Foreword
Marquette University is not famous for its dining services. For the most part, the quality of its food flies under the radar. I’m a person who enjoys the little things, and whether good or bad, I think that here at Marquette we have all had some unique dining experiences. I’d like to shed some light on those little moments that can sometimes be forgotten.
Breakfast at Cobeen:
I have had a bone to pick with Cobeen dining for as long as I can remember. When I think of Cobeen breakfast, one specific experience stands out to me.
To set the stage, it was an early morning, right before my 8:00 a.m., and I was eating breakfast at Cobeen. As I normally do, I walked up to the serving station and asked for eggs and sausage. What I saw next would haunt my dreams and nightmares alike. I witnessed the person serving my food grab three separate sausage patties, but then conspicuously put one of those patties back in its tray, only to give me my plate without the third patty.
With a smile, I was handed a plate that contained a measly amount of eggs alongside two lonely sausage patties, missing a third. This plate simply did not have enough food for a growing boy such as myself. And, if I’m being honest, it wasn’t very good in the first place. I was disappointed, hungry and forced to slink out of Cobeen to my 8:00 a.m., where I would sit in a silence that would befit a man on death row.
Thursdays at Schroeder:
Schroeder dinner normally does not disappoint me, especially on Thursdays. What is on Thursday, you may ask? Thursday is buffalo chicken slider night at Schroeder, a highlight of my week.
There’s something about those three sliders and fries that invokes something primal inside of me. For a few seconds, I forget everything around me and just enjoy the food I have been given. While I eat these sliders, I’m not worried about bills, exams or anything in my life, all I worry about is how the next bite will taste, and I’m never disappointed.
I greatly enjoy these Schroeder sliders; they brighten my week. It doesn’t matter what kind of day I’ve had, if buffalo sliders are on the docket at Schroeder from 4:30-10:00 p.m., I’m a happy man. I would encourage any MU student to give them a try, it’ll change your life.
Lunch at Straz
The Straz Tower dining hall is one of the most unpopular eating establishments for MU students on a meal plan. Normally, there aren’t many people eating there at any particular time. While this may be seen as indicative of “bad food,” I would hold the opposite opinion.
The dining hall located in Straz Tower is not bad, the food is not amazing, but to label it as bad would be a disservice to taste buds all around the globe. I will say that there are some dishes at Straz that I choose not to eat, like the mystery quiche and the eggs. But, I feel that the hall’s ambiance and more specifically, its sandwich station, are what make it stand out.
Turkey, lettuce, tomato, cheddar and chipotle mayo, that is what I ask for on my sandwich whenever I eat at this fine establishment. This perfect combination of sandwich artistry provides me with a contentment known to no other experience. When I sit in this empty, quiet, dining hall, I find myself in a contemplative mood. I feel like I could float, almost as if I have just entered a monastery, but one where turkey on wheat reigns supreme.
Fridays at The Annex
Every Friday, a recent tradition of mine has been to pop down to The Annex and enjoy some burgers and fries.
I’ll go there with a few people, three people max — you don’t want more than three — and I’ll order the smash burger. I think it’s a solid burger, and besides, I’m not there for the food, I’m there to have a good time.
After eating, the fellas and I will pop on over to the bowling alley and play a few games, this only adds to the experience. I think bowling and burgers are two great ways to start off any weekend, and it makes me glad to know that this opportunity is offered to an individual such as myself.
Food at The Annex provides me with a much needed change of pace after a long week of classes, it lets me unwind and throw a few strikes. I may not be very good at bowling, but I would like to think that doesn’t matter. All that matters is how I feel when I’m doing it, and even though I frequently gutterball, it’s never done on an empty stomach.
Conclusion
Overall, I think that the Marquette dining experience can be summed up in one word: mediocre. Not good nor bad, not tasty or bland, it’s college food. But, I think that in its mediocrity, we can find both reasons to love and reasons to hate it. It is a trivial question to ask if dining hall food is good or bad, in the end, it’s what we got. So, I say enjoy that Shroeder slider! Enjoy that Straz sandwich! Conquer The Annex lanes! And, most of all, have a good time and make the most out of your Marquette dining experience.
This story was written by George Kane. He can be reached at [email protected].
