Tuesday 24 May 2011

Short Video

Check out this short video of us interviewing students around Macquarie University about their favorite places to eat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bg4voSsbwU

Tuesday 3 May 2011

BOOST


BOOST!!
-The most popular place to hit for smoothies crushes and juices in Macquarie Centre. At around $7 you can get a boost for your day! Famous especially in the summer time, however you would long cue even in these cold days, which just proves it’s worth spending some dollars!
You will get low fat smoothies which are made from fresh food and 98% fat free yoghurt. The super smoothies would give a kick of extra boost! From super smoothies you can choose Gym junkie, Energy Lift etc. among the most popular ones. You can grab crushes which are 99% fat free. One of the most popular ones are Mango tango crush, watermelon crush and berry crush.
One of the best things about juices from Boost is that they are freshly squeezed and no sugar is added.  One of my favourites would be the energiser juice. It is from freshly squeezed orange, banana and strawberries. You can choose boosters as well, however personally I don’t like them that much.
So hit the shop and grab your desired drink to give you the boost!!

Sushi

Location: Macquarie Center

Store: Mitzus

Food: Sushi Train

Cost: Various (usually about $20 per person)

Rating: 5/5



Mitzus is undoubtedly the best place to eat around Macquarie University. It is located on the top floor, across from the cinemas. This is a great spot for lunch or dinner. the great thing about Mitzus is that it can accommodate if you want to stay and eat and chat with your friends, or just a quick eat and dash. there is a constant supply of different sushi to constantly circling the train. Moreover if none of these take your fancy, you can order something off the menu most dishes are about $15 or under ( their Chicken Teriyaki is fantastic - however can only be ordered during the dinner service). The downside is that Mitzus can get very busy and getting a table or spot to eat may be difficult. But the wait is worth it. All in all I highly recommend eating here whatever the occasion.

Monday 2 May 2011

Chicken Fried Rice

Location: Macquarie University

Store: Thai Kiosk

Food: Chicken Fired Rice

Cost: $7.50 (for a large)

Rating: 3/5



This is one of the better options for eating on campus. The store is located in the cafeteria/food court section. At this venue there are a number of options to choose from on your menu (although some of the food may be less Thai in origin than others). Regardless this place does decent food and offers a good selection of meals (however they do not do combo deals). Unfortunately all food is served in those take away containers (which is undesirable - for me at least - is it too much to ask for a plate), but the container does present the option of putting your food away and returning to a later date / eating it in a lecture (although neither of these options are advisable).

Overall this kiosk is one of the better places to get your lunch from and is quite popular, particularly this item. I recommend this place if you wish (have) to eat on campus.









Go Hun Thai @ Macquarie Park

Go Hun Thai  is very small but thriving Thai Takeaway, there is a wide range of food and it is prepared in front of you. To suit your budget weekly specials are on offer during week days. Can get very crowded at lunch time but the wait and fight through the door is always worth it.  The food here is excellent, the ambience is very clean, but there is no place to eat in, it is only a take away place. Service is prompt and the value is fair, the portions are healthy, never been left feeling hungry




This is a great little place to get some take-away or a quick lunch/dinner. I highly recommend this as the best Thai cuisine in Sydney's west. The only downside of this store is it's tiny size and how many guests they get at lunch time, even though it is definetly crowded, it is worth pushing your way in.

Sunday 1 May 2011

The Convenience Store

The on campus convenience store is a great place to pick up almost anything.

I personally visit the store every time i'm on campus; whether it be to buy a sandwich, a chocolate bar or a carton of milk - the convenience store is always there as a cheap alternative for a quick snack.

Upon first look, it may look very busy and mabey even quite small, but when you go in, you are soon to realise the vast array of food and drinks that are available - all of which at reasonable prices. Service wise, it is vary good, there are always plenty of staff to assist and to serve people to get them out the door and eating their food as quickly as possible.


Crust Pizza

I decided to try out the new Crust pizza place in Macquarie Centre. Oh how I regretted this decision. I was wary at the beginning but decided to risk it anyways.

There are a number of problems with a place like this. Firstly, the slice, or portion rater, of pizza you receive is rather small. This wouldn't be a problem if each portion didn't cost $9.80. Yes, you did hear me right. Nine dollars and eighty cents. Lets think about this for a second. There are 6 portions to each pizza. This means each pizza is close to $60. Wow. The last time i ate at a restaurant on Norton street (Italy on a budget) I ordered a pizza. This pizza was amazing. It cost $22. This seems like an appropriate cost for a great pizza.

