Chinese food, noodles are what students crave for additional on campus dining
Between dining halls, fast food outlets, coffee shops and vending machines, there are a variety of places to grab a bite to eat on Central Michigan University's campus.
Thanks to campus dining, residential restaurants and convenience stores, most students are satisfied when its mealtime.
Fresh Food Company, located in the East Campus Dining Commons, is a popular spot where students go to grab some grub on campus.
"My favorite place to eat on campus is Fresh, definitely," said Danny Karadsheh, a Caledonia senior. "They usually have a good variety of meal options and generally good food to eat."
Other students prefer eating at the Down Under Food Court, which can be found in the terrace level of the Bovee University Center.
"I like eating at the Down Under when I'm on campus," said Tianyu Liu, a graduate student from China. "It's got a lot of different options, and it's a little bit different experience."
Despite the variety of food options available, many students voiced their opinions about which restaurants and food chains they would like to see on campus.
Several students, including Karadsheh and Liu, agreed there should be a place for authentic Chinese cuisine at CMU.
"I think Chinese would be really popular on campus, and we don't really have a good option for that here," Karadsheh said. "I know Dragon Express is really popular in town, but we could use something actually on the school's campus."
Liu said she thought a bubble tea bar, such as Bubble Island in Lansing, would go over well with students and spark a lot of interest. Bubble Island is a cafe with available smoothie, juice and tea bars.
Noodles & Company was another recommendation among students.
"I'd have to say Noodles & Company because of its flexibility," said Saline sophomore Victoria Vanhout. "It's a great restaurant for a casual lunch, but the food is good enough and the decor warm enough to be an acceptable date diner that doesn't break a budget. Also, the diversity of the menu is amazing in that whether your feeling Italian food or oriental, you can find it in the same place. The menu accommodates people with specialized diets without limiting them to a few bland options, so it welcomes everyone."
Other students were equally as impressed with the company's diversity in menu as well, including Madeleine Piotter, a sophomore from East Lansing.
"It's delicious and they have a variety of pastas and salads, so everyone can find something they like," she said. "They have different pastas from all over the world, and I love that you can pick what one you like and get a taste of their culture."
There was a general consensus in attaining healthier dining options among the students with many recommending non-franchise establishments.
"I think it would be cool to have a frozen yogurt place on campus, or like a juice bar," said Milford junior Erin Barrett. "Something trendy with healthier options for students to take advantage of as well."
Although students are clamoring for changes on campus, Port Huron sophomore Jacqueline Coleman said there is no need for anymore restaurants.
"We have so many, do we really need more?" she asked. "I say support smaller businesses around the area"
