Have a question about dining at Pitt? Learn more about Meal Membership, Dining Dollars, and more below.
First-year residents and upper-class residents living in non-apartment-style housing are required to purchase a Meal Membership. First-year residents may select from one of our Unlimited options and upper-class residents may select from one of our Unlimited or Lifestyle options. Residents living in apartment-style housing are not required to purchase a Meal Membership however may purchase any one of our Membership options
Unlimited Memberships
First-year residents are required to select from one of the following Unlimited Memberships; upper-class residents, apartment-style residents, and commuters may purchase.
Unlimited Memberships include Ten (10) Flex Swaps per semester for use for friends, family, or self at The Eatery, The Perch, or with a Meal Swap at on-campus restaurants. Dining Dollars can be used at on-campus restaurants (25% of your Meal Membership Dining Dollar Balance can also be used at select off-campus locations.)
- Unlimited* + 300 Dining Dollars
- Unlimited* + 150 Dining Dollars
- Unlimited* + 50 Dining Dollars
- Weekday Unlimited** + 300 Dining Dollars
- Weekday Unlimited** + 150 Dining Dollars
*Unlimited meals to The Eatery or The Perch and include one (1) Meal Swap per day to use at on-campus restaurants
**Weekday Memberships have unlimited meals Sunday (after 4 p.m.) through Friday (before 2 p.m.) and are limited to one (1) Meal Swap per day Sunday 4 p.m. - Friday 2 p.m.
Lifestyle Memberships
Upper-class residents are required to purchase a Lifestyle or Unlimited Membership. Apartment-style residents and commuters are not required but may purchase.
The Foodie & Eat On The Run Memberships come with five (5) Flex Swaps per semester for use for friends, family, or self at The Eatery, The Perch, or with a Meal Swap at on-campus restaurants. Meals are valid for the semester only. Unused meals will not roll over from fall to spring.
- The Foodie* + 500 Dining Dollars
- Eat on the Run** + 750 Dining Dollars
- Eat on the Run** + 500 Dining Dollars
- Panther on the Go** + 200 Dining Dollars
- Panther on the Go**
*Includes two (2) meals to use per day at The Eatery or The Perch or with a Meal Swap at on-campus restaurants. Meals do not roll over from day to day.
**Includes one (1) meal to use per day at The Eatery or The Perch or with a Meal Swap at on-campus restaurants. Meals do not roll over from day to day.
Dining Dollar Memberships
Available for all residents to purchase. If residents on a required Meal Memberships run out of Dining Dollars, they may reload their balance by purchasing one of these Meal Memberships.
Dining Dollars can be used at any on-campus dining location. Will receive a 10% discount at all on-campus non-national brand restaurants. 25% of available funds can be used at select off-campus locations. Funds roll over from fall to spring and expire at the end of the spring semester.
- $350 Plan
- $200 Plan
We suggest thinking about your lifestyle and eating habits and then choosing a Membership that fits best with your routine. All Membership options can be viewed on our website, and we are happy to assist you in selecting an option! Take our Meal Membership Assistant to see what we would recommend based on your selections!
Students living on campus will select a Meal Membership via the online Housing and Dining Application. If a Membership is not selected, an option will be assigned to you. Students have until the end of the add/drop period in the fall and spring semesters to change their memberships. Students who are not required to purchase a Membership can sign up by :
- Go to my.pitt.edu
- Search for Panther Central
- Select Housing Information and Applications
- If directed to PittPay, choose Make Deposit, then select Continue
- Select the Meal Membership you wish to purchase
Current Meal Membership rates can be found on the Panther Central website.
Meals
Depending on your Membership, you will have one (1), two (2), or unlimited meals to use per day at either of our dining halls (The Eatery or The Perch.) When you arrive at the dining hall, you will need to swipe your card upon entering which will gain you access to the all-you-care-to-eat facility. Please note that meals have a one-hour wait period in between swipes.
