NEIU’s cafeteria (sometimes also called the “Nest” before the term became the widespread reference to the university’s dorm) is located in the lower level of the Student Union and managed by Fooda, a food company. The cafeteria offers four sections of food for students to choose from: salads and soups, the grill, sandwiches, and a pop-up. Fooda accepts card, cash, and digital forms of payment.
According to Ahilyn Perez, cafeteria’s cashier, hours are from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Fridays.
However, Perez notes certain sections of the cafeteria close earlier than others; the salad bar closes around 3:30 p.m and half an hour later, the sandwich bar closes. The grill stops making food except for fries 10 to 15 minutes before standard closing time.
The pop-up features different vendors from Foods and is only open on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. or whenever the food runs out. Perez notes there was a delay in the pop-ups starting until three weeks ago; going forward into the spring semester, they should be on schedule. Thai 55 Restaurant was this week’s pop-up.
Students can buy drinks and chips separately, or get reduced pricing if ordered with the cafeteria’s special, which changes daily. “Chicken tenders and cheeseburgers with fries are the easiest thing[s] to get,” Perez tips.
The Cafeteria Chronicles started as a series to highlight the cafeteria’s food offerings through community opinion.
The Independent will interview the NEIU community: is the food high quality? Do students (and the wider NEIU community) think there is enough diverse food? Do students who have dietary restrictions think the food is prepared safely?
Read on to discover more about the cafeteria, including what people are eating, what buyers think is the best food choice, and why customers choose the food they do.
If you are interested in collaborating with the Cafeteria Chronicles, the Independent, or know someone who’d like to be featured, let us know.
