Rank It: HUB Dining Options

Whether you’re a student at Penn State or visiting the campus, The HUB-Robeson Center is a mecca for student activity and offers a wide array of dining options.

Now I’ll start off by addressing the unfortunate truth, the dining options at the HUB aren’t the best. You’re better off visiting one of the delicious restaurants in downtown State College, but alas, I’ll stick to the plan and give my review of the restaurants to grab a bite in the HUB.

I will not be including Jamba Juice because I have a fundamental fear of smoothies

1. Sbarro

Would Highly Recommend

If you’re looking for the best food in the HUB and not worried about the potential wait time of standing in line, Sbarro is the place to go. I recommend grabbing a pepperoni stromboli or chicken wings. It’s not the beautiful Italian cuisine you’ll find at Faccia Luna off-campus, but it’s the best food in the HUB.

2. McAlisters Deli

Would Highly Recommend

McAlisters may be pound-for-pound the most reliable option in the HUB. With the combination of easy access and quality of food, it proposes a very strong option for a great lunch. The mac and cheese is of top quality and the sandwiches are among the best in State College.

3. Burger King

Would Recommend

I know what you’re thinking, and yes, it is just Burger King. But as I stated before, the dining options at the HUB are scarce and the bar is low, that’s how BK has found its way onto our top three. It still does provide a menu with a wide range of options, including the spicy nuggets which are the best of their kind in fast food. Also, BK provides a great spot if you’re trying to save a buck or two.

4. Panda Express

Would Recommend

Panda is a student favorite, and one of the most popular places on campus. It also really is an express, the line moves like the wind thanks to the hard-working staff. The orange chicken stands out as the best option to me personally due to the explosion of flavor, pair that up with the brown rice and you can’t go wrong.

5. Soup & Garden

Would Recommend

It’s hard to go wrong at Soup & Garden. There’s something for everyone in the buffet of salad, wings, and soup options that alternate every day. The wings are really good, by far the best location for wings in the HUB and the Caesar salad is watery but still solid. Overall Soup & Garden is a great place for dining and an easy recommendation due to the variety of food offered.

6. Cow and Cookie

Would Recommend

If you’re looking for a quick treat, there’s no better place in the HUB to look than Cow & Cookie, and they do a fine job with it. An assortment of sweets like cookies, milkshakes, ice cream, and more makes Cow & Cookie a strong choice for any tasty cheat meal. It’s no creamery, and the ice cream isn’t the best you’ll ever have, but it does the job.

7. Slim Chickens

Would Recommend

Slim Chickens could be a great option if you really love a good chicken-based meal. But there are better places to go. It doesn’t offer many options, only a chicken sandwich and tenders. But the chicken is alright, not bad, not great. If you’re looking for a great chicken meal, better off heading downtown to Raising Cane’s.

8. Starbucks

Would Not Recommend

Starbucks is fine, and their drink options are stellar. But Starbucks finds itself at No. 6 on the list because it’s not worth the 20 minutes of waiting in line. Count your blessings if you can catch this place at a time where the line doesn’t end up back in the cafeteria seating. It’s simply just not worth the time of the wait, so, once again, I’d suggest taking your appetite elsewhere.

9. Blue Burrito

Would Not Recommend

Blue Burrito is serviceable if you’re really craving a meal at all costs and would be willing to accept a subpar dish. It’s a student favorite (depending on who you talk to) for some reason, but the ingredients don’t stand out and there’s really nothing too special about a blue burrito.

10. Grate Chee

Would Not Recommend

Grate Chee specializes in one option, grilled cheese. So, it’s especially disappointing that they fail at this so miserably. The breading has a stale taste, and the cheese has a slimy and fake texture. When I arrived at Penn State, I was thrilled to hear that the HUB offered a restaurant that specifically focused on grilled cheese. Don’t waste your time here despite how much you love a good grilled cheese sandwich, because you won’t find it here.

Sketch Morton is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email sam7539@psu.edu.