This story first appeared in The Daily Illini.
Many have been there. It’s late at night on the weekend, you’re drinking with friends and that’s when it hits you: You could go for some food. You stumble out of the party or bar and head toward your late-night craving.
It’s no secret that alcohol and food make a delectable combination. Add college students to the mix, and it’s a recipe for chaos. This list covers some of the wildest late-night moments at campus restaurants.
(Photo by Elena Baker/The Daily Illini)
Fat Sandwich
Located around the corner from Joe’s Brewery is Fat Sandwich. From its unique variations of cheesesteak to the exciting atmosphere of their DJ parties, it’s a fantastic place to continue any exciting night.
“I’ve seen some pretty intense dancing,” said Nola Brandmeyer, freshman in Engineering. “I saw someone do the worm once.”
The owner of Fat Sandwich, Bobby Khamayseh, is a key part of the restaurant’s success. Many on campus love Khamayseh, and he is incredibly thoughtful toward his customers. However, this also brings mayhem to the establishment.
“People come in from the bar just to say, ‘Oh Bobby, please, my dream is to flip a burger at Fat Sandwich,’” Khamayseh said. “They flip a burger, they take a picture with the burger. It happens almost every week.”
University student Samantha Palazzolo, better known as Sammy K, has also contributed to Fat Sandwich’s rise in popularity as a drunk food hotspot. The influencer has made countless videos about her drunk adventures at Fat Sandwich. In her honor, Fat Sandwich named a sandwich after her, called the Fat Sammy K.
Despite being a restaurant, some have confused the establishment for a hotel service, overstaying their welcome.
“I open my office and I find people sleeping overnight,” Khamayseh said. “It happened twice.”
Raising Cane’s
Raising Cane’s on Green Street serves its loyal patrons until 2 a.m. While the menu has little variety, a simple chicken tender meal is perfect for those who have a queasy stomach after partying a little too hard.
“There was this one girl sitting by herself, sobbing,” said Sadie Kearney, junior in LAS. “We ended up sitting with her and ended up giving her a whole meal. I still don’t know why she was up there crying.”
Unsurprisingly, the drunk crowd doesn’t always keep to themselves. Sometimes, they put on an unwanted show for the rest of the establishment.
“A young college student stood on one of the tables and was shouting,” said Jennifer Lichtenstein, a staff member at Cane’s, recalling the wildest moment she witnessed at work.
While the incident was surprising for Lichtenstein, there is usually no time to dwell on shocking situations with how busy the restaurant is.
Burrito King
Being down the street from The Red Lion makes Burrito King a hotspot for those craving Mexican food in a cozy space. With the massive crowd the restaurant draws, it’s inevitable that it has some smelly mishaps.
“Someone came in here smelling like poop,” said Dayanara Quito-Toapanta, sophomore in Media and employee at Burrito King. “It stayed in the whole restaurant until we closed. We were stuck for a full hour extra trying to clean it.”
Working under pressure during Burrito King’s busiest hours is hard enough; unwelcome smells only make the experience worse for both employees and customers.
“It was just so horrible,” Quito-Toapanta said.
Taco Bell
Closing at 3:30 a.m. on the weekends makes Taco Bell one of the best options for those who find themselves spending every last minute partying. The simplicity of its food and the cheap prices draw in a massive crowd.
“Every time I’ve gone out after drinking, it’s just so unbelievably packed in there,” said Madeline Burns, a graduate student studying library sciences. “Everyone being drunk and seeing the stress on the workers’ faces, I feel so bad for them.”
Next time going out for food seems like the move after partying, keep an eye out for crazy situations at any restaurant. Experiences like these happen almost every weekend.
Sienna Nicosia is an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a staff writer for The Daily Illini.