WeRateDiningHalls: Part 1

“We should grab a meal sometime!”
“Totally! Which dining hall do you want to go to?”

Arguably (and largely in my opinion) the most iconic thing about Yale is our 14 residential college dining halls. Yes, you heard that right. We have 14 dining halls not including other places to eat on campus like Commons, the Elm, Ramen at Becton, or Steep Cafe. And so, it goes without saying that all of us Yalies should be very grateful for Yale Hospitality and in honor of that appreciation, I think it only seems fitting to rate all the 14 dining halls.

Two things to note:

  1. I am biased to Pauli Murray and Davenport. I just LOVE the vibes of these two dining halls and it will be very hard to change my mind on that matter.
  2. Because I don’t believe in negatively rating the dining halls, I instead will be using the WeRateDogs rating method. If you haven’t heard of WeRateDogs, go check out their Instagram (it’s too amazing and too cute not to)

Morse College

Morse College dining hall with light wooden tables, red ax sign on wall, and students eating.

This is Morse. It’s the other half of Stiles or its sibling one can say. Since pitting family against one another is never a good idea, I will consider Morse and Stiles as equals - as twins. Placed quite literally on the other side of Stiles, Morse provides the much loved stone-hearth pizza, later dining hall hours, and a really cool red neon ax. 13/10

Ezra Stiles College

Ezra Stiles College with light wood tables, black hanging wall decor, and floor to ceiling windows

This is Stiles. It’s Morse’s other half and while it does not have a neon ax, it does boast an appropriately decorated moose at all times. With natural light streaming in through its floor to ceiling windows (which Morse also has), Stiles finds a way to connect its outdoor space into its interior design. It also shares with Morse the delicious stone-hearth pizza and the convenient later dining hall hours. 13/10

Trumbull College

Trumbull dining hall with dark wood tables and white stone carved walls.

This is Trumbull. Its gothic architecture consisting of carved stonework on the walls and intricate woodwork is simply stunning. However, while the alcoves along its walls hold a personal spot in my heart (shoutout to my friend Anette), it is on the smaller end of the dining halls. 11/10

Davenport College

Davenport dining hall. Wood tables with red cushioned seats. Large windows on the wall.

This is Davenport. Immediately gaining a lot of (biased) bonus points for being one of my top two favorite dining halls on campus, Davenport’s dining hall is what I consider “subtly grand.” With a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, windows facing the college’s large courtyard, and beautifully carved wood details on its walls, Davenport will never not be one of my favorites. Plus, Davenport almost always serves pasta in addition to the other items on the menu. 14/10

Pierson College

Pierson dining hall with white walls and dark colored wooden tables.

This is Pierson. It immediately differentiates itself from the “traditional” styles of the other dining halls with its white walls and arched windows, almost to the point of making it feel like you’re not at Yale when you’re eating there. On Wednesdays, Pierson continues to set itself apart by offering breakfast for dinner. 12/10

Grace Hopper College

Grace Hopper College decorated for Christmas.

This is Grace Hopper. Given its smaller size, Hopper definitely has a more homey, more intimate atmosphere. With two fireplaces, columned arches, and wood-paneled ceilings, Hopper’s dining hall architecture is one to beat. Hopper is also known for its themed nights and beautiful decor (pictured is the college’s Christmas decor last year) . Most recently, it even hosted a Harry Potter themed dinner. *In Dumbledore’s voice: 12 points for Hopper! 12/10

Timothy Dwight College

Timothy Dwight College full of students enjoying dinner.

This is Timothy Dwight. Its weathered ceiling beams, chandeliers, and long wooden tables definitely give the dining hall charming character. During rush dinner hour (as seen in the photo above), you’ll find TD full of lively chatter. Big plus, TD also has a “Build Your Own Pasta” station every Friday. 11/10

Once again, these ratings came about from personal opinion and from speaking with some fellow Yalies. Do they align with your own? Stay tuned for part two of WeRateDiningHalls!