Here are the East Lansing spots with the best food, according to students and alumni: 

Collin Banghart, a recent graduate in history, says that his favorite place for bar food is Hopcat.

"It has more of a restaurant atmosphere (than a bar), but they definitely have the best food," Banghart said. "Especially the crack fries." 

According to Hopcat, the name "crack fries" is a reference to the illicit substance and its addictive qualities. 

Alan Sulpizio, who earned his degree in biochemistry in 2015, said that Beggar's Banquet is his favorite spot for bar grub.

"They have really good food so they’re more of a restaurant," Sulpizio said. "It's pretty pricey but when we ate the food there, it was awesome." 

Arabic major Nora Schultz also cast her vote in favor of Hopcat, saying she most enjoyed their jalepeno and bacon burger. 

Under Hopcat's menu, this entrée is named "The Cowboy Burger."

Ethan Pogliano, who just finished up his economics degree, said that Crunchy's was his joint of choice. 

"They’ve got good burgers, a bunch of different appetizers– everything there has been good that I’ve tried," Pogliano said. 

Many students note the fact that their favorite bar food comes from establishments that seem more restaurant than bar.

This is no mistake at Crunchy's, according to owner Mike Krueger, who said, "We're a restaurant, not a bar necessarily. That's more of our thing."

Krueger, who also sits on the East Lansing Downtown Management board, said of the ordinance, "I don't think getting rid of the 50/50 rule will necessarily help bring more business to downtown."

The Tin Can bar perhaps best exemplifies the current conundrum of the 50/50 ordinance, having struggled to both open its doors and acquire an entertainment license all the while being questioned for its ability to sell enough food to meet the quota.