DINING SERVICES

Nutrition, satisfaction, and convenience are all top priorities of the unparalleled dining experience at Mercyhurst Dining facilities. Guests can enjoy diverse menus, including from-scratch cooking and fresh, locally sourced foods, and coupled with our friendly service, dining at Mercyhurst is truly more than just a meal. Our Laker students and community value quality, variety, and hospitality, and we offer it all in a meal plan that makes sense.

All-Inclusive Residence Life and Dining Student Experience

Mercyhurst offers an all-inclusive room and board approach that provides a better dining program at more affordable rates for the average student. Students living on campus have unlimited, anytime access to dining in Grotto Commons and the 501 Grille. This approach allows Mercyhurst to curb escalating dining costs for students and preserve affordability across their undergraduate experience, while also providing them with on-campus dining options that are better suited to meet their needs.

All-inclusive room/board rates for the 2022-2023 academic year are as follows:

Residence Hall	Cost Per Semester
Warde Hall (2 Person) Ryan Hall Lewis & 41st Street Townhouses	$7,650
Warde Hall (3 person, limited availability) Warde Townhouses Duval Apartments	$7,140
Baldwin Hall McAuley Hall Briggs/Lewis Apartments (3 person)	$6,375
Briggs/Lewis Apartments (4 person)	$5,610

This pricing structure places Mercyhurst room and board and dining costs on par with or more affordable than those at similar 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.

Seniors and commuters can choose from a variety of à la carte meal plan options, including block plans and Dining Dollar plans. Consult the Housing and Meal plan section of the Hub for additional details.

Modern 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 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 healthy options. Lakers are always on the go, and sometimes your schedules limit your availability at traditional meal times. Our flexible venue schedules means you can access the full complement of dining options and time-appropriate breakfast/lunch/dinner menus.

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.

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 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 seven major allergens. Accepts cash, meal plans, Dining Dollars, Bonus Bucks, and credit cards.

Hours of Operation

Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.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 Hershey's and Perry’s ice cream. Accepts cash, meal plans, Dining Dollars, Bonus Bucks, and credit cards.

Firehouse Grille: American grilled classics with a concept of smokin’ hot rubs and fire sauces.
Slo Smok BBQ: A variety of slow-smoked food including brisket, pulled meats, chicken, pork, slow-smoked sauces, and sides including baked beans, mac salad, corn bread and more!
Billy’s Coop House: Fried or grilled chicken options for lunch and dinner.
Hello Bistro: Fresh made salads and dressings
Corner Mercantile: Hand-crafted sandwiches with big flavors.
Leaf & Grain: A crafted bowl concept with a mix of greens, grains, and proteins.
Pastasciutta: Fresh pasta with signature sauces.
Hot Tomato Pizza: Neighborhood favorite pizzas.
Cinco Cantina: A variety of taco bowls, quesadillas, chips, cheese, and more.

Hours of Operation

Weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Retail Dining Venues

The Roost Express

Located on the lower level of the Herrmann Student Union, The Roost Express provides a fast mobile order dining experience with specialties in breakfast and lunch. This is an excellent area for our commuter students to study and relax. Accepts the GET app, cash, Dining Dollars, Bonus Bucks, and credit cards.

For breakfast, you can enjoy fresh-made breakfast sandwiches, burritos for breakfast on the go, and omelets crafted three ways. For lunch, we offer chicken sliders, a hand-battered fish sandwich, The Rooster chicken sandwich, classic cheeseburgers, chicken wings, salads, and appetizers.

On The Go options include specialty prepared sandwiches, salads, fruit cups, yogurt parfaits, and more!

Hours of Operation

Weekdays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Roost

Mercyhurst’s Irish heritage is celebrated at the Roost, a full-service, restaurant-style pub serving traditional Irish fare.

The Roost includes a bar and restaurant staffed by employees of the university’s food service vendor, Parkhurst Dining, as well as an adjacent conversational area with a rustic stone fireplace anchored by plush leather couches. Named “The Playwright Snug,” this area features pictures of famous playwrights adorning the walls along with eclectic items of Irish memorabilia.

Besides house cocktails like the Irish Mule and the Shamrock, the Roost has both draught and bottled beers along with wine. The menu offers reuben keg tots, fish and chips, the Roost burger, an assortment of create-your-own sandwiches, and much more, including decadent desserts like churros, cheesecake with Bailey's fudge or cherries, and traditional Irish coffee.

The pub is open to all guests, but will only serve alcohol to those 21 and older. Accepts the GET app, cash, Dining Dollars, Bonus Bucks, and credit cards.

Hours of Operation

Monday through Thursday, from 4 to 10 p.m.
Friday, from 11 a.m. to midnight
Saturday, from noon to midnight
Sunday, from 4 to 10 p.m.

For reservations, please call 814-824-3637 or email mfoxall@parkhurstdining.com.

Anchor Express (in Ryan Hall)

Located in Ryan Hall, Anchor Express is open to all students and offers convenient grab-and-go food and grocery items.

Accepts the GET app, cash, meal plans, Dining Dollars, Bonus Bucks, and credit cards .This store also accepts "Swipe at Night" from 9 p.m. to close.

Features include:

Starbucks coffee, including specialty drinks and Frappuccinos.
Cinco Cantina with tacos, bowls, burritos, and salads.
Fresh-made personal pizzas, deli wraps, and sandwiches.
Ben & Jerry’s pints and ice cream novelties.
Fresh-baked pastries and desserts.
Variety of sandwiches, salads, and fruit.
Variety of snacks and candies.
Assorted bottled beverages.
Health and beauty aids.

Hours of Operation

Sunday through Thursday, from 2 p.m. to midnight
Friday and Saturday, from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Bookstore Cafe

Located in the Mercyhurst Bookstore, the Bookstore Café is a great place to enjoy coffee and snacks while studying or visiting with friends.

Accepts the GET app, cash, Dining Dollars, Bonus Bucks, and credit cards.

Features include:

Starbucks coffee, including specialty drinks and Frappuccinos.
Fresh-baked pastries.
Variety of sandwiches.
Variety of snacks and candies.
Local, fresh-made bagels.
Assorted bottled beverages.

Hours of Operation

Weekdays, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Other Services

Hello Hurst Meal Kit

Be your own chef. Each Hello Hurst Meal Kit contains two servings of ingredients ready to be prepared by you at home! Order through the GET app, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and our chefs will prepare your customized Hello Hurst Meal Kit to be picked up that day at The Roost until closing time. Juniors may order one kit per week using the Erie Anytime Meal Plan through the GET app. All others may purchase the kit using the GET app with payments of credit card, Dining Dollars, and Bonus Bucks.

Anchor Bag

No time to get to a local grocery store? Let us take the stress out of shopping for you! Choose from more than 100 items in our Anchor Bag shopping cart. From fresh whole fruit to snacks and toiletries, you will have access to all of your grocery needs without ever leaving campus. This option is for juniors with the Erie Anytime Meal Plan and can be ordered through the GET app.