Southside Dining Hall

Southside Dining is a nice dining experience for a University, with above average food.
Service has been fine during my 3 visits.
The Ambiance is nice and tables and floors were kept cleaner than I've seen in many restaurants.
Of course Southside and Sodexo can keep striving to do even better (and use Virginia Tech Dining or UMass Dining as great examples).
You can usually find something satisfying based on a good number of choices (not just pizza or burgers).

If I can give it 0 stars I would. Out of the hundred times I've been here two meals were actually decent where I got seconds. There is literal proof on Instagram where a student was served raw pink chicken .. are you kidding? This is not okay! Again, the dining halls plans are crazy expensive and mandatory. I only like the dessert section. Everything else you are asking for a night full of chugging pepto and sitting on the toilet praying.

more vegetarian options please however the pizza is good. I would say that both the smoothies and ice cream are good. the rule of thumb for southside is, if it unhealthy it probably good. ALSO the sandwich bar is very good, i have gone for weeks where i only eat something from the sandwich bar.

They served raw chicken at one point and gave a student food poisoning. They don't send out emails about issues and instead post rude warnings on the website. They did not respond when I reached out about my concerns. There are often no dishes or piles of dirty dishes that smell like rotting food. Some of the staff members are insanely rude for no reason. Food tends to be extra greasy and meat extra fatty. I have been sick on multiple occasions. The concerns and issues students pose are not taken seriously.

A wide selection of menus for every taste. Vegetarian cuisine is also available. The price is well suited to the student's budget and is free for children. I will definitely visit this place again and again.

It's overall really nice place staff where a little bit rude so that's the only down fall but honestly it's an amazing place really recommend

some of the worst meals I have ever had to consume (out of pure necessity) have been at Southside. not only is there a complete lack of vegetarian options, the few there are disgusting. today, I saw an ant crawl out of the unwashed salad bowl. then, before I could eay my disgusting meal in peace, I was kicked out by an entitled white woman who demanded that the camp she was running HAD to have the cafateria to themself! well, not only was I in a summer program from the university, but we also had the dining hall for that time, yet this woman felt entitled to kick us out. after the roaches served me, she kicked out all of the POC and told us to go back to where we ce from and even threaten to call immigration on us. I am a United States citizen.

It is such a hit or miss, some days it can be tolerable, and other days it's just straight up horrible! I'm glad though that they always have a salad bar and a stir fry bar open. Only thing about the stir fry is it takes forever because so many people want it and it takes a while.
They also have a sub station bar that also takes a long time too. Best times to go are around 3-5:30. Then 8:30- 10. They start putting things away really early though and that's really annoying. They close at 10, and they start taking away stuff and putting away food around 9. That's ridiculous, this is a college cafeteria, there are always going to be hungry college students.

The service here is so spotty too. Some of the workers are so nice! And others are just plain rude. It just depends who you get. I try and avoid them at all cost because I'm just there to eat and do work. I will say, it is a good place to get work done. They play music but I like how they don't play it so loud. You can still get work done and just do your own thing. I also like the fact that they have options for those who are gluten free or lactose intolerant. They have coconut milk and rice milk so that is nice. They also have sunbutter and soynut better.
Out of all the dining halls at Mason, this one definitely has the most variety and they always have burgers, self serve fries, soft serve ice cream, and pizza.

I am SO excited they brought back the soft serve machine and cereals. Definitely my preferred dining hall by far.

It's either hit or miss with Southside.

Don't go on weekends because since the campus is pretty much empty, the food isn't great.

Food seems to be the best at the end of the year and beginning of the year.

I'd only eat here if you're looking for a buffet and you're on campus at Mason.