APRIL 3, 2025 | OPINION | By Grant Loui (Staff Writer)
I love Rastall Dining Hall. I don’t love it ironically or facetiously, but wholeheartedly and earnestly. It hurts me to see its name dragged through the mud by so many people; I genuinely cannot understand the hate. So here I am, in defense of Rastall.
The first point of criticism often used against Rastall’s is the quality of the food. This I don’t understand. Sure, it’s not gourmet dining, but college food is notoriously crappy. For a dining hall, Rastall is pretty damn good. Many colleges’ dining halls are populated primarily by fast food restaurants. I can understand that many people would see this as preferable, but imagine if the only food you can have on campus is a Chick-fil-A sandwich or a burger from Five Guys. How long until you crave something new? Something different? Rastall provides three meals daily during the week, and they frequently rotate the selection.
Most first-year college students are aware of the “freshman 15,” but as a freshman, I have met very few people who say they have gained significant weight. I believe this is because I’m not eating McDonald’s McNuggets for every meal.
Speaking of eating the same thing, I want to push back on the idea that Rastall serves the same things and rarely mixes it up. Yes, pizza and salads are a constant, but the grill and comfort sections have a different menu daily. Even the types of pizzas offered have changed. Anyone claiming there is no variety is nuts. The only people who can rightfully claim to be sick of Rastall are the vegetarians. The constant use of tofu as one of the few protein substitutes seems annoying, but they should have considered the consequences of their choices.
Beyond dispelling slander, I want to share what makes Rastall unique. It’s awesome that Rastall is a one-swipe buffet that doesn’t limit how much I can eat. I never feel very hungry after leaving because I’ll eat ‘til I’m full.
But the most wonderful thing about Rastall is its fostering of a sense of community. Honest to God, I met some of my closest friends in the dining hall. I have spent more time chatting with my friends there than in almost any other place on campus. There is such a lively energy at Rastall that very few places come close to replicating it, which is due in part to the incredible staff. They chat with students and each other. When Mike from the sandwich station talks with me, it doesn’t feel like he is talking down to me or forcing himself to converse with me. It feels like he is just chit-chatting while making my sandwich. When I talk with Tommy of the Oasis station, he talks to me not as a student, but as a person.
The people who work here have incredible dedication. Whether it’s making sure the tables are clean, the chairs are pushed in or the ice cream cones are stocked, they always work hard. But they are never too busy to talk and joke around with.
The chefs are also incredible; the introduction of Caesar’s Stir-Fry and Nelson’s pasta bar shows their talent. I witnessed Caesar making a student’s order, and he was detailing how he is trying to perfect his recipe, focusing on things as small as the sauce placement. The people who work at Rastall’s are genuinely so talented and dedicated that it’s inspiring.
I hope you now see why I love Rastall. The cons people attach to Rastall’s seem insignificant to me compared to the pros of the community, quality and staff. It’s crazy to me that people think it’s worse than that crappy spot behind Loomis — not going to name names. Thank you, Bon Appétit employees and students, for helping make Colorado College such a wonderful place.