Living in the dorms can have a lot of downsides, but one thing that always helped me get through the negatives was the food.
Although the menu options seem to become mundane as the year progresses, the variety is decent compared to other colleges. Yet, once many students move out and turn in their dorm keys at the end of freshman year, they forget about the surprisingly tasty options located on the east side of campus.
For nostalgia’s sake, the seniors of the Emerald Scene desk took a trip back to Hamilton Complex and the Living Learning Center and revisited the food options that once composed our entire diets. Visiting Common Grounds Cafe, DUX Bistro and Fire ‘N’ Spice Grill, we ditched the meal points for cash and feasted on Cheesy Grillers, omelettes, appetizers and other dorm dining classics.
Freshmen, count your blessings because the food isn’t cheap once you ditch that handy-dandy point system, but the throwback was worth the money from our wallets.
Personally, I hadn’t stepped foot in any of the dining halls since the end of my freshman year. Now that I’m a senior, it was pretty interesting to see how little has changed.
Walking into Common Grounds, I instantly remembered the 2 a.m. drunken meals of Cheesy Grillers and PB^2. Looking over at Fire ‘N’ Spice Grill, I remembered those Saturday and Sunday mornings staring at the circular grill wondering if that breakfast burrito was either going to make me yack or cure my body’s anger at how I treated it the night before.
This time around I wasn’t in either state.
I opted to get the Baked Artichoke and Garlic Dip with sourdough bread and a Fruit Bowl smoothie from Common Grounds. Both were still good choices even three years later and made me miss the days when I could swipe my student ID for food that was literally less than a hundred yards from where I slept.
Snacking on the dip, I saw a group of guys eating all of my staples when I lived in the dorms. I looked over at Big Mouth Burrito and remembered when it was Hammy’s. When they started toasting sandwiches there, I remembered how that was the spot for most students, especially when anyone could follow up a meal with a Whammy, those Blizzard-inspired ice cream treats now only available at Carson late nights.
DUX Bistro was also a great spot. If I remember correctly, the Grilled Chicken Cobb Sandwich was synonymous with my first month living in the dorms. Walking through also brought back memories of the sourdough bread bowls that I used to throw chili in for a small amount of points. The salad bar also reminded me of a week-long attempt to eat healthy after eating Barnhart and Carson buffets for most of winter term.
Despite the dumpy rooms, bathrooms and other less-than-ideal living situations that go along with dorm life, our trip to the dorms was a subtle reminder that you can really never be too old for dorm food.
— Ryan Imondi
Here’s what we ordered on our recent visit:
Veggie Flatbread Sandwich, 5 points
The newest addition to the dorm food menu is the Veggie Flatbread Sandwich, served at DUX Bistro for five meal points or $5.95. I really wish they’d had these when I was a freshman. This is probably the best tasting “healthy” item at the Bistro. Yes, they have a salad bar, but I hate salad. And in attempts to be healthy I would opt for a chicken Caesar salad which, go figure, is not actually all that healthy. The Veggie Flatbread Sandwich is the perfect substitute. It’s a medley of vegetables placed on pita bread with hummus spread and guacamole. For a dorm food sandwich, the vegetables were refreshingly delicious, and after I finished eating I was not left with the comatose feeling that I normally felt after a dorm food meal. This healthy and light, vegetarian/vegan option is worthy of the price.
Cheesy Griller, 2 points
Every University student who’s lived in the dorms knows that a Cheesy Griller is definitely not the same as a grilled cheese sandwich. The Cheesy Griller is simply two pieces of buttered, lightly toasted Texas Toast holding some melted cheese together. If eaten too often, it will most likely be the cause of your freshman 15. But the memories that come with the Cheesy Griller make it taste that much better than a regular old grilled cheese. At 1 a.m., when all other dorm dining venues but Common Grounds Cafe are closed and I was at the bottom of my points barrel, there was nothing more gratifying than a hot, melted, greasy Cheesy Griller to curb my late-night hunger pangs. It was, and still is, two points well spent.
Baked Artichoke and Garlic Dip, 3 points
Another Common Grounds classic is the Baked Artichoke and Garlic Dip. The dip is like the dorm version of your mom’s best dish. It’s always a crowd pleaser, it’s always good and it is another cheap late night snack for when you’re coming back from your nightly adventures and just have to satisfy the munchies. When I revisited it at Common Grounds, the bread that came with it was a little dry and stale but the dip was as good as usual. It’s not a meal on its own necessarily, but it is pretty filling. Split it with a friend or pair it with a hot sandwich. No matter how you eat it though, the dip’s a classic that you should take advantage of before the end of the year. By senior year, you will really, really miss it.
Chicken Pesto Sandwich, 4 points
If you’ve never ordered the Chicken Pesto Sandwich before, you’ll probably be disappointed. Part of Common Grounds Cafe’s medley of mediocre sandwiches, the Chicken Pesto is an herbed focaccia bun with pesto, pepperoni, melted cheese, and oh yeah, a small piece of chicken. The sandwich is about the size of a small McDonald’s hamburger, so I recommend pairing it with a piece of fruit or a side salad to fill you up and make yourself feel better about what you’re eating. Ask for tomatoes and order it without pepperoni to cut back on the grease. If you’re looking for a more substantial chicken sandwich, go for the Grilled Chicken Cobb Sandwich from DUX Bistro.
Breakfast at Fire ‘N’ Spice Grill, 4 points
The brunch buffet at Carson or Barnhart dining halls is a weekend staple, but sometimes you don’t have time or just aren’t in the mood for a sit-down meal. Enter the custom omelettes and waffles at Fire ‘N’ Spice Grill. The delicious and healthy combination of vegetables and carton eggs is enough to keep you going long into Sunday’s study-filled afternoons.
Whammy, 3 points
It’s pretty hard to mess up a Whammy. The smooth, creamy vanilla ice cream blended with the toppings of your choice (peanut butter chips, M&M’s, Oreos, marshmallows, and sprinkles, just to name a few) is reminiscent of a McFlurry or a Blizzard. Whammys used to be served in the Hamilton Complex at Hammy’s, which was converted to Big Mouth Burrito in 2008. Now they’re served at Carson dining hall from 8 to 11 p.m. Even though they’re not available during regular hours or in chocolate, like they were in 2007, Whammys are just as satisfying three years out of the dorms.
— Heather Ah San and Kaitlin Kenny
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