As of the Fall 2025 semester, Cooper Street Hospitality has taken over for Gourmet Dining as the campus dining partner. This means students can see a more varied dining plan, the ability to order meals from the nursing and law buildings, as well as price increases on campus food. 

“The quality of food in the dining hall didn’t live up to my expectations in the past, and that’s coming from someone not hard to please… There’s also been times where I’ve gotten food from the dining hall and had an upset stomach an hour later,” explains a junior nursing student who asked to stay anonymous. 

Cooper Street Hospitality is emphasizing healthier, more diverse dining options, including more culturally diverse meals and easily accessible dietary options and resources. Students can book appointments with dietitian Blanca Cats, RD, to discuss special plans for allergies or nutrition tips. She’s also available at Plate Checks, which, according to Cooper Street Hospitality’s Instagram page on September 15th, 2025:

“…give you the chance to ask nutrition questions right at the dining hall—while building a plate that works for YOU.⁣”

All of these changes have come with a price increase on meals. A meal swipe at the dining hall costs $9.75 in October of 2024, but currently costs $13.00 according to the Rutgers Camden GrubHub. Food from the Scarlet Food Court has gone up in varying amounts, with a vegan burrito bowl, for example, previously costing $7.32 in March of 2025, now costing a student $13.38 as of the Fall 2025 semester. 

“The old dining hall food was good for what it was worth. It’s saved me on days I didn’t bring food from home… Now they’ve raised the prices I’m probably not going to go as often because the food isn’t worth it,” states Adriel Rebancos, a junior commuter student. 

Another large change coming with Cooper Street Hospitality taking over dining services is creating a dining hall outpost that starts on October 1st. This allows students in the nursing and law buildings to get food from the Scarlet Food Court delivered to them with no additional charge. The system is all through GrubHub, and students can use their meal cards or credit/debit cards. The pick-up locations for the outposts will be in the law bridge of the law building and in the lobby of the nursing building.

The junior nursing student also commented on the outposts:

“Last year, a big reason why I didn’t get [campus] food, not only because it was bad, was because I couldn’t get it in the nursing building… it was just kind of impossible for me to get between my classes… I’m a little bit nervous because it really depends on how long it’s gonna take them to deliver.”

All of these changes come after several student-staff discussions and input surveys over the past year, led by the Student Dining Advisory Committee. The school also took into consideration student voices that were heard at Student Governing Association meetings. SGA is always looking for feedback about students’ dining experience on campus, which can be expressed at their regular meetings. SGA hosted a dining-focused Town Hall on October 1st to hear responses to the new partnership with Cooper Street Hospitality. SGA President, Jennifer Levy, gave a statement to The Gleaner on the dining changes:

“SGA is committed to continuing to work with Cooper Street Hospitality and our University partners to make the experience for students the best it can be. The town hall aims to provide clarity on the changes that have taken place and allow students themselves the opportunity to share their voice and advocate for an experience that best serves all.”

Cooper Street Hospitality has taken on a bigger campus presence, online and in person. Their Cooper Street Hospitality ambassadors share information about dining services and events on their Instagram. They’ve also hosted more events on campus, such as the taco truck that was on the quad on September 17th, 2025. The company’s Instagram page @cooperstreethospitality features information on events and allows students to keep up to date with the ongoing campus dining changes.

Happy

1 50 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

1 50 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

This holiday season, there’s a sweet way to give back to the Rutgers-Camden community. The Pre-Law Society and the Honors College have teamed up for a fundraiser with Krispy Kreme to benefit the Scarlet Raptors Nest, the food pantry on campus that supports students facing food insecurity. The fundraiser is ongoing until December 21st, and 50% of the proceeds from every dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts sold will go directly to the Scarlet Raptors Nest.

The Scarlet Raptors Nest is a vital resource for students at Rutgers-Camden who may struggle to afford enough food. The food pantry provides free, non-perishable items and fresh produce to help students in need. However, like any organization, it relies on the generosity of the campus community and its supporters to continue its work.

