Yale University - Campus Dining

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

The dining hall food at Yale is surprisingly decent, with a large selection of entrees everyday and a salad bar and sandwich bar if all else fails. There are dining halls in each college, and they are all beautiful, decorated with crystal chandeliers, stained glass windows, and portraits of famous Yalies of the past (including Bill Clinton and George Bush). Furthermore, because many people take most of their meals in their residential college, the students and staff become a makeshift family. Although all residential dining halls serve the same menu, each dining hall has its own special differences. Some have frozen yogurt machines, some have “Pan Geos” (specially made dishes cooked right in front of you), and some have blenders for smoothies. Students can go to whichever dining hall is most convenient. There is also Commons, a popular choice for freshmen and for a quick lunch because of its central location and extended hours. Although this large “cafeteria” has extended hours, beware of recycled leftovers.

However, no matter how many options a dining hall presents, it can still be monotonous to eat the same cycle of dishes day in and day out. Moreover, the limited hours can be inconvenient for busy students whose schedules might be a bit unorthodox. Unlike many universities, Yale does not have on-campus restaurants for further options, and the dining hall plan is mandatory for those living on campus (although there are some plan choices). All in all, dining hall food is still the most convenient option.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The food is pretty good in the... The food is pretty good in the dining halls, especially with the whole food project and all. I eat at about three different halls, and they’re all good. It definitely beats high school food. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

On campus, the dining halls are... On campus, the dining halls are good, especially considering that they cater to 5,000 different tastes. Kids usually like the law school food the best. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

Dining halls are dining halls.... Dining halls are dining halls. They’re nothing special, but it’s fine. The School of Management actually is pretty great, well worth the trek halfway up Science Hill. And there are about a trillion great off-campus places, particularly Thai and Indian. Although, my favorite places to go are still the Educated Burgher and recently the Whole Enchilada, this amazing health-food Mexican place on Whitney. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

The dining hall food is mediocre... The dining hall food is mediocre at best. The food is repetitive and fattening. Its main downfall is self-serve, unlimited portions, so students have a tendency to consume mass quantities of food at each meal. The vegetables and fruits are usually not very fresh and a limited selection is available. For late-night snacking, each residential college has a buttery, where fried foods and other treats can be purchased for cheap prices. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

Food on campus is fine, but I’m... Food on campus is fine, but I’m not picky. It’s obviously not the highest quality, but there’s tons of choices. Don’t worry about it—the dining halls all prettymuch serve the same food; you’ll slowly find out about little differences. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Did You Know?

All residents living on campus are required to have a meal plan.

The Yale Sustainable Food Project brings local, seasonal, and sustainable fare to each of Yale’s dining halls. The project was the brainchild of students, famed chef Alice Waters, and President Richard Levin. The Wall Street Journal rated its pilot location, Berkeley College, the best dining hall in the nation, and The New York Times and the Atlantic Monthly and the Boston Globe all praise the food. Yale students say “it’s better than home cooking,” or “it’s like eating at a fine French restaurant.” Students applying for admission write about the Project and Berkeley Dining Hall, believe it or not, has become a place for first dates and where students even counterfeit ID cards to get in the door

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