By Alena Bitonti and Ashley Ragone
Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor
With the start of a new academic year at the College brings a new Campus Town dining option with a uniquely halal mediterranean menu. This restaurant replaced IndiGrill, which closed last year.
The family-owned and operated Campus Town Grill was brought to the College in hopes of bringing something new to the community, while keeping it accessible to students who may be unfamiliar.
Campus Town Grill’s unique menu profile joins an ever-growing list of diverse food options offered to students directly off-campus, including vegan, Mexican, a pizzeria and a Nashville hot chicken restaurant soon to come.
The restaurant adheres to a strictly halal menu, a traditional set of Islamic dietary laws which has ties to teachings within the Quran. Permissible foods include fruits, vegetables, and meat prepared in a specific method of slaughtering. Pork, alcohol, and certain animal by-products are forbidden.
“For us, serving halal food is about quality, transparency and inclusivity. We recognized that there are students and community members looking for certified halal options and wanted to provide more variety for them,” said co-owner Shah Chowdhury in an email to The Signal. “At the same time, we want anyone whether they are familiar with halal food or not to feel welcome and simply enjoy the fresh, flavorful food and variety that our menu has to offer.”
Despite the halal restrictions, Campus Town Grill’s menu maintains its accessibility for students with varying taste palates.
“The idea behind Campus Town Grill was to create a fast-casual restaurant offering flavorful, high-quality food with enough variety to appeal to a wide range of customers,” said Chowdhury. “Our menu centers around HMS-certified halal Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired food, including shawarma, rice platters, wraps, and grilled items. We also offer classic Indian dishes such as vegetable samosas, butter chicken and chicken tikka, served with fresh tandoor naan, along with burgers, wings, and other American classics.”
Their fusion menu includes butter chicken loaded fries. (Photo courtesy of Devyn Briones / Arts & Entertainment Editor)
The student response to the new establishment has been positive. For many, it is their first time trying shawarma and other Mediterranean dishes, but for others, the restaurant offers a convenient spot to enjoy food that connects them to their culture.
“A lot of the food items on the menu is part of my culture and it tasted so authentic,” said Rhema Daniel, a sophomore biology major. “The staff was also so welcoming and kind.”
David Amorosi, a senior english and secondary education major, found it to be a particularly cozy new addition to the offerings of Campus Town.
“I got the mixed platter once and then recently a chicken wrap, and the service was always on point,” he said. “It looks like a pretty nice place to grab food and hang out right on campus.”
Looking ahead, Campus Town Grill hopes to establish itself as a dining destination for both students at the College and the surrounding community. The restaurant plans to continue improving its menu and customer experience by listening to feedback from customers.
“As we grow, we hope to expand our presence within the TCNJ and broader Mercer County community through catering, campus events, partnerships with student clubs, activity groups, sports teams, and Ewing community involvement,” Chowdhury told The Signal. “However, our immediate priority is building a strong foundation here in Campus Town and becoming a restaurant that TCNJ students and members of the Ewing community genuinely enjoy and want to return to.”
Campus Town Grill is located at 300 Main Boulevard East in Suite 501. Their business hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant currently accepts Campus Town Dollars as one of its forms of payment.
