OPINION: Gatton Dining, Ranked

Introduction

I, along with members of First Floor North 2023, ranked the top ten places to eat on campus as a Gatton student. WKU’s twenty-two dining options (and El Maz) were narrowed down to what we decided were the best twelve. The top options were then ranked based on their overall score out of thirty. The scores were voted on by the floor and decided through majority rule (I personally chose the order for any ties).

Scoring

The scores for each dining option were broken down into four categories of varying weight. Below is a list of each category along with a brief description of what it represents and (in parenthesis) how many points the category contributes to the overall score. It is worth noting that food restrictions were not heavily taken into consideration when assigning scores.

• Value Meal Score (10) – This category considers the amount of food given per meal swipe as well as the taste of each option’s value meals.
• Convenience Score (5) – This category considers a dining option’s wait times, relative location, transition times, and use of Dining Sidekick.
• Service Score (10) – This category considers the attitude and skill of the employees.
• Quality Score (5) – This category considers a dining option’s overall quality including food off the value meal.

HM) Fresh Food Company

Fresh ranks just outside the top ten as an honorable mention. While one meal swipe can get someone as much food as they want, the actual food you’re receiving can range from good (the breakfast) to mediocre (the tilapia). In terms of convenience, Fresh’s biggest strength is its early opening times; however, it loses points for its long transition times.

• Value Meal Score – 5
• Convenience Score – 3
• Service Score – 5
• Quality Score – 1
• Overall – 14/30

HM) Moe’s Southwest Grill

Once considered a premier spot to eat on campus, Moe’s has fallen from grace. With their value meals, you can expect a filling and delicious meal (especially if you pick the bowl). However, Moe’s is arguably the most inconvenient dining option on campus. Theoretically, being located at the Commons should help its Convenience Score but its wait times completely negate this. Despite being solely on Dining Sidekick, you can still expect to wait around two hours before getting your food. If you plan to order after 10:30 AM, forget it, by the time they would be preparing your order Moe’s would be closed. And why on earth is there an employee whose only job is to fill bags with chips! All this said, it’s undeniable that Moe’s has good-tasting food.

• Value Meal Score – 8
• Convenience Score – 0
• Service Score – 2
• Quality Score – 4
• Overall – 14/30

10) Spencer’s Coffee

At the number ten spot, we have one of WKU’s coffee shops, Spencer’s. Like every coffee shop on campus, Spencer’s has no value meals. Being in The Commons, Spencer’s isn’t a far walk from Florence Schneider. The only knock on its convenience is the massive lines filled with caffeine addicts during the morning and earlier afternoon. According to some of their regulars, Spencer’s workers, as a collective, might be the kindest employees on campus. In terms of coffee and tea, many claim that it is the best on campus; and while I personally prefer Java City’s, the hot chocolate at Spencer’s is also top-tier.

• Value Meal Score – 0
• Convenience Score – 3
• Service Score – 10
• Quality Score – 4
• Overall – 17/30

9) Road Trip America

Road Trip claims our ninth spot. Due to its biscuits and array of sides, Road Trip’s Value Meal Score is slightly above average; similarly, Road Trip maintains an average amount of convenience. The service here isn’t terrible by any means, but at times the employees lose focus which slows down the assembly line. Unfortunately, the overall quality of Road Trip’s food is not great, as the best thing on the menu is the biscuits.

• Value Meal Score – 7
• Convenience Score – 3
• Service Score – 7
• Quality Score – 2
• Overall – 19/30

8) Subway

Subway, the cult classic of WKU restaurants, takes our number eight spot. While there is nothing special about how their value meals’ taste, in terms of food per meal swipe, Subway is one of the best options. For two swipes you can get a foot-long, large drink, and two sides. Subway’s value meal also has the best fountain drink on campus (the vitamin water). Moreover, Subway is one of the most convenient spots on campus. Subway is closer to Gatton than a lot of other restaurants and it has the latest closing times. Subway’s score struggles greatly due to its service. At times, it feels as if the workers are purposely trying to mess up your sandwich. The only reason that Subway’s Service Score is this high is because, on the rare occasion that they have a “perfect lineup”, Subway can turn into an absolute machine. Also, some of the workers can be chill. As for the food off the value meal, you can’t really complain. You do make the sandwich after all.

• Value Meal Score – 8
• Convenience Score – 4
• Service Score – 6
• Quality Score – 3
• Overall – 21/30

7) The Spread

Our seventh spot is occupied by campus’s best sandwich spot, The Spread. This restaurant arguably has WKU’s best value meal options. The sandwiches make my mouth water, and you get even more food than at Subway. However, the only restaurant farther away from Gatton than the Spread is the Den by Denny’s. The Spread tries to make up for this by being solely on Dining Sidekick, but the restaurant will often delay your order multiple times. Additionally, being on Dining Sidekick means you don’t really interact with the employees, so there’s really nothing to say about their service one way or another. Still, whenever it’s suggested, I never pass on The Spread because all the food is just that good.

