Inexpensive restaurants spring up off campus

Since July, two new restaurants have hit Penn's campus -- or rather, the outskirts of Penn's campus. Tucked next to the Comet coffee house on 41st and Walnut streets, the Italian deli and restaurant 2 Goodfellas opened last Friday morning to a considerably emptier campus than usual. And the Pakistani grill Kabobeesh has been serving its kebobs on 42nd and Walnut streets for three months. But while the presence of the two restaurants has so far been quiet, upperclassmen said they're happy to see more off-campus options for students on the west side of campus. 2 Goodfellas -- its opening delayed two months by construction and permit problems -- serves burgers and sandwiches at about $5 and dishes for two at around $9. The deli will be open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. According to co-owner John Marcelline, dinner will be served by candelight. "You get quality and quantity for a really good price," Marcelline said. "I understand there are a lot of high-priced restaurants on campus." College junior Philip Riveron believes that the deli's broad menu options will make it "a better alternative to food trucks." Kabobeesh, open from noon to 11 p.m. every day, offers kabobs and curry dishes for around $5. Asad Ghumman, the owner of Kabobeesh, estimated that 40 percent of his business comes from Penn students, primarily upperclassmen in the area. Ghumman said he hopes to relocate Kabobeesh closer to campus next spring in the hopes of attracting more student business. Wharton junior Amanda Abrams thinks both restaurants' low prices will not draw people away from on-campus options like Izzy and Zoe's on 40th Street. "People do enjoy going off campus, but I think they tend to go to [restaurants] that are grouped together," she added. Students eating at 2 Goodfella's last night praised the restaurant's reasonable cost and large portions -- "bigger than Izzy and Zoe's" College junior Stacie Zerdecki said. But some said the 650-square-foot shop is a little small. "We would like [the restaurant] to be bigger, but we're fine," Marcelline said. Outdoor seating will add 10 more seats to the deli, which can currently hold 21 people. Marcelline originally planned on establishing 2 Goodfellas at the location of the former Cool Peppers, a Mexican restaurant on 40th and Chestnut streets. But he said that construction in the area and distracting traffic from the nearby bus stop changed his mind. In response to possible safety concerns about the location, Campus Apartments Property Manager Daniel Lord said that lights have been added to the restaurant's awning. According to upperclassmen, Kabobeesh will suffer from students' safety concerns much more than 2 Goodfellas. Many said that they don't think Kabobeesh will be nearly as popular, citing the decrease in safety further away from campus and the number of inexpensive Indian-based restaurants already on 40th Street. "Going from 41st to 42nd is kind of pushing the trust level," College junior Kelly Westphalen said.