Relive your undergrad days at this totally yuppified Columbia watering hole. Once a pit, it is now the place to get that perfect goat cheese something or other. It might make you nostalgic, it might make you sick. But what the hell, the fries are good and the nachos are cheap.

A summer only experience. Up the park from the Boat Basin, this café is all about just lying back and taking it easy. The food is simple, straightforward American fare. The views are nothing short of stellar.

High-end dining comes to the Columbia University area. This French/Belgian bistro offers fine versions of Breton classics such as mussels, snails and fennel sausage. There's also a terrific selection of imported beers.

This outpost of Ollie's has been dishing up cheap and quick Chinese for many years. Fast, good and cheap just the way the locals like it.

This unpretentious Greek place has been drawing them in since 18-year olds were legally allowed to order sangria. The food here is cheap and hearty. The crowd a mix of Columbia students, faculty and neighborhood locals. Exactly the same for decades, the hummus packs a helluva wallop.

Some come here for the pleasant roof deck, others for the basic eats. Burritos and burgers are the mainstays and many swear by (and from) the margaritas. Always a crowd pleaser with students from near-by Columbia University.

The diner made famous by SEINFELD. Imagine you're George, Elaine and Jerry as you argue over nothing while eating French toast. Good diner food and part of American popular culture.

More bang for your buck. This better-than-average Sushi spot manages to pack them in. Offering fresh fish at reasonable prices. Everything about this place is reliably decent. On crowded Friday nights, the take-out is a better option.