Wise choice clicking this article, if you didn’t then you would have been missing out on a HUGE part of the University of Guelph! Food is very important to me, and something I take very seriously, so when browsing through my university options, I needed to know where I would have consistent access to quality food. More often than not, when you hear about the University of Guelph, their food quality is mentioned and believe me when I say that they live up to their reputation. UofG has a wide variety of food choices (17 dining facilities) with options and alternatives for vegan, vegetarian, and Kosher diets, as well as gluten, peanut, and nut free options. Plus, while some meals are obviously slightly above average in price, you can find most meals for a very reasonable cost compared not only to other universities, but local restaurants or take-out options. Basically, if you’re on campus and find your stomach growling then you’ll have no problem remedying this.
The Creelman Marketplace
I have to start with my hands-down favourite place to eat at Guelph. Located in North Campus, just before College Avenue, Creelman is easily accessible since you do not need to cross the street and is a convenient two-minute walk to War Mem which comes in handy on those cold winter days. It holds a wide variety of food options, all of which are absolutely delicious, hwoever it does lie on the pricier side compared to other U of G dining areas. They house Mongolian BBQ, a build-your-own stir fry station where you load up a bowl with noodles and all of your favourite veggies and sauces, choose your protein (tofu, beef, chicken, or shrimp), then watch them as they fry it up right in front of you. Best of all, they offer you rice as well so if you’re feeling ambitious you can indulge in noodles and rice in addition to your stir fry. This is my usual go-to meal if I venture to North Campus. In addition to this fan-favourite, Creelman also offers a burrito, personal-pizza, sandwich, panini, crepe and loaded nacho station. You can make each of these to your liking and those working are always happy to make your meal however you like. There is also the 100 Mile Grille which offers a ton of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner! In the morning you can get a fantastic home-fry bowl, classic breakfast sandwiches as well as eggs benedict. For lunch or dinner, they make fantastic burgers and chicken sandwiches, their fries are second to none and you can always feel free to upgrade those fries to a poutine. They make your burger for you but have an array of toppings off to the side so you can top it and make it exactly how you want. Lastly, there are also have numerous fridges holding packaged veggies, fresh-made sushi, yogurt, wraps and tons of drinks!
North Campus Dining
While Creelman may be the star of North Campus, that is not all that they offer. Lennox-Addington (L.A.) residence houses ‘The Pit’, where you can order things off the grill, pizza, pasta and even omelettes! Safe to say, if you’re in L.A. then you have a relatively good selection to choose from. They also have a salad bar, and, of course, a snack food section (a staple for midterm and final study sessions). L.A. also has its own Starbucks. A bit of a hidden gem in North Campus, as it is only one of three Starbucks on campus. Finally, Macdonald Hall houses the last dining area of North Campus. Not so much as a dining area as an on-the-go or between classes pit-stop. Here you can help yourself to coffee or tea, soups, salads and pastries! A nice little café that can tie you over during a busy day of class or replace breakfast if you happen to be running late. Both of these places are priced comparatively but aren’t overpriced by any means.
Bullring
This more laid back environment, with couches and music playing (as well as open mic Wednesdays). The Bullring offers fantastic food which rivals even Creelman. The Bullring can satisfy any hunger as they serve all-day breakfast, soups (including a soup-of-the-day), pizza, sandwiches and just about anything you might be craving. From what I have heard, I would highly recommend the Mac N Cheese.[1] Plus, it is centrally located beside Rozhanski and MacKinnon, and just seconds from the UC or library!
Bob’s Dogs!
If you go to Guelph then you have to see Bob! Located just outside the Bullring’s picnic tables, Bob and his barbecue fire up hotdogs, sausages and veggie dogs on a daily basis. Whether you’re headed to class, from class, or are just plain hungry, seeing Bob will brighten your day! He is the nicest guy you’ll find on campus and someone who I can guarantee will make you smile. He serves some amazing food and I would highly recommend him, even if it’s just to say you’ve had some of his BBQ.
Gryph N’ Grille
The big food truck that you can smell from a mile away is certainly a crowd pleaser. The Gryph N Grille can satisfy your usual food truck cravings by serving up some delicious deep-fried or fire-grilled masterpieces. Their burgers are definitely something I would recommend and their fries are fantastic (but not as good as 100 Mile Grille). Usually parked in the UC courtyard or in front of MacKinnon, the Gryph N Grille may not be the fanciest food around, but it certainly gets the job done in filling you up!
MacNaughton and Summerlee Science Complex (SSC)
MacNaughton (aka the place with the Book Store in it) is not necessarily travelled by every student the way the UC or the library may be, but it holds a nice little gem. Just above the Book Store is a Tim Hortons, which can not only provide you with a much needed caffeine boost, but can also be a nice break from the noisy UC or crowded library for some studying or down time. Equipped with couches and bar stools, you can enjoy your breakfast sandwich and coffee (or whatever your go-to combo may be) and comfortably catch up on some work or relax before your next class. Another hidden gem on campus is the SSC atrium. The SSC is not only one of my favourite places to hangout and study, but also has a little coffee shop where you can refuel with a hot beverage and pick from their selection of sandwiches, bagels or muffins. Even better, for those lucky enough to have a three-hour chemistry lab in a morning time slot, there is nothing better than getting to there a little bit early and buying one of their smoothies to start the day off right and work your way through those dreadful labs filled with energy.
The University Centre (UC)
All I can say about the UC is that if you’re hungry and want food, go there. Equipped with a Subway, Tim Hortons, Pizza Pizza, KFC, Nature’s Best (vegetarian), Wok-a-thon, sandwich and pita stations, fresh soup and chili, pad-thai and more! They also have several fridges stocked with freshly rolled sushi, wraps and veggies. Whenever I get hungry, I come here, because even if I don’t know what I want right away, something will always catch my eye. My favourite breakfast spot here is their grill house which serves full breakfasts, similar to those of the 100 Mile Grille. You can get hash browns, grilled cheese, eggs, breakfast sandwiches and numerous other meals for a great price and it is absolutely amazing. They also make some great burgers come lunch time. Ultimately, the UC is probably your best bet in terms of finding something you’ll enjoy for a good price. Just make sure to get there early as seats fill up fast! The UC is also home to the Brass Taps, the on-campus pub. It’s a really fun place to unwind after a long day of classes, with good food (and beer, of course) it’s a simple spot to hang out with your fellow Gryphs. Just be careful come trivia night because it can get real heated in there.
That’s all for now! There is much more to the food here at Guelph, including re-usable container programs and how meal plans can save you money, but all of that can be discussed in a future post.