Southern Methodist University - Campus Dining

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Almost every student will admit that the dining on campus is great . . . until their breaking point surfaces and they wish they were still eating mom’s homemade pot roast. Some are forced to commit to a semester of ramen. Everything can become a bit tiresome over time, especially if it is repetitive and over exhausted. All resident students must buy a meal plan. Each plan is the same price, but it differs based on the number of “Flex Dollars” chosen. Flex Dollars can be used anywhere with a cash register operated by SMU Dining Services. There are two other flexible meal plans offered for seniors or graduate students, both of which are less expensive. Most students, even upperclassmen, rave about Umphrey Lee’s lunch selections. This cafeteria features a large salad bar, Asian cuisine, American hamburgers and fries, a homestyle section, a grilled sandwich and wrap section, and many others. Umphrey Lee’s choices change every day. With the addition of Subway, more students are eating on campus during the lunchtime hour. SMU also offers other options. The school is conveniently located next to Hillcrest Avenue and Mockingbird. Both streets offer more dining options, and most of them accept Pony Express.

SMU Dining Services conducts a survey every semester to see what students like and dislike, as well as what they would like to add (hence the addition of Subway). The idea of eating on campus has an unpleasant stigma attached to it; however, having someone else clean your dishes and cook several different types of food is the upside of having a meal plan.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The dining halls are good at... The dining halls are good at first, but they get old really quickly. Really quickly. The breakfast at Umph [Umphrey Lee Center] is the best. Besides that, Subway and Chick-fil-A are okay, depending on your mood. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

Dining halls are as expected,... Dining halls are as expected, nothing spectacular, similar routines in food. However, there have been improvements—some in quality but mainly in aesthetics. There are some places to eat in the student center. Better food can be found off campus, anywhere from two minutes to ten minutes away, where you can satisfy any craving. Places to check out: Freebirds and New York Subs. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

The food is all right. It’s... The food is all right. It’s nothing special. The hours are not that great, especially for college students. The dining halls are nice and are always clean. One of them has a baby grand piano. Really, I wish there was something 24-hours where you could hang out and get a meal. There’s food to walk to off campus that accepts the student card, which is a bonus. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

It is the greatest for the first... It is the greatest for the first two weeks. After that, bring on Mane Street. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

Dining on campus is all right.... Dining on campus is all right. It’s not bad and it’s not good. If you alternate between Mac’s Place and Umphrey Lee, a week on, a week off, you will be fine. Some of the selections in Hughes-Trigg are okay. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Did You Know?

Twice a year, SMU Dining Services posts a customer survey online. Just by completing it, you are automatically entered into a drawing for a prize. In the past, they have featured a round-trip American Airlines ticket to anywhere in the country.
 

SMU’s Umphry Lee cafeteria offers special dinning nights that include sushi night, a Thanksgiving buffet, and a surf and turf night.

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