Southwestern University - Campus Dining

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

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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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

We only have one dining hall,... We only have one dining hall, which is supposedly much better than other school’s cafeterias, but I’ve never eaten at one, so I think the food stinks. There’s basically a lot of turkey, and they just recycle one day’s dish into something different for the next day. There are some constants, though, which is nice. There are the college staples like pizza, grilled cheese, and French fries, along with salad and sandwich bars. When it gets too monotonous, there’s always the Cove (which serves good, overpriced food) or a plethora of off-campus options within 20 minutes. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

The Commons’ food is better than... The Commons’ food is better than at most cafeterias, but it’s still cafeteria food. There are good days and bad days, and sometimes it starts to get repetitive. On the whole, however, it’s still better than most cafeteria food. The Cove is a nice place to get snacks on campus, though it’s kind of expensive. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

We have really good food here... We have really good food here compared to other schools. Cafeteria food sucks on every campus, but we are given a pretty wide selection—and Sodexho is always open to suggestions for improvement. The Cove is the only other 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

The food in the Commons is... The food in the Commons is terrible! It is the same thing everyday, and it gets old really fast. The Cove is pretty good, though. It is nice when you need a change. It is a little pricey for college students, though. I suggest that you invest in Munch Money. It is very convenient. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

The food is pretty good. There is... The food is pretty good. There is a decent amount of stuff for vegetarians, but certainly not enough for vegans. But overall, there are lots of choices. 12345 Campus Dining Report

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.

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