Local restaurants worth a visit this semester

While many university students have options upon options for food within walking distance from their housing, those of us at SVSU are not so lucky. If you find yourself eating on campus or in one of the restaurants on Pierce Road more often than you want to, here are some spots to try.  

Taste of Punjab, 4070 Bay Rd 

If you’re feeling Indian food, Taste of Punjab is a solid choice. Tucked away in a strip mall on Bay Road, the restaurant has been serving Saginaw residents since 2015. They’ve got just about every staple Indian dish one might expect, and it has yet to disappoint me. If you’re looking for takeout for two, one entrée with sides is a solid deal always worth consideration. 

I normally visit this with family and friends to share entrees, but I’ll always make sure there’s some naan and chicken jal frezi for the table if I can help it. 

Rio Luna Tacos and Tequila, 4570 Bay Rd 

Rio Luna is a Mexican restaurant and bar just off Bay Road. If you’re of age and looking for drinks over some authentic Mexican cuisine, it’s a place worth giving a shot. Just be sure to watch your wallet, especially if you’re ordering drinks. 

If I’m out with friends, some carne asada and chorizo street tacos and a house margarita are enough to make my night.  

Sips 476, 6235 Gratiot Road 

If you commute from Saginaw Township or are up for a little drive, Sips might be your new favorite spot for coffee. Between the chill, quiet interior, solid drinks, and bakery next door, it’s just about the only place I go out to study at. For those of us who like some caffeine while we study or work, there isn’t another place like it in Saginaw. 

If I’m there to study and need a quick eat, I’ll order an egg and sausage croissant and an Americano, and eventually walk over to the bakery across the building and get something sweet. 

Miles Market, 6235 Gratiot Road 

In the very same building as Sips is Miles Market, a bakery, bar, and sit-down restaurant rolled into one. The business began as a bakery and has slowly added new menu items since. They’re well known for their breakfast, but they’ve just implemented a small but solid dinner menu as well. With a bar in-house and a coffee shop just down the hallway, chances are they’ll have just what you’re looking for.