Archie Williams offers a free school lunch option to students, but many students opt to go off campus during their 40-minute break. Each day, students visit their favorite restaurants, delis, and stores for lunch. In an effort to capitalize on the large number of possible customers, several restaurants in the San Anselmo area have developed meal deals to attract more business from students. From discounted prices to special menu items, these are the top three meal deals in the area.
3: Stefano’s Pizza
While Stefanos doesn’t technically have a “student meal deal,” their seven-dollar two-slice and drink lunch combo is a huge hit for Archie Williams students. Stefano’s is often crowded with students, with many taking advantage of the sweet deal.
“Stefano’s lunch deal is definitely helpful to me—it’s affordable, convenient, and the portions are just right for a midday meal,” junior Ben Gross said.
Unfortunately, Stefano’s minimal seating is often an issue, and on busy days the line snakes out the door and onto the sidewalk. By the time it thins out, many students trying to order food end up returning to school late. Even so, it’s still the go-to for many Archie Williams students.
“I find myself choosing to eat there fairly often because it’s a great balance of quality and price, especially when I’m short on time but still want something satisfying,” Ben said.
Sometimes Ben returns late to school due to an overwhelming line, but he feels as though a tardy slip is worth it for the food.
2: Swirl
Swirl’s student lunch deal is the first of two Redhill options on this list and is unique because it only offers the deal one day a week. Every Tuesday, Swirl offers students a half-off discount on their frozen yogurt. Known as “half-off day,” this deal is especially popular with underclassmen, mostly due to their appreciation for the constantly changing variety of unique flavors. Students can also customize their frozen treat as much as they like with an even larger variety of toppings including fruit, candy, and other delicacies.
“The deal at Swirl is very helpful. Cutting the price in half can be very convenient when looking for something cheap at Redhill when you look at the prices of most other food options,” sophomore Lawerence Clark said.
The half-off day deal allows students to score a heavily discounted delicious frozen treat from the Pacific Sun’s Best of Marin froyo spot.
1: The Hub
The Hub was established at Redhill in 2019 when it replaced Farm Burger and has blossomed into one of the most popular restaurants in the shopping center. The Hub serves up juicy burgers, creamy milkshakes, and a variety of other tasty dishes. Their student deal consists of a Hub burger with the student’s choice of three toppings, an order of fries, and a fountain drink, all for 11 dollars.
The Hub’s owner Gerry Bugas believes that it’s important to build a strong connection to the community of Archie Williams, as the school is very close by.
“We opened The Hub with the intent to give back to schools and the community,” Bugas said. “Our location near campus makes it a perfect place for students to walk over and meet up with friends.”
Students of all grades can be found in the loud, social restaurant, and fill both the indoor and outdoor seating for the duration of lunch most days.
“The deal is pretty useful because it’s cheap compared to a lot of other places, and it’s a lot of food,” senior Arlo Maury said. “Plus, I get good food and I have a chill time with good sports always playing on the TVs.”
There are many reliable spots for students to spend their lunch break, each of which provides easy, affordable alternatives to free school lunches. If you’re in the mood for a Hub student special, some hot and fresh Stefanos pizza, or even Swirl’s discounted Froyo, you’re bound to find a good, cheap meal. These easy and nearby options provide a perfect and convenient variety of food that is more than satisfying for students.
