The Terrace Cafes food has gotten so much better. We're here often, so it helps that the food is decent when you don't have any other food options at the moment. I like that the merchants change often so you get a variety read more

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Terrace Cafe is one of three cafeterias located at UNC Hospitals' main campus in Chapel Hill (UNC Health/UNC Medical Center). My wife regularly works at the hospital and will sometimes bring home leftovers of her food from Terrace Cafe. On occasion, she'll also grab us a takeout lunch or dinner. The food has always been tasty and I don't know exactly why, but I've always found it to be a treat, probably because it's hospital food. For me, I guess part of it is the novelty of it. The only other hospital I've had food from is Grady Hospital in Atlanta. UNC's hospital food blows Grady's out of the water. Terrace is located on the 2nd floor of the main hospital (Memorial). If entering the hospital from the main front entrance, you'll want to make a left to get to the cafe. There will be a sign for Terrace and a stairway leading up. The cafeteria isn't huge, but it's big enough to have a few different stations/counters. It's like a mini food court, but with only one set of checkout lanes for the multiple vendors/stations inside. The stations have names like "Continental Traders" and "Flatiron Grill." This isn't like a mall or airport food court with brand name vendors like Chick-fil-A and Sbarro. At the time of writing this review, my favorite meal from Terrace Cafe so far has been the fried chicken from Continental Traders. It's branded as "Carolina Chicken Co." I've had it multiple times now. The chicken is seasoned and spiced well. It tastes great. The dark meat is tender and juicy. There's a small additional charge if you want all white meat. The cabbage, collard greens, potatoes au gratin, red beans and rice, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes and gravy sides are delicious. For healthy food, I thought the salmon with lemon jam was pretty decent. It was tasty even as leftovers. From Continental Traders, my wife has enjoyed almost everything she's tried. That includes chicken pot pie, shepherd's pie, baked chicken, and sweet potato. The only thing she didn't like was the sweet potato side once. The other times, it's been fine. I've tried several of the "Fast Breaks" items. These are grab-and-go meals in clear, plastic, snap-shut containers near the entrance. They include things like salads, sandwiches, snacks, and desserts. I'd say most of these items are or look par for the course such as the spring mix salad and protein box (walnuts, pecans, cheddar cheese cubes, dried cranberries). Of the items from Fast Breaks, the ones I've liked most thus far have been the apple pie, cheesecake with strawberry topping, and Cobb salad. Also near the entrance, there's a display case of self-serve pastries and treats. I believe they're branded as "Great Beginnings." They consist of breakfast foods like bagels, muffins, and Danishes. There's a neat little contraption that blows air into a stack of disposable plastic gloves, allowing you to put on a glove with just one hand to then grab your pastry of choice. I tried the "Black and White Cookie" from this display and it was alright. It tasted like a cheap donut with chocolate and vanilla icing. My wife and I have had the breakfast burritos from Flatiron Grill many times. They're filling and yummy. My wife also likes to get the breakfast sandwiches such as the ones with avocado and egg inside. Those are good too. In general, the breakfast menu is arguably the best thing Terrace Cafe offers when you consider the combination of taste, variety, and price. Flatiron Grill also makes customizable omelets and burgers. Across the way, where they have sealed packs of cereals, there is sometimes a station that serves made-to-order crepes and waffles. "Red Ginger," to the right of Flatiron Grill, sells Asian food. I've never had it, but my wife said it's okay. She said it's like Chinese takeout food. Things like fried egg rolls, stir-fried noodle bowls, and fried dumplings. Sometimes, the station sells burrito bowls. My wife said the burrito bowls taste similar to Chipotle. In the middle of the space is a fridge with self-serve packaged sushi, like grocery store sushi. It's labeled "Sujin Sushi." Like Red Ginger, I haven't tried any of the Sujin Sushi for myself yet. My wife said it's mediocre. By the looks of what I saw, I'd have to agree with her, but I'd be willing to give it a shot sometime. I did try the seaweed salad and even though it looked a little discolored (light), it tasted better than I expected, so maybe I shouldn't knock it until I've tried it for myself. Additionally, Terrace Cafe sells other snacks like bagged potato chips (Frito-Lay, Carolina Kettle Chips) and bottled drinks (soda, tea, water). There are condiment stations and a place for you to heat up (toast, microwave) your food. My wife uses FreedomPay to pay for her meals at Terrace Cafe. With FreedomPay, she gets a discount on top of the listed prices so the food and beverage here end up being a nice value. The cafe has seating inside. If you want to eat outside, go to the courtyard outside Starbucks. read more

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I'm unsure if this is the right cafeteria in the hospital or not, but I'm here to say you have no right making roasted turkey so good. How am I suppose to go to thanksgiving and not think of your roasted turkey. Thankyou for trying so hard, and making pretty good food. It truly is the most interesting part of a patients day. Pps. I'm pretty sure someone cut a few carrots into heart shapes and put them in the soup. Which is also pretty sweet. read more

