Good and plenty

There are loads of late-night eating joints

by Alicia Bessette

Late-night eating excursions are a fact of college life. Whether you've lived here all your life or are still trying to get a lay of the land, here's a partial rundown of some of the more popular late-night eating spots you might come across. As you'll soon learn, college is about trying new things. So happy roaming, and eating.

Sahara Cafe & Restaurant, 143 Highland Street. Friday and Saturday until 11:30 p.m., Sunday until 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday until 10 p.m.

As far as atmosphere is concerned, it doesn't get much better than Sahara. The roomy restaurant, outfitted with big tables and chairs, offers its eclectic clientele an airy, almost Parisian street-cafe feel. Service is friendly and fast. It's a perfect place to take a date or for a crowd.

By virtue of its Middle Eastern menu, Sahara has lots of vegetarian entrees such as potato kibbe, humus, lentil soup, and grape leaves. You can eat plenty for $7 to $13. The restaurant serves hot and cold appetizers from $3 to $6, and side orders cost even less. Plus, Sahara has your basic sandwich and sub offerings and an extensive dessert and baked-goods menu. After you dine, treat yourself to some baklava and a big bowl of strong, hot coffee.

There's a small parking lot behind the restaurant, in addition to street parking in front.

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Food for thought

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Caffe Dolce, 154 Shrewsbury Street.

Friday and Saturday until 1 a.m. and Sunday through Thursday until midnight.

Cozy and dimly lit, Caffe Dolce is a late-night destination for coffee and dessert seekers. The Dolce is more or less a young person's place. The atmosphere is high-class but not highbrow, elegant but not unfriendly. You won't feel underdressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. And even though you won't go there for an entire meal, plan to stay at least an hour -- the Dolce seems to nurture long conversations.

The cafe offers at least 10 specialty cakes a night, in addition to its regular dessert menu, which is quite extensive. Dessert prices range from $2.25 to $3.95.

In addition to basic coffees and teas, the cafe serves exotic coffees such as Ethiopian Yrgasheffe and teas like Moroccan Mint and Chai. For cold beverages, choose from an assortment of Italian beer, wine, liquor, and soda. Although we don't know why (but think it's cool), the Dolce's alcoholic coffees are named after Worcester streets. The Cafe Lyon, for example, is a yummy concoction of coffee and white and dark creme de cocoa. Street parking only.

Angela's, 257 Park Avenue. Friday and Saturday until 11:30 a.m. and Sunday through Thursday until 10:30 p.m.

Promoted as Worcester's answer to Boston's North End, Angela's can boast the most filling and cheesiest pizza in Worcester. The restaurant's eggplant parmigiana puts the fussiest of Italian grandmothers to shame. The food portions are enormous, so a late-night eat at Angela's results in a few days' worth of re-heated meals.

Angela's has universal appeal, thanks to its great and relatively cheap food, so expect to see many college students in addition to an older crowd. It's a dark, small, and usually noisy place, comfortable and fun, too. The service is not rushed. But on a weekend a 10- to 15-minute wait is common.

And prepare yourself for the famous fried dough served as an appetizer. It's almost like eating a doughnut before dinner. Angela's Italian menu includes basics such as manicotti and ravioli and also some creative entrees with interesting meat and vegetable combinations. Angela's offers traditional Italian desserts like Tira Misu, Italian ice, and cannoli. If you have room, that is.

There's a small parking lot in front and nearby street parking.

Boulevard Diner, 155 Shrewsbury Street. Thursday through Saturday until 3 a.m., closed Sundays, Monday through Wednesday until 1 a.m.

If you're in the mood for meeting some intriguing characters over a plate of greasy, delicious, late-night grilled cheese, the Boulevard is the only diner for you. Decorated with laminated newspaper clippings which sing its praises, the historic Boulevard features ample street parking, diner prices, and an abbreviated diner menu. If you can get over the booths, which are about as comfortable as Calvinist church pews, the Boulevard is a great late-night destination for any small group. (Long-haired patrons should be wary of those high-backed, wooden booths that rip your hair out strand by strand, if you can't break the habit of resting your head on them.) Remember, the later you go, the more interesting your late-night eat will be -- the best freaks in Worcester come out late. Also, I recommend you use the bathroom before you leave campus -- or hold it. Unless you're daring and curious enough to use theirs.