Meal Swap (Formerly Meal Exchange)
Meal Swap allows you to use a meal at any on-campus restaurant, coffee shop, or prepared food location within our Markets for an allotment of up to $10. Meal Swaps are limited to one (1) per day (except the Foodie Membership, which allows up to two (2)). For Lifestyle Memberships, Meal Swap is not in addition to available meals per day, but can be used in place of eating at the Dining Halls, The Eatery, and The Perch. For Weekday Unlimited Memberships, Meal Swaps are valid Sunday 4 p.m. through Friday 2 p.m. Please notify the cashier prior to payment that you are using a Meal Swap. Meals Swaps have a one-hour wait period in between swipes. If your meal goes over the $10 allotment, you can use Dining Dollars, Panther Funds, or Credit to cover the difference. No cash or change will be given if the meal is under the $10 value.
Flex Swaps
Students who enroll in an Unlimited Membership will have ten (10) Flex Swaps each semester and students who enroll in the Foodie or Eat On The Run Memberships get five (5) Flex Swaps each semester. Flex Swaps can be used for friends, family, or self at The Eatery, The Perch, or for a Meal Swap at on-campus restaurants. These Flex swaps will expire at the end of the academic year. The friends and family must be accompanied by a Meal Membership holder.
One (1) Flex Swap can also be donated at the end of each semester. All donated swaps benefit the Meal Assistance Program.
Dining Dollars
Dining Dollars can be used at any campus dining location. They are tax-free and roll over from the fall to spring semester, but expire at the end of the spring semester*. You will receive a 10% discount with any purchase at any on-campus non-national brand restaurant.
Dining Dollars associated with Meal Memberships have 25% of the total Dining Dollar balance allocated for use at select off-campus locations.
Dining Dollars can be reloaded at any time in increments of $25 through Panther Central.
Up to $10 in Dining Dollars can also be donated at the end of each semester. All donated swaps benefit the Meal Assistance Program
*Valid only if a student maintains the same meal membership or higher valued meal membership.
Follow these steps to change your meal membership:
- Log in to https://my.pitt.edu. Remember, do not use “www” in front of my.pitt.edu
- Search for Housing and Dining
- Select Housing and Dining Information
- Navigate to the Housing and Dining Information section
- Select Update Your Meal Plan
Please note that all meal membership changes must be submitted by the Add/Drop period.
Yes, you may change your meal membership change through the Add/Drop period. Memberships cannot be changed once the Add/Drop period has passed. However, you may reload or purchase additional Dining Dollars at any time during the semester.
Depending on which option you selected, you will either have unlimited meals, or two (2) to one (1) meal(s) a day to use. Visit my.pitt.edu to see which Meal Membership you are currently enrolled in.
With our Meal Memberships, you should not have to worry about running out of meals if you selected the most appropriate option to fit your lifestyle. If you need assistance in selecting a Meal Membership that fits your lifestyle, please reach out to us; we are happy to help!
We have teamed up with Sharing Excess and Meal Assistance Program to provide Meal Membership holders with the opportunity to donate one (1) Flex Swap once a semester. Information regarding Meal Donations will be communicated in our locations prior to the event.
Yes! Our reusable OZZI containers can be used at both The Eatery and The Perch.
How to enroll in the OZZI container program
- Visit the cashier at either The Eatery or The Perch
- Meal Membership holders get their first container for free. Faculty and staff members can participate in the program by filling out our online form. Tokens can also be purchased for $5 at the register.
- The cashier will give you your token so you can redeem your container
How to use your OZZI container
- Provide your token to the cashier at The Eatery or The Perch to receive one 8x8 container
- Fill your container with your favorite foods from different stations and enjoy your meal!
- Once you get a to-go container at The Eatery or The Perch, you must leave the dining facility. If you wish to have unlimited portions, you must eat in.
- Return your used container to any Choose to Reuse OZZI machine for a new token.
Please note that only designated Choose to Reuse OZZI containers that have been adequately cleaned and sanitized by our staff can be used in food service locations. Guests are not allowed to use personal containers. All food removed from a dining location must be in designated Choose to Reuse OZZI containers.
Guests may also use their clean reusable cups at residential dining facilities, but they need to take the lid off before filling up the cup. Cups must have a lid and limit up to 24oz.
A meal swipe is what we call it when you use a meal or meal swap at one of our dining locations. It's called a "swipe" because you swipe your Panther Card at our dining hall locations.
When visiting a dining hall (The Eatery or The Perch), swiping your card will use a meal. If you are out of meals for the day, you may use a Flex Swap or Dining Dollars to pay for entrance, just let the cashier know at the register.
