Hi everyone and welcome back to Audreys Reviews! Today I will be analyzing Redifer Dining Hall, which is located in the South dorm area. Redifer was different then what I initially expected, instead of a buffet style dining area it had different sections that served a specific type of food. There was pasta, french fries, but what caught my eye was the burrito bowl station that seemed to be like a knock off Chipotle. Most people at Penn State agree that the best dining hall is Pollock because of its buffet options, however upon further exploration I think Redifer may be better. Pollock definitely has an amazing buffet style dining experience, but Redifer food is just so much more flavorful and delicious.
For my meal I asked for a burrito bowl with rice, beans, mango salsa, veggies, lettuce, and guacamole; it was delicious and even gave Chipotle a run for its money. Not only was everything seasoned properly, but the food was all cooked thoroughly and had a restaurant quality flavor. My favorite topping was the mango salsa, it gave the already savory food some sweetness that really brought the bowl together. Some of my friends decided to get pasta, which looked divine because of the ginormous pieces of garlic bread and plethora of sauces. After observing all these options it seem that most of the cuisine found at Redifer was delicious. Besides the food, the atmosphere was nice with plenty of seating and people to talk to.
However, one thing I did notice that negatively affected my dining experience at Redifer was that the students who worked in the dining hall were unnecessarily rude. I have worked in the restaurant industry before and it seems pretty similar to a dining hall and their behavior seems to be overtly negative. I totally understand being tired and feeling annoyed that there are so many students impatiently waiting for their food, but it still made me feel uncomfortable especially since most of workers I interacted with had a similar attitude. This may have been just an off day for some of the employees, but it definitely was different from the usual friendly interactions I have had at different dining halls.
My food, however was delicious and tasted exactly like Chipotle, which is extremely convenient since a real Chipotle is all the way downtown. Luckily for me the Redifer Commons is extremely close to Pollock and if you walk through Beaver hall and cross the street you are already in South. Overall, the different subsections of food options at Redifer is extremely diverse, but the buffet side is lacking compared to Pollock. The student staff seems to be a lot harsher then what I have experienced before in other dining halls, however the atmosphere was still nice and open. Not only do I recommend Redifer to any Penn State student, but it has definitely become my personal favorite dining hall.
Menu Of the Redifer Grill that serves burgers and fries
I agree with your opinion of the Redifer Dining Hall. While Pollock’s buffet has more options, the different types of foods like burritos, chicken tenders, and acai bowls offered at Redifer are pretty nice. I go to Redifer often and usually the staff is decently kind, so hopefully the interaction with rude students doesn’t draw anyone away. I like the color scheme and font of your blog’s overall theme, and everything looks very organized and easy to access.
I really like Redifer too! However, living in east, its much further from me. The knock off chipotle at Redifer is something I like to get every once and awhile, and it is a change from the Pollock buffet or deli in east, two places I find myself at very often. Overall, I really liked this blog and how you always expressed why you rated things the ways that you did.