老司机传媒

Food sustains us. It gives us the energy to continue forward. Food helps us bond. Some of our favorite memories occur with our friends in a food environment. Food brings joy! Let’s be honest: comfort foods genuinely help us get through a tough day. Food is a crucial part of our existence, which is why the food options on a college campus matter so much. But how do students feel about the food here on campus? Do they think the service and food quality here are sufficient to meet their needs? I asked a few students about their thoughts concerning Bon Appétit, the food service company here on campus.

What do you think about the prices we pay for our food?

They are quite expensive. Many students run out of money for food before the semester ends. 

What do you think about the quality of the food here at AU? 

It could be better.

What criticism have you heard about Bon Appétit?

I have heard that people don’t like their food most days. I agree with the criticism. It’s hard to prepare food daily, but if they asked students what they want to eat, I think they could improve. I have also heard that most people like the Gazebo, but the food gets repetitive. 

Joel Saturne (junior, business marketing)

What are your ideas on Bon Appétit?

I think for the price we pay for our food, it should be of better quality (such as well-cooked rice). My own personal criticism I have is that I think the cafeteria needs to be either open longer or the Gazebo needs to speed up their work. The lines at the Gazebo have been getting crazy long lately, going out into the hallway. I do agree with some of the criticism I hear. With only two places to eat on campus, I believe the food should be of better quality and the work move a little faster.

Lauren Elliott (freshman, animal science)

What do you think of the cafeteria options?

The staple food, like the salad and the drinks, aren't bad, but the daily rotation leaves much to be desired. For basically $12, it's a hit or miss.

Joel Pelletier (sophomore, education/English)

How do you feel about the food from university food services?

The food is decent, but the Gazebo should have more variety. They should change the menu from year to year.

Ashley Daluz (junior, speech-language pathology)

What do you think of the different meal options offered in the cafeteria?

I prefer off-campus options whenever I can afford it. Breakfast lacks protein, at least for me. Lunch is usually better than their dinner options, and their breakfast options.

Anika Constantino (junior, speech pathology and audiology)

What do you think of the two places students are able to obtain food from on campus?

The food situation on campus is better than it could be, and better than other schools. But I do wish there were more than two food options on campus, since if you don’t like what’s in the cafe, and if you are tired of Gazebo food, then you are out of luck. Also the wait time at the Gazebo can be way too long. They do try to provide us with many options, such as pizza or cereal in the cafe. But again, it could be better.

Olivia Horvat (freshman, dietetics)

Compared to other schools you have attended, how do Andrew's food options measure up?

I honestly don't know how money works, so price-wise, I guess it's alright. It is a little irritating to me that to-go costs more than dining in–I don't quite get the reasoning there. As compared to Southwestern, the food here is VASTLY superior. It has its off days, yes, but at least there's options to choose from. Honestly, I defer to pizza only on days when I personally don't like a specific food; the quality is just fine, I just don't like it. That being said, there are some meals that are questionable... Like the biscuits with the weird gravy... What even is that? I've heard people criticize the food here, but I think it's because the majority haven't been to other SDA universities. Andrew's has the best food out of the bunch from what I've heard from people who don't go here. I don't understand the hate it gets sometimes, and other times I do. Depends on the day. Also, I've heard a few people complain about there not being enough variety served at the cafeteria. Personally, I would prefer they cycle through 4-5 high quality meals than to serve 9-10 less than ideal ones. Quality over quantity.

Jean Fitch (junior, digital communications)

The overall result is that the prices we see at Andrews seem expensive, considering that a buffet style like the one we have in the cafeteria is very similar to the price of , an all-you-can-eat buffet. However, in my experience, while the price is fairly close, the options are more varied, and there tends to be more variety of traditional American main courses and desserts. But at the Terrace Cafe, there are more healthy options and vegan and gluten-free options, which Golden Corral lacks. For another comparison, food at a place similar to the Gazebo but in has fewer options, but their prices are slightly lower than those at the Gazebo. The option at Adventist University cafeteria seems to offer similar types of food, but they charge by weight instead, costing $0.52 per ounce. Their other eateries, such as , seem to be a bit more affordable, offering a meal for $10.49, but it is not an all-you-can-eat buffet. Overall, the prices at 老司机传媒, while slightly higher than some other locations, do not necessarily have outlandish prices. The restriction of only two eating options is sometimes inconvenient, but different universities, such as Union College, also have limited options. However, there can be some improvement considering that Golden Corral charges around the same and has slightly more traditional American options than the cafe. As an improvement, the university Dining Services could look into how to serve students what they would enjoy. For instance, ask the students what meals are more favored and what they want to see instead of serving whatever is convenient. Other schools are able to have lower prices, and even if the prices remain the same, maybe the university should remove certain meals and replace them with options students would prefer to see.