Like any other first-year student in college, one of the biggest things I was worried about before starting college was the food. I wondered if I would have options, if the choices would be good, and if I would be able to get used to eating at dining halls every single day. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised by the dining halls here at Cornell! The first dining hall I tried was Morrison Dining Hall, one of the two main ones on North Campus. I had a good first impression, there were many options, and I really enjoyed the salad and pizza. However, I was still worried about how my experience at the dining halls would change over time. Since my first day, and after being here for two months, I’ve also tried: North Star, Rose House, Risley Dining, and Okenshields.

Each dining hall has their unique traits and food experiences, but my favorite one is North Star. I enjoy the homey feeling of the dining area, and I absolutely love their fries (I get some every time I go there). In my opinion, every section at North Star has good food. They always have delicious pizza and pasta as well as good international food options. My favorite is the “bowl” section (which some people call a Chipotle copycat), which always has fresh vegetables and delicious chips. Another thing I love about North Star is their “create” bar. It changes every few weeks, but it’s usually mac & cheese, pho, ramen, or baked potatoes. Their weekend menus are also always amazing; the Sunday brunch is something I look forward to every week. I go to North Star anytime I can!

Even though I love North Star, the other dining halls are also very enjoyable. Morrison has consistent and good breakfasts. Okenshields, which can be busy during lunchtime because of its central location, has great Asian food (I prefer going there for dinner for a quieter experience). Since I’m living on North Campus, I haven't frequented many of the dining halls on West Campus yet, but the one that I did try was great. The night I went to Rose House Dining, I got Birria Ramen and nachos. It was so good that I cleared the plate! Finally, I can’t talk about Cornell University dining without talking about the Cornell Dairy Bar. Cornell ice cream is objectively the best, and there’s ice cream at every dining hall. There’s usually a line for it, but that’s just because it’s so good. I’m very grateful for the variety of food and options at our dining halls, and I’m looking forward to trying them all!