Login Register

Princeton University
- 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

We will attempt to notify this
school of your interest.

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
Princeton University - Campus Dining - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler5.00

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

Meal Plan Available? Yes
Average Meals/Week 21
Average Meal Plan Cost $5473 per year
Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
Student Favorites
  • The Deli
  • Forbes College Dining Hall
  • The Grill
  • Villa Pizza

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

The strength of Princeton’s dining hall facilities is that they have many options. While the food in the hot line tends to be somewhat tasteless and boring–although that is changing–events such as the visiting restaurant night more than make up for it. Sunday brunch is by far the best meal of the week, and students are more than willing to struggle out of bed on Sunday mornings to get to the dining halls for made-to-order omelets and bagels and lox. Eating in the dining halls does get boring after two years, so the vast majority of students opt to go independent, join a co-op, or join an eating club. The food quality at the co-ops and the eating clubs is varied. While some clubs brag award-winning chefs, others complain about a constant barrage of fried foods. The common thread that students enjoy in both the eating clubs and the dining halls is an active social scene, and meal time at Princeton is seen generally more as a social hour than a period of nourishment.

Despite the exciting dining options readily available, they do not come without a huge cost and relative inflexibility in scheduling. The lack of a 24-hour campus dining facility can be frustrating during exam periods, but the University has promised to address that issue. Furthermore, the costly dues of the eating clubs leave them open to those who can afford it, thus leaving the clubs open to the critique that they are active remnants of Princeton’s elitist history. Independents also complain about the high cost of food in the town of Princeton and the dearth of a major grocery store within walking distance. Essentially, Princeton’s dining facilities offer many options to students for a price.

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

Princeton Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Loading...

Campus Dining at Princeton University

Princeton2014

Mechanical Engineering '14

3.5
B

Pretty Good for Dorm Food

I wouldn't say that the food is fantastic, but there are definitely a ton of options as far as dining goes. Aside from eating clubs, there are four different residential dining halls, and late meals at Frist student center (opportunities to get a meal after lunch and dinner)--so if you feel like the food is getting old, it's probably because you aren't trying out all the different options. Also there are a ton of healthy options, but a ton of unhealthy ones as well; avoiding the freshman 15 is all about control.

Sep 02, 2011

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Dining at Princeton University

pton2014

Economics '14

5.0
A+

Delicious

The food here is great: between the four res college dining halls, the (far-away) grad college and Frist Campus Center, as well as a some non-meal-plan cafes scattered throughout, there are plenty of options. Sunday brunch in the res colleges is amazing. There isn't a 24-hour cafeteria where you can use your meal plan swipes, however, but most res colleges leave snacks out at night for free.

Jul 14, 2011

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Dining at Princeton University

ptonstudent14

Anthropology and Archaeology '14

4.6
A

Yummm

The food at the cafeterias can get repetitive and boring, but there are other options such as the Frist Campus Center and various cafes that add variety. Also, late meal (look it up) is a life-saver.

Nov 05, 2010

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
Page 1 of 7
User rating for Princeton University - Campus Dining is 4.6 out of 5 based on 21 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 None
Special Options After sophomore year, most students elect to move out of their residential colleges, forfeit their meal plan option, and move into upperclass housing. In upperclass housing, students must decide whether they want to join an eating club, one of the campus co-ops, or “go independent,” meaning cook for themselves.
Did You Know?
  • Students with a meal plan can eat in one of the eating clubs under a meal exchange program. Once the contract holder has a meal in the eating club, the eating club member must have the same meal in the dining hall.
  • Princeton's Dining Services won a prestigious Ivy Award with five other groups, including the famous New York sushi institution Nobu.
  • Students with a meal plan may request to organize a cookout, and all food and supplies are available at the contract holders' dining unit.
  • Students may request a bagged lunch in the Dining Hall at breakfast if they are going to miss lunch.
  • From Monday breakfast through Friday lunch, students who miss a meal in the dining halls are able to use their meals at the Frist Campus Center Food Galley during designated times called "late meal."
  • Once a semester, Dining Services organizes to have a local restaurant come to each of the residential colleges and cook a gourmet meal. In the past, cuisines have ranged from Ethiopian to French.

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

Butler College Dining Hall
Location: Wu Hall
Food: Hot line, grill, salad bar, fruit basket, dessert bar, sandwich bar, frozen yogurt
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Cafe’ Vivian
Location: Frist Campus Center
Food: Coffee, pastries
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–2 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–2 a.m., Sunday 8 a.m.–2 a.m.

Center for Jewish Life
Location: 70 Washington Road in the CJL building
Food: Kosher
Hours: Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7 p.m.; Saturday 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m., 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m., 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7 p.m.

Chancellor Green Café
Location: Chancellor Green
Food: coffee, tea, pastries, sandwiches, soups, sushi
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Convenience Store
Location: Frist Campus Center
Food: Ice cream, snacks, drinks
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 9 a.m.–2 a.m., Thursday–Friday 9 a.m.–3 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–3 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

The Deli
Location: Frist Campus Center
Food: Salads, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–7p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–7 p.m.

Food for Thought
Location: Frist Campus Center
Food: Home-cooked entrées
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m., 7 p.m.–10 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

The Food Gallery
Location: Frist Campus Center
Food: Grab & go
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 7:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Thursday–Saturday 7:30 a.m.–3 a.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–10:30 p.m.

Forbes College Dining Hall
Location: Main Inn, Forbes College
Food: Hot line, grill, salad bar, fruit basket, dessert bar, sandwich bar, frozen yogurt
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m.

The Grill
Location: Frist Campus Center
Food: Fast food, Mongolian Grill
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–7 p.m.

Healthy Eating Lab
Location: Frist Campus Center
Food: Salads, sushi
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5 p.m.–8 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Mathey College Dining Hall
Location: Madison Hall
Food: Hot line, grill, salad bar, fruit basket, dessert bar, sandwich bar, frozen yogurt
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

New South Café
Location: New South
Food: Hot line, grill, salad bar, fruit basket, dessert bar, sandwich bar, frozen yogurt
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Ole Nuevo Latino Cuisine
Location: Frist Campus Center Dining
Food: Mexican fare
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Rockefeller “Rocky” College Dining Hall
Location: Holder Hall
Food: Hot line, grill, salad bar, fruit basket, dessert bar, sandwich bar, frozen yogurt
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Stix Asian Cuisine
Location: The Gallery on A Level, Frist Campus Center Dining
Food: Asian cuisine
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Villa Pizza
Location: Frist Campus Center
Food: Pizza and pasta
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Thursday–Saturday 11 a.m.–3 a.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–10:30 p.m.

Wilson College Dining Hall
Location: Wilcox Hall
Food: Hot line, grill, salad bar, fruit basket, dessert bar, sandwich bar, frozen yogurt
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m.

Woodrow Wilson Café
Location: Shultz dining room
Food: Coffee, hot line, pastries, salads, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Kristen McCarthy
Hometown
Mahwah, N.J.

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.

Buy the eBook "Princeton University 2012: Off The Record"
AmazonBarnes & NobleGoogleSmashwords
Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)

Find a college

Find a major

Scholarships

Reviews

Search College Prowler

Company

How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it 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.