BC’s Cavern on the Green

I had the breakfast burrito today which is pretty average. It’s $ 3.31 which is pretty good for a cheap warm breakfast :)
If you ever go here, go here for lunch since they have a great supreme burrito. It’s about $ 8 ~ but it’s pretty worth it. :)

Wanted to get something filling to eat for the 45 mins I had after 5 hours in class before my next class and I was literally late to my next class because I had to wait for food for at least 25 minutes. It does not take that much time to make a burger and fries.
For the cost they are selling that, it should taste at least semi-​good. It was disgusting. NEVER GET THE CHEESEBURGER! Ever! I think I would’ve been better off running over to in-​n-​out for that time. All of the employees are super slow and ALL seem to be newbies (had to look up every step of directions of how to make a burger…). They don’t really take the time to give good customer service and can be kind of rude too.
Mexican food section is good though even though it’s pretty expensive for what you get and they’re very stingy if you ask for anything a bit extra.
Going to try my best to never come back here.

There are ONLY 2.5 good things about BCs.
1. There are a few really friendly, polite college students working there.
2. It is 3 steps from where I work.
2.5 The breakfast burrito is pretty good.
These are some of the bad things:
1. Maybe they just want to give coffee away in the morning?
I just want to pay for my coffee and go but no one will ring me up until they are finished with whatever morning chore is more important than customers.
If you arrive within an hour after they have opened (so anytime between 7:30am when they open and 8:30am) you will probably have to wait at least 5 minutes at the register to pay for your coffee. There will be no one else around and you will be standing waiting to pay for your coffee like a good honest person and will be regarded as a nuisance that the worker will get to after stocking some straws and searching the kitchen.
2. Breakfast is even harder to come by.
IF you decide you want to order food in the morning, be prepared for an even longer wait before you can order. Vegetables will be chopped, buckets will be moved, coffee will be brewed before they pay attention to you. Mind you this is after they have been open for 30 minutes. Then see 1. for how the register experience will go once you finally get your food. Might as well go to a sit down diner for the time it takes. Plan on being late to whatever you were trying to get food or coffee to be prepared for.
3. God forbid you want food an hour before they close…
The salad bar is shut down and cleaned an hour before they close half the time. If you order a sandwich it will be made hastily (possibly set down and cut in a puddle of ice water so that it is soggy and gross as was my experience). They will say they have no pickles because they dont want to get them out of the refrigerator since they put them away an hour early.
4. You cannot have a condiment with your bagel.
I asked for a side of mayo with my bagel once, said I would be happy to pay for it (I had lunch meat in my office and wanted to make a sandwich). They said flat out no way, I would have to order a sandwich to acquire a tablespoon of mayo even though I purchased a bagel from them and did not take cream cheese or complimentary butter. Two weeks later? Free mayo dispenser next to the forks and knives.
5. The cashiers are encouraged to upsell you. «Would you like a candybar with your soda?» «Care for a pastry with your coffee?» Do you want a pack of gum with your french fries?“
Has this EVER worked?
Ok, rant over. I am a little jaded because this place has been my only fast easy food option when I dont have time to pack food for the whole day for work. The food is actually decent, though over priced. The selection is pretty good as well. It just seems like the upper management drives a non-​customer service oriented business plan and it gets frustrating.

If you’re in the bio sci area, this is the place to go to if you don’t want to trek all the way to the Student Center. Ain’t no body got time fo dat (especially me, because I am so lazy.)
However, laziness comes with a price, as the food at BC’s is a bit pricey. I guess you’re paying for convenience. $ 3 (might even cost more) for a yogurt parfait? Say whaat?!
But, BC’s does have happy hour! I believe it’s after 3 PM. Some deals include: Buy 1, get 1 pizza; $ 1 tacos.
Aside from the pricing, the food here is pretty good. I like their wraps and breakfast burritos. Breakfast burritos are served all day!
Need to stay awake while studying? There’s coffee here, so you don’t have to go to Starbucks. There is a variety of roasts for you to choose from. Also, you can add as much half & half, skim milk, and/​or creamer (vanilla or hazelnut flavoring!) as your heart desires. There is also a stamp card for buying coffee. After 10 drinks, you can get 1 free!
Trying to stay healthy? There’s a salad bar and you pay by pound or ounce. I don’t really know because I have never gotten anything from the salad bar before. (see how healthy I am?)
Not craving anything from BC’s? There’s a Subway, so once again, you don’t have to go to the Subway at the Student Center.
Bring your own lunch? No worries! BC’s has a microwave for you to heat up your food! Beware though, the line for the microwave can get pretty long during lunch time.
I don’t buy food from here often, but I am here ALL the time. If I’m not in class, you will most likely find me here.

The only place on campus that was worth the taste and value.
I’d frequent this place almost everyday my last year there, whether to study a bit before class or eat. If I was on campus early, I would get the delicious breakfast burrito with some green salsa. If it wasn’t breakfast I was having that day, it was lunch. I’d get pizza during happy hour and tacos with rice and beans, both great deals for students on a budget. I’d miss my close-​to-​home mexican food and this place comforted me in times of stress. I dont remember the cook who’d prepare my food, but he was always super nice and remembered my order: corn tortilla, carnitas with cilantro and onion. Yes, i changed the recipe to the Santa Ana taco version. Yum.
PS. I hated when they closed early on Fridays, 3p?

