After five days of refried beans, corn nuts and Cabot cheese — typical fare for Dartmouth Outing Club first-year trips — freshmen are given a comparatively rich suite of dining options when they matriculate.
On campus, students choose from four Dartmouth Dining Services-run locations and two independent eateries. The DDS options are Collis Café, the Courtyard Café, Novack Café and the Class of 1953 Commons, commonly referred to as FoCo. The independent establishments are King Arthur Flour Café — KAF — and the Box, a Mediterranean food truck that came to campus earlier this year.
Incoming freshman are automatically enrolled in one of the two meal plans, both of which are the two most expensive offerings. SmartChoice20 consists of $100 in each student’s declining balance account and 20 meal swipes each week. The other available option is BlockChoice160, which provides $150 in DBA and 160 meal swipes for the entire term.
Meal swipes can be used to enter the Class of 1953 Commons, which is all-you-can-eat, or be exchanged for a “meal equivalency” at other establishments.
Each swipe changes in value depending on when it is used. Breakfast and late-night swipes are worth $5.25, lunch swipes are worth $7.75 and dinner swipes are worth $10. DBA can be can be used to get a meal at FoCo, although the cost in DBA is higher than with a meal swipe. DBA can also be used to purchase food items a la carte at other locations. KAF, unlike the Box, accepts DBA.
Starting this year, up to $100 of DBA will roll over between terms. Accounts will empty after spring term.
Some students said they favored Collis, appreciating the fresh food and personal service. During breakfast hours, Collis has a made-to-order egg and omelet bar, and stir fry and pasta options are available later in the day.
Kara Edman ’16 said that, no matter which meal she is getting, Collis is her favorite due to the staff’s attention and the personalized nature of food.
“The food is prepared for you — it’s personalized,” Edman said.
Collis offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night dining. During the weekends, it is closed except for the late-night period.
Igor Konayev, a supervisor for the late-night period of Collis, said that at first, freshman don’t take advantage of late-night dining at Collis.
“Maybe 50 percent of freshman come through in the first term — when more of them know about us, they start coming through,” Konayev said.
Late-night offerings include chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, pasta and weekly specials, and the most popular items tend to be the chicken tenders and mozzarella sticks, Konayev said.
Food options at FoCo vary daily, but a salad bar, a vegetarian section, a hot bar, a pizza bar, a vegan area and a dessert area — featuring famous FoCo cookies — line the cafeteria every day.
Justin Levine ’16 said he enjoys that FoCo allows students to be creative with their meals.
“I really appreciate the flexibility of FoCo,” Levine said. “After a few weeks, you realize there are opportunities to make unique dishes.”
He also added that he likes the communal aspect of the hall, noting the longer tables and larger dining spaces than in other dining halls.
FoCo has its detractors, however. Mary Grace Weiss ’16 said that FoCo was her least favorite option because the food isn’t as appealing as at other options.
“The food looks like it’s been sitting there, and it’s made in bulk,” Weiss said.
Weiss said that, instead of using their swipes at FoCo, freshman should try to spread out their money. She said at Novack a meal swipe can go a long way.
The Novack Café is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night and offers beverages, packaged food and pre-made sandwiches.
It was recently renovated and now has new eating spaces both indoors and outdoors.
Weiss said that her favorite place to eat on campus is KAF. The eatery is open nearly all day and offers coffee, pastries, sandwiches and salads.
KAF has occupied its space in Berry Library for three years and may leave the space permanently in December after a contractual dispute with the College.
The Courtyard Café at the Hop, often referred to as the Hop, is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night dining and features a grill, burrito and salad stations.
Chris Dalldorf ’16 said that this option is his favorite despite greasiness of its menu.
“It’s the worst option for you — but it tastes the best,” Dalldorf said.
The grill line offers burgers, fries, and numerous off-the-menu items, including the “Bob Marley” — a breakfast wrap with eggs, cheese, chicken and hash browns.
Another option for hungry undergraduates that recently appeared on campus is the Box. Its offerings include Mediterranean flavors offered in pita sandwich, grain bowl or salad form. Executive Chef Tyler Harvey said that the Box will be open for lunch five days a week and will explore options for dinner and late night.
The most popular item on the menu is falafel over a grain bowl, Harvey said. A close second is their dessert option – salted chocolate chip cookies.
“There would be riots if we took falafel off our menu,” Harvey said. “The cookies also have bit of a cult following, which I didn’t expect.”
In addition to on-campus eateries, there’s a whole “downtown” Hanover to make sure you don’t run out of options.
