Umph or Arnold? This is the internal conflict every SMU student has faced dozens of times throughout their time on campus. If you say you haven’t, you know you’re lying. Even with so many other options such as Mane Course, The Market, Mac's Place, and Food Trucks, it's nice to not spend all your Flex right away.
Umph is on my way back from class, but Arnold is closer to the gym. As much as we don’t like to admit it, picking where to eat, especially when you’re with other people can be a huge struggle. Here are some things to know in order to maximize your dining hall experience.
The Battle of the Bars
Each dining hall features a pizza, sandwich, burger, and salad bar. You can choose from dozens of different options such as fruit, vegetables, dressings, yogurts, granola, cheeses and toppings in order to customize your meal. Each dining hall also has a grill which features a “Build your own Bowl” system allowing you to create your own meal.
Umph will sometimes add an Italian touch with a customizable pasta bar while Arnold usually sticks to Asian foods with their Mongolian grill featuring noodles, rice, meat, and vegetables, and sauce. Umph is also known for it's all day omelette bar which is to die for if you're like me and love breakfast all day long.
While Umph features an all day omelette bar, Arnold has a Tex-Mex counter which lets students have a little inspiration from south of the border in their meal. Each day will feature a different type of meat, filling, and entrée type including burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. Fillings include rice, beans, cheese, pico de gallo, guac, sour cream, and so much more to ensure you get the best Tex-Mex experience.
Best of Both Worlds
If you also get thirsty you won’t have to worry about making another stop because at either of these dining halls you can get everything from soft drinks to Starbucks coffee in order to quench your thirst.
Both Umph and Arnold have a healthy counter where students have the option to choose from less caloric alternatives without having to eat salad for every meal. These areas feature options such as grilled vegetables including: kale, roasted potatoes, squash, zucchini and lean meat options.
Both dining halls switch out their menu for breakfast, lunch, or dinner every day so if you go the same dining hall twice in one day, you are unlikely to get bored with the same meal. While Monday might feature turkey and ham cold cuts, Tuesday may bring chicken salad or pepperoni.
Sweet Satisfaction
To top it all of both dining commons have a waffle maker (in the shape of Texas), cereal counter, ice cream, and dessert station where you are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Each day brings a new delicious sweet treat, but if you’re not the adventurous type there is always bound to be some good old fashioned chocolate chip cookies.
Since most students struggle with where to eat, it comes down to what you’re looking for in your meal experience. Whether you're looking for a full meal or a quick bite between classes, the dining halls are the place to go. No matter which dining hall you choose, you are sure to be greeted with an abundance of options and a satisfied stomach.