A wave of people crosses Embarcadero Road every lunch, heading towards Town & Country Shopping Center. The restaurants may be overwhelmed by the high number of student-customers but provide them with great food and affordable deals.

Roost and Roast

Address: 855 El Camino Real #161, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Hours: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Monday through Saturday

Phone: (650) 485-2395

Roost and Roast, a Thai-inspired Chicken Shop, had its soft opening in Town & Country a few months ago. “Opening during the pandemic was not too difficult because we have a take-out business model, so we did not need to make many changes,” counter server Isabella Velasco said.

Roost and Roast allows customers to order at a counter at the entrance and generally has their order ready within ten to fifteen minutes. Apart from the full menu, there are two affordable and well-portioned student meals: the Pineapple Fried Rice ($14) and the Thai Pop ($13).

Oren’s Hummus

Address: 855 El Camino Real #162, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Hours: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Monday through Sunday

Phone: (650) 563-6736

Oren’s Hummus is a popular Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant, and an express store came to Town & Country around 3 years ago. Similar to Roost and Roast, Oren’s Hummus did not have to make significant changes because, as an express location, their customers primarily eat take-out. They have placed an emphasis on sanitation and safety and are encouraging customers to eat outside when they do order in.

Shift leader James is excited to see students returning to school and increasing business at the restaurant. “We are discussing our student deals with the manager and working on getting things back to the way it was before the pandemic,” James said. “We currently have punch cards where, after ten meals, students can receive a free meal.” Even though the student deal is not as affordable as it used to be, students enjoy the food and look forward to the student deal returning.

As school fully reopened for the first time in almost a year and a half, restaurants in Town & Country have been making changes to accommodate the influx of student customers. Struggles due to the pandemic have not deterred most restaurants from providing students with more affordable deals and allowing them to enjoy delicious lunches.