When Late Night opened in its new location in Usdan University Center this September, many students found it lacking something. Primarily, choices.
“We had the bare minimum at the beginning; it was really just burgers and fries and that was it,” said Laura Jandreau, a Bon Appétit Late Night staffer. “We didn’t even have a menu.”
Since then, the options have been expanded, and yes, there’s even a menu to order from.
“When you’re opening a new building, you only have so much time to do everything,” said Bon Appétit Resident District Manager Delmar Crim of the slow start.
The offerings have been expanded beyond burgers to include egg rolls, chicken tenders, sweet potato fries, and egg sandwiches. According to Cook Kris Ruffino, chicken quesadillas and jalapeño poppers have emerged as the most popular items.
According to Crim, the increase in options has been matched by an increase in diners.
“Initially it was less, but now we serve an average of over 200 people a night,” he said. “Friday and Saturday nights are by far the most busy.”
Jandreau agreed.
“Friday and Saturday nights are definitely the busiest,” she said. “There’s a lot of drunk…there’s a lot of kids those nights.”
The larger crowds may also have something to do with later operation hours: Late Night is open from 9 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The rest of the week, doors close an hour earlier at 12:30 a.m.
Some students criticized Late Night for not being late enough.
“Late Night is good, but it closes too early,” said Eli Sevcik-Timberg ’08. “I may as well walk over to the retirement home on Broad Street to get food at night, because I’m sure their cafeteria is still open after Late Night is done.”
Jandreau acknowledged that students seem to be racing against the clock, with the last ten minutes of service being particularly busy.
“Also, when we close earlier, we get a lot of kids coming up between 12:30 and going, ’oh you’re closed,’ so there’s definitely a want for later hours.”
Other students just miss Late Night’s old location in Summerfields.
“Usdan’s dining rooms are big and cavernous, and at night it just feels really empty,” said Hunter Craighill ’09. “Summerfields was busier and more social, with a lot of people around and a T.V.”
Crim noted that students have started to make the space their own.
“Students tend to sit on floors and window sills more than in the dining room,” he said. “At first, a lot of students missed Summerfields, but students are getting used to it. It’s more central here.”
Some students have found other alternatives to Late Night.
“I go to Weshop for late night,” said Annie Shepard ’09.
Crim said that diners seem happy with the menu’s range, but students offered The Argus suggestions for additions.
“My only time eating in Usdania thus far was an exploration of the new Late Night,” said Elissa Gross ’08. “There were no mozzarella sticks.”
Sara Swetzoff ’09 was more blunt.
“Where the fuck are my waffles?” she said.
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