COVID-19 Updates

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I hope you will join me in greeting the new academic year with gratitude for the resilience of our community, with excitement about the prospect of being able to support one another and Yale’s mission in person, and with a continued commitment to safeguarding our community’s health. – President Salovey

Yale University expects to follow a standard academic calendar, starting on September 1 for most schools, including Yale College. As a campus community, we are dedicated to reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19.

As such – Yale Hospitality continues to have extensive measures in place to support the health and safety of all. The following operating guidelines are based on current public health guidance and state regulations, which support our ongoing measures to keep our Yale community safe – while providing a variety of nutritious & delicious meal options prepared in a safe environment.

COVID Updates - Cook in dining hall

What We’re Doing to Keep Our Community Safe

Our residential dining hall and retail locations will be opened based on University needs, capacity and location configurations. To support our community, we are enacting the below:

  • Hand sanitizing is required prior to entering dining locations
  • Queue lines may be used to facilitate de-densifying dining locations
  • Opportunity to dine-in or take-out meals, although we encourage you to support our sustainability initiatives by dining in

What Should I Know Before I Visit?

  • You will be required to sanitize your hands prior to entering any of our dining locations and to practice social distancing – by allowing at least three feet of distance between yourself and others.
  • Please thoroughly review and adhere to important information communicated and displayed for your health and safety.
  • If you are feeling ill, please refrain from visiting dining locations and contact Yale Health Services.

SmartMeals

SmartMeals have been developed by our chefs and culinary team to ensure that we are continuously providing delicious, nutritious food – prepared in a safe environment, and conveniently pre-packaged – during limited operation periods. SmartMeals are available for pre-order via our mobile ordering app, and include a variety of offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.

Order Now

Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday

Residential Dining Breakfast Lunch Dinner (Mon-Thu) Dinner (Fri)
Berkeley 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Branford 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Davenport 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Elm (Schwarzman Center) 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Ezra Stiles 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Franklin 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hopper 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Jonathan Edwards 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Morse 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Murray 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Pierson 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saybrook 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Silliman 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Timothy Dwight 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Trumbull 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday - Sunday

Residential Dining Continental Breakfast Brunch Dinner
Berkeley   11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Branford   11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Davenport   11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Ezra Stiles 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Franklin   11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hopper 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Jonathan Edwards   11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Morse 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Murray   11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Pierson   11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saybrook   11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Silliman   11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Timothy Dwight   11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Trumbull   11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Monday - Friday

Retail Dining Breakfast Lunch Dinner Continuous Service
The Bow Wow (Schwarzman Center)       10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

(Lunch transfers until 4 p.m.)
Café Med       7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Commons (Schwarzman Center)   11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.    
Divinity       8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Mon-Thu), 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Fri)
Health Center Cafe       7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Ramen at Becton   Closed until Fall    
SOM McNay Cafe       8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Steep Café       8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
West Campus 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.     11:00 a.m. – 1:30p.m.

*Service hours subject to change

Locations & Access

  • Services in dining locations are only accessible through pre-authorization and approved access by University and building authorities.
  • Residential Dining: All residential college dining halls will be open for service for meal plan holders. Access permitting, students will be able to enjoy meals at dining halls that are not in their residential college.
  • Restaurants & Café’s: Designated retail locations will be open for lunch, providing meal deals and a la carte offerings. To support the health and safety of our community, Yale Hospitality will provide meal services to those individuals who have authorized access to be on-campus, and have authorized access to be in the respective building.

Safety & Sanitation

Our team has enhanced cleaning and sanitation of food preparation and serving areas in dining locations, handwashing, use and frequent change of masks and gloves, and frequently changing serving utensils (approx. every 15 minutes) to follow CT State and CDC guidelines. It is required that all guests:

  • Adhere to all compliance requirements and directional signage while moving throughout the dining location
  • Follow entrance points, marked by directional signage and instructions
  • Use hand sanitizing at the entrance of each dining location, prior to entering
  • Practice social distancing as needed
  • Maintain ongoing compliance monitoring, reporting and modification to operational procedures as necessary

Meal Options

Residential dining halls will provide multiple options to enjoy their meals. Varied nutritious and delicious menus maintain an emphasis on health and wellness at each meal period. Continued support is available for those with dietary restrictions and allergies.

Available dining options include:

  • Dine-In: To support our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we encourage all students to dine-in (self-serve/all you care to eat) as often as possible, utilizing our china and flatware.
  • SmartMeals: Healthy, delicious & conveniently packaged meals are available for pre-order, pick up and take-out Order SmartMeals.
  • Grab and Go: Many retail locations offer options for grab and go meals, including The Bow Wow (Schwarzman Center), Ramen (Becton Center), and Steep Café (Yale Science Building).

University Guidance

In developing the reactivation plan for these operations, we have complied with the CDC, State of Connecticut, City of New Haven, and Yale University’s academic and research committee assumptions and best practices in setting up our operating principles and guidelines. Please visit Yale University’s COVID-19 resource for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will dining at Yale look like?

There are many exciting dining options at Yale this year!

All 14 residential dining halls provide a self-serve / “all you care to eat” dining experience with china and flatware. Menus are consistent across all dining halls, although some have specialty items such as piadina at Branford & Saybrook, or daily gourmet pizza options at Ezra Stiles & Morse or Franklin & Murray. The option to pre-order SmartMeals remains available.

10+ cafés and retail locations will be opened to provide additional dining for added variety and flexibility. Ramen offers a delicious menu featuring both plant-based and pork bowl options [located at Becton]. Commons, a gathering space for the entire Yale community, provides four distinct culinary options from Pan-Asian, rotisserie, artisanal pasta, and plant-centric [located on the main floor of Yale Schwarzman Center]. The Bow Wow offers convenient grab and go options (your new fresh sushi destination) for meals, snacks and beverages when you’re on the go [located on the lower level of Yale Schwarzman Center]. 

