Students passing by the vacant Rieber Terrace stop and peer
through the windows, eagerly awaiting the opening of the
Hill’s mysterious new residential restaurant.
As the days of Puzzles draw to a close, inquiring minds want to
know: Will Rendezvous be able to measure up to or ““ gasp
““ be better than the time-honored tradition of pizza and
chili cheese fries at midnight?
The answer is a resounding yes. Rendezvous, which will be
serving Mexican and Asian fare, lives up to its name as a place you
will want to hold your next dining soiree.
The restaurant is actually two eateries in one: It is L-shaped,
with one side serving Mexican cuisine and the other dishing up
Asian.
The Mexican side serves entrees ranging from bean burritos to
taco salads. Especially noteworthy are the fish tacos, which come
with fresh, warm tortillas, making them a vast improvement over
those from Rubio’s in Ackerman.
In fact, students can watch the tortillas being cooked on the
machine while they wait for their entree of choice.
Another dish that is worth a try is the torta ahogada, a sort of
Mexican version of the French dip sandwich. But beware: As it is
drenched in bright orange spicy sauce, this firecracker is not for
the faint of heart.
The Asian eatery provides dishes similar to Panda Express,
including the ever-popular orange chicken, in addition to teriyaki
chicken.
However, Rendezvous’ version of broccoli and beef beats
the Panda by far. The broccoli is fresh and soft, and the beef is
actually tender, real meat that doesn’t taste like
rubber.
Like its competitor, at Rendezvous students can choose two
entrees on the Asian side in addition to vegetable fried rice or
chow mein. It costs less than a meal at Panda Express, and the
Hill’s restaurant even throws in a free soda.
The Asian side also offers pad thai and a variety of salads,
including a delicious Thai salad called yam neua yang that has
thin, juicy slices of steak.
Rendezvous looks to add sushi and bento boxes to its lineup in
the fall, expanding its fare even further.
The building itself is incredibly spacious, making it seem more
like a mini-dining hall than a cramped Crossroads copycat.
Windows border the edge of the restaurant, creating the illusion
of even more space and providing a light and airy ambience. Once
inside, it’s easy to forget you’re in a college
eatery.
The restaurant has a distinctly modern feel, with sleek
architecture and paintings reminiscent of cubism with hints of an
Asian influence.
The style echoes other restaurants on the Hill, such as Bruin
Cafe and the De Neve dining hall, but on a more sophisticated
level. The seafoam green and burgundy colors of the eatery
complement each other well and add to Rendezvous’ chic
vibe.
The staff members are extremely friendly and helpful, offering
tips and suggestions about which dishes to try, based on the
prospective diner’s personal preference. They work quickly
and efficiently, producing a tasty meal in a reasonable amount of
time.
Rendezvous still has some kinks to work out ““ the Mexican
rice is bland and the Chinese chicken salad too tangy ““ but
overall, the restaurant will fill the void left by Puzzles with
ease.
And for the former Puzzles crowd, never fear ““
you’ll still be able to get nachos and quesadillas. And this
time, they’ll be worth the wait.
““ Julianne Fylstra
E-mail Fylstra at