I don't think I even have to say any more on the subject apart from stating the theft of money of out your pocket when eating at Crust.

Oh, and the pizza was mediocre at best.

Pizza!

Everyone loves a slice of pizza from time to time. At Macquarie, we are lucky enough to have an excellent pizza shop on campus!

Located upstairs and next to the Uni bar, is a good sized room with a couple of pool tables and couches to relax on. It is in this room where you will find that slice of pizza that you've been craving, for just $3.90 a slice. What I also like about this outlet is the atmosphere. Everyone is there for a good time, you can st out on the balcony and look over the lake or you can sit inside and play some pool with friends.

So next time you feel like a quick feed, or maybe you've had a few beers at Ubar next door and need to sober up a bit before class then i would definitley recommend grabbing a slice!


Cheers, and Enjoy!

Saturday 30 April 2011

Simply Noodles!!

Simply Noodles offers a wide variety of noodles, soups and rice dishes.
From classic Chinese noodle dishes to delicious noodle soups and freshly cooked noodle stir-fries, the tastes of Asia are sure to delight at Simply Noodles.
All dishes are made to order and customers can dine in or takeaway


I'm rating Simply Noodles as a fast food place, rather than as a restaurant. That said, Simply Noodles does good food and does it quickly, which is great if you're grabbing lunch before a lecture at Uni, or takeaway. Some dishes are better than others - the shredded duck fried rice is a flavourful stand out. The laksa is pretty good, without being fabulous. Plus there's a wide range of vegetarian meals for all those vegetarians, Simply Noodles is a cut above your usual food court fare. This noodle bar is quite clean and has modern touch.

Location
Level 4, Shop 406,
Corner of Herring Rd and Waterloo Rd, Macquarie Centre

Coffee on Campus

In order to be conscious enough to sit through 3 hour lectures and 2 hour practical classes, sometimes a caffeine hit is needed.

I normally buy a regular sized cappuccino. This costs $3.20, which is decent value when you compare it with the cost of a Gloria Jeans coffee or a coffee from a cafe in the Mac Centre (which is closer to $4).

My experiences with the coffee available around MQ has been very hit and miss, in terms of quality. Sometimes the coffee is too weak, while other times the coffee's milk is burnt. Its all just a matter of luck, unfortunately.

If coffee isn't your thing, the coffee carts (which are conveniently scattered around campus) are still worth a look as you can buy hot chocolates, cold drinks and muffins.

For those of you considering buying coffee from an outlet around campus, although its not great, I would still recommend it based on its value for money and convenience.

Friday 29 April 2011

Hey guys get your "FREE can of Drink or Coffee" with any sandwich or food purchase at RJ's Sandwich Works, Print your voucher from the following link  http://www.macquariecentre.com.au/food/exclusive-food-offers.aspx  
  



RJ's Sandwich Works located at Macquarie Centre
Level 3 Shop No 96
Opening hrs Mon-Fri  7am to 6pm
Weekends closed
This offer valid only until 31st May 2011


RJ's offer an extensive range of sandwiches and other lunchtime delights...
Create your own Sandwich, Bread roll or Wrap or choose from the extensive menu, all prepared daily with fresh Ingredients.
While you wait try hot baked potatoes with your favourite hot and cold toppings!! At RJ's sandwich works there is space to dine in or you can get take away between your short Uni break. Average meal price is between $2 and $10 which is very cheap and affodable for all Uni students.

Hotdog

Location: Macquarie Center

Store: Event Cinema - Scoop Alley

Food:  Hotdog

Cost: $3.00

Rating: 2.5/5



Keeping in line with the previous post, this is a cheep and cheerful option of lunch. The Scoop Alley is located on the top floor, next to the cinema. This place does a pretty good hotdog, that is better the Doughnut King one(the only other place to offer a hotdog). Another bonus is that at the Scoop Ally you can get a superior (in my humble opinion) frozen coke, which goes well with the hotdog.  Unfortunately it does not come with cheese. Overall is a good option for lunch if your in the mood for a sausage.

Warning, be careful and don't get caught up in the feel that you are going to the movies, you are just getting movie food, you most likely don't have time to see a movie....you're probably late to your lecture already!

Banna Bread / Toast

Location: Macquarie Center

Store: Gloria Jeans

Food:  Banana Bread / Toast

Cost: $4.00 / $2.50

Rating: 3/5



Gloria Jeans can be found in two locations in Macquarie (for the moment). One is in the Food Court of the Center and the other is located in the closing down Borders. This is a good option is you're in a rush and unable to have a good sit down breakfast. These items can be eaten on the go and are relatively cheap.

