New College of Florida - Off-Campus DiningCollege Prowler3.08

Off-Campus Dining:

B-

(explain this grade)

Comparable Schools'
Off-Campus Dining Grades:

Quick Stats

Best Pizza

  • Rico’s Pizzeria

Best Breakfast

  • First Watch Daytime Café

Best Healthy

  • Whole Foods

Best Place to Take Your Parents

  • Barnacle Bill’s Seafood

College Prowler Take

 

What Sarasota lacks in nightlife, it makes up for in fine dining. What else would one expect from a wealthy, Republican retirement town? While the pricing isn’t always student-friendly, the quality of the restaurants is outstanding. It is possible for a student to go to a different stellar restaurant every weekend of a semester. The options are limitless.

 

Though Sarasota has a dearth of student hangouts and cafés, it does have a few options. There is a nearby coffeehouse within walking distance that is picking up momentum. Rico’s Pizzeria is right across the street and provides affordable Italian food. Whole Foods is the only other place that is a popular destination for Novo Collegians, and even that is a stretch. This is more a function of the fact that New College is a tiny school and there are so many food options available. From cheap fast food to gourmet, Sarasota has it all. Downtown Sarasota has some of the more posh restaurants, while Bradenton is more informal. Tamiami Trail provides a slew of choices. Sometimes one has to settle for an ambiance catered to the elderly, but more often than not, it’s worth it. If money is an issue, Sarasota still has options.

 

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Students Speak Out

Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:

Anonymous says:

I normally go to the Sahara Café,...

I normally go to the Sahara Café, which is decently priced for the good and authentic food served. There are nice people there, and they’ll talk to you informally while you’re eating. The alternative to that is Panera. They have wireless access that works really well. Every time I go there, I see another New College student. Today, I went there at peak lunch hour and got my food in 10 minutes.

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Anonymous says:

Sarasota is made up mostly of...

Sarasota is made up mostly of three types of people: septuagenarians, octogenarians, and nonagenarians. Those people go to bed at 8 p.m., so if you want to eat after 9 p.m., you’re going to have to go to Denny’s or Perkins. It’s going to be eggs and waffles for you. There are all sorts of weirdos in there. During exam week, it’s full of New College students. Middle of the night Perkins runs are a vital component of the New College experience.

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Anonymous says:

I make a lot of my own food. I...

I make a lot of my own food. I prefer to go grocery shopping. There are some places with great deals like Splendid Buffet. It’s cheap, and they’ve got a humongous range of Asian cuisine and some American stuff. I’ve never gotten sick from eating there.

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Anonymous says:

There are plenty of options off...

There are plenty of options off campus. The food is very diversified, and the prices aren’t that high.

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Anonymous says:

For every kind of restaurant,...

For every kind of restaurant, there is the expensive version and the cheap version. For Thai food, there’s Tropical Thai and then there’s Thai Spice. Sarasota is known for its dining.

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Facts

Student Favorites

  • Sahara Café
  • Tijuana Flats
  • Tropical Thai

Other Places to Check Out

  • CiCi’s Pizza
  • Denny’s
  • Joto Japanese Steak House
  • Kazu’s Sushi & Asian Bistro
  • Panera Bread
  • Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
  • Splendid Buffet
  • Thai Spice Restaurant

24-Hour Dining

  • Denny’s
  • Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

Grocery Stores

Publix
1044 N. Tamiami Trail
(941) 366-3270

Whole Foods
1451 1st St.
(941) 955-8500

Restaurant Listing

Barnacle Bill’s Seafood
Seafood, steaks
5050 N. Tamiami Trail
(941) 355-7700
www.barnaclebillsseafood.com
Price: $11–$30
Hours: Monday–Saturday 11:30 p.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.–9 p.m.

Chutney’s Etc.
Indian and Mediterranean
1944 Hillview St.
(941) 954-4444
www.chutneysetc.com
Price: $8–$20
Small and intimate, Chutney’s allows you to mix and match the Indian and Mediterranean entrées.
Hours: Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–9 p.m., Saturday 5:30 p.m.–9 p.m.

First Watch Daytime Café
Pancakes, sandwiches, soups, waffles
1395 Main St.
(941) 954-1395
www.firstwatch.com
Price: $8–$12
Reasonable prices and innovative food
Hours: Daily 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Pacific Rim
Asian
1859 Hillview St.
(941) 330-8071
www.pacificrimsarasota.com
Price: $12–$30
Fancy atmosphere, modern decor, high-quality ingredients
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–9:30 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–10:30 p.m., Saturday 5 p.m.–10:30 p.m.

Rico’s Pizzeria
Pizza
5131 N. Tamiami Trail
(941) 358-9958
Price: $8–$15
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 2 a.m.–9 p.m.

Sahara Café & Mediterranean
Mediterranean
1121 S. Tamiami Trail
(941) 954-1423
Price: $5–$10
Informal, fast, and reasonably priced
Hours: Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Tijuana Flats
Mexican
1635 S. Tamiami Trail
(941) 330-0989
www.tijuanaflats.com
Price: $6–$10
Fast service with a quality, hip atmosphere
Hours: Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 10 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–9 p.m.

Tropical Thai Restaurant
Thai
1420 Main St.
(941) 364-5775
Price: $10–$15
Dimly lit atmosphere and popular among Novo Collegians
Hours: Monday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 4 p.m.–9:30 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.–10:30 p.m.

Whole Foods Market
Salads, sandwiches
1451 1st St.
(941) 955-8500
www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Price: $7–$12
Organic and healthy café options
Hours: Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–9 p.m.

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