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Room with a view and a side of friesArts & Entertainment
Dining Review
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September 3, 2009 - 7:58am
Lucas Wagner tries on food critic hat, gives Room at the Top 1.5 thumbs up Lucas Wagner, Online Editor
Room At The TopSeventh floor, SUB
After months of renovations, Room at the Top (née RATT, a nickname eschewed in favour of one without negative connotations) has finally opened its elevator doors to campus. Situated as always on SUB’s seventh floor, the campus bar has always been a favourite of students — leading many to wonder that if it ain’t broke, why remodel it?
On first look, however, the revamp seems worth it. The oft-trodden floor has been replaced with polished concrete — and while potentially more dangerous, it’s a definite improvement on the old RATT’s grungy carpeting. There’s a new paint scheme, along with a completely remodeled bar; but the most noticeable, and most appreciable improvement is the square tables. Gone are the unwieldy round tables of RATT past. While King Arthur may not be a fan, I find the new tables (along with new, unsunken chairs) to be a godsend. Overall, the Room’s dining environment, while not completely perfect, is a definite improvement over the RATT of years previous.
Fittingly, the menu has undergone renovations of its own. While you’ll recognize quite a few items from the old RATT (some with different names; the Room at the Top Classic is merely the RATT Classic with three more syllables), there’s quite a few additions. The Beef Dip is a welcome newcomer to the “Something Else” category, even if the au jus was a bit lacking. There’s a whole host of vegetarian options cribbed from the Dewey’s menu, including the delightfully esoteric sweet potato fries and vegan chili — though it’s a shame there’s no meaty cousin. Existing menu items have been improved as well: the potato wedges are now much lighter and fluffier — if only I could say the same for the fries, which continue to run the gamut from limp and weak to exceedingly hard and crunchy.
There are many more beers on tap now, including my personal favourite from Amber’s Brewing, Bub’s Lunch Pail Ale. (There’re plans to have a different Amber’s beer on tap every month.) Additionally, there’s the SU’s yet-to-be-named “Brand X” beer, which I’ve personally given the groan-worthy nickname of “Students’ Brew-nion.”
Overall, the new Room at the Top is a hearty change for the better. While some may decry the venerable bar’s move away from tradition, I’ve come to appreciate the changes that have been made. There’s much in the new Room that’s evolutionary, not revolutionary — and frankly, I’m happy that they haven’t done anything ridiculous like add a buffet or hookah bar. The prices are still reasonably affordable, and the location’s still convenient, and those are what make Room at the Top the reliable campus establishment that it is.
