Let’s be honest, sometimes you don’t end up thinking about dinner until after 9 p.m. Whether it be a night class or an absolute need to finish the episode of the show you were watching, time management can’t always save us, and we inevitably scrounge for dinner options in a town where everything seems to close at 8 p.m..
Maybe you’ve spent your weekly dining dollars on venti coffees at the Daily Grind, or don’t want to feel as if you are living in the Mainfare building. Microwave ramen and mac and cheese cups can only be charming for so long. If you want to take a break from URI sanctioned food or eat a meal that doesn’t cost 99¢, the Emporium at the top of campus is the best place to go.
If you’re a student at URI, you probably already know what the Emporium is. Even if you’ve never eaten at any of the restaurants, you’ve probably been in the CVS to buy tissues and cold medicine during your freshman flu. There are a few food options that stay open late. All the following restaurants are open until at least midnight.
The Rhode House is a fusion of Dominican and traditional American “fast food” that is open until midnight (1 a.m. from Thursday-Saturday). You can get a calzone, and a side of empanadas if that’s what you’re feeling. A lot of the traditional American cuisine is pretty basic in flavor, though. If you’re looking for Dominican specialities, this is where the Rhode House shines. They have a deal for three pretty sizable empanadas for $8. The fried plantains are also delicious, and a great choice if you’ve been consuming beverages that perhaps look like water, but aren’t. The milkshakes are thick and not too sweet, there are your basic flavors along with Nutella, peanut butter, passion fruit and so many more. The downside of the Rhode House? It’s pretty pricey, and get ready to wait awhile if you order in person. Ordering online can cut down on wait time, but people, including myself, have waited up to 40 minutes in the past for pretty basic orders. Dominican food can only be found at Rhode House, so if that’s what you’re looking for, go there.
Subway isn’t hard to imagine, part of the beauty of it is that it’s the same wherever you go. The Emporium Subway is no different, simply walk in and order the sandwich you created when you were 10 and have gotten every time since. Open until midnight, Subway is always an option; the sandwich-building options are standard and the chip variety is sizable. This particular location also has two of the cool soda machines that let you add different syrups and flavors to your beverage of choice. It’s nothing groundbreaking or different, but Subway sandwich bread that is technically classified as “cake” can’t possibly taste bad in the middle of the night.
IZone has been a fan favorite for late night dinner for several years. Open seven days a week until midnight everyday makes it a pretty foolproof option. Like the Rhode House, IZone serves calzones and strombolis. IZone is typically the top choice for calzones over the Rhode House, though. They also offer pizza, wings, burgers, quesadillas and pasta dishes (which come with free garlic bread!). The calzones and strombolis are pretty sizable, so they’re a great option if you’re looking to stretch one item over a few meals. Fast service and friendly staff make IZone a consistent top choice for URI students.
Now that dinner has been taken care of, what’s for dessert? We’re lucky enough at URI to have Insomnia Cookies in the Emporium! Open until midnight (1 a.m. Thursday-Saturday) every night, Insomnia can always guarantee a sweet treat when your late-night sweet tooth kicks in. There are tons of cookie options to choose from, and they are often served warmed, which is especially delicious if you get a chocolate based one. If you’re looking for something more cooling, Insomnia also has ice cream, better yet, combine the two and have an ice cream cookie sandwich. It’s definitely on the pricier side, but is a nice treat once in a while. Insomnia is consistently great, and you can never go wrong with eating a cookie and walking around campus when it’s dead.
Even though Kingston is a bit of a food desert, there are options! It can be really hard to live on campus without consistent access to transportation, especially late at night. Sometimes dining hall food feels imprisoning, but these late night restaurants offer quality meals after you spend the entire night in the 24-hour room in the library. Whether or not you’re craving a calzone or a toston, the Emporium has got you covered.