Its location under the Left Bank is approximately two blocks past convenient. The staff may not greet you with rays of sunshine. But the food is decidedly the most scrumptious within walking distance of campus. Believe me, it's worth the schlep past DRL and the risk of encountering a mildly miserable-seeming staff member; the food is siiiiick (in a good way).
The space is basically what's to be expected of a restaurant named for al fresco dining, plus some pleasant surprises. It's casual and small enough to be genuinely cozy; there are only four tables and a counter with a few stools at the picture window overlooking Walnut. It's also pretty adorable without being obnoxious. Various picnic baskets occupy cubbies on the wall above the beverage refrigerator, recalling the namesake of the restaurant in a way that's much more pleasant than those tired red and white checkered tablecloths.
The menu at Picnic features an impressive variety of American-eclectic options starting for less than $10. Aside from a few staples, it changes every day. It features a case full of ? la carte items like fish, chicken, lasagna and vegetables as well as a selection of soups ($3) and made-to-order salads and sandwiches (averaging $5-6). Picnic also boasts several vegetarian options, all of which are considerably tastier than chicken-free nuggets. Everything from the tilapia to the turkey meatloaf is gravy, baby, but be forewarned: although delicious, the salmon is farm-raised. I don't really know how that's relevant, but a friend once warned me about fish of this lot, so I feel obliged to pass this information on to you.
I've never had something at Picnic that I wouldn't order again, but I try to take advantage of the variety by ordering something different every time I eat there, with one important exception. The baby arugula salad with prosciutto, goat cheese and pears is so good that I literally felt it was necessary to call home and describe the experience to my mother. This salad obviously meant a lot to me, which is why I've had it twice.
Another great feature of this restaurant is the fresh produce, dips and sauces supplied by local farmers and vendors. I'm a really big fan of the grapes. They're firm and large and sweet, and they come in both the green and purple varieties. I almost always get a bunch on my way out for snacking purposes on the two-block-too-long trek home. In fact, I've left Picnic grapeless only once, and I definitely missed them later.
I'm an all-around advocate for Picnic. More than once I've walked out thinking to myself, "Wow, that lunch was so good, I feel like a better person for having eaten it." If you feel like indulging beyond the customary twelve-minute lunch break sometime this week, venture over to Picnic. And support your local farmers: get a bunch of grapes.
