Nestled in the recesses of the basement of Van Pelt Library, Mark's Cafe serves up lunch-type fare and caffeine for a clientele that presumably consists mainly of frantic studiers who are availing themselves of the nearby Rosengarten Reserve.
If you ever need a panini, Mark's can't be beat, but get ready to pay through the nose for the experience.
First, the most pressing question: Is there, or was there ever, a Mark? Yes. Mark Goldstein and his father Bernard are behind not only the cafe, but the adjacent Undergraduate Study Center as well. The father-son team graduated from Wharton in 1953 and the College in '83, respectively.
Moving on to the food: The coffee bar selection at Mark's is extensive, featuring in addition to the basics a line of iced-coffee beverages classified "Java-lanche," which is a registered trademark. It is, however, not registered to the person who compiled the Mark's menu, who spelled it "Javalance" seven consecutive times on the marquee.
I got the Mint Javalanc(h)e. It lanced me. 'Lanched me. Whatever. At $3.89, it also dealt a glancing lanc(h)e to my PennCard. Delicious, though. The portobello panini that was fated to be mine confronted me at first as cold and unappetizing from a glass case, but after the friendly and knowledgeable Mark's staff put cheese on it and grilled it for five minutes, I ate the whole thing, though at first I had thought myself not hungry. I balanced my meal with a large Rice Krispies treat square, the slight staleness of which was barely a hindrance at all. I ultimately paid about 12 Dining Dollars for the experience, but relax. It's not real money.
Patrons unable to finish a Javalanche in one go can take their covered drinks into most of the rest of Van Pelt, but you have to finish your food in Mark's.
The cafe's ambience, which could easily go wrong, doesn't. Many of the patrons are studying as they eat, but the cafe isn't a library. Everyone talks, maintaining a steady buzz that frees you to eat noisily, if that's your preference. However, it is not so loud as to distract one from watching the cafe TV, which seems perpetually tuned to CNN. Vending machines provide a cheap alternative for someone who wishes to enjoy the view out the giant windows without losing a fortune.
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