The Power of a Meal Swipe (during Lunch)

For breakfast or dinner, a Yalie’s meal swipe is good in any of the 14 residential college dining halls. At lunchtime, however, the options expand to include Commons, the Bow Wow, and Steep Café. Wherever you are, and whenever you want it, you can grab a lunch that fits your schedule and preferences. Below is a brief overview of how far a lunch swipe can take you at Yale (as of fall 2021).

1. Commons

Located across from the Beinecke Library, Commons is a popular gathering spot. A lunch swipe at Commons means a warm entrée from one of the four food stations: Rooted, Pasta e Basta, Rostir, and Lotus. Whether you want an Asian inspired meal, comforting rotisserie chicken, good ol’ pasta, or need more vegetables in your diet, you are guaranteed to find what you are looking for. If you ever get bored, no worries; the menu is constantly changing.


An empty Commons is a rare sight.

2. Bow Wow

Although the beloved Durfee’s (a convenience store by Old Campus) has retired, the Bow Wow, has taken its place as Yale’s convenience store. The grab and go options at the Bow Wow have made it a popular location for students with little time to spare for lunch. Besides house-made sushi and an assortment of salads, sandwiches, and wraps, students can load up on drinks, snacks, academic essentials, and personal care items within their $9.50 budget per swipe. If you go over, a simple card payment will take care of the balance and you’ll be on your way.

3. Steep Café

If you are a lover of cafes or have a class that is conveniently located on Science Hill, Steep Café may be the place for you. Like the Bow Wow, students have a budget of $9.50 per swipe. However, Steep Café offers students a completely different assortment of food. True to its name, Steep provides students beloved café staples like warm lattes, sandwiches, and breakfast pastries. If you are not here for the food, the view at Steep may be worth the trek. With its floor length windows, Steep provides the perfect study ambience.


My favorite item to get at Steep is the turkey Reuben!

4. Residential College Dining Halls

Lastly, we have the residential college dining halls. I’d say that the dining halls during lunch are quite similar to dinner. While the dining halls tend to be quieter during lunch, during certain days of the week, students would flock to the dining halls. Unsurprisingly so, those are the days when grilled cheese and chicken tenders are offered (remember, grilled cheese Wednesdays and chicken tender Thursdays). Unlike the other three options that I’ve listed above, there is no budget in the residential college dining halls, so with one mere lunch swipe, students can eat to their hearts’ content.

Personally, the TD dining hall has a special place in my heart, but the chance to swipe in and scour through the shelves in the Bow Wow entices me to come back several times a week. Since my schedule varies day by, I am glad that I can get lunch at Yale without stressing about making it to the dining halls.