Have you ever found yourself standing in line at one of Washington University’s fine eating establishments without a clue of what to order? You order a cup of coffee and wonder why this one tastes mediocre, when the last one you had tasted good and kept you up all night. Wonder no more, because you are about to discover the best and worst that Wash. U. and Bon App‚tit have to offer.

Soup
Hilltop Bakery: Bon App‚tit sells the same soup in virtually every dining establishment at the University, but Hilltop Bakery is worth a special mention because of one of their unique features: bread bowls. Every so often, soups like broccoli cheddar and tomato bisque are served, and the only correct way to consume these soups is inside a bread bowl (or with a grilled cheese sandwich).

Pizza
Business School Lounge: The most bang for your buck. These monster-sized slices are large enough to be your entire meal, and the ladies behind the counter are extremely nice.
Mallinckrodt Food Court: The crust is always soft (but not too soft), the cheese is always perfectly melted, there is plenty of variety and it’s always the shortest line. In short, the individual pizzas at Mallinckrodt are a great way to go, especially when the line for wraps seems to drag on for infinity.
Bear’s Den: Do not eat unless there is no alternative. Some may enjoy the hard, thin crust and the cooking style (usually burnt), but compared to pizza elsewhere on campus, it is inferior. I do, however, applaud Bradley’s creative inventions; thus, if you have a craving for a half-buffalo chicken, half-mushroom pizza, Bear’s Den is the place for you.

Stir-Fry
Center Court: Bon App‚tit’s version of stir-fry is pretty foolproof and in Center Court you can try every kind of stir-fry after paying $7.75. The dish is usually solid, but the choice of sauce can make or break your meal. Teriyaki is always a good choice, but for those who like to take risks, lemon grass and curry sauces add interesting flavors to meat, tofu and veggies. Sometimes the chefs get a little ginger-happy, though, so beware; your stir-fry might be bitter and almost inedible, and there go those 10 minutes you waited in line.
The Village: Stir-fry at the Village is almost the same as that at Center Court, though a little better, and it’s convenient for those who want only stir-fry and don’t want to pay a buffet cover price. The Village has a great variety of vegetables as well, so you can tell yourself you’re being health conscious and load that stir-fry up with everything they have.

Pastries and Baked Goods
Whispers Caf‚: The food sold at Whispers is primarily of the sweet, breakfast or snack nature, so anyone with a sweet tooth or a desire for a crumpet should sample Whispers’ selection. The bagels are always great and they offer a number of fancy-looking (and very sugary) pastries, as well as an endless variety of muffins. A word of advice: while that blueberry or tiramisu muffin looks enticing, there is nothing better than a chocolate muffin. Nothing.
Ursa’s Caf‚: Ursa’s Caf‚ offers a sweeter selection than Whispers, with brownies and raspberry-covered brownies and brownies rolled up into ice cream, as well as great crepes that you can’t get anywhere else on campus.
Bear’s Den: Perhaps my visits to Bear’s Den are different from others’, but it seems like the selection of bagels and pastries is higher at night than in the morning, when more people seem likely to eat them; but, there is never as large of a variety compared to Whispers. Picky eaters need not mess with BD.

Sandwiches
Holmes Lounge: The carvery at Holmes Lounge is by far my favorite thing about the place, and judging by the length of the lines, many other students feel the same way. They also have the option of wraps or paninis, and while Ursa’s sells paninis, they are never as good as those at Holmes.
Mallinckrodt Food Court: Carvery at the Food Court is usually good, and they have amazing macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes. The carvery sandwiches are more meat than anything else, so herbivores should graze elsewhere.
Hilltop Bakery: They offer several different kinds of pre-wrapped sandwiches, including warm sandwiches on focaccia and various cold versions on bagels or croissants. They are good for people on the go, but not as fresh as those offered at Holmes Lounge.

Specialty Drinks
Ursa’s Caf‚: Wash. U.’s night owls are definitely familiar with the far end of Ursa’s where a fancy display offers every variety of hot chocolate and whipped cream under the sun. I have tried them all and I highly recommend the mint and Aztec varieties, as well as strawberry with dark chocolate substituted for white. Chai is also excellent. The selection of latt‚s and cappuccinos may seem small, but don’t be fooled; you can have any number of flavors added to your coffee, or espresso added to your hot chocolate.
Whispers Caf‚: Whispers offers drinks similar to those at Ursa’s but with more types of coffee and fewer types of hot chocolate; you can, of course, still create your own drinks. Raspberry iced tea and bubble tea are unique to Whispers, so those craving something cold should try those drinks.
The Village: Stay away!

Crappy Coffee
Holmes Lounge: Definitely not crappy. Add espresso for an extra kick.
Whispers Caf‚: Also pretty good. The staff at Whispers knows that their nighttime crowd likes to be pleased with their coffee.
Hilltop Bakery: Highly-ranked as well, and with the best mocha on campus.
The Village: Decent, but not the best. If you’re trapped on the North Side, however, and simply can’t get to Whispers, you might have to bite the bullet and buy the coffee.
Ursa’s: Definitely the way to go if you’re desperate for coffee on the South 40. However, you might be tempted to get the coffee with other flavors added.
Bear’s Den: Pretty crappy, but it does the trick (helping this writer stay up to finish this article). Truly crappy coffee seems to have that effect.

Brunch
Center Court: Just can’t be beat. With a buffet cover price, you can have all the brunch delights your stomach can hold. The omelets are amazing and you can fill them with an array of fine additions, and healthy options for the health conscious, but be prepared to wait in line for awhile. But it’s not just breakfast food and favorites commonly found at Center Court dinner that are usually present. Watch out for the fruit police, however, and don’t get caught with any brunch-to-go on your way out.
The Village: For the more selective palette, The Village offers brunch but without the buffet approach, so diners can order items individually. The fruit salad options are extensive and the omelet line usually isn’t too long. The Village is, however, a bit of a trek from the South 40 and not conducive to rolling out of bed and into brunch.

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