HAWK TAKES: Campus cafeteria subverts expectations

The Connection editors Kadreanna Walker, Sloan Campbell and Havana Loren Medina are going around Sacramento and reviewing some of the newest and most popular spots in town in their new column, “Hawk Takes.” Their second installment is a little closer to home: a trip to the Hawkeye Grill in the Cosumnes River College cafeteria on April 13.

The Hawkeye Grill is open Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. Their menu offers a wide variety of breakfast and lunch items including omelettes, sandwiches and burgers. Additional snacks, sweets and beverages are available for purchase.

The dining services on campus are run by Pacific Dining, a California-based food service provider that manages California community colleges including the Los Rios District. The partnership began after cafeteria renovations in 2023, according to a CRC news update.

At a little over an hour before closing, the cafeteria wasn’t too busy, with many spots available to both eat and study. Soft piano music and light chatter filled the background, but it made for a great area to relax in the quiet. However, we decided to eat our food elsewhere.

Students can order online through the Pacific Dining website or place it in person with a cook. Once your order is complete and your number is called, the cashier will finalize your order at the register.

Ordering four items at the grill resulted in a 13-minute process that included ordering and paying.

I ordered the Zesty Chicken Filet that is advertised differently on the website than it is on the cafeteria menu. The website picture shows that the sandwich comes with lettuce and tomatoes, but the menu description says pickles and “a choice of sauce.” When I got my order there were no tomatoes, but there was lettuce, onions and pickles. The sandwich itself is $9.60, but I added bacon and avocado, which together led to an upcharge of $4.05. With an added side of garlic fries for an additional $3.99, the total amounted to $19.18 with tax.

The sandwich was good. The chicken and bacon were crispy, the lettuce was crunchy, the onions and pickles were tangy and the avocado was creamy. However, it would be much better to call the garlic fries parmesan fries… with an aftertaste of garlic. They were also on the lukewarm side, granted it might have been from the short walk outside. The side of ranch tied the flavors of the fries together better.

While the sandwich was nothing too fancy and could have just as easily been made at home with frozen chicken, it was good nonetheless.

This meal was average at best, but better than other community college cafeteria food I have encountered. If I were to be on campus longer than one class, I would come here again and try other options on the grill. It is convenient and has many options to choose from.

Rating: 6.8/10 | Would recommend: Yes

I ordered the Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla, which happens to be one of the more popular items on the menu. It’s a large quesadilla that includes grilled chicken, chipotle sauce and shredded cheese with a side of sour cream and salsa verde. The $8.95 quesadilla, together with a medium fountain drink for $1.99, brought my total to $11.90 with tax.

The outside of the quesadilla was nicely grilled, giving a nice crunch that wasn’t too hard. The portion of grilled chicken was generous, leaving me with enough chicken in each bite I took. The cheese was fully melted, which has been a problem I’ve encountered at other fast food and fast casual restaurants that serve quesadillas.

The chipotle sauce was creamy, giving the quesadilla a good kick and enhancing its flavor while not overpowering the dish.

The price is absolutely worth it. It’s not only a good serving size, but it’s also cheaper than a protein-filled quesadilla from Chipotle and around the same price as one from Taco Bell.

Rating: 9.5/10 | Would recommend: Yes

I ordered a Ciabatta Pesto Caprese, which is one of the vegan panini options available on the menu.

It was what you’d expect from a typical panini, with the added bonus of ingredients being fresh and hot off the grill. The bread was warm and crispy, with a slight tang from the pesto and balsamic glaze. While the panini offered nothing particularly special, I enjoyed the balance of flavors and the crunch of the bread with each bite.

The $9.20 ($10.40 with tax) dish was comparable to Starbucks’ Tomato & Mozzarella on Focaccia sandwich, which is priced a couple bucks lower. Even then, the panini takes the cake for having fresh ingredients.

Despite the slightly long wait and pricey cost, the dish was tasty and filling—a pleasant surprise coming from community college dining.

Given The Grill’s expansive menu, students will have no problem finding a dish of their liking, with the cafeteria also offering cold items like sushi and ice cream.

Rating: 8/10 | Would recommend: Yes