The Best: Joe’s American Bar ‘ Grill

If you’ve ever had your parents come to visit you at school, chances are that you’ve eaten at Joe’s. A Parents’ Weekend favorite, Joe’s serves pretty good food at decent prices, and there’s something on the menu for everyone (my personal favorite being the grilled honey chicken sandwich). The service is relatively quick for a sit-down restaurant; it takes about the same amount of time to get a burger at Joe’s as it does at the Stag. The atmosphere has a nice Americana theme going on, and being one of the closest restaurants to campus surely doesn’t hurt business either.

The Worst: Joe’s American Bar ‘ Grill

So now you’re a senior and it’s the billionth time your parents have come to visit. They want to go out to dinner to Joe’s. Now factor in that it’s Parents’ Weekend and everyone on campus has decided to go there too. On weekends like this, Joe’s feels more like the 6:15 rush at Barone than a family restaurant. The food is good and the location convenient, but the novelty wears off quickly. There are plenty of options for good food in the Fairfield area. There’s a Bertucci’s on the Post Road in Westport. You could also try Pizzeria Uno or the Black Rock Oyster Bar and Grill, both located on Black Rock Turnpike. If you don’t want to eat the same “Joe’s Original Burger” or deal with the crowds of Parents’ Weekend, explore these restaurants or find new favorites of your own.