It’s time to make the call because you’re probably going to need some more meal points soon. Ibby’s, the new bistro located in the Danforth University Center, is in business, and it’s official: Wash. U. is spoiling us rotten. Now students have the opportunity to dine first-class on campus and pay with meal points. What could be better?

Conveniently situated on the first floor of the DUC, Ibby’s, named for the late Elizabeth “Ibby” Gray Danforth, allows students to momentarily escape the long lines of Bear’s Den and the monotony of eating the same old stuff by transporting us into a world of fine food, efficient service and intimate dining.

Ibby’s has a classy, romantic feel. Frank Sinatra croons in the background “It Had to Be You” as waiters and waitresses dressed in black rush to refill glasses of water and serve gourmet meals. The black painted walls contrast with small red lights hanging overhead. Each table is covered with a white cloth and adorned with its own candle. The lighting was perfect, providing a sense of ambiance without hindering one’s ability to see friends and read the menu.

Ibby’s one-page menu offers variety without overwhelming its patrons. The bistro offers standards, including Missouri corn chowder soup, as well as classic caesar and baby spinach salads. Entrée salads are also offered, as are sandwiches and wraps, including a grilled chicken sandwich.

The bistro also dabbles into more adventurous cuisine. The bistro serves small plates, which include such enticing options as locally-grown exotic mushrooms, smoked gulf shrimp, crab cakes and mussels. For the hungry student ready to splurge, larger pastas and entrées are available, ranging from gnocchi to pork shanks to rainbow trout.

Once our orders were taken, we were presented with an impressive selection of breads and dips. We were served three different types of bread: a rustic, crusty wheat bread, small flavorful biscuits and crunchy triangular cheddar pita chips. The breads could be paired with either olive oil, roasted red pepper butter or a delicious dip made of lentils, which tasted like hummus with a hint of curry.

We began our meal with a small plate of duck springs rolls. The crispy rolls were presented promptly on a long white plate. Filled with shredded duck, these unique and savory rolls were paired with a brightly colored crisp jicama slaw and a sweet orange-chili glaze. The only complaint would be that the portion was minimal. When they say that it’s a small plate, they mean it. There were only four rolls, and while they were a normal size width-wise, they were about the length of a tube of chapstick.

Our entrées arrived soon after we had finished the spring rolls. We tried the strip steak, which was served with a tasty blue cheese potato gratin. Cooked to perfection, the steak was big and worth the price, which was the highest on the menu. We also tried the Mediterranean Vegetable Orchiette. Orecchiette are a distinctive type of pasta shaped roughly like small ears—hence the name Orechiette, meaning “little ears” in Italian. This was paired with a variety of vegetables, including fennel, rapini— similar to broccoli—sweet oven dried roma tomatoes, toasted garlic and artichokes. The portion of the pasta was generous. To my dismay, however, the lemon herb olive oil sauce was not my favorite. I found it to be too watery and tangy. While I ate the dish and considered it to be decent, I would not order it again.

Once the waiter informed us that we could indeed pay with our meal points, we decided to go ahead and try the desserts, which were excellent. We tried the chocolate silk pie. Though the piece was small, its richness and truly silky texture made up for its petite stature. We also tried the Apple Brown Bettie. Served in a dish with thinly sliced apples, this warm dessert spiced with cinnamon and topped with a large spoonful of vanilla ice cream reminded me of my mom’s homemade apple crisp. Let me tell you—that is a high compliment.

So all-in-all, if you want top-notch food on campus, Ibby’s is without a doubt the place to go. It’s not perfect, but minus a few faux pas, it’s getting there. Ibby’s would be a great place to go for a fun, fancy night out with friends or parents. But I have to say that it seems best suited for a date. The romantic atmosphere combined with the fine food and convenience seems like the perfect way to go out with that special someone if you can’t make your way off campus. I know that I’ll be heading back to Ibby’s, I just need to come up with an excuse for my parents. Is there such a thing as an exotic mushroom deficiency?

Ibby’s Bistro, the newest addition to the Bon Appétit family here at Wash. U., features a full-service dining option conveniently located in the Danforth University Center (DUC).

Perfect for a night out with friends looking to spice up their meals and escape the crowded, long lines of the main food center of the DUC, the bistro is especially perfect for a couple seeking a romantic date. We set out to truly get the “dibs” on “Ibbs.”

Upon walking into Ibby’s, the Asian Feng Shui feel of the restaurant both surprised and delighted us. Classy and elegant, yet simultaneously modern, Ibby’s décor provided overall sensual, inviting tones. Red, modern lighting helped create the sensual yet cozy intimate sentiments and elegance of the bistro; exactly what you would expect form a date restaurant. The extremely friendly and courteous host of Ibby’s greeted Meredith and me, as he led us to a booth nestled between two other booths filled with people. While the booths are indeed closely spaced, this allowed for mingling with other diners at the booths next to us. However, if you are looking for a more secluded dining experience, the tables will provide just this.

Upon sitting down, even before we were greeted by our server, a lovely couple next to us spoke their praise for the restaurant to us. Also first timers to the restaurant, they were very impressed with their dining experience and agreed that it is a perfect place for romantic dates, but that it also welcomes groups of friends.

Essentially the only drawback to eating at Ibby’s is the actual food price, as the food is definitely on the pricier side. While an entrée and dessert usually go for 18 dollars, a meal complete with a glass of wine, an entrée, dessert and a starter can run up to 35 dollars. The nice part about this is the ability to pay with one’s own meal points, and yes, checks can be split. Be careful with this option while on a date, though. Going “dutch” is an issue unto itself. But what the card option means, in other words, is that you can now get your parents to—unknowingly—pay for your date. This is perfect if you are a little short on cash, but just scored the date with that hot girl—or guy—from chemistry class.

The standard eating time at Ibby’s is an hour, so if you are in a small group or on a date, give yourself about an hour minimum to enjoy your dining experience. You may want to plan out even more time than that, considering an on-campus date removes any chance of talking before or after your meal.

Ultimately, Ibby’s will definitely satisfy any student looking for a quiet, intimate dining option or a friendly, entertaining night out with friends. To say the least, it is a huge step up from Bear’s Den. While it was really never okay back in my days as a freshman to go on dates at Bear’s Den, with the addition of Ibby’s there is definitely now no excuse to continue going on dates to Bear’s Den. In fact, one of the great things about Ibby’s is that students now have easy access to a nice restaurant without a car. This means that you now have no excuse for not going to a nice dinner on a date.

So grab your friends or boyfriend/girlfriend and head to Ibby’s soon to discover for yourself the dibs on Ibby’s; you will be glad you did!