Dining Services

Penn Dining: Eat Smart

As the University’s foodservice professionals, we oversee food operations and dining services and consult on all food-related planning issues. Our mission is to ensure the delivery of consistent, high-quality food to a diverse on-campus clientele. Penn Dining brings flavorful, nutritious food and helps create community across campus by providing easy access to conveniently located, great-tasting meal options right on campus.

Recognizing the dining experience will be part of your student’s daily life, Penn – together with our food service provider, Bon Appétit, is committed to your student’s well-being.

From the east side of campus to the west side, we have a dining café located within 600 steps from where you live, work, or study. Meals center on abundant fresh produce, whole grains, and lean and/ or plant-based proteins, prepared with minimal amounts of healthy, plant-derived fats. Flavors are developed through skilled, healthy cooking techniques, with the use of fresh herbs and authentic spices, not through unhealthy shortcuts of using fat, sugar, and salt.

We believe good health is about the choices you make every day at every meal. Through creating conscious, healthy eating patterns, engaging with our community, and addressing the environmental issues surrounding food sourcing and food waste, we make sure to look at dining holistically. We focus on special dietary and nutritional needs through our on-campus Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

In addition to meal swipes and Dining Dollars, we accept cash, credit, SFSC Credit, and PennCash in all of our residential and retail locations.

With 16 locations on campus, students have the opportunity to explore a variety of dining options. Each café has a unique feel and cuisine. Lauder College House offers a nightly featured entrée, a chef-curated special featuring dishes such as lobster mac and cheese. Quaker Kitchen (Gutmann College House) features has a weekly rotating menu and provides students the opportunity to have a restaurant-like experience (reservations required). Hill Café is known for its weekend brunch, and breakfast all day. Parents and guests are always welcome to dine in any of our cafes. We take our role in the community seriously by making socially responsible purchasing decisions in regard to produce, meat, seafood, eggs, and coffee. We also compost kitchen waste, use recycled materials in all our cafés, and donate leftover prepared food to organizations addressing food insecurity in our community.

How Do Dining Plans Work?

First and second-year undergraduate students are required by the University to purchase a dining plan. First-year students can choose one of two plans. Secondyear students can choose a first-year plan or a specific second-year plan. All plans comprise of visits and Dining Dollars. Third and fourth-year undergraduate students have the option to enroll in a dining plan and can choose between all available plans to find the best fit for their lifestyles.

Semester Allowance

Students can use their meal swipes (visits) in any of our six residential cafés including 1920 Commons, English College House, Hill House, Lauder College House, Quaker Kitchen (Gutmann College House), and Falk Kosher Dining (with a nominal surcharge). Each time your student eats in a residential café, one visit is subtracted from the semester allowance. Additional visits can be purchased if your student runs out. Guest visits are included as part of the semester allocation of meal swipes.

Dining Dollars

Dining Dollars can be used at any Penn Dining retail location across campus including Starbucks and Gourmet Grocer in 1920 Commons; Houston Market in Houston Hall; Accenture Café in the Towne Building; Joe’s Café in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall; McClelland Sushi & Market in the Quad, Lauder College House Retail Café, the Pret-A-Manger in Huntsman Hall, Cafe West, the coffee bar in Gutmann College House, a 24-hour micro markets in Van Pelt Library and the Arch; and the Farmer’s Market, located in front of the Penn Bookstore (Wednesdays, March–November). Dining Dollars can also be used at any of our residential cafés, although generally students use their visits at these locations. Each time a purchase is made, the amount is subtracted from your student’s Dining Dollars account balance. Additional Dining Dollars can be purchased if your student runs out.

Meal Exchange

Meal Exchange allows your student to use their swipes (visits) at most of our retail locations to get a complete meal. Meal Exchange is meant to provide an alternative option for students to utilize their meal swipes if scheduling or distance makes it difficult for students to get to a residential café for a meal. Meal Exchange is available at Gourmet Grocer, McClelland Sushi & Market in the Quad, Houston Market, Café West in Gutmann College House, Joe’s Café in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, and Accenture Café in the Towne Building.

How Do I Know Which Dining Plan Is Best for My Student?

Here at Penn, we understand that each student is different, and therefore has different dining preferences. Each plan has the flexibility and convenience to meet students’ needs. Visit upenn.edu/dining to view full descriptions of our dining plan options. Students can change their plans once during the Dining Plan Change Period at the beginning of each semester.

What if My Student Has Allergies, a Dietary Need, or Religious Dietary Restriction?

When your student signs up for a dining plan on Campus Express, they will be asked to fill out a Special Dietary Needs Form. Students are strongly encouraged to fill out this form so that the campus dietitian can assist them with their dietary needs. Bon Appétit at Penn Dining has a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist on staff who will be happy to answer any dietary questions you or your student may have. Additionally, we have a kosher dining café, as well as halal and Jain food prepared on campus. Our chefs will work with students to help meet any other religious dietary restrictions.

How Does My Student Sign Up?

Have your student log in to their Campus Express account online at campusexpress.upenn.edu . When students log in, they will be able to select their dining plans. If they don’t choose a dining plan, they will be automatically assigned to our most popular plan. They can change their plans during the Fall Change Period, which takes place during the first three weeks of the semester. Visit upenn.edu/dining for more information and frequently asked questions.

How Can I Keep Up-To-Date With Dining on Campus?

Penn Dining is very active on social media in an effort to bring you news and events about dining on campus. We regularly post specials and information on dining events on Facebook and Instagram.

Penn Dining Services

Ȱ Sansom Place West 3650 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19104

Л (215) 898-3547 ƍ dining@upenn.edu î upenn.edu/dining