BEST OF THE BEST : Campus cafeterias

by Erica Fifelski and Kaylen Leishman

Whenever people think of dorm food, AMAZING! is not what automatically comes to mind. Maybe “gross,” “never” or “you’ve got to be kidding me.”

Not at MSU, however.  With more than 14 different resident hall cafeterias and a few Totally Takeouts to choose from, MSU students are sure to find a cuisine combination to suit their ever-rumbling stomach desires.

West Circle: Landon
First up on our trip across campus, we put our home turf to the test. We heard through the grapevine that Landon was ranked number three last year on the best places to eat at campus…and we’re not gonna lie, it could very well be true.  Landon is what you could call a Creation Station. Students tell the chefs what they want and it is made before their very eyes (not bad at all).   Between the ever-changing international food and Gil working the sandwich station, you just can’t go wrong.  Plus, who can forget the ONLY Slushie machine on campus is located right there, too. 

Landon overall: A classy creation.

Brody Zone: Brody
The next night we decided to venture ten minutes over to Brody complex to put The Nook on trial.  When we arrived, we were shocked to see that at 5:30 p.m., the dinner rush lines were short. We were dazzled by the variety of food offered - from Mexican rice, chips and salsa to cherry cheesecake and then there were the chandeliers. Very classy, very classy indeed.  Not only were the food choices phenomenal, but also what really stood out were the calorie listings near the ice cream machines.

Brody overall: a fiesta of food choices.

South Complex: Wonders
A serious step down from Brody. The size of the Wonders cafeteria was significantly smaller, as was the selection of food. Tables were very spread out, unlike Landon.  When we arrived around 5:00 p.m., and it was surprising to see short lines for everything.  Dinner rush?  Not here. The self-saute tent and extensive salad and fruit assortments made up for the meager entre options. While we were happy with our salad greens and other assorted vegetables, we left Wonders feeling a little short changed.

Wonders overall: a melancholy misfortune.

East Complex: Hubbard
Next on our stop was the infamous Hubbard Hall.  Our sources say that Hubbard is the best. Not only did we brave the new food and surroundings, but this quest also required braving the CATA buses.  When we talked up the stairs, we were delighted by the  spectacle that put even Brody to shame. It features modern décor, with dozens of students roaming around with rumbling stomachs.  Who knew this many choices existed in one place? Overwhelmed, we previewed each option before making our selections. Entering the dining room was a treat in itself. Basically, this cafeteria offers anything you could think of. Overall, Hubbard on our charts is a five star cafeteria. We definitely recommend it to everyone, even if it means traveling a million years from your dorm . 

Hubbard overall: A delectable delight indeed.

NOTE: For those students with food allergies, particularly those with lactose intolerance, we made note that soymilk and rice milk are available at the cafeterias for your convenience.