To comply with COVID restrictions, Marist College has implemented Grubhub services for on-campus dining. Users can download the Grubhub app in order to access the school’s dining options for pick up, delivery and reservations. The Cabaret, Murray Student Center Dining Hall, Donnelly Cafe, North End Dining and Hancock Brew are all included as options on the app.

Meal swipes, Thrifty Cash and Marist Money –– all forms of payment that students have used in the past –– can be used through the Grubhub app.

“For take-out at the Murray Student Center Dining Hall and North End Dining, a student may use Pick 3 meal swipes in addition to Thrifty Cash, Marist Money, credit and debit cards. For take-out at Hancock, the Cabaret and Donnelly Café, a student may use Thrifty Cash, Marist Money, credit and debit cards only,” according to Sodexo’s FAQs.

Marist is not the only university to turn toward Grubhub during these times; many other institutions across the country, like Pace University and the University of Rochester, have also implemented Grubhub services to help operate efficiently under COVID-19 guidelines. Grubhub offers mobile ordering and completely contact-free dining options for an overall safe dining experience on many college campuses this semester.

Users are able to track the status of their orders through the Grubhub app, and receive an additional notification when their food has been delivered to their building. With the new changes to dining this semester, students and staff have faced some technical issues.

“I see a lot of food left on the front desk in the lobby where the food is delivered,” Bella Haines ‘23 said. “I don’t know if that’s a communication error on Sodexo’s part or just the student’s fault, but there is a lot of food that just never gets taken.”

The portion sizes of food have also differed from previous years. A number of students have recognized the smaller amount of toppings provided for acai bowls and the smaller number of french fries given in a late night Cabaret delivery. Despite transitional bumps, Marist Dining has tweaked and modified Grubhub options to accommodate the needs of users since the beginning of the semester.

“They added milk and flavor options for coffee to the Hancock menu, which weren’t there at first,” Harper Finch ‘22 said.

Other students said that the convenience that Grubhub services offer has been a positive take away from on-campus restrictions. The app contains a feature that tells users how long the wait for their order will be at each dining option.

“The grab’n’go options at North End and Hancock are really nice,” Michael Major ‘20 said. “I never have to wait in a line and it never takes too long to prepare either.”

Grubhub remains a crucial new service for Marist and other college campuses aiming to operate as safely as possible with COVID-19 looming.

Grubhub Keeps Dining Safe, Efficient on Campus

MARIST CIRCLE