College kids are notorious for being food-focused, but where are the best places to eat on Duke campus?
“The Great Hall based on Monday’s sales is the most popular dining venue on campus,” Rick Johnson, assistant vice president of student affairs, wrote in an email. “They double the sales of their nearest competitor, The Loop.”
Johnson mentioned that The Loop is especially popular at night, and it is the most popular campus eatery on Saturdays.
“The Perk, The Refectory and Pitchfork Provisions also do very well during the day,” Johnson said.
Although these may be the most popular eateries, there are several other places where Dukies can go to stuff their faces.
Classy date venues:
If you don’t want to spend a month’s worth of food points impressing a girl at the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club, consider going to Plate and Pitchfork, where you can get anything from lobster macaroni and cheese to gourmet salads and burgers. They also have a variety of vegetarian options.
The Terrace Cafe in the Duke Gardens is also great for a classy lunch date, with an array of sandwiches, baked goods and ice cream. They do close occasionally for weather, so call before you head over. Nonetheless, this cafe is always a good excuse to get out and discover the Gardens.
Graduate school dining:
Branch out and discover different parts of campus while discovering delicious food. There are two Refectories, one at the Divinity School and one in the Law School. Both are only open for breakfast and lunch, but are worth the trek.
“The brunch at The Refectory is one of the best in town,” wrote Johnson.
If you’re taking a class in Gross Chemistry, the Refectory at Duke Law School and Sanford Deli are actually your closest dining options, so check them out sometime.
Freshman tips:
The Great Hall accepts freshman breakfast swipes, so if you want to break free of your morning routine, head over to West Campus for some fresh pancakes, among other delectable breakfast food.
The Freeman Center also accepts freshman dinner swipes. Thursday’s are known for their macaroni and cheese, but try to go on other days too—the food is always mouthwatering. They also have several vegetarian options.
Johnson’s current favorite: “an omelet in The Marketplace.” Freshmen, take advantage of it while you can.
Caffeine fixes:
Watch out coffee-lovers: there’s a Starbucks in the Duke University Hospital, and they accept food points!
If you’re too lazy to make the trek to the hospital, there’s always Twinnie's in the Engineering Quad that brews Starbucks coffee.
Another student favorite Joe Van Gogh. They sell everything you would expect a coffee shop to sell, including fresh pastries. For those on a budget, they also sell day-old pastries, which are cheaper and almost as yummy.
And for the desperate 4 A.M. coffee run when all of the buses are shut down so you can’t get to McDonald’s, Duke has one best-kept coffee secret: vending machines. There are a couple of dorms on East Campus, Bassett included, that sell bottled Starbucks Frapuccinos and double-shots. They are both larger and cheaper than anywhere else on campus, and you get to watch a relatively high-tech vending machine spit out your bottled coffee at you.
The point:
Whether you’re a carnivore or a vegan, there are over 30 places to eat on campus that will offer something for you. As to which one is the best?
“Each restaurant is unique and offers something different,” noted Johnson. “So it would be unfair to recommend one.”
So you can pour over all of the statistics you want, but the only way to really know is to embark on a foodventure and find out for yourself.
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