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What are the strengths and weaknesses of The Grill?

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Through the combination of the tasty battered crispy chicken and the salty fries, the chicken tenders and waffle fries from The Grill form a culinary masterpiece deserving of three Michelin stars. 

Let’s take a step back: What is The Grill? Well, for those living under a rock, it’s the official snack bar of Middlesex, open Wednesday through Saturday. It serves all manner of things, like sweets, soda, and smoothies, and it also serves hot food from burgers to quesadillas and prevents many students from starving. Unlike the dining hall, where the tuition includes the cost of food, The Grill charges students for their Snickers, Arizonas, and fries through either a credit card or a student account. Overall, the food is good, and most of the prices are reasonable, but the hours of operation are a problem.

The best dish at The Grill is arguably the waffle fries because they come out perfect with a nice crispy bite, a generous amount of salt, and a secret seasoning that all combine to form a treat for hard-working students–it is a true staple of MX cuisine. Furthermore, the waffle fries are a great deal; they are very filling and cost only $2.50, while other fries like Chick-fil-A’s fries cost $4.15.

While the waffle fries may be the best dish, the chicken fingers are the most ordered and a close second with their perfect chicken-to-batter ratio that allows the taste of the chicken to shine while complementing the crispness of the battered exterior. Combined with the waffle fries, they form a culinary masterpiece, though sometimes the portions may be a bit too large.

While the drinks are great, the smoothies and Arizona ice teas, in particular, are a bit expensive. Overall this issue is one of the main complaints of the Grill, everything else has a fair price, but the drinks feel a bit expensive.

The other main problem with the Grill is the hours and days that it’s open. It should be open every school day because it is an excellent place for students to socialize, and it allows students to get snacks if they have a small lunch or miss it entirely. Furthermore, slight changes in hours should be made: on Friday, the Grill should open at 7:30, allowing underclassmen to get snacks before study hall. Also, if there is no Sunday shuttle, The Grill should be open for a few hours on Sunday, but the root of this problem is the lack of a Sunday shuttle.

Although drinks are too expensive and the hours are not ideal, The Grill’s waffle fries, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, and smoothies are fantastic. Furthermore, The Grill is a central part of the community, but with a few minor tweaks to modify the strong base, it can bring the beloved restaurant from good to great.

Timmy Hale