Fountain:
Providing food to hungry students since 1981, Fountain Dining Hall maintains broad menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Fountain is convenient for West and Central campus residents, located behind Bragaw Residence Hall, just below Lee and Sullivan Residence Halls. Fountain offers two serving lines and seats a total of 860 students in its two dining rooms. “It’s the biggest dining hall on campus, so there is a lot of variety of food,” Maria Rodriguez, a sophomore in biological sciences, said. “My favorite food is the chicken tenders,” Rodriguez said. She enjoys the salad bar when dining in Fountain, which she did often as a resident last year of neighboring Sullivan Hall. Fountain offers vegetarian and vegan options, as well as food items that are specified as “heart healthy.” For a traditional, sit-down meal, head to Fountain.
Quick Facts:
Regular hours:
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Clark:
For students who find themselves on East Campus — either as residents or those taking classes in the Court of North Carolina — Clark Dining Hall is a handy dining option. Because Clark seats 230 students, the atmosphere may be a bit calmer in comparison to Fountain’s 860. Like Fountain, though, Clark serves a traditional three-meals-per-day menu. “They usually have a better selection of vegetarian options [at Clark] than Fountain,” Robert Waldrup, a senior in meteorology, said. He said he appreciates the aesthetics of the dining hall as well. “Their condiment section is attractively laid out,” he said. Clark was built in 2001.
Quick Facts:
Regular hours:
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Talley:
Tally Student Center offers a variety of dining options that go beyond the norm of a traditional dining hall. On the ground floor, students may use their All-Campus cards to purchase food items from Taco Bell, Lil’ Dino’s Sub shop, a convenience store and an ice cream shop. For a sports-bar atmosphere, though, the Wolves’ Den is the place to be. Located in the basement of Talley, the Wolves’ Den serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, and late lunch or dinner on the weekends. The Wolves’ Den stays open the latest of the on-campus dining locations — with the exception of coffee shops. “Not being one to favor the University Dining system, the Wolves’ Den becomes a very viable option many nights of the week,” Sameer Rathie, a sophomore in accounting, said. “I usually go for dinner, but sometimes I go for lunch on the weekends.” Rathie said his favorite meal option there is popcorn shrimp.
Quick Facts:
Regular Hours:
Taco Bell, Lil’ Dino’s
Monday – Friday 10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
The Atrium:
On the outskirts of the Brickyard, The Atrium food court offers breakfast and lunch options for a quick meal between classes. The building, which was constructed in the 1940s, houses Freshen’s Smoothie Company, Chick-fil-A, Lil’ Dino’s sub shop, Paisano’s Pizzeria and Topper’s – which serves dishes such as baked potatoes. With about 400 seats outside and in, the food court is always busy during the lunch hours. Seth Palmer, a senior in political science, said he eats at The Atrium at least three times per week, usually around lunch time. “Its location is central to most of my classes and close to the library,” he said.
Regular hours:
Chick-Fil-A, Paisano’s, Freshen’s, Topper’s
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Lil’ Dino’s
Monday – Thursday: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Case:
Known as the athletic dining hall, Case serves Central Campus residents on a limited schedule. Students may eat breakfast and lunch in Case Monday through Friday, as well as brunch and dinner on Sunday. On weekday nights, Case serves a training table meal for student athletes. Remodeled in August 2006, Case seats 128 students inside and on an outdoor patio. The menu features a display cooking station. Katie Voytko, a sophomore in business management, said she ate in Case Dining for the first time ever on Monday. She said she enjoyed the atmosphere in Case because it is smaller than other dining halls. “All dining halls should be like that,” she said. Voytko said she enjoyed the apple crisp dessert with whipped cream, as well as the baked chicken.
Regular hours:
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Closed Saturday
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Hill of Beans:
In the left-hand corner of D.H. Hill Library, students weary from studying or eager to begin a new day can find a place suited to their caffeine needs. Hill of Beans, which specializes in Cape Fear Roasters’ Coffee creations and baked items such as muffins and bagels, offers its selection – composed of both new and old choices – to those paying with cash, Board Bucks or a meal plan. Christine Copper, a sophomore in communication, said she goes to Hill of Beans often, especially when she needs a caffeine pick-me-up.
“It’s nice because you have the convenience of a coffee shop on campus with all the varieties of coffee you want. The service is good, and it’s cheaper than going to Starbucks,” Copper said.
Naomi Crain, the Hill of Bean’s evening supervisor, said the coffee shop is introducing a Zimbabwe blend coffee and a new beverage — which will consist of a blend of Mandarin orange and passion fruit juices served over ice — this fall.
The study areas are also a good place to either sit down with a load of work or take a break from it, Copper added. “I’ve gone there at night, and I’ve had study groups there — it’s safe place where I can study and get coffee,” she said.
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. – midnight
Friday: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. – midnight
Port City Java:
For engineering and textiles students staying on Centennial Campus during the afternoon, lunch doesn’t have to be a sparse meal. Located within the College of Textiles building, Port City Java features “Fairganic” — fair trade and organic — coffees, espresso, in-house baked pastries, panini sandwiches prepared daily and grilled to order, wraps, salads and 100% fruit juices and smoothies. Students can either sit on couches and at tables inside, or when it’s not too hot, can sit under an umbrella outside. “I was extremely excited when I found out there was a Port City Java on Centennial Campus, because I’m from Wilmington, and there we don’t do Starbucks — we do Port City Java,” Irene Brandon, a junior in political science, said. “My favorite thing is the chicken caesar wrap, and any of their coffee is good.”
Two additional Port City Java locations will open later in the year, Joey Landry, Port City Java’s food service supervisor, said. One, which will be located in Carmichael Gym, will open at the end of September. Students can find the other in Centennial’s Engineering Building II at the end of October, according to Landry. All three locations will accept cash, credit card, Board Bucks or a meal plan.
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Periodic Table:
Students who wish to grab a quick snack on the way to class can stop by the Periodic Table — a snack shop found on the second floor of Centennial Campus’s Engineering I building — which includes options such as coffee, soft drinks, juice, sandwiches, wraps and pizza on its menu. “I get about 100 students a day, on a regular school day,” Margie Stallings, the Periodic Table’s manager, said. The snack shop has tables at which students and faculty can sit and eat their meals — whether it be cereal, a veggie wrap or Chow Mein. “It’s more than a convenience store. We have everything we think our students would like — snacks, chips, cappuccino, yogurt, candy,” Stallings said. “We try to satisfy our faculty and staff — everybody can find something.” The Periodic Table accepts payment in the form of cash, Board Bucks or a meal plan.
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Source: Randy Lait, business officer for University Dining, www.ncsudining.com
