Nearly every BCA student has one thing on their mind as their late-morning periods inch by: lunch. Many students look forward to this refreshing social break, as it wedges 50 minutes of relief and laughter into otherwise exhausting schooldays. But ultimately, the period’s purpose is to ensure that we receive an adequate meal to carry us throughout the day. How do the students feel about the menu?
Academy Chronicle asked students to rate both the food and the wait-time of each of the four main lunch sections: deli, hot lunch, burgers, and pizza. Here’s a rundown of each one, from lowest to highest rated.
- Pizza (2.7 stars)
While it’s definitely a school lunch classic, it’s also the lowest-rated section.
Fiona, a sophomore in AAST, explains why this section comes last on her list. “The pizza is usually undercooked and doughy, so I usually avoid getting it when I have better options.”
The pizza may have more fans if it got more oven time. Still, though, the wait for this section got the highest rating, at 4.1 stars.
- Burgers (2.8 stars)
On most days, only burgers can be found in this section, which may be why its rating has barely exceeded that of the pizza line. But occasionally, a unique meal will pop up in place of the burgers, giving this line more variety than the pizza section.
Angela, an ABF sophomore, talks about her experience with the burger line. “Every day, I tend to check this section first due to the short, if not non-existent wait time,” she says. The section has a 3.8 wait rating.
“However, I only buy from this line when foods such as quesadillas and paninis are being sold. I find that foods from other sections with longer wait times are more ‘worth it’ than the burgers regularly sold here.”
Visual sophomore Hyaemhin Moon is also not a fan of the burger quality, as she comments, “Very dry, but at least I get fries.”
- Hot Lunch (3.3 stars)
The hot lunch line is perfect for students who quickly get bored of pizza and burgers and are looking for more variety.
Visual sophomore Melanie explains, “I usually buy hot lunch because they change it up more than the other lines.”
However, she notes that she doesn’t always agree with what the section has to offer. “Sometimes it’s good. Other times, not so much. I don’t like the pasta or rice they choose in certain meals.”
The wait rating, 2.7, is not too unreasonable. Depending on whether the meal being served on a particular day is appealing to students, the wait could be zero minutes, or it could be as long as the deli line.
- Deli (3.9 stars)
The food at the deli line was rated highest, but its wait time was rated the lowest! On one hand, the deli line is the most personalizable option. Students can build their sandwiches from scratch– they can choose the bread, filling, and sauce in their sandwiches (or their wrap, if that’s what they prefer).
Mia, an ACTS sophomore, says, “I like being able to customize my own sandwich, and I really like chipotle mayo.”
But on the other hand, having so many options, including the choice to toast one’s sandwich, means that buying lunch from this section can take half of the period, hence its wait rating of a mere 1.8 stars.
“If I don’t get there soon enough, the line can be super long, which discourages me from ordering when I’m in a rush,” Mia says.
If you’re feeling picky, you can build your own sandwich, and if you’re in a rush, grab a burger and fries. Although each section has its pros and cons, BCA’s various lunch options ensure that there’s always something for everyone.
