Graduate Student Handbook
Food
The lab maintains a kitchen-type facility with microwave ovens, a refrigerator, a sink, and a table in the lunchroom, which is next to the computer room 329a. Also here are lab-provided coffee brewers and hot water/tea/cocoa. Because supplies are not free, coffee and tea are 10¢ per cup, and cocoa is 20¢ a packet. There is a collection place near the brewers. Vending machines are located in the basement--take the front elevator all the way down and they are in the hallway to your left. These machines sell candy and soda. There is no change machine, though, and only the soda machine takes dollar bills.
If you choose not to pack your lunch to school, are working late, or just get the munchies, there are lots of eating establishments on and around campus. Following is a guide to what's here and what type of food is served. This list does not purport to be exhaustive, and a listing here is not an endorsement. An approximate price range for a typical meal follows each listing, represented as follows:
| $ | less than $4 |
| $$ | $4 to $7 |
| $$$ | more than $7 |
On Campus
The closest establishment to LPL is Bookends Cafe by the Main Library ($, $$), which offers coffee, bagels, and sandwiches. The Student Union ($, $$) houses various establishments, including Domino's pizza, McDonald's, a Mexican restaurant, sandwich shops, and a traditional cafeteria. The Park Avenue Student Center ($) has fast-food restaurants and a muffin/ coffee place. Scattered around campus on working days are cart vendors ($) selling hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, coffee, and fruit slushes.
East Side of Campus (Speedway Blvd./ Campbell Ave. area)
- Local Dough: pizza. Pizza, calzones, sandwiches. $$
- Bentley's: coffeehouse/cafe.Coffees, teas, desserts, and light sandwiches, salads, and soups.$$
- Taco Bell: Mexican. National fast-food chain serving tacos, burritos, etc. $
- McDonald's: grill items. National burger & fries chain. $
- Wendy's: grill items. National burger & fries chain. $
- Bruger's Bagels: bagel sandwiches. $$
- Subway: sandwiches. National sandwich chain. $$
- Boston Market: homestyle. Roasted chicken, turkey, ham, and various side dishes. $$
- Cold Stone Creamery: ice cream. Hard-scoop with toppings bar. $
- Trident: grill items. Burgers, hot & cold sandwiches, salads. $$
- Miss Saigon: excellent Vietnamese noodles and cuisine. $$$
The Student Union
The Student Union has a food court that includes Burger King, Panda Express, Chik-Fil-A, Papa John's Pizza, On Deck Deli, and IQ Fresh (salads, wraps, and smoothies). Typical entree costs range from $4 - $7. There is also a convenience store on site.
West Side of Campus (Park Ave./University Blvd. area)
- Gentle Ben's: brewery/grill. Ben's is a microbrewery with several signature beers. They also carry a dinner menu and appetizers. Our typical Friday Beers destination. $$$
- Frog and Firkin: pub. Beer, and sandwiches, salads, pizza, etc. $$$
- Baskin Robbins/Dunkin Donuts: National ice cream and doughnut chains. $
- Jamba Juice: juice drinks. $
- Zachary's (Z's): pizza. Specialty is deep-dish pizza, with very thick crusts and lots of toppings. $$$ [Note: Deep-dish pizza takes a very long time to prepare. Outings to Z's commonly last 2+ hours. You can call your order in ahead of time to knock an hour or so off this wait.].
- Carl's Jr: grill. National burger & fries chain. $$
- Jack in the Box: grill items. Burger & fries chain. $
- Yokohama Rice Bowl: oriental. Chinese fast-food. $
- Greasy Tony's: pizza. Delivery to University area. $
- Chipotle: Mexican. Fast food burritos, tacos, etc. $$
- Cafe Paraiso: cafe. Soups, sandwiches, salads, coffee, Italian sodas, etc. $$-$$$
- Pei Wei: Chinese. National Chinese fast food chain. $$-$$$
- Johnny Rocket's: diner. National chain serving hamburgers, fries, milkshakes, etc. $$-$$$
- Samurai Sam's: Japanese. Chain serving fast Japanese rice bowls. $$
- Sinbad's: Middle Eastern. Hummus, falafel, shawerma, etc. $$-$$$
- Fat Tuesday: bar. New Orleans style cuisine. $$$
- No Anchovies: pizza and sandwiches. $-$$
- Subway: sandwiches. National sandwich chain. $
Convenience Stores
Tucson has one every few blocks. Near the University:
- 7-11 near the corner of Campbell and Speedway.
- 7-11 at corner of Park and Speedway.
- Circle K just south of the Stadium on corner of 6th Street and Cherry Ave.
- Circle K on corner of Santa Rita and 6th Street.
- Circle K on corner of Park and Speedway.
Vegetarian
Meatless entrees are common at Bentley's and Cafe Paraiso. The can be found at Eric's, Sinbad's, the Garland and of course any pizza place. Salads of some sort are usually available at most places listed. Tucson is host to a number of vegetarian and/or whole-earth restaurants. Check the Yellow Pages for a larger listing.
Coffeehouses
The Starbucks, Cafe Paraiso and Bentley's are just the closest to campus. Also fairly close is Ike's, just east of Country Club on Speedway. They serve a light menu. Coffee X-Change, located at Grant and Campbell, is open 24 hours and popular with students. They also serve a light menu.