On the third floor of the Campus Center, our very own pub (Highlander Club) is often neglected due to its location and some common misconceptions. One such misconception is that pub food is only fried, and it offers anything different from what other food vendors at NJIT have. So why bother walking all the way upstairs?

‘Leafs & Greens’ specializes in salads, ‘The Grill’ is practically self-explanatory, ‘Trattoria’ covers many varieties of pizza, and then there’s Café Tech, Hershey’s Ice Cream, Taco Bell, and the ‘Corner Kilt Store’ (C-Store). So what’s special about the pub?

The environment is definitely the number one factor that determines the pub’s individuality. It’s located on the third floor, so you’re away from all the hustle and bustle. With a projector that screens movies, three flat screen TVs, atmospheric music, and a bar-like surrounding like no other food vendor in NJIT, nothing trumps the pubs’ surroundings. Not to mention the staff on hand is extremely friendly.

There are daily specials (excluding weekends) to provide a cheaper alternative rather than spending $7.00-$8.00 on lunch. The specials do not exceed $7.00 and the servings are quite large.

A few friends of mine and I tried a line-up of the pub’s new specials and came out satisfied and happy. The meatloaf sandwich paired with a salad on the side was the first time I ever had meatloaf. I always heard on TV that meatloaf was dry and hard, but this was not the case in the pub; it was juicy, tender and flavorful.

The chicken burger with fresh mozzarella cheese was also great for a mere $5.00. It comes with thinly fried onions (which can be omitted) and a slice of tomato in a garlic bread bun. The atmosphere was great and it was neither too crowded nor too dull.  There are complaints of the pub only serving greasy foods. However, there are vegan specials that include a variety of rice and veggies, but if too few people go upstairs to eat the specials, it will not be available very often. Despite the fact that pubs are known for fried foods, our Highlander Club is trying its best to meet the needs of our diverse student-and-teacher population.

Pub Manager, Malik Muhamid (sp) says that “the staff is still in the process of making new sandwiches, and healthier alternatives are being worked on. For example, instead of french fries being paired up with an order, veggie or fruit salads could be used to replace fries.”  Executive Chef Peter Fischbach believes that “different specials will break the monotony but, we can only provide for what the majority wants and offer specials for the minority opinion in order to avoid the waste of food and money.”

There are currently Movie Nights which include full meals. For example, last week’s special was a large variety of fried rice: shrimp, veggie, chicken, etc. were offered along with a movie.  The pub is usually open until 12:00am or 1:00am which is great for students who stay up late and commuters that have to stay late after all the other vendors (excluding Taco Bell) are closed.

The staff says that “suggestions and comments are always accepted.” However, improvements can only be made if people speak up and voice their opinions. The pub is a nice way to get away from the stress of classes, and the staff wants nothing more than to serve good food and create a great atmosphere.

This Week’s Pub Specials

2/01 (Monday) 2 Hotdogs, Fries, and a drink                                                                $6.25

2/02 (Tuesday) Beef Brisket Platter, Veggies and Rice, and a drink (Movie Night)         $6.75

2/03 (Wednesday)        5 Chicken Tenders, Fries and a drink                                                    $6.50

2/04 (Thursday)            Grilled Cheese, Fries, and a drink                                                         $5.00

2/05 (Friday)                Fish and Chips, with a drink                                                                  $6.23