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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Campus Dining

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Campus Dining - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Campus Dining

B
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 $4915 per year
Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

The variety in the dining halls and in the Union is good, but the food is passable and no better. Special-need diets, such as vegetarians and vegans, can find it difficult to find an appropriate meal. The smaller food carts scattered throughout campus also provide students a quick bite between classes if they can’t make it to a dining hall when they are in a rush. The dining halls themselves offer many different all-you-can-eat options, and though the food is rather expensive, it is at least filling.

As far as college food goes, Rensselaer’s dining services are middle of the road. Students appreciate the variety and try to mix it up so they are not always eating the same thing everyday, but eventually, even that gets old. The food is tolerable, and the seemingly limitless choices help keep things fresh for the students.

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RPI Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

hardik29

Biology and Biological Sciences '12

3.1
B-

Dining Halls Are OK

The dining halls are not that great and start tasting the same after some time. The flex dollars are great to use in the student union, where there's a large variety of food options.

Apr 19, 2012

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Campus Dining at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Fakethatrolex

Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering '14

3.8
B+

Sodexo

Since sodexo is our food supplier, I'm sure that we are similar to many other schools. Though people tend to complain that the food isn't the same as "back home", great food can still be found. The menus change everyday and there are a variety of dining halls to choose from, that have different menus everyday. Flex dollars are also very useful for a late night snack or just to change it up and have a different meal every now and then.

Apr 03, 2012

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Campus Dining at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

urbonh

Physics '14

1.9
C-

Don't Get Me Started...

Dining halls are at first seen as a blessing to incoming students, due to the fact that once you're inside you can eat whatever you want. The catch, that you realize once student baiting season is over, is the selection. The institute's entire food supply is all but monopolized by Sodexo, formerly recognized as a prison food supplier, and currently recognized as "that half-frozen flavorless pile under the heat lamps."

Most students are able to withstand Sodexo for approximately 7 months, though the institute expects you to last the full length of the 2 year mandatory meal plan. Particularly enlightened students will invest their hunger in the food sold at the student union, which provides everything from Indian to Mexican to subs and ice cream. Restaurants near campus such as Big Apple Pizzeria and Moe's are also a good solution to the dining hall conundrum, and will accept your meal plan money. Unfortunately, any better food can only be found downtown.

Mar 24, 2012

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Page 1 of 7
User rating for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Campus Dining is 3.5 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
Did You Know? Dining Services offers catering for small events like luncheons, get togethers, or coffeebreaks. Hospitality Express is fast and inexpensive.

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

BARH Dining Hall
Location: BARH
Food: Cafeteria-style
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–9:45 a.m., 3:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m.–9:45 a.m., 3:30 p.m.–7 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5 p.m.–7 p.m.

The BARH Marketplace
Location: BARH
Food: Late-night snacks
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 8 p.m.–11 p.m.

The Beanery
Location: Sage Labs
Food: Green Mountain coffee
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Commons Dining Hall
Location: Freshman Hill
Food: Cafeteria
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Father's Marketplace
Location: The Union
Food: Coffee, reheatable entrees, snacks
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–2 a.m., Saturday–Sunday 9 a.m.–12 a.m.

Java ++ Coffeehouse
Location: Corner of 15th Street and College Avenue
Food: Peet’s coffee and tea
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Jazzman’s Cafe
Location: Darrin Hall
Food: Bagels, pastries, salads, sandwiches, soup
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

The Lalley Galley
Location: Lally School of Management
Food: Baked goods, beverages, chili, soup
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:45 a.m.–2 p.m.

The Lalley Galley
Location: Lally School of Management
Food: Baked goods, beverages, chili, soup
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:45 a.m.–2 p.m.

The Library Cafe
Location: Library
Food: Bagels, pastries, salads, sandwiches, soup
Hours: Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

The McNeil Room
Location: Union
Food: Coffee, desserts, gourmet sandwiches, hot entrees, Mexican, salads, Sandella’s
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh Xpress
Location: Pittsburgh Building
Food: Cookies, salads, sandwiches, soups
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:45 a.m.–2 p.m.

The Rathskeller
Location: Union
Food: Deli sandwiches, brick-oven pizza, Cyberwraps, desserts, grill, milk shakes, salads, Sunset Strips
Hours: Daily 11 a.m.–12 a.m.

Russell Sage Dining Hall
Location: Quad
Food: Cafeteria
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–8 p.m., 10:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m.; Friday 7 a.m.–8 p.m.

Starbucks & Freshëns Cafe
Location: The Union
Food: Bagels breakfast sandwiches, muffins, smoothies, Starbucks, Tazo Tea
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–2 a.m., Friday 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Sunday 5 p.m.–2 a.m.

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Cara Riverso
Hometown
Holmes, NY
Major
Chemical Engineering

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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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.
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