By JAZMIN GOMEZ
On September 11, Pearson’s finally opened its ongoing construction zone to reveal DK’s, a cafe meant to provide convenience to students on the academic side of campus. Open from Monday to Friday on the second floor of Pearson’s, DK’s features a coffee shop, snacks to-go and on September 26, a full Mediterranean themed lunch menu. The two newest features include a mobile order system and a build-your-own smoothie menu which sparked excitement among many.
During the first day of opening, DK’s sported an overwhelmingly long line and an equally crowded waiting area. With only one blender in sight, everyone ordering a smoothie waited at least ten minutes and another seven for a toasted bagel. Perhaps the wait time would be worthwhile if the food and drink were noteworthy, yet they seemed okay at best.
“It was perfectly-acceptable. The food, there is literally no difference, but the vibes are a little better. I like that it’s here now,” says Phoebe Long-Sires’24. They mention a comparison between DK’s and Hamiliton’s, a previous cafe located in the Powerhouse. “I’d say the vibes are an improvement, but the food is not.”
The comparison between the two cafes comes as natural. Almost acting as the successor of Hamitlon’s, DK’s perhaps already has too high expectations. Should students expect a completely different cafe menu when the two locations act as the same entity? Certainly, students should receive an improvement in quality.
Roo Doherty’25 says, “The food is pretty much the exact same as far as I can tell.” From the muffins to the coffee, the DK’s menu shares the same type and quality as Hamilton’s. The only difference exists in the smoothie options which seem subpar in standard. “I think they’re too tart even with the added honey. I think they can work on that a little bit. You know, workshop it,” Marion Moyar’26 says. Even the improved aspects fall short of expectation.
“Last time I came here, it wasn’t the best. But today, it was pretty good and the service was good too. I like how cutesy it is,” Trinity Davis’28 says. First-years, without the prior knowledge of Hamilton’s, seem to enjoy the aspect of a cafe in general. A recurring theme among students is the factor of location. Despite the convenience of a cafe on the academic side of campus, one that is not open 24/7 for students working late hours seems counterintuitive.
The location replaced Pearson’s 24 hour vending machines that supplied students with energy throughout the night. Now those machines will soon be located on the first floor of the library, yet abiding by the library’s hours of operation.
The excitement of a novelty might overextend some congratulations to DK’s. Despite regaining a cafe on the academic side of campus, the college failed to improve the quality of DK’s from Hamitlon’s. Dk’s now stands as another unnecessary money expense on the college’s statements, a sad reality as many clubs and organizations experience extreme budget cuts. This generalized statement poses the question of priority. Is the student experience heightened by another cafe or by extracurricular enrichment?
Featured Image Credit: Jazmin Gomez’27
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