Food & Dining Options

Delicious dining options

Calvin College contracts with Creative Dining Services, Inc., for food service. Visit the food service homepage for a full listing of services, menus, and hours of operation.

First year students living in the residence halls must pick a 15 or 21 meal plan for their first semester, after which a 10 meal plan becomes an option for all students. In addition to the allotted meals in our traditional dining halls, each plan comes with "Bonus Bucks" which can be used at any of the other food service venues on campus (e.g. Fish House coffe shop, Johnny's cafe, etc.). Bonus Bucks can also be used to pay for friends or family to enjoy a meal in the dining halls.

• 21 Meal Plan
  • Three meals per day, seven days a week, in either dining hall (Commons or Knollcrest) or the Uppercrust.
  • Includes $75 Bonus Bucks per semester*
• 15 Meal Plan
  • Any combination of fifteen meals per week (three per day maximum), in either dining hall (Commons or Knollcrest) or the Uppercrust.
  • Includes $50 Bonus Bucks per semester*
• 10 Meal Plan
  • Any combination of ten meals per week (three per day maximum), in either dining hall. This plan is not an option for first-year students in their first semester.
  • Includes $25 Bonus Bucks per semester*
• Community Dining Plan
  • Offered exclusively to off-campus students or residents of Knollcrest East and the Timmer Studio apartments.
  • Available in 30, 60, 100 and 150 block plans.
  • Click here for more details and to sign up!

In addition, your meal plan can be used at Johnny's Cafe after 8:30 p.m. on weekdays, as one of your meals for that day (as long as you haven't already used three in that day).

Residents must indicate the meal plan of their choice on their housing contract. Meal plan changes may be made only during the first week of classes during the first or second semester. Meal plans may not be changed for interim.

Students may use their meal card (college ID card) at the Commons Dining Hall, the Knollcrest Dining Hall, or the Uppercrust in the Commons. Meal hours are posted at each dining hall.

In establishing meal rates, consideration has been given to expected absenteeism. Therefore, meals are not transferable to other persons. Meal credits will only be given for illness which is documented by a physician or for emergency leaves from campus.

Food items and dishes may not be taken from the dining rooms.

Remember to use Bonus Bucks by the end of each semester, as they do not roll over into the next semester.