Best Eats at Portland State University

This Summer Portland State University is renovating its kitchen on the first floor of Smith Hall. That could be for the best if they opt to bring back fresh sushi instead of those overdone chicken platters, and perhaps replace the six-dollar veggies plates with cheaper and local alternatives. But, there are other options on and around campus that can quench that collegiate appetite:

1) Food for Thought

Speaking of cheaper and local alternatives, this eatery in the basement of Cramer Hall caters to the green in all of us. Food for Thought prides itself on its integration of wholesome, organic foods that come from Oregon and Washington. Plates usually run from 3-5 bucks, and feature a different dish each day.

Pros:

It's cost effective and good for you. You can also donate to the Books for Prisoners, listen to live music, and enjoy the area's art gallery.

Cons:

Sometimes "wholesome" and "organic" translate into "tasteless" and "boring." Unfortunately, this is the case with Food for Thought. But that's why there's a healthy dose of Sirracha (a spicy red chile sauce) available.

2) Hot Lips Pizza

Another local favorite is Hot Lips Pizza just off the main campus on 6^th street. Local organic foods compliment the exquisite pizzas at the joint. Try the Veggie Nirvana with fresh roma tomatoes, kalamata olives and artichoke hearts. For the meat lover, there's the omnivore bliss with bacon, pepperoni and Italian sausage. Bonus: all plants and animals consumed got to enjoy their farm life.

Pros:

Eat a great pie and be a good human, cause as the Hot Lips website says, "We make every effort to buy our food from local farmers and food purveyors. Most of the farms are either certified organic or Food Alliance members."

Cons:

You will pay more for a healthy meal. Pizza slices and whole pies don't come as cheap as Pizza Hut, but you won't have to pay for heartburn medication a few hours later.

3) Cheerful Tortoise

A dive bar as happy as the name suggests, the Cheerful is the hot spot for college students in this district of downtown Portland. Live karaoke and irreverent bartenders make this a typical university joint, as does the PBR on tap.

Pros:

You can sing your soul out during karaoke nights and enjoy a cheap beer while you catch some live game highlights.

Cons:

Frat boys are frequent visitors and can get rowdy. And the food is sub-par; standard greasy bar fare.