Royal Purple

Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Calkins [Click to enlarge]

Upon trying the High Desert Turkey Bistro Signature sandwich at the Graham Street Café, I had high hopes. Fresh ciabata bread topped with a chipotle mayonnaise, fresh greens and red onion, served with signature chips or an apple, seemed delectable.

An even balance of toppings and meat made for a tasty sandwich, although the bread was a bit thick and dry. The chips added a great crunchy side, but could use more seasoning. The $1.32 soft drink washed down the meal perfectly, although to my disappointment refills are not allowed. The calm atmosphere and friendly service, however, made for a content encounter.

Venturing down to the purple walls of the Down Under, the flames of Tomato Head Red made the brick oven pizzas look better than ever. The crusty dough topped with loads of cheese and thick pepperoni slices was worth $2.99.

The large portion of thickly sliced pizza was enough to fill even the biggest appetites. The price of the pizza fluctuates with the time of day, however, and at 4 p.m. the prices increase. Sure, this wouldn't be a problem, except the ordinary pepperoni pizza shot up to $4.69 and the portion was smaller. Add a drink and suddenly the cost of a quick meal seems rather pricy. However, the stage for karaoke and comedians add to the overall feel of the Down Under, and with a menu including Miller Lite for $2.29, the dining space sets a scene college students should enjoy overall.

A variety of burgers and chicken tenders can also be found in the Down Under at Coyote Jack's Grill. A quarter-pound burger and seasoned fries costs just around $4. To my surprise, however, the burgers are pre-made and garnished with toppings when picked up. For picky eaters, this may not go over well. The burgers can be ordered plain but are not as readily available.

The chicken tenders, selling for $3.89, were nicely breaded and not too greasy and for spicy lovers, I would suggest the jalapeño ketchup for a tangy dipping sauce. The Web site for the restaurants, ucdining.com, is in need of an update, considering it claims mozzarella sticks, onion rings and chicken sandwiches are offered, when in fact they are not. And on a college campus where students tend to eat late and stay up even later, I was somewhat disappointed to find the restaurant closes at 8 p.m. and is not even open on Saturdays.

For a quick stop between class, Beans coffee shop is a pleasant surprise. Alterra coffee is the center of attention, with refills costing 97 cents. Small cappuccinos sell for $2.48 and larges are just $3.33, but there are currently no medium sizes. The one fallback of the cozy coffee shop is the menu. There is none. The two flat screen panels, scrolling across the products are a creative concept but rather impractical. Unless students are coffee connoisseurs, they have to stand around; staring at a slow-moving screen until what they want appears.

Overall, the restaurants are a little disappointing, but still a nice escape from the dining halls.

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