Campus dining plays an important role in sustaining students at Northwestern State University. NSU hosts a variety of restaurants and stops such as Iberville Dining Hall, the Fork Stop, Café Demon, Steak ‘n Shake, Vic’s and Chick-fil-A. These places provide environments for students to nourish their bodies while hanging out with friends or finishing up homework. The various eateries also allow students to mix up their diet without traveling off campus.
The biggest food establishment on campus is Iberville Dining Hall, located outside the University Place residence halls. Iberville offers different plate meals every day with some staple foods such as pizza, pasta, cheeseburgers and sandwiches. This food hub is a popular choice among students because of its location. Kameron Sappington, a sophomore nursing major, likes to eat at Iberville at least three times a week in between her classes and cheerleading practice because it’s convenient for her.
Iberville’s next-door neighbor is NSU’s convenience store, the Fork Stop. The Fork Stop operates with longer hours than most campus dining options, so students who need to run a last-minute errand can purchase anything from toiletries to a late-night snack. The grab-and-go style allows students to get necessities without leaving campus and makes the Fork Stop the perfect place for students on the go.
Another popular spot on campus is Café Demon. Located in the same building as the library, students can pop in for a Starbucks drink, premade sandwiches, sushi rolls and pastries. Café Demon offers inside and outside seating for students to enjoy the day as they refresh and re-energize.
Located at the heart of campus is the Friedman Student Union, which houses Steak ‘n Shake. Steak ‘n Shake’s menu consists of burgers, specialty shakes and loaded fries. Many students go out of their way to treat themselves to the hand-dipped shakes after a long day.
Caitlin White, a freshman secondary education major, said Steak ‘n Shake is her favorite place to eat because of the menu’s simplicity and lack of vegetables. “I’ve probably spent most of my DB at Steak ‘n Shake because I don’t have to tell them to take off vegetables on my sandwich,” White said.
Vic’s is located right above Steak ‘n Shake at the Friedman Student Union and offers sandwiches and different lunches daily. Mykenze Newell, a freshman nursing major, likes to go to Vic’s to work on schoolwork while enjoying a good meal. She loves the enjoyable atmosphere and the slow foot traffic. “You have your own space, you get to study and you can just make yourself at home there,” Newell said.
Finally, next to the campus store is Chick-fil-A. While this location does not offer Chick-fil-A’s complete menu, students can still enjoy a variety of chicken options and drinks. Chick-fil-A is open for a late dinner and is often staffed by fellow students committed to providing meals for others every day except Sunday.
Each location is within walking distance from school buildings around campus, providing food for students to recharge throughout the day. “I really do like that you’re not just eating the same thing every day. If you live on campus, you don’t have to go out to find different food places,” Newell said.
