Reisner, Kriner and the CUB. Reisner, Kriner and the CUB. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

But fear not. The answer to escaping the sheer boredom of the dining hall experience is not far away.

Located at 32 E. King St., inside of the Shippen Place Hotel, the University Grille offers a variety of dining options for many different experiences.

I visited the University Grille on two separate occasions this week. The first night was Wednesday evening for wing night.

After looking at the various flavors offered including varieties of hot, BBQ, garlic, and even Southwest ranch, I decided to try the honey BBQ.

When the waitress brought my wings, I was very pleased to see that they were larger than I expected.

While the wings had an excellent flavor, I would have preferred them to have been cooked just a little longer as I tend to like my wings on the crispy side.

However, the wing prices were very fair as my total bill was under $8 for 20 wings.

I returned to the University Grille on Friday evening to test another item off the regular menu.

As I read over the menu, I stumbled across the bacon angus burger which I had seen the waitress carry to the table beside me on my last visit.

I decided to try it myself.

The bacon angus burger is served with crispy slices of applewood bacon, lettuce and tomato on a choice of a white, wheat, rye or Kaiser roll.

The burger is also served with the choice of fries: regular, waffle or sweet potato. However, cheese does cost an extra 50 cents.

When the waitress brought my burger, I was impressed with the presentation of my meal.

The burger was on its own plate with a pickle while the fries were brought in their own tall basket.

Then, as I took my first bite, I was pleased to see the burger was cooked the way I ordered and the burger was thick and full of flavor.

This burger was one of the best burgers I have had in a while.

If you are in the mood for a good burger and are really hungry, I recommend the Shippensburger challenge.

The Shippensburger is unique to the University Grille as it is four burger patties with four cheese sticks, four onion rings, four slices of American cheese, four pieces of bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, sautéed mushrooms and jalapeños on a Kaiser roll served with a side of French fries.

All of this costs $17, unless completed within 20 minutes, and then it is free.

However, the University Grille does not just offer wings and burgers.

The menu actually offers a wide variety of meals including soups, salads, appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, pasta and entrees including steaks and seafood.

Also, the University Grille offers a variety of alcoholic beverages including mixed drinks, wine and beer (several on draft).

In addition to the great food and wide variety, University Grille also provides a great atmosphere.
I am always one who is a bit skeptical of hotel restaurants, but when I entered the University Grille through the hotel lobby, I completely forgot I was even in a hotel.

The bar area also has several TVs for customers to watch while dining.

But, if one is looking for a fancier or more romantic atmosphere, the University Grille also offers that on the opposite side of the bar where there are tables decorated in white tablecloths and candles.

Also, the service was exceptional as the wait staff was friendly and very helpful. The food was also prepared in a very reasonable amount of time.

However, my favorite aspect of the University Grille’s atmosphere was its tribute to Shippensburg University.

When I was handed the menu, the first thing I noticed was the pictures of several former Shippensburg University presidents on its background to go along with the presidential pictures hanging on the walls of the dining room.

Overall, I was happy with my dining experiences at the University Grille and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good meal and a variety of options with a soothing atmosphere.

The University Grille offers an exceptional dining experience close to campus and provides a place for students to escape the same old, same old of campus dining.

So whether you are up for a challenge or just in the mood for something different, the University Grille is a place to keep in mind.

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