Ibby's Washington University

I now see why this restaurant struggles to reach even an average four-star rating. My friends were eager to try this pricey place, which surprisingly resembles a cafeteria in terms of affordability. If the food had been good, the high prices might have been justifiable. Unfortunately, the food was clearly overpriced. The most frustrating part was the automatic 18% gratuity added to our bill, which meant the server had little incentive to hustle. It took over 15 minutes for them to bring us our checks. Overall, it was a disappointing dining experience.

Here's a rundown of some dishes I tried: the Beyond Burger, grilled sea bass, chicken thigh, lemon pepperdalle, crispy tofu with green curry, and grilled chicken. 1. **Excessive Salt**: The food is overwhelmingly salty, to the point that some dishes are nearly inedible. The chicken thigh I had a few weeks ago was alarmingly high in sodium. Beyond the salt, there were hardly any other flavors present. 2. **Overuse of Lemon**: Almost all the dishes are excessively sour. The green curry was particularly disappointing—not only did it taste terrible, but it was also devoid of its signature green color and simply tasted like lemon juice. The same went for the pasta. 3. **Lack of Flavor**: Overall, the food lacks depth—it's either over-salted or greasy, leaving little room for any other flavors. 4. **Rude Staff**: There is a hostess who can be quite unpleasant. On one occasion, she rolled her eyes and made faces at us when we arrived just a few minutes late for our reservation. Additionally, I found the lunch menu to be quite limited, especially when it comes to vegetarian options, and overall, the dishes lack flavor. I would consider dining here if the prices were lower, but they are steep for the quality of food provided. The costs are comparable to restaurants that use better ingredients and create far superior meals.

I visited this restaurant for the first time with a fellow alum. While it feels a bit on the expensive side for a student dining spot, it could be a reasonable choice for a date or a dinner with your parents. I want to give a special thanks to Jessica, the manager, who was very accommodating to my friend with dietary restrictions. Service: Dine-in Meal type: Dinner.

I used to visit this restaurant frequently during my college days! The desserts and appetizers are fantastic, and I really appreciate the rotating menu. They are also accommodating with food substitutions. I will definitely miss this place!

Having dined here over three times a week, I've had the chance to sample many items from the menu, and here are some of my favorites: **Banana Foster**: By far the best dessert on campus, no doubt about it. The combination of vanilla ice cream with sweet caramel and brownie is perfect. This might also be my favorite because I had never tried Banana Foster before coming to WashU, and it is seriously delicious. **Parmesan Fries**: These come with many entrees, so you don’t have to order them separately. They are incredibly tasty, crispy on the outside and soft like mashed potatoes on the inside. I will definitely miss these after graduation. **Fish Dishes**: Whether it’s from the lunch buffet (pre-COVID) or dinner, you should get the fish. It’s incredibly tender, and the quality seems to be quite good. **Brussel Sprouts**: WashU makes the best Brussel sprouts in the world! It’s funny that this is their specialty, but they roast them to perfection, making them crispy and full of tangy lemon and vinaigrette flavors. **Steamed Green Beans**: Simple yet delicious. The only downside is that the portion size isn’t very generous, so you might need to order two servings to feel satisfied. **Calamari**: Though WashU isn’t near the ocean, the calamari here is fantastic. I’ve had this as my main dinner dish on several occasions. Its deliciousness likely comes from the generous sprinkle of parmesan, and the tomato dipping sauce is excellent. Now, the reason I gave it 4 stars is that some dishes can be hit or miss. The Sweet Potato Pasta used to be quite good, but now it’s just a muddled white sauce with chickpeas and mint, which is an odd combination in my opinion. The Bistro Salad isn’t great either, especially since I'm not a fan of beets. Additionally, they reduced menu changes during COVID, which was a bit of a letdown. Overall, this restaurant is a fantastic option for utilizing meal points on campus. However, if I were just a regular visitor, I might think twice before dining here, as the prices are not really justified. I would recommend heading to BD or DUC instead.