Food is perhaps the second most critical aspect of college life behind Facebook (followed by academics, of course). Though many associate college food with unidentifiable mush and burgers so greasy the buns are saturated, Stony Brook’s options are so broad, there is something for everyone.
The Student Activities Center, or SAC, is the epicenter of dining services on campus. Hungry students from West Apartments to H Quad flock to the SAC during peak lunch hours, and the cafeteria subsequently turns into a madhouse between 11:00 a.m. and 2 p.m., particularly during Campus Lifetime on Wednesdays. The SAC is guaranteed to be packed in the middle of the day, so unless a line that wraps around the perimeter of the seated dining area sounds appealing, find somewhere else to eat during lunch. Otherwise, the SAC is a perfect pit stop for an in between class snack or dinner with friends. The pizza is decent, the sandwiches are made to order, and some of the daily specials are delicious.
The Union Commons has been revamped within the last year. Three years ago it was The Bleacher Club, and essentially offered the same items as the SAC, just in a smaller area with less seating. The Faculty Student Association made over the Union dining facility last summer, and now offers a variety of options for lunch and dinner. Blue Agave has fresh ingredients to fix your Mexican cravings, Coyote Jacks has good burgers, though the fries and onion rings tend to be soggy, and Bamboo provides a Chinese food outlet if Jasmine is packed.
The Union Deli is great for sandwiches, and with Boar’s Head cold cuts, the meats are actually edible. Candy by the pound, five coolers for drinks, ice cream and a mini-grocery make it a one-time stop for stocking up a dorm fridge. For those keeping kosher, Delancey Street is the place to go, though its kosher foods keep prices high and meal plans running low. Seating can be hard to find during the lunch rush in the Union, but the ballroom is open and has additional seats. Kelly Dining Center is also a good option for lunch – though it is a longer walk from the Academic Mall, the lack of crowds and long lines is worth the trip. It also has a full deli, Blue Agave, Portabella’s pizza, a salad bar and small market.
Roth Food Court would also prove helpful to those during lunchtime, as it is relatively close to the Academic Mall. Unfortunately, the renovations have not yet been completed, though the Faculty Student Association assures it will open in the coming weeks. When it opens, Roth Food Court will have a Wendy’s, sandwich station, an organic and fair trade coffee bar, and, yes, a pizza place.
Jasmine, located in The Wang Center, is the number one spot for all Asian cuisine. A wide selection of Indian, Thai, Chinese and Japanese food makes it tough to decide on a meal when the line is pushing along during lunch and dinner hours. The vegetable dumplings and rice noodles are both savory and filling, while the chicken tikka masala is lacking, with enough white rice, naan and extra curry sauce, it can be supremely tasty. Beverage-wise, Jasmine offers multiple flavors at its bubble tea bar, and has refreshing fruit and berry bottled teas stacked away in the small coolers by the registers.
