Thanks to Rebel Pizza and Streats, UFV now has a wider dining selection. UFV also has Tim Hortons, Fair Grounds, the cafeteria, and Triple O’s. It’s not a massive selection, but it’s bigger than when the Canoe was closed, so no complaints here. But what the student body needs is a guide to which dining option has the totally best option for lunch. Three factors will be judged: service/wait time, quality of food, and price.
Triple O’s is the basic of UFV’s dining options: it’s convenient, pricier than you’d prefer, but you know what you’re getting into. A burger combo at Triple O’s will usually be upwards of $11. That’s not unreasonable, but it’s always good to look out for better prices. On top of that, the wait is usually somewhat treacherous. I’ve gotten fries during the non-rush hours, and it already took way too long, so I can’t even imagine how long getting a burger would be during the 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. lunch rush.
Next is the regular joe cafeteria. I like that they don’t have to market themselves or anything, they just are what they are and don’t care what anyone else says. The food is on the better quality side of things at UFV. They’ve got oodles of choices from a stir fry station to made-from-scratch soups. Everything is moderately priced, and the ingredients are mostly fresh and local. It’s already a better option than Triple O’s. Plus the line to pay moves pretty fast.
If you’re more of a breakfast person, Fair Grounds is your place. They’ve got a mighty fine selection of breakfast bagels. My personal favorite is the spinach and pesto breakfast bagel, but they’ve also got a bacon and cheddar breakfast bagel, plus wraps with similar ingredients. The bagel is $5. It’s a good price but not as cheap as Tim’s.
Everyone knows what Tim’s offers, and everyone also knows that what you order is not always what you get. That’s not original to UFV’s location, but often found throughout fast food chains. Still, it is annoying having to wait around for the correct order. Plus the line is always insane. I propose that UFV install a webcam so people can check from wherever they are on how long the line is at Tim’s. If that happens, Tim’s would be a decent choice for lunch; otherwise, the wait and lack of quality food is just not worth it.
Streats is next on the docket. A pro for Streats is that you can order online and pick up your order when it’s ready. Yay! On the downside, one taco costs a whopping $5. On top of that, they’re just okay tacos. They’re pretty white-washed and lack actual Mexican flair. The burritos are the same as their tacos but are bigger, pricier, and have rice. So if you’re hungry, get that burrito. Their poutine is definitely not worth it. It looks like they’ve just lowered their price to $7 for a regular-sized poutine, which is better than the upwards of $8 it was when they first opened. Again, the quality is not great. The cheese curds are not squeaky like they should be, and they skimp on the gravy. Go to Triple O’s for poutine; it’s cheaper and way better.
I recently ordered one of those “make your own” pizzas from Rebel Pizza. When I asked what toppings they had to choose from, the sales associates didn’t even know, and neither did the manager. It was rough. After a little bit of confusion I got my order. They were very friendly about it and apologized. It’s totally fine. But what disappointed me the most — what makes me cry at night — is that they have a wood-fired pizza oven and do not use it. I watched my pizza bake in a regular ol’ oven. But the pizza was fairly tasty. Unfortunately it was a little pricey for a personal-sized one ($9), but if you’re wanting to treat yo’ self at UFV for lunch, their pizza is the way to go.
As we can see, the quality at UFV’s various dining establishments is not off the charts. But it’s not horrible either. Nothing is insanely priced, which is nice too. If you’re looking for a cheap and filling lunch the soup from the cafeteria is the way to go. You may think soup is not that hearty but don’t worry, they’ve always got a veggie option and a non-veggie option. A large 16 oz. container of soup is only $4 — plus you can take up to two cracker packets, free of charge. It’s a no-brainer.
Image: Carissa Wiens
