Who doesn’t love a good food court? Even the Sip Advisor tips his cap to these collections of gastronomic greatness. Here’s some reasons to appreciate these quick serve plazas:

Variety

You can practically travel and taste the world at a food court. If your group is big – and adventurous – enough, you could put together quite the international smorgasbord, featuring culinary delights from across the globe. You could also cover the multiple courses (appy, main, dessert) of a meal in one stop. The possibilities are endless.

Satisfy Everyone

Even picky eaters, kids included, can find something delectable at a food court. With the Sipplings in tow, Mrs. Sip and I have definitely hit multiple stalls in order to get the kids and ourselves fed. Why can’t offspring, who share similar genetic makeup, be more agreeable on tastes and preferences?

Try New Things

Thanks to food courts, I’ve been able to try some restaurants – and types of food – I may not normally have been able to consider or access. Yes, I’m still prone to visiting some of my long-time favourite fast food chains, but food courts at least allow for me the opportunity to think about experimenting.

Good Meeting Place

The food court is a perfect destination to set as the spot to either meet folks to start your day, end your day or both. You can begin or end with a meal… or both. I’m not here to criticize your gluttony! The food court also offers a fantastic people watching forum, keeping those who arrive earliest entertained.

Better than Shopping

The Sip Advisor vehemently hates malls. Like, capital H Hate… like, all caps HATE! So, if I have to be at a mall, I’d rather be eating or chilling in the food court than popping into any stores. Like most fellas, I know exactly what I want and where I can procure it. I definitely can’t stand going shopping with no plan in place.

While food courts can be amazing for mealtime, not every element of these places are for the better. Let’s take a look at elements that may keep folks away from these areas:

Lineups

Getting your food order in could be difficult, depending on time of day and popularity of your selected stall. There can also be confusion over who has already ordered and who hasn’t, as folk mill around waiting for their food. Even wading through a sea of people to look at restaurant menus or get to the next location can be tough.

Indecision

With so many options, sometimes it’s hard narrowing down your choice. I typically decide what to eat based on what I’ve eaten recently or what’s upcoming on the menu plan, looking to grab something different than meals that sandwich the current one. While this tactic works most of the time, occasionally I’m still split on what to choose.

Finding a Table

During peak times, such as the lunch and dinner rushes, nabbing a table to sit at can be trying. The difficulty level goes up depending on your group size. I hate seeing a single person taking up a four-seat table, but they were likely in a similar situation to me and just grabbed the first thing that came along. I have seen attempts for more communal eating areas, but that leads to my next point…

Annoying Fellow Eaters

I was recently at a food court, where someone at a neighbouring table was watching something on their phone with the volume blasted to the highest possible level. There can also be a general displeasing amount of noise as volumes grow and people try to talk over the general racket. If these things bug you, avoid peak food court hours.

No Liquor Options

Food halls have become popular around the world, often offering a few options for folks to grab a craft beer or glass of wine. Sadly, that is not the case with food courts, which don’t offer any alcoholic beverages. Surely, we can all work on this and allow a couple locations per food court to be licensed to serve. What a utopia that would be!

Love & Hate: Adult Orange Julius

• 1.5 oz Vanilla Whiskey
• Top with Orange Juice
• Splash of Milk

I went with this cocktail given Orange Julius is a food court staple, found in almost every mall I’ve ever visited. There are many variations of this blended recipe, so I’ve combined them into a version that most appeals to me. Happy shopping food courting to all!