What’s For Dinner, Colorado State University?

By Mason Brown

You’re in college. The bane of your existence is trying to balance school with sleep with a social life. The only thing that will always seems to fit into that balance, however, is food. Lucky for us college students, food fits into our schedule no matter how busy or tired or stressed we are. Food makes us happy. So whether you’re like me and eat more than the standard 3 meals a day or whether you’re just looking to change it up from Chipotle or Qdoba, here’s a few relatively cheap, open late restaurants that you must try (in no particular order) if you live near or are visiting Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO

Raising Cane’s

This one is for all the fried chicken lovers out there. Raising Cane’s is sort of like Chic-fil-a but a whole new breed. With only 4 combos on their menu, they manage to satisfy even the pickiest chicken finger eaters. Take your pick from a 3 piece chicken finger combo, a 4 piece combo, a 6 piece combo, or a sandwich with, you guessed it, chicken fingers. Like Chic-fil-a, they have soft drinks but their “homemade” sweet tea and lemonade are the most popular drink choices. What really separates Cane’s from other fried chicken joints is their specialty “Cane’s Sauce” that comes with every combo. You thought ranch was good for dipping your chicken in? Just wait until you try Cane’s Sauce! If you’re not already driving there, here’s a few more reasons to give Cane’s a try: they are not shy on their serving sizes, the most I’ve ever paid for a meal after taxes is around $9, and their lobby is open 7 nights a week until 11pm and their drive-thru is open until 1 am also 7 nights a week.
Address: 2104 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525

D.P. Dough

You like calzones? Me too. Well, D.P. Dough has every combination of delicious food that you can think of thrown together in a calzone. Literally, there is a wall when you walk in filled with calzone combinations that, let’s face it, will never let you down. Everything from a classic calzone to a calzone with eggs, bacon, potatoes, and cheese to ham, pineapple, and bacon, D.P. Dough has it. There are so many calzone options that you could probably eat there every day for a couple months and still not have tried every single one. Another good thing about D.P. Dough is that they are open late so you can grab food on your late night study break. Or if you don’t have time to make the drive, D.P. Dough delivers. I know, incredible right? Seriously. Get yourself some D.P. Dough, you deserve it.
Address: 634 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Fat Shack

Another place that’s open late is called Fat Shack. Legend has it that this is where the “freshman 15” was invented. Okay, that’s not true. But imagine a sandwich with chicken fingers, lettuce, mayo, and tomato. Sounds pretty typical, right? Now add french fries, mozzarella sticks, and marinara sauce. You now have one of the many sandwiches available at Fat Shack and you’re bound to put on a little bit of weight eventually with these. I promise it’s worth it though. Fat Shack has the craziest combinations of sandwiches (as mentioned above) that are both filling and delicious. They’re open late, have a great location right along the main street in Old Town Fort Collins (on College Ave.) and are also reasonably priced.
Address: 706 S College Ave #102, Fort Collins, CO 80525

Cosmo’s Pizza

Cosmo’s has some of the best pizza in FoCo! Not only is the pizza pretty good, the slices are huge. And by huge, I mean really huge. The prices are pretty good and they are open late. If you want great NY style pizza, you want to hit up Cosmo’s. Pizza is their specialty but you can also get calzones and salads if you so desire. Just like the slices, the calzones are huge and could probably fill up 2 people. Unlike the chain places, Cosmo’s has a clean and casual atmosphere. Great for those late night munchies.
Address: 1401 W Elizabeth St #130, Fort Collins, CO 80521

Yum Yum’s Restaurant

Looking for something other than pizza or fried chicken? Then you want Yum Yum’s Restaurant. Its been a staple of FoCo having opened in 1991. They server up everything from tradtional gyros, hummus, falafel, shawarma and much more. If you’re in a hurry, want something cheap, or in a hurry and want something cheap, Yum Yum’s is the place to go. But don’t think because its cheap and quick that the food is frozen and microwaved. You couldn’t get fresher ingredients unless you picked it from the farm yourself. To top it off, they have a juice bar that is both delicious and way cheaper than most other juice places.
Address: 1300 W Elizabeth St, Fort Collins, CO 80521

B&B’s Pickle Barrel

Another FoCo mainstay, Pickle Barrel has served CSU students since 1988. Pickle Barrel is known for their sandwiches, probably the best in town. But don’t come in a rush, perfection takes time. Oh, and if you love pickles, they have some of the best you’ll ever taste. Their bar offers not only the usual beers but also a great selection of local brews. Oh, and don’t forget to have a homemade cookie to top off your meal. Best part of everything: the staff. They are always friendly.
Address: 122 W Laurel St, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Road 34 Deli & Tavern

If you’re in the Campus West area of FoCo, best check out Road 34. Its got a little of everything: part bike shop, part deli, part bar, part live venue. What more does a college kid need to survive? The portions are huge (very important to us!) while still being pretty delicious. The deli style menu has more than just your usual chicken sandwich, which is a nice touch. To top if off, they have a huge selection of beers on tap.
Address: 1213 W Elizabeth St, Fort Collins, CO 80521

So next time you’re looking to try a new place to eat around Colorado State University, stop by one of these places and check them out. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Now go get fat, Fort Collins!

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