<p>I didn't get a chance to try it when I was visiting. I've heard the ice cream is exceptional, but what about the rest of the food? Are there lots of healthy options available? Variety? Options available for those with dietary needs? </p>
<p>Thanks :D</p>
<p>Read more here:</p>
<p><a href=“Catering FAQs & Policies – University Housing – UW–Madison”>http://www.housing.wisc.edu/dining/faqs</a></p>
<p>Thank you, but I was hoping to get some student perspectives on how the food is. It looks like Madison does a great job working with dietary restrictions and variety, but is the food that they serve good (in the opinion of the students)?</p>
<p>My daughter, a junior who lived in Chadbourne for two years, says that for the first semester it’s great—a lot of variety. But after that you might get sick of it because they rotate the same menus. All the dining halls serve pretty much the same thing. A typical breakfast at a dining hall would offer: waffles, egg station, pastry assortment, fruit and yogurt, juice, coffee, milk. The fresh fruit, salad and yogurt bar is available every day for lunch and dinner. Gordon Commons dining hall has the largest variety. Soup and sandwiches are also always available at lunch and dinner and a hot sandwich like hamburgers or chicken sandwiches with fries are available. A Mexican food bar is also available every day at lunch and dinner serving burritos, tacos, taco salads etc. There is also an Italian bar serving various types of pasta and pizza, sometimes cooked vegetables. Dinners usually have a “homestyle” section. For example they will have mac and cheese and rotisserie chicken, another day would offer a potato bar and chicken wings. Some days of the week will have an Asian stir fry station at lunch and dinner. Other days of the week the Asian station will serve other foods like curry, falafel etc. Lunch and dinner always have a dessert station full of pies, cakes, cookies, tiramisu. Daughter says they look tempting but always disappoint. Go for ice cream instead. Overall, food is OK and could be a lot worse from what she hears from friends at other schools. Oh, she says her gluten free friend always complains that there is no gluten free food available even when advertised. </p>
<p>I just finished my 3rd year in the Res Halls. I agree a lot with luvsgelato, there are a lot of choices but for the most part they are the same from day to day. If you want variety it’s sort of up to you to make it. Dining halls vary a little bit, Lakeshore has noodle bowls and fresh made sushi in Four Lakes, but only prepack sushi is sent over to Gordon’s. I think once you find out what kind of food types you like, it’s pretty easy to find that. I for one love the sub sandwiches, super nachos, and orange chicken and make your own stir fry. All food has calorie information, allergens and ingredients posted. If you need extra information the servers will usually know or find someone who does for you. I’m kinda surprised by the gluten free post, I’ve seen lots of students getting gluten free bread/buns at Four Lakes. The staff will also change gloves and use freshly washed boards/knives for both that and if you mention having an allergy to something, to prevent you from coming into contact with it. I’ve only very rarely had something I really didn’t like, it happens once in a while but not often enough for me to even think about it when i’m getting food. </p>
<p>Very few students spend more than 1 year in the dorms so it’s a matter of getting thru 1 year of institutional food. To vary things up there are a host of cheap good varied places to eat just off campus plus the food carts on or near campus. </p>
<p>Consider the variety of foods you eat at home. I’ll bet your family sees a lot of the same stuff over and over again… You go out to eat for variety. You can choose a different dining place. And- you only pay for what you choose- no subsidizing the heavy eaters, those who are there for all meals. You may look at the daily/weekly menu and decide to eat at the only place offering dish A on a certain day. You are not limited to what your mom/dad chose to cook on any given day.</p>