The dining halls at the University of Houston (Fresh Foods Company and Cougar Woods) seem to have a wide variety of reviews.
Some people think that the dining halls are the bane of all creation, and this side would probably argue that the quality of food is low, they do not serve the needs of students who want to be healthy or those that have dietary restrictions and the meal plans are too damn high. These are all very valid points. The other side (which I think may be less in population) thinks that the dining halls are a gift from Zeus himself. They argue that the buffet style service is amazing, there is almost always good pizza, there are plenty of different things to eat and the desserts are on point.
In reality, the majority of people probably stand somewhere in the middle of these two sides—stuck in the ambiguous middle ground of “meh.” The best thing to do is discuss this middle ground and find ways to improve the dining halls so that both sides are relatively happy. But where is the fun in that?
So instead I choose to polarize the sides even more and asked students to share the best and worst food they were served at the dining halls, because that sounded a lot more interesting.
Here are some of the responses:
The Best
Tofu Slider: The student that submitted this must be a veteran of the dining halls, because I have not seen this in the almost three years I have eaten here. This sounds like a great vegetarian and vegan option. Plus, it would definitely be a positive change in pace from the bowl of rice and salad bar.
Rice with Thai Curry: The juicy chicken and tasty curry sauce boosted this item to make it on the “best list.” The dining halls attempt to reach many different ethnic flavors, and it seems that this time they hit they the spot.
Pizza: The student expressed their pure excitement about the dining hall’s pizza with explicit words. I wish I was able to quote this student because it exemplifies their love for perfectly even ratio of cheese and sauce. However, this love for dining hall pizza is quite common. The line is almost always long, and if you don’t get in line quickly you will have to wait until another fresh one is made. Keep it up with that pizza, dining halls.
The Worst
Sugar and Carbs: This student came into the dining halls looking for a healthy, hearty option. Unfortunately, she was greeted with sticky French toast, croissant sandwiches and dessert. For some people (including myself) this sounds like the dinner of a lifetime. However, when classes are hard and you need some brain-fuel food, it would be nice if there was a meal that dished out some proper nutrients. She summed it up best when she said simply, “It was sad.”
Cauliflower Casserole: What happens when you run out of ingredients to create an actual meal? You put fake cheese and cauliflower together and give it to students. This student was also looking for a meal to power through finals, and this was the only hot dish being served when she went. Being the only hot option, she ended up eating this concoction out of pure desperation. Not a good night.
Maggot Brownie: This one kind of speaks for itself. However, instead of finding out this maggot was in the brownie before she ate it, the student took a bite before realizing in horror she had some creepy crawly friends awaiting her. This is absolutely unacceptable, and I personally apologize to this student for that experience. If anything like this ever happens to you, please take pictures and report it. I almost feel sick just writing this.
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