I lived on campus for my first two years at ETSU, and like most students living on campus, I was forced to purchase a meal plan and eat at the dining hall every day.
After eating there almost every day for four semesters, I became an expert on the strengths and shortcomings of the dining hall. On a day to day basis, I thought the food was very sub-par. Everything was edible – most of the time – but it was something I didn’t enjoy eating and got tired of quickly.
After moving off campus, I had no intention of ever eating at the dining hall again, but after the major renovations, I heard my friends raving about how good the food was and how nice the new space was. I grew curious, so I took a trip there and was immediately shocked at how much the space has changed.
The interior has a modern and upscale feel with earth-toned floors, shiny windows, glass display cases and a completely open floor plan. There is more seating spread out through the area, and the tables and chairs are new and have a sleeker look.
Along with the aesthetic, some of the food seems to have improved as well, though some recipes have stayed the same. I had the salmon and mashed sweet potatoes, and the salmon was delicious and well-seasoned, while the potatoes were about the same as they have been in previous years.
I also had to try a dining hall staple, the pizza, and I was pleasantly surprised. The pizza is wood-fired now in a giant oven instead of their standard oven they’ve used previously. It wasn’t the best slice of pepperoni pizza I’ve ever had, but it definitely an upgrade.
For dessert, I wanted to try another dining hall staple: their cookies. I tried one of each type available that day: chocolate chip, white chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin. I’ve always enjoyed the cookies, but these were exceptional; all three were incredibly soft, delicious and practically melted in my mouth.
My only complaint that I have about my experience was that several of the drink flavors were empty, which was always a common problem, particularly on the weekends. Considering the newer results, this problem is easily solvable and should be fixed in no time.
If you’re a commuter student who tried the dining hall in the past and didn’t like it, I would take advantage of the free voucher the ETSU Dining Services and Adult, Commuter and Transfer Services is awarding all commuter students. Hopefully, other students will have the same positive dining experience I had, and the dining hall will consistently have quality food throughout the rest of the year.
