Our Mission
Lesley Hospitality is dedicated to offering healthy, nutritious food to meet the menu preferences and dietary needs of our diverse on-campus community. Dining options are available on all three of our campuses, with daily schedules and varied menus that offer a range of cooked-to-order meals, ready-made foods, and snacks to eat in or carry out.
Food Allergies, Dietary Restrictions, Kosher & Halal Options
Vegan and vegetarian selections are available at all locations, and our food service manager and staff work closely with students who have food allergies and other dietary restrictions. Students with dietary restrictions and food allergies should contact Dan Newman in Access Support Services at dnewman@lesley.edu before the start of the semester so that we can plan ahead to accommodate special needs. Please contact Director of Lesley Hospitality Tim Grills (hospitality@lesley.edu) if you are interested in the availability of kosher or halal meals.
Dining Locations
Sept 23 Update on Doble Dining
With White Hall closed for renovations for the year, Lesley is building and expanding Ava’s Café to offer more food stations and expanded dining hours on the Doble Campus. We have been working on the project to update Ava’s for some time. Unfortunately permitting and construction (supply chain and labor) delays have extended the project beyond completion by the end of September. We are working diligently to expedite the work as much as possible but do not have a confirmed completion date currently. The Student Center is also getting a facelift with new carpet, layout, and furniture. The new look will be ready by mid-October for Family and Friends Weekend.
While the work in Ava’s Café is being completed, we have set up a grab-n-go meal area in Marran Gallery, which is right next door. We will offer prepared meals, salads, sandwiches, desserts, beverages, and snacks in Marran on the same schedule as we are planning for Ava’s once it reopens. We also addressing this with adding extra hours to the shuttle runs, three shuttle buses operate from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm every 10-minutes and one bus runs on a continuous loop from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm every 10-minutes Monday through Friday. After 10:30 pm and on weekends, rides between campuses are available by calling Public Safety at 617.349.8888. Shuttle link: Shuttle Schedule | Lesley University This way the students can get to south campus and dine at Washburn Hall or if students are looking for a late night snack on South Campus can come to Doble Marran Gallery for a meal after 8:00 when Washburn Hall closes.
Marran Gallery Schedule During Ava’s Construction
Monday – Thursday
7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
5:30 – 8:00 pm
Thank you for your patience as we work to bring you an enhanced student dining experience on the Doble Campus.
COVID-19 Impact on Dining
At this time, indoor dining is permitted at normal capacity without requirements for social distancing or masking. All dining locations will provide takeout containers to those who prefer to eat outside or in their room. If public health guidance changes or we see an increase in COVID-19 transmission, we reserve the option to reinstate some health and safety restrictions on indoor dining.
The pandemic continues to create supply chain delays for food procurement and labor shortages that may affect our dining services and menus. We are committed to providing a high-quality dining experience for our community, and we ask for your patience and understanding as we adapt to operational challenges outside of our direct control.
ID Card Access to Residential Dining Halls
A valid Lesley ID card is needed to enter all Lesley buildings including our dining halls and cafés. Only current Lesley students, faculty and staff who have been approved to be on campus this year will have card access.
Meal Classification & Payment Options
Lesley offers “All You Care to Eat,” “Meal Equivalence,” and “Café Service” dining options that can be paid for through a meal swipe, Dining Dollars, CashLynx, cash or debit/credit card. These terms are explained below.
A meal swipe occurs when a student with a residential or commuter meal plan uses their ID card to pay at the register; when the ID is scanned, a meal is deducted from the total remaining on the student’s chosen meal plan. For students on a residential meal plan, the number of meals they have a week is replenished every Friday morning. For students with a commuter plan, a meal swipe will deduct a meal from the block of meals purchased though CashLynx.
Dining Dollars are added to the meal plans of residential students at the beginning of each semester. Unused Dining Dollars expire at the end of each semester.
CashLynx are funds that may be added to a student, faculty or staff ID card and used to purchase food on campus or at designated area stores. For more information, see https://lesleycard.com/.
All you care to eat. A student who uses a meal swipe or pays the door price for a meal at one of the cafeterias can go back to any of the food stations as often as they like during that meal period, so long as they do not leave the cafeteria; students need to re-swipe their cards each time they enter.
Meal equivalence. A student with a residential or commuter meal plan eating at one of our three cafés can use a meal swipe to purchase a main meal item, beverage and side constituting a “meal equivalence”. Any other items added to the meal equivalence would need to be paid for with other funds (Dining Dollars, CashLynx, cash or credit/debit card).
Café service. Any a la carte food items purchased at one of the cafés may be paid for with Dining Dollars, CashLynx, cash or credit/debit card.
Join our Dining Advisory Group
Our student dining advisory group will meet to hear feedback on our menus and service and to solicit ideas for new meal options to pilot. This group meets every third Monday of the month. Our first meeting is Monday, September 19, 2022, at Ava’s Cafe. Please email hospitality@lesley.edu to join the advisory group.
