Greetings from
Best Breakfast
Press Coffee+Crepes
Charlotte Pfabe | New Member Coordinator
Photo by Charlotte Pfabe.
Photo by Charlotte Pfabe.
What started as an idea for a coffee shop transformed into a hotspot for the Graham community and Elon students. Located in downtown Graham, Press Coffee and Crepes is a popular breakfast spot for many Elon students. Press takes inspiration from European cafes and mixes in Carolina flavors to create a unique menu.
Jason Cox, the principal owner of the Monroe Companies which developed Press, said he and his partner Brett DeVries both traveled to Europe and decided to create a restaurant focused on crepes that were “European-inspired, Carolina-made.”
Opening in 2016, Press is known for its one-of-a-kind crepes and other menu items like the hash brown waffles. According to Cox, he enjoys seeing all types of people across generations come into the cafe and try the unique creations. He said he has seen Elon seniors bring new students to Press and pass along their traditions.
According to Cox, the most popular menu items at Press are the “Chick and the Pig” and “The Phoenix” which both sit under the Savory crepes category on their menu. “The Phoenix” is a nod to Elon’s mascot and is very popular among Elon students, Cox said.
Cox works on many “downtown revitalization” projects, bringing businesses into towns in the hopes of building up the community.
“We jokingly referred to Press as a downtown revitalization project disguised as a business,” Cox said. “The origin of it was very much about creating a center of activity there in downtown Graham.”
Graham’s population sits just above 17,000 people, and Cox said he enjoys watching the different members of the local community —Graham natives, local residents and Elon students — coming together in one place.
“You’ve got this true pollination of all these people that make up Alamance county,” Cox said.
Greetings from
Best Late Night
CookOut
Lilly Molina | News Director
Cookout, a fast food chain spanning 10 southern states, was voted best late night food for the fourth year in a row. Cookout is open until 3 a.m., making it one of the few late night options for students. Cookout is known for its expansive and cheap menu. Any combo tray sold will come out to be close to $10, one of the reasons the chain is popular among college students.
Elon University freshman Taehlyn Martin grew up in North Carolina, making Cookout a familiar option for her. She said she loves to take her friends from out of state there and see their initial reaction to the delicious food.
“I think Elon students love it because of how inexpensive it is compared to other fast food chains,” Martin said, “There is also a variety of comfort food to choose from.”
Martin said her go-to order is a double cheeseburger with cheese bites and sweet tea. Sometimes, Martin said she will treat herself to an Oreo milkshake — one of the chain’s 40 milkshakes. Initially, Martin said that she did not like Cookout until one of her friends introduced her to its cheese bites.
Now, she said she found a new love for the fast-food chain after all the memories she has made there.
Greetings from
Best Coffee
Biggby Coffee
Audrey Geib | Elon News Network
Located about 10 minutes from Elon’s campus, Biggby Coffee is a popular study and coffee break spot. Sophomore Viluzmar Castellanos discovered Biggby Coffee earlier this year after a friend recommended that she try its wide variety of drinks, specifically the Red Bull mocktails.
“I’m so used to going places where they have just coffee, but Biggby offers more than just coffee,” Castellanos said.
Biggby Coffee partners with Elon University as one of the university’s merchant partners and accepts Phoenix Cash as a form of student payment. Castellanos was impressed by the variety of drinks and the convenience of the prices offered at Biggby.
“The coffee is really good, and it has the best prices, in my opinion,” Castellanos said.
Castellanos was happy to hear that Biggby won best coffee because it is one of her favorite spots, primarily because of the atmosphere inside the store and the friendliness of the staff.
“They have really good music and really good seating arrangements,” Castellanos said. “It’s very friendly and open to students who just want to sit inside and study.”
Castellanos recommends that students who have yet to try Biggby and want to explore more of what the area surrounding Elon offers should go.
“If anyone wants to leave campus just to go out and explore new places to drink or eat, I think it would be a good start,” Castellanos said.
Greetings from
Best Sweet Treat
Andy's Frozen Custard
Max Wallace | Elon News Network
Located about 10 minutes from Elon’s campus, Biggby Coffee is a popular study and coffee break spot. Sophomore Viluzmar Castellanos discovered Biggby Coffee earlier this year after a friend recommended that she try its wide variety of drinks, specifically the Red Bull mocktails.
“I’m so used to going places where they have just coffee, but Biggby offers more than just coffee,” Castellanos said.
Biggby Coffee partners with Elon University as one of the university’s merchant partners and accepts Phoenix Cash as a form of student payment. Castellanos was impressed by the variety of drinks and the convenience of the prices offered at Biggby.
“The coffee is really good, and it has the best prices, in my opinion,” Castellanos said.
Castellanos was happy to hear that Biggby won best coffee because it is one of her favorite spots, primarily because of the atmosphere inside the store and the friendliness of the staff.
