A Student Guide to the Grace-Adjacent Culinary Scene
Media provided by Lila Wojnicki ‘27
As sophomores at Grace, we have yet to be granted the permission to have lunch outside of the Grace campus. As the anticipation builds, we wanted to create a guide for students in the same position as us: eagerly waiting for our privileges. We surveyed upperclassmen on their favorite spots to grab food in between classes.
The favorite lunch places are as follows:
Anytime Street (34 St Marks Place)
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company (63 E 8th Street)
Chipotle (55 E 8th)
Halal Truck Outside CVS (Usually outside 145 Fourth Avenue)
Jin Ramen Noodle & Sushi (49 E 8th)
Librae Bakery (35 Cooper Square)
Loong Noodles (28 St Marks Place)
Mud Cafe (26 Astor Place)
Thai for Thought (32 E 7th Street)
The Bean (31 3rd Ave & 771 Broadway)
Vivi Bubble Tea (30 3rd Ave)
Wegmans (770 Broadway)
These establishments are loved by many members of the Grace community.
One of the most popular establishments, Jin Ramen Noodle & Sushi, received praise from juniors Chloe R.,Anika A., and Hayley D.. They love Jin Ramen because, as Chloe R. said “[the food is always] delicious and the menu has a lot of different options.” The restaurant is relaxing and offers a place to hangout after a demanding morning in rigorous courses.
Sophia S. ‘25 frequently visits the Halal cart outside of the CVS in Astor Place. The truck is convenient when on a time crunch, and it is a bargain. She likes it because “you can get chicken, sauce, and a drink for nine bucks. The guys are nice and it’s super fast.”
Sami D. ‘26 goes to Vivi Bubble Tea, where she uses her student discount to purchase the Passion Fruit QQ. Having a student discount is very helpful and makes a place a great destination for out lunch.
Oliver L. ‘26 gets the tomato, egg, and noodle dish from Loong Noodles, an amazing nearby restaurant with flavorful entrees. Even though Oliver’s dish of choice is 15 dollars, he thinks it is worth it because of the large portions with loads of noodles.
Many students expressed their love for MUD Cafe, as it is conveniently located mere steps away from the doors of the high school. Talking to many Grace students, we learned that some of the most popular items on the menu are the chocolate muffin, iced vanilla latte, iced chai latte, strawberry lemonade, and for cold winter mornings: the hot apple cider.
Andrew K. ‘26 chooses Anytime Street for a delicious Korean BBQ meal. He often chooses this spot because it’s “healthy, cheap and it fuels me for the rest of my day.” The convenient location offers quick meals that can fulfill any craving because of the colorful flavor in the meal.
Hallie R. ‘25 expressed her enjoyment of Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company. Hallie has Celiac, a disease that is caused by an immune reaction to eating gluten. At Brooklyn Bagel, there are many yummy options for Hallie to eat. A place with a lot of inclusive foods is an amazing lunch spot because everyone can have something to enjoy, and bagels are very convenient when in a rush to get back to school.
Micah W. ‘26 ventures across the street to Librae Bakery to purchase a chocolate croissant, which he claims is “delicious and wildly overpriced.” This small bakery is a cute spot to study in and a great place to munch on delicious treats, even if they are pricey.
Abby G. ‘26 loves the dirty chai from The Bean. She recommends the drink because of its amazing flavors. She specifically said it “hits the spot every time, and it’s quick.” The Bean continues to be a popular spot for Grace students. There is a student discount and friendly workers.
Another option for chai is Thai for Thought. Ava M. ‘26 recommends the establishment because of “the drunken noodles that complement the tea perfectly.” She loves the environment and “it is a cute little place to have fun little conversations, and it’s so convenient and close to school.” Ava also goes to Chipotle on a rainy day because she “love[s] their bowls and the ambiance is amazing.” Chipotle has been a very popular out-lunch spot for years.
When asked about his go-to spot for a snack near Grace, Daron Forbes recommended the popular Wegmans grocery store and their jackfruit, a sweet fruit that originated as a snack from India.
As our lunch period is only one hour long, many Grace students gravitate towards fast-casual dining at (mostly) small businesses near the school. There is a diverse range of culture and cuisines in the vibrant neighborhood surrounding Grace, and thus an endless range of dining spots for us to enjoy.
India Bischof ‘27 and Siena Green ‘27, the authors, are staff writers for The Grace Gazette.