Are you stuck and depressed with your friends as you try to consider for what seems the hundredth time where you can get some good food and still use the meal plan, since, after all, your parents pay for that? Well, I don’t think I have any hard and fast answers, but hopefully this article will make you a more informed campus eater, and knowing is half the battle. I also realize it is virtually the end of the year, so unfortunately, especially for seniors, this information may not serve a lot of immediate benefit; yet, I hope for some people my analysis will open their eyes to other dimensions of culinary enjoyment. Let us first start off in Rand, the center of all things food.

Here we have Blue Corn Cocina. This offers a variety of Mexican style foods, including taco salads, quesadillas and burritos. If you’re seeking something “south of the border,” here’s where you can get your fix.
Best feature: The little-known option of make your own tacos, which gives you three soft shells and almost always far more ingredients than you can use. This is a great meal plan value.
Worst feature: The beans and spicy sauces can sit uneasily in your stomach.
Comparative Rating: 8

Next there is Chef James Rotisserie. Often referred to as “home-style cooking,” this restaurant seldom fails to deliver a hit. The food will fill your belly and stick to your insides with regularly available classic sides of mashed potatoes, macaroni and the various delicious cobblers. This location also contains those soft and tasty yeast rolls.
Best feature: The classic, irreplaceable rotisserie chicken, which can’t get old and is a good fail-safe.
Worst feature: Hard to find, but they will occasionally serve clearly inedible sides, such as asparagus.
CR: 10.

Further down the line, we have Lunch Paper, with the ever-changing menu. Call me racist and biased, but international food just isn’t that good. That’s why I live in America (plus I was born here). However, if you are the more exotic type, Lunch Paper might just have the goods to add some diversity to your palate.
Best feature: The ability to see your lunch being grilled up in front of you.
Worst feature: The unappetizing sample plates put on display which contain discouraging images of old and dried up food and often collect flies.
CR: 6

Last down the line, we discover Corner Market, a solid location for a healthy, traditional sandwich, though it begs the question: who actually eats the pickle?
Best feature: A chicken sandwich to rival Quizno’s.
Worst Feature: If you catch lunch at the wrong time because of the popularity of this establishment, the line can be daunting.
CR: 9

The rest of the cafeteria area is composed of the various open food bars: The salad, soup and pasta bars. If you’re in a rush to grab some food, or if you want to be able to eat as many olives as you want, this option can be a good deal. It also gives you the opportunity to load your plate to almost overflowing and still get it counted as one meal.
Best feature: Freedom of selection and combinations.
Worst feature: The danger of people handling food and putting it back.
CR: 7

In the other connecting section of Rand, we have CX2, clearly the most extreme place to eat on campus. If you feel like living on the wild side and flirting with dangerous levels of cholesterol, there is no place like CX2. From the hardcore music to the various sports stickers, no environment equals that of CX2.
Best feature: You don’t have to eat at Wendy’s to get fast food on the card!
Worst feature: You can never know how long food has been sitting out under the heat lamps.
CR: 5

Some might feel Stonehenge is merely a Corner Market poseur, but that’s not true. The sandwiches are served hoagie style and the environment can give you a chance to get away from the bustle of Rand.
Best feature: The ice. Why don’t they use that ice in all the soda machines?
Worst feature: The steaming process keeps it warm for a limited time, often turning cold and soggy mid sandwich.
CR: 7

Upstairs in Rand, we have The Pub, with a great balcony and a terrific light-up order alert. With private, roomy booths and the addition of syrup you can pour in your drink to make it more delicious, The Pub is a great location.
Best feature: Only place to get a steak on campus.
Worst feature: Dinner extras seem to be gradually disappearing.
CR: 8

Moving over to Branscomb, we have Ro-Tiki. It has that carefree tropical environment. Also, Ro-Tiki gives you a terrific chance to show off how hilarious you can be by coming up with clever little false names to enter into the machine, such as “Bigbird,” and “Alzilla” and then snicker with your friends when your name is called.
Best feature: Meal plan pizzas and poking the computer monkey.
Worst feature: No immediate seating available.
CR: 6

Whether you’re a weight-conscious girl, a health freak or just a pansy, Grins offers the alternative style of eating, with many healthy eating options. If you feel greased-out, check out the natural options here.
Best feature: Unbelievably good peanut butter/banana wraps.
Worst feature: Inescapable lack of meat.
CR: 7

On the opposite side of campus is Peabody’s answer to Chef James, Cohen. Cohen has a wide selection of delicious entrees that are very filling, and also contains a large eating area.
Best feature: Tortellini Tuesday.
Worst feature: If you’re not a sophomore or Peabody major, it’s hard to motivate yourself to travel to this location.
CR: 10

Over in Towers, we have two restaurants in one room! This makes rushed eating an easier process as you can quickly scan for the shortest line. C.T. West gives various “western” style options, complete with pictures of cowboys and that classy saloon feeling, and has the option of the baked potato side, almost a meal in itself.
Best feature: Super sweet lemonade.
Worst feature: As a ribs connoisseur, I was devastated to see C.T. West’s attempt.
CR: 8

On the other side, we have the classic Quizno’s, also available in Highland quad. This provides a filling sandwich and also has those delicious snickerdoodle cookies, which are irresistible when toasted.
Best feature: Possibility of being served by Tom, the lovable and eccentric Quizno’s manager.
Worst feature: When living in Towers or Highland, the food can start to get repetitive.
CR: 10

Now that you’re a more informed eater, you’re ready to get the most out of your meal plan. Enjoy the rest of the year!

Justin Poythress is a sophomore in Peabody College.