From fresh baguettes to elaborate dinners, Cambridge has everything. Just like at MIT, you'll
have the option to cook for yourself, eat College food, or choose from various restaurants around
the city.
- Hall -
The College dining hall (buttery, cafeteria, or canteen), or just "hall", serves breakfast, lunch and
dinner most days of the week in most Colleges. If you don't wish to cook, you might end up
eating here most of the time, as it tends to be much more economical than eating at restaurants.
The food is the same institutional food you can get at any university and any cafeteria, there are
set hours for the meals, though College hall hours might be more restrictive than you're used to
(most are open for less than a two-hour window for lunch and again for dinner). Most Colleges
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will have a Kitchen Fixed Charge (KFC) on your College bill, probably around £200 a year.
This helps the College lower the prices of its meals and you pay it regardless of whether or not
you eat in hall, though it is meant to encourage you to eat. When you go to hall, you are charged
for whatever you choose to eat (like at MIT). The price and quality of food vary from College to
College. - Formal Hall -
Colleges also hold formal halls, which are fancy (in terms of both food and attire) sit-down
meals held in College. Formal hall is more expensive than normal hall meals and tickets must be
purchased ahead of time. The price and frequency of formal hall vary from College to College. - Restaurants -
The city of Cambridge is littered with restaurants, which cover the entire gamut of cuisines and
prices. Generally speaking, restaurants will be more expensive normal hall food, but maybe less
expensive than formal hall. For more about restaurants see section 3.1.