The Pre-Law Society, in collaboration with the Honors College, initiated this fundraiser as part of an Honors College project. The goal is to raise both awareness and funds to support the Scarlet Raptors Nest in its mission to ensure that no student at Rutgers-Camden goes hungry. The idea is simple: buy a dozen delicious Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and half of your purchase price will go toward supporting students who rely on the pantry for food assistance.

How It Works

The fundraiser is hosted through an online platform, allowing anyone to purchase Krispy Kreme doughnuts digitally. Simply visit the campaign’s website and select how many dozens of doughnuts you’d like to order. You can buy digital dozen certificates, which are redeemable at any participating Krispy Kreme location. These digital certificates can be used for regular Krispy Kreme doughnuts, or you can choose to give them to someone else as a treat this holiday season.

The primary goal of this fundraiser is to sell 100 dozens of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. If that goal is met, it will result in $750 being donated to the Scarlet Raptors Nest. This money will go a long way in helping the pantry purchase more food, provide better services to students in need, and ensure that no one in the Rutgers-Camden community has to choose between buying textbooks and buying groceries. Gloria Campos is the Rutgers student behind this project, and as both an Honors College student and president of the Pre-Law Society, she saw it as a way to combine both interests for a common goal. 

There are a number of ways students can get involved with this project. The easiest way to contribute is by purchasing doughnuts! Every dozen sold is another score for the food pantry. Sick of eating doughnuts? Help sell them instead. Spread word about the campaign to friends,  family, and other students on campus. Or post about it on social media. Every mention counts. You can also donate directly to the campaign through their website. 

In times like these, every act of kindness counts. By purchasing a dozen doughnuts or helping us sell, you’re making a real impact on students’ lives and providing them with the support they need to succeed at Rutgers-Camden. This is a great opportunity to give back to the community, especially as we approach the holiday season.

Help make the goal of 100 dozens of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and raise $750 for the Scarlet Raptors Nest before December 21st. It’s a sweet way to support a meaningful cause. See their website here for more details: https://www.groupraise.com/offer-campaigns/52351-ruc-pre-law-society-rutgers-camden-honors-college-krispy-kreme-digital-dozens/5T8L96#cta-form

Happy

1 100 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

Cover Photo by Pushpak Dsilva on Unsplash

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

Fevzi Mediterranean Grill has two restaurants located in a rather close proximity, one in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and the other in Camden, New Jersey. 

According to the chef, the grill opened “ two years ago, before the thick of COVID”. 

The menu ranges from salad bowls, grain bowls, wraps, to desserts and more.  Each menu item is heavily influenced by Mediterranean and middle eastern cuisine. 

For instance, the grains include seasoned bulgur, quinoa, and the flavorful sauces are seasoned with traditional flavors of the culture, such as tzatziki which is a yogurt based dill-minty dip, baba ganoush which is a smoky eggplant,and tahini dip.

I ordered the Lavash Wrap, Lavash is a leavened flat bread that is native to the Middle East (Armenia and Istanbul, specifically) traditionally cooked in a tandoor (a type of oven, constructed using clay, and fueled by coal), similar to naan; and is served alongside cheese, kebab, or even stacked up and dried to be used in other recipes. Here, the Lavash was used to wrap the toothsome fillings, toppings, and sauces that were offered; which is almost reminiscent of the traditional chipotle burrito wrapping format that is followed. Here, due the fast food-chain restaurant nature of this grill, premade lavash wraps were used- which was a thin, almost translucent layer that neatly encased the textured fillings. 

The veggies section also included crisp cucumbers, juicy tomato chunks, pickled purple cabbage (my personal favorite), grape vine leaves, another traditional staple to the Mediterranean cuisine; and the succulent meat options such as the chicken kebab, chicken Gyro, and more. Upon the addition of these toppings, they were all beautifully complemented by the wide array of sauces that best suit the bold flavors of the meats, by mellowing it down with the traditional yogurt based dips. 

My wrap, specifically, consisted of the thin layer of the bread, lavash, that encased a layer of fragrant and deep flavored coarse bulgur. Then followed by a layer each of pickled onions, purple cabbage, cannellini beans, spring greens. 

