Buy our guides
Read our blog
Login Register

Penn State
- Campus Dining

RT
Currently attending or alumni?
Review this school!
Are you interested
in this school?
Yes, let this school know
Maybe, bookmark for later
No, get better matches
Saving your decision
Yes
Maybe
No

Your information has been sent to this school through our partnership with .

This school has been saved to your schools list.

This school has been removed from your recommended schools list.

For your next recommendation, check out .

Jump to a section:

Grade
Quick Stats
Student Author Overview
Student Reviews
Student Polls
Facts
Listings
Take A SurveyWrite A ReviewUpload A PhotoLink Up A VideoWrite The Guide
Penn State - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.24

Campus Dining

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

Comparable Schools' Campus Dining Grades:

Quick Stats

Average Meal Plan Cost $4490 per year
Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
All campus residents are required to purchase a meal plan.
Student Favorites
  • The Big Onion
  • Bluespoon Deli
  • The HUB
  • Otto’s Café
  • Waring Square

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

No college dining hall has ever been famous for its food quality—except, perhaps, on parent visitation day. Penn State is no exception. Some meals are universally enjoyed, while others will leave you gagging. The University’s A-La Board meal plan is required for all undergraduates living in dorms. This plan is based on a “points” system: depending on the option you purchase, you get a number of points that can be used through your student ID to buy food on campus. The meal plan is not accepted elsewhere in State College, so it’s best to set aside cash for the days you simply can’t stomach more of the dining hall fare. The meal points can carry over from fall to spring semesters, provided you purchase another A-La Board plan within two weeks of spring term; however, this doesn’t hold true for spring to summer terms. Any points leftover by the end of spring semester are forfeited. The size of the plan can be changed throughout most of the semester.

As far as food goes, no two halls serve the same menu. Depending on the size of the hall, options such as salad and pasta bars, stir-fry stations, and mini-bakeries may also be available. Each commons building also has a smaller alternative to the dining hall with different hours. There is also the HUB to fall back on, which is similar to a food court at a mall. There’s Chinese, Italian, and Mexican fast food, a sandwich shop, a burger joint, and a café. The options here are endless. However, the HUB is probably the most expensive place to eat on campus.

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

Penn State Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Loading...

Campus Dining at Penn State

mrm5568

'14

Marketing

3.5
B

There Are Four Dining Halls Provided on Campus

All the dining halls are really good, but after a few weeks you'll notice the food options start to repeat. If you have a meal plan it's really reasonably priced, but if you don't - beware!

Jan 20, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Dining at Penn State

actyler93

'15

Human Development

3.8
B+

Surprisingly Good

The food at Penn State's dining hall is surprisingly good. There are a lot of options. I especially like the buffet style food places. I had a meal plan, and the money lasted me a long time.

Jan 10, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Dining at Penn State

xxlogannn

'15

Kinesiology and Exercise Science

3.1
B-

Fairly Average

The dining hall food at Penn State ranges in different dining hall areas on campus. Some are great, some are just average, but all are great about anyone with a food allergy, such as myself. They are helpful and clean, but the food has given me stomach issues since I have attended school.

Dec 29, 2011

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
Page 1 of 20

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus dining on the following topics

Facts

24-Hour Dining None
Off-Campus Places to Use Flex Money
  • The Big Onion
  • Bluespoon Deli
  • The HUB
  • Otto’s Café
  • Waring Square
Did You Know?

The Penn State Bakery offers all kinds of cookies and personalized cakes to celebrate any occasion. They can be ordered online, so parents can send their kids sweet care packeges.

The Creamery has made Penn State famous for homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt, and other great snacks. There are 110 flavors of ice cream to choose from!

The University purchases 300,000 gallons of milk each year, all of which is grown locally.

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

The Big Onion
Location: Findlay Commons, 1st floor
Food: Cheesesteaks, pizza, salad, sushi
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–1 a.m., Friday 7 a.m.–12 a.m., Saturday– Sunday 9 a.m.–12 a.m.

