what’s on the menu?
LIFESTYLE | SEP 15, 2025
The removal of fan-favorite restaurants along Georgia Avenue has left Howard University students facing a pressing question: What’s on the menu? Campus dining has changed in the past year, with Grubhub-powered options dominating the daily menu. New vendors like S&T Sushi, Everbowl (smoothies), and Zoca (tacos) have appeared in Blackburn’s Punchout. These options are seemingly meant to replace the well-frequented, but now erased, Chipotle, Potbelly, Subway, and Negril, which all served as off-campus eateries. For some, these upgrades mark positive progress. Yet for others, the loss of affordable, familiar spots has deepened a growing dilemma.
.
By Nova Rylee johnson
New Zoca restaurant in Punchout Photographed by Kyran Nickens
Grace Kalere, a sophomore said,“I think there’s a lot more dining options on campus compared to last year. In Annex, there’s the smoothie bar and now there’s omelets in Blackburn.” In the commotion of losing off-campus options, Kalere suggested that recent additions have been overlooked. He also noted the pitfalls of the new landscape, “I know a lot of the places that are gone were some student’s favorite hangout spots so that’s a little bit sad.”
Food is a known community builder, essential to many cultures, especially on a college campus. Aaliyah Rapping, a senior, noted, “I’ve always had a meal plan, even while living off campus, but I like what they’ve added in Punchout. They’ve definitely diversified from the pizza and pasta they used to sell.”
Rapping also took notice of accessibility issues in the realm of late night bites. “Unlike other schools, we don’t have a 24-hour dining option, so I used to frequent Chipotle and Negril a lot,” she stated. “Living in Towers, I had my groceries stolen, struggled to get them up the elevators, and a lot of other craziness.”
.
New Everbowl restaurant in Punchout Photographed by Kyran Nickens
In the case of commuters, long waits and short hours can mean going hungry between classes. Anaya Nosakhere, a sophomore, took note of this. “It’s hard to wait around for food for hours,” she said. “There’s so many students living on and off campus eating at the same place.”
Living in Axis, Nosakhere lives with limited options, “I tend to eat at the dining hall the most, and Punchout as well since I don’t really have a kitchen.”
She also shares the perspective of handling dietary restrictions. “It was disappointing to see the restaurants shut down. I’m vegan and Caribbean, so eating at Negril or Chipotle would have been nice.”
Kelicia Tyndale, a sophomore, mourns, “I’m a vegetarian, so I miss that Chipotle real bad.” Those who do cook at home, have begun looking beyond campus, despite steep prices. “I’ve started shopping at Whole Foods, but it’s pretty expensive,” Tyndale added.
Speculation surrounding the university’s role in the closures has also left many curious. Tyndale mentioned, “I think the rumors going around that Howard bought those buildings back are very interesting considering there’s buildings on campus that have yet to be finished.”
She is not the first to notice how the shut down of restaurants along Georgia Avenue possibly benefit the institution. “The lack of food options on campus have kind of forced students into Chick-fil-A and Punchout,” Tyndale shares. “The congestion definitely comes from that increase but without any real solutions.”
These concerns hint at a broader issue highlighting food access and policy. Whether intended or not, the culmination of dining contracts, closed storefronts, and the absence of affordable groceries have limited where students can eat.
Despite many students not being aware, resources for those struggling with food insecurity exist on campus. The NOURISH HU student pantry offers free groceries for students in need. Open by appointment every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., students can receive short-term help or make donations for their peers. The NOURISH HU also shares local community resources.
.
New Sushi S&T restaurant in Punchout Photographed by Kyran Nickens
As students reflect on what has been lost, they also take notice of what has been given. The expanded Punchout menu, external restaurants, and food pantry represent an effort by the university to diversify dining. Whether the chef’s special or acai bowls fill the absence of Negril and Chipotle is still up for debate - Howard students will keep an eye out for accessible food that feels like home.
.
The Latest
TRENDS WE ARE PREDICTING FROM NYFW
BY ARIANA ADADE
5 SUMMER MOVIES TO WATCH WHEN THERE’S NOTHING TO WATCH
BY CORTNEII SAMUEL
THE SUN TRIED TO COOK HOWARD STUDENTS LAST WEEK
BY ASHLEY JOHNSON