Along with fresh-out-of-the fryer falafels, which possessed the perfect crisp texture, through the crunchy exterior and almost fluffy-green interior to complement the softer more mellower aspects of the wrap, and was ultimately topped with the Tzatiziki ‘sauce’.The wholesome bulgur absorbed all of the delicious minty-tzatziki, along with the greens which simply made the meal soenjoyable till the last bite. 

To end the bulky wrap on a sweet note, the pistachio baklava is a perfect dessert. 

With its buttery layers of phyllo, drenched heavily in sweet spices, sugar syrup and nutty layers, each piece of baklava is a perfect mouthful of something buttery, sweet, crisp,and delicate.
The coarse pistachio nut mixture not only provides another varying crunch, but also adds depth in flavor to the otherwise buttery tasting pastry, and cuts through the sweet-fatty layers with its savory,nutty flavors. 

Fevzi Grill is a delicious hangout spot for anyone who is looking for a quick and fresh bite to eat.  The customer service, menu offering, and location is excellent, and offers a comfortable and ambient place for diners to sit and enjoy their meals while gazing outside into the scenic downtown Philly, across the waterfront. 

Links:

Lavash – Wikipedia

Tandoor – Wikipedia

Fevzi’s Mediterranean Grill – Camden, NJ Restaurant | Menu + Delivery | Seamless

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

By: Arielle Champion

Restaurant: Pirones

Address: 1351 NJ-38 Ste B1, Hainesport, NJ 08036

Hours: Monday – Closed, Tues-Sat 10 AM – 9 PM, Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM

Price: $$

Website: https://cucinadipirone.com/

Phone: (609) 261-5200

Parking: Parking lot (free)

Reservation: Not needed

Rating: 5 stars

The air is colder, the sun sets earlier, and winter has finally come. It’s the season of warm blankets and comfort food. If you’re looking for food to warm you up, Pirones is a great place to dine and only a 30-minute drive from campus.

As I walked in I immediately noticed the setup of the restaurant. The dining area is a smaller intimate space decorated with art imported from Italy. The tables are covered in bright white cloth to top off the mood. As you’re seated the waiter greets you with a basket of freshly baked bread served while you look over the menu.

Their menu is very large and includes almost every Italian dish you could think of. Whatever you’re in the mood to have, they make it fresh from scratch daily. Father and son Mario and Mario run the restaurant with their family, eager to serve you delicious Italian cuisine. 

As I opened the menu I didn’t even know where to begin. Towards the top of the menu, their pizzas were listed. They have 10 different kinds of pizza including Vegetable Garden Pizza, Margherita Pizza, Lasagna Pizza, Rosemary Basil Pizza, Bacon Chicken Ranch, Pizza, Buffalo Chicken Pizza, Brooklyn Pizza, and Grandma pizza. Their most popular pizza is the Grandma, a Sicilian thin crust with mozzarella cheese, and plum tomato sauce, topped with garlic, olive oil, and basil. 

Their appetizers were exceptional, you could tell it wasn’t pulled out of a freezer and just thrown in a microwave like most restaurants. I ordered the mozzarella sticks and fries and couldn’t think of a single complaint. The mozzarella sticks were crispy on the outside and had melted cheese oozing from the insides. For an Italian restaurant, the fries were great as well. 

Their pasta dishes are a hug in a bowl, bursting with flavor. Their menu includes over 15 different pasta dishes, if you’re indecisive good luck! Their top pasta dishes are the Rigatoni, Baked Ziti, and the Fettucine Alfredo. The pasta entrees also come with a salad. I decided to go with the garden salad which had the largest croutons I had ever seen. It was delicious!

During my stay, we chose the Rigatoni Alla Vodka and the Fettucine Alfredo. Their Rigatoni is served with a creamy vodka tomato sauce and topped with plum tomatoes. The Fettuccine Alfredo was probably my favorite. The sauce was creamy and the chicken was perfectly cooked. They also shred fresh parmesan cheese on top, and as you mix your pasta the cheese melts in perfectly. 

