Indiana University - Campus DiningCollege Prowler2.31

Campus Dining:

C

(explain this grade)

Comparable Schools'
Campus Dining Grades:

Quick Stats

Freshman Meal Plan Requirement

Yes - All campus residents are required to purchase a meal plan.

Average Meal Plan Cost

$2,900–$3,600

Student Favorites

  • Commons Cafe at the Wells Library
  • Dining Room at Read
  • McNutt C-Store
  • The Underground & Hoosier Den at Gresham Food Court
  • Wright Place Food Court

24-Hour Dining

  • None

Special Options

  • Dining on campus can be fairly one-dimensional to the average student. However, you can easily find different foods with a little exploration. For example, the Food Court at Collins offers organic and vegetarian options in addition to standard foods.

College Prowler Take

Although there are a lot of different food courts, cafés, and convenience stores available to IU students, as well as some big chain restaurants and a few attempts at home-cooking, the general consensus seems to be negative when it comes to dorm food. There would probably be less to complain about, but IU requires freshmen to buy an expensive meal plan which is only good at on-campus eateries. Be sure to use every last point before the end of the year, because IU takes back whatever you have left over. Some common effects of the IU meal plan are regular trips to the cafeterias, the painful realization that none of the Italian restaurants on campus make anything that compares to your mom’s lasagna, and if you’re an aspiring cook, you’ll have to battle the frustration of fast food consumption and insufficient practice facilities.

RPS theoretically offers a number of healthy or vegetarian options for the conscientious eater, but fails to give students a substantive weapon against the dreaded Freshman 15. Salad bars and fruits may have been sitting out for hours. There are as many greasy, fried, fat-soaked choices as there are appealing and healthy foods. The only thing campus dining really has going for it, like most college eating environments, is its convenience. Few of the dorms are left without any type of vendor, which makes the convenience of never having to shop for groceries a plus. As far as taste or nutrition goes, students are left with two options: either search campus far and wide for a balanced meal (you will find it), or settle for fast food day-in and day-out, and make the dreaded Freshman 15 a reality.

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Students Speak Out

Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:

IWUWV says:

Indiana University 2012

Undecided

I typically use my meal points at...

I typically use my meal points at the various Hoosier cafes and C-stores around campus. The prices are good, and I can save my cash for special occasions: dinners at places like Mother Bear's.

Campus Dining: February 23, 2009
Report

IWUJM says:

Indiana University 2011

Business

The freshman dining halls are...

The freshman dining halls are really nice, and their selection will offer you enough to choose from that you won't get tired of it.

Campus Dining: February 18, 2009
Report

IWUAR says:

Indiana University 2012

Education

The dorm food is okay, but it gets...

The dorm food is okay, but it gets old quickly. They should change up their menus a bit. The restaurants around campus are great!

Campus Dining: February 18, 2009
Report

IWUBW says:

Indiana University 2011

Business

The food is decent. One of the...

The food is decent. One of the best things about it is how many spots there are to dine. You can't walk more than five minutes without stumbling upon some RPS food.

Campus Dining: February 16, 2009
Report

hoosiercards83 says:

Indiana University 2006

Other

I-Bucks and Dining Halls Are Great!!

A+

The food is always fresh and outstanding with all kinds of options to eat. Eating on campus never gets old from all you can eat to a-la-carte to vegan/vegetarian options! And my I-bucks roll over into my sophomore year! I can even eat in Ballantine Hall on my I-Bucks.

Campus Dining: January 15, 2010
Report

Interested in
Indiana University?

Dining Halls

Convenience Store at McNutt
Carry-out, grocery items
McNutt
Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–10 p.m.

Convenience Store at Wilkie
Bakery items, deli, grocery items, pizza, subs
Wilkie
Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–12 a.m., Saturday–Sunday 12 p.m.–12 a.m.

Convenience Store at Wright
Grocery items
Wright
Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–12 a.m., Saturday–Sunday 12 p.m.–12 a.m.

Cool Beans
Bakery items, smoothies, Starbucks coffee
Eigenmann
Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–7 p.m.

Dining Room
All-you-can-eat entrées, grill items, sandwiches.
Read
Monday–Thursday 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–8 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–7 p.m.

Edmondson Dining Room
All-you-can-eat entrées, desserts, salad bar, vegetarian/vegan specialties
Collins
Monday–Thursday 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–7 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.– 2 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Eigenmann Eatery & Convenience Store
Grab n’ Go, Flamingo’s Grille, Soup, Salad & Spuds, Stacks Deli, Starbucks coffee
Eigenmann
Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–12 a.m., Friday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–12 a.m.

El Bistro
Breakfast, Mexican, salads, sandwiches
Read
Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–12 a.m., Saturday–Sunday 9 a.m.–12 a.m.

Gresham Food Court
Antonini’s Italian Eatery, Cream & Crimson Creations (bakery), Flamingo’s Grille, Grab n’ Go, Iron Kettle (American),Pacific Rim (Chinese), Soup, Salad & Spuds, Stacks Deli, Taco John’s (Mexican)
Foster
Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 9 a.m.–10 p.m.

Hoosier Café
Bakery items, barbecue, entrées, salads, soups, Starbucks coffee, subs
Read
Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–12 a.m., Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–12 a.m.

Hoosier Den
Bagels, pastries, pizza, snacks
Foster
Sunday–Wednesday 10 p.m.–2 a.m., Thursday–Sunday 10 p.m.–3 a.m.

McNutt Hoosier Café
Bakery items, panini, salads, sandwiches, smoothies, soup
Mcnutt
Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Stacks
Bakery items, deli, grill items, salads, soup
Collins
Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Underground
Breakfast, grill items, pizza, sandwiches
Foster
Monday–Thursday 10 p.m.–12 a.m.

Wright Place Food Court
Charley Bigg's Chicken and Sauce, Cream & Crimson Bakery, Eat Wright Healthy Meals, Flamingo’s Grille, Iron Kettle (American), Pacific Rim (Chinese), Sbarro, Soup, Salad & Spuds, Stacks Deli
Wright Place
Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 9 a.m.–10 p.m.

Did You Know?

Meal plan users are given the chance to have chefs prepare a mouth-watering meal in front of their eyes—to their exact specifications! Options include the Border Grill Quesadilla Tour, It’s a Wrap Tour, My Big Fat Greek Gyro Tour, and Oodles of Noodles Tour, Pastabilities Tour, among others. It's a great break from regular cafeteria food.

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