🇨🇦 USask’s Student Fuel Station

🇨🇦 USask’s Student Fuel Station: The Marquis Buffet – Quantity Over Quality? When a university cafeteria bills itself as an “all-you-can-eat international buffet,” expectations hover somewhere between dorm food nightmares and hidden culinary surprises. The Marquis Buffet, perched on the second floor of Place Riel, delivers exactly what you’d anticipate: a dizzying array of mediocre-but-filling options perfect for sleep-deprived students – and absolutely no one else. After grazing through their pizza-pasta-burger trifecta (and that suspiciously shiny “stir-fry”), here’s the unvarnished truth about Saskatoon’s most academic feeding trough. First Impressions: Campus Cafeteria 101 Walking into the Marquis feels like stepping into a UN food court simulation: The Vibe: • Seating: Long communal tables + a few booths (stained with 10 years of coffee spills) • Noise Level: Between lecture hall murmur and hockey arena roar • Aroma Profile: Grease, disinfectant, and vague oregano The Crowd: • 90% students (eyebags + laptops + 3 energy drinks) • 5% professors (regretting life choices) • 5% confused visitors (“Wait, this isn’t Starbucks?”) Service Model: • Self-Serve Chaos: Unlimited trips to the sad salad bar • Payment: Meal plan swipes or $14.99 cash (weekday lunch) Pro Tip: The booth by the window overlooks the Bowl – prime people-watching. The Food: A Tour of Edible (?) Academia 1. Pizza Station 🍕⭐️⭐️ The carb-loaded backbone of student survival: • Crust: Cardboard-adjacent (likely frozen par-baked) • Toppings: Pepperoni = 70% grease, Veggie = canned mushrooms • Best Bite: Margherita when fresh out the oven (ask staff) 2. Pasta Bar 🍝⭐️⭐️½ Customization saves this from disaster: • Noodles: Overcooked penne or al dente spaghetti (pick wisely) • Sauces: “Alfredo” = gluey, “Bolognese” = ketchup-y • Pro Move: Load up on parmesan + chili flakes 3. Burger Corner 🍔⭐️ A crime against beef: • Patty: Gray, steam-table limp • Bun: Stale sesame sponge • Saving Grace: Grilled onions if you dig for them 4. “Asian” Station 🥢⭐️ The culinary uncanny valley: • Stir-Fry: Mushy veggies + mystery protein • Soup Noodles: Salt bomb broth + overblanched veggies • Egg Rolls: Grease-logged freezer-section specials 5. Salad Bar 🥗⭐️⭐️⭐️ The unsung hero: • Greens: Surprisingly fresh (changed daily) • Toppings: Chickpeas, sunflower seeds, not-sad cucumbers • Dressings: Avoid “creamy garlic” (mayo + food coloring) Why This Place Exists (And Who Should Bother) 1. The Student Survival Equation • 8/meal on plans → 1400 calories/ efficiency • Open 7am-8pm: Covers all-night study sessions • Free Refills: Coffee, soda, regret 2. The Professor Paradox • “Quick Bite”: Tolerable wrap station • “I Have 10 Minutes”: Pre-packed yogurt parfaits 3. The Visitor Trap • Pro: Cheaper than Starbucks • Con: Tastes like Starbucks’ landfill cousin The Verdict: Edible? Yes. Enjoyable? Debatable. Rating (10-point scale): Category Score Notes Variety 7 10+ stations Quality 3 Edible but joyless Value 8 $15 = 2 days of leftovers Ambiance 2 Hospital cafeteria vibes Perfect For: • Starving students between midterms • Group project meetings (no one judges your 3rd plate) • Parents visiting kids (“So this is where my tuition goes…”) Skip If: • You’ve eaten real food in the past month • You value flavor over volume Pro “Survival” Tips: 1. Timing: Go at 11am or 1pm – avoids the 12:15pm rugby team rush 2. Customization: Mix stations (burger patty + salad = “protein bowl”) 3. Dessert: The rice crispy squares are oddly decent 📍 Location: Place Riel 2nd floor (above Subway) ⏰ Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-8pm, Sat 10am-3pm 💵 Payment: Meal swipes / cash / credit (no refunds for disappointment) #CampusEats #StudentStruggles #BuffetOrRegret