“They have really good music and really good seating arrangements,” Castellanos said. “It’s very friendly and open to students who just want to sit inside and study.”
Castellanos recommends that students who have yet to try Biggby and want to explore more of what the area surrounding Elon offers should go.
“If anyone wants to leave campus just to go out and explore new places to drink or eat, I think it would be a good start,” Castellanos said.
Greetings from
Best Bar
The Fat Frogg
Caitlyn Bishop | Elon News Network
Photo by Erin Martin.
Photo by Erin Martin.
From a casual Trivia Tuesday to the endless wild Saturday nights, The Fat Frogg — also known as Froggs — remains the most beloved bar among Elon’s social scene, according to the results of the “Best of” survey. Although at the edge of campus, Froggs is frequented by Elon students.
What sets The Fat Frogg apart is not only its great variety of drinks and food, but also its commitment to authenticity and genuine connections, according to Manager Jamie Liberg.
Liberg said the staff was honored and ecstatic to win best bar, attributing their win to their homey atmosphere.
“We're a bit less corporate and more real with everybody,” Liberg said. “Everybody here has their own personality, and a lot of people treat us like we're actual people, instead of just somebody serving them at the bar."
Liberg said her favorite aspect of The Fat Frogg is the working environment that their wonderful staff has created and described it as being, "very relaxed, but still professional.”
“It’s more like a family, we are all genuinely like a family,” Liberg said.
From the massive dance floor always open for an energy filled night, to their grand stage that houses some of Alamance’s best musical talent, Frogg’s has created a space where students can unwind and connect with one another after a week’s worth of hard work, according to Liberg.
Greetings from
Best Pizza
Pandora's Pies
Nia Bedard | Elon News Network
Since February 2012, Pandora’s Pies has been a vibrant part of downtown Elon, serving classic and specialty pizzas. Owner Kimberly Holt credits the success to the restaurant preparing everything fresh using ingredients from local farms, such as Hillsborough Cheese Co. and Red Bud Farms.
“Most of our stuff is made from scratch,” Holt said. “Our dough, our bread, all of our sauces, we try to be as farm to table as possible.”
Holt also emphasized how important supporting other local North Carolina businesses is to Pandora’s Pies.
“My philosophy is if I don’t support local business than who will,” Holt said. “The more you support the more I think it just really helps in the community.”
Holt’s philosophy when it comes to locally sourcing ingredients has even had an impact on the beer sold at Pandora’s Pies. The restaurant rotates its draft beer selection every month.
“All of our draft beers are always based in North Carolina,” Holt said.
Aside from all of the success they are experiencing now, Holt said she is also looking forward to future events sponsored by the restaurant.
“Once the plaza opens up in the springtime that will be really good for us,” Holt said. “We’ve got some things in the works once they start doing music again, so stay tuned for that.”
Greetings from
Best Food Truck
Chirba Chirba Dumplings
Emilio Nunez | Elon News Network
Students in Elon University voted the Chirba Chirba Dumplings as the best food truck that serves in the community. The truck has been active on Elon campuses since 2015, and has continued to remain a popular place for students to try freshly made Chinese styled food made from quality ingredients.
The food truck started in 2011 when owner Nate Adams found inspiration through the food he found overseas, including living in Taiwan for 14 years. According to the about section of the Chirba Chirba website, his idea of comfort food was much different than his friends in the U.S. and felt, “there simply weren’t that many options for authentic dumplings goodness.”
Chirba Chirba, which according to the website means “Eat! Eat!” in Mandarin, aims to create authentic Chinese style dumplings, side dishes and other meals inspired by their team that travels around the world. “The expression embodies a very warm and hospitable feeling,” the website writes, “especially to a friend or a guest.”
As their business has continued to grow, they have now expanded to two trucks and even a planned restaurant for the future. Their trucks are available for catering across multiple different events and began working with Elon for every “Food Truck Frenzy” event. They serve dumplings, noodles and dipping sauces for their events.
Chirba Chirba Dumplings team did not respond to Elon News Network’s requests for comment.
Greetings from
Best Vegan & Vegetarian Food
The Root Trackside
Nia Bedard | Elon News Network
Photo by Nia Bedard.
Photo by Nia Bedard.
The Root Trackside, located in the heart of downtown Elon, has been a staple of Elon’s community since July 2011.
After winning best burger last fall, the Root Trackside shows that they have a wide variety of options for people of all diets or dietary needs as the winners of best vegetarian and vegan food.
On their year-round menu of 38 items, 42% of their menu is vegetarian and/or vegan, including a black bean quinoa burger, spicy fried cauliflower and a vegan “chick-un salad” made from chickpeas. While at least 25% of the menu is vegetarian or vegan at every restaurant in downtown Elon, the Root Trackside has the highest percentage of vegetarian and vegan items.