If you’re not full after your meal, their dessert should be next on your mind. Their dessert list includes Cannoli, Cheesecake, Dark Side of the Moon, Tiramisu, Cinnamon Knots, and Pirone Delight. Their Tiramisu is a coffee-flavored dessert with lady fingers dipped in coffee, layered with a delicious mixture of eggs, sugar, cocoa, and Mascarpone cheese. If you’re looking to treat your sweet tooth, their dessert menu will successfully do the job. 

The next time you’re searching for an authentic Italian restaurant, Pirones is the place. This restaurant is on the same level, if not even better than a place like Maggianos or Brio. The quality of the food and the cozy intimate dining room makes you feel you’re in a little mom-and-pop restaurant right in Italy. 

Happy

0

0 %

Sad

0
0 %

Excited

0
0 %

Sleepy

0

0 %

Angry

0
0 %

Surprise

0
0 %

By: Arielle Champion

Restaurant: Bistro Du Jour

Location: 99 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

Hours: Sun – Thurs 8 AM – 9 PM, Fri – Sat 8 AM – 10 PM

Price: $$

Website: https://www.bistro-dujour.com/

Phone: (202) 984-7400

Parking: Street (meter)

Reservation: Not needed 

Rating: 4 stars

Taking a trip to the White House or just passing through Washington, DC? This French Bistro is a must. This restaurant truly makes you feel as if you’re sitting in a cafe right in France. 

As I entered I was greeted with a warm welcome and kind staff. The first thing I noticed was their green velvet booths, gorgeous floor tiling, and stunning wall art which all added to the feel of a cafe in France. They even played relaxing music, I could get the sense of a casual ambiance and vibe of the restaurant. 

The menu itself was detailed and aesthetically pleasing. During my stay, I ordered a range of items to get a true feel for the restaurant. The menu’s first and largest section is the “Patisseries”, the pastries. I ordered the Pain Au Chocolat which is their chocolate croissant. It was the perfect combination of flaky, light, and airy with chocolate oozing from the middle. As someone who normally gets their croissants from Starbucks, it was nice to enjoy a freshly baked croissant from a real french bakery.

To go along with my pastry I ordered hot chocolate, which was the only downside during my visit. France is known for their rich decadent hot chocolate, and being at a French Bistro I had high expectations. Their hot chocolate didn’t have the rich cocoa flavor I anticipated and was also very watered down.

I let the waitress know and they were very accommodating. “I’m so sorry about the hot chocolate, let me take it back and have them remake it for you,” said the waitress. The second time around it was less watery but had too much milk. I accepted that their hot chocolate was just going to be chocolate milk. The waitress was very kind and accommodating. 

Despite the hot chocolate mishap, their brunch was nothing less than perfect. We ordered the Gaufres Belges, Americaine, and the Pain Perdu. The Gaufres are their Belgian Waffle with honey-syrup apples and this rich chantilly cream. The Americaine platter comes with eggs cooked any style, a croissant, bacon, and crispy fingerlings which are similar to breakfast potatoes. Saving the best for last, the Pain Perdu was probably the most delicious french toast I’ve ever ordered. It’s brioche french toast, blueberry compote, and of course, their delicious chantilly cream. This is what one would call a “Breakfast of Champions”.

But this isn’t just a restaurant, they also have a built-in bakery towards the back. As we were heading out, dessert was our toughest choice. My boyfriend and I decided on the chocolate cake which honestly made up for the hot chocolate. The chocolate cake was moist and fudgy, every single bite was perfect. We realized we should’ve gotten our own slices instead of sharing one.

Overall, if you’re in the Washington D.C. area and looking to grab a quick bite, Bistro Du Jour is a great option. From the stunning interior and the great food, the restaurant is a great choice when searching for places to grab a bite in Washington D.C. They have quality food, kind staff, and a comforting ambiance. 

Happy

0

0 %

Sad

0
0 %

Excited

0
0 %

Sleepy

0

0 %

Angry

0
0 %

Surprise

0
0 %