This is the main cafeteria of UNC hospitals, located on the first floor children's hospital. It's fairly compact, but there are a number of distinct stations serving a diversity of food: a) pizza/pasta station b) chinese c) sushi d) grill items (burgers/hot dogs/philly cheesesteaks) e) a southern hot bar of sorts (fried chicken, bbq, mac & cheese) and f) carving station. Let me hit you with my personal highlights. Naturally I gravitate towards the bargains with hefty portions. 1. Fried chicken platter - I actually think they make some really good fried chicken, although it's not always consistent and occasionally they'll serve some dry pieces. You can get 2 pieces of fried chicken, 2 sides and a roll for $4.19. Make it a 3 piece platter for $4.99. You can pick any 3 pieces as long as no more than 1 is a breast. Naturally I go for 1 breast and 2 thighs to maximize the meat. Chumps get 2 legs. I always go for the mac & cheese as 1 of my 2 sides. And the succotash is pretty good too. 2. Strombolis (either spinach & mushroom or pepperoni). These are $3.59. I had a med student who ate these literally every single day. Pretty tasty and reasonably filling. Don't be a fool and forget the marinara dipping sauce that's included in the price. Things I'm not crazy about: Their chinese isn't the best and the sushi is really solid, but kind of over-priced at about $9 for 8 pieces with some edamame. I ain't no millionaire! Also, they used to be open 24 hours but now they close at 9 PM, which is at least 1 hour too early I think. Final tip: You absolutely have to ask the cashier for a Freedom Pay card. It's free and gives you 20% off all the hospital restaurants. So that 2 piece fried chicken meal comes out to $3.60 including tax. You just have to load the card with cash (if you use a bank account or credit card, they charge you something like $2.50 per month). I hope you don't have to eat here as often as I do, but as far as hospital food goes, you could do a whole lot worse. read more

This is UNC Hospital's best kept secret: great hospital food. Yes, it's a hospital. No, not everything they make is from scratch. But the stuff they do make from scratch comes out very, very good. Some of the offerings from the cafeteria have included salmon with lemon jam, scrumptious porchetta, steak, chicken and biscuits, etc. Sushi is also available, which is made daily (you can watch them make it during the lunch hour). My 2 favorite things to eat here when they offer them are: 1) a small pasta with a scoop of lemon + butter + caper sauce topped with red pepper flakes and 2) Thai beef red curry over rice. Important tips. ONLY eat here if: - You are a hospital employee (for an employee discount). - You are a patient or visiting a patient. - If you are neither a hospital employee, patient, or patient visitor, then paying the parking fees and navigating the hospital/UNC campus is not worth it. - You want to eat mac and cheese that is better than Poole's. Yeah I said it. - It's before 3pm. Some of the best food offerings/stations are done by 2-3pm. This place is most active at lunch. - The name of the main cafeteria is called Terrace Cafe. - They have another smaller "satellite location" on the 2nd floor at the Neuroscience section called the "Overlook Cafe" that has a different menu. There's also another smaller location called "Corner Cafe" that focuses on sandwiches and Chipotle-style burritos/bowls. read more

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I get carryout for lunch from Terrace Cafe at least twice a week and the food is good enough. I usually get a side salad (potato, pasta) along with a hoagie or a hamburger or cheeseburger. For the latter they also sell containers of lettuce, onion, pickle, and tomato, so you can prepare a pretty decent meal. They also have tasty breakfast sandwiches until about 10:00 AM, and coffee is available all day long. I haven't tried the sushi or other prepared items but they look OK to me. Well worth consideration if you work close by or have business in or near the building. The only real issue I've ever had is that the place can be kind of a madhouse during the peak lunch hour. read more

Super friendly people! Tasty burrito bowls in par with Chipotle. Very good fried chicken.

They had my was 2 hours just for sauce. They told me it's was only going to take 10 minutes. They watched me as I waited for two hours look stupid just for sauce. I should have left but they already prepared me food and I didn't was to waste it cause I know they just throw away the food. After that long wait I decided to just eat it without the sauce so I asked for the food and this white or as I prefer to say it light skin girl with light brown and and a grey shirt whispered to the other girl she was working with, they shared a small giggle and went in the back and put a sauce in the box. This may sound like this could be a kind gesture at first glance but first of all when the sauce is ready they set it next to the clear cups that they serve it in I would know this cause I been here many, many times second it wasn't a busy day so she could have informed me that the sauce was ready or they had one ready for me instead they just stood there. Second when the food is ready they just give it to you not wait for you to ask for it so if it was ready she could have just handed it to me instead of making look like a fool for 2 hours.all I wanted was to have a meal cause I was hungry but instead I just ended up standing there and trying to be nice and not bug them cause I know that can be annoying for someone that's just trying to do their job but I stood their literally till my stomach was hurting . read more

If you have to eat lunch at the hospital, plan to take your own. Not only is the food not good, what you get is often prepared ahead and cold. The workers are NOT friendly or helpful. Sad excuse for a cafe! read more