Only a couple of minutes after the lunch bell rings, crowds of Palo Alto High School students flood the crosswalk connecting their campus to Town & Country Village, a shopping and dining center in Palo Alto. Given its convenience, variety and efficiency, Town & Country Village is a popular place for many students to get food at lunch and in between classes. To find the most optimal lunch spot for Palo Alto High students, I evaluated the preferences of my peers across grade levels.
Of all the dining destinations at Town & Country Village, Sophie Li, a Palo Alto High junior, said that she most often goes to Trader Joe’s.
“If I’m looking for something fast, I just go to Trader Joe’s and get a wrap,” Li said. “You don’t need to wait for someone to make you food, and it’s relatively cheap.”
Sophomore Jack Baum agreed that Trader Joe’s is the best, especially because of its various healthy options.
“It’s the best place for open options and one of a few spots that’s not bad for you,” Baum said. “Also, because of their wide selection, you could get a whole lunch from there, or a quick snack.”
To test Li’s and Baum’s claims, I went to Trader Joe’s and bought their Chicken Caesar Wrap for $5.49. Grabbing the wrap and checking out took only about 5 minutes. The Chicken Caesar Wrap was pretty good, with a nice addition of flavor from the separate container of Caesar dressing it is sold with. Indeed, as Baum insisted, there were a variety of products, ranging from cookie containers to full burritos and sandwiches.
The range of options in Trader Joe’s snacks makes it accessible to all students, including those who are simply looking for a small treat. This filling lunch trumped all of its competitors and is a great option for money-savvy high school students who want a quick, cheap bite to eat.
Junior Elizabeth Soedarmono agreed that Trader Joe’s is best for its range of selections and price, but she prefers Boichik Bagels.
“I love bagels, and there are so many things you can customize on your bagel every day,” Soedarmono said.
When I arrived at Boichik Bagels ten minutes after lunch began at Palo Alto High, I was met with a line of around five students waiting to order, with more waiting outside for their bagels to be made. Without extras, a bagel with plain cream cheese is only $5.25. However, my bagel cost $16.75 with the addition of nova lox and avocado.
Despite its high price, my bagel was very tasty and only took a few minutes to be made. But while it’s fast, selling only bagels limits the number of students who would enjoy this choice, thus making it less desirable than Trader Joe’s.
Dante Velasquez, a Palo Alto High senior, said that Roost & Roast is now his favorite because it is very filling.
From Roost & Roast, I ordered a Thai Pop Chicken and Rice Bowl for $16.95. It took longer than the other stores, but the portion size was well worth the wait. Although this option is more costly than Trader Joe’s or Boichik Bagels, the Thai Chicken and Rice Bowl held much more food than the wrap or bagel, and I easily had leftovers after eating. The popcorn chicken in this bowl was flavorful and had a nice crunch, making it very enjoyable.
Ultimately, Roost & Roast would be expensive to visit multiple times in a week, making it a solid choice for a pricier meal, but not a reliable pick for high school students with limited money and time.
Overall, with its low prices, wide selection, and speed, Trader Joe’s is where most Palo High students will be able to find something that suits their needs within their 30-minute lunch.
