Almost twenty years ago, I began work at the University of Maryland, College Park. The area restaurant scene in those days was grim. Of course, there were a few "college spots" in downtown College Park and on campus, but none was worth a quick return visit.
In less than two decades, the change has been dramatic. The primary cause of improvement has been the arrival in the area of many thousand immigrants from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East. There are now scores of good restaurants within a few minutes' drive of the campus, and some of them are only a brisk walk away.
I've probably eaten in close to one hundred area restaurants. Here are some of my favorites.
On Campus In the Rossborough Inn (tel. 314-8013), there is an excellent luncheon restaurant in an historic building. The manager, Randi Dutch, is a friendly host. Of course, there are many other places to eat on campus, including a number of establishments in the Student Union.
Very Close to Campus For a 60's socio-environmental experience and a modest range of vegetarian food including the "Planetary Powerhouse" sandwich, try Planet X (7422 Baltimore Ave., 779-8451); and the soup, pies, and other Greek food at Marathon Deli (4429 Lehigh Road, 927-6717) are sometimes quite good.
Pizza I've polled pizza-eating students (using scientific methods,-of course), and the consensus is that the best two local pizza establishments are Pizza Hut (delivery and carry out, College Park Shopping Center, 779-7000; dine in, 9015 Baltimore Ave., 345-2244) and walking-distance Mario's (8150 Baltimore Ave., 474-3003).
Vegetarian Beautiful Day/Berwyn Cafe (5010 Berwyn Road, 345-6655) is a 60's throwback grocery store and tiny vegetarian cafe. Udupi Palace tl329 University Blvd. East, 434-1531) is an excellent vegetarian South Indian restaurant located on University Boulevard; Swagat (2063 University Blvd. East, 434- 2247) is also a good vegetarian Indian restaurant. Seven Seas (8503 Baltimore Ave., 345-5807) is a Chinese restaurant with a special vegetarian menu (also a special menu in Chinese); the vegetarian food is good, other items okay.
Korean Yi Jo (in Days Inn at 9137 Baltimore Ave., 345-6500) is a solid mid-priced Korean restaurant, and Myongdong (11124 Baltimore Ave. in Beltsville, 595-4173) is a first-rate inexpensive noodle shop north of the Beltway.
Chinese There are two fair Chinese restaurants across the road from each other on Baltimore Ave., the previously mentioned Seven Seas and its neighbor Sichuan (8430 Baltimore Ave , 474- 2838). Another couple of not-terrific fast-food Chinese storefront restaurants are at the southeast corner of campus.
Latin American Many Latin American restaurants are in the area, mostly in the Mexican-Salvadorian category. The best of the latter is E1 Gavilan (8805 Flower Ave. just west of Piney Branch Rd., 587-4197), which also offers live music Friday and Saturday evenings. Peruvian food and occasional weekend live entertainment are available at Cuzco (2051 University Blvd. East, 439-0044). An interesting new Puerto Rican restaurant is E1 Encanto (6521 Riggs Road; 559-0200).
Middle Eastern The Food Factory (8145G Baltimore Ave. in the Campus Village shopping center, 345-8888), a new personal favorite, is heavily influenced by Pakistani (halal) culinary traditions, and there are also traces of Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Turkey.
Vietnamese There are a dozen Vietnamese restaurants near campus, all of them providing good value meals. Viet Deli (2065 University Blvd., 422-6339) is just over a mile from campus. A few doors away is Pho 99, a popular general restaurant. Pho 75 (1510 University Blvd. just west of Riggs Rd., 434-7844) is an excellent beef soup restaurant. Chinese-influenced Maxim (640 University Blvd., 439-3030) is further away but has a wide variety of dishes and is adjacent to an excellent Asian grocery.
American Close to campus is Bentley's (7323 Baltimore Ave., 277-8898), where the food and drink are satisfactory and the bar provides coupling opportunities.
Et Cetera There are scores of other good and/or interesting restaurants in the area. One of my favorite restaurants is the Pakistani Tabeer (International Mall, 1401 University Blvd., 434- 2121). Also in International Mall is Bombay Sweets, which offers fine Indian sweets. In addition to Udupi, there's good Indian food at Maharaja (8825 Greenbelt Rd., 552-1600). For good seafood, try the Calvert Inn: and there's much, much morel
For more infornation, contact Hanna at 301/405-4005 or bhanna@bss2.umd.edu.