As summer comes to a close and fall term is on the horizon, I can help but think of all my favorite places in the Schenectady/Capital Region area to grab a bite to eat. Whether it's brunch or a fancy dinner, Schenectady has so many hidden gems. Below are some of my favorites that my friends and I like to venture to when we get the chance.

1. More Perreca's

Whether it's brunch, lunch or dinner, More Perreca's offers so many tasty dishes. A Union brunch favorite is definitely their "Eggs in Purgatory," which is poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce surrounded by fresh Italian bread. Besides that, all their pasta dishes are absolutely fabulous. You can't say no to dessert either!

2. Aperitivo Bistro

Aperitivo is definitely more of a pricey option and a great place to go when the parents are paying. For the price, the food is definitely worth it. As a creature of habit, I always go for the pasta bolognese because the combination of the sauce and visibly hand made noodles is a solid 10/10. It's a great place to treat your friends to especially if you're looking for a classy place to have dinner before some crazy celebration.

3. Namu Korean BBQ

As a huge fan of good Korean BBQ, I can confidently say that Namu is a must go if you love this cuisine. They have a great menu with Korean favorites such as tteokboki, sundubu jjigae, Korean fried chicken, and bibim bop as well as all the classic Korean BBQ items.

4. Peter Pause

Right across the street from campus with great breakfast/brunch for a reasonable price, need I say more.

5. Bumpy's

With a crazy amount of ice cream and soft serve options, what's there not to love? I can guarantee that no matter what you choose, it will be awesome.

6. Villa Italia

Known for their fabulous Italian pastries, Villa Italia also has a great lunch menu. I'm absolutely obsessed with their chicken pastina soup. All of their desserts and pastries are crazy good, and the gelato always looks and tastes amazing.

7. Ambition Cafe

Ambition has a great atmosphere and great food. Their brunch and lunch options all have great names, and taste even better. They also have a great selection of hot drinks and fresh juice to pair with your meal. The fact that they serve some of their drinks in mason jars is an added bonus for cuteness.

8. Puzzles Bakery and Cafe

Puzzles is an absolutely adorable bakery and cafe with so many tasty and beautiful baked goods. No matter what you order, it will definitely taste fantastic. On top of it all, Puzzles has such a wonderful mission through how they work to employ people with developmental disorders and help them!

9. Ala Shanghai

While it does require someone with a car to get there, Ala Shanghai has absolutely wonderful and authentic Chinese food. One of the highlights of their menu is their Shanghainese soup dumplings. Besides that anything off their dumpling new is great as well as their selection of noodles and main dishes.

10. The Greenmarket

Honestly, everything at the Greenmarket tastes amazing. There's so much and I've never had anything less than great. From Indian to Southern food you can't go wrong.

So when fall term finally comes around, and you don't feel like eating campus food, go out and try something new.