Current juniors have been eagerly awaiting the ability to leave school during lunch, frees, and subs. However, now that they have this privilege these new upperclassmen are stuck trying to figure out where to go.
After a year of navigating the leaving for lunch frenzy, senior Aviv Mosayov has located her favorite spots.
“I like to walk to the Dunkin Donuts in downtown Demarest, or Yasou Mykonos, which is a really good Greek lunch spot,” Mosayov said.
On the contrary, Ben Aronson is a junior who is just getting his footing. However, he has already determined his favorite places to grab a quick bite, accompanied by his fellow classmates.
“During lunch, me and my friends go to Jersey Mikes or Chipotle. There are always a lot of students there from our school and other schools nearby,” Aronson said.
Dunkin Donuts, Yasou Mykonos, Jersey Mikes, and almost any store in the Closter Plaza are hot spots for juniors and seniors at Northern Valley Demarest. However, underclassmen are curious about niche places they can go to for lunch or in hopes of finding a quiet place to study. Senior Asia Pamias has some new recommendations.
“I feel like everybody knows the main chains in our area. There are a lot of cute cafes in Closter that are less popular. BTX Café is located near the Closter Plaza and I would recommend people check it out,” Pamias said.
Another restaurant that is less crowded with students, but may take a bit more time for food to come, is the Tri-Valley Diner.
“I think for the atmosphere, somewhere I like to go is the Tri-Valley Diner. I like the vibes there, so I tend to go when I have a longer lunch,” Mosayov said.
When timing is tight, Mosayov prefers to pick up a quick bite from the Demarest Deli. On the contrary, senior Najiya Philips views the deli as somewhere to relax when she has more time.
“Honestly, the deli is where I go when I have more time because I like to sit down there and get actual food. They take a very long time to make the food there,” Phillips said.
Time is limited during lunch periods and frees, but if people were given unlimited time to enjoy a relaxing lunch, the students of NVD would be excited to try something outside of the Closter, Demarest, and Haworth area.
“If I had an unlimited amount of time, I would definitely go to Brownstone Pancake Factory,” senior Elizabeth Maxwell said.
Brownstone Pancake Factory, located in Englewood Cliffs, is known for its over-the-top breakfast treats and extravagant milkshakes. While time may not allow during the school day, this is a spot that students should check out during a possible delayed opening or day off.
While it’s nice to go out for lunch, it can get expensive and unhealthy. Another option to fill this time is to go home and enjoy a home cooked meal. Sometimes, when looking for a healthier choice, Aronson tends to go home.
“I don’t really eat salad, but if I were to eat it, my mom makes a really good Asian salad,” Aronson said.
Considering the sometimes impractical nature of leaving school midday, students definitely do not take this privilege for granted. Most students greatly appreciate the opportunity to leave the school building to decompress and reset.
“Being able to leave makes my day feel a lot more relaxed. I get to leave school and take a deep breath. It helps to forget about an upcoming quiz or a lot of homework when I get to leave and relax,” Aronson said.
Mosayov agrees that leaving school, even just for 45 minutes a day, makes a major difference in her overall school experience.
“I feel a lot more free and it makes the day easier. Last year when we first got our privileges, some of us would go outside and sit on the bleachers right outside the school because we wanted to be outside so badly and get to breathe fresh air,” Mosayov said.
