Six weeks after Panda Palace became the fourth Merchants on Points (MOPS) vendor - filling a slot that had been vacant since fall - students are pleased with the choice. General concerns over delivery time and charges have died down, even though some students have grumbled about the mandatory delivery charge.
"Students that I've heard from have been extremely happy with [Panda Palace]," Senator Josh Belkin said, who worked with Dining Services to add the fourth MOPS vendor. "The food quality is much higher than most people have been used to with normal Chinese food."
Because Panda Palace is further from campus than was Rose's - the restaurant that previously held the fourth MOPS slot, but left the program after only a few days - some students worried that delivery times would be too long. But according to Belkin "they have delivered in about 35 to 40 minutes."
"When it's a peak time, like Saturday night, the delivery will take longer," Senator Ed Schwehm said, who also worked with Dining Services. "However, the time estimate for delivery they give is correct." Director of Dining Services Patti Lee Klos provided the restaurant with maps to familiarize themselves with the campus.
Many students complained about an initial lack of utensils with delivery. Panda Palace usually delivers to homes and customarily did not provide utensils. When the restaurant was alerted that college students often need utensils, they began to provide them.
Others were put off by the $2 delivery charge tacked on to each order. If a group of students each place a different order, the charge will apply to each student. Panda Palace refused to lift the charge because they say drivers are not adequately tipped.
"We treat the students as our regular customers," owner and manager of Panda Palace Fred Lin said. "The delivery charge goes to the driver. I would suggest that students can still give tips."
"So many people don't look at their receipts. Students should just rotate when ordering so they can avoid the extra cost," Schwehm said.
Some students, however, still find the charge too much, especially with a $10 minimum delivery.
"A $10 order delivery minimum and then $2 for delivery," sophomore Adam Mueller said. "That's why Espresso's is better. You can just order a salad. But, the food [at Panda Palace] is pretty good."
The addition of Panda Palace has run smoothly partly because the restaurant is larger than Rose's. While Rose's hired more drivers to deliver, its kitchen could not keep up with the flood of orders. Panda Palace has added more drivers, but has not needed to add cooks.
"We have had no problem adjusting to new orders," Lin said. "We have over 100 seats in our restaurant, and people ordering out. No problem."
Lin estimates that business has increased ten percent since Panda Palace joined MOPS. Its share of Tufts business is comparable to both Near East and Wing Works, but still far behind Espresso Pizza.
The Panda Palace contract with Dining Services comes up for renewal at the end of the year. Both sides are happy thus far, and Dining Services hopes to extend the contract.
"We have no cause to not continue with them," Klos said. "They understand that this is a year long arrangement and they will be evaluating how it impacts their business. They have not given me any indication they plan to stop."
"I have no reason to think it won't continue to be a success," Klos said. "It's good Chinese food."
