The University of St Mary of the Lake is a seminary located in the Mundelein/Libertyville area…read more Their campus is beautiful, with great landscaping and peaceful seating spots throughout with both grass and stone pathways.
We came here for lunch at their dining hall, which is open to the public - be sure to call ahead to the campus to see their operating hours, as it does change frequently.
You have to purchase a meal ticket per person at the bookstore, in which the receipt is then checked at the entrance of the dining hall. The 'main' part of the dining hall is reserved for the staff, while the next section that is separated by a partition is for the public/students.
The lunch spread is two parts, and it's AYCE - one is a salad bar, and the other is a hot food bar in which the menu rotates.
When we went, the hot food menu had burger buns, breaded and grilled chicken breast, steamed veggies, french fries, brown rice, and vegetarian beans. There was also fresh toppings, such as iceberg lettuce and sliced tomatoes, pickled jalapenos, chile sauce, and condiments (ketchup, mustard, sriracha, A1, etc.).
The salad bar has a good variety, and there are also individual packs of salad dressings and croutons.
I enjoyed the breaded chicken and the seasoned french fries. The burger bun was kind of dry, and the hot entrees could have been more temperature hot (they were more lukewarm).
There are also racks of cereal, potato chips, different types of breads (toast, bagels), as well as a drink station (tea, coffee, juice, and soda). A toaster is also available.
Staff are kind and friendly, and they do replenish the items quickly.
Everything is self-service - when you're done with your plate(s), there is a section by the kitchen where you dump your liquids, separate your silverwares, cups/mugs, and the different types of plates/bowls.
Bathrooms are located right outside of the dining hall, and they are maintained well.
Plenty of parking in the large lot.
+dining hall open to the public
+large lot for vehicles
+call ahead for confirmed operating hours