Have you ever stood at the storefront of an enticing smelling Chinese restaurant intrigued by the aroma of soy sauce and chicken, but too afraid to venture out of your prescribed box of pre-approved restaurants? Do you ever habitually avoid that one Austrian restaurant for fear of being naive about the menu and disliking the food?
Me too, buddy.
It seems everyone in Happy Valley is already privy to the diners and dives located around University Park. How does everyone already know their favorite places to grab a quick bite between lectures or have a spontaneous bubble tea at 9 at night? I'm from Pennsylvania, about three hours west in Pittsburgh, yet I feel as if I'm halfway across the country with no knowledge of my surroundings. Predictably, I already know and love common staples like Noodles & Company, Five Guys, and Chick-fil-a, as is typical amongst Pennsylvanians at the very least. But everybody made a big deal coming here about "opportunities" and "diversity", raving about all the exciting new discoveries and experiences I'll have at Penn State, so why should I, and the rest of us, limit myself to what I already know?
This blog will be dedicated to trying as many restaurants within State College as humanly possible, be it for a quick bite between classes, a night out with friends, or to treat myself for all the hard work I (hopefully) will be completing.
You say, "Wow, Kylie. That sounds great and all, but eating out so frequently is expensive and impractical." And you're right.
The goal of this blog is not to simply eat at a restaurant and give a recommendation. As a fellow college freshman, I travel 100% by foot, by choice and also because I can't have a car, and am too afraid to sacrifice my now highly valued free-time to apply for a job, so believe me when I say I understand the struggle. These reviews will take into consideration "the struggle" and each dining experience will be rated with these aspects in mind:
Was the restaurant close/easy to get to? Does it accept Lioncash+? Did my bank account cry when I received the check?
Each post will also include my personal recommendation and a more formal assessment of quality, quantity, flavor, and other important aspects of eating out. Through these posts, I hope to lessen the intimidation of going to a new restaurant, not only for you, but also for me, and to provide a comprehensive guide to eating out at Penn State.
Grab a friend and plan an exciting night out, or treat yourself to something special and enjoy your new life here in Happy Valley!
This is a really cool idea and I want to steal it. I really look forward to reading this blog. Maybe you could also consider whether or not a restaurant is good for large groups or if it's a good study spot. I'm really excited to read what you write on this, because I don't have time to go restaurant-hopping (the disadvantage of having a job, which I do, is that you will have money but no time). Looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteOh and I'm sure you'll spice up the design of the blog once you are really locked into the idea. :)
ReplyDeleteI love this topic. First, food is always the primary necessity for life, especially for newcommers browsing around for good restaurants but end up with nothing just because we are too afraid to take an adventure. Second, since I will take and I have taken you to some Asian restaurants that I am familiar with, I would love to see your feedback about them. Besides, who doesn't like food? If I could, I would love to try foods all around the world. I am looking for your food tour in Happy Valley.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! I've been to University Park quite a bit before actually enrolling, and I still only eat at a few places. I think this blog will be super helpful to us, and it can help all our friends venture out too! I also agree with Kendra's suggestion about the places being condusive to different sized groups! I love your idea, I think it'll be great!
ReplyDeleteComing from the person who LOVES to eat out, I love this idea. It is very different and interesting of you to come up with this idea. Also, being that we are college students now, your blog could really provide some insight on where the best and financially approving spots are.
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