By Emily Nance If students were forced to live on campus food day after day, one of two things would happen: they’d balloon up to 400 pounds, or they’d starve to death. With the plethora of food findings in Nashville and surrounding suburbs, there is no reason to stick to the school cafeteria. Here’s a brief listing of some local college favorites that offer more than mystery meat. Baja Burrito, 722 Thompson Ln. The cute young things and biz types standing in line for Baja’s build-your-own burritos and baskets of fish tacos usually leave saying, “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!” Cheap and cheerful, Baja Burrito is perfect for a cerveza on the patio or a quick bite before heading to the movies. B.B. King’s Blues Club, 152 Second Ave. N. The Southern/Cajun-inspired menu has plenty of fresh seafood and ribs to go around and includes original entrées like Kiss Yo Mama Tenders (chicken tenders with a spicy Cajun mustard-brown sugar sauce) and the Fabulous Popeye Fruit Salad (spinach, melon, strawberry, apple, banana, orange, Virginia ham, fresh mozzarella and lime). Brick walls, super-tall ceilings and live music performances—sometimes from the King himself—make B.B.’s the perfect venue for a casual lunch or special date. Bongo Java, 2007 Belmont Blvd; Fido 1812 21st Ave. S. Bob Bernstein’s java-soaked hangouts are usually filled to the brim with a diverse crowd consuming breakfast breads and eggs in the morning and a vegetarian-friendly lunch and dinner menu in the afternoon and evening. Fido got its name from its location in the bygone Jones’ Pet Shop. Bound’ry, 911 20th Ave. S. For people who actually pay attention to their food, Bound’ry is more sophisticated—and more expensive—than most college hangouts. That’s because people from the real world are here too. The “global cuisine” tapas are delicious, and there’s no better place to see or be seen than in the Tree House bar. Cafe Coco, 210 Louise Ave. Part coffee shop, part all-night diner, this earthy bungalow serves up pasta, eggs and sandwiches ’round the clock. Inhabited by a diverse group of college students and real-world insomniacs, Café Coco serves beer and coffee, no matter what the hour. Calypso Cafe, 2424 Elliston Pl. Caribbean flavors come to the Centennial Park area in the form of healthy meat-and-three, salads and sandwiches. Calypso also offers several veggie-friendly menu items, such as the Boca burger, veggie pita and veggie melt. Calypso offers large takeout portions for an affordable price. Calypso’s five other locations include one in Cool Springs. Camino Real, 105 Lasseter Dr., Murfreesboro Three locations never run short on great, inexpensive Mexican cuisine. Try the beef, chicken or cheese enchiladas. The location closest to MTSU is a hot spot during its daily $1 Dos Equis happy hour. City Cafe, 113 E. Main St., Murfreesboro The unofficial meeting site of Murfreesboro bigwigs, where discussions about local politics mix with Southern home-style cooking. The menu changes depending on the veggies in season, so check it out all year long. Crescent Cafe and Oyster Bar, 416 21st Ave. S. If you think gritty hole-in-the-wall joints are sexy, then Crescent Cafe, which serves up a Big Easy menu of seafood, sandwiches and oysters on the half shell, will be a perfect beer-stained aphrodisiac. There’s something about this spot, attached to SATCo, that attracts Vandy grad students and undergrads alike to kill the time between and after classes. Hog Heaven, 115 27th Ave. N. The cinderblock shack, for lack of a better word, on the border of Centennial Park is dishing out some fine pig, along with barbecued chicken and beef, sandwiches and ribs. If you’re feeling earthy, pull up to the picnic tables, then head next door to Springwater to wash it all down with a few cold ones. Jackson’s Bar and Bistro, 1800 21st Ave. S. Jackson’s is a great place to sit on the patio and people-watch. The menu consists of French-inspired fare in an eclectic atmosphere. Jackson’s offers as many as 25 beers and wines by the glass. The moderately priced menu in a sleek atmosphere is slightly upscale for the college scene, but a nice alternative to the ultra-casual coffeehouse. Jimmy John’s, 2318 West End Ave. Located across from the Vanderbilt dorms on West End Avenue, this upscale sub shop offers unique sandwich combinations, outdoor seating and delivery. Knock Out Wings, 1300 Jefferson St. TSU grad Trey Campbell’s place doesn’t look like much from the outside, but Fisk and TSU students are loyal to the wings, enormous hamburgers and whiting fish sandwiches. The real TKO is the homemade honey-glazed biscuits, just 50 cents each. Friendly staff and a boxing-glove-wearing rooster mark this student favorite, not to mention a 10-percent discount with student ID. Marina’s, 125 N. Maple St., Murfreesboro Perfect for an intimate dinner, Marina’s has candle-lit tables and classic Italian atmosphere complemented by made-from-scratch pizzas and calzones. There is also a more casual second location for the lunch rush closer to campus. Pizza Perfect, 1602 21st Ave. S. There are a few Pizza Perfects around town, but only one that matters, and it’s conveniently nestled in with H. Cue’s Upstairs Poolroom and Lone Wolf Body Art. Hand-tossed pies, along with calzones, sandwiches and pasta, are the perfect accompaniments to pitchers of beer on the patio overlooking the 21st Avenue artery. Pancake Pantry, 1796 21st Ave. S. Since you’re living in Nashville, you may as well suck it up and stand in line around the block to get your eggs, bacon and stack of silver dollar pancakes at this Music City mainstay. The food is standard-issue, butter-soaked breakfast fare, but the atmosphere and tradition beat Waffle House any day of the week. San Antonio Taco Co., 416 21st Ave. S. Better known as SATCo, this 21st Avenue favorite incorporates TexMex cuisine into a fun Vandy environment. The patio area complete with large fans and colored lights is the perfect setting for a fajita and a bucket o’ rocks—Rolling Rocks, that is—after class. Just jot down your order, give them your name and go with the flow. They’ll call you by name when your (slightly overpriced) food is ready. Sunset Grill, 2001 Belcourt Ave. We debated listing this restaurant because Sunset is where the grown-ups, music-biz types and ladies who lunch eat, but your parents are going to come to town someday, and Sunset would be the perfect spot to let them treat you. Until then, though, Sunset offers its regular menu at a discounted price starting at 10 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on the weekends, so you can fill up on cheap keg beer somewhere else and top it off with a bargain truffled angus burger and a crème brûlée.
