Put those 19 meals a week to good use!

There are so many dining halls, it’s easy to forget some of them even exist. This is my attempt at a comprehensive guide to the dining halls. It includes all the need-to-know things and some of my opinions and advice. I’m here to share my wisdom. You’re welcome.

John Jay Dining Hall

A great place to get the “college dining hall experience.” That is, if your desired experience is fighting for your life to find a seat at dinner. I have sat on window sills because I already swiped into John Jay and there was not a single empty chair in sight. You may still be fine if you’re alone, but a group larger than 2? Good luck, soldier.

I will say the food is decent. The fusion bowl station is usually pretty solid and they typically have vegan options and a wide spread. If you get a little creative, you can concoct some really good sandwiches using the hot lines and the salad bar. 

Ferris Booth Commons

I get a lot of hate sometimes, but I stand by the Ferris pasta and omelet stations. Sometimes, especially when you’re eating exclusively dining hall food, you need something that’s piping hot. Ferris delivers. Their theme nights are fun and the renovation made the whole place feel a lot lighter. It doesn’t usually get as busy as John Jay, and it’s open all afternoon for those weird 4pm not-quite-lunch, not-quite-dinner bouts of hunger.

Hewitt Dining

I think Hewitt is among the best dining halls. They’ve got solid options and a fun variety of menus every day, good vegan food, a relatively reliable soft serve machine, and (I would argue) the best pizza. Hewitt’s also just a good place to chat. To the Barnard baddies, y’all will spend your life there, I’m telling you now. PSA to the Columbia students, you can go too, and you don’t need a Barnard student to chaperone you! It sounds silly, but I speak from experience, watching Columbia students fear for their lives walking into Hewitt alone. One thing to note: Hewitt also has a kosher section.

Chef Mike’s Sub Shop

Figure out your order and this will be the best place to eat. The daily specials are usually good, but they can be a little hit or miss. Finding exactly what you like and customizing your sub ensures that you can rely on Chef Mike’s (chmikes, colloquially) any day of the week to give you a fallback plan if all else fails. As far as the fixed meal options go, Chef Mike’s also gives you a really good bang for your buck (swipe), since you get a full sub, drink, chips, fruit, and dessert. They used to have really good soup (R.I.P.), but even without it you might find yourself saving half your sandwich for your next meal. I personally recommend the chipotle tofu.

Chef Don’s Pizza Pi

I won’t lie, I’ve eaten here twice. It’s just far from everywhere I usually am. That being said, I had very few qualms. If you are a computer science person and spend your life in Mudd, this is a good option. The haters will say otherwise, but you really have to try it for yourself.

JJ’s Place

My pride and joy, love of my life, JJ’s. Open 22 hours a day (12pm-10am), JJ’s is there for you when you need it most. The fry station always has some bangers and between made-to-order pancakes, french toast, eggs, and quesadillas, all of your junk/comfort food bases are covered. They’ve got milkshakes. They’ve got ice cream. They’ve got tea and coffee. They’ve got chips. Whether you’re pulling an all-nighter in the library or coming back from a late night out, count on JJ’s. Not to mention, their staff is so lovely, even in the wee hours. 

One thing I will say is their specials are only available sometimes during the day. If you go during normal dinner hours, chances are they will have everything and the place will be pretty empty. At 1am on a Friday, however, you’re in for the time of your life. JJ’s, crowded or not, is a good energy and perfect for late night debriefs over pancakes and way too many fries.

Diana Center Cafe

I think of Diana as a quick, easy, and filling in-between classes pit stop. Most often, I’m there with my friends from class when we only have 45 minutes before our next one. My top pick is the burrito bowl, she has my heart and keeps me full for hours. Pizza is another great option. I personally recommend getting pesto and ricotta instead of normal tomato sauce and cheese, life-changing I promise. Diana food is also conducive to take to-go or eat outside when the weather is nice, which is always a plus.

For me, Diana’s rotating menu tends to fall flat next to how strong their other options are. Life hack: if you go before 11am, you can get really good breakfast sandwiches. Liz’s Place pre-makes theirs on English muffins and heats them up, but Diana cooks their eggs fresh and uses brioche buns (I think, I don’t know much about bread). Put a hashbrown and some hot sauce in there and you just might become a morning person. 

Faculty House

A place to appreciate the finer things in life. I won’t lie, the glass plates are nice, but I don’t think Faculty House lives up to the hype. Their menu is limited, albeit usually pretty good, and the setup makes it nearly impossible to traverse wearing a backpack. It does feel slightly nicer than the other dining halls and I appreciate that it’s further removed from the busier part of campus. It’s not my location of choice, but a respectable one nonetheless.

Grace Dodge

To me, Grace Dodge and Faculty House give similar vibes. They both have smaller menus and are farther away and, dare I say, more elusive. If you want to go to Grace Dodge, you have to plan to go to Grace Dodge (unless you live in Plimpton, I guess). It’s usually quiet and the dining room is really pretty and academic with dark wood paneled walls. A foolproof evening plan is going to the Teachers College library after class, studying there, maybe exploring the building a little, and making a trip to Grace Dodge. I’m a fan of their ramen, but you need to make sure you put a ton of hot sauce in it and get the boiled eggs. One of the few drawbacks for me is that the dining hall closes at 7pm, but if you’re an early dinner person, Grace Dodge might be for you.

Barnard Dining Bubble Tea and Sushi Spot

I’ve eaten here twice. I got the veggie poke bowl both times and can’t complain. People who eat fish, I’ve heard really good things about the Barnard sushi. I will say that I believe the Cafe East boba is better than the Barnard one, but it works in a pinch. If you want to work in Milstein around lunch time, don’t sit on the first floor. If there isn’t one already, there will soon be a line snaking around the building, surrounding the tables, blocking the door… If that isn’t evidence that the Sushi Spot is good, I don’t know what is.

Johnny’s Food Truck

I’ve eaten here once. It was fine. The outdoor seating with the string lights is really cute. Other people seem to like it. Maybe it’s just not for me.

Fac Shack

This used to be my go-to. On days when I found myself near Wien or East Campus. I would get Fac Shack and take it all the way back to a Lerner lounge to eat. Their Indian food was honestly really good, and I discovered it way too late into my freshman year. So this is my attempt to educate you all: go try Fac Shack.

Image via Bwog archives