Freshman food: nearby, cheap

Feeding oneself may be the most important and most overlooked part of the freshman year. The following restaurants are all close to UCCS and all offer less-than-$10 versions of the classics.

Asian

Bhan Thai
4431 Centennial Blvd.
(719) 574-3401

There are many good Asian restaurants close to UCCS where the lunch special will always be the best deal. But Bhan Thai stands apart because their entrees are always 6 to 7 dollars, and they offer the widest selection of Chinese, Thai and various Oriental classics. They also have Glacier ice cream.

Delivery

Trivelli's Hoagies or Roadrunner Pizza
2729 North Nevada Ave.
471-7733 and 636-2112

Trivelli's is the best delivery option to campus because they offer giant, gooey sandwiches, but only from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. After that, choose from the standards, but know that Roadrunner Pizza delivers until 2 a.m.

Hamburger/American Style

Sheldon's Luncheonette
204 Mount View
(719) 599-0887

Hidden in an unassuming strip mall on Nevada just south of Garden of the Gods, Sheldon's is the place for country-style breakfasts, cheeseburgers and home-cooked, sliced meat sandwiches. Whatever is slow- roasted that morning will be the special, and choose between the queen or king size with double the meat on the same size bun.

Italian

Mollica's Italian Deli
985 Garden of the Gods Road
(719) 598-1088

With all fresh, homemade ingredients, Mollica's is a true New York style deli here in Colorado Springs. Try the house-made sausage Grinder, the Hot Pastrami or the Hero with capicola, salami and pepperoni.

Mexican

Monica's Taco Shop
30 East Fillmore
(719) 473-1996

In a town full of Mexican joints, Monica's is great because it offers the full California-Mexican menu all day long. Everything is good, fresh and plentiful, and the drive-through makes grabbing a breakfast burrito that much easier.