Though signs claimed it was to open in fall 2007, the Bird Library Cafe officially opened Monday, just in time for the new semester. Located on the first floor, the cafe has a variety of food to choose when you need a quick food break while studying and don’t want to venture outside of the library.

Hours:

Mon.-Thurs. 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Selection

The selection of food isn’t anything groundbreaking – you can get the same things in the Schine Student Center and the Blinker Deli, but you can get breakfast foods, sandwiches, wraps and the usual array of caffeinated beverages all in one central location, which is nice for those spending long hours in the confines of the library.

Prices

The prices are about on par with that of Schine and Blinker, with sandwiches and wraps costing about $3 and up. The sure to be popular cappuccino and coffee come in small, medium and large, and a cup can cost you as little as one buck. While cheaper than a meal at the dining hall, eating there frequently could get pricey. As with other campus cafes, the only methods of payment are cash and SUpercard.

Ambiance

The cafe is located on the first floor, literally immediately to the right when you walk in the main entrance. This makes for good people watching, but as students get used to the new addition there’s also a lot of gawking. The cafe is roomy and bright, which lends itself well to staying awake and studying. There is a variety of seating, from booths to comfy chairs to tables. The new burnt orange school color is apparent in the furniture theme.

Efficiency

Modeled after the other new cafe on campus, Newhouse’s Food.com, when patrons order a sandwich or wrap they fill out a slip of paper with what you want in your sandwich. While this avoids confusion in ordering, it doesn’t always help in moving the line along faster.

Food

The sandwiches and wraps are the same as those made in Schine and other locations on campus, and are always a tasty student favorite. Coffee and cappuccinos will surely be popular for those spending late nights at the library, and the cafe is offering Freedom of Espresso brand coffees, a local brand. Overall, it’s not quite as good as the Food.com offerings, but good enough to have a quick lunch between classes.

Published on January 13, 2008 at 12:00 pm