Battle of the Dining Halls

Proceed with caution!

By Katie Sam

At the time I pitched this article, I settled on the idea of comparing the various BU dining halls. I mean, what’s more relatable to the food section of a collegiate literary magazine than an article on such places? And while this initial thought remains true, I’ve actually found the process of comparing the dining halls to be very subjective—to the point where my singular opinion seems almost trivial. In fact, I fear the only good coming out of such an article is the inevitable laughter by my friends who don’t share my personal taste in dining halls. Alas, I shall try to make them proud! However, I must warn you: these opinions are all out of my personal experiences and beliefs.

Photograph by Diya Kapoor

#1: Fenway

In my mind, the leading factor of where I am going to eat is the taste, which typically means I’m going to Fenway. Although it’s a 15-20 minute walk from Central Campus, Fenway is the ONLY place that serves meals comparable to a restaurant. I tend to gravitate towards the chicken and fresh steamed broccoli, plus a side of chips and guac. Fenway also never seems to have long lines, so after the walk, you will wait in line for food for maybe five minutes max, and then find a table even quicker.

And if there’s no space on the first floor, or if you’re feeling extremely anti-social, there is a second floor that’s perfect. It’s almost always silent, and I’ve personally really enjoyed studying there! Fenway’s ability to consistently deliver fresh, clean, and tasty options makes the walk worth every step. Not only that, but its ability to also serve as a study area makes the meal swipe even more worth it.

#2: Warren

With Fenway in first place, I’d have to argue that Warren follows as a close second. Warren, my residence, has perfected the sauteed vegetables and protein with rice or noodles. It is all marinated altogether in the “both” sauce (“both” is the mixture of two unnamed sauces everyone always asks for). There is high demand for these bowls, to the point where students are referred to as numbers, and are asked to scream “rice” or “noodles” many feet away from the chefs, just hoping they hear the right word! The meal has become a staple for my routine, and if I know it’s available, nine times out of 10, I am there that day.

Good food really does something to you: it brings you to a natural flow state that otherwise, you can’t reach. To me, that’s the very essence of a Warren deli sandwich. I’d like to clear the air by expressing how baffling it is to heat up your sandwich WITH vegetables on it! I thought it was a universal practice to heat up your sandwich with your choice of protein and possibly cheese, but never when paired with tomatoes, onions, or lettuce.

After much trial and error I’ve finally created my staple deli sandwich order: non-roasted turkey, provolone cheese, onions, lettuce, spinach, pickles, chipotle mayo, and guac on french bread. The chefs never shortchange the amount of any component, including the guac. In fact, if you ask for more of something, you’ll most likely receive more than what you expect, as I’ve learned from experience. At times, I must admit the deli station sometimes has long lines, but that’s the beauty of it. The deli is loved by many and because of its reliability, the demand for the sandwiches increases.

Photograph by Diya Kapoor

In all honesty, I live quite far from West and barely ever make the trek out, so it's hard for me to review their options. Similarly, I stopped going to Marciano’s because their vegetable-protein-rice sautee section as well as their deli section are simply subpar compared to Warren’s, so I’d rather save myself the steps.

I am open to hearing your thoughts or inquiries about any of my takes as well as suggestions for sections of dining halls I need to try! Feel free to contact me: katiesam@bu.edu.