Best Eatery on Campus

reap-a-rat

Simple really, what's everyone's opinion on what the best eatery/café on campus is here at NUI Galway? Or just your personal favourite, based on whatever, value for money, menu, staff, seating, decor, etc.?

I only eat in college around exam time because its handy, and I have to say my favourite place is Friar's. I think the chef's aren't shy handing out portions, and those €5 snacks can be fantastic! I don't mind forking out for the specials either because they're usually so tasty and filling! And that unlimited free water is savage sure!

There's always somewhere to sit and its usually spotless. The staff are helpful and friendly and you're never that long in a queue, even one day last week there was a conference on so the queue was huge but the chefs absolutely flew through it!:eek:

I'd eat in The College Bar sometimes, its grand but sometimes I find the choice is a bit lacking. The sandwich bar thing do unreal sandwiches but sometimes the staff kinda ignore ya for ages !

Smokey's is just too expensive for me, I got a cajun chicken cheese melt thing there before and it was gorgeous but it was over €4 for it, which is steep. The smoothies are lovely though !

The Bialann for me is just a no go area. Last year I used to get soup there fairly regularly, it was nice and it was cheap, but the staff are a bit unfriendly, the last bit of food I got there at Christmas (coz Friar's is closed on Sundays ) was horrible and its just not a nice place to be, its never spotless, its always really really loud and I just don't like it !

I'm not super familiar with the other places so I'll leave others to tell of their experiences !

Padkir

Agreed!! Friars FTW!!:D

QueenOfLeon

I never really eat meals on campus so I love Smokey's for the coffees, smoothies and things like croissants or scones. And the most amazing white chocolate cookies (not made there but I can't find them sold anywhere else!) The seats are really comfy and its just a really nice friendly atmosphere. Even when college is packed people move in and out really quickly so you'll always get a seat.

I had a horrible experience with Friar's mashed potatoes once so I never really eat there, they had a nice meal for the mentors training day though, especially the dessert!

Bialann and college bar are kinda meh, college bar is a bit expensive imo.

brianthebard

eatery, really? Moffits I guess, least noisy and staff are nicer than the rest of the places.

reap-a-rat

brianthebard wrote: »

eatery, really? Moffits I guess, least noisy and staff are nicer than the rest of the places.

To be honest I don't even know where Moffet's is:eek:!

ciano1

reap-a-rat wrote: »

To be honest I don't even know where Moffet's is:eek:!

Orbsen Building.. You can sometimes smell it as you go up the steps to the IT building!

Raging_Ninja

reap-a-rat wrote: »

To be honest I don't even know where Moffet's is:eek:!

Ground floor of the Orbsen Building. Meals are about €10, but they are usually good, with fairly large portions.

JohnCleary

College Bar on a Tuesday - €5 for a main course, can't go wrong

Friar's is good, but expensive. Some days it is worth the price, other's it is a rip off. The chef with the glasses (in mid to late 20's) is a legend, very generous with portions and just friendly over-all. I normally only buy when he's dishing out the meals. I find the rest of the staff there a little un-friendly, but I guess it's just the Eastern-European culture (I find it rude the way the till ladies will have a nice long convo in their native language, then after staring at them for about 20 seconds they finally decide to take your money)


I know you said 'on campus', but over-all I find the River Inn the best bang for buck. €8 for any 'special' if you're a student. Proper healthy meals, very friendly service and i've often had up to 2 pints of MiWadi without even them daring to charge me extra for it. I always end up just leaving a tenner on the table and leaving a 2euro tip the staff are that nice in there. Only down-side is it gets hectic in there between 1 - 2PM

RolandIRL

rarely eat on campus, but mainly go to the College Bar if i'm too lazy to bring in a lunch.

like smokies for the seats and tea. just a nice place to sit down and relax for a while.

Croppy Bhoy

reap-a-rat wrote: »

And that unlimited free water is savage sure!

Free tap water, how benevolent of them :pac:

reap-a-rat

Croppy Bhoy wrote: »

Free tap water, how benevolent of them :pac:

Free condiments too, which is more than can be said for An Bialann;)!

Croppy Bhoy

reap-a-rat wrote: »

Free condiments too, which is more than can be said for An Bialann;)!

It seems An Bialann are going to have to be a lot more generous if they are to ketchup with Friars.

