The Santa Clara's guide to off-campus eateries

By Kristina Chiapella

New students settling into the Santa Clara campus and enjoying the novelty of the food selections will soon discover what returning students know to be true: You can only handle the repetition of Benson food for so long without your stomach declaring violent war on you.

But before you resort to macaroni and cheese microwaved in the confines of your dorm room, gather up a group of friends and venture off campus to one of the many diverse and delicious restaurants that the area has to offer.

* Thai Pepper in Franklin Square is located on the corner of Franklin and Monroe, just a few blocks from campus.

The restaurant will definitely spice up your taste buds with its flavorful selection of curries and noodle dishes, and the sparkling décor will make you feel like you've stepped right into the heart of Thailand.

Dishes cost an average of eight dollars, and when one of the waitresses tells you that it will be spicy, you had better believe it.

* Mio Vicino is a charming Italian restaurant also located in Franklin Square. Festooned with cans of tomato sauce and decked with red and white checkered tablecloths, it is a homey place where you can peruse the menu of pastas and pizzas while dunking slices of bread into olive oil.

The comfortable restaurant is always crowded and filled with the bubbling chatter of customers. Be prepared for a possible wait, or call ahead and order your dinner as a takeout meal. Plates can be on the pricey side, but a pasta dish at about 15 dollars is big enough to share, especially if you leave room for one of their amazing crème brûlées or other desserts.

* Mission City Coffee Roasting Co. is a funky, fun and tasty alternative to the campus coffee scene. Just keep walking down The Alameda a couple of blocks past Safeway, and you'll find yourself in a little oasis of steaming Java and crumbly pastries. Its unique and artsy interior lends it a sophisticated vibe, as does the array of colorful paintings that often covers the walls.

Many weekend mornings can be spent munching on one of their delicious breakfast burritos or bagel sandwiches as you sip a latte.

* Cramer's Bagels is another nice breakfast place in the little center right across from the Caltrain station. They offer an incredible selection of bagels -- provided you get there early enough -- and can be the perfect thing to grab before hopping on a bus somewhere in the morning.

It's also just a few doors down from Starbucks, which can be a daily essential for addicts or serve as a fun, alternative study spot if you can tune out the music and bustling of caffeine junkies in the background.

* Chalateco may be your ticket if you are in the mood for some Mexican food that is more authentic than what they are dishing out at "Olé" in Benson.

The only advertising they need is the bright yellow paint that will signal you from a couple blocks down The Alameda. Inside, be prepared to be bombarded by music videos from a dozen television screens while you try to hear your friends over the crunch of chips and salsa.

* In-N-Out Burger is an almost weekly necessity for California college students. If you find yourself craving their trademark hamburgers and fries, you can grab some before catching a movie at the neighboring AMC Theatre. Take bus 60 north toward Great America and stop at the Mercado Santa Clara Center.

* Santana Row restaurants are sometimes too expensive, but can be a lot of fun. If you're in the mood for a change in scenery, hop on bus 60 south toward Winchester & Knowles and you can easily reach the mall in less than 15 minutes. From there, you can shop Valley Fair and go to the food court, California Pizza Kitchen or The Cheesecake Factory. Walk across the street to Santana Row's chic shopping and dining area and take your pick of the many charming and bistro-like restaurants that it has to offer.

* Pizza Antica is a great option on Santana Row, featuring delicious traditional thin-crust pizzas served hot out of the oven. If you can, ask to be seated outside, where you can people-watch while you enjoy the warm California weather.

Personal-sized pizzas are about nine dollars. They also have great salads and an even better peach and blackberry crisp, all of which are very affordable if everybody helps chip in for the pizzas.

Contact Kristina Chiapella at (408) 551-1918 or kchiapella@scu.edu.