Southwestern University
- Campus Dining

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Southwestern University - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.08

Campus Dining

Quick Stats

Meal Plan Available? Yes
Average Meals/Week 19
Average Meal Plan Cost $5412 per year
Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
All campus residents are required to purchase a meal plan.
Student Favorites
  • The Commons
  • The Cove
  • The library coffee bar

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Southwestern only offers two on-campus dining choices: the Commons (a traditional cafeteria) and the Cove (more like a snack bar/coffeehouse). Both are located in the McCombs Campus center, and both are catered by Sodexho, a big, corporate-type company. The Cove is really different from the Commons. The Cove is supposed to be a “cool hangout spot,” or at least that’s what the administration wants it to be. They serve really fatty foods, like “Buccaneer Burgers” and “Admiral Wraps.” They also sell pints of ice cream, Starbucks coffee, chips, and pre-made sandwiches. Everything in the Cove is pretty tasty, but it’s about as healthy as fast food. The Cove itself is a cozy place and a hot study spot. There are sofas, booths, several wall-mounted TVs, shuffleboard, and two pool tables—which are all put to good use by the student body. The Cove is mostly frequented by first-years and sophomores who still live on campus.

Lots of guests to the campus are blown away at how fresh and tasty the food is in the Commons. Of course, that doesn’t stop Southwestern students from making fun of it. In all honesty, the food in the Commons is on the high end of the scale when it comes to college dorm food. The chocolate chip cookies are a big favorite among students, and it’s common for people to fill entire styrofoam takeout containers with 20 cookies! The food in the Commons is good enough that after eating it for months, you don’t get incredibly tired of it. However, it is bland enough that one trip to Chipotle will make you realize what you’re missing. SU gains points for having really, really friendly lunch ladies, but it loses points for only having two on-campus options.

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Southwestern Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at Southwestern University

ferrell2

'13

Political Science and Government

3.5
B

Commons & Cove

The Commons is the cafeteria on campus. The food becomes very repetitive at times, and leads most people to go off campus to eat. However, it is what one would expect of cafeteria food.

The Cove is the grill on campus. The food at the Cove is actually very good, and it's open until 1am. However, students can't use their meal plans there, and it can become expensive.

Aug 30, 2011

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Campus Dining at Southwestern University

blaqkpupil

'13

Psychology

3.5
B

It Gets Old

For the most part the meals and variety of food options at Southwestern are good for the first couple of weeks. However after a month or two of the same salad, sandwich, pizza bar it gets old. The main and spotlight lines include dishes which can be customizable to your taste. Our school does however include many local and organic vegetables and fruit selections in every meal. Brunch is definitely always the best meal on the weekends. Friday dinner - Saturday dinner are the worstl

May 16, 2011

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Campus Dining at Southwestern University

agentbrocca

'10

Literature

2.7
C+

Commons Could Improve Greatly

I love the cafeteria workers; they put a smile on my face each time I go, but the food really could improve. At special dinners like Thanksgiving and other holidays the food is excellent, but the food on a daily basis is mediocre to poor.

Sep 07, 2010

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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
Did You Know?


The Commons hosts theme dinners several times a month. Student favorites include Luau Night, complete with live steel drum music and pina coladas (virgin), and Late Night Breakfast. Late Night Breakfast takes place during finals week.

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

The Cove
Location: McCombs Center
Food: Fried food, hamburgers, wraps, ice cream, Starbucks coffee, pre-made salads, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–4 p.m., 7 p.m.–1 a.m.; Friday 11 a.m.–4 p.m., 7 p.m.–10 p.m.; Saturday 7 p.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday 7 p.m.–1 a.m.

Maybee Commons (aka the Commons)
Location: McCombs Center
Food: Cafeteria-style, usually offers staples of burgers, pizza, and salad bar along with a featured entrée and vegetables each meal
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–7 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–7 p.m.

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Southwestern

Name: Jazz Thomas

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Major: Communication studies and Theater arts

see all student author bios > Become a student author to help update the guide for this school