Love it or hate it, Sharples is where Swatties get most of their food. While some nights are great for Sharples dining (Indian bar, fish taco bar, and pho bar come to mind), there are some nights when nothing sounds appealing. Here are some ideas for delicious alternatives:
- The panini press is your friend! You can make a classic panini or a quesadilla after gathering some ingredients from the salad bar. I like to load up a quesadilla with salsa, sour cream, chicken, and cheese.
- I have to admit I’ve never actually used it, but I’ve seen lots of people use the wok to make stir-fry and it looks like a great idea. With plenty of veggie options and rice, you can make the perfect stir-fry to your taste.
- Order something from the grill – I didn’t take advantage of this option until my sophomore year and it has quickly become one of my favorite Sharples options. You can get a customized burger, grilled cheese, or eggs from the grill, and omelettes on the weekends for breakfast.

- Every few weeks, the best lunch comes around: Cobb salad. While I do love a good Cobb salad, the best part of this beloved day is that you can use the usually unavailable avocado to make avocado toast or other avocado-centric meals. Get to Sharples early for this one, it’s popular!
- Sharples’ daily fresh made desserts are usually pretty good, but if you’re not feeling it, you can always use the waffle-maker to make your own dessert. I like to make a big waffle, top it with mint chocolate chip ice cream, and share with a friend.
- I am personally too lactose intolerant for this one, but some of my friends got really into making milkshakes after dinner with ice cream, marshmallow fluff, milk, and Oreo crumbles.
With all the DIY options and fun food hacks at Sharples, you can’t really go wrong, but if you do feel the urge to munch on something else, you can head to Essie Mae’s, one of the coffee bars on campus, or the nearby Ville for some off-campus options!