GREG PALDINO:
The University of Tampa supposedly has 21 dining stations on-campus. It is easy for a student to be bewildered by the vast amount of dining options and forget about certain choices.
Not to mention the semester is coming to a close and many students are becoming frantic in an attempt to dump their remaining Spartan dollars.
Here are some options you might be forgetting about:
Coffee Cakes at Einstein’s
These have to be the most underrated items on campus. The coffee cakes are those scrumptious-looking pastries centered right in front of the line at Einstein’s, behind the glass. For some reason nobody seems to take the bait.
Those of you who are bound to the meal exchange are missing out. The rest of us have the option to choose between blueberry and chocolate chip. I personally go with the chocolate chip, but I’m sure both are heavenly.
Hold on. Before you run out to grab one of these coffee cakes, know that the essential last step in preparing the cake is to heat it up in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Einstein’s will ask whether you’d like them to do so and if your response is “no” you might as well have bought those bagel poppers, because you just wasted three Spartan dollars.
Rathskeller
Rathskeller is another underrated place to spend Spartan dollars. Between the short hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. its eerie location does not get nearly enough recognition among students. However, if you can manage to stop by within the 6-hour window, you are in for a treat.
Rathskeller offers subs with legitimate Boar’s Head meats for those who can no longer stomach the rubber ham that is served at the cafeteria. Coupled with freshly baked bread, you really can’t go wrong, no matter your sandwich preference.
Although expensive, consider Rathskeller the next best thing to an on-campus Subway.
Cookies at Jazzman’s
Jazzman’s is not as useless as it seems. Besides coffee, they actually have some snacks that are worthy of spending your Spartan dollars on, especially their cookies. Jazzman’s cookies are enormous and baked daily.
With the options of double chocolate, chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin, Jazzman’s proves a viable source to discard of your Spartan dollars and are available for meal exchange.
Chicken Breast at Chick-Fil-a
One of the hidden items at Chick-Fil-a is their grilled chicken breast sandwich.
While many are aware that such an option exists, some are oblivious to the grilled chicken’s availability. It is not one of the “up for grab” items that people tend to flock towards.
This is a great option for those who have already maxed out their Spartan card on grilled chicken at Grill 155, but do not want to succumb to greasy, fried food. It too is available for meal exchange.
Big Texas at the Vending Machine
The Big Texas is for the remaining poor who have spent all their Spartan dollars, yet are still hungry. Time to throw up the Hail Mary and head to the vending machine.
The Big Texas is a perfect solution to Sunday night hunger when you find yourself broke and your friends would rather get three salads at the gourmet grocer than toss you a meal.
In this situation, all you need to do is scrap up some quarters and head down to the vending machine located in your dorm. Look for the Big Texas. What you’ll find is a packaged cinnamon roll that is drizzled with frosting.
The cost used to be $.85 back in the day, but they recently jacked up the price to an even dollar.
True to its name, this fat pastry will satisfy your hunger and most likely be the source of digestive issues later on. Regardless of the latter, the Big Texas ranks at the top of UT foods that you are probably forgetting about.
Gregory J. Paladino can be reached at gpaladino@spartans.ut.edu.