Las Olas
A cult-classic of sorts, Las Olas is the best place in town to grab a bite of burritos, tacos, quesadillas or any other popular Mexican food. Las Olas, which Exonian abbreviate simply to “LasO,” is a great place to go with your new group of friends and only a short walk through the center of town. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. every day until 8:30 p.m. on Sundays and 9 p.m. every other day of the week. Food is prepared right in front of you as you make your way down the line, picking and choosing from ingredients to put together your food just the way you like it. The inside of the restaurant has ample seating space for large or small parties, or you could walk along the well-visited Swasey Parkway.
Me & Ollie’s
One of two ever-popular Exonian coffee hangouts in town, Me & Ollie’s is the perfect place if you want a snack with your drink. If you can look past the grammar on the sign, you’ll find a comfortable, work-friendly environment with a multitude of drink and food options from which to choose. Even better, you’re likely to bump into an Exeter friend or make a new one; Me & Ollie’s is constantly full of Exeter students in their spare time. Store hours Monday through Saturday are 6:30 a.m. (good for a breakfast bite) through 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, the store opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. Me & Ollie’s is conveniently located next to the town center, which sometimes hosts live music performances.
Capital Thai
Looking for something a little more upscale? Recently opened Capital Thai serves fantastic noodle bowls with your choice of meat in a well-designed setting. In addition to a variety of much-beloved bubble teas, the hearty food is sure to please at the end of a long school day or break for lunch. It is open every weekday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and weekends from 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Szechuan Taste
Szechuan Taste is the premier spot for Chinese food in Exeter. An unassuming exterior gives way to a spacious inside with plenty of seating space for parties of any size. The menu has all the classics: General Tso’s chicken to Lo Mein numerous different ways. Fried noodle with sauce is served with tea before every meal, but don’t fill up too much before the main course. The restaurant’s lunch specials are very reasonable, and it’s a great place to share many different dishes. Szechuan Taste also has the advantage of being open later than most other places in town, great for a later dinner. Hours of operation begin at 11:30 a.m. every day until 10 p.m. every day but Friday and Saturday, when closing time is extended to 11 p.m.
D^2
D^2 is a great little coffee shop in town where many students go to burn through some of their work. Coffee plays a central role in the lives of most Exonians, and D^2 keeps the students body caffeinated enough to be productive. The coffee shop also regularly hosts open mic nights and always has a guitar available for the musically inclined. D^2, along with being a refuge for small groups of students, seems to act as a catalyst for people’s Instagrams and Snapchat stories. Operating hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day but Sunday, when it opens from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Green Bean
If there’s one place not to pass up, it’s Green Bean. The friendly sandwich shop caters to a stream of Exeter students all week long. It’s often the first suggestion for a place to eat whenever the question is raised and makes for a great meal any time of day. Green Bean is also one of the few restaurants with outdoor seating, perfect for warm summer days in town. Their sandwiches range from classic BLT or turkey to mouth-watering creations like the Thanksgiving specialty with turkey, cranberry and stuffing all packed inside your choice of bread. Operating hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. all week.
Lexie’s Test Kitchen
Just now in a new location, the popular burger joint Lexie’s services Exonians at it’s sit-down eatery as well as a burger bus food truck. Lexie’s delivers burgers like “The Farmhouse” (full of cheddar, bacon, fried egg, avocado, tomato, onion, lettuce and herbed aioli) to a variety of specialty fries (bistro fries with bacon and parmesan to truffle fries) to “Lexie’s Libations,” which includes drinks from milkshakes to lemonades and more. The restaurant opens every day at 11:30 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. The perfectly apportioned food makes Lexie’s a great choice for any lunch or dinner in town. Peace. Love. Burger.