O'Connor's Restaurant and Bar, 1160 West Boylston Street. Friday and Saturday until midnight, closed Sundays, Monday through Thursday until 10 p.m.

A longtime Worcester favorite on the West Boylston line, O'Connor's is the best place to find Irish food, music, and decor. And even if you've not a lick o' Irish in you, it's still a fun place to dine.

The menu extends beyond Irish-American favorites like shepherd's pie and corned beef and cabbage to include entrees such as lamb stew, scrod, cranberry chicken breasts, fish and chips, and meat-and-potato variations. Entree prices range from $8 to $12 and are worth every penny. Nightly, there are lots of specials like Cajun catfish and jumbalaya shrimp. The appetizer menu is extensive, running from $3 to $7, and include blooming onions, Irish egg rolls, humus, nachos, chili, and snake bites. In addition, O'Connor's has a basic salad, burger, sandwich, and soup selection, plus many different beers and desserts. (But vegetarians beware -- despite the huge menu, there are very few choices for you.) So, if you're in the mood to spend some money (but not too much) and drive somewhat out of the way (but not too far), O'Connor's is a good choice. Ample parking available.

The Boynton, 117 Highland Street. Monday through Saturday until 10 p.m.

If you go to WPI, you will meet the Boynton. It's a Worcester phenomenon. The menu is like a diner menu, although the restaurant is not a diner. Appetizers range from $2.99 to $5.99 and include blooming onions, nachos, fried mozzarella, shrimp cocktail, and the famous Boynton Munchie Platter. The gourmet pizzas are always a safe bet. You can get deluxe burgers for $5, seafood for under $12, beef and veal for less than $13, and pasta entrees like corfu and pesto for $7. The food is pretty tasty and served big and hot. Patrons can enjoy the bar or the restaurant.

Like O'Connor's, the Boynton is always crowded, mostly with WPI students, who are better off walking, because parking can be a hassle.

Barber's Crossing, 325 West Boylston Street. Monday through Saturday until 1:30 a.m. and Sundays until 12:30 a.m.

College students underestimate the jewel that is Barber's Crossing. Although the restaurant boasts of family dining, it is a great late-night destination for college students, thanks to its huge menu, generous portions, and affordable prices. Sections include appetizers from $2.50 to $6, burgers cost $5, beef entrees for less than $10, seafood, and chicken entrees cost less than $8. Plus, Barber's Crossing offers dozens of sandwiches, including French dips, hot dogs, Cajun chicken, roast beef, and clam rolls. Desserts are huge, and there are plenty to choose from. Parking available.

Ciao Bella, 402 Grove Street. Daily until 10 p.m.

Although Ciao Bella is not a big college hangout, it should be because of its moderate prices and huge portions. Like Angela's, one meal at Ciao Bella will feed you for days.

The menu includes chicken and pasta dishes, plenty of syrian roll-ups for about $6, salads, pizza, calzone, grinders and seafood for less than $10. Vegetarians would do well here. And, Ciao Bella delivers. Parking available.

Brew City, 104 Shrewsbury Street. Friday and Saturday until 1:30 a.m. and Sunday through Thursday until 12:30 a.m.

Brew City is an upscale pub and brewery with a twenty- to thirtysomething crowd and a sports-bar feel. East Side Mario's attempt at a faux-factory, industrial city look is tacky; Brew City tried for the same and succeeded. Factory lighting, exposed pipes and bricks, fake skylines, street signs, black floors and tabletops, and a tin ceiling make for a funky, metropolitan atmosphere.

A bit too pricey to be a regular hangout, Brew City is a good late-night eatery for a special occasion. Sandwiches, appetizers, and salads run from $5 to $9. Entrees -- including seafood, pasta, beef, and chicken -- are mostly more than $10. The food is delicious. Parking is ample.