The Ultimate Guide To Eating At UNH
Eating at UNH is easy, maybe too easy, but no matter where you go on campus you’re going to find a plethora of food options to choose from and for the most part you really can’t ever go wrong. However, there are certain tips that will make your eating life not only easier, but also more delicious. Look no further because here is the only guide you’ll need while you’re eating at UNH to ensure your meal or snack is as satisfying as possible.
Before we dive into the goodies (i.e. where to go for what food), it’s imperative that as a UNH student you have some guidance as to what meal plan is the best in order to be able to enjoy the decadent delicacies that UNH dining has to offer. Now if you’re living off-campus or in one of the on campus apartments, I wouldn’t recommend any of these three meal plans, instead your best bet would be to just pay for 50 swipes at first and then see from there if you even need more, which you probably won’t.
Premier Plan
There’s really no reason ever to get the Premier Plan, take it from someone who did freshman year and ended up with too many non-refundable dining dollars than one has any idea what to do with. Since all of the meal plans have unlimited swipes into the dining halls, I wouldn’t recommend paying extra for this plan.
Campus Plan
Now if you’re looking to spend a little more money because you plan to have a good amount of guests, want to use a lot of meal exchanges at Union Court, or plan to spend $200 a semester worth of dining dollars, then the campus plan could be a good option. The only benefit to paying a little more for this “in between” meal plan would be that you can use more guest swipes and have more meals to go and meal exchanges.
Core Plan
The core plan is the most basic option of all three and probably the best bang for your buck. You get the same unlimited meals in the dining halls as with the Premier and Campus plans, which is the whole point of a meal plan, am I right? However, a drawback is that you only get two guest passes which can be a little tricky if you plan to have a lot of friends visiting and eating with you in the dining halls throughout the year.
Now let’s get to the good stuff…. the food itself!
Holloway Commons
Definitely the biggest and probably the busiest of all, Hoco offers a wide variety of specialty foods and nightly specials that you don’t want to miss! With its central location and convenient hours, there’s never a bad time to stop in and grab something to eat (except of course during the weekday dinner rush when the lines can become quite long). Some of my favorites include Monday night sushi, Tuesday night build-your-own spring roll, and made-to-order egg scramble on the weekend mornings at the stir-fry station.
Stillings
Although Stillings might be the smallest of all the dining halls, it should not be ranked beneath any of the others. In fact, it should be ranked at the top (or so would say anyone who’s ever lived in Stoke, Jessie Doe, Adams Tower, or any other places nearby). The food is not as versitle here as at Hoco, but you can always count on them to have French fries, hot dogs, burgers, and salad. Those are the classics most freshmen are eating at UNH. Come by Friday afternoons before they close at 2pm for the savory bread bowl soup buffet, on Mondays for the spicy buffalo chicken, or when they reopen on Sunday for a chicken wing dinner to kick off your week.
Philbrook
Craving some late night goodies? Then Philbrook, better known as Philly, is worth the trek across campus to the freshman dorms. All that unhealthy, but oh so delicious food you’re craving while finishing that paper is easily attained Monday-Wednesday during “late night”. Also known for their all day breakfast and sandwich station, come here for the homiest feel of all the dining halls while enjoying good company with good food.
Wild Kitty
Of course the dining halls have to close at some point, but when that happens there’s always Wild Kitty. Stocked full of snacks, groceries, soft drinks, and pre-made sandwiches, salads, and sushi you’re guaranteed to find something that fits what your craving. It’s also great if you’re eating at UNH on the go. But wait, there’s more… one of the best components of this establishment is its grill where you can order the infamous waffle fries, mozzarella sticks, or anything else on its fast food-like menu until 1 AM every night of the week. However, you’ll have to use your Cats Cache or Dining Dollars here.
Union Court
An ideal place for lunch, Union is open Monday-Thursday from 11AM-2PM offering a wide variety of options. If you’re in the mood for a salad overflowing with every topping imaginable, a burrito that rivals Chipotle, or maybe just a refreshing smoothie then Union Court has you covered. You can use meal exchanges, swipes, dining dollars, or cats cache to purchase these goodies, but just be sure to get there early because by the time 11 rolls around the line is already pretty long.
UNH Dairy Bar
Located next to the Whitt, the Dairy Bar is your ideal spot if you’re in the mood for some decadent ice cream or even just a fresh and filling meal that isn’t from a dining hall. With its easy to access location from all parts of campus, the Dairy Bar is the spot to go especially on warm spring and fall days when you can enjoy your meal or desert on one of the many picnic tables right outside. Use your dining dollars or cats cache here as well, and enjoy every bite of the Dairy Bar’s scrumptious offerings.
