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University of Pittsburgh - Campus Dining - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Campus Dining

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

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Quick Stats

Average Meal Plan Cost $3730 per year
Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
Student Favorites
  • Market Central
  • Past Bar at the Pete
  • Schenley Café

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

All students living in residence halls are required to get a meal plan. Each of the plans varies in the amount of meal blocks (a set dollar amount used to purchase meals) and dining dollars (money to supplement the meal blocks) it has. Meal plans are accessible through student ID card at dining halls and food carts. More meal blocks are added with each larger plan. If you don't use up all of your meal blocks each week, they will go to waste.

There are a number of eateries located across Pitt's campus, each set in a different style. Market Central and the Schenley Cafe in the Union are usually the busiest and have a number of different dining options. The all-you-care-to-eat cafeterias boast more variety than any of the other eateries, though students say that the food still gets old quickly. Overall, many students are satisfied with the quality and availability of Pitt's dining services. However, meal plans can get costly. Also, the sporadic hours and lack of a 24-hour dining option means you'll find yourself in Oakland's local restaurants on many nights and weekends. Meal plans do not work at any local restaurants but Panther Funds do, which is money loaded onto your ID card, separate from any meal plan cost, that works like a debit card.

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Pitt Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at University of Pittsburgh

sabracken

Biology '15

3.5
B

Good but Limited

Pitt dining is not terrible, but dining halls offer a very limited menu. There are only two on campus that accept "Dining Passes," which offer an all-you-can-eat buffet to students that are open until midnight every night. I definitely got tired of the food offered at the dining halls because they serve the same things every day. In terms of using you "Dining Dollars," which work at several places on campus and work the same way as cash, there are many more options. These range from sit-down restaurants to coffee carts located at various locations on campus. Pitt does not offer a lot of meal plan options for freshmen, and the ones that they do offer are huge. I would suggest more Dining Dollars than Dining Passes, because you WILL get sick of eating Market Central every day, and not as big of a meal plan as an upperclassman if you choose to get a meal plan.

May 18, 2012

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Campus Dining at University of Pittsburgh

JessV93

Developmental and Child Psychology '15

4.6
A

Great Food, Everywhere.

Though the meal plans are expensive, Pitt offers tons of dinning options. From several buffet style dining halls that sell a variety of dishes (stir fry, subs, meal of the day, pizza, gluten free, salad bar, pasta bar, etc.) to our countless food vendors (that also take dinning dollars) such as Bruster's, Taco Bell, Starbucks, and Chick-fil-A to name a few, you'll never get tired of the selections.

May 08, 2012

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Campus Dining at University of Pittsburgh

ajd74

Mechanical Engineering '13

3.5
B

You'll Never Spend All Your Panther Funds on Food

Buying even the cheapest plan often results in left over money at the end of the semester - which your friends will love but parents will hate. There are eatieries housed within campus buildings, but select off campus business except the funds too so you can have more options. Market is the best place to grab food and meet with friends, and is central to most campus buildings. There is lots of value in the menu, thus the left over money at the end of the semester. Taco Bell Express is my favorite!

May 01, 2012

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Page 1 of 16
User rating for University of Pittsburgh - Campus Dining is 3.5 out of 5 based on 47 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 Off–campus dining only available by adding Panther Funds, which is not on basic meal plans.
Special Options Many students like to treat themselves to lunch or dinner at many of the restaurants within a few blocks walking distance from campus. Although the actual meal plan doesn't work off campus, students have the option of placing Panther Funds on their student ID. Panther Funds are accepted at many area eating establishments. Student favorites include: Hemingway's Cafe, Subway, the Original Hot Dog Shop, and Dave and Andy's Ice Cream. Panther Funds are also accepted on the popular online food ordering website, campusfood.com. Check out the www.pc.pitt.edu/card/merchantlist.html for a full list of merchants.
Did You Know? Schenley Plaza, the park across from Hillman Library, has several food kiosks featuring local and ethnic favorites open during the warmer months. On sunny days, the park provides a place for students to relax on the lawn and grab some quick bites, or even take a ride on the park's working carousel.

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

Burger King
Location: Petersen Events Center Food Court
Food: Burgers, fast food
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Café a la Cart
Location: Langley Hall
Food: Breakfast snacks, deli sandwiches, coffee, drinks
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Café Victoria
Location: 3500 Victoria Street, Victoria Hall
Food: Coffee
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

The Cathedral Café
Location: Cathedral of Learning, ground floor
Food: Chick-fil-A, grill, salad, sandwiches, soup, sushi
Hours: Monday–Thursday 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Cathedral Coffee
Location: Cathedral of Learning, ground floor
Food: Coffee
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–4 p.m.

Common Grounds
Location: Litchfield Towers, lobby
Food: Coffee
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.–9 p.m.

Cup & Chaucer
Location: Hillman Library, ground floor
Food: Coffee
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–5 p.m.

Einstein’s Express
Location: Benedum Hall
Food: Bagels, pastries, coffee
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Einstein’s On the Way
Location: Posvar Hall, second floor
Food: Bagels, sandwiches, soups, sandwiches, coffee
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Hill o' Beans
Location: Sutherland Hall
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Jazzman’s Cafe
Location: Petersen Events Center Food Court
Food: Coffee
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Market Central
Location: Towers
Food: All-you-can-eat, celiac options, diner-style, international, pizza, sandwiches, stir-fry, vegetarian options
Hours: Varies depending on station

Market-to-Go
Location: Towers
Food: Frozen, pre-packaged, and salad bar options
Hours: Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Pasta Plus
Location: Petersen Events Center Food Court
Food: Pasta, pizza
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday–Sunday (pizza only) 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

The Pennsylvania Perk
Location: Pennsylvania Hall
Food: Coffee
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m., 7 p.m.–11 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

The Perch at Sutherland
Location: Sutherland Hall
Food: All-you-can-eat American
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 4 p.m.–10 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 4 p.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–3 p.m., 4 p.m.–9 p.m.

Quick Zone
Location: Towers
Food: Frozen, pre-packaged, and salad bar options
Hours: Monday–Sunday 10 a.m.–11 p.m.

Salad Sensations
Location: Petersen Events Center Food Court
Food: Salads
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Schenley Café
Location: William Pitt Union
Food: Culinary Classics, Freshens Smoothie Co., Pizza Hut Express, Strutter's (grill/fry), Sub Connection
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

The Side Bar
Location: School of Law
Food: Coffee
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Sub Connection
Location: Petersen Events Center Food Court
Food: Subs
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Sutherland Quick Zone
Location: Sutherland Hall
Food: Take-out options
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday 11 p.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.–11 p.m.

Taco Bell
Location: Petersen Events Center Concourse
Food: Mexican
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 5 p.m.–11 p.m.

Thirst and Ten
Location: Panther Hall
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m., 7 p.m.–11 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

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Courtney Vock
Hometown
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Major
Creative Non-Fiction Writing

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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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.
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