College students always complain about food. While this complaint may be true on other campuses, here in DeKalb, there are some quality establishments at which to eat.

Last year I was in a residence hall, and now, living on my own, I realized it was like a dream. With free food upon demand, how much better can life get?

Lincoln Hall has some tasty food, but you have to wait for them to make it. You’ll definitely want to check out the grilled ham and cheese. Also, late at night, when the mood strikes, those chicken fingers with some Sweet Baby Ray’s hit the spot better than any other greasy food out there.

The food court in Stevenson Towers really is beyond words. It caters to almost any taste. I usually would fill, on average, three styrofoam containers of food, which lasted the whole night of mass reality-TV viewing.

Neptune Hall is like the Old Country Buffet of the cafeteria world; it’s good at times, but damn dreadful the rest of the time. The Trident store gets accolades for serving chai tea, the ultimate warm beverage.

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Grant Towers, specifically the Northern Lights Grill in Grant South, has bar none … seriously now … the world’s greatest chicken nuggets.

Douglas Hall has the best fresh sandwiches made while you wait.

As for around campus, let’s chew the fat a bit here.

Shelley’s is awesome if you like the finest hot dogs this side of Stevenson. Great Wall has the best value with the lunch buffet, at $5 for all-you-can-eat and a drink.

As for McDonald’s, I’ll have to slow down to talk about this fine corporate conglomerate. The Lincoln Highway location still is tops and the entire dollar menu still is intact, but the one in the Holmes Student Center has fallen from grace.

“I’m sick of our fascist university jacking up the price of the McChicken 60 cents,” said senior communication major Nicole Wolfgram.

If McDonald’s keeps this up, they’ll lose me to Wendy’s, with its delicious $1 junior bacon cheeseburger.

Mexican restaurants are a dime a dozen in DeKalb. El Burrito Loco doesn’t agree with me, but neither does senior history major Travis Hughes.

“El Burrito Loco,” he said, “it’s just good [stuff].”

For me, it’s a tie. For authentic Mexican food, I go for Burritoville. But for the cheaper, Tex-Mex style, nothing beats Taco Bell.

-When in the mood for noodles, heaven on earth is served by the plate at Thai Pavilion. Their Pad Thai (roughly translated to Thai noodles) is perhaps the most delicious substance I’ve ever had the glorious honor to eat.

As for the bad: Aside from the chicken sandwich, Burger King is a lost cause.

Best Quality: Thai Pavilion

Best Value: Taco Bell

Best Overall: Stevenson Towers