For most Vanderbilt students, eating at Rand night after night is about as exciting as an 8 a.m. biology lab on a Friday morning. Fortunately, thanks to the addition of Vanderbilt’s new dining facility at The Commons, students now have the opportunity to expand their taste palates. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, The Food Gallery provides students with a pleasurable dining experience. The building itself is built with high ceilings, clean lines and large windows that brighten the entire facility. Though The Commons dormitories are intended for the class of 2012, The Food Gallery allows all Vanderbilt students to reap the benefits of The Commons — especially those living on Peabody.
Even the quality of food is unmatched anywhere on campus, and people seem to be impressed by the menu. Sophomore Chip Robie said, “The food here is much improved, and the atmosphere makes you forget that you’re in a cafeteria.”
Tired of the soggy pizza at Rotiki? The Food Gallery’s Brick Oven station is a haven for the pizza connoisseur. Made from scratch, the pizzas and pastas available at lunch are like cheap plane tickets to Italy.
Besides the Brick Oven, The Food Gallery boasts three other stations: The Grill, the Center Island and the Chef’s Table. The Grill serves burgers, chicken and sandwiches while the Chef’s Table is the source of made-to-order stir-fry and other such entrees. And while The Food Gallery prides itself on serving healthy meals, the salad bar on the Center Island offers health-conscious students a variety of salad accessories that are far tastier than those offered at Rand. And of course, for those of us who are not so nutritionally inclined, the Center Island also offers as a dessert station.
Freshman Kristen Godfrey said, “Even though having classes on Peabody is a hassle, just knowing that as soon as class ends I can pop in here for lunch makes the trek from Branscomb that much easier. The food is so much better than at Rand, and I love that everything is so eco-friendly.”
Another distinguishing feature of The Commons is its dedication to the environment. Common Grounds, a smaller coffee shop located in the same building is a 24-hour coffee and snack shop. It serves to-go sandwiches, drinks and a sampling of organic health food. The majority of the products are biodegradable or made from recycled products.
The Commons Dining Center is a new step for Vanderbilt, and will hopefully spur the entire campus to focus more attention on health and recycling. An innovative center, The Commons is making all students jealous of next year’s freshman class.
“If only I had deferred a year,” joked freshman Erin Loeb as he sat down to a burger.
