Students are always on the go. Fueling the academic motor of young minds takes one main ingredient—food. For reasonably priced, late-night culinary rest stops around the University of Pennsylvania, there are plenty of great options. To satisfy your late-night cravings, check out these great food spots around Philadelphia.
There’s something about a round doughy concoction with its variety of toppings that can cause the most studious person to take pause for a slice or two. Allegro located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is no different with its offering of great late-night items of pastas, burgers, sides, and pizza. Open until midnight Monday through Thursday and until 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, the pizzeria is a great place for study breaks, late-night dates, or a quick dinner pickup of pizza and salad. If you’re dining in, they have the best beer selection in the area, and they also have great catering discounts on quantity orders that include free two-liter bottles of soda. Allegro’s has been serving the area since 1982, and has its own ordering app, available at the App Store.
When thinking of food connected with the city of Philadelphia, what comes to mind more than the traditional cheesesteak? Walk into Abner’s with an emptying tummy tank and the owners will almost guarantee that you’ll leave firing on all flavorful cylinders. The fresh ingredients and breads have made Abner’s cheesesteaks and hoagies known throughout the region as a must stop destination for students and families. Stop in Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 12 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Just make sure you get plenty of napkins. Good food is not neat food.
Those looking for more of a sporty sit-down eatery should give Cavanaugh’s Restaurant a try. Cavanaugh’s is a traditional sports bar with burgers, crab cakes, salads, and a menu filled to the borders with a variety of culinary treasures. And while you’re there, you have to try some of the award-winning wings in mild, hot, hot and honey, third degree, barbecue, garlic parmesan, or tangy teriyaki. Happy Hour specials and daily discounts are available Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., and parking is free.
Burgers and fries have been a staple of college food since the beginning of time, and P’unk Burger carries on the tradition with an added allowance for BYOB. The restaurant, which is cash only, is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m., Fridays from 10 a.m. until midnight, Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 3 a.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The owners pride themselves on burgers from grass-fed cows, free of antibiotics, pesticides, and hormones. This might not be the fast food you’re used to, but it’s worth the wait.
New Deck Tavern offers a variety of menu items prepared with an Irish flare, and the portions are generous. Favorites include bangers and mash, Shepherd’s pie, and traditional fish and chips. The sports-themed eatery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. with American and European sports specials offered daily. The kitchen closes at 1 a.m. so make sure to get your order before then. Bring your friends and catch your favorite team while enjoying one of the bottled or draft beers.
Vernick Food & Drink is not a place to run in, grab a bite, and dash out. The restaurant serves an elegant eclectic menu that almost demands that the customer sits and enjoys it. Menu items include new American cuisine featuring small and large plate selections like grilled heart of romaine, figs, and cheddar, and has been recognized by numerous food magazines like Food & Wine and Bon Appetit. The restaurant has also earned the “Best Overall Restaurant” in Philadelphia with a four-star rating. Hours are Tuesday-Sunday 5 p.m.-11 p.m. for dinner and 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. for the bar.
Monk’s Café in downtown Philadelphia is considered an international example of Belgium cuisine. With a combined experience level of over 20 years, the owners pride themselves on having the best selection of on-tap beers (over 25) and more than 200 bottles of various wines that compliment your food choices. Winner of numerous awards like one of the “Best Restaurants in Philadelphia,” the full menu is served from 11:30 a.m. until 1 a.m. every day of the week.
Charlie may have been a sinner, but the small plate food the restaurant is known for is nothing but heavenly. Charlie Was a Sinner is known as a late-night favorite among local students who enjoy vegan snacks or specialties before heading back to the dorm. The accommodating hours of 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. are perfect for the course-heavy and active student, and Happy Hour occurs every Monday through Friday night. A word of advice—no one at the establishment will discuss Charlie, so don’t ask.
McGillin’s Olde Ale House is known for several things. During it’s nearly 160 years in existence, this Philadelphia legend has seen every president since Abe Lincoln inaugurated, survived the Civil War, and opened not long after the Liberty Bell cracked. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. daily. Fries, burgers, onion rings, and other traditional foods are offered with a variety of beer and spirits that have filled stomachs and brought smiles to patrons for decades.
Students looking for a late-night taste of Cantonese or a steaming dish of dim sum can stop in and enjoy the ambience of Dim Sum House in downtown Philly. With an inviting menu consisting of selections from the region of Jiang Nan in China, hungry diners can choose between pork soup dumplings, cold spicy kidney ceviche, black bean spare ribs, and chef specialties like ginger scallion steamed fish, pork belly with mustard greens, and Peking duck. The only problem you’ll have is deciding what to order. Open every day until 2 a.m.