Blue Chip Bistro
Location: Warnock Commons, 2nd floor
Food: Coffee, desserts, pizza, salads, sandwiches, soups, sushi
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Bluespoon Deli
Location: Warnock Commons, 2nd floor
Food: Breakfast, grill, salads, subs
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Café Laura
Location: Mateer Building
Food: Full restaurant run by HRIM students
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Findlay Dining Commons
Location: East Halls, Findlay Commons (2nd floor)
Food: All-you-can-eat
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–9:45 a.m., 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–8 p.m.

Fresh Express
Location: Findlay Commons, 2nd floor
Food: Healthy á la carte items, salads, Mongolian-style grill, smoothies, wraps
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5 p.m.–9 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Saturday 1 p.m.–7 p.m.

Good 2 Go
Location: Convenience store
Food: Findlay Commons, 1st floor
Hours: Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–1:30 a.m., Friday–Sunday 10 a.m.–12:30 a.m.

The Organic and All Natural Coffee Bar
Location: Findlay Commons, 2nd floor
Food: Cappuccinos, fruit, lattes, sandwiches, smoothies, tea, wraps
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Sunday 6 p.m.–11 p.m.

The Organic and All Natural Sisu Store
Location: Findlay Commons, 2nd floor
Food: Cappuccinos, fruit, lattes, sandwiches, smoothies, tea, wraps
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–1 a.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–1 a.m.

Otto’s Café
Location: Kern Building
Food: Baked goods, coffee, grill, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Pollock Dining Commons
Location: Pollock Commons (2nd floor)
Food: All-you-can-eat, Big Daddy's Deli, Centre Court (dessert), exhibition cooking, Tina's muffins
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Redifer Dining Commons
Location: South Halls, Redifer Commons
Food: City Grill’s, Fresco y Caliente (Mexican), Hot Steel & Noodles (stir-fry), In a Pickle (subs), InfiniTea, Louie's (convenience store), Off the Ground (coffee), Piatto Felice (pasta and pizza), Southside Buffet (all-you-can-eat), Urban Garden
Hours: Varies based on individual vendors

rigaTony's
Location: Pollock Halls. South Dining Room
Food: Breadsticks, pastas, pizza, salads
Hours: Monday–Thursday 4:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Roxy’s
Location: Findlay Commons, 2nd Floor
Food: ‘50s-style American
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–9:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–7 p.m.; Saturday 1 p.m.–7 p.m.

Simmons Dining Hall
Location: South Halls, Simmons Hall (lower level)
Food: All-you-can-eat, deli, desserts, pizza salad bar, pizza
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–10 a.m.,11 a.m.–2 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–2 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–8 p.m.

Union Street Marketplace
Location: HUB-Robeson Center, ground floor
Food: Food court including: Chat's, Burger Co., Chick-fil-A, Higher Grounds, Joegies, Mixed Greens, Nathan's, Panda Express, Piccalilli's, Sbarro, Wild Cactus
Hours: Varies based on individual vendors

Waring Square
Location: West Halls, Waring Hall (2nd floor)
Food: All-you-can-eat, deli, pasta, pizza, salad bar, stir-fry
Hours: Monday–Friday 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Warnock Dining Commons
Location: North Halls, Warnock Commons (2nd floor)
Food: All-you-can-eat
Hours: Monday–Thursday 5 p.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–7 p.m.

The West Wing
Location: Waring Hall (2nd floor)
Food: Salads, sandwiches, wraps
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Friday 7 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday 2 p.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m.–11 p.m.

Buy The Guidebook

Buy a hard copy of "Penn State 2012: Off The Record"

Read more about the book . . .Add to Cart

Buy the eBook:

AmazonBarnes & NobleGoogleSmashwordsDownload the FREE Printable Summary (PDF)

Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at PSU

Name: James Bunting

Hometown: Whitehall, PA

Major: Journalism

see all student author bios > Become a student author to help update the guide for this school

Find a college

Find a major

Scholarships

Reviews

Company

Buy College Prowler school guides in our bookstore Get the real scoop on what it's like on campus and see what school is the place for you!

How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. Please note that the information presented on this site is updated periodically, but may not be the
most recent information available for a particular school. For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.