Dining Hall

There’s nothing common about Commons. The dining hall may serve ‘common’ food during lunch, but come the evening, it’s a far classier affair. One of the upsides of becoming a Scholar (apart from the rent-​free accommodation on campus) is the free, three course dinner served every night as part of the Scholar package. Commons, as the experience is known, is a tradition centuries old, and unknown to many students, it is also available to non-​scholars within the student body too.
It has to be said, commons is expensive. It costs € 19 to attend, which seems a lot for a dinner which lasts no more than one hour. However, I parted with my cash at the Enquiries Office (situated in West Chapel, just beside the Exam Hall) and signed up to eat, which must be done before 3pm on the day you wish to dine. Having persuaded a scholarly member of my class to baby-​sit me through the experience I met her at 6pm at the Dining Hall, with Commons served at precisely 6.15pm. Unlike the self-​service lunchtime option available in the Dining Hall, the Commons meal is served by way of the waiting staff. The High Table is reserved for Fellows of the College, dressed in academic gowns. Then came the scraping of seats as everyone stood for the Latin Grace.
Glasses of Guiness and jugs of water were placed on the tables, and the first course, a non-​descriptive vegetable soup with croutons was served with a bread roll. The main course was Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding accompanied by roast potatoes and creamed cauliflower. The meal was of good quality but the over familiar look and taste reminded me a bit of school dinners. Dessert was an utterly mouth-​watering Sticky Toffee Pudding with butterscotch sauce and cream. The impression of ‘school dinners’ was in part comforting but overall felt ‘routine’ and definitely something I wouldn’t necessarily want every night.
The meal ended at 7.15pm followed by Grace being said again before everyone left. Talking to scholars as I ate my meal it was unanimous that the meal was great for them. Being free and all, this didn’t come as much of a shock.
On the long-​established, time-​honoured side of things Commons was a great experience but if you are more interested in experiencing more exploratory food then you may leave disappointed. To eat in the remarkable Dining Hall with the faces of Trinity’s past staring down at you, in and amongst renowned academics in revered-​looking gowns and Latin verse sounding out, it certainly is a unique experience to savour. The tradition of Commons is an ancient one, written into the College Statutes — so much so it was even served (albeit in the Exam Hall) when a fire destroyed the Dining Hall a number of years ago.
The € 19 cost for an hour-​long meal can stop students trying out the Commons experience. Several of Trinity’s clubs and societies do host annual Commons dinners, which is cited as a way to experience Commons at a cheaper price. Alternatively, if a group of students are interested in attending Commons together, they should contact the Catering Department to see if it is possible to arrange a lower price.
To think of the past Trinity Fellows and students who have eaten in that room, followed the same traditions and heard the same Grace certainly makes you appreciate the uniqueness and venerability that Trinity’s special surroundings proffer. It truly is an experience that should be had at least once during your time in College and Dublin.

Off the main square in Trinity there is a building called the Dining Hall… oh how very proper i hear you say… well it is an outrageously proper place.
The Dining Hall is a more civilised and altogether posh pace to come and eat in Trinity. It is open to everyone at lunch time for two hours and you can eat for «student prices» in the huge Dining Hall surrounded by portraits of former provosts and Kings of here and there. its all very grandiose. a little unsettling but it is definitely far more comfortable and efficient than eating in the Buttery downstairs.
However lunch is one thing. Dinner is another.
If one is lucky, or perhaps hardworking enough to receive a scholarship, or to work in the university as a fellow or a professor. then they have the right to a meal in the Dining Hall every night free of charge. Three courses, with Latin grace said before and after. and you must be there from start to finish. This is called «Commons» and is definitely and ironically not for the Commoner.
But it does make sense when you are sitting at one of the huge Harry Potter like tables, arching up to look at the massive portraits and wondering how you are allowed in such a fancy room looking and smelling like you do.