Hewitt’s pasta station is now self-serve. Was the switch really worth it, though?

Negative: 

I have never been the biggest fan of Hewitt Dining. I hate the way it clogs up with sweaty male athletes. I hate how the food is always just lukewarm enough that it’s cold by the time you sit down to eat it. And I hate how there isn’t a silverware station in the back dining room… THAT MAKES NO SENSE!!!

For a while, the pasta station was the only redeemable part of the Hewitt dining experience for me. I always got the same thing, and it was a hit every time. My pasta with alfredo sauce, chicken, and broccoli literally never let me down. I know the chicken was unseasoned and dry, but for some reason I just liked it that way. I miss it. Truly.

Now, with the self-serve pasta station, I am forced to eat the same pasta freaking primavera whenever I want pasta at Hewitt. I don’t really enjoy anything with marinara sauce, so it’s literally my only option. We’ve been completely stripped of pasta variety! I’m so mad. It’s not even good. Why were there full chunks of bell peppers in it the other day?! Dear bowl-mixed pasta station, how I miss you. Please come back to me. The Diana one just doesn’t measure up. 

Positive:

I’ll say it. I like to choose my portions. The old pasta station, with all its sauce choices and whatnot, was always either too much or too little. I like that if I want a little taste of pasta, I can take a little bite. If I want that to be my meal, it will be. Especially compared to the cold pasta salad, any amount of well-cooked, normal pasta, is a treat. 

Sure, the lasagna tastes a little weird. I’m not quite sure what’s in it. And maybe the pasta primavera is always a hit or miss. But compared to other pasta stations on this campus (Ferris’s white sauce anyone??) I think that Hewitt has a lot of perks. Not only is there variety, it’s interesting. Wherelse could you find pasta primavera for free?? 

And the best part is the lack of a line. Before, you had to wait hours for one person to get their personalized pasta experience. Now, with the streamlined grab-and-go, you get to decide on the go, and the lines don’t get all confused anymore. That’s a win. 

If you want real pasta, go to Diana—those bowls are surprisingly good, and consistent. Or better yet, try Fac House on Wednesdays. The old station was never one’s go-to for pasta, so I think it’s unfair to put that expectation on it now. Serve yourself your portions, and love them as they are.

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