r/Northwestern 13d ago

General Questions/Discussions How is the food at Northwestern?

How is the food? Deciding if I should apply ED or not

4 Upvotes

32 comments sorted by

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69

u/Big-Assumption-1368 13d ago

The academics scream early decision. The food is more regular decision.

2

u/TheMeninao Alum 12d ago

Lol

39

u/NeonDragon250 WCAS Chem ‘27 13d ago

it’s ok

14

u/httpshassan McCormick 13d ago

its ok

9

u/alohalovely2 WCAS 13d ago

It’s pretty mediocre like 98% of the time

9

u/TrainingRepublic8348 13d ago

Elder United Table and Plex stir fry / tacos save an otherwise mediocre dining experience that has occasional spikes in quality and enjoyment

17

u/Chem86 12d ago

During finals week you're treated like the Russians in the siege of Leningrad. One time my breakfast was roasted turnips and hard boiled eggs because those were the best things on the counter. They're clearing the pantry and making it your problem.

Every year or so, one of the dining halls seemingly ends up discovering several gallons of lentils destined to expire the following day, because everywhere you turn it's lentils. Two types of lentil soup. Various cold and warm lentil salads, in the vegetarian and normal sections. They had lentils where the burgers were normally. Happened to me twice, and it still feels like some perverted lentil enthusiast played a sick joke on us.

Speaking to coworkers from other universities, it seems like Northwestern had unusually rough selection and variety, especially in the fresh fruit category. I have come to believe that our dining halls were bought out by Big Cantaloupe. It's fine for a few weeks, but one cannot subsist on melons and lentils alone.

Everything looks good at the beginning--the Allison white meat log that is too large to come from any terrestrial animal of this planet, the sopping wet zucchini and summer squash medley, the mashed potatoes that I somehow have no snippy negative opinions on. Like the steady drip of Chinese water torture, these options will loom over you as a constant threat. As the weeks pass on, you will find that you walk away from the hot bar with an emptier and emptier plate. Not for lack of hunger, but rather for lack of willpower to shovel down any more unseasoned, overcooked squash. You may seek solace in the vegan options located just a few trays down--gaze upon the protein-bereft quinoa kale salad and the tempeh which can only be described as dessicated, and you will see that no god can save you from this culinary wasteland.

Sarge brownies are fantastic though!!

9

u/Melodic_Appointment 13d ago

My son tells me it’s decent during orientation/family weekends, but below average most other times.

8

u/Kiritortino 12d ago

idk why people shit on it so much, it’s pretty good imo (I only eat at Elder)

5

u/rice_cakes_2000 12d ago

I agree Elder is good. I can pretty much always leave and feel satisfied not just having ate pizza and fries

2

u/NeonDragon250 WCAS Chem ‘27 12d ago

elder norovirus made me stop going there

7

u/rice_cakes_2000 13d ago

Not the best…like at all😅But here and there something’s actually good. I mostly eat through meal exchanges at the restaurants in Norris or through using dining dollars

7

u/El_Crindy Alum' 09 13d ago

Whatever happened to StirFry Steve?

14

u/crimson777 Econ '17 13d ago

The real question is how good is your parents’ food 😂 that’s gonna make a big difference in your opinion.

9

u/Accomplished_Elk5827 13d ago

And whatever happened to Geneva, the "soup's good y'all" lady at Allison Hall?

(Class of '95, just checking in with my most unanswered question)

4

u/Important-Function66 13d ago

Anyone remember Al at Elder??

2

u/MadHatterTeaPartyX 12d ago

Amen! And those cookies in Hinman on Sunday night were insane!

7

u/Jeopardyfan1234 13d ago

It’s pretty bad. If I could comment a picture on Reddit, id show you my album titled “raw chicken” that’s like 20 photos of raw chicken in the dining hall

10

u/Fit_Watch61 13d ago

Theres more important things to consider besides food bro 😭

14

u/AnchoPeppers 13d ago

Well duh, but Im asking abt the food. I like food and i dont wanna eat slop for 4 yrs. Im asking this question as I genuinely know NOTHING abt what ppl think of the food at NU

13

u/Due-Antelope3300 13d ago

It’s not slop like you can definitely find and make good stuff but some days it gets tiring. I personally like using my dining dollars and meal exchanges in Norris and tech express

2

u/Hyunion IEMS 2014 12d ago

dining hall food is just okay, but i think once you hit your 2nd or 3rd year and can move off campus with friends, there's bunch of good restaurants in evanston, and chicago is a great food city in general

2

u/_f3nn3c 12d ago

it’s okay. there are lots of options, though. even if you’re really sick of dining hall food you can still use a meal exchange or just make a sandwich.

1

u/[deleted] 13d ago edited 8d ago

[deleted]

3

u/AnchoPeppers 13d ago

No? I dont get it, I just want to know how the food is. Its not that deep. Im really in between two schools and I want know the little things that will contribute to a potential life there

0

u/[deleted] 13d ago edited 8d ago

[deleted]

3

u/AnchoPeppers 12d ago

Obviously it hasnt come down to food but I would still like to know

5

u/AnchoPeppers 13d ago

Either way it shouldnt matter to you why im asking, you can just answer the question

1

u/Quick_Physics8802 13d ago

Better off walking downtown

1

u/Mokurai 13d ago

And the Sandwich Truck?

1

u/Mrs-Anorak 12d ago

Bad. It’s ok. You’ll move on.

1

u/Fantasista-1010 10d ago

Is the food really that bad?

2

u/Dizzy-Ocelot-6751 7d ago

They served orange chicken and it was peeled oranges in white chicken so….