University of California - Merced
- Campus Dining

RT
Currently attending or alumni?
Review this school!
Are you interested
in this school?
Saving your decision
Yes
Maybe
No

We will attempt to notify this
school of your interest.

This school has been saved to your schools list.

This school has been removed from your recommended schools list.

For your next recommendation, check out .

University of California - Merced - Campus Dining - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.31

Campus Dining

Quick Stats

Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
If you live on campus, which is common for freshmen to do (considering freshmen get guaranteed housing), you pay for a meal plan as part of your housing. On-campus student/residents get $1,157 per semester and how much they spend depends on the individual prices for the items they choose to buy. It does not make a difference what kind of housing arrangement students have—every on-campus resident gets the same declining meal plan regardless. The money can transfer over from fall semester to spring semester, but not from one academic year to another (i.e., not spring semester to the following fall semester after summer).
Student Favorites: Campus Dining Hall Yablokoff Wallace Dining Center (more commonly known as the DC)
Student Favorites: Campus Restaurant/Vendor
  • Lantern Café (library)
  • Yablokoff Wallace Dining Center
Student Favorites: Breakfast Food on Campus
  • Breakfast burrito (i.e., ham)
  • Breakfast croissant
  • Eggs/sausage/bread/orange juice combo
Student Favorites: Lunch/Dinner Entrée on Campus
  • Asian noodle bowl
  • Blue Plate specials (home-cooked options)
  • Country fried steak
  • Mexican (from Caliente station)
  • Pasta served at Blue Plate station
  • Pizza
Student Favorites: Late-night Snack on Campus
  • Cereal
  • Grill items (i.e., french fries)
  • Kettle chips

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

On-campus dining really depends on how picky a student is when it comes to food. There is only one main dining hall at UCM due to the small size of the campus, so there are not many other on-campus places to go to for food, except the library café, known as the Lantern, and the bookstore, which only sells snacks. However, the dining hall does offer some variety with its different food stations, some of which include vegetarian options: the Blue Plate (serving home-cooked options), Caliente, Paisano’s, Kung Pow, Grill, and the salad bar. Even though students appreciate the convenience of the dining hall, many complain of getting bored eating the same food repeatedly and wish there were more options. Students also complain about the dining hall hours of service, which pack students in at restricted times and aren't necessarily flexible with student weekend schedules.

Overall, though, dining at UCM is bearable, with the number of options being limited, but fair. Buying food at the dining commons is most convenient for on-campus residents, since their housing plan covers food. On the other hand, off-campus students tend to bring their own lunches, since they can make unique, cheaper meals at home, suited to their personal tastes. The price of the dining commons has been known to go up every semester, which shocks off-campus residents without a meal plan when they see the prices. The price change does not necessarily stop them from purchasing food items, though. Luckily, for students far away from home, the chefs do attempt to provide home-cooked options, catered to everyone’s needs, including those of vegetarians. The food is also healthier compared to other, larger universities, since there are not any fast food chains on campus.

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

UC Merced Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Loading...

Campus Dining at University of California - Merced

luis1026

Environmental Engineering '15

4.6
A

Good Food

I love the food at the Dinning Hall. There is a variety of choices to choose from, and the food is always fresh and available for the students.

May 17, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Dining at University of California - Merced

nance360

Biology '13

2.3
C

Dining Commons

There is no variety of healthy food. The food is sometimes not prepared well and the yogurt and fruit is left out where there is bugs/flies that can get on it which is not following food safety guidelines.

May 11, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Dining at University of California - Merced

Loofy18

Psychology '15

2.3
C

Dining Hall

A small dining hall where you can use your catcard if you have catdollars. Options include the Grill, where they serve hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, hotdogs, fries, chili cheese fries, veggie burgers, grilled cheese, chicken strips, and day special burgers, a pizzeria place with different types of pizza, a rice bowl area, and a mexican place. Also the Blue Plate which usually serves dinner that is different everyday but not differernet every week. Also snacks, such as fruit, ice cream, beverages, coffee, a little cookie cover and a salad bar which needs more vegetable selections.

Mar 04, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
User rating for University of California - Merced - Campus Dining is 3.5 out of 5 based on 20 user reviews.

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
Special Options The dining commons tries to be considerate of those who are vegetarian by offering daily vegetarian soups, a fruit selection, and fresh vegetables. The Blue Plate section of the DC also frequently offers vegetarian entrées, including eggplant Parmesan, vegetarian lasagna, pasta, and even curries. You can also get veggie burgers at the grill. The Lantern Café of the library also offers veggie sandwiches and pastas. However, it gets harder to find something to eat if you're looking for vegan or kosher options.
Did You Know? If you submit a recipe to the dining commons (DC) and it becomes popular amongst the students, it will be added to the menu under any (appropriate) name you want.

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

Yablokoff Wallace Dining Center
Location: Center of campus, in between Valley Terraces and Sierra Terraces
Food: Pizza/grilled sandwiches (Paisano's), salad bar, "fast food" grill, Asian (Kung Pow), Mexican (Caliente), more traditional home-cooked meals (Blue Plate)
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–9 p.m.

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Harini Kompella
Hometown
Santa Clarita, California
Major
Human Biology

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.

Buy the eBook "University of California - Merced 2012: Off The Record"
Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)