Let’s get down to the really important stuff.

In the light of changes to dining in the past year and in honor of Freshletter, here’s your 2026 updated guide to Columbia’s dining halls. In order from worst to best (in MY opinion).

11. Chef Don’s Pizza Pi

AVOID. This pizza is the nastiest, skank bitch I’ve ever met. Do not trust it. Plus their hours are horrible, and it’s in Mudd so you’ll have to look at engineers while you eat.

10. Johnny’s

Johnny’s, I don’t really know you very well. This truck sits outside John Jay and is never open, and the one time I got a burrito there it was kind of mid. If you need food, I guess this is an option, but I don’t really understand why you would pick it when JJ’s is right there.

9. Fac Shack

Fac Shack is another convenient option. Their truck is located in the Wien courtyard, and they serve grab-and-go bags of Indian food. I really like the main meal, but the dry cookies and sad apple they come with are not the best. It’s also kind of out of the way for me, but if you live on the east side of campus this might be a good option for you. 

8. Diana

This is Barnard’s other dining hall, located on the second floor of Diana. The main fixtures of this place are the pizza, burrito bowls, and smoothies. They also have breakfast sandwiches and other items in the morning, and the middle station rotates between Indian, Chinese, and other meals. I’ve had food poisoning from the burrito bowl, so proceed with caution. Diana has a great selection of grab and go items that you can use up your points on, with a ton of drink options, pints of ice cream, weird chip flavors, and more. It can get really crowded in here, and I don’t think any of the options are something I gravitate towards. I usually end up here because of someone else. 

7. Grace Dodge

Now we’re getting to places I actually would be willing to go to. Teacher’s College, you did your big one with this. I don’t often come here, because it takes about 10 minutes of navigating the underground labyrinth of hallways to find it, but I always enjoy it when I do. There are very few places to get a salad with decent options, and Grace Dodge is my favorite. Their hot options are good too, and I enjoy the goldfish and other snack options. It’s usually easy to find a seat, which is a nice change of pace from many other dining halls. Minus points for the location, annoying token system, and lack of cell signal. 

6. JJ’s

JJ’s has been there for me in all seasons. The people who keep this place going are my essential workers. This is the fast food of Columbia Dining, and it’s dangerous because it’s open 22/7 (only closing 10 am – 12 pm). I love how creative they get with the food options, and the themed events that they do. Of course, I can’t eat a jalapeño grilled cheese every day, and I do usually leave with more acne than I came in with…

5. Ferris

Ferris is John Jay’s little brother, located on the 3rd floor of Lerner Hall. They have a main line, pasta/omelette station, salad, and “action station” with different items each day. Ferris’ food is kind of AI-generated to me. Everything sounds good in theory, but it kind of tastes like play-doh sometimes. Plus you waited 30 minutes for it. For me, Ferris is in the top 5 because of their commitment to a theme and the desserts. No matter the holiday, they decorate everything. I love their brunch options as well, and the consistency of the menu on the weekdays is nice. 

4. Faculty House

The fancy dining hall. People make a big deal out of the fact that they have real plates, and I think most Columbia students would probably place this one higher, but I don’t think Faculty House’s food is much better than the other dining halls. I love the salad bar, and most of their food is pretty good. The cookies are AMAZING. I’ve yet to visit the new 4th floor location, so maybe this ranking will change. They’re fourth in the ranking because there isn’t a ton of variety or light options, and the only drink they have is water. 

3. John Jay

John Jay is a workhorse of a dining hall. It always has a million options, so you can choose whatever you’re feeling that day. It’s super convenient for freshmen and has one of the latest dinner times. They have a main line, pasta station, bao buns, grill, salad, dessert, vegan, gluten free, and more sections. It has good options for vegan and other dietary restrictions, and the ice cream bar they added last year is a perfect addition. The main dining room is also really beautiful. Minus points for the giant fans that blow in your face and the extremely chaotic energy of the winding lines.

2. Chef Mike’s

As a Jersey girl, hoagies are a very important part of my life. Chef Mike’s has custom-made and pre-made sandwiches that hit the spot. Other uncles among us might remember when they had soup, but this dining hall is still one of my absolute favorites. With the addition of Saturday hours and pickup orders, this is a go-to when I’m too busy to wait in line or want a taste of home. Bonus points for all the packaged snacks you can take.

1. Hewitt

The undisputed GOAT dining hall. There’s a reason that all the athletes come here and pile their plates high, even though I wish they would leave a seat for me. Although it’s a little out of the way in the basement of Barnard Hall, Hewitt has so many options. They have a main line, grill, allergy, pizza, salad, and ice cream station, along with fruits and other desserts. I love their delicious without station, and the main meal usually hits. If I’m feeling unhealthy, the burgers are greasy and perfect. The ice cream machine, though not always in service, has a wonderful topping station. Would recommend the most for lunch or dinner, though avoiding during peak hours is best.

Header via Bwarchives

Johnny’s via Columbia Dining

All other images via Bwarchives