Cranberry’s rising through ranks

By Nicole Southern

Hard booths. Dirty tables. Not enough seats – or ketchup packets. A boring, dull color that seemed to go on forever. These were the sights that would swarm students as they walked into the Cranberry Café. But the Cranberry Café is no more, having been replaced by what is now Cranberry’s, Rider’s new retail restaurant. It provides students with a much friendlier atmosphere than its predecessor ever offered.

Drastically different from the original Cranberry Café, the new Cranberry’s has provided both commuters and residents alike with a comfortable place to wind down after a hard day of classes and somewhere to stop by for a bite to eat.

According to avid Cranberry’s visitor, sophomore Josh Chave, the renovations to the commuter dining area have transformed it into a great place to kick back and relax.
“The building is much nicer,” said Chave. “There is a lot more seating, and it is really comfortable.”

According to senior Lisa Goldschmidt, the renovations have made it feel like home, which reminds her of the feeling provided by Rider’s resident dining hall, Daly’s.
“It’s more like Daly’s than the Cranberry Café was,” said Goldschmidt. “It’s a lot more spacious.”

But seating is not the only thing that comes in a wider variety at Cranberry’s. The menu has greatly expanded since the days of the Cranberry Café, offering a significantly larger selection of food all-around, including an array of healthy options.

On top of the increase in the quantity of food choices, the quality of food proves far superior to that of the Cranberry Café. According to Chave, even some of the Café’s most adored choices have improved in taste this year.

“I love the new Cranberry’s,” said Chave. “The food is so much better, especially the quesadillas and the specialty fries.”

While many students are thrilled with Cranberry’s, a lot of these same students find that despite the somewhat enhanced quality of food there, it is not much different than the food offered on an everyday basis at Daly’s. For residents, it may not be worth it to make trips to the new commuter dining area commonplace.

“It’s more or less slightly upgraded cafeteria food that you have to pay more money for,” said freshman Travis Volosyn. “Cranberry’s is worth going to when you need a change of atmosphere, not change of food.”

Although Cranberry’s has an extensive menu and a wide variety of foods to choose from, some students are upset with the disappearance of some Café favorites.

“I miss the smoothie guy,” said sophomore Marie Baker. “Last year my friends and I used to go to the Cranberry Café and get smoothies. Now we can’t do that anymore.”

Another difference that students have noticed is the increase in people that have been choosing to eat in Cranberry’s since its reconstruction. According to senior Stephanie Luzecky, the food at Cranberry’s is great but the wait for food can become a problem when you are pressed for time and have an important class to go to. She believes an increase in staff could help correct this problem and could benefit students greatly.

“They need more employees,” said Luzecky. “The lines can get really long during lunchtime. However, the food is much better than it used to be.”

All in all, students are enjoying the new Cranberry’s and the future of the new retail restaurant looks bright. Although it still has some kinks to work out, Cranberry’s continues to become increasingly popular as both a restaurant and a hang out.

Students can stop in with others and enjoy the warmth and friendliness that it offers anytime between the hours of 8 a.m., and 7 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, or 8 a.m., and 4 p.m., on Fridays. It is also open during pub nights until midnight to hold off hungry pub-goers.

“It is a nice atmosphere,” said Volosyn. “It’s more upbeat and a nicer place to hang out and be with friends.”