Every Laker knows that between classes, there is nothing better than grabbing a bite to eat and resting the old legs. However, dining dollars are limited, so it is important for each student to make them count by spending them at the best retail dining location on campus. While Lake Effect Café is conveniently placed right next to the library, and Crossroads has a reliable menu, it is Fusion Café in Shineman Hall which takes the top spot as SUNY Oswego’s best retail eatery.
To understand why Fusion triumphs over the campus’ other dining locations, one must recognize their shortcomings. Firstly, as reliable as Crossroads’ menu is, the same cannot always be said about the consistency of the service. Whether it is a mistake of a newly hired employee or a simple lapse in communication, students can often find themselves with a mistake in their order. This could be as non-harmful as a tomato on a burger when they asked for none, however, for the more particular students, this could be a point of irritation.
Furthermore, although it is clear that the employees work extremely hard and are very kind, the lines can often get unbearably long during the busy hours. The Cutting Board, located in the bottom half of MCC, does not usually have as long of lines as Crossroads. However, in regard to inconsistency, it is even worse. Sometimes one will order a slice of perfectly seasoned pizza, only to be greeted the following time by the greasiest, saltiest one they have ever tasted. Eating at The Cutting Board is like flipping a coin; it is practically a fifty-fifty shot whether it will be good or not.
The closest contender for the top spot would have to be Lake Effect Café, which is often a pleasant experience both in food and atmosphere. With a solid variety of baked goods, snacks, lunch items and of course Starbucks brewed drinks, eating at Lake Effect is certainly a favorite among students, only bolstered by its location within the library. Indeed, even non-coffee drinkers can find something to enjoy at this location. In reality, the only point of critique, which is a theme in this article, are the long lines. With only one register, as well as the fact that
Starbucks offers customers the ability to heavily customize their beverages, these lines can often wrap around out of the cafe and into the hallway. Because of this, it is hardly likely that a student would be able to stop into Lake Effect on their way to their next class, and still make it on time.
This brings us to Fusion Café, which is appropriately named, as it possesses the best parts of all of the other retail dining locations. Not only does it have a reliable menu like Crossroads, but also a large variety of different foods, from their famous breakfast sandwich station to quick convenience store type snacks. The aforementioned breakfast sandwich station is a favorite among students, allowing them to fill out a little ticket with a customized order for a bagel or a sandwich. Perhaps the most impressive quality of Fusion, however, is its ability to get through orders fast, despite the often large quantity of students and custom tickets. Even as a student whose classes are mostly in Mahar Hall, I find it worthwhile to trek across campus to grab something from Fusion, as I know it will be the quickest, most convenient and tastiest option on campus.
