When I first toured Hopkins, I remember being told we’d have a new student center by my senior year. That time has come, and the Bloomberg Student Center (BSC) is finally here!
Everyone else must’ve been just as excited as me because the grand opening was packed. There were a bunch of giveaways and even samples of the food that was going to be served in the building.
The BSC was built to be a hub for student life, and they definitely succeeded in their vision. There are plenty of areas to study, socialize with friends, and eat. There’s a theater, gaming room, multipurpose rooms, and recording studio. The design is modern, and each space feels tranquil, making it the perfect place to stop by after a busy day of classes.
This has already become one of my go-to spots on campus. The building’s so big that every time I go, I discover a new area. With so much room, it’s pretty easy to find both quiet and social areas. There are also a bunch of rooms that people can book for meetings, studying, or even chatting. I’ve only done this once so far, but the soundproofing of the room was so good that I’ll definitely be returning.
A few weeks after the grand opening, six locally owned food vendors in Ralph’s Marketplace (an area on the ground floor of the BSC) opened—Bento Sushi, Any Day Now, Koshary, Lucky Danger, Urban Kitchen, and Connie’s. You pay with dining dollars from your meal plan or credit card, and all orders must be placed using the Transact Mobile Order app. Given my love for our on-campus food options, it’s no surprise that this is what I was most excited for. So far, I’ve tried four of them, and here’s what I think:
Koshary
Koshary serves Egyptian-inspired dishes like flatbreads, dips, and bowls. I ordered a protein bowl, which came with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, herbs, hummus, pickles, tahini, and chicken. I also ordered a smash kebab flatbread, which was just flatbread topped with spiced ground beef. I’m not a big fan of Mediterranean food, but I loved both of these. I liked the protein bowl the most because of how fresh and flavorful it was. The hummus on top was a great touch as well.
Lucky Danger
Lucky Danger (along with Any Day Now) is led by Hopkins alum Tim Ma and serves Chinese American food. As a Panda Express lover, I was hyped to try this one. I ordered orange chicken with steak and cheese egg rolls. Both were good, but the egg rolls were a real stand-out to me. I liked the orange chicken better than Panda Express’, but some of the peppers were a bit too spicy for me.
Urban Kitchen
This was my favorite place I tried, but I’m also biased because I really like hamburgers. My burger had two patties, lettuce, American cheese, tomato, onion rings, and Urban sauce. I’m especially passionate about my burgers, so I paid two dollars extra for bacon and a fried egg. It’s not an exaggeration to say that eating this was the best part of my day and I still reminisce about this burger. Needless to say, I’ll be returning.
Connie’s
Connie’s mainly serves chicken and waffles, but they also have other options centered on fried fish and chicken. I kept it basic and ordered chicken and waffles. I got blueberry waffles, but other flavors included buttermilk, crunch berry, Fruity Pebbles, and Oreo. This felt like a comfort food staple that would make studying for exams a lot more fun. I was also happy to see some blueberry waffle representation because that’s the best flavor. I can’t lie though; I’ll probably go back to try the other waffle flavors.
Mo’s Place
Mo’s Place is a full-service restaurant with a bar. Eating here is dine-in only, and the space is very inviting. When I went, people were eating, studying, playing pool, and playing foosball. There are booths, tables, and even a couch, making this more than just a restaurant. I kept my order simple and got a crab cake sandwich and a burger. The burger was great, but I think Urban Kitchen takes the win in that department. The crab cake was easily a 10/10, but I have to deduct points because I had an allergic reaction to something inside of it. I was pretty disappointed because it tasted so good. Maybe I’d try it again, but only with Benadryl on hand!
Overall, the BSC is a really nice addition to campus. The relaxing atmosphere makes it the perfect place to hang out with friends. The food options further diversify what we can get on campus, and the mobile ordering system streamlines the process. Between discovering new amenities and trying the rest of the food options, I’ve got a lot to explore before I graduate!
