangout place.
Almost every week, take-out places send their henchmen to Amherst dorms to attach fliers, complete with menus, prices, and special deals, to your door. Wings definitely reign supreme in the Amherst fast food kingdom, but pizza, tacos, burritos, and even salads are popular, as well. Many places stay open until 2 and 3 a.m., and the delivery is usually efficient—although deliveries from some restaurants that don't specialize in takeout may take a while. It’s a common pastime to come back to the dorm after a party and order wings together. Overall, the restaurant selection and level of food are far better than what you would expect from a small town.