Collegio Online

Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: Campus Life

Media Credit: Jeremy Johnson

Keeping your eating selection interesting can be difficult in Pittsburg, especially for a college student on a budget. Some students resort to eating only ramen noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner, which, at 18 cents per meal, is economical, though not palatably interesting or healthy. For everyone else interested in eating real food for a reasonable amount of cash, Pittsburg offers a number of restaurants that won't break the bank, or your digestive tract. This list does not contain all of the restaurants in Pittsburg; fast food and nationwide chains have been omitted to give a more accurate idea of local flavors

Super-cheap local eats

Pittsburg has several family owned and operated cafes that offer reasonable prices and fresh, homemade food. These are also among the cheapest places to eat in town. At Farris' Café, 908 E. Fourth St., you can get a cheeseburger and fresh Susie-Qs (made with real potatoes and a special drill), rumored to be the best in Pittsburg, for $4. A variety of other sandwiches and dishes, ranging from hand-breaded country-fried steak to mashed potatoes made with real potatoes, are available for $5 or less.
"We keep our prices as low as possible," said Warnetta "Ray" Gough, owner and manager. "I'm not in it for money. We make our food fresh, and I want to keep it that way. If the fake stuff is cheaper, I don't want to know about it."
Harry's Café, 412 N. Broadway, offers a similar, though slightly broader, selection for a little more money. Expect to pay between $4 and $7 for their brand of home cooking, though various soups, chilies and desserts run closer to $2 or $3. Don't be dissuaded by the prices, though. The owners have been refining their craft for some time now.
"Harry's has been around since I was a little girl, and I'm 72 years old," said a customer, Shirley Wyrick, who eats breakfast there nearly every morning.
Otto's Café, which occupies two rooms of the historic Hotel Stilwell at 711 N. Broadway, also serves home-cooked meals, including spaghetti and meatballs, a variety of sandwiches and hamburgers for $5 or less, and several lunch specials available for $6 or less.
Bob's Grill, 1014 N. Broadway, has a wide array of food that's made fresh on the grill out in front of customers, including hamburgers, sandwiches and deep-fried goodies, most of which are available as an entire meal for less than $6.50. Be ready to wait, though. According to Bendy Cunningham, head waitress, Saturdays during the school year are standing room only until tables become available.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools