Nicole Elsasser

 

Attending the Canadian university rated number one for its on-campus food offerings comes hand-in-hand with the temptation to eat on campus for every meal of every day. While this may be convenient and economical, it would also be a crying shame. Guelph’s downtown offers a lot of really great foods so, if you can, treat yourself to a night out every so often.

Don’t miss: The Guelph Farmer’s Market

If you’re going to leave campus for any taste of downtown Guelph, go to the farmer’s market. It’s only open from seven until 12 on Saturday mornings but it is well worth crawling out of bed for. Aside from the traditional produce and farmer’s market offerings, you can find Hungarian sausages, freshly baked breads, butchered meats, Taiwanese dumplings, Montreal-style bagels, cinnamon sugar donuts and so much more. Bring cash and a backpack with a lot of room and have a field day.

Street food with a twist: Salsateria

What they lack in seating, they make up for in amazing street food at Saltateria. The food offerings are called ‘rebel food’ by the establishment itself and are classified as Mexican by others but is much more than that. The menu is small but every item on it is tasty and inexpensive.

Great coffee: Planet Bean

While you can get Planet Bean coffee at the Bullring on campus, it’s nice to have a cup of what is often called the best coffee in Guelph from the source. The café has plenty of seating if you want to have your coffee to stay and they offer a collection of amazing baked goods to enjoy as well.

Bistro sit-down fare: Artisanale Café and Bistro

If a great meal of carefully prepared French food is something you seek (and you’re willing to pay a little more money to get it) Artisanale is a great place to look. The bistro is fairly elegant so make sure to behave accordingly. This being said, with a strong local focus, there is something humble and grounded about its menu offerings as well. If you’re not sure about having a meal, they also have a café with the traditional offerings.

 

The best kept secret: The Woolwich Arrow

Honestly, it was hard for to share this one with the incoming students. And for doing so, I could pay dearly. The locals and upper year students love this converted house turned restaurant and pub for its amazing food and stellar bar list with a strong local focus. Seating is in demand so if you visit the pub in a large group, be prepared not to sit together. If you’re into beer beyond the standard brands, the offerings here will really float your boat. Go. Now. But be aware that this pub has a mature crowd, so if you’re looking to get drunk and rowdy, this isn’t the place for you.

All-you-can-eat: Fuji sushi

While it’s most likely not the most authentic sushi you’ll have had, Fuji sushi’s all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner allow you to try a lot of different Japanese dishes without having to commit to one. There is no shortage of all-you-can-eat sushi places in Guelph but ordering is made easy here. Just make sure to go with a large group because you pay for what you don’t eat.

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