The first time I walked into North Dining Hall for lunch, I surveyed the options with apathy. Flavorless Mexican food and ambiguously Asian dishes didn’t particularly excite me. I selected a variety of dishes to give them an honest shot. As my friends and I ventured further, considering the variety of salad toppings and not much else, we grimaced at the thought of eating the same food for the next four years. Needless to say, we had dinner on Eddy Street that night. I considered becoming a Chipotle rewards member and anticipated being on a first-name basis with the employees at Five Guys.

In preparation for my parents’ departure that weekend, they offered to take me and my friends out for dinner nearby. I didn’t know anything about the South Bend food scene, but a quick Google search yielded a few results, all of which looked more appealing than the dining hall. My friends and I settled on the Lauber, a student favorite located downtown. As we sat on the patio under the string lights enjoying a variety of pizzas and their famous rigatoni chicken, I realized that South Bend had so much more to offer than the Chipotle and Five Guys. Just next door was Carmela’s, an Italian restaurant that served phenomenal pasta and delectable desserts from Macri’s, their bakery. Not far from there was Yellow Cat Cafe, a relaxed brunch spot that provided crayons and coloring sheets to occupy yourself with while waiting for your breakfast skillet. That’s when I decided to start a list of restaurants in the area and turn it into a bucket list.

Throughout my journey, I realized that South Bend was an unassuming but surprisingly vibrant culinary hub. After every conversation with Uber drivers or my friends who were born and raised here, I always add new restaurants to my ever-growing list, and I’ve become a leading authority on all the places to go. Looking for a nice place to take your partner? Try Brasserie 23, a charming French restaurant that serves amazing appetizers that delighted the small plate enthusiast within me (the steak tartare was a table favorite). Or, check out Cascade, an upscale restaurant overlooking the St. Joseph River that serves seafood dishes so good you’ll forget you’re in the Midwest. If you’re a coffee enthusiast who wants to explore eccentric flavor combinations and find a good study spot, try Cloud Walking Coffee, which boasts a menu featuring drinks like the Midoriya matcha and the miso sesame latte. Your inner morning person will be further delighted by Early Bird Eatery, which serves phenomenal breakfasts like blueberry lemon pancakes in addition to their golden milk lattes and sparkling botanicals. If you want to explore Asia from the comfort of South Bend, then Cambodian Thai, Bowl of Pho, India Garden and Seoul Garden will take you on that culinary adventure. South Bend’s got your back with everything you need and more.

After dozens of off-campus excursions and late-night UberEats orders, I can safely say that the South Bend food scene is full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Google Maps, local blogs and unassuming conversations with locals will be your best friends on this adventure — all you have to do is dig in.