Lewis University Navigator Blogs

It was Tuesday and I had just finished my classes for the day. As usual, I headed over to my favorite spot for lunch: The Courtyard Cafe. It’s specialty in delicious sandwiches makes it a popular spot for Lewis students for lunch or breakfast.

Located in De La Salle Hall, The Courtyard Cafe is a convenient choice to Lewis students that live on the southern end of campus. It’s variety of seating, from comfortable couches to tall bar chairs, encourages students to do anything from hang out with friends to simply grab a quick bite and study in between classes.

Walking in, the familiar hubbub of the enclosed serving area greeted me. The style of The Courtyard is reminiscent of a typical cafe: warm colors, cozy atmosphere, and comfortable seating. After looking through the menu of sandwiches and salads, I settled on the Chicken BLT with chipotle mayo on Tuscan bread. I quickly placed my order, grabbed some chips and relaxed on the couch that they have for people waiting for their orders. The wait was about 10 minutes because I chose to get my sandwich toasted.

Looking at my sandwich, I saw a generous amount of chicken and bacon. They were both covered in great quality melted cheese. The lettuce was crisp and the tomatoes were fresh. The chipotle mayo was delicious and really tied the sandwich together.

After my meal, I decided to treat myself to one of the specialties at the Courtyard Cafe: the Italian sodas. I picked out Sierra Mist with raspberry syrup. The employee mixed the two with creme and handed it over. It was a great mix of sweetness with the tang of raspberry and a perfect end to my meal.

Final Verdict:

Atmosphere gets 5 out of 5 Bedchecks. The cozy chairs and friendly feel really adds to the comfortable cafe ambiance.

Cleanliness gets 5 out of 5 Bedchecks. The kitchen staff all wear gloves, hats, and the tables are wiped down regularly.

Food gets 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. It was delicious and very well prepared: much better than what I expect school food to taste like.

Service gets 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. The employees are good at their jobs, however, the cashier can get backed up if they don’t open another lane.

Prices get 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. They are a bit high, but that is to be expected from a college food service.

All in all, I give The Courtyard 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. The food is great and you will soon find yourself making it your favorite lunch spot on campus.

One of the most popular questions asked on my tours is about the food. Parents want to make sure their soon-to-be college kids are going to be well fed…and for good reason! Short of actually trying the food for themselves, I decided: what better way of getting to know Lewis food than through a food review?

It was Monday night, and I was taking a break from studying for an Econ test. It was getting late and I wanted something more fulfilling than a microwavable meal or a cold sandwich from the convenience store. Around here, there is one place on campus that immediately comes to mind when we think “late dinner”: Grill 155, better known as “The Den.” Its reputation stems from the fact that it is open until midnight every day of the week.

Located in the lower level of the Student Union, The Den is a favorite among Lewis students craving something delicious and greasy. Upon entering, one picks up on the fun, laid back ambiance of a burger joint. Because of its location, sounds of billiards balls, arcade games, and laughter provide the atmosphere for your meal.

After looking over the menu of chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, and hot beef sandwiches, I settled on the special: The Angus BLT Ranch Burger. I also decided on some fries and chicken wings to go with it. The stocky Italian guy with an accent further added to the burger joint feel that was almost too perfect. He didn’t keep me waiting too long and was quick in getting my order in.

While I was waiting, I chose a fountain drink to go with my meal. The Den is one of the select few locations in America where Pepsi chose to test one of their new vending machines. Its touch screen allows you to mix different flavors with popular Pepsi products. I poured out my regular: lemonade with raspberry.

I got my food after a 5-10 minute wait. Burgers usually take a bit longer because they are grilled. Looking over my order, I saw a decent sized burger loaded with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and ranch sauce. After my first bite, I decided that it tasted just as good as it looked. The beef was good quality and had the taste of actual meat (unlike the substitutes we have all gotten all too used to.) The toppings were fresh and the bacon was delicious.

Although the burger was big enough to satisfy most people, I moved on to the fried additions to my meal because I am a college student and like to enjoy my speedy metabolism while I have it. The fries were well seasoned and served as a great addition to the Angus BLT. This time they came out crispy (just the way I like them). The six chicken wings were delicious, and the buffalo and ranch dipping sauces I chose complimented them nicely.

Sitting back and loosening my belt after my meal, I thought about my previous experiences here. In my three years at Lewis, The Den has been the reliable option. Their food has always been consistent and the service decent. I have never been left waiting to order my food or pay. The wait can be a bit longer, which is why I like to stress that it is a “burger joint” not a “fast food” place on my tours.

Another perk of Grill 155 is that if you’re in the mood for dessert, or just want to make the healthier choice, it is located in the same area as the NRgize Cafe. Because of my aversion to lactose (and/or “healthy food”) I’m not a regular, but from the smoothies I’ve shared with friends, I’d say that they are delicious and made with fresh ingredients.

