UCCS has a plethora of dining options on campus including the dining halls, Big Cat Coffee, Clyde’s Gastropub, Cafe ‘65 and Alpine Express. I have decided to give them all a try before dining services transforms the options over the summer. Listed from best to worst, I present the ranks of UCCS dining options.
Clyde’s Gastropub
This was my first time eating at Clyde’s. I had high expectations, as the Dictionary definition of gastropub is “a bar that serves good food and high-quality alcoholic beverages,” though “gastro” does not sound appetizing.
When I first tried to review Clyde’s, my friends and I arrived at 5 p.m. for dinner. Apparently, Clyde’s stops selling the majority of their menu after 4 p.m. We left disappointed, and I had to come back another day for lunch.
Upon entering Clyde’s, it is a little confusing what the procedure is since there are no signs telling you what’s what. Basically, you can seat yourself, and instead of getting a physical menu, you scan the QR code on the table to bring up the digital menu. The QR code is small, so it’s easily overlooked. When you are ready to order, you head up to the counter.
Their menu has a ton of options so that anyone can find something they like. They offer gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options and mark what is made from scratch. I ordered the chicken Caesar salad wrap with fries and the make-your-own burger.
The food was great. I think I would come here just to get fries. As for the entrées, they are everything you’d expect of any other restaurant you’d visit. They are made well and would satisfy any craving.
In my chicken Caesar wrap, the chicken was fried to perfection and paired nicely with the Caesar salad. The hamburger came with choices for the burger tooth picked on the outside for personal preference. The meat was well-done and without worry.
Clyde’s also serves lemonade and soda that can be flavored with their variety of syrups. I got the strawberry cherry lemonade and tried the cherry soda, both of which were good but far too sweet.
The Gastropub was the most expensive dining option on campus. My meal totaled $35.
Clyde’s is only open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and closed on weekends. Students who are less involved on campus probably have no idea we have this restaurant. It could benefit from being open at regular dinner hours or on the weekend, along with some much-needed advertising.
I would recommend at least one visit to Clyde’s for all UCCS students and perhaps bring along the family, too, when you give them your campus tour.
Cafe ‘65
Cafe ‘65 is a great place to stop by for lunch or a snack on campus. They offer pizza, burritos and burrito bowls, make-your-own sandwiches, fried chicken, candy and snacks such as chips.
I would not recommend the pizza because my boyfriend got sick after eating there and he literally looked green. So instead, I went with the most popular choice, which was the sandwich bar, Corner Deli.
The students working there make your sandwich in front of you, similar to Subway. I went with a classic Italian sub.
The sandwich was great. I asked for it to be warmed and the bread was just the right amount of crispy. Speaking of the bread, it was really good.
This was one of the cheaper options, with my meal only coming to $14.
Café ‘65 is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays.
Big Cat Coffee
Big Cat Coffee is my favorite and most visited, but I’m also easily persuaded by caffeine. The cafe serves local coffee from its partner, Loyal Coffee, and aside from drinks, it offers pastries, sandwiches and snacks.
I got one of the premade sandwiches. These were my life savers when I lived on campus. I also had to get Big Cat Coffee’s specialty, a pastry and a coffee.
The sandwich was a BLTT (bacon, lettuce, tomato, turkey) with avocado spread on a croissant. The sandwich was freshly made that morning, and everything tasted just right. This may be the best sandwich I’ve ever gotten on campus.
As for the pastry, I went with a banana muffin since I’ve never had it. Usually, I’d recommend the blueberry muffins or the to-die-for cinnamon rolls (I’m not kidding; I would die for one), but they didn’t have any. The banana muffin was good, but nothing exciting. Sometimes, Big Cat Coffee pastries do not taste as good as they look.
I also got a latte, which was very good and to Big Cat Coffee standards. It tasted like every other latte I’ve gotten from Big Cat Coffee, and I enjoyed it, but I know some people do not enjoy their weaker espresso.
Altogether, I spent $20 at Big Cat Coffee.
The UC stand is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays. Columbine Hall’s location is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Alpine Express
A ham and cheddar panini, milkshake and hot dog. Photos by Olivia Davis.
Located in Alpine Village outside The Fork is Alpine Express, the on-campus convenience store. People living on campus should take advantage of Alpine Express since it takes meal swipes and provides snacks and candy for a late-night sweet tooth. They also offer mobile ordering.
I got a hot dog, a ham and cheddar panini and a chocolate milkshake. For the food, I really can only recommend the hot dog, which was a solid 4 out of 5. As for the ham and cheese panini, I was excited on my first bite, but as I ate more, I got grossed out by how much ham there was and the lack of any real flavor.
The milkshakes are what set Alpine Express apart from the rest of the on-campus options. Skip the vanilla, as it just tastes like a glass of milk, and opt for another flavor. The chocolate was pretty OK and would hit the spot if I was craving a milkshake. These shakes are very liquid-y and a letdown for someone who prefers thicker milkshakes.
It was $24 for the meal, putting Alpine Express on the pricier side.
Alpine Express is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Friday 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays.
The Lodge and The Fork — Dining Halls
Does this really need a reason to be put in dead last? I’m happy the school provides dining halls, but after moving out of the dorms, I was so happy to be free from the buffet-style halls.
Multiple people I know have gotten food poisoning from the dining halls, and The Lodge did not pass on several important marks on its health inspection. Most notably, food was not being stored at proper, safe temperatures. When I lived in the dorms, my roommates and I would often opt for Uber Eats or frozen meals instead.
The dining halls do provide vegan and vegetarian options but sometimes lack enough protein. When eating here, I’d say it’s safe to go with a salad, although I think breakfast is what they serve best.
The dining hall only cost $10.50, making it the cheapest place to eat on campus.
Chicken Caeser Wrap and make your own burger. Photo by Olivia Davis.