As somebody who considers themselves a “foodie,” I distinctly remember being nervous about college food. Thanks to Tik Tok and every movie set in college, my expectations of dining hall food were relatively low. Throughout my first year at Oberlin, however, I found myself pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food, both in terms of variety and execution. This is a breakdown of the best meal I had at Oberlin in each of the dining halls last year.
Sourdough Grilled Cheese from the Rat
Fourth-meals at the Rat, served at peak hungry student hours, can vary a lot in quality. Hits include the sundae bar, mini tacos, and curly fries, while misses include philly cheesesteaks and the distinctly non-cheese-pullable mozzarella sticks. By far the most memorable fourth-meal, in my humble opinion, is the sourdough grilled cheese with a side of tomato soup. I remember the first time I tried one of these I ate 3 in one night. The buttery, garlicky bread (not actually sourdough, but I’ll let it slide) is perfectly crispy, while the cheese is melty and soft. Most importantly, the cheese is cheddar, not American like the regular Rat grilled cheeses. (Whether or not you can even call the Kraft Singles “cheese” is another discussion.) The tomato soup served with the grilled cheese is nothing special, but the combination of the two is elite. The only downside: fourth-meals are unpredictable. There’s not really a set schedule for which meals will be served when, so grilled-cheese fanatics like myself basically just have to be on the lookout for the next appearance of this fourth-meal celebrity.
Chicken Potato Curry from Umami
Another unpredictable favorite: the Umami dinner special featuring a delicious chicken potato curry. This savory curry is served over warm rice like most Hot Bowls, but only comes around once in a while as the dinner specials at Umami rotate throughout the week. The chicken is always super flavorful, complimenting the hearty chunks of potatoes. The saucy curry has a nice kick of ginger that proves this meal a great alternative to regular Hot Bowls, which can get a bit tiresome.
Sausage Tortellini Soup from Stevie
Stevie is a pretty divisive dining hall; from what I hear, you either love it or you hate it. This soup, though, was not divisive in the least. Every one of my friends who tried this soup raved about it and went back for seconds. The rich, salty broth was paired with spicy sausage bits, diced-up onions and celery, and cheese tortellini. I was worried about the tortellini being too overcooked and mushy, but it was surprisingly firm and held its shape in the broth. The warmness and spiciness of this soup stayed in my memories for months afterwards, forever imprinted as the perfect remedy to a cold, snowy day.
Brisket Tacos from Clarity
Next up: the allergen-free dining hall. The beef brisket served here was so incredible that I have no memory of anything else on my plate that day. Served with pico de gallo and a green salsa, the brisket was packed with flavor. It was smoky and sweet and savory all at once. The texture was top-tier: buttery smooth when cut with a knife. The gluten-free tortillas were pretty terrible and basically disintegrated as soon as you picked them up, but the brisket made it all worth it.
Chicken Shawarma from Heritage
The best meal I had at Heritage was an assortment of Mediterranean elements, featuring chicken, pita, garlic sauce, tzatziki, and cucumber salad. Nearly every component of this meal exceeded my expectations. The hummus was creamy and tangy, and the pita was surprisingly fresh, soft and squishy around the blackened chicken. It was a hot day when I got this meal, so the cucumber salad was a favorite of mine because it was so refreshing. Pro-tip: go early to Heritage meals so that you get the freshest batches—stale pita is not worth your time.
Mardi Gras Meal at Lord/Saunders
Last but certainly not least, the special meal at the Mardi Gras celebration hosted by Lord/Saunders. Known to some as Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras is the last celebration before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. In preparation for Lent, where many Christans give up partying or fatty foods for the 40 days before Easter, a huge celebration takes place, complete with music, parades, and drinking. Lord/Saunders’ celebration did not feature the latter of these, but it certainly delivered in terms of food. My plate was stacked high with soul food staples that looked like they came straight from New Orleans: crispy fried okra, dirty rice with a spicy kick, and deep-fried alligator hushpuppies. I’m not a big seafood fan, but I was told that the Shrimp Boil was also a big win. For dessert, there was a gorgeous King Cake topped with green and purple sprinkles paired with beignets piled high with powdered sugar. A live band played upbeat jazz in the background, and the tables were all decorated with plastic beads and feathers. The food and the atmosphere mingled together to form quite the memorable night. Can’t wait for the next Mardi Gras!
I hope you enjoyed my review of the best meals I had at Oberlin last year. Keep in mind, I’m only in my second year, so I haven’t tried everything the dining halls have to offer yet. But hopefully there are many more tasty experiences to come!
