Illustration by Liam Rademacher
By Sandra Collopy
Arts & Culture Editor
Alliot closed early? Stuck late studying in the library? Don’t feel like cooking? Sounds like a takeout kind of night, an ideal option for the hectic student lifestyle. These affordable, delicious options close to campus are worth taking a bite into.
Tiny Thai
24 Main St., Winooski, Vt.
(802) 655 4888
Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. then 4:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Takeout: Yes Delivery: No
Service: 8/10 Authenticity: 8/10
Not a fan of Chinese or Vietnamese food? Tiny Thai will fill your craving for warm noodles and crispy appetizers on a rainy night. Located right in the Winooski circle, you can even walk to the restaurant on a nice day.
My roommate and I ordered the massaman curry and chicken pad Thai to split after a long drive from Massachusetts. The Pad Thai classic, at $12, comes with crunchy peanuts and bean sprouts with the option of chicken, beef, pork, or tofu. To get the full taste of Thailand in Winooski, try a spicy (green) or mild (massaman) curry with traditional spices you can see in the sauce and subtle hints of lemongrass, served with plenty of white rice. As a healthy option, go for the stir fry with lots of tender broccoli, sautéed peppers, green beans, and other seasonal vegetables.
The Thai food is inspired by the sizzling food served in Thailand’s bustling market stalls, and on Thai family dinner tables. It’s authentic, casual, and delicious. Ask for the curry of the day to switch things up before placing your order. Don’t make the mistake of trying to order between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays as they close between their lunch and dinner hours. On Friday and Saturday nights, the restaurant gets packed around 6 and 7 p.m. Plan to eat with friends to try multiple dishes and split the check.
Junior’s Italian
85 South Park Drive, Colchester, Vt.
(802) 655 5555
Hours: Friday – Saturday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Takeout: Yes Delivery: Yes
Service: 9/10 Authenticity: 7/10
This family owned restaurant calls itself “Vermont’s Little Italy.” Having studied abroad in Florence, I can tell you that although it misses the satisfying moment of crunching into a Neapolitan pizza in a piazza in Italy, the flavor comes close to authentic Italian cuisine in Colchester. If you pick it up rather than get it delivered, the food will be fresh and hot. Pizza prices start at $12.95 for a small, 12-inch, to $23.95 for a 19-inch.
I tried the margherita pizza, an Italian classic which had a sweet homemade tomato sauce and fresh, melted mozzarella. The thin and crispy New York style crust is better than Domino’s fluffy, sometimes chewy crust. For a heartier meal, try the rich chicken Parmesan, carbonara pasta, or a gooey meatball sandwich from $6 to $13. The mouth watering zesty garlic knots topped with tangy Parmesan cheese are great for sharing. The portions are large so leftovers are inevitable and just as tasty the second time around.
Pho Dang
215 Main St., Winooski, Vt.
(802) 655 0707
Hours: Monday – Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Takeout: Yes Delivery: No
Service: 8/10 Authenticity: 5.5/10
A hidden gem close to campus, Pho Dang serves Vietnamese food just up the road from the Winooski Circle. Dine in for a casual, friendly, eating environment or pick up the phone and place an order to go. They don’t deliver so if you’re carless, hitch a ride or use your Knight Card to take the bus to Main Street.
All of the appetizers are a steal at $3.95. I tried the light and crispy tofu dipped in creamy peanut sauce for a savory vegetarian option. Pho, a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup bowl
is soul-warming, packed with flavor and served with bean sprouts, basil, and lime. The vermicelli noodles or rice dishes like the Bun Ga Nuong: grilled chicken with noodles and sweet sauce are popular for the quality and quantity. For 45 cents more you can add egg rolls to the dish.
Wings Over
150 South Dorset St., South Burlington, Vt. (802) 863 9464
Hours: Monday – Thursday 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday – Saturday 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Takeout: Yes Delivery: Yes
Service: 7/10 Authenticity: 9/10
Known around campus as a go-to takeout food, Wings Over is a convenient late-night indulgence that won’t break the bank. The wings are juicy, succulent, coated in tangy and spicy sauces, or crispy and tossed in dry spice rubs. They say, “You order it. We make it. Not the other way around.” It’s real, unprocessed chicken, so you’re not ordering food that was sitting in the freezer a couple hours ago. Be careful about ordering on weekend nights, they can take up to 45 minutes.
Boneless wings are the most popular choice for St. Michael’s College students. They have different sizes and flavors like buffalo, BBQ, teriyaki, dry rubs and other sauces like honey mustard. If wings aren’t your thing, they also have ribs, sandwiches, and sides like French fries or waffle fries. I’d suggest sticking with the wings for a fulfilling bite you’ll want for after a late night studying session.
Jin Chinese Restaurant
135 E Allen St., Winooski, Vt.
(802) 861 3338
Hours: Monday – Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday 4 to 9:30 p.m.
Takeout: Yes Delivery: Yes
Service: 7/10 Authenticity: 5/10
Jin has Chinese takeout options for vegetarians to meat lovers. Vegetarian stir fries, sweet and sour chicken, and Lo Mein noodles come coated in sauces that keep the dishes juicy and steaming by the time it gets to your door. Get a single spring roll for $1.75 or crispy crab rangoons for $4.65.
The crab rangoons are fried with a bubbly crust with a velvety cream cheese center. The Szechuan chicken was unlike the hard to chew food court Chinese chicken that usually comes congealed and concealed in sauce. It was loaded with sweet and spicy carrots and celery, although I would have preferred more chicken.
While it was tasty, it didn’t exceed my expectations of your typical Chinese takeout. Almost every dish comes as a small or a large size, or a lunch or dinner portion. Depending on how hungry you are, you’ll have enough for a meal the next day. It’s inexpensive food and conveniently close, located in the same plaza as the Beverage Warehouse near the Winooski Circle. Leave some time for delivery, it can take up to 45 minutes or an hour at peak dinner times around 6:30 and 7:00 p.m.