Cosmos Pizza & Grill

Cosmos, a kitschy '50s diner, is a Marshall Street gem hidden behind a pizzeria facade.

While most eateries on The Hill cater to a specific taste, Cosmos serves everything from loaded cheesesteak sandwiches to mocha-flavored malts to pizza omelets. They open early for breakfast and crank out diner classics and hybrids until the early hours of the morning.

Cosmos opened in the late 1950s, and alumni from decades past continue to flock back for a taste of the glory days.

When to go: Whenever you’re jonesin’ for some diner grub. They start serving breakfast at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends. Cosmos is open until 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and until 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. The bottom line: Students nursing weekend hangovers pack this place the morning after.

On Tap: No alcohol. The Bottom Line: Sip on a thick chocolate milkshake or a cherry malt instead.

Blue Plate Special: “Alumni always ask for the T.H.B.— the toasted honey bun,” Cosmos night manager Matt Lagrow said. The T.H.B. is a Cosmos classic, served with a dollop of butter or a scoop of ice cream. The bottom line: If you can dream it, you can probably order it.

The Scene: Multicolored booths equipped with tableside jukeboxes, checkerboard borders, a couple pots of coffee brewing at all times, and the friendly smell of pancakes and onions on a griddle. The bottom line: If you’re an Americana food junky, there’s no other place to get your fix.

The Crew: George, the restaurant’s owner, works most days. Staffers are mainly SU students. The bottom line: Tip well for good service. Your servers are broke college students just like you.

The Crowd: A couple studying for a finance test in the corner, a table of frat boys chomping on hoagies and Dr. Bigbucks, and the class of ’63 having a muffin and a side of Canadian bacon. The bottom line: You’ll fit in. Everyone does.

The Deets: Cosmos is right smack in the center of Marshall Street — 143 Marshall St., to be precise. Cash, credit and off-campus meal plans are accepted. And whatever your method of payment, don’t expect to dish out more than $10 for a hearty meal. The bottom line: You’ll swear off Denny’s after one visit to Cosmos.

Review by S.J. Velasquez