Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question that isn't answered below, or just want to get in touch, please email us at AskCampusServices@nyu.edu.
How does the meal plan work?
Eating on-campus is easy with an NYU Dining Meal Plan. We have 14 dining locations across campus that conveniently offer a variety of foods and delicious dining options. With a meal plan, you've got food covered, so it’s one less thing you have to worry about. Once you have a meal plan, your student ID works like a debit card. Simply swipe your card and the meal, meal exchange or dining dollars are deducted from your account automatically. There are three components to our meal plans: Meal Allowance, Meal Exchange, and Dining Dollars.
- Meal Allowance: Meal Allowance is the number of meals that can be used in traditional dining locations: Weinstein, Palladium (breakfast) and Lipton Hall. The cashier will deduct one meal from your plan upon entering these locations. You can also take your Meal to Go, by just informing the cashier when you enter the location.
- Meal Exchange: This feature allows you to exchange one meal allowance swipe for a combo meal at our retail food courts: Marketplace at Kimmel, Upstein, Palladium (lunch and dinner), Dunkin’ Donuts, Peet's Coffee and Tea, and Jasper Kane Cafe.
- Dining Dollars: Dining Dollars (DDs) are accepted at all dining locations. DDs work like a debit card; each time you make a purchase the total is subtracted from the balance in your account. Each DD is equivalent to one U.S. Dollar. DDs are accepted at all NYU Dining locations.
Am I required to have a meal plan? Can Freshmen change their plan?
New York University requires all first-year students living in NYU housing to participate in the NYU Dining meal plan program. All Freshmen living in traditional-style residence halls — Founders, Brittany, Goddard, Lipton, Rubin and
Weinstein — must maintain a minimum of a 200 Flex plan or higher. Freshmen or first-year students living in apartment-style residence buildings must maintain a minimum of a 120 Flex meal plan or higher. Please note all incoming Freshmen are defaulted a 225 Flex meal plan.
Freshmen can change their plan according to regulations which can be found in the dining guide.
Students who live off campus are not required to have a meal plan, but may select any meal plan option. Please visit our meal plan page for more information.
How am I charged for my meal plan?
When a student signs up or changes a meal plan membership after the beginning of a semester, the plan and charges are pro-rated for the remainder of that semester. Charges and refunds for all meal plans (flex plans and Dining Dollars included) are calculated on a daily basis. Charges begin on the activation date, not when the students begin using their plan.
The same principle applies for changes and cancellations. The student pays for the days for which he or she owns the plan — whether used or not — and receives a credit or charge on his/her Bursar’s account based on that change for the remaining days of the semester.
Can I change or cancel my meal plan?
All first year, transfer and visiting students living in NYU housing, and upperclassmen living in Othmer, are required to participate in a meal plan and cannot cancel.
For all other students, meal plan changes and cancellations may only be made by submitting the request via mealplans.nyu.edu within the deadline for cancellations (Septmeber 15, 2022). If you have questions, please contact us at AskCampusServices@nyu.edu.
Do I need to have a Meal Plan to visit NYU dining?
No, you do not need to have a meal plan. In addition to meal plans, students can use Campus Cash, credit and debit cards at NYU dining locations.
What happens if I do not use all of my meal swipes or Dining Dollars? Will they transfer to the next term?
Any unused meals expire at the end of each semester. For active spring meal plan members, unused fall Dining Dollars carry over from fall to spring semester but expire at the end of the spring semester. The meal plan participant must maintain an active meal plan in the spring semester in order to receive the fall dining dollars
How does GrubHub work?
Information on how to use GrubHub on campus can be found here.
What is the difference between Dining Dollars and Campus Cash?
Dining Dollars can be used only for purchases in NYU Dining Halls. Campus Cash can be used at a variety of locations, including vending, the bookstore, Skirball theater, Print and Mail, as well as all NYU Dining locations.
Are there exceptions to the mandatory meal plan policy?
The University does not make exceptions to the mandatory meal plan policy (including religious, dietary, scheduling, medical and economic reasons). In the event you believe you have an extenuating circumstance please contact AskCampusServices@nyu.edu.
If I live in a hall with a kitchen, why is a meal plan required?
A meal plan ensures that all first-year students have access to at least one nutritious meal a day during their first year transition adapting to a busy schedule.
What are the NYU dining options in Brooklyn?
Jasper Kane Cafe and Bridgeview Market are both located in Brooklyn at 6 Metro Tech and Cafe 370 is located at 370 Jay Street. Brooklyn students are also welcome to visit our Washington Square locations. To see a list of locations, hours and menus, please visit NYUEats.com.
What are the hours of operation for each location? Can I check the menu?
Hours of operation for each term can be found here. Our locations and menus are available online at nyueats.com.
What if I have special dietary needs and am having trouble finding things I can eat?
If you have special dietary needs, please contact our on campus registered dietitian at nyu.eats.nutrition@nyu.edu. She will work one on one with you to create a plan that meets your specific needs.
What if I have a severe medical condition or disability and can't use the meal plan?
If you believe you have a medical condition or disability that warrants an exception to the mandatory meal plan policy, you must submit a special accommodations form with supporting documentation to the Moses Center for Student Accessibility. For forms and additional information go to nyu.edu/csa.
If I have a severe food allergy, what are my options?
NYU Dining Services offers a variety of meal plans and dining options. We work diligently with students who have food allergies to develop a dining plan that accommodates their needs and provide menus with a variety of food selections.
Please contact us at nyu.eats.nutrition@nyu.edu for specific questions or to set up an appointment to discuss your dining restrictions.
What if I follow a Halal or Kosher diet?
Lipton Dining Hall is 100% Halal certified at the highest level of Halal certification through HFSAA (Halal Food Standards Alliance of America). Marketplace at Kimmel and Jasper Kane Cafe also feature Halal certified meals for lunch and dinner.
The Kosher Eatery at Weinstein is a 100% KOF-K supervised kosher program that serves daily meals and includes a Shabbat meal on Fridays.“Grab 'n go” Kosher meals are offered in Weinstein, Kimmel, and Jasper Kane Café.
What is the meal swipe limit per day?
The daily limit is 10 swipes (meals) per day.
Is there a way of donating unused meal swipes?
Students can make donation towards the end of the every semester.