The Search for the Perfect On-Campus Lunch Spot
by Henry L.
Hello everyone! My name is Henry and I am a junior studying statistics and economics. Like every single human in the world, eating is extremely important to me. Outside of school, one of my biggest hobbies is finding great places to eat around the city of Pittsburgh. There really are a lot of wonderful options if you do a little bit of research! But today, our topic will focus on finding the perfect lunch spots within a school day.
CMU’s dining is super convenient, as we have over 30 eateries scattered around our campus. This means you don’t have to go all the way from one part of campus to another to eat; rather there is always something within a short walking distance in which you can eat! You can think of an eatery as a small type of restaurant that specializes in a specific type of food or cuisine. It’s very convenient, as depending on what kind of food I want to eat, I know exactly where to go. We have all kinds of options available, but today I want to highlight a few places that I think have the characteristics of the perfect lunch spot:
The Exchange: Located in Posner Hall, The Exchange is a CMU student classic. I’ve never heard anyone say anything remotely negative about the place ever. The Exchange specializes in custom sandwiches, soups, pastas and homemade local entrees such as Turkey Devonshires or Pierogis. The atmosphere is always very lively with great music choices, and all the staff are very friendly, some even remembering my repeat orders! And of course, the food is delicious, and I really like that I can always get something different here, as they offer fresh daily specials. There are a lot of tables to sit at, and if it’s ever too full, Posner Hall also has tables around the building. The Exchange would be my perfect lunch spot on a day where I’ve had a fair few morning classes and just want a filling and hearty meal.
Revolution Noodle: This eatery is on the second floor of the University Center, clustered alongside a bunch of other eateries, similar to a food court. Revolution Noodle allows students to customize noodle bowls where you can choose your type of noodle, broth, protein, etc. Being in the UC is a huge advantage, as the building is has a lot of places to sit, as well as the fact that if you are with other friends who want to eat something different, you can each grab what you want and meet up to eat together. Having grown up eating a lot of similar foods, I think Revolution Noodle does a great job tastewise, and the customization options are similarly great (like The Exchange). This is my perfect lunch spot on a cold, rainy or snowy day (hence more frequented during the winter), as the warm broth really energizes me throughout my day.
Forbes Avenue Subs: this eatery is on the second floor of the Tepper Building, which is a little more niche compared to The Exchange and Revolution Noodle, which are located in more central parts of campus. However, in terms of taste, this place might top it all. Similar to The Exchange, Forbes Avenue Subs has customizable sandwiches. The staff is super friendly, and the line moves very quickly. And most importantly, the food is absolutely scrumptious, with the staff being extremely generous with portions. I may be biased in labelling this place as “perfect.” I usually go here before or after my Economics/Business classes, which are taught in the Tepper building, but I assure you that a walk here from whichever building you are in will make it well worth it. Plus, there is the additional perk of having Millie’s ice cream in the same space for dessert as well! This is the perfect lunch spot when you want to have a meal that makes you think, “What a great meal”
Of course, these are only three of my recommendations out of many more I could give. There are so many options here, and I really like rotating the places I eat at so I don’t get bored. The food options are great, whatever I am getting. In case you do get bored of campus food, we have a lot of great options around our campus, which I highly recommend exploring. So, the central theme of dining here at CMU is the vast opportunities for customization, be it where you are eating and what you are eating. Happy feasting!