What's Your Favorite Food at Cyclone Dining? Student Poll

Intrigued by Staff Writer Carly Wolf’s interview with Dominic and Anna Coppola, husband and wife chef team in Cyclone Dining, The Cyclone Chronicle staff decided to take it one step further and polled 96 fellow students on their favorite foods in the dining hall. 

Dominic and Ana Coppola– originally from Italy– are responsible for the beloved pizza and pasta stations in the dining hall. 

Not surprisingly, pizza won the poll with 27 votes. Thank you, Dominic. 

Pasta hit the second place spot with eight votes. With the wide range of pastas smothered in your choice of creamy alfredo or rich marinara, it never disappoints. 

French fries and the Caesar wrap tied for third place with six votes each. No surprise there. This simple combo is the perfect meal for any college student between classes and other activities. 

The deli station came in fourth place with five votes. With the feel of build-your-own style of Jersey Mikes or Subway, the sandwiches are entirely customizable and always delicious. 

In fifth place, a discontinued classic– the mozzarella sticks– garnered four votes. You heard it here. If anyone at Cyclone Dining is reading this, students would love to have this gooey breaded appetizer back on the menu.

In sixth place, several options were tied with three votes each. The chicken sandwiches and cheeseburgers are always a safe bet and a hit with almost everyone. However, three students also picked veggies as their favorite. The mixed veggies, seasoned carrots, and roasted potatoes are a staple at most dinners and an option typically overlooked. But if you want a healthy side, these are not to be skipped. One student even suggested the mixed veggies and white rice as a delicious and easy meal in the dining hall. 

In seventh place with two votes each were the salmon, a surprising choice in a college dining hall in a landlocked town; soup, a full-flavored comfort food that always hits the spot; the salad bar, a go-to in any restaurant; and the taco bar, a customizable classic with a crunchy exterior that’s sure to make any student diner happy. 

In last place, individual favorites included morning staples– like the breakfast prep station and the breakfast bowl– cereal, chocolate chip pancakes, and bagels. The sweet and savory combinations of breakfast are always the perfect choice. Lunch and dinner favorites included hot dogs, white rice, quesadillas, the grilled cheese sandwiches, meatball sandwiches, the mac and cheese with chicken tenders, shrimp, the hot station, chicken salad, and the late night cheesesteaks. 

Several students and staff also indicated that their favorite meals are the ethnic specials with recipes brought from the chef’s home countries– tostadas, butter chicken, shrimp, gumbo, and tres leches. While these options aren’t on the menu daily, they aren’t quickly forgotten and diners wait in anticipation for these incredible delicacies. 

Three students polled had no comment or tended to avoid the dining hall. 

The most convenient full-menu food options on campus for resident students, faculty, and staff is Cyclone Dining. These favorites never disappoint and always hit the spot during student’s inconsistent schedules whether they’re headed to class or sports, have down time, are stressing over exams, coming from a fun student activity, or attending late night dinner. No matter food preferences or dietary restrictions, the dining hall has something for everyone.