The cafeteria at University High School has become a familiar sight for students during their breaks and lunchtime. Some peers gather at the Crossroads or Latin Hill, others drive off-campus, and a large stream of students head to the cafeteria in search of a meal. The cafeteria has become one of UHS’s central hubs, and it has seen many changes in the past few months.
A relatively new option for students has been a secondary cafeteria line at the 400’s Buildings. This is a good option for students whose classes are far from the main cafeteria and helps to distribute the flow of people, reducing the length of the lines.
Additionally, the cafeteria has rolled out many new food options on the menu this year. While some new foods, like pineapple and strawberry smoothies, are daily items, other foods like apple pies, pasta bowls and flatbreads have also been occasionally seen. These additions help to diversify the selection of foods and cater to different student preferences. The UHS Cafeteria Staff has also created a new Instagram page this year, documenting the weekly menu and displaying new food additions. Some of these new options have been really appealing to students.
“I really like the frozen strawberry or grape ice creams that they occasionally give out,” senior Juian Leite said.
While some students love trying these new items, others stick to the same foods daily due to convenience.
“I usually like to order the classic pizza from the cafeteria,” senior Rishi Raja said. “I know a lot of people like some other things in the cafeteria, but I just like to keep it nice and simple.”
By state law, all students receive complimentary snacks and lunches regardless of their financial background. This is a very positive feature that helps all students and incentivizes them to use the cafeteria.
“I like how the meals are free,” Leite said. “I think that’s very kind to people who are less fortunate.”
While some students are delighted with the current options, others suggest how the cafeteria could improve its menu. Several mentioned wanting more international food options, while others expressed concerns about portion sizes or line efficiency.
“A meal I would love to see are dumplings, which are considerably the best dish out there,” senior Juliet Kozlov said. “Dumplings have a wide variety to choose from, such as meat, vegetables and seafood, and they are also simple to manufacture, easy to store and prepare for cafeteria staff.”
UHS students continue to make the cafeteria part of their daily routines, each with their preferences and opinions on what makes the perfect school lunch. With the cafeteria’s recent changes and growing social media presence, it’s clear that the lunch scene at UHS is evolving. And while there’s always room for improvement, the cafeteria remains a valued part of campus life, offering not just meals, but moments of connection in the middle of a busy school day.
