College students are often characterized by having peculiar eating habits. Around campus, a common behavior reported by students was late-night dining, especially during the weekends.
“On Thursday or Friday nights after the bars close, I always am famished,” said Chris Murphree, a general business freshman. “Driving through somewhere to get a burger or a Cane’s Snack Box is the perfect way to end a night out.”
Between the hours of midnight and 4 a.m., most students said their favorite places to eat were Louie’s Café on West State Street, McDonald’s, Jack-in-the-Box and Raising Cane’s.
Louie’s Café, open 24 hours, is known as a staple for quality late-night meals, said Loren Shanklin, a secondary education sophomore.
“There is a rush after 2 a.m. that lasts until about 3:30 a.m.,” said Morgan Gray, a Louie’s waitress and sociology sophomore. “That crowd usually orders the ‘Louie Burger’, but we offer a full menu at all hours.”
McDonald’s drive-through window is open 24 hours, but a separate “Late Night” menu is offered from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m., featuring 10 menu items as well as fountain beverages.
Raising Cane’s, with several locations near campus, extends its hours on Thursday through Saturday night until 3 a.m.
Jack-in-the-Box, open 24 hours, is busy all night long, but the drive-through line is backed-up between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., said cashier Tracy Jackson.
“There is not really one menu item that is ordered more than any other item,” Jackson said. “The nighttime orders are always really big though.”
Students have several favorite nighttime meals.
“For less than a dollar, I can get two tacos at Jack-in-the-Box,” Shanklin said. “I know it’s not the healthiest meal, but at three ‘o’ clock in the morning, those tacos are better than a steak dinner.”
A few students had tastes farther from campus.
“I know that What-A-Burger [on Seigen Lane] is more of a drive, but its chicken fingers and gravy is the best,” said Taylor Edwards, a pre-business administration sophomore.
Although night hunger pangs can strike any day of the week, University students report eating late more frequently on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
“Whether people spend the night in Tigerland or just hang out at someone’s house, they stay awake later on the weekends,” said Murphree. “You stay up later, so you get hungry. It’s just natural.”
Many students said they often enjoy after-hours meals on the weekends because they get hungry after the bars close at 2 a.m.
Local waitresses and cashiers had stories to share about drunken patrons.
“All the drunk guys [that come to Louie’s] assume they have this right to hit on all the waitresses,” Gray said. “The late-night manager will throw people out if they are being really out-of-control, but we have not had to do that in awhile. Most people just want to eat their food.”
Gray and Jack-in-the-Box cashier, Jackson, agreed that dealing with inebriated customers is eventful.
“People forget to take their change or spill their sodas on their food and in their laps,” Jackson said.
Regardless of whether students look to fill their bellies after a night of drinking or have a sober attack of the late-night munchies, students have after-hours dining guidelines to follow.
“If I want chicken, I go to Cane’s,” Shanklin said. “When I get a craving for fries, I go to McDonald’s. Finally, if I want something more home-cooked and I have time to sit down, I like Louie’s. The banana pancakes are awesome and the atmosphere is really good.”
With students willing to hand over their dollars for food, nighttime eateries are a student pastime that does not seem to be changing anytime soon.