High prices, uninspired menu make for a disappointing dining experience
Hungry Toros aren’t necessarily starving for dining options on campus. Sure, we could always use more but for students looking for a bite between classes, there are at least a handful of places they can go to get a decent meal.
Unfortunately, our dearly beloved DH Sports Lounge no longer seems to be one of them.
Limited Options
I used to love the Sports Lounge when I first arrived at Dominguez Hills in the fall of 2022. I could enjoy some large boneless wings that would always fill me up. Plus, it was the only place on campus where you could kick back, watch the game, and enjoy a frosty adult beverage (if you were of legal age, of course).
But lately, the available menu items leave a lot (and I do mean a lot) to be desired – and we’re not even talking about the quality of the food…yet.
“I’m tired of not having many options to choose from,” said sophomore David Banuelos, a frequent customer at the Sports Lounge. “They removed all these good items, like fish tacos and chicken sandwiches.”
Menu offerings at the sports bar have decreased since 2022, with exclusion of sports bar staples like hot dogs and nachos.
A sports bar with a social environment could benefit from having more on the menu and could possibly lead to customers showing up more often to try new foods. Better food options would likely lead to more restaurant customers, which would mean more money – it’s just good business. The restaurant caters specifically to sports fans who want to enjoy a good game while eating some good grub.
Portions Don’t Match Prices
If I’m being honest, the lack of menu options probably wouldn’t be so bad if the Sports Lounge weren’t charging so much for so little.
The restaurant services company Aramark has been providing food items to CSUDH since Summer 2022. According to Aramark’s director of partnerships, supply issues can impact pricing and availability of menu items. That’s all well and good, but how does that explain Sports Lounge customers having to pay an extra $2.41 to add a drink to their combo meal? That’s literally the entire appeal of a “combo.”
Drinks aren’t the only item affected by the so-called “shrinkflation.” Even the chicken tenders aren’t what they used to be – well, at least according to one longtime customer, who claimed they’re now four-inches smaller.
“It’s disappointing the tenders are much smaller and less filling… I don’t even feel like going there anymore,” said senior business administration student Hugo Guzman. “The five tender combo with fries is $9.49. That does not fill you up. It is not worth spending nearly $10 if you are still going to be hungry.”
Better Alternatives
Sports is all about the glory of competition, right? So let’s quickly explore how the Sports Lounge stacks up compared to some of the other restaurants in the Loker Student Union.
Green Olive offers a chicken and rice plate for just under $7. Right next door, the ever-popular Panda Express serves two entrees and a side for about $10. Both restaurants would appear to give Toros more bang for their bucks, which is likely another reason why the Sports Lounge seems to have lost some of its appeal.
“There has been significantly less people coming in here,” said one DH Sports Lounge employee, who spoke to me on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to comment on the matter. “It used to be crowded but now customers prefer other restaurants on campus.”
Look, the DH Sports Lounge is not without its charm. It’s a great place for Toros to catch a game or to just chill and socialize. But to reach its full potential, the restaurant has to step up the menu – or at the very least, adjust prices to better match what’s being offered. Otherwise, interest in the Sports Lounge may just start decreasing faster than the chicken fingers seem to be shrinking.
