Two students hi-fiving

Committed to Quality

Know that when you dine with us, you’ll have a quality experience from beginning to end. From making sure our ingredients are not only of the highest quality but locally and sustainably sourced, to understanding, we always Eat Smart.

Cooking from Scratch

We have no corporate recipes. We start with food in its simplest, most natural form. Our freezers are small, and our deliveries of fresh, seasonal produce and whole foods are big.

Well-Being Commitments

We take a macro view of wellness. Our menus are designed not just to optimize your health, but to help our communities and environment thrive, too.

Meeting Sustainability Standards

A handful of simple dietary choices and practices can have a big impact.

Responsible Food Waste Practices

Prioritizing waste reduction according to the EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy, to make landfills our last resort.

Eating Smart
Nutritional Support

Meet with our on-staff dietitian

Bon Appétit has a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist on staff. Sarah Goff, RDN is available to speak with students who have general nutrition questions as well as those who have special dietary needs.
Photograph of Sarah Goff, RDN
Dietary Accommodations

Conscious eating starts here

Whether you're vegetarian, avoiding gluten, kosher, or all the above, we’ve got you covered. Our cafe-specific menus have menu icons to help you know what you are eating. When viewing our menus online, you can filter our menus by those dietary preferences.
Ingredients in bowls
Religious Diets

Diverse menus for a diverse campus

We strive to support Penn students by providing options that satisfy a variety of religious requirements including special menus for holiday observances.
Students at Hill house
Additional Resources

Your health is our priority

We work with our partners across campus to expand resources to support student Wellness including Student Health Services, Wellness at Penn and Penn Athletics as well as student groups such as the Penn Vegan Society.
Student at Hill House
Dining On Campus

Vegan & Vegetarian

Penn Dining supports students with a variety of dietary preferences and restrictions. Students can find vegan and vegetarian meals prepared across campus at all of our dining cafes. Use our Vegan & Vegetarian Dining Guide to help find what you're looking for.
Falafel, salads and smoothies
In-Person Programs

Food For Your Well Being Events

Each month our dining cafes feature a nutrition and wellness education series from Bon Appétit Management Company that supports your well-being. Enjoy samples of healthy foods, ideas for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and helpful resources.
blueberries

Our Food Safety Commitment

Food safety and quality assurance are at the heart of Penn Dining. Our food service provider, Bon Appétit, utilizes rigorous science-based food safety policies and procedures informed by the FDA food code, USDA, CDC, and Philadelphia Department of Health.

In 2023, Compass Group, Bon Appétit’s parent company, received the highest honor in food safety, the International Association of Food Protection’s Black Pearl Award, and holds numerous certifications to rigorous international and industry leading standards. This includes GFSI-SQF certification for the Compass Group Supplier Quality Assurance program, which reflects a dedication to ensuring food safety and quality.
Dining employee cracking an egg into a bowl of bread

Food Safety Frequently Asked Questions

How does Penn Dining prepare food safely?

Bon Appétit’s Quality Assurance Standards are based on the FDA Food Code and include utilizing a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety process. HACCP entails recording the temperatures of foods at every step of the food receiving, holding, handling, and cooking process. As part of their HACCP procedures, food and equipment temperatures are repeatedly checked and controlled during critical stages prior to reaching the serving lines.

What should students do if they have a concern with their food, or believe they have become ill?

If a student ever experiences an issue with their meal, it is critically important for them to alert a manager, whose names and headshots are posted at the entrance of each dining hall. Students can also email Penn Dining directly. After receiving a notification of a possible issue, our managers work with Bon Appétit’s Food Safety and Quality Assurance team to launch an investigation and swiftly address the concern.

Does Penn Dining provide food safety training to staff?

Yes, All Bon Appétit managers are required to take the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification Course, the premier food safety certification course in the nation, administered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. ServSafe is accepted by most local jurisdictions requiring manager training and/or testing and is consistent with FDA and USDA guidelines. Hourly associates complete food safety and sanitation trainings, including completing the ServSafe Food Handler course.

How does Penn Dining maintain sanitary facilities?

Bon Appétit works closely with the Philadelphia Department of Health, which conducts regular inspections of Penn Dining facilities. Bon Appétit also contracts an independent, third-party health and safety firm, to conduct weekly Department of Health-style inspections of facilities on campus. After each inspection, Bon Appétit works with the inspector to create an action plan to address any issues identified.