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Tired of fast food? Wondering where to go to get a quality meal that won’t empty your wallet? Check out these five options

Newberg, Oregon, is famous for its coffee shops. But what do you know about dining in town? I recently traveled around to find spots to eat that are close to campus and offer a tasty menu at a reasonable price.

The first instinct for we Fox students whose bank accounts are lacking is to go to McDonald’s, Panda Express or MOD Pizza. My goal for this article is to inspire you to try new restaurants that are local to Newberg – ones that are not only affordable but are also absolutely delicious.

To make this easier for you, let me address the categories that I used to evaluate them.

Location & Ambiance 

The setting of a restaurant is comparable to the icing of a cake. Does it look appealing to eat? How enjoyable is it to look at? For this category, I will look at how close restaurants are to the Â鶹Éç Fox campus (location) and the character and atmosphere of the restaurant (ambiance).

Value

This category analyzes the quantity and quality of food based on their price. This is arguably the most important category for we college students who are a bit monetarily challenged.

Taste 

I lied when I said that price was the most important category. We all want to enjoy the food we eat, and that is what this article is about – to find places to eat that are not the “regular-shmegular” fast food restaurants we can readily access in a heartbeat.

Lemon and Olive

Mediterranean food that tastes as if you are on the Grecian coast? Yes, please. This lovely restaurant is located across from Chapters Books and Coffee on College Street, tucked away in a little cove of wonders. The atmosphere is incredibly welcoming, with the kitchen in view and an indoor-outdoor seating area.

After ordering the hummus plate and a chicken gyro, my friends and I sat down and enjoyed the ambiance until, in the blink of an eye, our food came out. The speedy service already had given the place my good graces, and when I bit into the gyro I knew it was over. It was so fresh and tangy, all the unique Mediterranean flavors combining into one glorious wrap.

The hummus was extremely fresh and succulent too, and both dishes combined only cost me about $25. For a meal with friends that will leave your belly happy and heart full, Lemon and Olive is the place to go.

The Newbergundian Bistro

If you want to find a hidden gem, you have officially found it. This small bistro sitting right next to the parking lot of HMS is unassuming from the outside, but bustling with action on the inside. The packed interior is cozy but comfortably fits its diners well. A bonus is that the dining area is located right next to the kitchen so you can smell all the aromas of the chefs perfecting their craft, chopping, broiling and stirring with sounds that add to the homey atmosphere.

The staff were all incredibly friendly, commenting on my hair and my friend’s outfit. We both ordered the avocado toast, and I added egg on mine. It was glorious. The bread was toasted to perfection, the avocado plentifully seasoned but not too much that you couldn’t taste the avocado. It was so undeniably well done, and made with the freshest ingredients. It was a delicious and indulgent experience, and well worth the $17 for two pieces of avocado toast.

Dos Mundos

The first time I tried going to Dos Mundos, I drove right past it. It is a food truck located in the parking lot right before you turn left into the Starbucks lot, with an unassuming appearance to passersby on the road. However, when I finally found it and walked into their covered outdoor seating area, I woke up to the realization that I should have been there sooner.

It is a simple space, but one that is beautifully decorated with plants and a lovely covered seating area. The truck itself has many different options for when you’re craving Mexican cuisine but don’t know precisely what to get. I ordered the Dos Mundos Salad and paid $10 for a large portion of pork carnitas, avocado, black beans, egg whites, and cotija cheese sitting atop a bed of lettuce with a creamy and light dressing.

It was filling and refreshing, the flavors all working together perfectly to make the dish light and indulgent. I walked back to campus in about 10 minutes, holding leftovers for the next day. If you are craving something quick, comforting and fresh, then Dos Mundos is the place to go.

Momiji Sushi Bar and Teriyaki

Momiji, you mean the place next to the Human Bean, a mere couple steps away from campus? Yep. To have a Japanese restaurant so close to me is a frightening idea, and I can say that I have dined here much less than I’d have liked. It is a sushi place with a bright and bubbly atmosphere.

I have only dined at Momiji a few times, and the staff member Kevin knows my regular order. It is a perfect quick stop-or-not to grab some delicious and high-quality sushi. My last order was the Kanikama and Tamago nigiri with teriyaki chicken, and it was the perfect comfort meal combo.

As a self-proclaimed sushi connoisseur, I can tell you the flavors and freshness of the nigiri were stunning. The chicken was lightly coated in that gorgeous melty teriyaki sauce we all love. The meal came out quickly, and the price of all those dishes combined was around $20. This place is perfect for when you are craving the comfort of good quality sushi close to home.

Jem 100

This place teleported me back to the ’70s. It is an old-fashioned diner with a bright atmosphere and torn leather couch seats that remind you of simpler times. It offers a variety of options: milkshakes, ice cream, soda, burgers, sandwiches, and sausages. I ordered the polish sausage with a side salad, and it was everything I expected and more.

The sausage had a fresh snap of savory flavor, and the salad was refreshing and simple, perfect to complement the sausage. It was a great meal, but the star of the show is the atmosphere and experience of eating there. To go there after a day of classes and sit in the sun on a spring/summer day is the most ideal and picturesque thought.

Jem 100 is a bit farther than the other restaurants on this list, located a bit down the road from the Newberg Public Library. However, the drive from campus is only about five minutes, well worth the short commute. This place is also the cheapest option on this list, with the sausage and side salad costing $7.50. For about the same price as fast food you will gain a far more memorable and enjoyable dining experience.

So, Where Should You Go?

The answer: Wherever your heart leads you. To be fair, there are more variables than your heart, such as the amount in your bank account, whether you have a car, and what kind of time you have to spare. All of the restaurants listed in this article are lovely, unique and delicious options. However, based on the variables listed above, I will help you with your decision a bit. 

The cheapest option for someone wanting a dining experience that doesn’t leave a hole in their wallet? Jem 100. The portions are large, so you will have more than enough to eat.

The place to go for a higher-end feel for less cost? Lemon and Olive. It is very casual, yet the food is a quality that you would eat at a higher-end restaurant. 

If you want something quick, delicious, and a bit out of the norm, go to Momiji. It’s one of the quickest options since it’s so close to campus.

If you want to feel well attended-to and have a true sit-down dining experience, go to the Newbergundian Bistro. 

For authentic Mexican cuisine that we all crave so often, go to Dos Mundos. The food comes out quickly and is the freshest Mexican food I have ever had.

In short, it entirely depends on you. I personally do not have an overall favorite, as I feel like it’s not fair to compare these places with completely different atmospheres and cuisines. I will say that I have a soft spot for fresh Mediterranean food, and Lemon and Olive blew me away with the quality and taste of their food.

I truly hope you try at least one, if not all, of these places. It has been such a joy to try them all, and the foodie in me is giddy with happiness.