University of Tennessee - Campus Dining

The food is okay. The dining halls...

The food is okay. The dining halls don't offer that much variety from day to day.

The food is yummy—there are tons...

The food is yummy—there are tons of fast-food places to eat and campus food is decent. There are four all-you-can-eat cafeterias, three of which are usually the same. The other one, the Varsity Inn, is in the dorm where the football players live, and the food there is excellent. You have to have a special meal plan or use a different form of payment to eat there, though—it’s not included with the regular meal plans. There are also two pay-as-you-go places. One includes places like Pizza Hut, Chick-fil-A, a sub shop, a burger bar, and salads. The other, Smokey’s, is a lot like the other cafeteria food, but better. If you can stand to eat fast food everyday, eat at the All-American Grill or at Smokey’s—the food is far better there.

Most people will complain about...

Most people will complain about cafeteria slop or whatever, but I don’t think the food is bad for the mass-produced type that you find in any school’s cafeteria. It’s warm and fresh, and there is a varied menu so you don’t eat the same old thing all the time. We also have what is called 'the Grill,' where you can get Chick-fil-A or Pizza Hut, among other things. Salad bars are provided everywhere, as are dessert bars, if that is your thing.

If there are certain snacks that...

If there are certain snacks that you cannot live without, bring as many as you can to school with you. While you can eat meals on the meal plan, all snacks are deducted from bonus bucks. Also, bring as much soap, shaving supplies, deodorant, and toiletries as you can. Those are among the highest priced items in the small shops, and there is hardly any variety. Don’t plan on finding your usual brand of shampoo.

I think that the food on campus is...

I think that the food on campus is pretty decent. There are a variety of cafeterias located around campus with buffet-style food. If I remember correctly, every cafeteria has a salad bar and a sandwich bar, and one section that offers food made to your preference, like pasta or sandwich wraps. There is always a vegetarian option, too, if that is something you need. There are cafeterias that resemble mini-food courts, with options like Chick-fil-A, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Edy’s Ice Cream, sub sandwiches, home-cooked food, and Starbucks. You just need to make sure that you look at the different meal plan options to ensure that you get what you want. There are also bonus bucks, which are great and act like a debit card on your student ID. The bonus bucks allow you to shop at some of the on-campus grocery stores and eat over your daily allowance.