With the toast you can either get plain or raisin toast. These slices are quite thick (which is my preference).
With the banana bread, you can have the option of getting it toasted, but I prefer as it is [cold].
 

With both these food items, you can get them toasted (obviously) and select butter and/or a jam. This results in a cheap and cheerful breakfast, which I recommend. (this option is even better then some of the other options for breakfast)

Thursday 28 April 2011

Traditional Aussie Burger

Location: Macquarie Center

Store: Nick's Cafe

Food:  Traditional Aussie Burger

Cost: $13.90

Rating: 3.5/5



This is the best burger you can find in and around Macquarie! It comes with beetroot, tomato and salad. As well as a side of chips. A milkshake from their menu also compliments this dish well. They have a variety but I chose Vanilla and it was delicious. This place can also cater for people who are after a real drink having a decent selection from their bar. The downside is that there is a bit of waiting involved and that you actually have to sit inside the cafe. Other items on the menu are also quite large, so make sure you are hungry before going here.The cafe is also located at the entrance to Macquarie Center. So this is only applicable if you know you have time to spare, but it is worth coming late to a lecture for.

butter chicken in Masti

Those of you who are fans of Indian cuisine and simply love butter chicken, Masti in Macquarie Centre is the place to go. Two days back I had butter chicken in Masti and I have to say it was very good. It’s pretty cheap as well. You can get a small bowl of butter chicken curry and a cup of rice for just $9.90 only. The chicken fillet pieces were small and they presented it in a small bowl in a very Indian way. The curry paste was perfect and the tomato puree was thick enough to give you the right flavour. The best part was the hint of cinnamon and the thick cream they used. However the amount of ghee was less just the way I like it to be. I would recommend everyone to go and taste this dish. You can either choose white plain rice with it or you can choose nun bread. I am planning to try with a nun bread next time I go for sure. One of the interesting things about this restaurant is the fact that they keep on playing Indian movies’ songs which give you the feeling you are actually in India and having butter chicken in some local food shop. I loved it.

Chicken Teriyaki

Location: Macquarie Center

Store: Mr Teppan - Teppankaki

Food:  Chicken Teriyaki

Cost: $9.50

Rating: 4/5

Mr Teppan is one of the better places to eat around Macquarire. It's located in the shopping center across the road from the University (although this is a bit of a walk, particularly if you are on the wrong end of the campus). It is in the main food court section. They do a variety of dishes and offer many different sauces with your meal. The servings you get are very large (as their plates are massive). The food is quite good for what you pay and is a good alternative if you are tired of fast food. All the food here is made to order. It is at it's core a rice dish and comes with vegetables (quite a few) [You are also able to acquire a frequent user card, which enable you to receive your 10 meal for free]

I'd highly recommend eating here for lunch or dinner.

Wednesday 27 April 2011

Pide at Doner Wrap


The Doner Wrap food outlet on campus at macquarie is a cheap and filling place to buy your lunch.
Today I bought the cheese and spinach pide from Doner Wrap, which cost me $7. The pide was a cheap and quick meal, which was good as I was in a rush and had to eat it while walking.
The pide had enough fillings in each piece, and the cheese was well spread. The only thing that would have made it better would be more lemon. One lemon wasn't enough to cover over all the pieces of pied.
If pide isn’t your thing, they also have kebabs (which are also really tasty), and also meat plates with salad. Cold drinks are also readily available from this outlet so you won’t be left thirsty from your meal.
Overall, I highly recommend Doner Wrap for the next time your feeling hungry and am in a rush.

Tuesday 26 April 2011

Oporto Bondi Burger

One of the cheapest things to grab which would fill up your tummies for sure in MQ centre is the Bondi Burger in Oporto.
Its only $5.5 and you can get a meal pack at only $7 with the burger, French fries and a can of soft drink.
It tastes great!
This burger was first introduced in 1986 in a small Portuguese charcoal chicken shop in North Bondi (About.com, Syrie Wongkaew).
What still make the burger so irresistible is the freshly grilled and marinated chicken and the legendary chilli sauce.
However if you are not a fan of hot-spicy food, you can order for the mild sauce which is not so chilly, yet would give you the same sour taste. You can also choose not to have any sauce at all and just enjoy the soft juicy chicken.
I would say you should definitely spend some dollars to try this burger. The chicken is marinated with a secret sauce which somewhat has a similar taste like the peri-peri sauce and along with fresh bun and lettuce, a slice of cheese and a bit of chilli sauce its heavenly.