While I’m still reeling from my first battle with an abnormally large cockroach in my dorm room (a nightmare to be shared in a different post), I figured I would write a blog post about a topic that could take my mind off of it: food. I’m not exactly the most adventurous eater. In fact, I’d be perfectly content to survive on chicken fingers every day. That’s why dining, along with boys (I mean academics…) were one of the first aspects I rated on my college tours.
So far I have been pleasantly satisfied with my Leo’s experience. Of course I complain incessantly about it, along with everyone else in the Georgetown student body. But in reality, it’s honestly not bad! In fact, I’d venture to say that it’s good! From the diner to the salad bar, Leo’s provides a sufficient amount of variety and offers quality meals. Yes, sometime it can get monotonous if you’re eating there multiple times a day, especially if you’re like me and have a rotation of 3 different meals. It’s also a rare day when I don’t hear the “I smell like Leo’s!” grumble. Nonetheless there is a reason why we’re ranked as the 15th best dining hall in the country. My personal quibble with it is that it’s located approximately .4 miles away from Darnall. Don’t believe me? I Google mapped it. (http://g.co/maps/7du56)
One of the first things I learned about dining at Georgetown was that despite the fact that the campus map and building say O’Donovan Hall, Georgetown students affectionately refer to it as Leo’s. So if you ever get the urge to say, “Hey guys anyone want to go to O’Donovan’s?!” Don’t do it. No one will know what you’re talking about.
My second lesson was never to go to dinner at any time between 6 and 7. Rush hour is a nightmare. You want to get pasta or stir-fry? Forget it. The lines are endless. Oh and don’t even think about getting a table. It requires serious stalking of people who look like they’re about to get up, and pouncing as soon as the table is available. Be wary, the competition for tables can get pretty intense.
Third lesson: learn to love Thursdays. It has become one of my favorite days of the week. Why? Because it’s Chicken Finger Thursdays at Leo’s of course! #winning Enough said.
The fourth lesson I discovered is that if you live in Siberia, woops Darnall, you are not likely to travel that .4 miles very often. Especially in the winter, the super-convenient Epicurean is way too tempting. Which reminds me, don’t let the allure of the delicious Epi cuisine drain your Go-Card money. Fellow Darnallians save your money by limiting visits to Epi’s and skipping the 24 meal plan for the 14 or 10.
Fifth lesson: befriend the Leo’s workers. I’m pretty sure that’s why the pasta cook gives me extra pasta.
Finally, Leo’s is not only a dining experience, but a social experience. When you go to a school with about 6,500 undergrads and one dining hall, you are bound to see people you know. So keep that in mind before you head out of your dorm room with zero makeup and sweats on. It also means that going for your third irresistible Leo’s chocolate chip cookie is socially unacceptable.
The good thing is, whenever you get really sick of Leo’s, M Street is a culinary hot spot with options ranging from Sweet Green and Georgetown Cupcake to Johnny Rockets and Papa Razzi. Regardless of how far you venture to satisfy your cravings though, Leo’s will always hold a special spot in your Georgetown heart no matter how long it takes you to get the smell out of your clothes.
XOXO,
Hoya Saxa
Georgetown Freshman Survival Tip #5: Get creative! Spice up your Leo’s dinner with your own touch. The unfortunately reality for both you and me is that we can’t live on chicken fingers. So once in a while switch it up. Take some pita bread and cheese, pop it in the panini press and eureka! A quesadilla!
Sources:
http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/35i2dl/