A major part of college decision-making is the dining situation. What will you soon be consuming on a daily basis? The options have changed; it is no longer your fam’s home cooking, whatever you used to pack in your lunchbox or high school cafeteria food. It is the big leagues—college dining halls.
I am only joking, of course, dining is not a major part of college decision making, but for many, it is a relatively important aspect of the collegiate experience. So, what does Florida State University (FSU) have in store? What is in a meal swipe?
*Disclaimer: this is being reported during covid-times. While there are many great dining options at FSU currently, not all of them are open. This is to keep everyone eating happy and healthy, that just means unfortunately places like the on-campus Steak and Shake are temporarily closed. But stay tuned, other options are still crazy good, I promise. And maybe, by the time you are here, things will be opening back up!*
Of course, one meal swipe gets you a meal at any one of the dining halls. Currently, that being Suwannee Room. Located on the right side of the heart of the campus life—Landis Green. This location is unbeaten! What I am sure any prospective or current FSU student is more excited for, however, is the VIP Meal Exchange program. This is an aspect connected with all meal plans offered at the home of the Noles. And what it means, is at any of the following locations, you can use one meal swipe a day. Not in a dining hall. You are not ready for this list, and some examples of what you can get.
C.O.E. Café
A bit of an underdog, and in part due to its location at the College of Engineering Café. The place is located at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, and it offers something for everyone. Open weekdays for breakfast and lunch, the café is running with “made-to-order eggs and omelets, hash browns, grits, bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, breakfast wraps and more. The lunch menu includes grilled burgers and fries, veggie burgers, grilled and fried chicken sandwiches and favorites such as burritos, tacos, taco salads, nachos and other satisfying sides.”
Subway
The Den
FSU has an on-campus Denny’s, and if you are not entirely sure what that is, boy are you missing out. Denny’s is a chain of casual comfort food, and The Den is just a spinoff of such. The Den features a “breakfast-all-day menu that includes the famous Original Grand Slam breakfast (two eggs, two sausages, two pieces of bacon and two pancakes), breakfast platters, cheese melts, sandwiches, wraps, hand-crafted salads, chicken strips, hand-smashed 100 percent pure beef burgers, burritos and epic old-school milkshakes.” My friend’s roommate comes home almost every night with the best smelling burger and sweet potato fries. And let me tell you, the pancake stack late at night during a fire alarm mishap? To die for.
Einstein Bros Bagels
You are seeing that right. We have an on-campus Einstein Bros. You can never go wrong with a bagel, and Einstein’s has even more than just that. You can “start your day with a wide selection range of bagels, signature sandwiches and coffee! Einstein’s serves all-day breakfast, hot and toasty tostinis, pastries and more.” They also have master bagel creations, bagels with egg, avocado and bacon—the list is mouthwatering. With your yummy food, you can also choose from a selection of coffees and smoothies! I will say, the coffee is not as good as Dunkin’ or Starbs, but hey, it’s a bagel shop!
“Fan Favorites: Fresh Brewed Coffee, Bagel with Plain Cream Cheese, Everything Bagel with Salmon Cream Cheese and Bagel Bites!”
Tuscan Eatery
The Tuscan Eatery is a pretty cool place. As soon as you walk in, you can see the 600-degree wood-fired grill. From that crazy hot grill, you can “enjoy a variety of rustic pizzas, paninis and salads. Signature Italian dishes include a secret-recipe lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken breast parmesan, grilled chicken Caesar salad and more.” Attached to the dorm Azalea, this place is your go-to spot for a pizza night. Want a treat with that? Add something from their cannoli, cookie or cheesecake selections. Fan favorites include “Fettuccini alfredo with chicken, chicken parmigiana, meat lasagna, Hawaiian pizza, pepperoni pizza and cheese pizza.”
Tally Mac Shack
“The Tally Mac Shack puts an innovative twist on a culinary classic with unique, flavor-infused macaroni and cheese creations. This popular Tallahassee business started as a food truck offering a variety of flavor combinations. One recipe uses a simple blend of mild cheddar, American, mozzarella and provolone cheeses, while another called the ‘Clucking Ranch’ includes a more complex mix of ranch-infused cheddar, pepper jack and mozzarella macaroni topped with shredded buffalo chicken and drizzled with buttermilk ranch. The menu lets you ‘Mac It Our Way’ or ‘Mac It Your Way’ by creating your own mac-and-cheese base, protein and vegetable combination.”
The site description speaks for itself. My cousin who attends FSU with me, upon our first week of arrival, vowed he would try every flavor. And he has! Not one has been a disappointment. Also connected to Azalea, the location is perfect for your college mac-n-cheese needs, for when you need to switch it up from your Kraft.
Starbucks
Fun Fact: Starbucks Strozier is the nation’s first double-sided Starbucks, supplying students their caffeine both inside and outside the library.
There is also Starbucks Dirac! The same great coffee just located at the library for S.T.E.M.! The scenic walk is also just nice sometimes if you want a good bit of fresh air.
Chick-fil-A
“FSU loves its Chick-fil-A!” I‘ve never heard a truer statement. And yes, once again, you are reading this right. You can meal swipe and have Chick-fil-A every day. I am going to say that again. You can meal swipe and have Chick-fil-A every day. Located right off the side of Landis Greens, a perfect location for the perfect meal. Here you can get the “famous chicken sandwich, chicken nuggets, waffle fries, wraps, refreshing lemonade and milkshakes.” All of these great things have made the restaurant one of the most popular dining spots on campus. Fan favorites include the “Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Market Salad with avocado lime ranch, fresh-squeezed lemonade, hand-spun milkshakes.”
I can vouch. Those are for sure some of my favorites.
So, what’s in a meal swipe you may ask? Let me tell you—a LOT!
All quotes were taken from the web pages for these FSU locations. To look for yourself, you can click here!
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