The Marketplace Dining Hall and The Spencer Grill, both located in the Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center, and The Global Cafe, located in the Humanities and Social Sciences Center (HSSC), provide for the campus’ dining and nutritional needs. The award-winning Marketplace offers a diverse menu to students, campus community members, and guests. The Spencer Grill serves a variety of beverages, fresh bakery, other snacks, and made-to-order items. Grinnell Dining’s culinary staff also offers full catering services, from informal coffees to large banquets and receptions.
Dining Services
Dining Services Important Winter Dates
Dec. 3–8: Sign Up for Winter Break Grocery Sacks
Dining Services will close after lunch on Dec. 22 and reopen Dec. 27. We will be preparing grocery sacks with essential food items for students who will remain on campus during this time.
Dec. 3–8: Sign up at the Marketplace cashier stand.
Dec. 22: Pick up your sack during lunch in the Marketplace Dining Hall.
Dec. 16: Ice Cream Social
Dining Services will host an Ice Cream Social. Come and take a break from your studies!
Dec. 19: Dining Hall Closure and Meal Pickup
The Marketplace Dining Hall will be closed for dinner on Friday, Dec. 19.
5–6 p.m.: Pick up your Friday dinner to-go meal at the Spencer Grill, where you can also pick up a to-go box for Saturday breakfast if desired.
Dec. 20 to Jan. 18:
Winter break hours for the Marketplace Dining Hall will be:
- 8:30–9:30 a.m.
- 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- 5–6 p.m.
Reminder: The Marketplace Dining Hall will be closed after lunch service on Dec. 22 and reopen Dec. 27.
Photo of Chef tossing wok with red and yellow peppers
Dining Services is Hiring!
Join our professional culinary department focused on local and scratch-made food, sustainable practices, and employee career development. Full- and part-time career positions are available.
Dining Options
Hours
During the academic year, the Marketplace is open:
- Monday–Thursday: 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Friday: 7 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 9–10 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., and 5–7 p.m.
- Sunday: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 5–8 p.m. (no breakfast)
During the academic year, the Spencer Grill is open:
- Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 9 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
During the academic year, the Global Café is open:
- Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Current Students Share Their Views About Food in the D-Hall
New Culture, New Food, Lots of Vegetarian-Friendly Options
Saketan Anand ’21, an economics and Spanish major from Mumbai, India, says he was blown away by the variety of food options available in D-Hall when he arrived on campus. “Especially when I first came here, this was kind of a dream for an international student. It’s weird because pizzas and sandwiches and burgers and that kind of stuff is like luxury food in the cultures that we grow up in …. So, you have that honeymoon phase, and then you’re like, ‘Okay, I want to get healthy food.’ But there are options for that as well. It’s really easy to put together a salad bowl and stuff.”
Use the Spice Rack
Grinnellians are experts at adapting to new situations and finding creative solutions. Fitsum “Fit” Getahun ’21, a biology and history double major from Addis Ababa, anticipated many differences between Ethiopian cuisine and the food served in Grinnell’s Marketplace Dining Hall but has since found the secret to balancing flavor and practicality — the spice rack.
What’s It Like to Eat in Grinnell’s Dining Hall?
I had a lot of questions about the Grinnell College experience before I arrived on campus for New Student Orientation and some of the most pressing involved food. What if I didn’t like anything in the dining hall? Would I find anyone with whom I could sit? What if it all just tastes bad in general?! Luckily, those fears were totally unfounded, and eating at Grinnell has been an easy, and sometimes even enlightening, experience.
Our Approach to Food
What’s on Your Plate?
With all the variables to consider when deciding where to go to college, you already have plenty on your metaphorical plate.
So what about the food that literally will be on your plate?
We chatted with Scott Turley, executive chef at Grinnell College, to learn about his approach to food and the options open to students.
Sweet Potato Pie
Alvin Irby ’07 recently congratulated Grinnell's executive chef, Scott Turley, on his 20-year anniversary, and asked him if Irby’s sweet potato pie was still in the dessert rotation at Grinnell.
News
Campus & Community
Recognizing Four Individuals Who Helped Shape the Class of 2025’s Time at Grinnell
Each year, Grinnell College’s graduating class has the opportunity to recognize individuals who have profoundly shaped their student experience—not just in the classroom, but in moments of everyday care, kindness, and connection. For the Class of 2025, four exceptional individuals have been named Honorary Class Members: Peggy Elliott, Renee Bourgeois Parsons, David Stanley, and Jani Springer.
Campus & Community
News From Grinnell College Dining: Mardi Gras Flavors and Artisan Pizza Crafting
Grinnell College Dining Services continues to push the boundaries of campus dining, bringing creativity and craftsmanship to every meal. On Tuesday, March 4 from 5pm to 8pm., the team is showcasing its expertise with a Mardi Gras-inspired menu and a behind-the-scenes look at the artisan pizza-making process that defines the Marketplace experience.
Campus & Community
Fruit and Vegetable Artistry Carving Class Hosted by Dining Services
Grinnell College Dining Services welcomed renowned fruit and vegetable carving expert Chef Ray Duey for an all-day workshop. Chief Culinary Officer Scott Turley organized the event, giving 15 staff members the opportunity to spend eight hours refining their skills in food artistry.
Contact Information
Phone
641-269-3661
Fax
641-269-4650
Joe Rosenfield Center
1115 Eighth Ave
Grinnell, IA 50112
United States