Exploring Vegetarian Options Around Campus

When imagining the dining options at our very ample selection of dining halls (yes, all three), what comes to mind? Probably not the vegetarian options. While the food typical of the College of William and Mary, which, for the purpose of this article we can abbreviate to TWAMF, does not leave much room for clear vegetarian-based options, they do exist if you know where to find them. Prestin Tran ’26 explores how and where students can find options suitable for a vegetarian diet both in and beyond campus dining halls.

Casual and on a Budget

We begin our journey at Sadler Center Court, where the ever-consistent meal options sit patiently for the steady flow of students. Of course, this includes the classic array of fries, chicken nuggets, and hamburgers with self-servable mushrooms, sautéed onions, and bacon. Can you craft a well-balanced meal from the options present at Sadler? The good news is a resounding yes! The Mexican and Global stations serve exactly that purpose. 

For those who want a tasty pro-vegetarian meal, the Mexican station graciously offers options to craft a savory take on the common taco. This taco can be assembled using a hard taco shell or burrito, seasoned jackfruit, and white jasmine rice. You can also get creative and combine corn, tomatoes, or pickled peppers. Not a fan? The Global station has ingredients from elsewhere around the world that can also be combined to make a carb and protein-balanced vegetarian meal. Do so by adding sautéed spinach, sweet potato, rice, tofu, and chickpeas. Get even more creative by heading to the Simple Servings station to add their often available sautéed squash and carrots. 

Sadler welcomes vegetarians, but what about the Commons (better known as the Caf)? Besides its classic omelet bar and pizza stations, the Caf also houses the Mediterranean station, with many options to create a unique vegetarian meal.

The customizable mix from the Mediterranean bar offers Caf’s best options for all who wish to find non-meat protein and more — this station specializes in food for those with meat dietary restrictions. With the selection of pita bread, falafel, and hummus, you can craft a hearty foundation for a Mediterranean plate. Add on top the feta, beets, greens, and tzatziki, and boom: you have a full meal without meat that maintains a healthy amount of protein.

With Some Extra Cash

Say, however, that you have been quite savvy with your Dining Dollars this semester. Where should you go? Two places that take Dining Dollars stand out among the rest in terms of convenient and high-quality vegetarian options: Lodge 1 Aromas and The Bake Shop. What makes these two the most viable candidates for vegetarian friends?

Among the plethora of sandwiches offered at Lodge 1 Aromas, one both incorporates the umami flavor of the panini and also retains a vegetarian character: the “Veggies Panini.” The “Veggies Panini” incorporates a savory taste from the roasted mushrooms as well as a sweet, somewhat tangy note from the seasoned bell peppers. Paired with cheese and various other sautéed vegetables like squash, the combination is laid between two slices of panini-pressed bread. The result is a non-meat, filling meal for sandwich lovers for $12.99.

Crossing Richmond Road, we find ourselves at The Bake Shop on Armistead Avenue, a local favorite among students. For $8.50, a vegetarian option quite different from a veggie panini awaits us. While it has bread and veggie components like its Lodge 1 Aromas counterpart, we find that the overall structure is dissimilar — this is The Bake Shop’s Avocado Toast. On a piece of toast half the size of a hand, an avocado mash is piled up with toppings of radish slices, pepper flakes, and pickled onions. Upon first bite, the smoothness from the avocado, the tanginess from the pickled toppings, and the crunch from the bread make this a very tasty treat. It must be said, however, that it would most likely take two orders to get full, which would end up costing $17.

So, friends, I hope that you can take your vegetarian cravings to the next level at some of the wonderful places mentioned in this list. And in the dining halls, don’t be afraid to get creative with your food — you never know what delicious veggie meal you may end up creating.