No fast food, no problem. Harvard's Board Plus opportunities have you covered!
Harvard College has 13 undergraduate dining halls. In these dining halls, the Harvard Undergraduate Dining Services offer a variety of foods daily that students can choose from. Though the on-campus dining is good, sometimes students crave other foods. Historical Harvard Square has many different restaurants that students can explore, but these restaurants require payment, unlike the dining halls, which only require a swipe of an HUID.
Thankfully, Harvard offers something that allows students to bypass this issue: Board Plus! Board Plus is a part of Harvard's dining plan that each undergraduate student has. It refers to $65 loaded to each student's HUID each semester. Board Plus is used as currency at certain Harvard cafes, the House grilles, and some other Harvard affiliated dining spaces.
I love using Board Plus! It allows me to have things on campus that I normally crave, without having to spend my own money. I have been to many different places on campus that allow the use of Board Plus, and I want to highlight my favorites.
Cafe Gato Rojo
Cafe Gato Rojo is one of the student ran cafes in Harvard Yard. It is found in the basement of Lehmen Hall. I particularly enjoy Cafe Gato Rojo because of its proximity to my classes in Harvard Yard. During my sophomore fall, I would get a vanilla latte with oat milk (iced in warmer months, hot in colder months) before my Monday/Wednesday class in Harvard Hall. Cafe Gato Rojo is also a nice place to do work, as it is home to comfortable seating and tables, and nice music played in the background. Unfortunately, lots of students think this is a nice space to work, so, the seats are usually all full.
Cafe Gato Rojo Drinks
A few drinks that I have ordered at Cafe Gato Rojo: Iced Vanilla Oat Latte, Iced White Chocolate Oat Matcha Latte, Hot Vanilla Oat Latte Trinity Gant
Dunster Grille
Though there are multiple House grilles on Harvard's campus, the Dunster House Grille is my favorite. I believe that the menu at Dunster Grille is superior to the other House grilles. My favorite items are the fried mozzarella sticks, the oreo milkshake, and the curly fries. Since this grille is open late hours (9:30PM-1AM), I love taking study breaks here and getting food to refuel!
Food and friends at Dunster Grille
Fried mozzarella sticks and an oreo milkshake from Dunster Grille; my friend, Dami, enjoying an ice cream bar from Dunster Grille Trinity Gant
Lamont Cafe
Another favorite Board Plus cafe of mine is Lamont Cafe. Lamont Cafe is a great cafe option for a late night energy boost, as its hours are 12PM-12AM. Though I love Cafe Gato Rojo, I do think Lamont Cafe makes the best version of my coffee order! Also, since Lamont Cafe is in Lamont Library, it is a nice place to take a break from studying.
Drinks from Lamont Cafe
Two drinks that I ordered at Lamont Cafe (both of them are Iced Vanilla Oat Lattes) Trinity Gant
Harvard Law School Dining Hall
The Harvard Law School Dining Hall has to be my favorite place to get food using Board Plus. Though the HLS Dining Hall has food that is similar to the dining options offered in the undergraduate dining halls, it has other options that are not offered in the dining halls. For example, everyday a barbecue bacon cheeseburger is offered in the HLS Dining Hall. This burger is not only delicious but also available to be purchased using Board Plus! One of my favorite things that is offered in the HLS Dining Hall is "buy one, get one free" sushi on Fridays. \
Though these are my favorite ways to spend Board Plus, there are so many ways that people can use it on campus. I truly encourage all students to explore the different places where Board Plus is accepted!
