By Madeline Crowley and Lily Bourne
Located only 2 miles from Westmont lies the shopping center we all know as Westgate! Close by and convenient, Madeline Crowley and Lily Bourne love to dine at the many delicious places at and around Westgate. Since there are so many restaurants, we have just chosen our favorites and go-tos to review in hopes that you are inspired to try them out! The price will be rated as cheap ($), medium ($$), or expensive ($$$), while taste and environment will be rated from 1 to 5.
- Popeyes
Price: $
Taste: 4/5
Environment: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Popeyes provides a quick, easy stop after a long day of playing out on the softball fields or working hard on some ASB projects. Cheap prices and quick turnaround time make this an automatic favorite for other Westmont students; Eleanor Rodhouse and Regan Steele being two avid fans. However, their food sometimes leads to a rather unfortunate stomach situation, and the tables are often covered with leftover napkins and other people’s crumbs. The restaurant is also very small, causing a lack of private seating when enjoying a meal.
- Chipotle
Price: $$
Taste: 4/5
Environment: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
A fan favorite, Chipotle is probably our most visited restaurant on this list. It provides a wide selection of choices, ranging from bowls to burritos to tacos. It also offers probably the best seating arrangement out of all of the options, with its iconic round booth able to fit a record of 10 people at once! Truly, there are few bad things to say about Chipotle other than that the quality and quantity of the food you receive varies depending on the people working that day.
- Super Duper Burger
Price: $$
Taste: 4/5
Environment: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Super Duper is one of two popular burger places in the Westgate area. It provides delicious burgers, with a veggie burger option as well. It also has four flavors of milkshakes and some amazing fries! The tables are pretty standard, but it does sport a foosball table which provides some good entertainment while waiting for food!
- Five Guys
Price: $$$
Taste: 5/5
Environment: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Another burger joint in the area, Five Guys boasts slightly higher quality products, but for a higher price. While you might be tricked into accidentally purchasing a two-patty burger the first time you’re there (we stick to the “mini” burgers), the extra cash is definitely worth it for a deliciously juicy, cheesy meal. Their fries are also notoriously amazing, and they often completely overfill the cup, leaving plenty to share! The general environment is also pretty standard, but they have free peanuts for anyone in need of a quick snack while they wait.
- Rojoz Wraps
Price: $$
Taste: 5/5
Environment: 3/5
Overall: 5/5
A new favorite in our repertoire, Rojoz Wraps is located across the street near the McDonalds. It obviously sells wraps, but also offers quesadillas and most importantly, smoothies! The food is delicious and the smoothies are extremely refreshing (we recommend the mango flavor). The tables are similar to other restaurants in the area, and the wait time heavily depends on how busy they are. This restaurant is the perfect summer spot, with great food and some amazing refreshments!
- La Cueva
Price: $
Taste: 5/5
Environment: 2/5
Overall: 4.5/5
If you are looking for a new go-to Mexican restaurant this is the place! It is located across the street from Mod Pizza, near See’s Candies. You can get anything from tacos to tortas, along with their amazing agua frescas. Their food is just simply amazing and you need to try it! The only downside to La Cueva is that their restaurant is pretty small and usually crowded. That’s why I recommend ordering to go and eating somewhere of your choice!
- Omee J
Price: $$$
Taste: 5/5
Environment: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Omee J recently opened in the Westgate area and has some amazing options to choose from. Much like other poke places, Omee J offers a wide range of toppings and proteins, which work together to create a healthy, delicious meal. We highly recommend their chicken and tofu options if you aren’t a big fan of fish, as they are grilled with some great flavor. Although the prices might be a little steep (around $20 for a bowl), the portions are huge and the employees are very generous with their spoonfuls!
- Boudin Bakery
Price: $$
Taste: 5/5
Environment: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Boudin has always been a source of my comfort meals! Located next to Tomatina, as you walk into the restaurant you will notice a large selection of delicious fresh baked breads, most notably their San Francisco sourdough. There are often creative loaves for sale resembling different animals with raisins stuck in the face to look like eyes. Boudin serves amazing soups, bread, and unique sandwiches, comparable to Panera Bread.
- Tomatina
Price: $$$
Taste: 5/5
Environment: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Tomatina is a great Italian restaurant! They always have excellent service and have seating options for both inside and outside. Their outside option has nice heaters as well as shades to block the sun. The menu at Tomatina has many mouthwatering options but they are well known for their piadines and delectable pizza crusts! Madeline’s personal favorite being the salmon piadine!
- Mod Pizza
Price: $$
Taste: 5/5
Environment: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Mod Pizza is the perfect place to eat if you are hoping to get your meal quickly! The best thing about Mod is that there are so many ways to customize your meal. With a huge selection of toppings, different sizes, sauces, and even crust thicknesses, you can come up with new pizza combinations without getting judged for your weird cravings. If you go to Mod make sure to order one of their no name cakes (Lily’s favorite) and a lemonade preferably the blackberry flavor (Madeline’s favorite).
- Jack’s Restaurant and Bar
Price: $$
Taste: 4/5
Environment: 5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
With large breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus Jack’s has such a diverse range of cuisines on the menu! From nachos, to calamari and seafood, and steak and mashed potatoes, they’ve got everything to satisfy your family’s different cravings. Madeline’s personal favorite, the bananas foster french toast on the breakfast menu, does not disappoint! The welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant and huge seating area, for both inside and outside dining are what make the restaurant top-notch. Out of the many different restaurants that have moved in and out of the building that Jack’s inhabits, across from Party City, Jack’s is by far the best!