Final Verdict:

Atmosphere gets 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. It is loud, fun, and a great place to go with friends for a good meal, arcade games, and laughs.

Cleanliness gets 5 out of 5 Bedchecks. The kitchen staff all wear gloves, hair nets, and the tables are wiped down regularly.

Food gets 5 out of 5 Bedchecks. It all tasted great and is well above what I expect school food to taste like.

Service gets 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. The employees are good at their jobs and won’t delay in getting your order in.

Prices get 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. They are a bit high, but that is to be expected from a college food service.

All in all, I give The Den 4.5 out of 5 Bedchecks. The food is great and you will find yourself going back again and again. I know I do!

 Aviation is one of the oldest and most popular majors here at Lewis University. Our program is respected all over the country and has provided the best flight training I have ever received. Through it, I have really grown as a pilot. If you are interested in going into the aviation field, this is a great place to start. So what can one do to get started? What does one need? What can one do with this degree after college?

When I was looking at Lewis University, I too had these questions and found the answers mainly through my own experiences. I had about 80 hours in the air already and a private pilot’s license coming into Lewis, so I was able to skip a few classes and get credit for my license. Since your license and ratings are a major part of your college credit at Lewis, it is very important that you tell them about them before enrolling to make sure you are still eligible for the program or what credit you can get.

“So what if I’m coming in as a greenhorn?” No problem. Lewis made their program around students with no flight experience. Your first year focuses on getting your private pilot’s license. From there they will move at your pace to get your instrument rating, commercial pilot rating, multi-engine and/or CFI. Each rating (depending on the student’s pace) should take around a year. Open blocks are available over the summer. If possible, I recommend doing this because it is a waste to lose proficiency and spend half a semester playing catch up. Also, weather usually cooperates a lot better during the summer and it is smart to take advantage of this.

“So as an incoming aviation student what do I need to have?” The first, most important thing is to get a 1st Class Medical. Look online and find a certified Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) and set up an appointment. It is important that you get a 1st Class because that is the medical that is required for the big jobs like airline pilots. If you get a 2nd or 3rd class, they will be looser with their restrictions and may not find a key medical condition that may disqualify you from future jobs. Other things that are helpful to have before the start of the school year is a headset, logbook, a kneeboard, and aviation charts. Headsets range from around $100.00 to $1,000.00 and it is entirely up to you how much you want to spend. A logbook is required to record all of your hours and training. A kneeboard is used to keep your papers and maps in order in the airplane. For Lewis University, get the most current Chicago sectional chart, a current Airport Facility Directory (AFD), and the most current FAA regulations (FAR/AIM). These documents are all good for only a certain amount of time, and it is important that you make sure you have current ones. You will also need flight planning tools like a plotter and an E6B flight computer. Less importantly, you should find a bag to put it all, a fuel strainer, a flight hood, and approach plates. These will be needed later on in your aviation flight training, but there’s nothing wrong with getting them early. The last thing I would recommend is to go up in a small plane if possible before deciding on aviation. Airplanes are not for everyone and it would be smart to make sure you are up to the challenge. This is why Lewis has their flight students up in an airplane within the first two weeks. Lewis offers an aviation summer camp over the summer and is a great opportunity to experience flight for the first time. If you’re not from around here, some airports offer discovery flights for a fee.

“So what can I do with my degree?” Many people think that with this degree, they will be able to graduate and immediately start working for an airline. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The big jobs require a certain amount of hours. At Lewis you won’t graduate with enough to qualify for those jobs. The way most people accumulate those hours (other than joining the military) is by becoming a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and teaching. Eventually, you will qualify to work in whatever branch of aviation you want and realize your dream of flight by rising through the ranks.  Hopefully this has been helpful in answering some of your questions and given you a more realistic view of what to expect. Happy flying!

Hi! My name is Monico Chavez and I’m an Aviation Flight Management major. I’m also working on minors in Business and in Criminal/Social Justice. With these degrees, I have the opportunity to become a professional pilot (i.e. commercial, cargo, corporate, etc.) but I also have my minors to fall back on. Due to the heavy emphasis on management in my major, my business minor is very easy to get! 

I chose Lewis because of the quality of their flight program. After looking at aviation schools all over the Midwest, it became clear that Lewis had the best program. Lewis is very respected in the aviation community and has a fleet of great aircraft that are very well maintained. The flight instructors are extremely knowledgeable and thorough in their training. I also chose Lewis because of their small class sizes, beautiful campus, religious foundations, and proximity to my home. The professors are extremely helpful and very effective as teachers. Since most of my aviation professors used to work in the aviation field, it is really great to get an insider’s view on what it’s really like to have a job in aviation.