• Value Meal Score – 10
• Convenience Score – 0
• Service Score – 6
• Quality Score – 5
• Overall – 21/30

6) Hilltopper Hub

Hilltopper, the better dining hall at WKU, is at our sixth spot. Just like Fresh, Hilltopper is buffet-style; and Hilltopper has food that you consistently want to eat. Despite being the closest dining option to Florence Schneider, Hilltopper loses some points in convenience due to its transition times, though not as long as Fresh’s. Furthermore, the employees at Hilltopper are quite enjoyable. They always have their card scanner ready to go; additionally, there are some employees that will make you an active participant in their life (if you know you know). The overall quality of Hilltopper’s food is just average but remember this is only a college dining hall.

• Value Meal Score – 7
• Convenience Score – 4
• Service Score – 8
• Quality Score – 3
• Overall – 22/30

5) P.O.D Market

The biggest surprise on this list and barely making the top five is POD. I will not lie POD does not have the best value meals in terms of taste or amount; its saving grace is that it has the most drink options and they come in bottles. However, you can’t get more convenient than a literal convenience store. POD is at a prime location and takes only as long as you make it. Furthermore, POD workers are good at their job. They never make a transaction longer than it needs to be. While the food on their value meal is the definition of mid, the overall quality is nearly unmatched. For goodness sakes, we’re talking about a convenience store. You want ice cream, they got it! You want Red Bull, they got it! You want a toothbrush, they got it! There’s a reason Gatton students lose the majority of their meal plan dollars here.

• Value Meal Score – 6
• Convenience Score – 5
• Service Score – 7
• Quality Score – 5
• Overall – 23/30

4) Panda Express

Panda Express is just outside the top three. Panda has also had above average value meals; but recently, they have elevated their choices with the addition of their meal swipe of the week. This was a much-needed increase in diversity, and now their most popular entrée, the orange chicken, is available for a meal swipe around once a month. It’s not uncommon for Panda to have long lines but they move quickly so it is not really an inconvenience. While the workers are nice people who work efficiently, the way they portion the food is unacceptable. There is no reason that my bowl should be ninety percent rice, nine percent vegetables, and one percent meat. The food is still gas though, and you never have to question why you’re spending meal plan dollars for options off the value meal.

• Value Meal Score – 9
• Convenience Score – 3
• Service Score – 6
• Quality Score – 5
• Overall – 23/30

3) DaVinci’s

Taking the bronze, our third-place pick is DaVinci’s. While it’s not the most food, DaVinci’s value meal has some good quality pizzas. I have also heard good things about their sandwich meal swipe; conversely, I hear their oatmeal is diabolical and their muffin meal swipe is a borderline scam. While DaVinci’s is rather far from Gatton, it is also the only restaurant on that side of campus. By far their biggest strength is their customer service. While most of their employees hover just around average, DaVinci’s has the single best dining employee on campus. This worker knows nearly everyone’s names and even some of the regulars’ orders. They have a special gift to make people feel appreciated. Unfortunately, Davinci’s overall quality varies.

• Value Meal Score – 7
• Convenience Score – 4
• Service Score – 10
• Quality Score – 3
• Overall – 24/30

2) Chick-fil-A

Our list’s runner-up is the one and only Chick-fil-A. There aren’t too many holes that you can poke at their value meals. The food is exactly what you would expect from Chick-fil-A: delicious and filling. In reality, the only problem with their value meal is the fruit cup option, because they never fail to run out of it. In spite of how long their lines can become, I’m always surprised by how fast you get through them. Even when they only have one cashier, the line moves at a reasonable pace. Considering this is a Chick-fil-A, it should be no surprise that the service is top-notch. As a collective, the workers operate in a way that meets the high standards of their establishment. There are even certain workers that exceed the already high expectations. However, they do lose points due to a small minority of workers having constant bad days. When you eat at Chick-fil-A, you can expect nothing less than that guaranteed Chick-fil-A quality.

• Value Meal Score – 8
• Convenience Score – 4
• Service Score – 9
• Quality Score – 4
• Overall – 25/30

1) Eiffel Pizza

And the title of the best place to eat on campus goes to Eiffel Pizza. As recently as a semester ago, Eiffel Pizza was not even scratching the top ten; however, the changes they’ve made to their value meals have spear headed their campaign. Not only has there been an increase in the diversity but also the caliber of pizza served for a meal swipe. Additionally, Eiffel’s new Smash Burger might be the best value meal inside of The Commons and easily the best burger on campus. Even with everything that has already been said, the value meal’s biggest strength is the sheer quantity of food you can get. For two meal swipes, you can get five wings, a burger, fries, a pizza slice, and three drinks. Eiffel Pizza also has underrated convenience. There has never been a time where I left their line due to a perceived wait time. Similarly, their service is no joke. Once you order, they get straight to work; there is also the added bonus that they are the only employees who ask if you’d like ice. The only real blemish on their service is that sometimes they struggle to fully understand the modifications you’re requesting on your burger, but they have even been improving in this area. Eiffel Pizza is a remarkable example of a glow-up. I used to just tolerate their food, but now, I gladly partake in and recommend it.

• Value Meal Score – 9
• Convenience Score – 5
• Service Score – 8
• Quality Score – 4
• Overall – 26/30

*Portions of this blog post have been edited for brevity. This post was written in the academic year 2022-2023 and does not reflect the new WKU meal plans as of Summer 2023.

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