In addition to their vegetarian and vegan dishes, any of their “Big Bowl Salads” and “Between Two Buns” options can include their house-made black bean quinoa burger or a vegetarian “chik’n patty.”
Aside from the vegetarian and vegan items, the Root Trackside also includes gluten-free items and substitutions for people of all different diets to enjoy their food. The Root Trackside provides gluten-free substitutions for all their “Sammies” and “Between Two Buns.”
The large amount of vegetarian and vegan items available at the Root Trackside gives Elon students and locals who follow those diets more food options here at Elon.
Greetings from
Best Italian Food
Prego’s Trattoria
Avery Sloan | Managing Editor of The Pendulum
Albert Hernandez, owner of Prego’s Trattoria, hopes that when members of the Elon community go to his restaurant they can tell it is a small, family owned business. Hernandez said while close to 30% of his business are Elon students, parents and faculty, Prego’s has a close relationship with the university.
“We really appreciate Elon supporting us,” Hernandez said. “We love having everyone come dine with us and experience Prego’s, how we keep up the name for us.”
Hernandez also said his family, originally from New York City, helps to replicate the northern style of Italian food many Elon students may miss while attending school in North Carolina. Being a local, family owned restaurant is how Hernandez feels Prego’s differentiates itself. Hernandez said Prego’s has cultivated a close relationship with the university and knows many staff members and students personally.
Hernandez said for events such as graduation and Family Weekend, the entire restaurant is reserved for Elon students and families.
“That day is strictly for Elon and we just pretty much just take only Elon reservations,” Hernandez said. “We just dedicate ourselves just to the Elon students and families.”
Greetings from
Best Mexican Food
San Marcos
Abigail Hobbs | Elon News Network
For the fourth year in a row, San Marcos was voted best Mexican by the campus community.
Jose Hernandez, founder and owner of San Marcos, said he credits the restaurant’s quality food and great customer service for the repeated wins.
He said the restaurant stands out from other Mexican restaurants in the area.
“We actually do things a little bit different from the presentation, the quality of the food,” Hernandez said. “We try to create a good ambience for everybody — family and younger crowd and everybody.”
Hernandez grew up in the food service industry as his parents owned a diner, but he always desired starting something larger.
“It was just a dream to open up a full service restaurant,” Hernandez said. “And that's how it started — a family dream.”
The first San Marcos opened in October 2005 in Danville, Virginia, and grew into the six restaurants spanning across Virginia and North Carolina it is today.
Greetings from
Best Asian Food
Simply Thai
Ryan Kupperman | Managing Editor of elonnewsnetwork.com
This year Simply Thai was voted best Asian food. Though Bar Manager Brian Broxton is appreciative that the Elon University community enjoys Simply Thai’s food, he said he feels that there is not much competition for Asian food in the area.
“They've been here 15 years, so whatever they're doing is working,” Broxton said. “As an employee, I just try not to mess it up. I figure if you're able to get a couple of your own regulars, you're doing something right.”
Broxton has been working for Simply Thai for eight years. While he knows his regular customers on a first-name basis, Broxton said he doesn’t pay much thought to the people who don’t come in.
“You can’t try new food expecting to always like everything. … That’s just life,” Broxton said. “But it’s good food.”
Broxton said he eats at Simply Thai regularly and his favorite dish is the pad see ew duck.
For those interested in checking out the restaurant, or new to Thai food in general, Broxton recommended trying a pad thai, chicken or stir fry dish.
Greetings from
Best Off Campus Restaurant
Tangent Eat+Bar
Nia Bedard | Elon News Network
Photo by Nia Bedard.
Photo by Nia Bedard.
The Root Trackside, located in the heart of downtown Elon, has been a staple of Elon’s community since July 2011.
After winning best burger last fall, the Root Trackside shows that they have a wide variety of options for people of all diets or dietary needs as the winners of best vegetarian and vegan food.
On their year-round menu of 38 items, 42% of their menu is vegetarian and/or vegan, including a black bean quinoa burger, spicy fried cauliflower and a vegan “chick-un salad” made from chickpeas. While at least 25% of the menu is vegetarian or vegan at every restaurant in downtown Elon, the Root Trackside has the highest percentage of vegetarian and vegan items.
In addition to their vegetarian and vegan dishes, any of their “Big Bowl Salads” and “Between Two Buns” options can include their house-made black bean quinoa burger or a vegetarian “chik’n patty.”
Aside from the vegetarian and vegan items, the Root Trackside also includes gluten-free items and substitutions for people of all different diets to enjoy their food. The Root Trackside provides gluten-free substitutions for all their “Sammies” and “Between Two Buns.”
The large amount of vegetarian and vegan items available at the Root Trackside gives Elon students and locals who follow those diets more food options here at Elon.
Built with Shorthand