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Comparable Schools'
Campus Dining Grades:
Quick StatsFreshman Meal Plan Requirement
Yes - All campus residents are required to purchase a meal plan.
Off-Campus Places to Use Meal Plan
- Bluespoon Deli
- Otto’s Café
- The Big Onion
- The HUB
- Waring Square
Average Meal Plan Cost
$1,735–$2,180 per semester
Student Favorites
- Bluespoon Deli
- Otto’s Café
- The Big Onion
- The HUB
- Waring Square
College Prowler Take
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. 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:
Anonymous says:  |
Food on campus varies. If you room...
Food on campus varies. If you room in East Halls, stay away from the food; it’s cheap, but you get what you pay for. The HUB, where all the students hang out, has really good food, but it’s expensive. |
Anonymous says: |
The food is actually surprisingly...
The food is actually surprisingly good. The dining halls are humongous, almost overwhelmingly so, and the food court is really decent for a university. |
Anonymous says: |
You’ll have no problem gaining...
You’ll have no problem gaining your Freshman 15 here. There’s no way around it. The dining halls are fairly nice, but what else would one expect for $24,000 a year? |
Anonymous says: |
Food sucks here, but that’s...
Food sucks here, but that’s probably expected of most campuses. East and West Halls have the best food and the most variety. West is a bit of a nuthouse, though, and East is out of the way (unless you live there) and consists of mostly freshmen. East has a Big Onion, which is really good for the A-La Board food plan. North has Bluespoon, which is great for lunch. With a student plan, you can pay like $1–$2 for a full lunch, which is the cheapest anywhere. |
Anonymous says: |
Penn State has a duality to its...
Penn State has a duality to its food selection. On the one side, you have got some great food at West Campus and Myles. It has a large selection that ranges from everything to everything else. But if you’re stuck in Warren Towers, then you have the lower end of the food. You’ve got the McDonald’s burger compared to the filet mignon of West Campus. |
Dining Halls
Blue Chip Bistro
Coffee, desserts, pizza, salads, sandwiches, soups, sushi
Warnock Commons, 2nd floor
Monday–Thursday 7 AM–10 PM, Friday 7 AM–9 PM, Saturday–Sunday 11 AM–9 PM
Bluespoon Deli
Breakfast, grill, salads, subs
Warnock Commons, 2nd floor
Monday–Thursday 7 AM–10 PM, Friday 7 AM–9 PM, Saturday–Sunday 11 AM–9 PM
Café Laura
Full restaurant run by HRIM students
Mateer Building
Monday–Friday 7:30 AM–1:30 PM
Findlay Dining Commons
All-you-can-eat
East Halls, Findlay Commons (2nd floor)
Monday–Friday 7 AM–9:45 AM, 11 AM–2 PM, 5 PM–8 PM; Saturday–Sunday 10:30 AM–2 PM, 5 PM–8 PM
Fresh Express
Healthy á la carte items, salads, Mongolian-style grill, smoothies, wraps
Findlay Commons, 2nd floor
Monday–Thursday 11 AM–1:30 PM, 5 PM–9 PM; Friday 11 AM–8:30 PM; Saturday 1 PM–7 PM
Good 2 Go
Findlay Commons, 1st floor
Convenience store
Monday–Thursday 10 AM–1:30 AM, Friday–Sunday 10 AM–12:30 AM
Otto’s Café
Baked goods, coffee, grill, sandwiches
Kern Building
Monday–Friday 7:30 AM–5 PM
Pollock Dining Commons
All-you-can-eat, Big Daddy's Deli, Centre Court (dessert), exhibition cooking, Tina's muffins
Pollock Commons (2nd floor)
Monday–Friday 7 AM–9:30 AM, 11 AM–2 PM, 4:30 PM–7:30 PM; Saturday–Sunday 11 AM–2 PM, 4:30 PM–7:30 PM
Redifer Dining Commons
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
South Halls, Redifer Commons
Varies based on individual vendors
rigaTony's
Breadsticks, pastas, pizza, salads
Pollock Halls. South Dining Room
Monday–Thursday 4:30 PM–7:30 PM
Roxy’s
‘50s-style American
Findlay Commons, 2nd Floor
Monday–Friday 7 AM–9:45 AM, 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 4:30 PM–7 PM; Saturday 1 PM–7 PM
Simmons Dining Hall
All-you-can-eat, deli, desserts, pizza salad bar, pizza
South Halls, Simmons Hall (lower level)
Monday–Friday 7 AM–10 AM,11 AM–2 PM; Saturday–Sunday 10 AM–2 PM, 4:30 PM–8 PM
The Big Onion
Cheesesteaks, pizza, salad, sushi
Findlay Commons, 1st floor
Monday–Thursday 7 AM–1 AM, Friday 7 AM–12 AM, Saturday– Sunday 9 AM–12 AM
The Organic and All Natural Coffee Bar
Cappuccinos, fruit, lattes, sandwiches, smoothies, tea, wraps
Findlay Commons, 2nd floor
Monday–Thursday 7:30 AM–11 PM, Friday 7 AM–7:30 PM, Sunday 6 PM–11 PM
The Organic and All Natural Sisu Store
Cappuccinos, fruit, lattes, sandwiches, smoothies, tea, wraps
Findlay Commons, 2nd floor
Monday–Friday 7:30 AM–1 AM, Saturday 9 AM–11 PM, Sunday 9 AM–1 AM
The West Wing
Salads, sandwiches, wraps
Waring Hall (2nd floor)
Monday–Thursday 7 AM–9:30 AM, 11 AM–11 PM; Friday 7 AM–9:30 AM, 11 AM–8 PM; Saturday 2 PM–7 PM; Sunday 2 PM–11 PM
Union Street Marketplace
Food court including: Chat's, Burger Co., Chick-fil-A, Higher Grounds, Joegies, Mixed Greens, Nathan's, Panda Express, Piccalilli's, Sbarro, Wild Cactus
HUB-Robeson Center, ground floor
Varies based on individual vendors
Waring Square
All-you-can-eat, deli, pasta, pizza, salad bar, stir-fry
West Halls, Waring Hall (2nd floor)
Monday–Friday 10:30 AM–2 PM, 4:30 PM–7:30 PM; Saturday–Sunday 10:30 AM–2 PM, 4:30 PM–7:30 PM
Warnock Dining Commons
All-you-can-eat
North Halls, Warnock Commons (2nd floor)
Monday–Thursday 5 PM–7 PM; Sunday 11 AM–2 PM, 5 PM–7 PM
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.
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