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With its location just a few steps from Columbia's campus, it's no surprise that Tomo Sushi and Sake Bar is a student hangout, with a few faculty thrown into the mix. Its neat design, color scheme of neutral hues, and thoughtful touches like slip-covered seats provide a welcoming break from both classroom and dormitory: Groups of coeds and new-in-love couples seem content here. The same would not be true of those with highly evolved sushi palates, but they're not looking for Tomo's variety of frosh-friendly food. The dozen noodle soup options accommodate vegetarians, and even vegans. The usual selection of rolls, sushi, and sashimi are just fine for spicy tuna fans and their friends. Oddly, for a self-described sake bar the choices are limited, but like everything else at Tomo, it fulfills the basic requirements of a 100-level syllabus. — Carey Meyers

Reservations are only accepted for parties of 3 or more.

Tomo ramen, $9.75; yam tempura roll, $5.50