On Jan. 10, 2016, the College of Charleston opened their brand-new, kosher, vegan and vegetarian dining hall, Marty’s Place. It seems odd to have a dining hall so specific to one food specialty, but it happened, and I decided I needed to check it out.

It’s not like a typical dining hall where you swipe in at the front and get all you can eat. It’s like an actual café -- you tell the cashier what you want off the menu above, and they call your name out when it’s ready. The line is long or short depending on the time of day. You can get a la carte or do a combo, and you can pay with cash, dining dollars or a meal swipe.

I have a dairy allergy, so eating out (whether a restaurant or a dining hall) is always challenging for me. Thankfully, since all the food is vegan or vegetarian, it made my eating experience awesome. I was able to pick any dish off the menu with no worries, and that never happens for me. The portions are small but mighty. Being a foodie, I may or may not have gotten two combos the first time to taste as much as I could. They have a soup of the day and a hummus of the day, which all taste different but are all delicious. Everything is served with pita bread, and who doesn’t love pita bread? There are flavored waters, tea and lemonade, and the lemonade is more on the tangy side with just enough sugar.

Marty’s Place emphasizes buying local produce and composting. The décor is modern and sleek. It has wrap-around windows, so it’s very bright and it feels very open. I would also like to point out that because there are no fried foods, you won’t leave smelling like other dining halls. But in all honesty, my favorite stylistic choice is that in the bathrooms, the toilets aren’t automatic flushing ones. Why bring that up? Because they really thought about every detail in this place. Everyone hates automatic flush toilets, and they kept that in mind. Thank you, Marty.

Best dish: Black Bean Torta. The coconut chipotle mayo adds just enough spice. You can get it on a wrap or a bun, but either way, it’s delicious.

Worst dish: Mexican Quinoa Salad. I’m not sure if you know, but putting corn and black beans on a bed of kale does not make it “Mexican.” It makes it sad. There was also a lack of dressing, but it was definitely a super-food salad.

Try this side dish: Vegan mac 'n cheese. It’s perfect for people like me who dream about cheese all day, like me.

Overall rating: 8/10. Marty’s Place has small yet delicious portions, and it has a hipster vibe. If you want to be healthy this semester, this is definitely the place for you!

Their menu is available here.