Written by Christopher Joshua Benton
The UGA dining halls are extremely social, and it is very easy to meet new people there, as most will invite you to their table if you are alone. If you are a freshman, get the meal plan. While it may seem expensive at first, if you eat three meals a day, you end up paying roughly $3 a meal. Everything is buffet-style, so the food is all-you-can-eat, and you can visit the dining hall as frequently as you want. The only downside is that you are pretty much forced to eat out on Sundays, as the only dining halls open on that day close before lunchtime. There are generally plenty of healthy and vegetarian options at every dining hall, too, if you are a non-traditional eater. Once you’re on the meal plan for the second semester, though, the food gets a little same-y. And everyone gets tired of the dining hall if they choose to pay for a second year as sophomores. It is nearly impossible to sneak into the dining halls because there is an attendant and a biometric hand-scanner system at every entrance.
Every dining hall has the same entrée menu, but each dining hall has its own thematic stations. Bolton is always filled with freshmen since it’s next to the freshman high-rises. Bolton has the least amount of variety, and it generally is worth walking the extra few blocks to go to O-House instead. On the other hand, Snelling is very popular, especially at night since it began offering 24-hour service. Around noon, it is usually packed with a line out the door. While The Village Summit, on East Campus, is the most remote dining hall, it is easily the best. With its fresh fruit smoothies, made-to-order personal pan pizzas, and generally fresher and more carefully prepared entrées, The Village Summit is worth the long(ish) bus ride out. It is important to note, though, that parking can get a little annoying if you drive to any of the dining halls.