BU students have no shortage of options for any given meal. There are great restaurants both on and off campus, and endless options to cook in one’s own kitchen. In the world of on-campus dining alone, there is the additional choice of point-based or meal-based eateries. While the GSU, Buick Street Market, and various dining point-accepting establishments are peppered throughout Comm Ave, we’ve decided to focus on the traditional BU dining halls.
For eons, students have argued which is best—Warren or West? Should we walk the extra block to Shelton? Does the sourdough bread in Towers make up for its lack of natural light?
Well, we’ve come here once and for all to finally decide which dining hall deserves the title of the best dining hall. So have your BUID ready, and check the bias toward your freshman dorm at the door…this is gonna get messy.
6. Shelton Hall
Shelton’s food is not the worst at BU (I’m looking at you, Panda Express). In fact, the food in the BU dining system is quite good. The problem with Shelton is its inconsistency. Some people like eating at Shelton—notable for its superior granola and pretty good pizza–but Shelton’s prepared food is not always up to the quality of the other halls, and their sandwiches (complete with left-out jars of chips and Goldfish) also fall flat. Its salad bar does boast having hearts of palm sometimes, but I often put it on my salad, and then remember why not many people eat hearts of palm over here. Finally (and most sadly) the desserts at Shelton are the most likely to be stale. Several times I have taken a delightful-looking piece of chocolate cake, only to find that it has the texture of a Saltine cracker. But they do have really good granola.
5. Myles Standish Hall
In terms of architecture, Myles wins this contest. Unfortunately, arched doorways do not a dining hall make. Myles’ baffling layout (did you know there’s a GIANT eating area behind the grill station?!) make deciding on a meal difficult—”Do I want that chicken, or the sandwich four doors down?” However, their sandwiches are usually delectable (and if you’re lucky enough to get the rapping sandwich man, ask for one of his specialties). Additionally, Myles’ prepared foods are often enjoyable (though I remember a recent dinner in which vegan meatballs did not please anyone at my table). Actually, it’s hard for me to remember many things I’ve ever eaten at Myles, which may be indicative that it is a place to eat, not necessarily dine.
4. The Hillel House
Many non-Kosher eaters may be a little scared of the idea of going to eat at the Hillel House, but it is the place to get some of the heartiest and most satisfying food on campus. For those of you unaware of what makes food “Kosher,” there’s a long list of criteria, but it boils down to a) no pork or shellfish, b) dairy and meat kept separate, and c) all meat has been properly slaughtered. Now there are some oddities in these rules (fish is not considered meat, for example), but as far as eating at the Hillel, one should just be aware that each meal is either meat or dairy. The salad bar is often filled with fixin’s not seen at other halls (mandarin oranges, for one), and they have a big flame-powered pizza oven akin to the one at Warren Towers. The meat meals at the Hillel are really hit-or-miss—either perfectly roasted chicken, or tough roast beef with chewy fat bits all over it. The dining hall has one of the best views of the Charles in the city, and it’s definitely worth a visit for any student…it’s even worth the extra dining points for each meal.
3. Towers
Ok, ok. I know I said that freshman year biases would not factor into these rankings, and yes I did live in Towers freshman year, and yes I know that some people find its windowless, basement location a bit unsettling, and yes when it rains the leaks have to be caught with 10-gallon tubs made for mayonnaise—but gosh darn it, I like the Towers dining hall. First, its location is great—close to Kenmore, COM, SMG, SED, and Bay State Road. Second, it’s small and (usually) quiet. Third, the food is good. The Towers’ sandwich bar is always equipped with the two best breads at any dining hall—sourdough and focaccia. My signature sandwich is as follows (and can only be made at Towers): sourdough, chicken salad, lettuce, tomato, and pickles, not toasted, just sliced in half. Try it sometime, it’s great. Oh, and did I forget to mention the Towers’ Burrito? No single dish has garnered such a following as that wonderful, delectable wrap of chicken and rice. The pizza and soup are also consistently tasty, though the prepared foods can sometimes be a bit mush. But did I mention the burritos?
2. Warren Towers
Alright, I really seemed like a Towers disciple in that last paragraph, and now it seems like heresy to say that Warren is in fact superior to its much smaller cousin. However, Warren will forever beat Towers in one crucial aspect: choices. The Warren dining hall is essentially a stadium of different meal options–starting with the grill, then pizza, several home-style dishes, the big griddle, salad bar and dessert, and then there’s the sandwich station, cereal, soup, and pasta on the other side of the room! Suffice it to say, there will always be at least one edible thing at the Warren dining hall. Granted, the lines can get unbearable, and seating can be an issue, but I had a truly delicious “Asian” Salisbury steak there the other day, which may have been the single best prepared food I have had at any dining hall ever.
1. Fresh Food Co. at West Campus
After going through all the other dining halls, it’s hard to even remember what makes West Campus better than all the rest. It is bright (sorry, Towers), has many different rooms (more logically arranged than Myles), and has tons and tons of options (as many as Warren), not to mention, its food is the best on campus. The soups in West never disappoint, the same with their desserts and sandwiches. It is the only dining hall to have non-mushy pasta at the pasta station, as well as the most extensive salad bar, and a wrap station that is always great (check out the Greek chicken wrap when available). So while each BU dining hall has something great to offer, and students rarely go hungry while on a university meal plan, West Campus should serve as the standard for the new East Campus Student Center, and every other dining hall to follow it.
Saying the dining hall is “equipped” with bread is awkward. I think “stocked” would have worked better. Also, the parenthesis became trite and were often unnecessary.
It’s ok Sua, we back up the use of the word “equipped”, we feel it really hits home. If you need a good Tripe recipe we can get you … oh you said Trite, nevermind!
@budiningservice