The Meals That Leave You Wonton NO More 

Souper Hungry? Don’t bother.  

By: Sahara Ahmed 

  All I had to do was make it to 6 P.M. and I could finally break my Ramadan fast. I was not expecting a five-star meal when I ordered a hero, but I also was not expecting two slices of stale bread, an unspread teaspoon of sauce, and burnt grilled chicken. 

I swore I would never eat at CSI again, yet I always end up returning for unappetizing meals out of convenience, not preference. The campus has two main dining options: the cafeteria and the library’s Cyber Cafe. 

The breakfast menu includes coffee, bagels, and Country Donuts from the cafe, or omelettes and pancakes from the cafeteria. Lunch options range from the cafe’s sushi bar to the array of deli wraps, sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas at the cafeteria. Despite the variety of choices, each location has its shortcomings. 

The CSI Dining experience is best captured by what I call the “Coffee Paradox.” The cafe has a “We Proudly Serve Starbucks” sign, offering signature drinks like the White Chocolate Mocha and Frappuccino. Rather than receiving a drink that matches the quality of the coffee chain for which you paid the same price, you will likely get a lukewarm mocha with unstirred syrup at the bottom of the cup or a Frappuccino with poorly blended ice chunks.

The cafeteria food is just as underwhelming. Hot entrees are not freshly prepared, but rather pre-made, microwavable meals you would find at any freezer aisle. Fried food often has an old, greasy aftertaste, meaning that the fryer oil is not regularly replaced.  

Students deserve well-prepared, appetizing meals that they can look forward to. CSI should adopt the traditional diner-style approach, where meals are prepared fresh to order, using high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. The campus can perform quality checks by gathering feedback through surveys, ensuring meals are not just acceptable, but enjoyable.