DINING SERVICES

At all of our Mercyhurst Dining facilities, we strive to offer unparalleled dining experiences for our guests while keeping student nutrition, satisfaction, and convenience as top priorities. We offer diverse menus, from-scratch cooking, fresh locally sourced foods, and friendly service to make dining at Mercyhurst more than a meal.

Over the past couple years, as we’ve conducted focus groups and comment sessions with student groups and campus community members, it became clear that Lakers prize quality, variety, and hospitality — all in a meal plan that won’t slow you down. 

All-Inclusive Residence Life and Dining Student Experience

Beginning with incoming first-year residential students in Fall 2020, Mercyhurst has introduced an all-inclusive room and board approach that provides a better dining program at more affordable rates for the average student. 

Whereas old “block” meal plans limited students’ access to on-campus dining facilities, students living on campus now have unlimited, anytime access to dining in Grotto Commons and the 501 Grille. This approach allows Mercyhurst to curb escalating dining costs, preserving affordability across students’ undergraduate experiences while also providing students with on-campus dining options that are better suited to meet their needs.

For freshmen living on campus beginning in Fall 2020, all-inclusive rates for 2020-2021 are:

This pricing structure places Mercyhurst room and board and dining costs on par with or more affordable than those at peer institutions — all while delivering more options, more flexibility, and greater convenience. This new approach also ensures all students have access to campus dining, helping to alleviate food insecurity concerns among some vulnerable student populations, with the university has directed additional financial aid to students with demonstrated financial need.

Current upperclassmen, transfer students, and commuters can choose from a variety of à la carte meal plan options, including block plans and Dining Dollar plans. Consult the Dining Services section of the Hub for additional details.

Improved On-Campus Dining Experience

Along with all-inclusive room and board, we’ve also invested in improving the campus dining program, so Lakers can get the most out of their unlimited dining experience. These improvements include expanded hours, more flexible order-ahead and grab-and-go options, and greater variety in offerings. Based on student feedback, we’ve revamped our menus to give you more of the foods you like, including more healthier options. 

Lakers are always on the go, and sometimes your schedules limit your availability at traditional meal times. Our new near round-the-clock schedule in Grotto Commons means you can access the full complement of dining options and time-appropriate breakfast/lunch/dinner menus every day from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Grotto Commons will also offer a special late-night menu with popular comfort foods, like mozzarella sticks and fries. You can also use the dining app to take advantage of the new order-ahead service in the 501 Grille, and easily get your meal to go. 

As you progress through your Mercyhurst education, your Res Life and Dining experience grows with you. As part of your meal plan in your third and/or fourth years, you’ll have access to flexible options each week to make use of your growing independence and the kitchen and food prep areas in your campus residences. These options include a weekly pantry box, with student-favorite staples to stock the fridge and cupboards in your campus residence, or a convenient meal prep kit, with ingredients so you can prepare and cook a delicious meal with enough for you and up to two friends or roommates. These options are also available for students who opt into the Platinum Plan. 

Under this program, your on-campus dining venues will become your kitchen, your coffee bar, your study group meetup spot, and your late-night hangout. No more deciding whether it’s worth a swipe just to grab a coffee — stop by anytime for a full meal, a quick snack to go, a morning pick-me-up, or a late-night snack. Although COVID-19 has delayed many of these new features, as restrictions begin to ease in Fall 2021, students will see these improvements come to full fruition.

Primary Campus Dining Venues

Grotto Commons Dining Hall

Grotto Commons is an all-you-care-to-eat dining facility. Grotto Commons is our largest food facility on campus, and is located in Egan Hall. Grotto Commons has seven food stations, including: the Daily Dish, the main serving line filled with a variety of comfort foods; the Oven, which serves hand-tossed, homemade pizza baked in our stone oven; Bravissimo, our chef-run station that prepares restaurant-style dishes right before your eyes; the Grill station, which has hand-pressed burgers and fresh-cut fries daily, along with a rotation of several different menu items; the Deli, offering a variety of freshly sliced meats and cheeses that you can get baked or pressed; the Salad Bar, with more than 70 items prepared fresh each day; and the Clean Plate, which caters to guests with allergies and food sensitivities. Equipped with its own certified kitchen, the Clean Plate offers a diverse menu with items that are free of the eight major allergens. Accepts meal plans, Dining Dollars, Bonus Bucks and credit cards. Cash transactions are temporarily suspended until further notice.

Hours of Operation: Daily from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

501 Grille

The 501 Grille is our all-you-care-to-eat location in Ryan Hall. The 501 Grille serves restaurant-style dishes prepared in our European kitchen. A smoker, rotisserie, authentic wok, grills, and a fryer create the base for our menu selection, with five service points surrounding the equipment allowing for Asian-inspired dishes, smoked wings, pasta, or burgers. Enjoy the salad bar with two daily soups, as well as a full dessert bar featuring Perry’s ice cream. Accepts meal plans, Dining Dollars, Bonus Bucks, and credit cards. Cash transactions are temporarily suspended until further notice. 

Hours of Operation: Weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.