After weeks of anticipation, Boston University students and professors waited anxiously in line yesterday to be the first to nosh at the new Einstein Bros. Bagels shop in the basement of the College of Arts and Sciences.
After an elaborate ribbon-cutting ceremony, CAS earth sciences professor Ethan Baxter purchased the first item from the shop: a strawberry-white-chocolate muffin. A dozen other customers enjoyed bagels, schmear and Darn Good Coffee.
The bagel joint sells sandwiches, salads, muffins and beverages. The menu includes several healthy options, although Sargent Choice items are not offered, The restaurant also accepts dining points and convenience points.
The shop, which opened at 9:15 a.m. yesterday, replaces the CAS Cart and was selected through an online survey presented to the BU community last year.
“We worked with the CAS administration as well as the student government to determine what concept would best suit the needs of our customer base,” said Dining Services Marketing Director Michelle Vitagliano. “We are pleased to be able to respond by introducing a high-quality branded concept that offers a large menu.”
Rhett’s, the late-night diner in the George Sherman Union scheduled to open with a small ceremony Friday, will serve burgers, grilled chicken, fries and Richardson’s Ice Cream, which is made in Middleton.
“The Charles River Bread Co. has received rave reviews so far, and we hope that success carries through Rhett’s and Einstein’s as well,” Vitagliano said. “We’ve done some taste testing of burgers and ice cream with students [at Rhett’s], and they loved it.”
CAS junior Brandon Polcik chose the name “Rhett’s” after winning a contest on Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore’s website, Dean’s Blog, which advertised a prize of $250 in convenience points and “the fame that goes with seeing ‘your name’ up in lights” to the winning student.
“I thought it would be funny calling it Rhett Burger, like it was made out of Rhett,” Polcik said. “[Then] I just put an apostrophe in Rhett’s. . . . I also posted a bunch of derivatives of it like Rhett’s Greasy Spoon or Rhett’s Diner.
“Dean Elmore joked about naming a sandwich after me, but I don’t think it’s happening,” he continued. “But I’m really excited about the milkshakes.”
Many students said they are looking forward to new food choices.
“I think both these places are great,” said College of General Studies sophomore Stephanie Toribio. “It’s another meal option so we don’t get bored of the same stuff all the time.”