Bowdoin College - Campus Dining

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Yes, believe the hype—Bowdoin dining is spectacular! All first-year students purchase the 19-meal plan, which basically translates into a lot of good food a lot of the time. Mealtime at Bowdoin provides a great time for students to socialize and relax after a hectic day of classes. Dining Services does its best to offer a variety of options to suit every student’s desires. All locations offer comment cards on which Bowdoin students voice their opinions and desires, whether they want more chicken soup or a new type of muffin at breakfast. Bowdoin is also famous for its Lobster Bake, the kickoff event where every student meets out on the athletic fields for a great dinner of lobster, steak, chicken, and vegetarian options. Old friends enjoy this time to reminisce about their summers, and newcomers come to meet new people in a pressure-free atmosphere.

Each of the two dining halls offers its own menu with a huge salad bar, bread station, cereal bar, sandwich bar, soup station, dessert area, hot-entree serving area, vegan area, and much more. Moulton Student Union is divided into two rooms: one with round, lightly-stained wood tables, the other with a fireplace, dark wood tables, and cushioned booths. Thorne Dining Hall offers rich artistic lighting and modern artwork on the walls, and it boasts cherry-stained wood tables and chairs at one end and wooden booths and stools at the other. Bowdoin also offers Super Snacks, a late-night snack on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and a take-out area in Moulton Dining Hall. Although Bowdoin’s dining services may slip from the No. 1 nationally ranked dining service to No. 2 every now and again, the dining experience here remains No. 1 in the hearts (and stomachs) of Bowdoin students.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

It would be so nice if we could... It would be so nice if we could use our meal plans downtown, especially when the food options on campus get boring. 12345 Report

Anonymous says:

The hours at the pub and... The hours at the pub and café are a little weird, but still, they are really great places to have on campus! 12345 Report

Anonymous says:

I know there are a lot of schools... I know there are a lot of schools whose meal plans can be used at eateries and restaurants downtown. I wish Bowdoin did this! 12345 Report

Anonymous says:

It’s nice that they offer... It’s nice that they offer different meal plan options. That way, if there’s a semester I know I won’t be eating on campus as much, I can pick a better meal plan that suits me and gives me more Polar Points to use at the Café, C-Store, or pub. 12345 Report

Anonymous says:

Holy crap! Dining Services is... Holy crap! Dining Services is amazing! They’re always serving something new, and the staff will often greet you by name. Students are split on which of the dining halls is the best; Moulton is smaller and homier, whereas Thorne is the type of upscale place where they have trustee dinners. Lunch at Moulton is best, but brunch at Thorne is good, too. The Café has weird hours, but the selection of drinks is great. The pub also has weird hours, but the fried goodies totally make up for it! 12345 Report

Did You Know?

Bowdoin was ranked No. 2 in the nation for best dining-hall food. Among Ivy League or NESCAC schools, Bowdoin offers one of the best meal plan options for the money.

The lighting in Thorne Hall was the gift of a successful Alumnus who requested his donation be used for the “artistic betterment” of the campus. The lights flash rhythmically and with varied colors.

Dining services kicks off the academic year with the Lobster Bake. The Lobster Bake is an all-campus event held before the start of classes with fresh Maine lobster, clams, grilled corn, seafood chowder, steak, and chicken. The bake is held at the Farley Fields. It is a good time for students to meet new friends and visit with old ones.

Dining services offers many themed-meal options for the student body during Parent’s Weekend, Homecoming, Trustee Committee Weekend, Thanksgiving, and holiday festivities.

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