Hey everyone! I'm Cooper from Wayne, Pennsylvania, which is right outside of Philadelphia. I am a '28 here at Dartmouth, and plan on studying Government and Quantitative Social Science. In my free time, I love getting food with friends, playing pickleball, watching sitcoms (personal favorite is Modern Family), and going on walks. I am super excited to be here and cannot wait to take you along my journey at Dartmouth!
People always ask what the Dartmouth food is like. Is it edible? Is there a wide variety of options? What's the best food there? I am here to answer all of the burning questions regarding our main dining hall, Foco.
Foco, formally known as The Class of 1953 Commons, is the main spot on campus to eat. Now, the first question I always get when telling people about our dining hall is if the food is edible. The short answer is absolutely yes! Although some might say that this experience varies from person to person, I do think that most people at Dartmouth can agree that the food at Foco is edible—and is in fact very good quality. I also believe that there is a wide range of options for people at Foco, which allows for everyone to find what they need in order to enjoy their meal.
The pizza and pasta station at Foco!
This leads me into the next common question I get: Is there a good variety? As I said above, there most definitely is! There is an online menu where students can look at what is being served everyday, and as you can see, there are simply so many options that cater towards everyone's needs! There's a vegan and vegetarian station, a kosher station, an A9 station (where all food is free of the top 9 allergens), a grill, and so much more! Although I will admit that sometimes the food can get repetitive at each station, there is certainly enough variety to make each meal different! Also, if you are not really interested in any of the food being offered on a certain day, there are so many other options around campus, such as Novack Cafe, Courtyard Cafe, Ramekin Cafe, The Fern, or Collis Cafe; they have sushi, smoothies, sandwiches, paninis, salads, and even more beyond that! There will almost certainly be a place on campus that caters to your cravings.
And finally, what is the best food at Foco? Of course, this is just an opinion, but it is undeniable that any of the baked goods are simply to die for. Specifically, the Foco cookies are a fan favorite, and they 100% live up to the hype. They are always perfectly warm, chewy, and have the perfect dough to chocolate ratio. Beyond the baked goods, I highly recommend the chicken nuggets and grilled cheese sandwiches. They are actually addicting. The salad bar is incredible and has a lot of variety in the toppings which is great! And I firmly believe that the vegan and vegetarian station has some amazing options that really cater well to the people on these diets. Even though I am not vegan or vegetarian, I find myself getting food from this station daily!
The amazing Foco cookie station!
Although dining halls in general typically have bad reputations, I firmly believe that Foco is incredible and has some amazing options for everyone!
As a second-year at Dartmouth, I've embraced leadership roles that foster community, creativity, and support! Here's a look at how each role has shaped my journey.
