My family lives three and a half hours away from St. Joe’s Hawk Hill campus in North Haven, Connecticut. When they come to visit me, I want to go somewhere different than what we have in our hometown, somewhere we can casually sit down, enjoy a meal together and catch up about family and what we are all up to. 

Here are some favorites for you and your family to try the next time they’re in town to visit.

Landmark Americana Tap & Grill

2481 N. 54th St., Philadelphia

Landmark is a great location on the edge of Hawk Hill’s campus, next to the St. Joe’s bookstore. It offers a great space for mingling, all while enjoying a pub grille food menu. The multitude of TVs almost always have a game playing for sports lovers, and there are a variety of seating options ranging from tables to bar stools. 

Diners may order finger foods, wings, salads, buckets of fries, soups and more. Prices for entrees range from chicken quesadillas for $12.99 to jambalaya for $19.99. For vegetarians, there’s a variety of options ranging from the veggie quesadilla for $13.99 to the Italian grilled cheese for $14.99. If you’re looking for vegan choices, you can try the Beyond Burger for $13.99. If you need gluten-free, you can try the baby back ribs for $15.99 or pesto salmon for $15.99.

Jared Gravely ’25 said he also enjoys taking his family to Landmark because of its proximity to campus. 

“My family likes to keep it simple,” Graveley said, adding that “the proximity and good food” are what keeps him and his family coming back.

Not Your Average Joe’s, 

49 St. James Place, Ardmore, Pennsylvania

Not Your Average Joe’s, because of its location in the Suburban Square shopping center, is a great place for shopping and feasting. The restaurant offers American food, including pizza, pasta, wraps and burgers. Some menu items include the sheet pan nachos and the Smokey Joe burger. Prices for entrees range from $10 for the small classic cheese pizza to $19.50 for the barbecue meatloaf. For vegetarians, there’s the veggie special wrap for $16.50. If you need gluten-free, try the turkey avocado club on a gluten-free roll for $17.75. 

Be sure to check out their dessert menu while you are there. A popular option is the peanut butter thing for $11.25. The menu calls it “a concoction of peanut butter and chocolate chunks in vanilla ice cream, rolled in Oreo crumbs, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with hot chocolate and caramel sauces.” 

This restaurant has lower- and upper-level seating inside as well as tables outside for when the weather is favorable. 

The Couch Tomato Café & Bistro

102 Rector St., Philadelphia

Located in Manayunk, Couch Tomato is a favorite among students at St. Joe’s Hawk Hill campus. It offers a variety of food options ranging from build-your-own salads, pizza and sandwiches. Their famous combination of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches are popular options for $12.49. Other options include the holy chipotle salad for $12.99 or the chicken cutlet for $19. For a vegetarian option, try the signature margherita pizza for $13. For a vegan option, try the garden fresh salad for $8.50. There are many gluten-free options, such as the southwest burger, served on a gluten-free bun.

Ayla Killion ’23 said her favorite menu item on The Couch Tomato menu is the buffalo chicken pizza.

Cava

40 Coulter Ave., Suite 175, Ardmore, Pennsylvania 

Also located in Suburban Square, this is the place for you and your family when you are in a crunch for time but still would like something delicious. Cava is a Mediterranean counter-service restaurant that looks nicer than your average counter-service place. Modern-style tables and chairs are placed throughout the restaurant, with long-stemmed blacklights hanging over the tables. 

Cava offers customizable bowls, pitas and salads. You start with a base, choose up to three dips, pick your protein, add toppings, and finish it with a dressing of your choice. For example, a greens and grain bowl is $10.97, a spicy chicken and avocado pita is $14.62, and a salad is $10.97.

Emma Winther ’26 said Cava is always a reliable and fast place to take her family for dinner.  

“We usually go to Suburban Square and get Cava,” Winther said. “Cava is just easy and the quickest.” 

Rosa Mexicano

105 Coulter Ave., Ardmore, Pennsylvania

Rosa Mexicano is a spring 2022 new arrival in Suburban Square that serves authentic Mexican food. The menu offers mouth-watering appetizers such as rich and creamy queso and chips for $10, and a variety of hand-held tacos such as the pork carnitas for $14 or the red chile chicken for $13. Other popular menu items include enchiladas or main dishes like the roasted half chicken for $25. For a gluten-free option, Rosa Mexicano offers a variety of selections such as the chicken tortilla soup for $10. For a vegetarian option, try the chile relleno for $20. There are not many offerings for vegans, but one is the vegetable taco.

Rosa Mexicano offers both indoor and outdoor seating, with a stunning chandelier hanging over the main dining area inside. This is an exciting and reliable place to take your family when you are craving tableside dips and chips, and delicious main Mexican dishes. 

If you have family visiting you near the University City campus, Daphne van der Molen ’23 and Jacy Lieberum ’23 suggest the following options.

Clarkville Pizza

4301 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia

Renata’s Kitchen

3940 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia

Copabanana

4000 Spruce St., Philadelphia

Greek Lady

222 S. 40th St., Philadelphia