PomBear

None of them, they're all too expensive

JohnCleary

PomBear wrote: »

None of them, they're all too expensive

€5 for a full meal on Tuesdays in the College bar?
By the time ingredients are bought and over-heads such as electricity/cleaning plates afterwards, I don't think I could make it that cheap at home myself

ciano1

JohnCleary wrote: »

€5 for a full meal on Tuesdays in the College bar?
By the time ingredients are bought and over-heads such as electricity/cleaning plates afterwards, I don't think I could make it that cheap at home myself

Its also usually €1.50 off on Fridays too which usually makes it €4.90 - €5.60

Bialann is rarely nice.. Only ever go in there for Subway!

JohnCleary

ciano1 wrote: »

Its also usually €1.50 off on Fridays too which usually makes it €4.90 - €5.60

Bialann is rarely nice.. Only ever go in there for Subway!

Don't forget the Pizza & Pitcher for €8.50 on Friday's!! :eek:

ZRelation

Find that Moffatts definitely has the best food, it can be fairly pricey though. College bar usually does the job..

TheCosmicFrog

I've found myself eating in the College Bar most days this semester. It's hard to pinpoint anything bad about it. It's homemade, fresh, hot and very cheap (even the regular price of ~€6.50 isn't bad at all for what you get). The staff are absolute legends too, especially the fella with glasses and grey hair (head chef?). Total gentleman and always upbeat. Always dishes out massive portions too. I always ask for no veg and just plenty of mash/chips, and always get a "no bother!" and about five scoops of mash

An Bhialann... don't get me started. Expensive, overpriced, foul and tasteless food not fit for a bad hospital. Last semester I had less breaks, so it was easier to go to An Bhialann for lunch. I always asked for the same "no veg, just plenty of mash". One day I went in and was told, "We charge by the portion now. Each portion of mash is two scoops, so it'll cost you more for extra." I almost flipped. What the f*ck difference does an extra scoop or two of cheap mashed potato instead of veg make?

Smokey's (Smokey Joe's? How four years ago!*) is a great place to relax with a cup of tea and a muffin or sausage roll. I used to live there in first-year. I'm only in second-year and I still get nostalgic over my afternoons in Smokey's

*I remember a H-Dip teacher from my school gave me maths grinds in "Smokey Joe's" back in Junior Cert. That seems so long ago!

JohnCleary

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

I've found myself eating in the College Bar most days this semester. It's hard to pinpoint anything bad about it. It's homemade, fresh, hot and very cheap (even the regular price of ~€6.50 isn't bad at all for what you get). The staff are absolute legends too, especially the fella with glasses and grey hair (head chef?). Total gentleman and always upbeat. Always dishes out massive portions too. I always ask for no veg and just plenty of mash/chips, and always get a "no bother!" and about five scoops of mash

That guy is a hero. Make sure you say 'please' and 'thank you' and a bit of small talk and he will fill your plate to the brim.

An Bhialann... don't get me started. Expensive, overpriced, foul and tasteless food not fit for a bad hospital. Last semester I had less breaks, so it was easier to go to An Bhialann for lunch. I always asked for the same "no veg, just plenty of mash". One day I went in and was told, "We charge by the portion now. Each portion of mash is two scoops, so it'll cost you more for extra." I almost flipped. What the f*ck difference does an extra scoop or two of cheap mashed potato instead of veg make?

Couldn't agree more, but it's where the fresh hang out </perv>

Smokey's (Smokey Joe's? How four years ago!*) is a great place to relax with a cup of tea and a muffin or sausage roll. I used to live there in first-year. I'm only in second-year and I still get nostalgic over my afternoons in Smokey's

I just never adapted to the place. But then again, i'm not the kind of 'sit around drinking a cup of tea' kinda guy. Although i'm only in NUIG for 1 year and those are the things I kinda wished I did. I am going to miss the place so much it's un-real, can't believe my 1 year in there is over, it just hit me

RolandIRL

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

Smokey's (Smokey Joe's? How four years ago!*) is a great place to relax with a cup of tea and a muffin or sausage roll. I used to live there in first-year. I'm only in second-year and I still get nostalgic over my afternoons in Smokey's

^^ this...spent most of 1st year there, but just don't have the time this year...kinda miss it. it was a better time back then :P

The Cool

God yeah, I remember spending whole days sitting in Smokeys! Unfortunately the people I used to hang there with have now graduated and moved on and my classmates hate the place.
I seem to spend most of my time in the Bialann these days because it's convenient, but I find the food very meh. It smacks of them thinking, meh they're only students, it'll do!
I prefer college bar - it's a little bit more expensive than the bialann, but miles ahead in terms of quality. Plus they're not the least bit stingey. I would like for the sandwich bar queue to move a little faster though!