Babson Survival Guide Part 5: Campus Dining
If there is anything you need to survive, it's the food. There is A LOT to watch out for!
Now to be fair, Babson does not have the worst food I've seen. However, there are rumors that it is one of the best in the country for food... and that's a total lie. I've dined at quite a few colleges and Babson ranks roughly in the middle at best. (You'll get sick of any cafeteria if you eat there 4 years straight, though.)
For a school of this size, there are a decent amount of options, although there is still no late-night offering. There is the main dining hall plus two smaller ones, plus two coffee shops.
Read on for details...
The meal plans
If you live on campus, you'll need a meal plan. And by "need" I mean that Babson makes you purchase one. You can choose between silver, gold, and platinum plans. Each step up is more expensive but offers more access to food.
The silver plan is the most basic and costs about $1800 per semester. You get 10 meals per week in Trim, $75 in Babson Bucks, and 15 Reynolds meals. If you don't stick around campus or do all your cooking yourself, this might be the right one for you. Otherwise...
The gold plan offers a bit more at the price of $1900 per semester. You get unlimited entry to Trim 7 days per week after 11 am, $125 in Babson Bucks, and 20 Reynolds meals. If you like to eat breakfast, DO NOT get this meal plan.
My personal recommendation is for the platinum plan, which is about $2000 per semester. You get a lot more for a similar price. You get unlimited access to Trim 7 days per week, $175 in Babson Bucks, and 25 Reynolds meals.
(Want to avoid the meal plan?)
Babson Bucks
Babson Bucks is money that is stored on your Babson OneCard (student ID) that can be used instead of cash at Reynolds, Woodys, Pandinis, and Jazzmans. You'll get some loaded on your card at the beginning of each semester depending on your meal plan. Be sure to use it all though - extra "bucks" don't carry over between semesters!
Sodexho
Sodexho is the evil company in charge of Babson's campus dining. They are a big company and service many prisons, if that gives you an idea of the cuisine...
Trim Dining Hall
Trim Dining Hall is Babson's flagship eatery. It's an "all you can eat" style buffet offering a hot line that changes at every meal, along with pizza, pasta, sandwiches, soup & salad bar, grill, cereal, stir-fry, and vegetarian lines. It sounds like a lot when it's written down, but don't be fooled. When you walk through the dining hall, there are many times when you can't find anything good.
Be sure to watch out for the desserts. There are plenty of them and you'll gain the Freshman 15 if you're not careful.
Also watch out for the Trim employees. A lot of them yell back and forth in Spanish and some are quite rude. It doesn't help the dining experience.
One good thing is that Trim now offers air conditioning, wireless internet, and a plasma TV in the back room. Sometimes it's a nice place to go and do homework all day.
*Parent's Weekend Warning* - Any weekend where prospective students and/or parents are visiting campus, Trim will be transformed into a top-notch dining facility. They offer great food to lure you in, then they go back to the same old shit. The food you had on Basically Babson Day is NOT the norm!
*Timing* - Trim gets extremely busy between 12:40 and 1:40 pm on weekdays between classes. Breakfast is rarely crowded, and dinner gets pretty crowded around 6:15 PM. If you go to eat at 12:45, just be prepared to wait in line a while.
To read more about Trim, see the Trim Complain Board and this article.
Reynold's
Reynolds is the a-la-carte cafe located in Reynolds Campus Center. It offers grilled items, sushi, sandwiches, Pizza Hut, and more. The food is pretty good, although the selection isn't huge.
You can use Babson Bucks at Reynolds. That's good because most things are overpriced, even compared to 7-11. Babson Bucks are good for whatever you get there, from a turkey sandwich to yogurt or bottled water.
You also use your "meal exchanges" at Reynolds. A meal consists of three items, one from each group below:
- Something from the grill, a sandwich, Garden Fresh salad, or Pizza Hut pizza.
- Side of fries, bag of chips, 2 cookies, or a piece of fruit.
- Small milk or fountain drink.
Just ask to use a meal when you pay, and that will save your Babson Bucks for other food.
Woody's Coffee Bar
Woody's is also in the Reynolds Campus Center, right beside the cafe. You can use your Babson Bucks there to get coffee, fruit smoothies, bagels, or muffins. Be sure to meet Woody sometime - Babson wouldn't be the same without him.
Woody's is open at 7:30 am and makes a great place to stop when you're running late for an 8 AM class.
Jazzman's
Jazzmans is the newest dining area on campus, and it's located in the lobby of Horn Library. Similar to Woody's, they serve specialty coffees and baked goods. You can use Babson Bucks there, too.
This is great when you're studying for long hours in the library and don't have time to run across campus to the dining hall.
Pandini's
Pandinis is the dining hall located in the Olin Graduate School. They offer what is quite possibly the highest quality food at Babson. There's pizza, pasta, and more. Treat yourself to Pandinis every so often and use your Babson Bucks.
Grocery stores
Babson's campus dining will only get you so far. Especially late at night (and even weekend mornings) when nothing is open. Sometimes you just need to go out and stock up on food for your room.
Luckily, there are a number of options.
First, Star Market. This supermarket is only about a mile from campus, so it's great even if you don't have a car. There is a Mobil and a Brooks Pharmacy right there, too. Click here for a map.
Second is Stop & Shop. It's a few miles down Route 9 West in Natick. It offers a vast selection and it's open 24 hours a day. Click here for a map.
Further down 9 West into the Natick/Framingham area you'll find a Wal-Mart. Click here for a map.
Whole Foods is not far either. Just go down to Washington Street and make a right.
Restaurants
Wellesley is full of dining options for every budget. You'll want to eat out or order something every night.
No surprise, Domino's Pizza is around and delivers to Babson. You can order online and I think they even accept Babson Bucks these days. Other pizza places include College Square Pizza and Papa Gino's.
Nick's is a Babson favorite, especially their buffalo chicken calzones.
Lemon Thai is popular too.
There are so many dining options we made a whole section for it: The Babson Dining Guide
< Back to Part 4 | On to Part 6 >
