Unlike other halls, St Patricks halls dining room is a separate building known as Cafe Shamrock. Probably because it is more like a cafe than a simple dining room at other halls. This is because St Patricks Hall is the only hall that uses a smart card system for food. Each day you get 612 points (in the 2005/2006 academic year) to buy whatever food you want at any time during the day.

Cafe Shamrock opens at 8am weekdays until 7pm. At weekends it opens at 8.30am until 1.15pm.

If you want a sandwich, simply go and buy a sandwich. They are available for 100points, 180points or 200points for a baguette depending on what filling you want. You can also grab a bag of Walkers crisps for 40points and a carton of mile for 35 points. At other halls you have to arrange to get a packed lunch and in most cases you then have to pick this up before 9am! At St Patricks you just go along anytime between 8am and 7pm to grab whatever you want. If you fancy a slice of chocolate fudge cake for 75 points at 3pm then go for it!

The only problem with having smart cards is the queue that can sometimes build up when paying for your meal - especially if one of the tills is broken which happened a couple of times last year! If you go over your limit, you will be charged 1p for each point you have gone over by. In some cases it might be worth spending 2 or 3p for example to use up your remaining points on something you want.

Breakfast is available from opening until around 10am with things such as cereal and pan-au-chocolate. Hot meals are served at the same time each day:

Weekdays
Lunch: 12pm-1.30pm
Dinner: 5.30pm-7pm

Weekends
Lunch: 12pm-1.15pm

Some examples of the number of points for items of food at Cafe Shamrock from academic year 2005/2006:

Main Cooked Meal (eg Piece of Fish) - 150 Points
Vegetarian Meal - 110 Points
Vegetables - 26 Points
Chips - 50 Points

Most Deserts - 75 Points

Bowl Of Salad - 65 Points
Box of Cheese - 50 Points

Sausage Roll - 100 Points
Cornish Pastys - 100 Points
Pies - 100 Points
Biscuits - 35 Points
Fresh Fruit - 35 Points
Crisps - 40 Points

Carton of Milk - 35 Points
Carton of Orange Juice - 75 Points
Carton of Apple Juice - 75 Points

Sandwiches are normally quite nice and enjoyable, while the main meals are better than school dinners, however dont expect a lavish cuisine! Fish is on the menu 3 or more times a week which you only get one choice of vegetable per day. There is also a limited vegetarian option most days with only one hot choice for each meal. Somedays you will be asking the chef at the servery what is what, however it is always edible. The best part however is the chocolate cake, caramel slices and cooked breakfast on Saturday mornings. When they changed cooked breakfast to Wednesday lunchtimes there was a massive revolt from the residents of St. Pats and it was soon changed back!

What is your experience of Cafe Shamrock? Tell us below...

Added to the site on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 4:10 PM | Permalink

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St Pats food is fine. As the page says don't expect anything fancy, but it is always edible and the choice is good. In the 06-07 year the choice has improved, with there always being up to 3 potato/pasta/rice options other than fried potatoes. The card system works well and doesn't take much getting used to. The only thing I would say is if you have a huge appetite everyday, St Pats probably isn't for you, as you will go over your points allocation. Most people will be fine, I always have points left over, but 6ft+ rugby players might have a problem. You get the idea.

Posted by Anonymous | Thursday, April 19, 2007 12:27:00 PM

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