What requirements are in place for dining areas?

Per Yale University, State of Connecticut and CDC guidelines:

  • You will be required to sanitize your hands prior to entering any of our dining locations and to practice social distancing as needed
  • Please thoroughly review and adhere to important information communicated and displayed for your health and safety
  • If you are feeling ill, please refrain from visiting dining locations and contact Yale Health Services
  • Your ongoing commitment, support and collaboration in complying with these measures
This is my first year at Yale. What do I need to know?

On behalf of a very enthusiastic Yale Hospitality team, congratulations and welcome to Yale! You’ll be living in a Yale College which features its own dining hall, and there is so much for you to experience. Please thoroughly review the below questions and answers which provide detailed information regarding dining locations and services, dietary accommodations, meal options, and more. Should you have additional questions, always feel free to contact us – we’re here to support you!

What is being done to enforce safety and sanitation?

Our staff will be wearing masks/face coverings and all guests will be required to do so upon entering, and throughout, dining areas. Ultimately, your support and collaboration in complying with these measures is paramount.

  • Hand sanitizing is required prior to entering dining locations
  • Queue lines may be used to facilitate de-densifying dining locations
Which dining halls can I eat at and how late will they be open?

Access permitting, students are able to dine within their residential college, in addition to colleges which they are not residents of, and retail locations.

Most dining hall hours adhere to the following schedule, Mon-Fri: Breakfast (8am-11am), Lunch (11:30am-1:30pm). Dinner is held 5-7:30pm (Sun-Thu), and 5-7pm (Fri-Sat). On weekends (Sat-Sun): Hopper, Morse and Stiles are open for continental breakfast from 8-11am; Brunch available from 11am-1:30pm in all colleges.

Mobile ordering is available, offering SmartMeals for pre-order on the Yale Hospitality app (Download).

*Hours subject to change

What are SmartMeals, and how can I order?

SmartMeals have been developed by our chefs and culinary team to ensure that we are continuously providing delicious, nutritious food – prepared in a safe environment, and conveniently pre-packaged – during limited operation periods. SmartMeals will be available for pre-order via our Yale Hospitality mobile app (Download) and include a variety of offerings for lunch and dinner each day.

What are my meal options?

As always, our menus are designed with an emphasis on health and wellness. We recommend planning your meals in advance by leveraging the Yale Hospitality mobile app (Download).

As a meal plan holder, you have access to dining within your respective dining hall, additional dining halls or utilizing lunch transfers at designated locations. Should you require additional servings while in the dining hall, please make the request within the servery when picking up your meal. Our team will gladly provide you with supplemental items upon request, subject to availability. You may choose to have SmartMeals, which are nutritious, delicious & conveniently packaged meals available for pre-order, pick up and take-out. 

Will I be able to eat as much food as I like in dining halls?

Please “take what you’ll eat & eat what you take” to help us combat food waste. Dining hall locations are self-serve, so start small and you can always go back for more!

How can I ensure that my unique dietary needs will be accommodated?

Of course, your dietary needs remain a top priority. Our nutritionist and staff will continue to provide support for individuals with special dietary restrictions and allergies. Please contact us in advance so we can make sure we’re ready to serve you safely. All returning upperclassmen will be required to re-register for dietary accommodations. Learn more about dietary accommodations.

What are my meal plan options this semester?

Yale Hospitality has designed several meal plans for resident, off-campus, and graduate students in compliance with regulatory standards established by both the State of Connecticut and Yale University. Please view our meal plans page for detailed information.

Do I have to get a meal plan this semester?

As always, all students living in residential colleges and on Old Campus will be required to purchase the Full Meal Plan.

Can I purchase a meal plan if I do not live on campus?

Yes! Off-campus students remain part of the Yale community and you will be automatically enrolled in the flexible Connect Meal Plan. This meal plan is designed to provide you with opportunities to connect on-campus with your friends and classmates. Visit the Explore Meal Plans page to learn more.

Will I be able to eat at another dining hall which is not in my residential college?

Yes! Enjoy the unique flair and atmosphere of meals in your own residential dining hall and others as well.

Can I still use my lunch transfers – and where will they be accepted?

Yes, lunch transfers are still available and are based on a pre-determined bundle, which is considered a complete meal. Meal Plan holders are offered the flexibility of transferring a lunch swipe to Commons or The Bow Wow (Schwarzman Center) or Steep Café (Yale Science Building), and must swipe during the lunch period (11am - 3pm, until 4pm for The Bow Wow). Additional locations may become available in the future.

Will guests and visitors be allowed in dining halls?

No guests or visitors are currently permitted entry into dining halls, but this is subject to change.

Do I have to wear a mask in dining areas?

If you choose to wear a mask, you are more than welcome to do so - however it is not required.

If I’m not feeling well/am in isolation/am a close contact, how can I still get food?

If you’re required to isolate, make sure you wear a mask to your college dining hall in the 15 minute period before official opening. From there, package your food in to-go containers and take the meal back to enjoy in your room. If you’re feeling ill, please contact Yale Health immediately. 

How can I help support Yale Hospitality’s efforts?

Please make sure to sanitize your hands (hand sanitizer and hand washing sinks available in dining halls), and maintain social distancing often. Please do not visit dining halls if you are experiencing any symptoms and be sure to contact Yale Health Services.

Who is allowed access to purchase meals at restaurants and cafes?

To support the health and safety of our community, Yale Hospitality will provide meal services to those individuals who have authorized access to be on-campus, and have authorized access to be in the respective building. In order to access meals, please contact us to purchase the meal option which best fits your needs.

More Questions?

Please contact Yale Hospitality with any feedback, questions or concerns.