As finals season looms upon us, we get ready to say goodbye to our social lives, regular sleep schedules, and hobbies. In this time of despair, trips to the grocery store get farther and farther apart, causing many students to fall into a vending-machine-anchored diet. Arguably worse than the barely functioning existence we all enter each exam period is the endless waiting for grades McGill bestows upon us each semester. While The Tribune would love to promise early marks back, that is slightly beyond our reach. Instead, we present the marks of the best on-campus dining in hopes that the vending machines get some time off this April.
Hot Dog Man: A
This McGill classic needs no introduction. Hot Dog Man’s return to campus each spring acts as the unofficial first flicker of light at the end of a very snowy tunnel. The hot dogs themselves are great: The efficiency, faint taste of charcoal, toasted bun, and plethora of toppings make this staple something to write home about. The cart offers an original jumbo dog, a vegan option, and a Polish kielbasa. Perhaps even better than the sausages themselves is the excitement that hits as you stand in line with your friends, surrounded by fellow hot dog lovers. The Hot Dog Man unites McGillians across faculties and years, fostering a true sense of community amongst 40,000 students. This makes the Hot Dog Man an iconic part of our fleeting years at McGill and worthy of the coveted A grade.
Vinh’s Café: A
Vinh’s Café has two locations, one in the Genome Building and the other in the Strathcona Music Building. It offers fresh Vietnamese food at affordable prices. Known for their bánh mi’s, Vietnamese coffee, and pho, Vinh’s is a convenient and delicious lunch on campus that won’t hurt your wallet beyond repair. Pick up one of their loyalty cards and get your 10th bánh mi for free!
Frostbite: A-
If you take a sharp left when you enter McConnell Engineering, you will stumble across Frostbite, McGill’s very own ice cream shop. Open Monday to Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Frostbite is entirely student-run and the perfect mid-day treat. McGill’s worst-kept secret is arguably the shop’s Toonie Tuesday special, where you can grab a ‘baby scoop’ in exchange for a single toonie. In addition to Toonie Tuesday, Frostbite gives out a free scoop to anyone who scores less than 30 per cent on an exam worth 15 per cent or more of their final grade. With rotating and interesting flavours to choose from, the only thing holding Frostbite back from that top score is the massive line that forms each Tuesday.
SNAX: B+
Squeezed into the hallway between Leacock 26 and Rooms 111 and 112 is SNAX cafe. SNAX is affordable, conveniently located, and good at what they do. Since it is primarily a coffee shop, SNAX only offers a small selection of baked goods and delicious Montreal bagels; the somewhat limited menu results in a good but not excellent final grade. Nonetheless, SNAX is the perfect caffeine boost or hunger fix when running between classes. So, before frantically meeting with a TA in an attempt to master the entire syllabus, gift yourself an afternoon sweet treat and grab a double chocolate cookie for $2.75 CAD.
McConnell Engineering Cafeteria: B+
Tucked above the racecars and Dispatch in the McConnell Engineering lobby is the McConnell Engineering Cafeteria, home to Mezze Café and Booster Juice. While both options are delicious and close to the indoor seating that is so essential in the winter, their prices turn a trip to the cafeteria into a special treat, with most meals being above $10 CAD. Mezze offers Mediterranean fare made with halal ingredients for both breakfast and lunch, and Booster Juice has an array of smoothies to choose from. What makes these options stand out is the incredibly kind employees who consistently take time to chat, smile, and laugh with each customer.