From tacos and coffee, to spaghetti and buffalo wings, there are numerous menu items and multiple outlets to eat at, both on and off campus. It all depends on what a student is in the mood for.
On campus, there are a number of places that students can go to satisfy those inevitable hunger pangs. The University Student Union (USU) is probably the most known and visited location. The USU food court offers students the choice of eating at Subway, Panda Express or the newly added Chick-fil-A.
The USU snack bar has many options for students who want something quick to eat, including chips, sodas, muffins, nachos and hotdogs. There is even dessert for students who are craving an Icee, an Otis Spunkmeyer cookie or a pint of Ben & Jerry̢۪s ice cream, which costs $5.50.
Also in the snack bar is Juice it Up!, which offers students an alternative to Jamba Juice. Students can get a passion punch smoothie for $3.95, and add an energy boost for just 50 cents more.
Across from the USU are other well-known places to eat, as well as some Fresno State originals. There is Taco Bell Express, Roundtable Pizza and the new Mother Mary̢۪s Italian Specialties.
Freshman business major Kristin Beshears said that she enjoys eating at Roundtable Pizza.
“The crust is really good, they have good pepperoni and a slice is cheap,â€Â Beshears said.
If someone wants to sit down to a more traditional meal on campus, there are two choices.
The Bucket, located next to Roundtable Pizza, offers a number of sandwiches, wraps and hamburgers. The Bucket also has food for customers watching their weight. A grilled chicken sandwich, asian chicken salad or a veggie burger for $4.20 are among the healthier options. For a large party, appetizers such as chicken strips and chili cheese fries are available.
The Vintage Room is more of a traditional restaurant on campus. Dining services director David Binkle said that various coupons are available on the Web site www.fresnostatedining.com and in the Bulldog Book. Patrons can find the daily specials sketched on a chalkboard just outside of the Vintage Room entrance.
“At this point, our most popular menu item is our daily feature special, which provides exciting new options prepared by our team of quality chefs,â€Â Binkle said.
There are other places to find food other than the center of campus.
The Satellite Student Union, for example, has a snack bar that has pre-made Subway sandwiches, among other items.
Binkle, whose office is just under the University Courtyard Dining Hall (UCDH), has been getting many compliments about the renovations that have been done, as well as the flavorsome food in the UCDH.
Binkle said that meal plans are available for students who live in the dorms as well as for students who commute to campus. Meal plans are calculated in meal equivalent blocks as well as dollar volume blocks. For those who walk in, there are different prices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. One promotion that the UCDH just started is $5 Fridays.
Andre Ennis, a junior music education major, likes to eat at Panda Express and Chick-fil-A, but mainly eats at the UCDH.
“I eat here just about every day, if not at least four or five times a week,â€Â Ennis said.
A number of restaurants near campus may offer students an enjoyable social setting and a good meal.
Perhaps the most elegant restaurant near campus is The Old Spaghetti Factory, located on Shaw Avenue just west of Cedar Avenue. Manager Fue Yang said that the most popular dish is the spaghetti with browned butter and mizithra cheese. The restaurant is in the process of working a deal out with Fresno State to give students a discount on food.
One favorite among students is Doghouse Grill, on Shaw Avenue across from the Save Mart Center. Doghouse Grill General Manager Matt Bilingsley said that the busiest days are Thursdays and Fridays, and the most popular item is the tri-tip sandwich. Promotions and offers for students were considered but never put into effect.
Another student favorite is University Chicken, on Shaw just east of the student-heavy North Park apartment complex. University Chicken General Manager Jeremy Dominguez said that sororities and fraternities sometimes partner up with the restaurant to raise money by bringing in friends. Fifteen percent of sales for those nights are given to the organization.
REDZONE, a student-led sports booster club, was also given about $7,000 in gift certificates to distribute among students. The most ordered item are the buffalo wings. There are seven different kinds of wings that are offered, with “Globalâ€Â being the hottest.
“We offer a 911 challenge,â€Â Dominguez said. “You have to eat 12 wings in 10 minutes without drinking anything or using any napkins. If you finish, you get a free T-shirt and your picture on the wall.â€Â
With so many options close by, students with a craving for a snack or a rumbling stomach will find no shortage of places to satisfy their appetites.