When dining at a non-dining hall on-campus location, you will need to use a Meal Swap, a Flex Pass, or Dining Dollars which allows you to make a purchase for an allotment of up to $10. If your meal goes over the $10 allotment, you can use Dining Dollars, Panther Funds, or Credit to cover the difference. No cash or change will be given if the meal is under the $10 value.
When dining at select off-campus locations, you will need to use Dining Dollars*, Panther Funds, or Credit.
*Dining Dollars used at select off-campus locations must be associated with a Meal Membership that allocates 25% of the total Dining Dollar balance.
Meal Memberships may be used at any on-campus dining location.
Our dining halls are The Eatery at Litchfield Towers and The Perch at Sutherland Hall.
Depending on which option you selected, you will either have unlimited meals, or two (2) to one (1) meal(s) a day to use. To check your balance of Dining Dollars go to the Panther Central portal on my.pitt.edu or download the Blackboard eAccount App from the App Store or Google Play
Dining Dollars can be reloaded at any time in increments of $25. To add more Dining Dollars to your account:
- Go to my.pitt.edu
- Search for Panther Central.
- Select Housing Information and Applications
- If directed to PittPay, choose Make Deposit, then select Continue
- Select the amount you wish to add
We have teamed up with Sharing Excess and Meal Assistance Program to provide Meal Membership holders with the opportunity to donate up to $10 Dining Dollars once a semester. We recommend using your Dining Dollars before the end of the academic year since they do not roll over. Dining Dollars can be used at any location on-campus and select locations off-campus. You are free to use your Dining Dollars however you please, as long as you are the holder purchasing the items.
All on-campus non-national brand restaurants offer a 10% discount. These locations include:
- The Eatery
- The Perch
- PA Taco Co.
- Wicked Pie
- Ft. Pitt Subs
- True Burger
- CrEATe
- The Roost
- Pom & Honey
- Steel City Subs
- Smokeland BBQ Food Truck
- Bottom Line Bistro
- Bunsen Brewer
- Cafe Victoria
- Campus Coffee Tea & Co at Public Health and Litchfield Towers
- Coffae
- Morning Grounds
- RxPresso
- Side Bar
- The Hub
The 10% discount is automatically deducted when using Dining Dollars.
Market locations do not accept the 10% discount. This includes Market at Towers, Market at Sutherland, and Forbes Street Market.
If you have purchased an Unlimited or Lifestyle Membership, 25% of your Dining Dollars may be used at select off-campus locations. If you reload or purchase additional Dining Dollars in any amount separate from the Dining Dollar Membership, this does not include the 25% allocation to off-campus vendors. Reload amounts or purchases of additional Dining Dollars are for on-campus use only.
Dining Dollars roll over from the fall semester to the spring semester, but do expire at the end of the spring semester. Valid only if a student maintains the same meal membership or higher valued meal membership.
There’s an endless number of combinations you can choose from at our locations! Meal Swaps provide students with the flexibility to select any item from our restaurant menus and select items at our market locations for a value of up to $12. This gives students the ability to create whatever type of meal suits their lifestyle
Items that would be available for Meal Swap redemption:
- Restaurants: All items available on the menu, including any prepackaged prepared food items such as salads and desserts*
- Markets: Prepared food items from Forbes Street Market Deli Case, Milk & Cookies, The Pierogi, Kosher Plate, and Plate 2 Plate
- Approved packaged products: individual-sized bottled or canned Pepsi products, individual-sized bagged chips
*Approved prepackaged prepared foods include items from The Roost, Pom & Honey, Forbes Street Market Deli, Jack & Olive, and Giant Eagle.
If the Meal Swap valued items exceed the $12 allotment, Dining Dollars, Panther Funds, or Credit can be applied to the remaining balance.
If the Meal Swap valued items do not exceed the $12 allotment, no cash or change will be given; however, the additional item(s) may be purchased to achieve a value closer to the $12 allotment. These items can include additional prepared menu items such as sides, desserts, hand fruit, beverages, or item from the approved packaged product or prepackaged prepared foods list.
All dining locations provide ample selections to allow Meal Membership holders to reach the $12 allotment.
Yes! Meet our Food Safety & Nutrition Team for contact information.