North Neighborhood

International relations and journalism sophomore Alex Boesch said out of the many dining halls MSU has to offer, Landon Hall is the top one for him.

“Landon is the best because the choices are usually something that’s a little more of a meal than other dining halls,” Boesch said. “For example, Case Hall has a lot of options, but most of them are the same things everyday like burgers or pizza, with only one of the counters’ consistently changing menu.”

Also home to a Sparty’s Refresh for the choice of endless Combo-x-Changes, Landon's Heritage Commons invites MSU students with different appetites to dine on a variety choices.

Boesch said Landon changes its menus everyday and usually has something “a little more robust” than Case or Akers Hall.

“Akers sucks because it’s Akers,” Boesch said. “It’s a small dining hall with a lack of counters that give out full-bodied meals. I’ve only been there twice so I can’t really comment, but it’s not my favorite.”

He added that Landon offers healthier and more sit-down meals while having limited options.

Biomedical and molecular nutritional sciences sophomore Benji Zhang said Landon is also his favorite dining hall on campus due to its build-your-own-pizza counter.

“(Landon) has really good food like steak and they’re open until 11 p.m. on most days,” Zhang said. 

Animal science freshman Julia Baker also picked Landon not only because of its food, but also its aesthetic and vibes.

“Its fireplaces, wall sculptures, bookcase clutter and mood lighting really make you feel like you are in a cute cafe or restaurant as opposed to a food court,” Baker said. “I also really like it because of the food options. I feel like their food is more 'homemade," if that makes sense. Their build-your-own-pizza or sandwich station allows you to do what you want instead of picking from a set menu.”

The staff is also very likable, she said.

“I think that because it's smaller they are able to recognize and have a relationship with you on a more personal level," Baker said. "The head chef is always one for a conversation. They also do fun events like New York themes or even Barbie themes.”

South Neighborhood

For behavioral psychology sophomore MaKhya Richards, Holden Hall takes the cake . 

“My very first year, I stayed in Holden and their dining choices were absolutely exquisite,” Richards said. “They have a variety of different foods everyday rather than the same thing like Brody, for example. They have a lot of gluten free and vegan options for others which I can really appreciate. It definitely stands out in terms of variety for sure.”

Richards said Brody and Akers are not her favorite, however.

“I think if you were really looking for something nice to eat with plenty of options, I would go to Holden,” Richards said.

Finance sophomore Cainan Treadway said his favorite dining halls in South Neighborhood are either Case Hall or Shaw Hall, located in the River Trail neighborhood.

“Case always had grilled chicken and that’s why I kept going there,” Treadway said. “Mainly I represent Shaw because that’s where I was sophomore year, but with Case, I liked it because no matter what, some foods never changed and if you’re following a stricter diet you can count on it to have those foods. They also had a sushi bar that really never changed either.”

The bottom line, Treadway said, is that repetition made Case great. He also offered advice for incoming freshmen on how to stay informed about food options.

“Some days the food’s good and sometimes it isn’t,” Treadway said. “If you care that much about it, get the dining hall app so you can see what hall is serving that day.”

Social relations and policy freshman Zion Alysa said both Case Hall and Brody are the best to her.

“Brody is definitely number one because of the variety of food and dishes,” Alysa said. “Case is amazing because of it’s accessibility. I love that it’s right downstairs and the Sparty’s is right next to it.”

River Trail Neighborhood

Vocal performance sophomore Krista Bennett chose Landon as her favorite because of its diverse options.

“I like the fact that they have a little bit of a variety there even though it is a small space,” Bennett said. “My least favorite hall would be Owen due to the fact that I didn’t care for the allergy free food." 

If she put aside the allergen-free flavors, Bennett said, Akers would be her least favorite, as she's never had a good experience there.

Even though a majority of students praise Landon Hall as the best option on campus, each dining hall has its own aesthetic and vibe that offers its guests unique dining experiences.