Miranda Flack and Cait Buckalew, Campus Carrier Entertainment Editor and Asst. Entertainment Editor
Several new restaurants that students would enjoy opened in Rome this summer, including The Sweetbar, Cookout, Jimmy John’s and Ichiban.
The Sweetbar, formerly Hana’s Bakery, reopened under new management in late July at 1874 Spider Webb Drive. The smell of baking overtakes you the second you walk in the door, and the quality of the food will not disappoint. They serve a variety of baked goods including donuts, cupcakes, banana pudding and assorted cakes. The shop is carryout, with only one table and two chairs on its patio. It’s a great place to grab a breakfast donut or some dessert. While the bakery is a little difficult to find because it hides behind the Advance Auto Parts on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, it is well worth the drive.The Sweetbar’s hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
In late May a new restaurant, Cook Out, opened a short drive away at 808 Martha Berry Blvd, serving traditional “cookout” style foods in a fast food setting.
Cook Out has quickly become a regular stop on many Berry students’ late night fast food runs, but it’s great for a quick meal with your visiting family as well. The restaurant has a unique mountain cabin feel with a small ordering counter and friendly, helpful staff. The menu includes your typical “cookout” style foods such as hot dogs, burgers, French fries, barbeque and chicken. The food is tasty and won’t break your wallet. With most of the menu items below $5, it’s a great place to take a large group. Perhaps the most unique part of Cook Out, however, is its milkshake menu. The shake menu includes 40 flavors including your average vanilla, chocolate and strawberry while branching out into some more adventurous flavors like peach cobbler, orange push-up and banana berry.
A new Jimmy John’s opened this summer 1.5 miles from Berry at 487 Turner McCall Blvd. Northeast. Offering 8-inch subs and other sandwiches, Jimmy John’s can be compared to Subway. However, it has some clear advantages over Subway that appeal to college students. You can visit their website and order subs the same way you order pizza. Jimmy John’s website allows you to order customized sandwiches as well as chips and drinks. They even have cookies and pickles you can order as sides. In addition, Jimmy John’s offers a wider variety of sandwiches than Subway. For those not interested in a typical sub, they also have club sandwiches. For those concerned with environmental impact, Jimmy Johns is a self-proclaimed eco-friendly business. They use local produce as well as certified green paper and towel companies, according to their website. It is a great casual spot or delivery service with low prices that students can take advantage of when they want something besides pizza.
Ichiban, a Japanese steakhouse and dine-in sushi restaurant, opened early this school year and is located right next to Jimmy John’s on Turner McCall Blvd. NE. Students may be familiar with other Japanese restaurants in the area, but Ichiban stands apart with its serene and beautiful atmosphere. Whether you are looking for a traditional hibachi experience with fire and flying knives or a calm dining experience complete with excellent sushi, Ichiban can deliver. The sushi is moderately priced, with two of the basic rolls (the salmon and cream cheese and the super crunch roll) coming in at a little over $10 each. They offer a wide variety of sushi rolls, ranging from the traditional rainbow roll and spicy tuna roll to some more eclectic options such as the Dirty Old Man Roll (crab meat, avocado, cucumber topped with various fresh fish, green onion, smelt roe and spicy mayonnaise) and the Rock ’N Roll (fried shrimp, cucumber topped with smoked salmon, tuna, red snapper, shrimp and avocado). The steakhouse options include filet mignon, calamari, chicken, shrimp, scallops, vegetables, lobster and various combinations of these ingredients. Each meal includes a shrimp appetizer, vegetables, salad, soup, steamed or fried rice and ice cream. They also offer a takeout menu, and more details can be found on their website. Their hours are: Mon-Thurs 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m., Saturday 4:30-10:30 p.m., Sunday 12:00 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. Ichiban is perfect for a family dinner, a nice outing with friends or even a date.
Students should keep these restaurants in mind as they share the Rome experience with their families.