Written by Steven Olson
Grow to love the Evelyn Young Dining Room—it’s the only option you have on your meal plan! Though the Courtyard Café caters to the coffee and pastry crowd, the Market Place (otherwise known as "the Caf") will have to satisfy the rest of your hunger pangs. However, this does not pose a problem for most students, being that the food is held in very high opinion by students. Centrally located in the campus center and open every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., there is never any reason to miss a meal. Students can choose from a variety of options, including a rotisserie, deli subs, pizzas, pastas, hamburgers/sandwiches, Mexican, Chinese, vegetarian, a salad bar, and a gluten-free area. Plus, selections at these stations often change, making different foods available, depending on the day. There is a bakery where you can find even more pastries and desserts (and order your friend's birthday cake). And you’ll be doing yourself a favor to memorize the pizzeria’s number: It makes stellar pizza and cheesy bread that can be ordered for pickup any time the Market Place is open.
The Market Place is set up differently than a lot of schools’ dining options. There is no “flex” plan—rather, each item has a set price, and you pay for what you buy. This system is known as "à la carte" and reduces an incredible amount of wasted food. There are three meal plan options, which change according to how much money you want to spend on food. Students also have the option to shop for basic groceries in the Market Place and use their meal plan money for the purchases. They can buy cereals, crackers, soups, cookies, and other boxed foods. The Market Place's greatest strength is the variety and potential for students to customize and create their own dining experience. Gustavus understands that a school truly runs on its stomach.