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George Washington University
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George Washington University - Campus Dining - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Campus Dining

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Campus Dining rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

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Quick Stats

Average Meal Plan Cost $3400 per year
Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
Student Favorites
  • GW Deli
  • Johnny Rockets
  • Lindy’s
  • Pita Pit
  • Potbelly’s
  • Subway
  • Wendy’s

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

While some universities work on a meals-per-week plan, GW’s system is a little different and much more convenient. At the beginning of the semester, freshmen and sophomores must purchase a meal plan, which works as a declining debit card. Freshmen are required to use a $1,700 a semester plan. This plan includes a $1,000 credit to spend at any on- or off-campus venue that accepts the GW Colonial Cash meal plan. There is then $700 mandatory dining dollars—more commonly referred to as J Street money—to be spent in a few specific dining venues, primarily the J Street food court in the student center. Non-food items can be purchased with the $1,000 of Colonial Cash at participating stores like the GW Bookstore and CVS. Any extra mandatory dining dollars are carried over from the fall semester to the spring semester, but not from the spring to fall. Remaining money from the $1,000 can be carried over to the following year.

Although students like the convenience of GW’s non-mandatory part of the meal plan—no one tells them what to eat or when to eat it—what gets the most protests from students is the fact that they are required to spend $700 per semester in a food court that they get sick of very quickly. The University is frequently attempting to address the problem, adding in new options and offering more variety. J Street, the large food court in the Marvin Center, offers Chinese, pizza, pasta, burritos, Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, and more. For students who quickly tire of these greasy fast food restaurants, the food court offers a sandwich bar, limited juices, grocery items. There is also J Street Café, a pay-by-the-pound dining venue with rotating hot entrées, a salad bar, fresh fruit, and a few kosher options. Perhaps because of the variety offered, students usually complain about the quality of the food as well as the price, even though the Colonial Cash exempts students from DC’s 10 percent sales tax at on-campus locations. The ease and convenience of GW’s meal plan is a perk that many transfer students coming from a university with a single cafeteria enjoy, even if most GW students gripe about the lack of variety, healthy options, and price.
 

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George Washington Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at George Washington University

gwu2015

History '15

3.8
B+

Meh

On-campus dining is fine. BUT, Whole Foods, Chipotle, Starbucks, Subway, and toooons more are part of your meal plan, so you're pretty much set.

May 28, 2012

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Campus Dining at George Washington University

jackie24

Geography '14

4.6
A

Food

As a freshman, you have a mandatory amount of money on your GWorld card that has to be used at JStreet, which does not have great options and can be repetitive. However, you are also given a set amount of money on the card that can be used at various restaurants around DC. After freshman year, the dining options are really great.

Apr 04, 2012

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Campus Dining at George Washington University

nadeina

International Studies '15

3.1
B-

University Food

Food varies but is not my top choice of where to eat. Also very overpriced because it is "tax-free". SOme things are actually cheaper when bought in Whole Foods.

Mar 26, 2012

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Page 1 of 9
User rating for George Washington University - Campus Dining is 3.5 out of 5 based on 26 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus dining on the following topics

