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University of Massachusetts - Amherst
- Campus Dining

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University of Massachusetts - Amherst - Campus Dining - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.62

Campus Dining

A
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Quick Stats

Average Meal Plan Cost $4667 per year
Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
All students who live on campus in the residence halls (non-apartment) are required to get a meal plan. Freshmen and sophomores must choose between the value or unlimited plan.
Student Favorites: Campus Dining Hall
  • Berkshire Dining Commons
  • Worcester Dining Commons
Student Favorites: Campus Restaurant/Vendor
  • Blue Wall Eatery & Café
  • The Pita Pit
Student Favorites: Breakfast Food on Campus
  • Bacon
  • Cereal
  • Omelets
  • Pancakes
Student Favorites: Lunch/Dinner Entrée on Campus
  • Chicken Caesar salad or wraps
  • Chicken Cordon Bleu
  • Chicken tenders
  • Enchiladas
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Noodle bowl
  • Pasta
  • Pitas
  • Pizza
  • Stir-fry
  • Sushi
  • Tacos
Student Favorites: Late-night Snack on Campus
  • Late-night menus at Berkshire and Worcester Dining Commons
  • The Pita Pit
  • Sweets N’ More

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

UMass Dining is award-winning, so it's no wonder that most on-campus students don't mind getting a meal plan. Freshmen and sophomores must choose between the value plan, which gives two meal swipes per day, and the unlimited plan, which, as you may have guessed, offers an unlimited amount of swipes. Students are required to use one swipe each time they enter a dining common, which offers all-you-can-eat food. During the week, there is also Grab-n-Go, where students can get a bagged lunch between classes for one swipe. Both plans also offer a number of meal exchanges, which can be used at most of the retail restaurants on campus, and some guests swipes for when friends visit. There is also a more flexible Your Campus Meal Plan (YCMP) for upperclassmen and commuters. At the end of each semester, you won’t get a refund or the chance to carry over any unused meals, so buying the most basic and inexpensive meal plan is highly advisable until you figure how what’s best for you.

There are four dining commons on campus, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. One major plus is that no matter where you live on campus, you will be within close walking distance to at least one dining common, referred to as a "DC." Also, more than half of the non-dormitory buildings have some place to eat, even if it’s just a small coffee and pastry stand. If you are a coffee drinker, almost everywhere on campus has good coffee, even the dining commons. Regardless of your tastes or how picky an eater you are, there will be some place on campus that will have food you’ll like. You won’t starve at UMass—if anything, you will gain weight.

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UMass Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at University of Massachusetts - Amherst

silvernotes8

Mechanical Engineering '15

5.0
A+

Good Eating Anytime

There are four main dining halls strategically placed. In addition, there are a number of other eateries, most of which you can use your prepaid program food card with (or there is a dollar amount you can spend up to). There are also places around town where the dollar amount limit can be applied too. The food plans are very reasonable...buy the 'piggy' unlimited plan for only a few hundred dollars more. Parents eat free!

Within the dining commons, there are always specials going on, special guests {chefs} visit, many choices and variety, and the quality is very high.

..in short, they have an award winning program.

May 11, 2012

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Campus Dining at University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Abaez

Kinesiology and Exercise Science '13

5.0
A+

Fantastic

Each dining common (we have 4) have fantastic food

May 10, 2012

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Campus Dining at University of Massachusetts - Amherst

asantini

Chemical Engineering '16

4.6
A

Great Choices

The dining halls themselves are very modern so it's a really cool ambiance when you're there. And many of the dining halls are open late just in case you need to grab a late night snack. The food gets a little repetitive if you eat at the same dining hall all the time, but if you switch it up every so often it's amazing. In general the food is amazing--it's even won food awards!

May 01, 2012

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Page 1 of 20
User rating for University of Massachusetts - Amherst - Campus Dining is 4.6 out of 5 based on 59 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus dining on the following topics

Facts

24-Hour Dining Coffee Café in W.E.B. Du Bois Library
Off-Campus Places to Use Flex Money None
Special Options Students can get grab ‘n go for lunch, which offers a sandwich, a snack or piece of fruit, and a drink. This is great option when you are in a hurry and don't have time to stop in for a sit-down meal.

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

Berkshire Dining Commons
Location: Southwest Residential Area
Food: Buffet with 10 rotating dining cuisines
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–12 a.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Blue Wall Eatery & Café
Location: Campus Center
Food: Asian, deli, grill, pizza, soup
Hours: Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–11 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–9 p.m.

Café Pura Vida
Location: Campus Center
Food: Baked goods, coffee
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m.

Coffee Café
Location: Lobby of W.E.B. Du Bois Library
Food: Baked goods, coffee, sandwiches, snacks
Hours: Daily 24 hours

Earthfoods Café
Location: Student Union
Food: Vegetarian
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Franklin Dining Commons
Location: Central Residential Area
Food: American, grab 'n go, international bar, pasta, pizza, salad, vegan
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 7 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 7 a.m.–9 p.m.

Freshens
Location: Campus Center
Food: Smoothies
Hours: Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Greeno Sub Shop
Location: Greenough Residence Hall
Food: Subs
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 5 p.m.–11:30 p.m.

Hampshire Dining Commons
Location: Soutwest Residential Area
Food: American, Asian, breakfast, deli, pizza, salad, vegetarian
Hours: Daily 7 a.m.–9 p.m.

The Hatch
Location: Campus Center
Food: Asian, chicken, Mexican, soup
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Herter Express
Location: Herter Hall
Food: Grab 'n go items
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Kosher Dining
Location: Franklin Dining Commons
Food: Kosher
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

The Marketplace Café
Location: Breakfast, Café Talesai (Thai), lunch items, The Pita Pit
Food: Campus Center
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

Newman Café
Location: Newman Catholic Center
Food: Breakfast, burgers, sandwiches
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 7 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

People’s Market
Location: Student Union
Food: Healthy, organic
Hours: Monday, Friday 8:45 a.m.–4 p.m., Tuesday–Thursday 8:45 a.m.–5 p.m.

The Pita Pit
Location: Worchester Dining Commons
Food: Pitas, salads
Hours: Daily 5 p.m.–1 a.m.

Southwest Café
Location: Hampden
Food: Mexican, The Pita Pit, pizza, wings
Hours: Daily 5 p.m.–1 a.m.

Sweets N’ More
Location: Field Hall
Food: Ice cream, snacks
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 8 p.m.–12 a.m.

Sylvan Snack Bar
Location: McNamara Residence Hall
Food: Snacks, subs, wraps
Hours: Daily 6 p.m.–12 a.m.

Thompson Hall Café
Location: Thompson Hall
Food: Baked goods, deli, coffee, salad
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

Whitmore Café
Location: Whitmore Administration Building
Food: Breakfast, grill items, pizza, salads, sandwiches, wraps
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–4 p.m.

Worcester Dining Commons—Hillside Room
Location: Worcester Dining Commons next to Northeast Residential Area
Food: Variety, including American, pasta, pizza, stir-fry, sushi
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 7 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday 7 a.m.–9 p.m.

Worcester Dining Commons—Oak Room
Location: Worcester Dining Commons next to Northeast Residential Area
Food: Variety, including American, pasta, pizza, stir-fry, sushi
Hours: Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

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Name
Danielle Muise
Hometown
Medway, Mass.
Major
Marketing and Communication Disorders

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.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.