Eli Asks: East Lansing Restaurants

“Ask Eli” is usually a response to reader questions. This week, we decided to turn the tables and ask the questions instead of answering them.

We asked random people on Grand River Avenue these three questions:

1. Where do you like to eat in East Lansing?
2. What do you think about the EL restaurant scene? Anything you’d change?

Megan and Danielle.

Sophomores at MSU

Megan’s favorite restaurant is Noodles and Co. and Danielle’s favorite is Chipotle.

“I would rather see fewer chains here, and more like mom and poppy stuff like Peanut Barrel. We like to go into Lansing for places like Soup Spoon or Golden Harvest.”---Megan

Stephanie, an alumna of MSU who graduated last year.

“I think the restaurant scene in East Lansing is pretty good. Ann Arbor is pretty cool too but the restaurants here are legit and they keep adding more every year.”

“Last year I lived close to Crunchy’s so that’s probably my favorite.”

Derek, current MSU student from Maryland.

“My favorite place to eat is probably between Peanut Barrel and Conrad’s. I like the food selection here; nothing comes to mind that I would change.”

Sean, current student at MSU.

“My favorite place to eat is Conrad’s.”

“Actually, they [East Lansing] have everything. I can’t think of anything I would want to change.”

Jack, Graduate Student.(Preferrred not to be photographed)

 Doesn’t go out to eat much because places downtown are kind of expensive.

“I like to go into Old Town, Pablo’s is pretty good.”

“There are a lot of chains, and I don’t like chain restaurants. Old Town is cool because it has all of the old local stuff.”

Peter, resident of East Lansing for over 30 years. (Preferred not to be photographed)

“We’ve lived here for over 30 years…there’s an important lesson on everyone that goes out to Eastwood instead of staying in East Lansing to pay a lot of money for good food. East Lansing needs a nice place to eat, even though it’s a college town. I think we need a better array of food. There’s a lot of sushi, sandwiches, fast food kind of places. If we go out to brunch the Black Cat is great, but if I had to take somebody out to dinner who came in from out of town that’s where I struggle to find a place here—dinner is tough.”