Chloe Wright
Junior Editor
Whether that be consuming media or indulging in small treats to reward myself for reading one paragraph of my seventy page assignment, I need to fill the void in my heart with material goods or, most commonly, food. Clurg is always a fantastic place to go. But what if someone wants a different spot to go in the Sewanee community? That’s why I’m writing this. I will review common eateries on campus and in the Village, their food, the price of it, the wait to get said food, and the vibe in which I eat the food. Unfortunately, I am not including the Shakerag at the Sewanee Inn on this list because, as delicious as the food may be, I understand the affordability of the restaurant may be a showstopper for some students.
Stirlings
Of course I must start with a classic. My usual here is a brie platter, iced (or hot) chai latte, and a chocolate croissant. It never fails, but one might look at it and think it’s overpriced ($8.75 for half a baguette, some Brie, and a grape cluster). But, the homey coffee-shop vibe (which makes since it’s, you know, a coffee shop), reasonable wait time, friendly baristas outbalance the weird, wobbly tables and potential overpricing.
Cup & Gown
Spoiler alert: their chai latte (whether that be iced or not) is on top. Sorry, Stirlings. When working at the library (which has a social/studious vibe on its own), I usually eat their Four Cheese (a grilled cheese with a potato bun) and a blueberry muffin. I’m a big fan of how comforting (and greasy, you’ve been warned) the sandwich is. Concerning their desserts, their blueberry muffin tastes best at room temperature, and I ascended when trying their lava cake. Again, their wait time is not that bad (considering studying may pass the time), and the way in which they call out orders to the rest of the library is appreciated.
Biehl Commons
Someone for the next issue should write an obituary for my Flex account, since I completely destroyed it by going here all the time. I’ve already written my piece on Biehl’s food and vibe in our last issue (it’s all good). But, I never got to talk about the wait time and pricing. They give you one of those beeping disks, which is a lifesaver, but maybe I’m impatient because in my opinion, it takes them a little long to make a boba (no shame, I’ve never made one so I have no clue about the process). Pricing is quite affordable, especially for the shareables.
Tiger Bay Pub
Nothing beats the appeal of Pub when you’re meandering through campus, trudging through pouring rain after a poor attempt at frat-hopping (thanks, weather). It’s a haven, dare I say. I had their curly fries and one singular wing that my friend gave me, and I can say that it definitely hit the spot. We luckily got there right before the influx of hungry college kids, and overall the vibe is active and pricing is not an eyesore.
Shenanigans
This one will be controversial. My friends have complained about the wait time and food quality, but I didn’t believe them (or, rather, I didn’t want to). I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I got takeout instead of going through the apparently insufferable wait time. It only took the cooks twenty minutes to make my pizza, so that’s a positive. While the staff was amicable and the restaurant felt gritty in the best way, the pizza was burnt completely at the bottom. Everything about the pizza was great, including the price… except the crust. I might have to try it again.
Blue Chair
I brought my hometown friend here for the first part of our girl’s weekend, and we both ordered a patty melt from the lunch menu at the tavern part of the Blue Chair. From the café, I also bought a chocolate muffin and, you know, an iced chai latte. Pro tip: Don’t reheat the patty melt in the microwave but do so for the muffin. Leave chai latte as needed. Then with the sporty and cute aesthetic of each section of the restaurant, great wait time, and the manageable prices, you’re good to go!
Lunch
What better place to have lunch at a place called Lunch! This one was an underdog because of the building’s lackluster, downtrodden appearance. It was a total delight to eat at (the farmhouse aesthetic was top notch), even though the restaurant did not have lots of people in it save for some locals. I ordered a parsley/ginger muffin (which knocked my expectations out of the park) and their plate lunch: sliced salmon with a side salad. The ingredients were evidently fresh, and I felt quite healthy while eating it, even though the aftertaste was something visceral. Overall, the food is fresh and the environment is pristine and cute. And, hey, they have a small farmer’s market selling local goods!
Green’s View Grill
I kept on getting those emails about new deals at this place, so I hiked out to the golf lodge to figure out for myself. I ordered a chocolate and strawberry shake (which tasted like the ones you get from the Disney parks: incredible and nostalgic) and a double patty burger and fries. I don’t like my burgers flashy; just cheese is all fine with me. The difference between the large bun and somewhat teeny patties surprised me, but the crisp fries and well-cooked burger made up for that. The Grill’s vibe can be described as country club but not as intimidating. My waitress was very sweet (considering I walked in dressed like I just climbed out of the woods), and I’d recommend it to an out-of-towner. Just be warned that if you don’t normally eat grilled food like it (and you don’t want to pull too much out of your wallet), your stomach won’t be a happy camper.