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University of Pennsylvania
- Campus Dining

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University of Pennsylvania - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.69

Campus Dining

C+
Where does this grade come from?View all Campus Dining rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Campus Dining Grades:

Quick Stats

Meal Plan Available? Yes
Average Meals/Week 19
Average Meal Plan Cost $4182 per year
Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
Student Favorites
  • Beijing
  • Fresh Grocer
  • Hemos food truck
  • La Petite Creperie in Houston Hall
  • La Terasse
  • The Real Le Ahn food truck

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Students’ opinions of the food on campus really depend on what they are used to. Some people are impressed by the quality and variety of food, while others get sick of the dining options extremely quickly. For the most part, students acknowledge both positive and negative aspects of the dining program. At Penn, students on a meal plan have three ways to pay for food. They can use a specific number of allotted meals per week or semester at the Dining Halls, Dining Dollars which can be continuously replenished at most retail locations around campus, and PennCash, which works somewhat like a debit card.

Whether you like the food or not, there is certainly enough to eat, facilitated by multiple all-you-care-to-eat locations. In addition, there is something to eat at all hours. Wawa is a popular place to grab a made-to-order sandwich. Freshmen are required to purchase a meal plan, but as long as you purchase the smallest plan available and you make an effort to find places with food that you like, your freshman dining experience should be more than bearable. When it comes to people with special diets, the choices become much slimmer. Dining administration assures students that there are vegan and vegetarian options at every dining location, but the selection usually gives these students little or no options. However, improvements seem to be just beyond the horizon as the school adjusts to alleviate low dining participation rates after students’ freshman year.

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Penn Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at University of Pennsylvania

quakergirl2014

'14

Political Science and Government

3.1
B-

More Dining Dollars, Less Meal Swipes

"More dining dollars, less meal swipes" is the advice that every upperclassmen will give an incoming freshman (unless you're an athlete, then unlimited meal swipes is usually the way to go!).

Jan 01, 2012

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Campus Dining at University of Pennsylvania

cssssss

'14

Mechanical Engineering

1.9
C-

Dining Halls

Overall, repetitive and bland. But it definitely makes freshman year easier, not having to worry about finding your own food.

Dec 12, 2011

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Campus Dining at University of Pennsylvania

bpsbgs

'15

Political Science and Government

4.6
A

Good Food, Expensive Plans, Unflexible Options

Most Freshmen buy either the unlimited or fewest meal plans. Personally, I have the unlimited. The food's good, at least everywhere other than Commons, which is the largest, but by far worst dining hall on campus. McClelland express is pretty good, but it can get really slowed down at crowded times. Hill is a cosistently good option at well, but at lunch it is a mad-house. King's Court is worth it if you have the time to get there because it offers great food and is seldom crowded.

Most dining dollars options are much, much better than the meal plans, especially the Bistro in Houston.

Oct 15, 2011

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Page 1 of 9

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus dining on the following topics

Facts

24-Hour Dining
  • Fresh Grocer
  • McDonald’s
  • Wawa
Off-Campus Places to Use Flex Money Savory/Spruce between 38th and 39th
Special Options Food trucks can be found all over campus and offer a variety of food from fresh fruit to Japanese to hoagies. These trucks are usually convenient and incredibly cheap; as a result, they are very popular among busy students who like to grab a bite on the go. Late at night, it is not uncommon to order-in for wings and pizza from a place like College Pizza on the edge of campus.
Did You Know?

Penn Dining is in the midst of vast improvements. The following eateries are some recent additions in the 1920 Commons:
• Chic-fil-A
• Freshens smoothies and ice cream
• C3 convenience store

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

1920 Commons
Location: 3800 Locust Walk
Food: Buffet style, salad bar
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Accenture Cyber Café
Location: Towne Building
Food: Coffee, pastries
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.–9 p.m.

Au Bon Pain
Location: Huntsman Hall, ground floor
Food: Sandwiches/pastries
Hours: Monday–Friday 6 a.m.–7 p.m.

Hill College House Dining Hall
Location: 3333 Walnut St.
Food: Various, all-you-can-eat buffet
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–7:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Houston Market
Location: 3417 Spruce St.
Food: Various, food court
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–8 p.m.

Kings Court/English House Dining Hall
Location: 3465 Sansom St.
Food: Various, all-you-can-eat buffet
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–7:15 p.m.

Mark’s Café
Location: Van Pelt–Dietrich Library
Food: Coffee, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–12 a.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–12 a.m.

McClelland Hall (express service only)
Location: 3700 Spruce St.
Food: Various
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–3 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.–8 p.m.

Subway
Location: 1920 Commons, lower level
Food: Sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–12 a.m., Friday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.–12 a.m.

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Penn

Name: Perry Petra-Wong

Hometown: Pasadena, Calif.

Major: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

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