Checking Out BU’s New Faculty Dining Room
Good food, good prices—and easier to pay for a working lunch
Faculty and staff can now have lunch in the Dahod Family Alumni Center’s sun-filled music and dining rooms. Photos by Cydney Scott
University faculty and staff have a new spot on campus to grab a bite and enjoy a drink—in a very familiar, and elegant, setting. And there’s a big advantage to dining here if it’s to discuss work: how you pay.
The newly-opened Faculty Dining Room is housed on the first floor of the Dahod Family Alumni Center (formerly known as the Castle). The space, adorned with the 103-year-old mansion’s ornate details and fireplaces, certainly has a different vibe than the previous faculty dining area in the George Sherman Union.
The full-service, 60-seat restaurant features soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, entrées, desserts, and even beer and wine.
Why eat here?
It’s meant to be “a gathering place in the heart of campus for our faculty to enjoy a meal and connect with one another,” says Jean Morrison, BU provost and chief academic officer. “The team has done a remarkable job of renovating the Castle, and we are excited to have this dynamic new space serving our community for many years to come.”
Diner input has been positive, Dining Services staff say, and they’ve seen an uptick in guests. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, more than half of the seats were occupied, with deans, professors, and staff.
Who can go?
Faculty and staff (and their guests).
Do you need reservations?
Reservations are suggested, but not required. They can be made via OpenTable on the Dining Services website.
How expensive is it?
Not very. An average appetizer is $7, entrées run $9 to 16, and desserts are $6. For comparison, Scoozi in Kenmore Square averages $10 for appetizers, $16 for entrées, and $8 for desserts.
“The prices are very reasonable, far lower than what you would find at other locations near campus,” says Scott Rosario, Dining Services marketing director.
What’s on the menu?
Every table starts out with a bread basket and oil dip. The choices range from the Nicoise Salad (blackened tuna steak, cherry tomatoes, olive tapenade, potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, green beans, dijon mustard dressing, $12) to the Braised Beef Short Rib (with creamy polenta, baby zucchini, cipollini onions, $12). Vegetarians and vegans have choices like the Beyond Burger (a plant-based burger that looks and tastes like a typical beef burger, topped with guacamole, chipotle aioli, lettuce, and tomato, and a choice of a side salad, steak fries, or house-made chips, $9) and the Lentil and Wild Rice Cake (served with asparagus and red pepper coulis, $9).
Thirsty? Craft beers, wines by the glass, soda, and other non-alcoholic drinks are available. And don’t forget dessert—among the choices: a bittersweet chocolate and Cointreau mousse and a strawberry mascarpone cheesecake ($6).
Some menu items will change seasonally, and Rosario says that Dining Services welcomes menu input from guests.
How to pay the bill?
The Faculty Dining Room takes cash, convenience points, the Terrier Convenience Plan, and credit cards, as well as an Internal Service Request (ISR). For those using an ISR, you must provide your ISR number before you dine.
The Faculty Dining Room in the Dahod Family Alumni Center, 225 Bay State Road, Boston, is open 11:30 am to 2 pm Monday through Friday. Make reservations here.
Amy Laskowski can be reached at amlaskow@bu.edu.
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