A Guide to Dining Options at the University of Kentucky
Navigating the University of Kentucky (UK) campus and its surrounding areas involves more than just attending classes and campus activities. A vital part of the college experience is discovering the diverse culinary landscape available to students, faculty, and visitors. From on-campus dining halls to local restaurants, UK offers a plethora of options to satisfy every palate and budget.
On-Campus Dining: Fueling the Wildcat Spirit
For students living in dorms, a meal plan is often mandatory, making meal swipes a primary source of sustenance. UK provides two main dining halls: Champions Kitchen on the north campus and the Fresh Food Company (FFC) on central campus.
Champions Kitchen: Located on the first floor of the Gatton Student Center, Champions Kitchen boasts a variety of restaurant-style stations, including Pasture, Homestyle, La Mesa, True Balance, Eiffel Pizza, Simmer, and Sweet Dreams, alongside a salad bar and a quick breakfast station. With such a wide array of options, students can build entire meals at single stations or mix and match entrees and sides from different stations. Homestyle, Pasture, Bowman’s Grill, Cozy Classics, and La Mesa tend to be the busiest during peak hours, while the soup and salad stations, True Balance, and vegan/vegetarian options offer quicker service.
Fresh Food Company (FFC): Found in The 90 across from William T. Young Library, the FFC mirrors Champions Kitchen in offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Beyond the main dining halls, UK's campus features fast-food restaurants and mini-markets called Wildcat Pantries. Flex dollars can be used at Chick-fil-A, Subway, Panda Express, and Auntie Anne’s on north campus, as well as Chick-fil-A, Zen Sushi, and Blue Agave Grill on central campus. Wildcat Pantries, located in The 90, Agricultural Science Center North, and Holmes Hall, also accept Flex dollars.
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A Student's Perspective on Campus Dining
One student writer from Spoon University at UK shared their personal rankings of various on-campus dining locations:
- Freshii: Despite long wait times, Freshii is praised for its healthy and tasty options, particularly the fiesta salad and Freshii Green smoothie.
- Einstein Brothers: Despite the less-than-ideal atmosphere and wait times, the food, especially the pizza bagels and chocolate chip bagels with Nutella, is a major draw.
- Rising Roll: With a solid menu and efficient service, Rising Roll is considered a top contender for managing the lunch rush.
- Chick-Fil-A: While wait times can be long, the consistently high quality of the food makes it a popular choice.
- Common Grounds: Despite occasional slow service, Common Grounds offers good chicken paninis and a relaxed atmosphere for studying.
- Panda Express: Even with limited entree options, the orange chicken is a crowd-pleaser.
- Taco Bell: A guilty pleasure, Taco Bell offers a cheap and satisfying option for those craving something "disgusting-yet-delicious."
- Aqua Sushi: While the sushi may be mediocre, it's a convenient option for students looking for a quick sushi fix.
- The 90: Despite issues with vegan options and food quality, The 90 offers a wide selection and a more aesthetically pleasing environment than Blazer Dining.
- Greens To Go: A healthy option in Bowman’s, but the salads are considered expensive, especially compared to the salad options at Blazer Dining.
- Subway: A reliable but bland choice, Subway offers customizable sandwiches for a quick meal.
- Steak N’ Shake: The campus version of Steak N’ Shake suffers from bad service and subpar food compared to the real thing.
- La Madeleine: Considered overpriced for mediocre food, La Madeleine does not accept meal swipes, making it a less appealing option for students on a budget.
- Intermezzo: The confusing ordering system and lackluster food make Intermezzo a less desirable choice.
- Blazer Dining: While the staff is friendly, Blazer Dining is often criticized for its inconsistent food quality, with occasional issues like undercooked chicken or food that has been sitting out for hours.
Casual Dining Around UK: Exploring Limestone
Venturing off-campus, students can find a variety of casual dining options along South Limestone. These include:
- Han Woo Ri: Offering Korean cuisine, Han Woo Ri is open Monday through Saturday.
- The Local Taco: A Mexican eatery.
Coffee Shops: Fueling Late-Night Study Sessions
For coffee lovers, UK and its surrounding areas offer several options:
- Third Street Stuff: Located on North Limestone, Third Street Stuff is open Monday through Saturday.
- Starbucks: Situated on West Main Street.
Upscale Dining: A Taste of Lexington
For a more refined dining experience, Lexington offers several upscale restaurants:
- Carson's Food and Drink: An American restaurant located on E Main St, offering lunch and dinner.
- Dudley's: Located on West Short Street, offering lunch and dinner.
- Le Deauville: A French restaurant on North Limestone, open Monday through Saturday evenings.
- Saul Good: Located on N. Broadway, open Monday through Saturday evenings.
Casual Dining: Exploring Lexington's Culinary Scene
Lexington boasts a diverse range of casual dining establishments:
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- Alfalfa's Restaurant: Serving both vegetarians and carnivores, Alfalfa's offers innovative and eclectic homemade eats.
- Charlie Brown's: A pub food establishment on Euclid Ave.
- Cheapside: Located on Cheapside, offering lunch and dinner.
- Courtyard Deli: A lunch-only spot on Cheapside.
- Doodle’s: Known for its "Comfort Food with a Conscience," Doodle's is located on North Limestone.
- Grey Goose: An Italian restaurant on Jefferson Street.
- Stella's: A deli on Jefferson Street.
- Wine + Market: Located on W Second St.
Restaurants by Ouita Michel: A Bluegrass Culinary Legend
Ouita Michel, a six-time James Beard semi-finalist and Kentucky Debate alum, owns several highly recommended restaurants in the Bluegrass region:
- Holly Hill: Michel’s flagship restaurant, offering fine dining about 25 minutes from Lexington (reservations required).
- Honey Wood: An upscale casual dining spot featuring southern cuisine.
- Wallace Station: A southern-style deli in a country setting, known for its fried chicken on Mondays and fish fry on Fridays.
- Windy Corner: Serving southern breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the heart of horse country.
- Smithtown: A casual seafood restaurant with two locations.
- Zim’s Café: Offering casual southern cuisine.
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