Two Bwoggers checked out the brand new pop-up dining experience outside of Wien Hall to bring you their definitive review: this shit bussin’.

Every hero’s return deserves a triumphant, celebratory feast, and what is FDOC if not the ultimate hero’s return, a true Homeric nostos fit for Odysseus himself? Us Bwoggers found our triumphant feast in the pastoral paradise of Wien Courtyard, in a humble yet understated sleek black trailer that instantly solidified its status as a premier Columbia Dining location for the upcoming weeks.

We arrived at the foot of the towering colossus of Wien Hall fresh from our first classes of the new academic year, ready to chow down on some scrumptious street fare. The menu featured a set entree option of chicken makhani (butter chicken), with a vegan option of aloo baigan (potatoes and eggplant). Each entree was provided in a brown paper bag that also contained dal masala (lentils in spicy gravy), steamed basmati rice, one piece of naan, a small plastic cup of mint chutney, and rice kheer, as well as a piece of fruit and a bottle of water.

Once we had accepted such a tempting culinary cacophony into our lives, we retreated to a semi-air-conditioned East Campus suite to escape this week’s unabating heat and mugginess. Here are our thoughts on this brand new dining pop-up!

Chicken makhani, naan, and basmati rice

The rice was surprisingly well cooked considering Columbia Dining’s track record of dry, hard rice; it was fluffy, moist, and flavorful! The chicken and its sauce were delicious and well-seasoned; however, it was bone-in chicken, which made it more difficult and inconvenient to eat, and it also meant that there was less meat in the meal. The naan, however, was the star of the show, and we wish there were ten more pieces in every meal (okay, fine, two or three).

Dal masala

Here is where our humble opinions diverged. In the opinion of one Bwogger, this was a new Columbia Dining standout—the lentils were well-cooked and the sauce they were in was delicious. Our second intrepid Bwogger, however, felt that the lentils were fairly dry and not soft enough, and that the sauce was solid but not a highlight.

Mint chutney

The mint chutney was a very nice touch that added a fun pop of flavor to the chicken makhani. It definitely upgraded the experience with a brightness and deeper flavor.

Rice kheer

Both Bwoggers agreed that this was a fun and interesting dessert! Bwogger #1 found its texture to be a bit unpleasant, but the flavor to be very enjoyable; Bwogger #2 was extremely satisfied by the entire treat, from the flavor to the generous portion size to the refreshingness of a cold dessert on a hot, hot day.

Fruit and water

Normal.

Closing remarks

Overall, we were extremely pleased with the quality of the meal, and pleasantly surprised that the line took a mere ten minutes, even on opening day! We are excited to see what other meals are rolled out in the future; for this particular meal, we did feel that that although it was promoted as street food, it was not well-suited to grab-and-go dining. This was a meal you want to sit down for, particularly on account of the bone-in chicken and the sheer amount of food items and containers. However, as a new dining option, we have no complaints about our first Fac Shack experience, and we appreciate Columbia Dining’s continued commitment to adding new and fresh dining options to student life! (#NotSpon)

Images via Bwogger Sydney Wells