Out of all the things you could make a tier list on at the University of Connecticut, the dining halls are a valid theme. Some are loved by the student body, while others are infamous and are mainly visited due to their convenient locations. Overall, the hours should be extended across the board to feed nocturnal students with a meal plan, but the food and vibes vary across each hall. How do members of the Life section rate them — tier list style?
Mikayla Murphy, Campus Correspondent (she/her/hers)
S: Whitney—I will forever be a Whitney defender. The atmosphere is my favorite out of all the dining halls. It’s cozy and makes me feel like I have my life together, so my friends and I have spent many Sundays there for breakfast. I’ve also never had a bad meal here, even though the options are smaller than other dining halls. It’s the best dining hall — argue with a wall.
A: Northwest and Connecticut Hall —I like CT Hall because it has a lot of options and the food is consistently good, but it’s usually pretty crowded, so I don’t go there a lot. Northwest surprised me a couple of weeks ago when I ate there for the first time. I’ve heard horror stories about North, so I expected Northwest to also be bad, but the pasta I had was surprisingly good. Both are solid options.
B: Putnam, Towers and South—For these three, they’re good; there’s just nothing special about them. I’m never blown away at how good the food is or the options they have, but they’re good and I won’t complain about eating at them.
C: McMahon—The pre-plated food is not really my thing and I’m not a huge fan of a lot of their options. The food is decent, but I also spent a week straight eating McMahon food over the summer, so I’ve had no desire to go back there since.
D: North—Just avoid it at all costs.
Honorable Mention: Buckley—Rest in Peace
Bonnibel Lilith Rampertab, Campus Correspondent (she/her/hers)
S: Whitney Dining Hall—Whitney will always have a special place in my heart. I love their occasional Sunday dinner with the creamy gnocchi, but I also enjoy most of the meals they have, even as a vegetarian. The cherry on top is the cozy and home-like atmosphere.
B: South, and its spiritual successor, Connecticut Hall—Both are okay options. They have a variety of foods to choose from, which is good for me as a vegetarian.
I eat at Putnam occasionally after my floor mentor class at Werth and I’ve enjoyed it the few times I’ve eaten there. If you don’t live in the Werth area, however, there isn’t an appeal to walk up that hill. The Red Line could take you up there if you’re interested in going, though.
I heard someone refer to Northwest as the dining hall that gives you “real food.” I haven’t gone there since my first semester, but it was nice the time I did go.
C: McMahon—There are plates of food pre-served to you, unlike all the other dining halls. There is always a vegetarian option, but the curry potato enchilada was the worst meal I ever had at a dining hall. I make it a point to finish my food, but I couldn’t bear to finish that enchilada. I still go to McMahon occasionally, nonetheless.
D: Buckley—I’m so happy for the class of 2028 and beyond not having to put up with Buckley Dining Hall. I heard horror stories and ate there for Thanksgiving Break my first semester when I couldn’t go back home at the time. It was terrible. The kindest thing I could say is that the food was edible. I was so excited to eat the macaroni shells and cheese, but the lack of seasoning disappointed me. Furthermore, the dirty rice genuinely tasted dirty.
N/A: I’ve never been to Towers or North, unfortunately.
Sarah Barker, Campus Correspondent (she/her/hers)
S: McMahon and South—These two are my most frequented dining halls because of their location. I’m a big pizza person and McMahon has the best on campus. I also love their ice cream selection. South is just my tried-and-true dining hall. I always love the food they serve and it’s a larger dining hall with a lot of seating options.
A: Towers—While Towers is tucked away from everything else, I love it. I would rank it higher, but I don’t go very often. As an active Buckley girl, Towers shocked me because of how big it was. The food is good, and I like how big the seating area is because you don’t have to sit super close to people.
B: Whitney—The first time I went to Whitney, I had a panic attack and was kind of scarred. It was tiny, packed and had the vibe of a Panera Bread. I did make a return and actually enjoyed the food and ambiance. The Whitney playlist is full of hits, too. It’s also the only dining hall that actually serves Dairy Bar ice cream, which shocked me.
C: Putnam—I’ve only been to Putnam once, so I didn’t fully experience it. It’s another dining hall that’s out of the way for me, so I haven’t been back. They have a downstairs area which I haven’t seen, so I’d be interested in checking that out.
D: North/Northwest—I personally lump North and Northwest together because they’re the same to me and they have the same menus. Now, there is nothing wrong with either of these dining halls; when I’ve gone, the food was good. The hill to get to these dining halls, on the other hand, is brutal. They’re also on the opposite side of campus from where I live and I’m never near them.
N/A: I haven’t been to Connecticut Hall yet because I genuinely can’t figure out how to get there, but I’m sure it’s great!
And RIP Buckley, forever in our hearts.
Patrick Boots, Campus Correspondent (he/him/his)
S: Whitney and Putnam—These two dining halls top the list for me because they both consistently offer tasty food options and uniquely enjoyable seating areas. Whitney, although small, has its cafe area and booths and Putnam has barstool seating with electrical outlets. Both also have exclusive beverage choices, including good juice blends.
A: Towers and Northwest—When I’m looking for options, I stop at these two cafeterias. Both have a wide selection of cuisine stations, with a lot of room for seating. Sometimes they are busy, but lines often move along. I’m not up near Towers often, but Gelfenbien Dining Hall is great—plus they have their weekly themed menus.
B: North and South—Sometimes it seems like they’re opposites, but other times they’re two peas in a pod. The food is not bad, but the menu at both is sometimes hackneyed. Many students at a time will be in line and a seat is often hard to find. This year, South is open for “late night” dining, which adds to the congestion, but they make up for it with their dessert choices.
C: McMahon and Connecticut — When I visit McMahon, the international selections are my gripe. Sometimes I enjoy the dish and other times, it depends. Maybe that’s world food. I appreciate the variety, as there’s usually something approachable. Connecticut Hall is the new kid on the block — but I’ve found it louder and more confusing on the occasions I’ve been. Lines weren’t clear, and they only operate a couple stations at a given time. My recommendation: use the large television screens to display the menu.
D: When you’re hungry between 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.—I’m a supporter of expanded dining hall hours, but understand the logistics and sensitivities behind it. For example, re-opening Jonathan’s Restaurant in the Student Union, a Duchess-style eatery, with later hours may satisfy that need. I’d eat there!
Honorable Mention: Buckley — Buckley was and is my favorite dining hall because of its cozy atmosphere and home-style menu selections. It was never too loud or crowded, and they played good music. Some people emphatically didn’t like Buckley—I couldn’t tell you why! Sadly, UConn decided to close Buckley this year—but it will remain a legend in UConn dining history.