Note: The content contained in this blog post will be about pizza (and other foods) around Northeastern, which is an intensely debated subject that is personal and polarizing to many. However, it is my duty as Editor of the NU Student Life Blog to tell you that the restaurants to open in the new Curry Student Center tomorrow, September 4th, 2012, are really, really, really, really good.

Ahem.

Dear BHOP,

I’m just going to come out and say it: I’m breaking up with you, for I have found another pizza place. Actually, that’s a lie: I’ve had flings with New York Pizza and Il Mondo for quite some time now, but with you being right next door, it was always easier to call your pizza the “home pizza,” even if it was, well… Mediocre. While I appreciate the service you have provided over the years, please know that I hope we can still be friends, as I’m sure there will be times when I want pizza and the new, better you I just found won’t be open. Who is it, you may ask? Well, without further ado, let me introduce my new pizza place and its friends…

Sweet Tomatoes Pizza

I used to believe that the Northeastern area was already at capacity as far as Pizza and Sandwich restaurants went, just as I used to believe that the pizza found around this fair school of ours was extremely… mediocre. Enter Sweet Tomatoes. With a strong selection of pizza and sandwiches available, Sweet Tomatoes was met with an immediate two thumbs up by all of the tasters. However, one slice later we were ready to deliver the verdict: clearly superior to any BHOP slice, and even better than a slice from New York Pizza, generally agreed to be the best slice one can acquire around Northeastern.

While the sandwiches were also a hit (especially the Chicken Pesto), the real game changer comes from the fact that they will be available for events around campus. Meaning that now, for every meeting or event that might contain some free food, it can be Sweet Tomatoes. In my mind, this is what the ancient Gods ordered to their meetings atop Mt. Olympus.

Long story short: Best Pizza Around Northeastern (defined as within a 20 minute walk)

Kigo Stir Fry Kitchen

Moving down the line of restaurants, we have the entrepreneurial Kigo, a stir-fry restaurant where you can order customized stir-fry concoctions (by their estimates, 153,600 different options are available). Alternatively, you can choose one of the “Chef Built Bowls,” which all have fun names like “Thai Me Up” (pictured below) and “Wok Full O’ Nuts.”

The early reviews were all positive, both with the premade bowls and the custom creations. Of note were their excellent sauces, not being skimpy with the veggies, and wait time being less than 2 minutes, which is a significant improvement from the Stetson West stir-fry alternative. However, Kigo does use a lot of peanuts, so at this time they recommend people with strong peanut allergies go to some of the other great restaurants instead.

Long story short: Best Stir-fry Around Northeastern

UBURGER

Overall, this will probably become the crown jewel of the Curry food court, and was easily the highlight of my tasting experience. Not only does Uburger masterfully handle Northeastern’s need for a great burger that we don’t have to scamper into town for, it also serves up some of the best milkshakes you’re going to find this side of the Charles (the best milkshake, if you go by Boston Magazine’s 2012 Best of the City Results). And yes, I know parts of New England calls them Frappes, but I choose to ignore that. Titles aside, I cannot express the happiness I felt as I watched someone scoop real ice cream into a blender along with milk and syrup and mixed it all up to make a real, gosh-darn milkshake/frappe. If you haven’t gotten a chance to try a Uburger burger, I advise you do so, as their brand of burger is a top notch burger, hands down. While it may not be an In-N-Out Burger (Full disclosure: I am a Californian), there will still have to be a showdown to see how it measures up to the Five Guys that is coming to the Northeastern Neighborhood.

Long story short: Best Milkshake in Boston and Best Burger In Boston That Doesn’t Require Large Sums of Money

Popeyes Louisiana Chicken

Finally, we can all come together as a school and enjoy the glory that is a nice, warm, box of fried chicken. In this, Popeyes does not disappoint. A well-known player in the fried chicken world, Popeye’s has been around for a while and knows how to make a good batch of fried chicken. While I was expecting to be underwhelmed by what seemed to be a run-of-the-mill, fast food, chain restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality found in those chicken wings, biscuits, and sides they cooked up (especially the mac and cheese). While I also wouldn’t think to go to Popeyes for cheesecake, they pulled it off quite nicely and made me look silly for ever doubting them. While Popeyes may not have the pizazz of Kigo or Uburger, I am confident Northeastern will find room in their hearts for that chicken.

Long Story Short: Best Chicken, Biscuits, and Mac and Cheese around Northeastern

Taco Bell

While they did not, unfortunately, preview the food to be served at the infamous Taco Bell Express that Northeastern proudly calls its own, they did give it a nice, polished sign that doesn’t clash with the impeccably-designed new Curry Student Center.

Long story short: Best Taco Bell in Boston, as it is the only Taco Bell in Boston

Phew! I know that that was a lot to take in, BHOP, and I appreciate you being such a good sport about all of this. Again, I hope we can still be friends.

XOXO,

NU Student Life