This semester, the University of Connecticut has welcomed The Coop as a new addition to its lineup at the Student Union. The Coop is located in the main hallway of floor one in the Union and serves similar options to the former restaurant One Plate, Two Plates, which closed last year. While I cannot say that The Coop is really any different than the former One Plate, Two Plates, I can say I am glad UConn’s chicken tenders have their own restaurant. The tenders deserve to have their own space, instead of being shoved into the corner of the Union Street Market like they were last semester.
Maleena Muzio
Review: ‘The Coop’
The menu consists of chicken tenders, crispy chicken wraps and french fries. Unfortunately, the menu is fairly small, with only two different flavored wraps offered — barbeque and honey mustard. Rest in peace to the chicken burgers and salads that were once offered at One Plate, Two Plates.
Being a celiac myself, The Coop is one of my favorite places to eat on campus strictly because of the gluten free chicken tenders. While they are not exceptional, they are good, and that is good enough for me. The chicken tenders and fries flex pass meal is my go-to whenever I am in a rush to eat.
That brings me to possibly the best thing about The Coop — flex pass meals. In my time at UConn, the chicken tenders, both at One Plate, Two Plates and the Union Street Market, could only be bought with points or real dollars, so this addition is a huge plus.
The flex pass meal gets you a “small,” which is three chicken tenders, french fries and a drink of choice. Flex passes cannot be used on the wraps, but that is not a huge loss anyway. In my opinion, the wraps are not worth spending points on, especially not the gluten-free ones. The wrap is essentially just chopped up chicken tenders with lettuce, cheese, tomato and sauce. No thanks.
However, I would still call The Coop one of UConn’s better off-brand restaurants and probably the best in the Student Union. Those chicken tenders and the speed at which they are prepared are really the new restaurant’s saving grace and they’re seemingly the most popular item.
The location of The Coop is also optimal. Separated from the chaos and congestion of the other dining chains, students are able to enjoy their chicken without the traffic which was present at the Union Street Market last semester. The Student Union is also relatively close to most students’ classes, positioned in the center of campus.
With more redeeming qualities than negative ones, I can deem The Coop as a good place to eat on campus. If you are gluten free like me, you will probably be a little more partial to it than most just because of the options offered. If you have not already tried the flex pass meal, I highly recommend it! Or if you are feeling bold, you can go for the larger option and get six tenders and fries. Luckily the new size options allow for more customizable meals, so choose whatever suits you best!
Rating: 3.5/5
Maanya Pande
Review: ‘The Coop’
Although the loss of One Plate, Two Plate was hard for some, the arrival of The Coop has been an excellent replacement. Not only has it brought back a daily option for chicken tenders, but it also offers a flex pass meal, which increases the options for students with meal plans.
At The Coop, you can get small or large chicken tenders with fries or a wrap, which comes with a gluten-free option. Additionally, the flex pass meal consists of three chicken tenders, fries and a Dasani water bottle or a fountain drink. Although the menu is relatively small, it appeals to a lot of the community on campus. The line is wrapped around the corner nearly every day, so its success is non-arguable.
Another redeeming quality of The Coop is the efficiency and speed at which the food is served. Though the lines are long, they don’t take too much time to actually get through, a factor that is most appreciated by students.
Personally, The Coop is a refreshing option for food, because I’m not a vegetarian but I don’t eat beef for religious reasons. This means that the arrival of Bear’s Smokehouse was not the best option for me, since there are limited non-beef options there.
This expansion of food options at the Union is particularly helpful during that awkward 45-minute period between classes when most of the dining halls are closed. The dining hall is always packed during that time, and the addition of The Coop has helped to spread the crowds of students and faculty throughout the Union.
Despite all these positive impacts and factors regarding The Coop, the location does pose a limitation for student organizations on campus. Located at the end of the Student Union Mall level, The Coop takes over a space that was utilized by student clubs in the past. Many organizations, especially cultural ones, would use the serving station space to hold food and drink fundraisers. Because The Coop is used in that space, student organizations are limited in their options for these kinds of fundraisers. For example, the sorority Delta Phi Omega held a Dubai Chocolate Strawberry fundraiser in that area last semester.
Overall, the positives much outweigh the negatives of The Coop. Students have more selections for food at the Union. Additionally, the quality and efficiency of The Coop make it my personal favorite of the dining options at the Union.
Rating: 4/5