MARCH 27, 2025 | OPINION | By Lily Ljiljanich (Features Copy Editor) and Rachel Weissman (Opinion Editor)
Well into our second year at Colorado College, we have gathered a comprehensive understanding of the various eateries adorning our lovely campus. Despite our upcoming criticism, we’ve learned to get creative and maximize our dining experience.
The Preserve
Overlooking the Front Range and Stewart Field, The Preserve is a highlight of West Campus. Surrounded by large windows adorning apartment buildings, often featuring a curious pet gazing out an apartment window, The Preserve attracts everyone. Because of the somewhat consistent salad bar and the less consistent panini press, you’ll often find us at the hot food station. However, don’t knock the Turkey No Nut Pesto Panini until you try it. The grab-and-go shelves parallel to the kitchen are inferior to the C-Store, but their recent selection of fresh fruit and ready-to-eat salads has drawn us across the quad from South Hall more frequently, showing great promise as warmer weather nears. Some of our best memories take place on the outdoor patio when it’s warm enough, watching the sunset while eating our slightly overdressed salads.
Benjamin’s
We admit we are casual lunch fans of Benji’s. Often more of a crowded post-class meet-up rather than a delicious spot, the anxiety-inducing line out the door frequently pushes us to Colorado Coffee, causing occasionally awkward shoulder bumps with former classmates. If you’re not out of class by 11:50 p.m., good luck. If we do make it to the register, Mike is the only constant at this chaotic food stop. Switching between the uncertain grill food and the sushi bar, we rarely venture into the hot food line, as it’s nearly always something brown and off-putting. Perhaps our biggest qualm is the ridiculously massive sushi pieces that can only fit in the mouth of a mammoth. Trying to covertly shove them in our mouths at peak lunch hour abandons all table etiquette and garners humiliation from onlookers. At least they have good ice.
Colorado Coffee
More or less an extension of Benji’s, Colorado Coffee sits right in the unnoticeable average of CC’s dining experience. With the only ingredients being ice shards and yogurt, the smoothies are definitely something to skip, but the bagels and muffins make up for it. The unfortunate Armstrong-ridden students can run over for a quick snack, but often only out of desperation. Colorado Coffee is a convenient yet forgettable dining stop. You’re better off at Susie B’s.
“The C-Store” (Local Goods)
Good ole’ reliable — when fully stocked — the C-Store is the only draw of Mathias. With no windows and only one entrance, you’re walkin’ in blind. We take a simultaneous sigh of relief when a student employee is behind the register. We’ve exhausted all the snack options, and pretty much stick to the same few items. In our raggedy Trader Joe’s totes, you’ll often find veggie straws, tissues (allergy season victims), cottage cheese, plenty of Poppis (great chaser) and as of late, the concerningly creamy yet delicious guacamole. Maybe a bag of chips or two. We typically forgo the microwavable meals, unless stumbling back from a sunny-day darty and need a quick bite while The Preserve is closed.
Rastall Dining Hall
To our dismay, we can’t provide an ample description of Rastalls, as we seldom walk beyond the Worner lobby. This classic cafeteria-style eatery often also has an unbearable line out the door — one that is most definitely not worth the wait. In our very, very limited dining experience in this CC staple, we’ve experienced sadness and hunger, aimlessly wandering in hopes of a miracle: decent food. Rumours of raw chicken mistaken as salmon circulate at least once a semester. It really comes down to the simple fact that whatever you find at Rastalls, you can almost certainly find it better somewhere else. We haven’t been since we were freshmen.
Susie B’s
Susie B’s is bustling in the mornings, offering small talk and snacks, attracting swaths of students on class breaks from Palmer and Tutt classrooms. The crowds might hold friendly faces from previous blocks or run-ins with unavoidable foes — it’s always a mixed bag. The staff here moves with precision and speed, a rare commodity on campus. They’ve honed their coffee craft to a nearly robotic repetition. We decisively prefer the coffee here as opposed to whatever they slam in a cup at Colorado Coffee. The aesthetic is warm and bright, with plenty of sunlight from the large windows and semi-clean tables. Recently, Susie B’s has begun offering breakfast sandwiches and other hot food options, challenging their inferior caffeine competition in Worner. We enjoy grazing the spot during midday library breaks and well into late night grinds. A wonderful, solid go-to spot.