Now that the Ace’s Grill Exchange has been running for a while, I figured it was time for someone to give their honest opinion on it. This past month, I have been on a mission to try the options offered for the meal exchange. There have been some items that I have yet to experience, such as the “vegetable of the day”, but I feel I have a pretty good idea of what is good about this meal exchange program and what is not. 

This is just my opinion and if you have a different one, great! 

Right off the bat, I’m going to say that the Ace’s Grill Exchange is actually good. I have not once taken a bite of one of the meal items and regretted getting it. I have realized that I tend to prefer the hot meal exchanges over the cold selections. This is due partly to the fact that I will almost always prefer a hot meal to a cold one, but I think that hot meals have more agreeable and predictable flavors. I was honestly surprised by how much I liked the first hot meal exchange I ever got, which was a pepperoni pizza with a side of fruit. The pizza was just the right size and was of pretty good quality. The pepperoni was a little burnt on top, but I didn’t mind it as I couldn’t taste it. The sauce on the hot meal exchange pizzas is easily the best I’ve had at UE. The cheeseburger/hamburger, chicken tenders, and grilled chicken are also pretty good! The french fries come out crispy and the Mac and Cheese is fairly standard. 

All of this sounds great; however, I have noticed one glaring problem with Ace’s Grill Exchange: the quality differs between days. Remember that first pizza I got? Well,I got another one a week or two later and it was not as good. The sauce was still great but the top was still a little doughy and the bottom was a little too brown. I noticed that the cheeseburger that one of my roommates had gotten looked of a lesser quality than mine had a few days prior. We both agreed that things like what buns they use for the sandwiches vary between days/weeks. The food is still decent; however, I would prefer to always get a meal exchange that looks and tastes the same every time. I think this is something that could be easily corrected through time. The kitchen staff will get used to the demand for the items and get a better workflow for cooking during busy times. Although the quality may vary, I believe Ace’s Grill Exchange is a worthwhile meal option for students. I would love to see the menu  expand with healthier and more diverse meals, including more options for the vegan and vegetarian students. Overall, this is a great addition to UE’s campus!