Brown (Providence) and UPenn (Philly) visits
 

Planning to visit Brown and U Penn over DD's spring break in March (she's a jr in HS) - flying into Boston to visit family for one night, taking the train to Providence and then on to Philly. Will depend on uber/taxi to get around. Any hotel or restaurant suggestions near either campus? Also might sneak in a visit to Columbia for a couple of hours.

Can't help you with Penn, have only eaten in the more-or-less downtown region, which is east of there.

Haven't been to Providence in a couple years, but it's a good place for food. With Brown, you're close by Thayer Street, which has a lot of options. Have only tried pizza in the area, at Antonio's which was very good and extremely casual. There's also an outpost of Flatbread Company, which I haven't tried at that location but have liked elsewhere. Geoff's Superlative Sandwiches on South Main a few blocks away is an excellent choice, but again very casual and deli lunchtime oriented. You can likely take a bus from there to the Italian section of town, Federal Hill, which has lots of good eateries along Atwell's Ave. : Angelo's Civita Farnese and Pane e Vino being only two of several choices.