Central Connecticut provides several different dining options for students, each one unique from the others. With so many options, it can be difficult to know which eatery to go to. Have no fear, this article weighs factors such as time, proximity, and food options to determine which eateries best suit you.

​Devils Den:

Devils Den is CCSU’s main commuter eatery, located in the Student Center. It is open from 10:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday. There is a wide array of food options. You can get a sandwich from SubConnection, a burger from The Grill, a rice bowl from Tres Habaneros, a smoothie from Natural! or pasta from Pizza! Pasta!. The Student Center is within close proximity to the majority of CCSU’s academic buildings, making it a great place to grab lunch either before or after class. Beware, the Den becomes packed around lunch time, so if you’re in a hurry, be sure to get there before the lunch rush!

Memorial Hall:

Memorial Hall, sometimes referred to by students as “Mem,” is one of two dining halls geared towards residents. It’s open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Friday, and from 9 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on the weekends. Residents get to eat for free at Memorial, however, commuters can still pay to eat there if they wish. It is in the center of campus, meaning it is never too far of a walk. Memorial is set up like a buffet, meaning there are many options for students to choose from. Some foods that are offered daily include: burgers, fries, salads, bagels, and soup. Other options change daily, meaning students are unlikely to get bored of the food options provided.

​Hilltop Cafe:

Hilltop is the other all-you-can-eat dining hall for residents. Once again, commuters are welcome to dine here as long as they pay upon entry. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Hilltop is named after its location, as it is all the way on the top of the hill. This means it could potentially be a far walk, unless you live in the quad or are an athlete in Kaiser. Hilltop, just like Memorial, is also buffet-style. Hilltop is slightly smaller than Memorial and opens and closes later than Memorial does. However, Memorial is open on weekends, while Hilltop is not.

​Social Sciences Grab & Go: 

Social Sciences Grab & Go is located in Ebenezer D. Bassett Hall, making it the perfect place to go if you want to grab something quickly before or after any classes you may take in that building. Bassett Hall is also located towards the center of campus, making the Grab & Go an easy walk from most on-campus locations. It’s open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The Grab & Go offers chips, salads, coffee, candy and other small items. It does not offer full meals like Devils Den, Memorial, or Hilltop, making it the perfect place to go when you’re hungry but you only have a few minutes before class begins.

​​Zime:

Zime is Central’s newest eatery. It was built in Willard-Diloreto soon after the building first opened this past January. Since Willard-Diloreto is located at the front of the campus, it may not be the ideal eating option for students living in the quad or for students just coming out of a class in Copernicus Hall. However, it’s open from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Zime offers smoothies, salads, coffee, chips, pastries and other quick options. Just like the Social Sciences Grab & Go, it is a place to go when you want a quick snack before or after class.

​Starbucks:

CCSU has a Starbucks located on the first floor of the Elihu Burritt Library. It’s open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, and from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Our on-campus Starbucks offers the same food and drink options a regular Starbucks would offer, such as coffee, tea, sandwiches and pastries. The library is within close proximity to the Student Center, Copernicus Hall, and Mid-Campus residence hall, so it is the best snacking option for students coming from any of those locations. If you’re in a rush to get to class, there is a convenient walk up window outside of the library so that students don’t even need to enter the building.

As a CCSU students, there are plenty helpful and convenient options for your snacking needs. Whether you’re off to class or have some down time, Central’s campus makes meals on-campus easy for both commuters and residents.

Editor’s Note: After this article was sent to print, it came to our attention that some dining hall schedules changed. Hilltop Cafe is now open seven days a week. Memorial Hall is no longer open on weekends. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.