Unlike Tinder, not swiping right at Mount Holyoke can have immediate consequences. Routine inattention to where and what you are eating may lead to monotonous meals and unhealthy options. Listed below are the Mount Holyoke dining options, ranked based on their variety, popularity, and quality of food.
6. Ham/McGregor
Although Ham and McGregor are technically two dining halls, they tend to be lumped together because they generally offer the same limited options. Constantly seen as the campus underdogs, patrons of these building tend to either live there or stop by on their way to some form of athletic activity. The location at the edge of campus inspires less foot traffic to either, which tends to be a small bonus if you are looking for a calm Sunday brunch or gracious dinner.
5. Rockies
The North and South Rockies definitely excel with their cozy atmosphere. The attendants and holiday decorations also tend to win approval among Mount Holyoke students every year. Easily accessible in the center of campus, the only major drawbacks are the lack of variety at each meal and the fact that neither is open during the weekend, which tends to redirect students elsewhere. The eclectic water infusions, including combinations such as watermelon and cilantro, can also be seen as a positive or negative, depending on whom you are talking to.
4. Abbey-Buck
As another dining hall skirting the edge of campus, the dining hall in Abbey-Buckland is bigger and accessible to more dorms than Ham or McGregor. Typically, there will be two to three solid hot options, and with the campus’s biggest salad bar, it tends to have at least a light fare option for most people. The excess of circle tables makes it easy to socialize and the aged wallpaper definitely gives the room a certain character. The distance from the two main greens might make it a little out of reach for a quick lunch between classes, though.
3. Blanchard
Blanchard is and will always be a classic. Often many students’ default dining option, it tends to be an immensely social space. As it is open until midnight, you can always find students congregating there. Unlike the other buffet-style dining halls, however, Blanchard is unique given the system of dining dollars (and no, the $4 mozzarella sticks are rarely worth it). This can be seen as a limiting factor because the more healthy options on the menu tend to come with higher price tags and are of limited variety. Yet, there will come a point around midterms where salt and sugar are precisely what a Moho needs and grabbing something from Blanch will fit the bill.
2. Wilder
Beware, the ghosts do not keep the students away! The vegetarian-friendly option on campus is often known for its good food, whether or not meat is on the menu. As it is slightly smaller than the other dining halls at Mount Holyoke, one needs to be prepared to show up early because Wilder will almost always be full. This might be because of the array of just generally good food that comes from the kitchen. Wilder often will have options rarely seen at any of the other halls, so it is always worth checking menus online to see what the chefs plan to whip up for the day.
1. Prospect
Prospect tends to reign as a favorite among many Mount Holyoke students—mostly because of our campus goose, Jorge, but also because of the amount of options available to Mohos there. Big selling points include the breakfast bar that is often host to rotating, customizable specials, one of the best salad bars, and multiple hot options for every meal. The two spacious rooms, attached lounge, and outdoor seating allow for a larger crowd of students, most of which are willing to walk across campus to snag a spot.
Disagree with this ranking? Let me know! Remember to always keep an eye trained on Menus for an in-depth look on what's for food!
