Food Court over Starbucks

This is an English essay writing exercise.

Eating is an action that humans do at least twice a day and this is especially true in the case of Taylor’s college students. Our campus itself is a study in food selection and during the lunch and breakfast hours most of our students can be found having a meal with their friends at one of the many food outlets provided at our campus. However, among this wide range of food outlets, one that really stands out at our campus is Starbucks, many find eating at Starbucks to be a delight and needless to say the famed coffee offered there is also very much a crowd pleaser. However, my friends and I find that we would much rather eat at the food court and rarely ever opt for other food outlets. When we compare the food court to Starbucks, the advantages of eating at the food court are obvious, such as cheaper prices, better choice of food and drinks, as well as friendlier atmosphere.

Firstly and most importantly, the reason why my friends and I would choose the food court over Starbucks is the price. It goes without question that Starbucks is indeed considered to be one of the more pricey food outlets. However, if we were to place the menus from both the food court and Starbucks side by side, the difference would be staggering. A cup of coffee or a small pastry sold at Starbucks could easily cost you over RM 20. In fact, even the cheapest item sold at Starbucks is around RM16. However, if you were to have a hearty meal at the food court, inclusive of drink, you could easily cut around RM 10 and probably still have enough pocket money to grab a box of mints at 7-Eleven. It is not surprising that my friends and I can often be found at the food court during lunch breaks, as to me it is simply the wiser choice. Why waste money when we can easily obtain so much more for so much less?

Besides the difference in price between Starbucks and the food court, the choices of food and drink offered are also very different. At the food court you are able to find a wide range of foods such as Western, Mamak, Malay and Chinese. In my opinion, the foods offered at the food court are much more suitable for the Malaysian pallet then the overly sweetened breads and pastries that can be found at Starbucks. Furthermore, at the food court, we are literally spoilt for choice and could probably spend a month there without having tried everything there is to offer. Also, the coffees and hot chocolates offered at Starbucks are highly over-rated. Sure they may be tasty but have you ever stopped to consider the number of calories piled on top of your drinks in the form of tantalizing swirls of whipped cream. The simple truth is a cup of fresh juice purchased at the food court is much healthier and also very much more advisable if you are hopping to keep a trim waste line.

Another reason why we would choose the food court over Starbucks is the difference in atmosphere. The atmosphere in a restaurant can be the deciding factor for people's choice of restaurant. For college students like us, the food court not only provides cheap satisfying food but also a more relaxing atmosphere. After a long day of classes, we would much rather get together with a large group of friends, join two or three tables and settle down for some playful banter while enjoying our food. Whereas, if we were to grab a seat at Starbucks there would definitely be no chance for us to relax as a natural tension exist there. All around, you will probably notice many a poser daintily sipping their cups of coffee in the fashion of a so called ‘Hollywood celebrity’. Even the tables at Starbucks are a put off for me. Although some may find the small tables adorned with large umbrellas to be classy and refined, I only see them as a restriction to social interaction. Although the food court may be considered by some as a low classed place to dine, for me the simplicity itself holds its own charm. To me, the food court is a place where we can get together for a bite to eat while pushing all thoughts of formality to the back of our minds.

Starbucks may offer many delights for some but to my friends and I the food court wins hands down. It’s cheap, offers a better selection of food and drink, and provides a relaxing atmosphere. In my opinion, it could be months before we decide to leave our comfort zone and search for somewhere else to have lunch.