When the weather and the leaves start to fall, students are more inclined to go inside and crave warmer, comfort-oriented foods. With those factors, the foods the brain and stomach crave start to change. A refreshing glass of ice-cold lemonade in the summer will be replaced with warm soup or a hot chocolate in the fall.
Starting with Firehouse Subs, the big-name chain annually reintroduces in the fall the “Thanksgiving Turkey Sub.” This perfect fall sandwich includes carved slices of tender turkey breast, savory Thanksgiving stuffing, sweet and tart cranberry sauce and mayo served on toasted bread. Its holiday-themed ingredients and the warmth of the bread come together for one of the best fall menu items — I rate the sandwich at an 8/10.
Krispy Kreme has the Candy Bag donut that contains M&M’s, Oreos and a caramel drizzle on a glazed donut. The donut has a lot to offer, but junior Caleb Cook said it was almost too much. “The donut was good with all the flavors, but it was really sugary and a little too sweet. The donut rated a 6.7/10,” Cook said
After that is Panera Bread. They have the Autumn Squash Soup and the Harvest Medley Chicken Salad. The soup is a classic American fall butternut squash soup and earned a score of 8/10 for simplicity and taste. The salad contains a whole grain blend, mandarin oranges, feta, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, toasted pecan bits, chicken strips and a sweet balsamic vinaigrette.
Then there is a lesser-known name, Jetties, which has their Thanksgiving classic, The Nobadeer. The fall-themed sandwich includes holiday-related ingredients: roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayo on sourdough. The Nobadeer is a solid combination of Thanksgiving flavor without being overpowering, earning a score of 7.7/10.
Silver Diner features fall specials like the Pumpkin Spiced Cold Brew or the Banana Brûlée Pumpkin French Toast that fit the seasonal cravings perfectly. The menu offers an extensive array of items that satisfy the fall wants without being inherently fall-themed. Two of their signature soups are 10/10’s. Mom’s Chicken Noodle and Turkey Chili are signature soups that scored 10/10s. The homemade classic chicken noodle soup recipe that is done with perfection, with perfect noodles, fresh shredded chicken and a warm broth to tie it all together. The Turkey Chili is a sweet and spicy chopped turkey combined with the beans, coming together to make a perfect warm dish to have after a cold fall day.
Among the five restaurants, the best fall menu item is the French onion soup from Georgetown’s own Chez Billy Sud. The basic soup recipe is made with caramelized onions, is served in a bowl overflowing with cheese and served with a side of bread. The reason this soup received an 11/10 takes the title of the best fall menu item because it is an excellent culmination, being a flavorful dish and keeping students warm as the temperatures change, people are surprised and are still wearing warm-weather clothes, thus leading to them being cold. The soup is served fresh out of the oven, helping with the cold. The soup is also a 10/10 for the flavor scale. Overall, the soup rates an 11/10 because of the perfect timing of the dish and the perfect flavor.
