The Mong Cafe’s brew is worth the queue; student reviews cafe’s new menu

Malachai Abbott Staff Writer

As you walk into the lobby of Lutnick Hall, you may hear the shrieking sounds of students chatting away in their swiveling chairs, or maybe catch a glimpse of the inside of a science class, or, lately, you may see the freshly revamped Mong Family Café. This past February, the Mong Family Café, dubbed “Roaring and Pouring,” reopened after being closed for three years due to COVID-19.

Since its opening, the café has quickly become one of the most popular destinations on campus. Students can stop to grab a snack, or, with the new addition of naturally sourced caffeine “focus shots,” stop by for a quick caffeine boost. While students flock to the little nook that encloses the Mong Family Café, FLIK staff work diligently to prepare students’ orders from the large menu.

On Tuesday, I visited this bustling corner of Lutnick Hall for the first time in weeks. While the lines and hordes of students awaiting their drinks and treats had previously deterred me, I decided it was time to give Roaring and Pouring another shot.

After an uncharacteristically short wait, I decided to try a mango smoothie and a chocolate chip muffin. The transaction process was quick: a simple swipe of my school ID card. At first glance, the smoothie was a deep marigold color, but the muffin looked no different than what you would find in the cafeteria during breakfast hours or at the end of the day. The smoothie was chilled, thick, and tangy, which I enjoyed; it was everything and more than you would expect from a mango smoothie. This is an item I would definitely recom- mend to any café goer.

My muffin, however, was not the fluffy snack I had hoped it would be. Instead, it was dry and crumbly, which meant, before I left the Mong Café, I spent the better part of a minute simply wiping the crumbs off the table into my hand. This was strange, given that the muffin I tried in the cafeteria later that day was soft and fresh.

For the short time I had to wait, the ease with which I ordered and received my food, and the refreshing flavor of the smoothie, I had an enjoyable experience at the Mong Family Café. However, I did not leave with the best impression of the quality and flavor of the muffin, on which I spent $2.50.

The Mong Family Café is an exciting readdition to the school, allowing students to relax with their friends and enjoy a nice treat or drink during the school day. With to-go snacks and more drink options, The Mong Family Cafe has widely expanded the food choices at the school. However, I believe the Mong Café could great- ly benefit from the added efficiency of having another cashier, and an improvement in the quality of their muffins so that they stand out from the cafeteria offerings.