Facts

24-Hour Dining The 7-Eleven in the Mitchell Hall basement. Most residence halls have vending machines in the lobby or basement.
Off-Campus Places to Use Flex Money There are tons of places you can use your Colonial Cash, a required declining balance program. For a complete list of retail partners, visit gwired.gwu.edu/gwdining/retailpartners.html.
Special Options One of GW’s greatest traditions lies in a small cart parked near the Marvin Center on weekend nights. Manouch, a hot dog vendor, sells his delicious franks and hot pretzels late into the night after most other dining venues are closed. There’s nothing like a Manouch hot dog to satisfy the late-night munchies of after an evening of partying. During the day, there are also a few snack carts near the Gelman Library and a vendor near Kogan Plaza who sells coffee, cappuccino, and pastries. Students must pay cash at most vendors.
Did You Know?
  • GW does not operate on a "meals per week" system like most universities. With the Colonial Cash dining plan, students can eat at participating on- and off-campus dining venues and restaurants using a declining balance system, meaning students are allocated a certain amount of money at the beginning of the year that can for the most part be spent wherever they want, whenever they want. However, some of this money, the "mandatory dining dollars" can only be spent at select locations, primarily the J Street food court area in the student center, the Marvin Center.
  • Many off-campus stores and restaurants accept money from the Colonial Cash plan, including barber shops, clothing stores, Chipotle, CVS, and the Safeway grocery store, to name a few.
  • Because most of the venues that take the mandatory dining dollars are closed on weekends, the University offers themed Sunday Night Dinners every Sunday at the J Street Café that allow students to use their mandatory dining dollars on weekends.

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

2000 Penn
Location: 2000 Pennsylvania Ave.
Food: Au Bon Pan, Bertucci’s, The Burro, F Street Bistro, Johnny Rockets, Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop, Wasabi to Go
Hours: Varies by location

5th Ave Bagels & Deli
Location: J Street
Food: Bagels, kosher, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

7-Eleven
Location: Mitchell Hall
Food: Convenience store
Hours: Daily 24 hours

Ames Dining Hall
Location: Mount Vernon Campus
Food: Entrées, fruit, salads sandwiches, snacks
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday–Saturday 9 a.m.–8 p.m.

Campus Fresh
Location: Lerner Health and Wellness Center
Food: Frozen yogurts, smoothies, sports bars and drinks, wraps
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–8 p.m.

Carvings
Location: Potomac House
Food: Breakfast items, burgers, sandwiches

Chick-fil-A
Location: J Street
Food: Chicken sandwiches, salads
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Freshens
Location: J Street
Food: Frozen yogurt, smoothies
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

G-Dub Java
Location: Duques Hall
Food: Coffee, pastries, salads, sandwiches, sushi
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

G-Dub Java
Location: Mount Vernon Campus
Food: Coffee
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–2 p.m.

GW Deli
Location: 22nd and G Streets
Food: Sandwiches, snacks

GWU Hospital Cafeteria
Location: GWU Hospital
Food: Variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals

Ivory Tower Dining
Location: 616 23rd St., NW
Food: Dunkin Donuts, Gallery Cafe, Gallery Market, Pita Pit, Potbelly Sandwich Works
Hours: Varies

J Street Café
Location: J Street
Food: Entrées, fruit, salad, soup, vegan
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Sunday 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

Lindy’s Red Lion
Location: 2040 I St. NW
Food: Burgers
Hours: Monday–Thursday 10:30 a.m.–1:30 a.m., Friday–Saturday 10:30 a.m.–2:30 a.m.

Little Italy
Location: J Street
Food: Italian, pizza
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Pizza Italia
Location: In the World Bank building across from Thurston Hall
Food: Pizza

Smart Market
Location: J Street
Food: Fruit, pastries, salads, snacks
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Stax
Location: J Street
Food: Sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Subway
Location: 1959 E St.
Food: Subs
Hours: Daily 10 a.m.–9 p.m.

Tonic Restaurant at Quigley’s Pharmacy
Location: G and 21st Streets
Food: Burgers, dinner entrées
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–4 p.m., 5 p.m.–11 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–11 p.m.

Uptowner Cafe
Location: Lisner Hall
Food: Burgers, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

Wendy’s
Location: J Street
Food: Fast food
Hours: Monday–Friday 10:30 a.m.–11 p.m.

WOW Café and Wingery
Location: Marvin Center, 5th floor
Food: Burgers, salads, wings
Hours: Daily 11 a.m.–12 a.m.

Yaya’s Asian Kitchen
Location: J Street
Food: Pan Asian
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
David Glidden
Hometown
Fuquay-Varina, NC
Major
International Affairs (Spanish minor)

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
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