University at Buffalo - Campus Dining

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

North Campus’s isolation means students are stuck with the campus-food monopoly one to three times a day. And with a couple of exceptions, the dining options in UB’s food network are bland and overpriced. The meal plans for the dining halls are expensive and less flexible than at most schools; you get a set number of meals per week, and the halls are only open for about three hours. But most students are pleased with the dining hall food (except for the Governors dining hall, where it is terrible). The staff is friendly and has a sense of humor. On Fridays during football season, they serve everything from “Rutgers Sucks Rigatoni” to “Beat Bowling Green Beans.” Dozens of lunch places are scattered about the Spine because most people are at classes around noon. The bigger classroom buildings have small food courts where you can grab a quick bite between classes, and there are several large dining centers. It’s satisfying for freshmen and sophomores, but older students are usually bored of the food.

The Commons, which houses the only independently-owned eateries within walking distance of the Spine, is hit or miss. The Chinese joint is lousy, but there’s a good Korean place and a great deli place with a huge menu. Bert’s is the student favorite for lunch. It’s a crowded Talbert Hall food court with a bright and airy atrium. The scraggly old men with long curly hair and handlebar mustaches at Bert’s grill have become legends on campus. Some students genuinely enjoy the campus food. But, unless they’re willing to eat the same three or four things every week, most students tire of it.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

saspecht says: University at Buffalo 2017 Psychology

Downgrade meal plan after first semester B At first, the food at UB is the best thing ever, then the quality of the food seems to almost decrease. It could be the fact that we get sick of it or it actually gets worse. After first semester of freshman year, many students downgrade their meal plan after realizing how much money they waste purchasing the biggest plan, the gold plan. 12345 Campus Dining: November 17, 2009 Report

jake says: University at Buffalo 2015 Business

The food in the dining halls is... The food in the dining halls is really good. At what school can you get chicken fingers, chicken wings, and an all-you-can-eat shrimp bar throughout the semester? In the morning, they have the best fresh fruit bar with real OJ and Captain Crunch, along with made-to-order breakfeast sandwiches. The staff is great, and there are a ton of options for lunch. There's a great pizza delivery service on campus that lets you order online, takes your UB card as payment, delivers right to your room, and they don't charge deliverey. And they just added Tim Horton's and Jump Asian in the Student Union. 12345 Campus Dining: May 14, 2009 Report

jake says: University at Buffalo 2015 Business

The food on campus is really good.... The food on campus is really good. I see they try to buy local and stay with many national brands. The fresh fruit bar in the morning, along with the Mongolian grill our my favorites. There are a great number of places to choose from, and a student favorite is Tim Hortons. The dining halls in the dorms have a good menu selection, and they even had an all-you-can-eat shrimp night this semester. The nice thing about the meal plans is that you can use the dining hall equivalency at most of the on-campus restaurants. 12345 Campus Dining: April 28, 2009 Report

aherman says: University at Buffalo 2018 Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences

At the beginning of the semester,... At the beginning of the semester, the food is great. But as the weeks roll by, the quality of food in the dining halls decreases, and you start to get sick of the never-changing menus of other places around campus. I also find it hard to find decent good-for-you food. The meal plan is also a pain. You cannot, I repeat, cannot, use your meals for lunches. You must use your dining dollars, something they fail to mention to you before you sign up for a meal plan. 12345 Campus Dining: November 20, 2008 Report

Anonymous says:

I would probably rate the food on... I would probably rate the food on campus high. There are a great number of places to choose from. Dining halls in the dorms have their good days and their bad days. The nice thing about the meal plans is that you can use the dining hall equivalency at some of the on-campus restaurants, which have much better food than the dining halls. I would recommend using your breakfast equivalency at Bert’s in Talbert Hall. The two old men with gray mustaches make the greatest pancakes and omelets in Buffalo. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Did You Know?

Each quad in the Ellicott Complex used to have its own cafeteria because the quads were originally conceived as independent “residential colleges.” Today, the cafeterias have other uses. The Spaulding cafeteria, for example, now houses the Office of Campus Parking and Transportation.

Every few weeks, the dining halls have theme nights, when they bring in a special chef, cook a completely unique menu, and decorate the dining hall. Italian Night, ‘50s Night, and Chinese New Year are some of the best ones.

Most, if not all, campus dining locations have at least one vegetarian or vegan option that is prominently labeled. The dining halls are always sure to have plenty of options for students that have dietary restrictions.

Write for Us!

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more >