As one of the top universities in the nation, University of Maryland students deserve the top chain restaurants. In order to perform well during classes, we need to have plenty of food options to choose from to fuel our brains, after all.
I’ve noticed over the past few months of being a Terp, that a few restaurants that I have at home are nowhere close to College Park. On a cold Thursday night after an impossible Biology exam, for example, all I wanted was a warm bowl of Panera mac-n-cheese.
After confiding in Google Maps, I found that the closest Panera Bread is 1 hour and 24 minutes of walking (I have no car on campus, oops). I love you, Panera, but you’ve gotta come closer.
Here are some of my favorite places to eat that I would love to see near campus:
1. Panera Bread
Panera Bread serves a plethora of delicious breakfast pastries, bagels, soups, salads and sandwiches. Best of all, Panera Bread makes a signature mac-n-cheese that will literally fix your heart if it’s just been one of those crazy college days.
UMD needs Panera because it has all types of food for all occasions: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack times, not to mention drinks and desserts. It is a one stop shop for a balanced meal without going to the dining hall.
2. Cava Mezze
Cava Mezze, also known as Cava, serves Chipotle style make-your-own mediterranean bowls or wraps. With locations all across the eastern coast, Cava has been opening up more branches with its increased popularity.
It is a fast way to get delicious food with a mediterranean twist that is unlike any other restaurant.
3. Max Brenner Chocolate Bar
There are a limited amount of dessert places in College Park. Opening a Max Brenner Chocolate Bar would allow students to take a break from classes and enjoy chocolate fondue with friends.
I know that you are probably thinking about how bad chocolate is for you. That is a myth. Chocolate has a lot of benefits for your brain health that could even help you do better in school. According to a Harvard University blog, chocolate has been shown to lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots and fight cell damage.
4. Wawa
Wawa offers convenient on-the-go food for quick meals in between classes. They offer fresh foods, such as fruit, subs, and salads as well as packaged snacks. They also have coffee and milkshakes.
5. 16 Handles Frozen Yogurt
Sometimes I just need a break from ice cream. There is ice cream in the dining halls, ice cream at Stamp, ice cream in the Common Shop, ice cream at Cold Stone. Frozen yogurt would do just the trick!
16 Handles is a frozen yogurt chain that traditionally has 16 flavors, hence the name, and a wide variety of toppings. Putting a 16 Handles in College Park would allow students to enjoy something sweet without having a stomachache afterwards.