Nothing is better than biting into a huge hot ham and cheese hoagie that just oozes with goodness stuffed inside. Or a savory hot roast beef sandwich piled high with mozzarella cheese, peppers and au jus. But where can one find this kind of place on campus? That's the problem--nowhere. Where I am from, these types of places are like a Walgreen's or Starbucks and can be found on basically any corner one happens to stumble upon. These are the kinds of places that serve basically anything and everything, ranging from hot sandwiches and burgers to hot dogs and gyros. If UW-Madison would just add one of these places to State Street or somewhere on campus, they would not only satisfy students' needs of getting something quick to eat in between classes (besides fast food) it would also cater to the masses around bar time.
Two other food venues have yet to be spotted on campus as well, one of them being a 24-hour restaurant. Yes, a restaurant open ALL night, only a few steps (or maybe blocks) away!
I can't speak for everyone, but I know sometimes there are nights when I just want to get out of the house and forego the usual coffee shops and libraries (ha, libraries) and do homework in a different kind of atmosphere, one very similar to that of a 24-hour restaurant! It has everything any college kid hitting the books could ask for: cheap, bottomless cups of coffee, a pretty chill atmosphere and, most importantly, a food menu that could be considered a novella. Food helps stimulate the mind, right? Even if you don't consider yourself a \studier"" or one who does not venture past their bed to complete their homework, a 24-hour restaurant could also be a place to hang out when you find yourself in this situation: ""What do you wanna do? I don't care, what do you wanna do?"" Problem solved. Get out of the house, get grub and have a good time with friends in a setting other than a bar or house party. Spice things up.
The most noteworthy place this campus is lacking, however, is White Castle, home of the sliders. In fact, this wonderful establishment cannot be found anywhere in the city of Madison. (By the way, their burgers in the frozen food section of grocery stores don't count!) It's so sad to think that so many of you went through your high school years without it. Nothing appeases the late-night munchies better than those greasy, little, flat, sumptuous square burgers packed inside mini cardboard boxes.
For those of you who have no clue what I am talking about, trust me, you want the flat greasy burgers in boxes! And the crinkle-cut French fries are amazing too-crispy on the outside and hot and mushy on the inside. Yet, something that has always mystified me about White Castle are their famous chicken rings. Now, I know chicken does not come in rings. I don't think it would even be possible to mold it into perfect little rings. So how is White Castle able to produce billions of these rings each year? Unlike other fast food restaurants, it goes where no one else goes. If this does not convince you of White Castle's awesomeness, then rent ""Harold and Kumar."" They can vouch for it.
Where, you may ask, would we put all these fabulous places that Madison is lacking? What about Moe's Southwest Grill? I'm sure it will only be months before that waste of space closes down and White Castle can take its place.
The 24-hour restaurant is tricky because it would have to be a pretty decent sized building. Well, maybe we can do away with the Gap and make the world, or at least Madison, a better-dressed place. That would work just fine.
Now, who's with me?
Kat is a junior majoring in psychology and can be reached at krpeterson@wisc.edu.