Meal Plan for Residential Students
A meal plan is required for all students who are part of our Housing Program, and residential students are automatically enrolled on a 19-meal equivalent plan. Students can select a weekly plan with 19 meals, 14 meals, or 7 meals with the corresponding balance credited in Dining Dollars. The amount of Dining Dollars credited to the student’s account is calculated based on the equivalent number of meal swipes their selected plan allows. Students can use their allotted Dining Dollars to purchase food in all our dining and café locations and from the vending machines on campus.
Students can track their remaining meal swipes and to check their Dining Dollars and CashLynx balances at https://lesleycard.com/. Click the login/register button and setup your account. If you need assistance, please contact Transact Customer Service at 888-841-3340.
If you would like to change your meal plan, please email Hospitality@lesley.edu. Include your full name and student ID number along with your current meal plan and what change you would like to make.
| Weekly Plan | Meal Frequency | Dining Dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 19 meals | 3 meals/day, 2 meals/day on weekends | $50 per semester |
| 14 meals | 2 meals/day | $150 per semester |
| 7 meals | Dinner only, daily | $350 per semester |
Non-residential students, as well as faculty and staff, may purchase a block meal plan or may pay by the meal at the door.
Meal Plans & Door Rates for Commuters
Lesley Hospitality offers special value CashLynx campus meal options for commuter students, including graduate students, as well as faculty and staff.
Select the plan you prefer and visit the Lesley Hospitality campus location that's right for you.
- 1 meal for $7.50
- 5 meals for $37.50
- 10 meals for $75.00
- 25 meals for $187.50
- 50 meals for $375.00
To sign up for a Commuter Meal Plan:
- Place the money on your Lesley ID card at http://www.lesleycard.com via CashLynx.
- Email Lesley Hospitality hospitality@lesley.edu with the 603-number from the back of your Lesley ID card, and we'll place the meal plan on your card once the funds have been confirmed.
2022-23 Door Prices
Students, faculty and staff may purchase individual meals at the door at the following prices using CashLynx, cash, or credit/debit card. Those who anticipate eating meals frequently on campus can save money by buying a commuter meal plan (see above).
- Breakfast $7.50
- Lunch $12.50
- Dinner $14.50
- Brunch $14.50
Commuter Food Pantry
At this time our plans for the location and schedule of the Commuter Student Food Pantry are in flux. Please check with Dean of Students Nathaniel Mays at nmays@lesley.edu once the Fall Semester is underway.
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Washburn Commons (first floor, Washburn Hall, South Campus)
This is an “all you care to eat” location.
Monday – Friday
- 7:00 am – 10:30 am Breakfast
- 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Lunch
- 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm Dinner
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays
- Brunch 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Dinner: 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Washburn Commons cuisine highlights:
- Prepared meal stations of Home Style, International Vegetarian, and Pizza.
- Two cook-to-order stations: a Sauté Station “Create Your Own” and a Grill Station featuring breakfast omelets, hamburgers, veggie burgers, chicken patties or tenders, and French fries.
- Salad and deli bar
Porter Café (third floor University Hall, Porter Campus)
This is a “café service” location.
Monday – Thursday “Meal Equivalence”
- 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Friday
- 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Porter Café menu highlights:
- Grill – Made-to-order egg/breakfast sandwiches, hamburgers, panini sandwiches.
- Ready-made salads, sandwiches, pantry fruits, desserts, and convenience/snack items.
Sherrill Café (first floor Sherrill Hall/Library, South Campus)
This is a “café service” location.
Monday – Thursday
- 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Friday
- 7:00am – 2:00 pm
Sherrill Café menu highlights:
- Coffee and tea bar with pastries and desserts
- Ready-made salads, sandwiches, pantry fruits, desserts, and convenience/snack items.
Ava’s Café (first floor, McKenna Student Center, Doble Campus)
“Meal equivalence” or “café service” is available at this location, depending on the time of day.
Monday – Thursday
- 7:00 am – 10:00 pm Grab and Go options
- 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pub Style Menu only
Friday
- 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pub Style Menu only
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays
- 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Brunch
- 5:30 – 8:00 pm Dinner
Ava’s After Dark Schedule
Monday – Thursday
- 8:30pm – 10pm
Ava’s After Dark highlights:
- Calzones, cook to order species & pub style items
Ava’s “All You Care to Eat” Schedule (coming soon)
Monday – Friday
- 7:00 am – 10:30 am Breakfast
- 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Lunch
- 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm Dinner
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays
- 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Brunch
- 5:30 – 8:00 pm Dinner
Ava’s highlights:
Prepared food stations Home Style and International Vegetarian.
- Made to order Sauté Station “Savory & Spice” featuring omelet bar in the morning and stir fry station lunch and dinner
- Cooked to order pub style fare & pizza
- Salad Bar featuring greens, vegetables, composed salads and proteins