Loyola Introduces Three New Restaurants To Campus 

This story was written by Isabella Grosso and Vienna Nicholas

Loyola welcomes two new restaurants in Bleecker Street, the food court located in the Damen Student Center, and a new café in Francis Hall for the 2022-23 school year. 

Loyola spokesperson Matt McDermott said in a statement the changes in dining hall vendors has to do with providing an “excellent dining experience” and responding to student feedback.

“Our three newest locations on campus: Foodlab, Burgers + Fries (B+F), and Rising Roll continue our efforts to bring menu diversity and high quality food to the LUC Community,” McDermott said in an email to the Phoenix. “During move-in week, Foodlab and B+F made their debut in the Damen Food Court offering a wide variety of cuisines, with Foodlab changing their menu every couple of weeks.”

No questions about why the old restaurants closed were answered. 

The Food Lab and B+F opened in Damen at the start of the school year while Rising Roll Gourmet Café will have its grand opening on Sept. 14 from 12 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

Ardit Mishra, a senior studying ( major), said he doesn’t understand why the vendors in Bleecker Street keep changing. 

“I don’t understand,” Mishra said, “Leave the restaurant for a few years at least so students can get used to it instead of changing it every year.” 

Jessica Pompili, a junior studying English, said she is disappointed with the overall lack of accommodations in the dining halls. 

“I have a lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance and I don’t eat meat so there isn’t a ton for me to eat in the dining facilities,” Pompili, 20, said. 

The food Lab and B+F weren’t the only new restaurants to open on campus this year, In francis, The Rising Roll Café debuts on september 14th. 

First-year finance major and Francis Hall resident Danny Phillips said he first heard of Rising Roll Gourmet Café when he was picking out dorms. He added one of the perks of having the café right in his dorm is being able to grab breakfast in the morning. 

“I don’t like getting breakfast in the dining halls since it takes a lot of time, so if I do get breakfast, it’s going to be from there,” Phillips, 18, said. 

The Francis café also gave out samples of some of their menu items to students during the first week of school, according to Phillips.  

“They had a bunch of stuff,” Phillips said. “I had the buffalo chicken wrap and it was so good. They were also giving out french dips and other sandwiches. They have a massive menu.” 

The Rising Roll Café will feature a variety of sandwiches, salads and grain bowls. The café also includes many breakfast items like the grande burrito and avocado toast. 

Mishra, however, said he thought the honors students were getting too many privileges. 

“If you’re an honors student, you shouldn’t get newer facilities,” Mishra said. “When I was living in Regis, Francis was still being built. And it was annoying to me, because I never had that option.”