<p>We visited lots of schools and Bates has the nicest dining hall and by far the best food. Muhlenberg was second in food. Some others were terrible. </p>
<p>When I say by far, I really mean it.</p>
<p>Both my boys are in college - my younger son attends Bates. It almost seems silly to send him a care package with food since he has everything he could ever want (and then some) at Bates. He really loves just about everything but the food is way up the list.</p>
<p>One thing I love about the food at Bates is that the dining commons has a lot of really healthy food-fresh fruit, yoghurt, fresh (and not overcooked) veggies. They do things like make a vegetable pizza on whole wheat crust that’s among the best pizza I’ve had and a squash dish served at last year’s parent’s weekend that was so good I requested the recipe. They source as much as possible locally and the cooks serve the meal so they get to see first hand what the kid do and don’t like and get real-time feedback. The food is unlimited so kids can go back for whatever they like.</p>
<p>I attended Bates and I have to say the school’s food has come a looooong way since the 80’s when the highlight of the week was chicken nuggets (limited to 6!)</p>
<p>Son is a senior and I haven’t sent one care package. It is just not necessary. </p>
<p>My son especially likes the Vegan bar. </p>
<p>We are going up to visit him this coming weekend so we can take a bunch of his friends out to dinner - since he has been taken out by their parents. I even baked chocolate chip cookies because I baked them for my friend from England daughter when we went to see her play soccer earlier this yr. (she plays D1) and my kid <em>jokingly</em> said that sure I baked for some friend’s kid but never for him. He will be very surprised. </p>
<p>During fall break my son and some friends did a 24-hour card game marathon to raise money for a local childrens hospital. He told me they ate supper twice during that period–once when Commons opened for that meal and and once just before it closed. So not only is the food good, if you need to eat a meal twice, you can.</p>
<p>We visited for parents weekend. We picked our son up on Sunday morning to take him to the LL Bean flagship store for his birthday. He ate breakfast in Commons before we picked him up (he LOVES breakfast). We dropped him off 2-3 hours later at Commons for breakfast #2. He LOVES the unlimited meal plan. I’m amazed he’s not 800 lbs. My other son - not at Bates - is very envious of his brother’s meal plan. On the other hand, I DO send food care packages to him.</p>
<p>My son does complain about getting something to eat really late at night (after 1am) and Lewiston/Auburn closes up pretty early. It’s Domino’s pizza or nothing. But that is his problem not mine. 
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<p>Unlimited meal plans make it much easier for the parents, too. No trying to figure out how many meals to purchase to meet your kid needs. </p>
<p>The unlimited aspect is great, the facility is great but the quality is so so much better. Most schools the food is terrible .We have very spoiled when it comes to food so thank god the food at Bates is so good. And as a runner he eats a lot and often.</p>
<p>Most schools use food service company like Aramark. The Bates dining is run solely by the college and the chefs and other kitchen staff are employees of the college. And as Sue22 mentioned they source from local farms so a lot what is served is truly farm to table. </p>
<p>I have also heard wonderful things about Bowdoin’s food. </p>
<p>Since this is a thread about good food - we made reservations for Saturday night at Marche Kitchen & Wine Bar on Lisbon Street. It used to be open only for lunch but now does brunch and dinner and is open until 11pm. Menu looks lovely and I’ll let everyone know what we think of it. Very reasonable prices, too. $14 most expensive entree. </p>
<p>Wonderful dinner at Marche Kitchen last night. We were a party of six and so could get reservations. It’s small so w/o reservations you would probably have to wait. Intersesting menu snd food was delicious. All locally sourced. We had two table appetizers, bottle of wine, H had specialty beer, plus entrees - and the bill was only $126!!! To full for dessert but they looked yum. </p>
<p>Thanks Emily for that tip. We’ll check it out next time we’re there</p>
<p>I’m a (newly converted) vegan visiting Bates right now and the food is so good! I spent four days at Bowdoin earlier this fall and I wasn’t expecting this much gourmet goodness at Bates. Vegan cookies <3. </p>