Personally, I prefer Phoenix Grill over BC Cavern. Phoenix is brighter, has more food choices, and is by all my social science classes. But after I started working at the science library, I’ve been coming to BC Cavern more during my lunch breaks.
At BC Cavern, you can choose to get food at the burger place, pasta/​pizza place, or mexican food place. Sorry I don’t know the exact names! My favorite is the mexican part of the food court. I don’t agree with everyone else that their breakfast burrito is amazing though. It’s nothing special… And doesn’t taste good unless you put HELLA salsa on it. Otherwise, it’s a bit plain. But I do love their taco salad and mexican caesar salad! I love having either one during my lunch break. I’ve tried a chicken burrito from here as well and it’s pretty good. Really big but perfect to share.
I also like the place where you can get burgers, sandwiches, and wraps but it is a little expensive for a college student living off wages from the science library. :(The tuna melt and grilled cheese are cheaper options. (tuna melt — $ 2.99, grilled cheese $ 1.99). The wraps are delicious and a healthier option. I’ve tried the turkey avocado and the chicken caesar. Both were yum and just the right size to get full off of one. But they are five bucks which seems kind of pricy for what you get. The food is good though if you don’t mind spending a little money for the convenience of eating right on campus. Just don’t get the pizza or pasta. Blah and such a rip off.
They also added a subway last year!!! Which is quite a popular place for many students but it’s just like any other subway so I don’t need to go on about it… If you like Subway, you’ll enjoy this this one as well…

I actually prefer Phoenix Grill over BC Cavern. They do not have as many outlet spots for me to study, and the people working here don’t seem as friendly.
There are 3 things that is nice about BC Cavern:
+ Coffee: The coffee is just like any of the other coffees on campus, BUT this coffee comes with as much creamer and whatever creamer you want. They have vanilla, hazelnut, and of the best brand too. Yummmmy!
+ Breakfast Burritos: I love their breakfast burrito. Whenever I have 8am classes in Steinhaus hall, I like stopping by BC Cavern for some quick to-​go breakfast. The only downside is that they dont have to-​go boxes so they just wrap your food up pretty ghetto-​ly
+ Subways: I LOVE subways!!! subways is better than quiznos. This fine addition was added to UC Irvine during my 3^rd year and I have been visiting it ever since.

They don’t have to-​go boxes, which makes sneaking nachos into the science library more awkward. LOL.
I used to prefer this place over Phoenix Grill because of the self-​serve salsa bar, but now Phoenix Grill has one too. They also don’t set it up here until around 11AM so no extra salsa or cilantro and onions on my breakfast burritos =(
The hash browns are so disgusting if you just have them in the Anteater’s Breakfast or as a side. They’re mushy and raw! I kinda like them in the breakfast burrito though…
It was always pretty expensive but they keep raising the prices, so now I only eat here around midterms and finals when I don’t have time to pack a lunch or enough time to leave campus to eat elsewhere.

I’ve gotten the Mexican Caesar Salad EVERY single Monday and Wednesday since Week 1 this quarter (it’s Week 7 now) — roasted corn, pico de gallo, grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, and cilantro lime dressing? What’s not to love?! It’s healthy and only $ 5.49!
The breakfast burritos are unbelievable good, and the free salsa bar is filled with fresh and incredibly SPICY salsa! I’m SO glad they serve these all day now.
Stick to the Mexican food and you’ll be good!

Alfonso makes some of the BEST breakfast burritos I’ve had. Went there freshman year after 8am classes and just went back today for the first time in 3 years. Still amazing for ~$ 4.

On campus eats at UC Irvine… sigh. Since I am a graduate student, I don’t have any sort of meal plan, and this place is extremely expensive for the outsider. It’s very much a college level cafeteria, with the only item here I enjoy being their turkey burger. I’d rather go to the nearby Café Espresso or Cyber A Café for food, though this place has more options since it’s a cafeteria. It’s right on Aldrich park, and the outside seating is actually quite lovely. Inside, this place is somewhat of a nightmare during meal times.
I oftentimes come here out of convenience, but I’ve stopped since I can’t handle it anymore. It’s also a dangerous business since it’s ALWAYS packed with undergrads. When you are a grad student TA, there are bound to be some of your students here, and they will hunt you down with questions.

I actually like this place!
I always thought the prices were fair. ~$ 6 for a ¼ burger, a bunch of yummy steak fries, and a drink. I like the turkey avocado wraps too. If you get the breakfast, don’t get the sausages though. Tasted like plastic.
The only thing that irritates me is that the cooks don’t tell you sometimes if they’ve ran out of stuff. One time I asked for fries and the guy gave me curly fries. I was really craving their steak fries so that was irritating. When I asked why I got curly ones he replied that they were out. Would’ve been great to know before I ordered it. I would’ve gotten something else if I knew.
They also didn’t tell me that they were out of avocado for the avocado and turkey wrap one time. Thankfully the guy at the register was nice and gave me like $ 2 off my wrap when I explained to him what happened.

I always felt like the food here was a bit superior to the food at Phoenix Grille, but I was usually too lazy to walk all the way over here since my classes were mostly in Social Sciences.
They make really good wraps here, especially their turkey avocado wraps. Their breakfast menu is served all day too which was a plus. I always liked to get their breakfast burrito with bacon and then top it off with some Tapatio… yum! I’m not sure what’s happened to this place now since I heard there’s a Subway inside now, but this place was always a solid choice whenever I’d come.
Unfortuantely it was a bit expensive for what it was, but that seems to be the case everywhere on campus with the exception of maybe Wendy’s. Otherwise it’s a good alternative to the student center food court!