Penn State
- Campus Dining

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Penn State - Campus Dining - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.62

Campus Dining

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.

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Penn State Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at Penn State

sld5340

Elementary Education '14

3.8
B+

Exceptable Dining Options

There are a lot of dining choices on campus. I find, however, that they always seem to have the same things. There is not that much variety. Some of the food is pretty good, but some of it is kind of terrible. I think this is to be expected of a college dining hall though. I really wish that they had more hours. If you have a really late class you'll probably end up eating a frozen dinner from one of the convenience stores on campus.

May 18, 2012

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Campus Dining at Penn State

psugirl2012

Biology and Biological Sciences '12

3.8
B+

Good, Can Be Pricy

I had a meal plan all four years because I lived on campus and I personally loved it. There are lots of options, and Pollock halls just got renovated. Most of the dining halls have huge salad bars and pizza and paninis everyday. Also very vegetarian friendly if that is an issue. If you life off-campus meal plans may not be in your best interest.

May 12, 2012

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Campus Dining at Penn State

krr167

Business Administration and Management '14

5.0
A+

Lion Cash Is Awesome

Lion cash lets you use your penn state account at normal dining places off campus and there are a lot of different and unique options. On campus food isn't bad either. There are starbucks and peats coffee houses, panda express, sushi, chik fil a, and the dining halls offer a lot of diverse options.

There is even a website, lion menus, that shows you where your lion cash can be spent and often times, using your lion cash gets you savings at places.

May 09, 2012

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User rating for Penn State - Campus Dining is 3.5 out of 5 based on 68 user reviews.

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.

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Name
James Bunting
Hometown
Whitehall, PA
Major
Journalism

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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