Welcome (back) to campus CC, Barnard, SEAS, and GS folks! All of us here at Her Campus hope you have had a wonderful summer full of laughs, memories, and good bites to eat. Whether you were at home or abroad, traveling or interning, or just doing nothing at all, you likely had some tasty food. Enjoying what you eat doesn’t have to stop when you get back to Columbia – in fact, you should be taking full advantage of your meal plan to eat as well as possible while at school. Trust me, it’ll fuel you for your study sessions, late nights on the town, and everything in between.
At about $15 per dining hall swipe or meal, you should try to get the best bang for your buck. Here’s our take on Columbia’s top five food offerings. (Disclaimer: this is an opinion piece, written by someone with no eating restrictions, allergies, or the like. Always eat wherever is most accommodating to your diet and lifestyle).
- John Jay
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The champion. For starters, eating at John Jay actually feels like eating at an Ivy League school. The wood paneling, stained glass windows, and long tables are the perfect atmosphere for college days you’ll think back on fondly. Not to mention the food – there’s something for everyone. An ever-present salad bar, grill, pasta bar, and PB&J station ensure no one leaves with an empty plate; various dishes rotate on the other stations. Typically these entrees are the best, full of protein and vegetables. There are always tasty pastries, cookies, and an ice cream machine. Don’t skip John Jay’s breakfast, with eggs, french toast, a bagel and schmear bar, waffles, fruit, and more (looking at you, first years with unlimited meal plans). And DEFINITELY don’t miss May the Fourth, a.k.a. Star Wars day at John Jay. Hands down, the best dining event we have on campus (sorry, Surf and Turf).
- JJ’s
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The most fun, chaotic dining experience. Is it a dining hall, or only a late night/special occasion treat? Our vote is full-on dining hall. JJ’s offers, of course, the typical fast food fare – burgers, mozzarella sticks, fries, mac ‘n cheese bites, all-day breakfast, and so many desserts. I’ll argue, though, that JJ’s can be surprisingly versatile – their tomato soup bread bowls, grilled chicken pesto sandwiches, and green goddess wraps give Panera a run for their money. JJ’s tends to be pretty empty at regular meal times, too, giving it some points for efficiency, but you run the risk of being yelled at by the staff if you don’t know what you want to eat fast enough. It’s always a party at JJ’s – don’t miss out!
- Sushi @ MilSTEIN
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A newer addition to the on-campus offerings, Sushi @ Milstein goes above and beyond to make delicious on-the-go sushi bowls and rolls. My personal favorite is a California roll in a bowl; rice, avocado, crab, seaweed salad, and spicy mayo are simply splendid after a morning of focusing in classes. Be warned; lines get atrociously long around lunch time, so be sure to get there early. Bonus: they have boba tea!
- Faculty House
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Faculty House makes you feel like you’re an actual person eating at an actual restaurant, which can be a breath of fresh air in comparison to some of the other meal options on campus (looking at you, Hewitt). The dessert assortment and quality in particular is sure to take your breath away, and reliable favorites such as salmon and mac and cheese are available often. However, take this with a grain of salt; if you’re looking for variety, Fac House isn’t the place to go. Rumor has it that there is a food truck by Wien Hall serving the same food; this could be a promising development.
- Chef Mike’s
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Ah yes, Chef Mike’s. This staple on-the-go location promises delicious oversized subs, and often delivers (specials are always oversized and most of the time delicious). Since you can always build your own sandwich, there isn’t much room to complain; except that they no longer offer ranch dressing. This and this alone prevents Chef Mike’s from having a higher placement in the rankings (bring back the ranch!).
While there are plenty of food options on campus, certainly not all of them are worthy of your time and money. Once you know the lay of the land, we would love to hear your take on 116th’s top five student options. Just be sure to check the menus before you go!