Imperial Buffet

The best thing about this buffet is the sushi. Sushi at a buffet! It’s not the best sushi ever, but it’s pretty good and there are a ton of other buffet options (some really good, some not so good) so you’ll definitely leave full. I went for a friend's birthday dinner and it was a lot of fun.

Corner Grille

The Corner Grille pizza is delicious. If it was closer to Clark, I would go there all the time. It’s not too far away though, so I would definitely say its worth the drive. The Corner Grille is a little more expensive than Uncle Sam’s or Fantastics, but it’s cheaper than Flats. Like Flats, they have higher quality ingredients than many of the other pizza places around Worcester, and some of the combinations sound really interesting and delicious. The rest of the food looks really good too, I'm not sure I'll be able to resist dessert the next time I'm there.

Flying Rhino Café and Watering Hole

Most people I know love the Flying Rhino. I’ve been twice, and the first time I was not particular impressed, everything was good enough but not particularly memorable. They must have been having an off night though, because the second time, I loved what I ordered and everyone who I was with liked what they had as well. I tried to chicken cheese steak sandwich and it was delicious, I’ll definitely be getting it again.

Brew City Grill and Brew House

Brew City looked a little too sports-oriented for my taste, but I’ve been for lunch and food is really good. I tried the phantom gourmet approved chicken mac’n cheese, and it was delicious. True to their name, they also have a great beer selection, on tap and bottled.

Sole Proprietor

Everything at the Sole Proprietor is delicious; unfortunately it is also pretty expensive. If you want to go somewhere nice for dinner, I would definitely recommend it, though if you’re trying to go for parent’s weekend, make a reservation in advance. The Sole Proprietor also has the late night menu Thursday – Sunday, with a $6 menu, which I recently tried for the first time - and it was great! I went with two friends, and we split the "sole bowl" (a huge, blue drink with rum, pineapple and other yummy things), and three large sushi rolls. Including tip and tax, we each only spent $12.

Peppercorn’s Grille and Tavern

 I’ve always been satisfied with everything I’ve had at Peppercorn’s, but ever since I tried their Lobster Mac and Cheese, I get it ever time I’m there. They only have it on the dinner menu, and its very rich so I always split it with someone else, but it is seriously one of the best things I have ever eaten. Peppercorn’s is a little more expensive than I usually like to spend on a meal, but not so out of my price range, still, I usually reserve it for a visit from the parents. They are also connected to Wormtown Brewery, which in my opinion has a great beer selection, and if you buy a growler you can keep bringing it back for discounted refills.

Hacienda Don Juan

I’ve only ever ordered in from Hacienda Don Juan, so I don't know what the actual restaurant is like inside. Most of the food was really good, though some of my friends have been dissatisfied. I don’t eat red meat but I hear the steak tacos are great, but I have had the loaded nachos that they are delicious. You may want to have extra chips on hand if you order them, because there is so much stuff on them that they are pretty hard to eat.

Armsby Abbey

Though I’ve only been there once, I can’t say enough about how great Armsby Abbey is. Next time my parents are visiting, I’ll definitely be taking them. The food is pretty reasonably priced and really, really good, and they have pretty much every type of beer you can think of. The waitress was very helpful when I couldn’t decide what to get, and if you’re more of a cocktail person, I’ve heard they are really good. They only take reservations for parties bigger than six and it gets pretty busy, so if you go on a weekend be prepared to wait for at least a few minutes before being seated.

Karaoke at Ralph’s Diner

If you like karaoke but don’t like the idea of standing on a stage staring into a crowd, Wednesday night karaoke at Ralph’s Diner is definitely the place to be. They have a large song selection but because of the shape of the bar, everyone inside is not necessarily watching you. If you don’t like karaoke, it’s a really fun bar so you should check it out on another night. The beer is cheap, and they have a ton of events, which they advertise through their Facebook page.

Nancy Chang’s Restaurant

            In my opinion, Nancy Chang’s has some of the better Chinese food in Worcester, but it is also most expensive than the average meal somewhere like China Lantern. If you are vegetarian, diabetic, or have a gluten allergy, Nancy Chang’s is definitely a place to check out because their menu has a section for each, as well as an extensive regular menu. I’ve been to the buffet several times during both lunch and dinner, and they always have the usual Chinese food staples such as fried rice, crab rangoon (which I only like there), and lo mein, as well as some less typical options, such as mussels. They also have a full bar, and if you like coconut I would definitely recommend the Coco Moco. Though it often is crowded during the dinner rush, they always have great service.

Fantastic’s Pizza and Cafe

While the name says pizza, a lot of Clark students call up Fantastic’s when craving falafel. Personally, I think the best thing about Fantastic’s is the service; you wont find a friendly face behind another counter. Personally, I prefer it over Uncle Sam’s, but most Clark students have a favorite between the two.

Annie’s Clark Brunch

Some students have only been there for the 5:30 am opening after a night out, and if you try to go Saturday morning you might not be seated because it will be so crowded, but the point is, if you go to Clark, you’ve probably already been to Annie’s Clark Brunch. Super cheap and equally fast, plus the food is really good – it’s no surprise that Annie’s is a Clark favorite.

Blue Jean’s Pizza

Blue Jean’s claim to fame is the only real Chicago style pizza in Worcester. My personal favorite is the buffalo chicken with blue cheese dressing on the side – if that’s what you’re craving, don’t bother going anywhere else. The rest of their pizza is really good too, but it is slightly more expensive than some of the other places near Clark (still cheaper than Flat’s, though).

Wing it Up

Open until 1 Sunday – Wednesday and 2 Thursday – Saturday, Wing It Up is cheaper than Wings Over Worcester, walking distance from Clark, and their wings and sandwiches are really good. In my opinion, they are only lacking the fries department.

Saigon

With non-greasy Vietnamese food, fast service, and low prices, Siagon is definitely worth a visit. Though they haven’t put much thought into the décor, if you want to watch a game they do have a large flat screen TV.

Dalat Restaurant

Not only is the food really good, Dalat is also BYOB. Though the service is usually on the slower side, this Vietnamese restaurant is worth a trip. My personal favorite is the spring rolls with tofu and shrimp in peanut sauce.

Evo

Many of Evo’s ingredients come from their next-door neighbor, The Living Earth, meaning they are local and/or organic. A little on the pricier side, Evo is a great place to take your parents if they are visiting from out of town. They have great sangria, calamari, and burgers.

Baba Sushi Restaurant

Baba is definitely on the pricer side, but it is just so good. If you’ve been craving Japanese food and have a little extra in the bank this month, I would definitely recommend Baba.

Flat’s Pizza

There are several pizza places located walking distance from Clark, but only one can claim the biggest slices in Worcester. Open late Thursday – Saturday, Flat’s pizza made with local ingredients. While the pizza, salad and sandwiches are delicious, but if you’re in a hurry you should probably place your order over the phone before arriving.

Acoustic Java

Located a stone’s through away from Clark campus, Acoustic Java has great coffee and a sizeable menu. With free wifi, this coffee shop is a great place to grab a bite or work on a paper once you have spent too much time in the library.