One of the biggest adjustments first-year students will have to make while transitioning from high school to university is the hours spent at school. While spending long days on campus, it’s important to keep food and nutrition in mind.
There are many options to eat on campus, but there are also many factors to consider, and three of the most important food factors as a student are how long it will take to order and eat there, how much it will cost to eat there, and where it is on campus.
Rooster’s
Location: Fourth floor University Centre
Wait time: less than 10 minutes
Average cost: Less than $7
A great place to go, this Carleton University Students’ Association business is a coffee shop and a healthier option for fast-food. Student employees are always friendly and fast, and the food is always fresh and relatively inexpensive. Seating is comfortable and well-organized, Rooster’s is a good place to go for more casual group meetings or to get some schoolwork done between classes.
Mike’s Place
Location: Second floor University Centre
Wait time: Less than 10 minutes
Average cost: $7 to $15
One of the two bars on campus, Mike’s Place offers a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as a flavourful East-Indian inspired menu. Mike’s Place is a Graduate Students’ Association business, however students of all faculties and years are welcomed. Although it’s a bar, it’s not too loud and can be a good place to go if you’d like to have a beer while doing a final edit of your paper.
Oliver’s (Ollie’s)
Location: First floor University Centre
Wait time: 10-15 minutes
Average cost: $7 to $15
Ollie’s is the undergraduate bar on campus and is often fairly busy and loud. It’s a fun place to go between classes to grab a bite to eat and catch up with friends, but is a little more difficult to get schoolwork done.
Baker’s
Location: Fourth floor University Centre
Wait time: 30 minutes or more
Average cost: $15 to $25
Our only full restaurant on campus, Bakers is a nice place to eat when you have a long break between classes and don’t want fast food. Breakfast at Bakers is served until 10:30 a.m. and consists of a variety of options at $6 each, however lunch and dinner are significantly more expensive considering drinks and tips.
Tim Hortons
Location: Fourth floor University Centre, first floor University Centre, Residence Commons, Alumni Hall, Athletics, and first floor River Building.
Wait time: 10-15 minutes
Average cost: Less than $7
Inexpensive coffee, donuts, and snacks. River Building location offers a larger selection of foods and tends to have the shortest wait times.
Starbucks
Location: Fourth floor University Centre and first floor MacOdrum Library.
Wait time: 10-15 minutes
Average cost: Less than $7
Usually fairly busy at both locations. Starbucks on campus offers the same selection as off-campus Starbucks locations and is just as expensive.
Second Cup
Location: First floor Canal Building.
Wait time: less than 10 minutes.
Average cost: less than $7.
Great selection of specialty drinks and coffees priced higher than Tim Hortons and Rooster’s but lower than Starbucks. Often not busy at all.
Bent Coin
Location: Fifth floor Robertson Hall
Wait time: Less than 10 minutes
Average cost: Less than $7
A quick stop for lunch; open from 7:30am to 3:00pm the Bent Coin is one of the only places to eat on the University Drive side of campus. They offer a variety of soups and sandwiches daily.
Pizza Pizza
Location: Second floor University Centre Food Court and first floor Loeb building in the Loeb Café
Wait time: 15-30 minutes
Average cost: Less than $7
Prepared pizzas, chicken, and other fast-food options available.
Subway
Location: Second floor University Centre Food Court
Wait time: 15-30 minutes
Average cost: Less than $7
Subway on campus offers the same selection as off-campus stores with daily specials.
101’s Grill/Smoke’s Poutinerie
Location: Second floor University Centre Food Court
Wait time: 10-15 minutes
Average cost: $7 to $15
A great place to go for burgers and poutines, however it doesn’t compare with real Smoke’s Poutinerie locations as sizes are smaller and a bit more expensive.
Express Fridge/Soup to Go
Location: Second floor University Centre (Food Court), first floor Loeb building (Loeb Cafe), and West Tunnels on the way to Southam and Loeb Building (Tunnel Junction)
Wait times: Less than 10 minutes
Average cost: Less than $7
When you’re in a real rush and need to grab something to eat on the go—offers soups, sandwiches, salads, and a variety of hot and cold drinks.
Bento Sushi
Location: Second floor University Centre (Food Court).
Wait times: Less than 10 minutes
Average cost: Less than $7
Pre-made sushi packages similar to what you would find in a grocery store.
Spring Rolls GO
Location: Second floor University Centre (Food Court)
Wait times: Less than 10 minutes
Average cost: $7 to $15
One of my personal favourites on campus, quickest place to go for a warm and hearty meal such as Pad Thai, beef and broccoli, and spicy Thai red curry dishes.
The Extreme Pita
Location: Second floor University Centre (Food Court)
Wait times: Less than 10 minutes
Average cost: $7 to $15
Offers the same selection as off-campus locations and can be a healthier alternative to most offerings in the food court.
Il Forno Toscano/The Greens
Location: Second floor University Centre (Food Court) and first floor Loeb building (Loeb Café)
Wait times: Less than 10 minutes
Average cost: $7-$15
Customizable pastas and salads made fresh before your eyes. You choose your ingredients from a list of veggies, proteins, and sauces/dressings. The salads are hearty and the pastas are well sized portions.
Chef’s Shawarma
Location: Second floor University Centre (Food Court)
Wait times: Less than 10 minutes
Average cost: $7-$15
Traditional middle eastern shawarma, falafel, garlic potatoes, and hummus dishes.
Grill Works
Location: First floor Loeb building (Loeb Café)
Wait times: Less than 10 minutes
Average cost: Less than $7
Quick and fresh burgers, fries, and wraps. Loeb Café is often not very busy and as such the food ordered here is made fresh upon order.
