Eating Smart: Caltech’s Chandler Café Now Serves Dinner at Bargain Price

Your stomach growls to let you know it’s time for dinner. But what can you do when you don’t feel like cooking and you’re on a budget? If you’re a Caltech student, or just want to rub shoulders with the smart and saavy, head over to Chandler Café for the new all-you-can-eat dinner buffet.

Yes, that’s right. The same Chandler Café at Caltech now serves dinner. For the low price of $8.50, you can help yourself to multiple servings of such entrees as Blackened Tilapia with Mango Salsa, Flank Steak Marinated with Red Wine, Jambalaya with Shrimp and Sausage, or Vegetable Korma. Every weekday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the chefs of Caltech Dining Services serve up three entrée choices (including a vegetarian option), two salads, two side dishes, dessert, and your choice of a beverage.

Dinner is open to the public and so far has been met with a positive response, says Jon Webster, associate director of Caltech Dining Services.

“I enjoy seeing people from the community come back after walking by one night and learning about us,” Webster says.

Webster notes that the demand for dinner grew out of having so many students and visitors on campus during the summer months.

“We decided to try a pilot program this year to find out if there was interest,” he says. “Now my only wish is that we had done it sooner.”

Check out this week’s menu at http://dining.caltech.edu/students/summermenu.pdf. Before you go, just make sure you bring cash or have enough funds on your Caltech ID, as Dining Services doesn’t accept credit cards. Bon appétit!